books

GIFT OF THE SEA // Just keep Swimming

7:50 PM


// I think,” said Leila quite sincerely, “That there are twenty tears you must cry before the rope of childhood is broken.” //

 // Oh they laughed so loud the farm house rang with it and the crickets cried with it and the trees danced with it. Nana giggled silently and Jinks' heart pounded twice and a lone dog, wandering down the road, wagged his tail // 

// "Scraggly beard and big white eyes with tiny pupils. He use to scare me to death before I realized he was trying to saw ’bill her’ instead of ’kill ’er’." //

// She had a way of making the most solemn, serious accident into a small, funny pimple on the face of life //

// Could life, could it really, be so much bigger and more beautiful than she had ever known it to be? Perhaps, and if it wasn’t, it could disguise itself for now //

// It was her eyes that came the last, those two great wondrous jars of the sea. And so they looked, sparkling like the waves when the sun is upon them, filling their lids like the water rising upon a tide// 

With Nano here, I've been trying to keep up with my word count (currently over 7,600). It's good yet hard to force a writer to write. Ha. 

You hit those dry spots that feel EXACTLY LIKE a book's dry throat ( I just diagnosed my novel). 

And your kinda say'in.....WHAT NOW.

*cue doctor-ly voice*

  just keep  writing.

Image result for dory just keep swimming gif

Because when you come out on the other side, you can write marvelously and always have (that later date in twenty-sixty) the option of re-writing and/or fixing.

Besides that learning lesson, word sprints are fairly useful (though for goodness I'm not the only one who jumps when the alarm goes off "Pee-u! Times Up!" right?)

I challenge you to let God's beauty encourage your writing in #NANOWRIMO

Wanna share how Nano's going?
Are you still swimming?

art

I Had a Dream

1:35 PM


When I scrub the floor I think of Cinderella's voice echoing; when I see a frying pan I think of Rapunzel (and Flynn); when I sweep I imagine some fantasy dwarf (or something of the such) having a good 'ol time dancing with the broom. Sometimes a normal chore is transformed into a dance number; sometimes an adventure is just around the river bend.


When exhausting things are lovely and lovely things are fantastic, what is there not to enjoy?? Sing a little more, dance a little more, SMILE a little more. Be thankful a little more, and all will come in tow. God has gifted us with so many lovelies. Look around.


bible

The Companionship of Friends and Thankfullness

1:02 PM


(images via google)

If I can ask of you one thing...let you listen for a moment.

To the blessings.

The life revolving around your every breath.

Your family.

Your siblings who love you (despite differences)

With all their heart.

Your parents who serve you with all their kindness.

As homeschoolers...and/or introverts, at times we may fall into the stereotype that being home schooled makes you 'socially inept'. And often enough we are shy, hence, too shy to take that first step into making friends. But we can make friends, and be friendly, just by praying for the right opportunities, friends, and overall bravery. We can have as many friends as God allows us to, and as we allow ourselves to step out of our comfort zone to make.

There are so many things we wish for. One of them being Anne Shirley's kindred spirit. A friend who, through all life, loves you and cares about you. Who laughs with you. Who partners with you through thick and thin, good and bad.

Sometimes we want something so badly we neglect to see what we have around us, and are blinded to the thing we want. The classic, friendly person is not always the best friend. I want to let you know a very important thing, one you may not have to learn from experience...you do not need friends.

Don't feel left out or despondent if you don't have any. We need God, and, if any other human, family. The 'need' for friends is a need for something that can be fleeting, and investing all your heart in one person, can be crucial. When we need friends we ignore the ones that desire our own friendship, and in hastiness push away the others. Valuing people's ( you may not know enough) opinion above your own is a downward slope.
After this...so many friends come along the path. They may not all be secret-givers, or trail-blazers, or even late-night-laugh-with-me friends, but they count, and brighten your life. Once you are satisfied, the possibilities are endless. You see so many friends and opportunities you never saw before...you may even meet the Diana to your Anne.
I want to inspire you that however many friends you have now, however many activities and outings, be thankful. And pray for everything else to come in time. These are just little (yet huge) lessons I've learned-and am still very much learning-that I wanted to share with you.

 Do you have a friend from "the race that knows Joseph"?
Do you have family-friends?
Have you experienced this lesson?

animals

Drink Root Beer FLOATS

10:52 AM


It is my belief that root beer floats are one of the funnest, tastiest things to drink. I also believe that when you take the appearance of your rabbit in watercolor, and give him one of the above mentioned floats, combined with a pair of sunglasses, you have an icon of summer. So, here's to the very last bit of summer '16 *clink*.


“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”

~Louisa May Alcott



He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
~Daniel 2:21



Do you enjoy root beer?
How was your summer '16?
Have you ever watched "I Love Lucy"?
Do your pets constantly show up in your artwork?

animals

O'ER the Great Field

8:49 PM



Notice anything odd about this photo?

....the goat is outside the fence. outside....the fence (and I know the first thing you obviously noticed was how quirky cute that little chub wub is). Little Wilbur here (name courtesy of me and my Dad...courtesy of Mr. Ed, the show) has BENT a hole in the fence, and comes and goes as he wishes. Matter fact, he gets the whole empty field opposite to himself.

 Anyways, this little piece of the farm life is attached to our neighborhood...I can hear the roosters (and on occasions some cows) from our house. But, you know, I like it.


I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.
~George Washington


There was also a seriously adorable black calf who seemed to be....sticking his tongue out at me. *Laughy winky face*.


And...the sunflowers I grew. THESE THINGS GREW ABOUT 5 FT before blooming. They are the first giantly tall flowers I've ever grown. So pretty. So worth it.

Do You Love the 'Farm Life' (and little fat goats)?
Have You Ever Rode a Bike Through Farm Territory?
Grow Flowers?

beach

Vintage Shops Pt. 2: the Mermaid's Lagoon

5:34 PM



(*Leans over* *whispers* that ^ is so my Dad)

thee "Mermaid's Lagoon" is the largest little shop over at Ogden's Commons...also the beachyest.
Full of mermaids, whales, and the color blue, it's one of the cutest shops you'll ever see.


"The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land."
-Psalms 95:5


“Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables


“It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are -are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

(If you are going to look for quotes, you are going to think of C.S Lewis and end up stuck reading his. T'is too true.)


Do You Live by a Body of Water?
Are You Fond of Beachy Decor?
Are there still Small-Town Shops Where You Live?

art

Once Upon A Time, Calligraphy Became Alive

6:44 PM



Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
~Louisa May Alcott

My first photo is done with a calligraphy pen (black ink) then traced with a paintbrush and golden paint. The feather is done by paintbrush only. 'Once Upon a Time' is such a classic, whimsical beginning to so many fairy tales-and a golden feather will fit perfectly with this genre.


as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
~Luke 21:30

This particular painting is done with brush and brush only. Like the others, I used poster board, which is a useful platform for a calligraphy pen and paint. And roses? And nighttime? And those evenings where balmy bay winds flow from window to window through the house? Poetry breaths summer nights. 


I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.
~Cinderella (2015)

Totally mixing up the 1950's and 2015, for a timeless Cinderella theme. The cutouts are actually from Mother's day cards. Recycling and crafts go hand-in-hand.And the blue ink is done in a Gothic style with a wider calligraphy tip.


You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.
~C.S Lewis

These designs are cutouts from Mother's Day cards as well. The kettle, the colors, the flowers, speak...British and summertime and tea. All in one sign. This project isn't done yet, thee 'calligraphying' is still in waiting...what do you think might go there?