Delicious

I just got back from my vacation in Arizona where I enjoyed so many wonderful things from spa treatments to artist galleries and the scenery was awesome to say the least. I think I would like to go back out there as soon as possible where there is sunshine and something other to see than corn and bean fields. Although I loved being out there I missed my own surroundings and bed. If I could only make a home out there. My daughter treated me to this trip and I am grateful to her because it was indeed pricey. We also went to Las Vegas to see the Cirque de Solie . We saw Ka which was thrilling and had seats that were perfect. Saw Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West and so now I have visited both of his schools, East and West. The red rocks of Sedona were amazing and we enjoyed a drive through the dessert in our rented convertible Mustang. I bought a book on painting with vibrant colors at a gallery in Sedona and am anxious to experiment with some new methods. All in all it's good to be home.

Statue at the Chapel in the Hill at Sedona

We Canoe

I took this photo of myself when we were out canoeing and was lucky to get Kevin in there too. I had no idea!

One of our many canoes

My Hubby Kevin

New work in progress

I have been working on this for a while now and hope to finish it soon because I am notorious for starting paintings and then I get an idea for a new one and somehow I end up with allot of unfinished work. Now that I am retired I hope to finish some older works sitting around. I guess I work better if I have a deadline and a time frame in which to accomplish something. I started back to B.S.F. a few weeks ago and have allot of homework to do, so that is my priority. Looks like I may have to put the garden to bed this weekend. It's supposed to snow Sunday. I am always sad to see summer end but
really do love the snowy landscape of winter. I hope to blog more often since winter seems more concussive to computer world. Happy Fall you all!

Tears of Joy

I have officially fininished the first piece of work in the new studio. This combination illustration and poem will be part of a traveling exhibition that the Presbytery of Eastern Iowa is having and they will auctiion off the works online next spring and give the proceeds to the flood victims here in Iowa. I am also working on a sunflower painting which I must get back to. I can feel the creative spirit starting to flow within me once again. This usually happens around my birthday which has just passed, somehow I get a resurgenge of energy this time every year. I start back to B.S.F. this Thursday and am looking forward to this semester as we are going to study John. This is to be my 7th. and final year as I will have completed the program an will graduate in May. My daughter bought me a charm braclet for my birthday that has a charm for each of the different studies made by a jeweler in Texas that has also completed the Study. I read that B.S.F. piloting a study of Isaiah and may be adding it to the cycle so I may get to have a bonus Study in the future..... The gardens are starting to look a little dry and I have been cutting down and pulling up. So the cycle goes on........

Well it's about time that I get blogging again as most of the projects around here are winding down. Actually I made a new list of things to do today but I would like to pause and enjoy the fruits of our labor before the end of summer. The new room is just about finished except for some minor details and the old barn has a new coat of red paint . I really can't wait to see it against the white snow of winter but not too soon. I miss my friends in the blogging world and think about you often. Now I really have to get to creating some art again. This month is my birthday and I have some celebrating to do also.

Gwen Jones quilt artist

Just returned from a visit to my hometown and fortunatly was able to see the last showing at Peter Jones gallery which is closing after 25 years. This is a picture of Gwen Jones standing in front of some of her quilt works. I haven't seen Gwen for ages but it felt like yesterday that we were working on art projects together. I sent for a few of her mini quilts to hang in my new studio space for inspiration. I need to start working on an art project for the Presbytery of East Iowa which is based upon the bibilical story of Jesus and the "Woman at the Well" found in John 4:1-42. The show will be called Art as Living Water and will travel around the country next year. I have been formulating the peice in my head .Your prayers and inspiration will be appreciated. The windows for my studio should be in today and then the new art room can be completed . Hope it is finished soon as I must get to work on my art.Thank you all for your wonderful inspiration

As you can see the new room is coming along and soon I will be painting away!!! Not only will I paint the walls, there really isn't much there so I will soon be painting canvas and on old barn wood again. Thank you all my blogger friends for your inspiration. I hope to have a renewed season of creativity very shortly here.... Below pictures of my newly decorated computer room and dining room . Just had to throw in a picture of a few of the wonderful women in my group this year. I'll be missing them but will reunite in the fall to study John. I will have finished seven years in B.S.F. International next May. I am looking forward to the last semester and then who knows I just might start over again.

Some of the women in my Bible study group.

This is what my back porch was like before it was torn off today. It will soon be replaced by a 3 season porch where I can set up a nice sudio. I just can't wait. Below are a few pictures of the well that was discoverd. Too bad we had to fill it in because it was so nice, the workmanship amazing and to think that it's been here for almost a hundred years. I have missed blogging but I have been so busy with home improvement projects that I havn't had much time for anything else. All this work should be done by mid June and life can get back to normal.