Today was one of those days when if something could break it would, or if there was a long line to wait in, I would be there.  It was just one of those days.  Nothing horrible happened but lots of small frustrating things took place.  So when I started thinking about what I would post for Paint Party Friday I thought to myself, Oh, maybe I will skip it this week.  I'm tired and not in the best of moods so maybe the best thing is to just take a break.  But then I remembered how much I liked posting something and how much I enjoyed hearing from all of the other artists and I started to rethink my decision.  I took out the above painting and began to work on it and before I knew it time had passed and I felt relaxed and happy again.  I feel so lucky that I am able to paint or take pictures or write each day.  I am very grateful that at this time of my life I am able to do all of the things that I loved to do when I was a young girl.  It's fun to once again be on the creative journey that I started so many years ago. 
                                                                  What are you most grateful for this week?

I have actually walked a lot since I started this Wednesday post last month.  My goal was to walk in new areas and to see new things.  I have done that just not as much as I would have liked.  My walks have been close to home with my two dogs which has been its own adventure.  I've watched everyone's yard begin to bloom, met new friends, and enjoyed my neighborhood and all of its charm.  I've found that it is hard to walk with the dogs and take pictures so I've left my camera at home and I've missed it.  But that is another one of life's important lessons - you can't do it all at the same time.  So I enjoy my walks with the dogs and take pictures at a different time.  They are both important to me and should be enjoyed, just not together. 

                                  " Sometimes you just have to go down a different road."
                                                                                                                Greg Lennox
Yesterday my husband and I were taking an incredible early morning motorcycle ride.  We were not very far from home but it was like we were in another part of the state or country.  The road was beautiful.  The sun was out and a soft breeze was blowing.  We passed farm after farm and saw horses, cows, chickens, goats, and a few people out working the in the fields.  There were small farmhouses and large homes sitting on top of mountains overlooking their land.  It was a peaceful ride but it was so inspiring.  I was telling my husband what a wonderful ride it was and how much I was enjoying it when he said "Sometimes you just have to go down down a different road." 
I realized how right he was.  Sometimes you choose to change roads and sometimes the road changes without your knowing it.  But it is always our choice as to how we react to the changes.  We can accept them and plod along or we can embrace them and see where they take us.  The road has changed a lot for us in the past six years. We are doing our best to embrace the changes, find the fun in them, and  go down each different road with a sense of adventure. It is often not where you have been but where you are going and how you choose to get there that can make all of the difference in your life.  I hope to keep on choosing different roads to take. There is nothing like not knowing exactly where you are going to make a motorcycle ride or sometimes  life exciting.  What about you?  Have you taken a different road than you thought you were going to take?  How did it turn out? 

This has been another wonderful week.  From painting with acrylics to watercoloring with my four year old grandson, art was a part of every day.  The art camp which I am taking was supposed to be over but we are having so much fun that the classes are going to continue.  We may not meet every week but the classes will go on and I am really excited about that.  My goal and that of my instructor was to introduce me to new mediums and to get me to loosen up as I paint.  I think I am starting to see a difference.  The colors I used in this piece are definitely bolder and stronger and the painting is much more abstract.  It has been fun pushing myself and seeing how I can grow and change both as an artist and a person. 

This week I am grateful for the inspiration I have received from people of all ages.  One of the artists that displays her work in the gallery where I take lessons is in her late eighties.  Her advice for living a happy life is to dance everyday, laugh everyday, and paint everyday.  I think that sounds like a great life.  Don't you?

                                         As always, I would love to know what you are most grateful for this week. 

                                 I also would like to thank everyone at Paint Party Friday for all of your wonderful comments. 

                                                                        In seed time learn,
                                    in harvest teach,
                                      in winter enjoy.    William Blake

Yesterday when we got to the lake I walked just a little bit by myself.  As I stood on the bank I looked to my left and there stood a beautiful white duck.  I thought she would immediately move or swim away but to my surprise she stood quietly never moving.  I was able to take quite a few pictures and I really enjoyed the moment. 

I have been taking lots of classes and workshops to become a better artist, a better, photographer or a better writer.  I am sure they all prepared me for this moment.  But in the moment the thing I was most grateful for was that I happened upon this spot at just the right time with my camera ready to capture the beauty that was in front of me.  Just as Blake said, there is a time to learn, a time to teach, and a time to enjoy.  Yesterday was a time to enjoy.  I hope that your week will be filled with unexpected moments that you will take the time to enjoy!

I wrote the above post several Sunday's ago.  When I was thinking of which picture I wanted to submit to to Kat Sloma's photo-heart connection, it was this one.  Everytime I think of that afternoon I think of how long I stood next to this beautiful duck just enjoying the peace and quiet.  There was something special in the way she was able to enjoy the moment and not be distracted by all of the activities swirling around her.  She was so calm and peaceful and a great reminder that no matter what is going on in the world around you, you can always find peace within if you allow yourself that quiet moment to reflect and just be.  I hope that everyone will have a wonderful month with lots of time to just "be."

