Ta-Da Friday ~ March 14, 2008

It is me or are Fridays happening faster and faster?

My week was swallowed by a nasty cold, but I still got a bit done. My main project to finish this week was an editing job for a client. Whew....I have to make the final discs, but that is done. Yay!

On tap for the weekend is some painting projects, re-designing the backyard water feature (bigger!), and re-designing my front flowerbeds (also bigger!) I hope the lingering remnants of my cold clear out so I can have fun outside.

What's been happening in your creative life this week?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Spring Photo Safari

Star Magnolia


Saucer Magnolia


Unsure what this is...Lily of the Valley?


Redbud trunk


Daffodils


A heavenly smell...winter daphne


Squirrel on a bench

8 Random Creative Things About Me

One of the memes circulating the blogosphere is the 8 Random Things theme. I've decided to give it a creative twist and make it 8 Random Creative Things About Me.

Here are mine:

1. I love the color purple. Deep, rich, and on the blue side, not the red. Royal. Makes a statement where ever I use it.

2. I love the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. The first time I saw one in person my skin sizzled with the awareness that the painting wasn't created by an ordinary person. In my quest to see as many Van Gogh's as possible, we've visited the Orsay museum in Paris, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and the Kroller-Muller in central Holland.

3. I'm not a modern art person. Sometimes I find things I like, but most of the time modern art seems like someone's idea of a joke to me.

4. I love writers who can draw a visual in my head with their writing. Put me in a place and time and let me live there for a while and I'm a happy person.

5. I speak dialogue out loud when I'm writing. That's why it is crucial for me to work in solitude and silence.

6. My favorite songs are generally related to a movie or real event in life. I'm not a music for music's sake type, but I can hear a song and know when and where it has been used in a movie.

7. I love texture. In paintings, in fabrics, in the garden, or on the surface of a photograph. Hands-on crafting is my favorite because I like to touch the objects.

8. Gardening is a like planning a slow motion fireworks show. This area shines for a few weeks, that area next, then later other areas pop with color and scent.

I'm tagging eight of you to participate in this exercise on your blog. Remember make it your own.

Tim at Thoughts from Above1
The Divine Miss M from Pottermom
SusanC at Homeschooling Writer
Rose at Quilted Hills
Lisa at PercyTruffles Place
Paige at Paige Pearson Photography
Steven at Blue Like Me
Becky T Ahem.....fill up that blog, girl!


Have fun!

Ta-Da Friday ~ March 7, 2008

Busy and reasonably productive week here creatively speaking.

Last Saturday was lovely, sunshine and warm temps. We fed our garden fever (you do feed a fever, right?) by going to a garden trade show, a plant nursery, and the Botanic Gardens in Ft. Worth. The Gardens stroll turned into a fun photo safari with The Pilot Guy and I snatching the camera out of each other's hands.

I stripped a porch swing to prep for a new paint job. Power sanders are fun.

The big creative fun was photographing the snow on Thursday. Just under five lovely inches of pure white fun.

Here are a few more photos from the day...


View from the front door...

Bunny tracks on the front porch

We were supposed to be at a baseball tournament yesterday. I guess this guy didn't get the word.


I finished piecing my lap quilt. I'll post photos tomorrow or next week.

What creative fun did you have this week? Tell about it in the comments. Feel free to link to a photo in your own blog.

Snow!

Okay, before you northern gals like Rose fall down laughing, please understand...we don't get SNOW. We usually get ice. Snow, fluffy, white, and wet, is a true joy.

Texas is getting a fine taste of late winter today with a snow storm that arrived faster than expected. Instead of arriving after supper, this storm bullied it's way in for lunch causing havoc with streets, schools, and afternoon ballgames.

The flakes are huge and plentiful. I'm having trouble just staying inside because it is so pretty.

The camera and I have been outside a lot.

The beginning....


Two hours later....


Tulips are just beginning to open....


Daffodils in the snow...


Hyacinths ~ white on white....


Who says Texas doesn't have four seasons? We've had at least that many this week alone.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Thorns

Sombreuil canes

We can gripe because roses have thorns,

or

We can rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.

An Inspiring Hour

While hiding in the warm car while waiting for Nathan's baseball game to begin, I paged through a couple of magazines from my bag. Have I mentioned how much I love magazines? Have I mentioned how cold February baseball bleachers are? Thank God it's March.

These are random phrases from both articles or advertising that caught my eye and my spirit.

"Instead of staying safe, shake things up."

"......add zing...."

"I love to sweat the small stuff because that's what we handle and live with every day."

"......a writer's studio occupies a tiny cabin behind the cottage....."

"Comfort"

"Simplicity"

"Style"

"....notice the details...."

"Connection"

"I think art plays a role in everything; it's humanities lifeblood." Cleola Williams

"Find contentment"

"It's all about appreciating the small things that make our lives more beautiful."

All of these speak to me.

Do any whisper or sing to you?