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!

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.

                              When you have a dream, yo've got to grab it and never let go.
                                                                                           Carol Burnette

The wonderful thing about blogging is that you meet people you would never have had the opportunity to meet in your "real" life.  You get to watch people make their dreams come true.  You see people start businesses and succeed.  You watch friendships grow.  You become part of a learning and creative community that is worldwide.  If you have a dream, share it with this community. I have learned that by letting others know what your dream is, it becomes more concrete. And by sharing your  dreams, you help others to dream as well. 
I have had many dreams in my life.  Many of them have come true, some I am still working on.  You are never too young or too old to dream.  What is most important, you are never too young or too old to  have your dreams come true.

                                               What are you dreaming about this week?

I'm stuck!  I know that there are lots of things I could do to make this pastel better but I don't know what to do.  So I am going to take it with me on Monday to my class and see what they suggest.  Or if you see something that you think would help, I am open to all suggestions.  And that is what I am grateful for this week.  I have gotten to the point where I am not embarassed to let others see what I am creating before it is finished or when it is finished.  I am becoming more confident in what I am doing and what is most important I am having fun doing it.  I used to think a lot about painting or taking pictures but now instead of thinking about it I am really doing it.  For that I am very grateful. 
                                                          What are you most grateful this week?

                            If you would like to meet lots of talented and inspiring artists, be sure to visit Paint Party Friday!

Lsst week I started my own series called Wednesday's Walk which I want to continue today.  I also want to link to Kat Sloma's monthly Photo-Heart Connection so I decided to combine the two.  On my Wednesday's post I want to share a picture that I took during a walk that week and on the Photo-Heart Connection we are to share a picture that we took during the past month that connects with our heart.  The above picture serves both purposes.
This simple picture was taken as I walked out onto my back deck.  I chose this picture to remind myself that I don't have to walk far to find beauty.  I chose this picture to remind myself that as life changes, and it always does, it is important to continue to see the beauty that is right in front of me.  The long walks, the awesome trips, the far away adventues hopefully will still continue to happen.   But it is the every day simple and quiet walks, the trips to the local parks, and the fun times with friends at home that should never be taken for granted but should always be cherished.  This small but beautiful flower appears every year in my flowerbox without any fanfare or help from me.  It is is this type of loyalty that needs to be recognized and appreciated.  The once in a life time opportunities should all be enjoyed and celebrated.  But so should the simple walk out on the back deck!  It is what makes life special not once in awhile but every day! 
                                            I would love to know where you walked and what you saw this week.