I remember going to the nursing homes where my mother was. I would play for the residents there. Perhaps you could volunteer to do something with the residents concerning art?

Hi Jan, I missed you tonight. I'm glad you are having fun with your family. It's always nice to share those special moments. Have they tuckered you out yet?

I had not realized that the time on my cell phone and computer had changed, so here I was thinking it was only 2 am but it's actually 3, meaning that before the time change it's really 4! No wonder I am tired!

I have been battling those darned cluster headaches the past 2 days again. I did go out to the farm supply today and picked up 100 lbs of bird seed, 50 lbs of cat food, a bag of grass seed and a few other small things. When I came home the dogs tried to help me spread the grass seed onto the area the pool was set up (It was 18 ft wide, 3.5 feet deep. I got it for $50 on Cheapcycle for my lab, Browni this spring. It kept him in the yard instead of pond crashing at the neighbouring farms! Hahaha!). I think the 'boys' had more seed in their coats and mouths than made it to the earth. They make me laugh so much!

I am just heading off to bed. I almost tried a pencil drawing today. Maybe I will start one tomorrow. I was looking at a photo I have of my best friend, Sam who passed away in Sept. 2005. She was a lab/husky mix who looked like a shepherd with a tiny wee head and 'Flying Nun' ears. In the photo she is smelling the flowers in a barrel in my back yard. I think the background might prove easier for me because it's a brick wall. I am debating on whether to use a ruler or not. I don't think I will, because it will be too concise for my personality. :)

Anyhow, goodnight my friends. Best of luck tomorrow, Craig. Will be thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way. I will be watching a NASCAR race in the afternoon. Only a couple more weeks and then I don't know what I will do until February!

Hugs, Didi

Jan, there will be some times ahead that will be very challenging, but what is happening right now in your life is preparing you for those times. Ultimately, you WILL again feel alive. We will try to help you! :)

Take care, Soul Sister, and don't stay up too late! :p

Hugs, Didi

Didi, I was just getting ready to go to bed. My son and I just finished getting Alex back to bed. She has a cough. I will answer your newsy post tomorrow if that is okay. Sleep well and I pray your headache is gone when you wake up! I will be anxiously awaiting a post of your pencil drawing!

I think Craig may have had to go to bed or went to another thread so I will say goodnight to you also Craig.

Both of you take care! See you on the thread tomorrow evening I hope!
Jan

Could I be a "Soul Brother??" :)

Did you know that Christine's daughter is Christina (hmmmm... look at the name Christian) and her twins names are Benjamin Kristopher and Nicholas Alexander (hmmmm... Benjamin and Alexandria)?? Not to mention that her adopted daughter's name is Alexis.

More of those weird coinkydinkies!;)

Hugs, Didi

Yes, I did go to another thread because a person is really in need of some help with figuring things out. I do need to go to bed, but I don't want to leave him hanging...

It's killing me right now...

But of course! I think you already were!

G'nite, Soul Brother! :p

Hugs, Didi

Just saw this post. Thank you Didi for your encouragement! Each of you on the thread have been very kind, positive and uplifting. It means so much to me.

Good night Soul Sister!!
Jan

Craig,
Good night Soul Brother!! Sleep well and sleep fast... it is getting late.
Until later then!
Your Soul Sister, Jan :)

Just so you know, Didi, I'm not on my own computer right now. So, I can't save any of my private messages. If you are sending me one right now, it will be number 50. Thank you!

Hugs from Craig

I got your private message, Christine. I will let you know what I think later concerning the poster. I do definitely agree about me, though.

Good night and sweet dreams to you, Christine!

Yipper! I am pretty tuckered out! Calm after the storm but what precious storms! LOL
They call me "Nonnie" so it is "Nonnie" this and "Nonnie" that from the time they get here until they leave. They have a five hour trip home. I was sort of crippled up a bit walking since our wreck but I think the kinks and muscle spasms are slowly working out!! I had all five grands here yesterday so I didn't have time to think about the pain except when I tried to walk! LOL

Sounds like you had a big day getting food for the animals. I hope you woke up this morning, headache free!