It's Friday and once again time to visit with all of the wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday.  I want everyone to know just how much your comments and encouragement means to me each week.

I was inspired by a watercolor I saw this week.  It was a painting of a beach on the Caribbean but somehow it reminded me of our cabin, or as we referred to it, our shack at the lake.  So I used my pastels to create my version of the shack.  We were lucky enough to own the shack from the time my son was eight until he went off to college.  It was a one room cabin which sat on pontoons on the water.  It really was small and in terrible condition when we bought it but over the years my husband and son spent hours and hours fixing it up.  It still was small when they finished but that never mattered. It was a special place we could go to have fun and be together and spend time with friends. We all have many wonderful memories of all the weekends and summers we spent at the shack swimming, and boating, and just hanging out. 

This week one of the things I am most grateful for is my memories of the shack.  Over Mother's Day breakfast we shared stories and memories of all of the happy times we had at the shack.  My pastel version of the shack isn't perfect but neither was the shack.  I have learned over time that something doesn't have to be perfect to bring you joy and the shack certainly did bring us lots and lots of joy.

I would love to know what brought you joy this week.

When I am outside in nature I find that I am inspired by all of the things that surround me.  I love the colors, the lines, and the structure of the trees and flowers. I love the way things flow naturally.  I have come to realize that I value order and structure. I like to know that night becomes day and that summer follows spring.  But I am also inspired by that crazy growth of wildflowers that just appear and cannot be held back no matter what you do. That kind of strength motivates me to look for that within myself. 
No matter where I walk I can be inspired by something.  It can be the blue of the sky, the green of the grass or the feel of the sun on my face.  What inspires you?   Is it the quiet of the night or the busy sounds of the day?  Is it the calm of the lake or the wild rivers rushing down stream?  We are all inspired by different things.  The important thing is to find those things that we like and make us happy and then to make sure they are part of our life each and every day.

                                                                 Be not afraid of growing slowly,
                                                      be afraid only of standing still.
                                                                                     Chinese Proverb

This was a perfect quote for me to read today.  I was not sure what I was going to write but when I opened the book this was the quote that I opened to.  I realize that I am very goal oriented and like to set and reach goals quickly.  Since retiring things are moving much slower.  I am learning about lots of new things but have not really established myself as an expert in any one thing.  I like to feel like an expert.  It is just who I am.   I am going to have to really think about what the proverb above means to me now.  I need to remember I am not standing still.  I am moving forward at a slow rate of speed but I am moving forward and hopefully making a difference to others.  And for me, making a difference is a very important part of life. 

I want to thank all of the wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday who took the time last week to give me some suggestions on how to improve the above picture.  I followed a lot of your advice and I was pleased with the outcome.  It is so nice to have so many people willing to take the time to share their knowledge with me.  So once again thank you.
This week I am really grateful for the weather.  After the rain, it has been spectacular.  It has been bright, sunny, and cool.  Georgia in May can be hot and humid but so far it has been beautiful. It has been a perfect week to walk and I have taken advantage of that.
For those of you who have followed our construction adventures.  They are done.  The elevator is finished and working and it has already made such a difference for my husband.  I have always taken being able to breathe for granted but I don't any longer.  It is a gift that I am grateful for every day.  Now, that my husband is able to use the elevator his life is so much easier and for that I am very very grateful.
As always, I hope that you have a wonderful creative week and would love to hear more about what you are doing and about the things that you are most grateful for this week.

This week I didn't walk nearly as much as I should.  But I did have a wonderful walk yesterday which was made even more special because I walked with two very dear friends.  It is amazing to me how we can have so many different types of friendships all of which are important.  There are friends from childhood and friends that you work with or share a hobby with.  There are friends who are parents of your children or who you happen to meet at a party, in a class, or at a meeting.  There are friendships that you develop online and there are friends that have known you for years and years and years.  Each type of friendship is special and unique and each type of friendship needs to be cherished and nurtured. 
We all live such busy lives that it is easy to take people and their friendship for granted.  There are many ways to communicate but nothing is as special to me as actually seeing and talking to the person.  When I was a teenager I would spend hours and hours with my friends and on the telephone.  I remember sitting on the steps talking to my friends until bedtime even though we had just spent all day together.  Noone has time to do that anymore.  Nor do I want to.  But I do think it is important to talk to my friends, to see them, to share stories and memories, and to create new stories and memories together.  Is there someone you haven't talked to in awhile?  Is there a friend you have been meaning to call or meet for lunch or dinner?  Do it today.  You won't be sorry and neither will they.  Have a great time with your friend.  You deserve it and so do they.