Clothes Line Fresh

 my son hangs all his clothes, never drying bc they would shrink - eegads - i have on occasion forgotten and put youngest son's shirts in dryer - being 6'3" he needs all the length he can get.

and here is my sketch of my backyard with carved family initials in the tree. the feather another find from a little birdies' fight with our local hawks. sketch named Tender Lovin' Care. my sons played basketball for hours in the backyard when they were younger, now its kickin' soccer ball for doggie to chase.

one of my assignments for my class in GA this month is to sketch/draw every day. i thought it would be hard but its enjoyable and interesting the things i am sketching and watercolor painting.

Basket Nest

 i found this little basket nest had fallen from a tree in my son's backyard.

really i don't think a human could make a more beautiful basket.  wonder what kind of bird was nesting?

Intense Sunset

last night hubby and i drove down the Colonial Parkway as the sun was setting behind the Smith Farm.  the colors were so intense.  loved it - as hard as i might try to create a beautiful piece of art nothing tops the Creator's display.

Pouring Rain

i loved the heat storm we experienced monday night. fabulous. thunder, lightening, pounding rain full of excitement.

Man of Thunder

he's fierce and powerful
the thunder roars his great name
rumbling deep within

Water Fountain

Sound In Nature

this week's project - Senses Hearing. this was another serendipitous moment for me as i had just pulled my instructions off the computer for my sound class. i walked outside to sit in the sun without looking at the instructions and yet God just opened up such beautiful moments for me to capture this bumblebee. i could hear his wings buzzing but my camera sound is not powerful enough to pick it up.

Watercolor

 shapes, blocks, wine & goblet

     color

my sweet DIL2B purchased a great little container of watercolors, luscious colors, so i'm playing.
if all works out great, they are sending me to an artist class i've wanted to attend for 2 years now.
she is so attentive to my passions and hearing me.  she is a breath of fresh air.

Catch Me If You Can

i read Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale a few weeks back in two days. great read and intriguing, very interesting how he conned so many people at such a young age.

probably my favorite flower - the gardenia
when my hubby and i began dating he would pick them for me when we visited his home.  i love the smell and the delicate petals.  i have two gardenia bushes in my front yard.  one is now in bloom.

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

                                                                            Its amazing

     two people

so far from each other

    in this world

never knowing of each existence

    until

     by chance

the passions we share

cause us to meet

unexpectedly

gradually

a friendship blossoms

like a flower

and to celebrate

this blessing of fate

and to celebrate your birthday

I give you

a field full of flowers

Happy Birthday

Morning Dove

I hope you have the most wonderful day

Love

Christine xx

My Gift

                                                created by artist Christine Barnes

this beautiful painting is a gift from Christine to moi as the Stories class is coming to an end.  she is very talented in creating her poetry too.  i have so enjoyed meeting her.  Her homeland is beautiful and full of adventure, her town filled with artist's groups and inspiration, her love of life intoxicating. i am so glad i met her.

Masquerade Painting

i painted blade of grass, orange juice and fireworks while at my masquerade party for OTSYT with Natasha.

AJ Secrets

well connie ask what our aj secrets are

i am addicted, there i admitted it!

 i have tons of books and journals of all types

 i have all kinds of tools for arting, quilting, playing

i have more art tools and fun stuff - i'm just addicted

i have all types of pens, markers, writing utensils- i'm addicted but i need more! lol

Mystical Early Morning

early this morning the rain was pouring down, my backyard side view - mystical.

Three Hawks

My Body The Land

from lisa's yoga + art class this is my mountain pose - foundation. a quote from Seminole Native American - 'the land  i stand on is my body'.

The Shroud - Ring Not Yet Worn

my poem i wrote to accompany this video for natasha's class. its about my dad's wedding ring. when i was three he was killed in a car accident - went off a bridge and ended up submerged in the water.
my mother gave birth to my brother the day after my dads's death on my oldest brother's birthday 5 years apart.

when i planned to marry i asked my fiancee if he would mind my sizing down my father's ring for my wedding band and that ring is still worn by me today 31 years in marriage. here is the poem:

Ring Not Yet Worn by Me

the ring not yet worn
now sunken below the water
shrouded in death had come to rest

when they pulled him out
no breath, no pulse, no life
what would become of his wife

giving birth to a son in grief
a name sake now to bear
at her heart strings he did tear

this little one a sudden reminder
alone at last no one could find her
why this puzzled look - a longing

he being buried in the ground cold
she picking up knowing to be bold
the children so young to feel the loss

until the ring not yet worn
placed on her hand brought new life
for on this day she became his wife.
                                                           Dec 20, 1980

natasha you have stretched me and stretched me, i love you for that! its kind of a play on words - with ring not worn (my dad did not have it long enough to become worn and it lay in my mother's jewelry box for a little daughter to gaze upon when she was allowed to go through her mother's jewelry until twenty-two years later when i put it on my finger taking my vows in marriage.)

Happy 4th of July

the wind was blowing it seemed so gently
   but just enough for the flag to unfurl

we purchased this lovely art piece from kirkland's because it reminded my hubby of his home place. after hanging it in our bathroom it fell off the wall and cracked, hubby wanted to throw it away. i couldn't bring myself to discard it.

         there is a crack in everything. that's how the light gets in." leonard cohen

are you cracked? let God's light shine in you.

With Love Christine

                       fairies in my garden

you inspired me to do this abstractercise painting this morning after reading your story and seeing your beautiful aj page of your flowers and butterflies.  all the background music are birds and insects in my  yard. maybe natasha will teach us how to put music to our vids.