Guess what little Soul Sister! I have a black Lab! :) :eek: My son named her. Our daughter's middle name is Shea so he named the lab, Emily Shea enson, partly for the writer and partly for his sister! :cool: We also have three beagles. Two tri-color and one red.

I will be looking forward to seeing your next pencil drawing post. I agree with you about drawing the bricks, they probably need to be done without a ruler since they are generally so textured.

Only a couple more weeks and then I don't know what I will do until February! I have a great idea!! Do tons of art work! ;)

I will be looking for you on the thread! :)

Hi there!

I had said earlier that I would post a photo and the drawing I did from the photo and will also post a partial of the finished project. Generally, I don't complete any part of a drawing before I have it laid out in my head or sketched what all will go in the drawing. However, I had planned not to put a background in this one originally, just the boots, some grass and that was it. The drawing began to take on it's own persona and it developed to the end product. You won't be able to see details in a post this small. These cowboy boots were my nephews. He passed away two years ago at the age of 37. My sister took the photo in Tennessee and sent it to me. I feel like I may have posted this before. If so, please forgive me.

There were many images within the boots as I began to shade and darken and lighten areas. The images were things that related to Chris and his life. My sister put a picture of a deer in the snapshot because Chris's friends called him Buck, thus the buck deer. It didn't seem to work for the piece but she was very content with all the images that did have to do with Chris. I won't go into all of them here but if anyone is interested, I would be happy to PM an attachment of the list of items that show in the piece and the write up is what I take to shows and put beside the prints!

Attached Images

   

I have seen this before, I'm not sure if it was in an email or on your website. When I first opened it today and saw the photo of his boots it overwhelmed me with emotion. Did you put the cross on the smaller rock at the back intentionally? I like the way you did the branch in the back... it has the appearance of the buck's antler's (Buck). :) This really gives me chills, Jan. I believe he was looking over your shoulder as you worked.

Hugs, Didi

Tears filled my eyes when I read this as I think of my own mother and the trials she is going through. While I can be there everyday with her, she is slowly slipping away. Didi, thank you for posting this beautiful piece. It was not only aesthetically pleasing in design with the flowers and graphics but painted a picture in my mind of mother's and daughter's, late night visits, the sharing and deep relationships. If this is representative of the designs for web pages you do, I have to say, "Hats off to you"! Thank you so much for posting this. You are so talented in so many ways and give from your heart! It seems there is no end to what you can accomplish. Blessings to you! Your Soul Sister!

Thank you, Jan. Thank you so much. I appreciate your feedback. (Sorry I gave you tears, though!) I did think of you when I found it on my external hard drive in the wee hours of the morning. It felt 'right' to post it. Just not sure if I should have done so on this particular thread, but it does seem to be encompassing everything now, doesn't it?

Hugs, Didi

P.S. Were you able to hear the music? Sometimes I make mistakes in the html so I'm never sure.

Didi, I am glad you enjoyed the piece. I think you viewed it on my website if I am remembering correctly. I had drawn an image of a buck in the grass, was not happy with it, took it out and have been a bit sad that didn't work out so I have to tell you, that you seeing the appearance of a buck's antlers warmed my heart! I will send the attachment to your e-mail later of other images. The three branches coming down, for me, represent God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit reaching down to Chris and the branch reaching up that you mentioned, representing Chris's life. Some rules of composition are a bit compromised n this piece but I never have been much of one for following rules! LOL Thank you for your comments! See you on the thread! :)

I did turn my speakers on but was not able to access the sound but just the quiet and the visuals plus the beautiful words filled my heart. I know the music would have added another dimension to the piece but it was beautiful even without the music. The music does seem to pull from us, and touch us in ways words cannot at times and the combination of both are explosive but as I say, it was beautiful as I received it. I am not sorry for the tears. Tears let us know we are still feeling passion in our lives! A person gets to a point where there are no tears sometimes. It is all a process! Like you, it seems this thread is becoming a diverse thread of all arts and I think we are all richer for viewing, reading and experiencing it all. I look forward everyday to new posts. I am also addicted it seems! I hope others will feel more excited to post their art soon.