Art in the Cold

In everything God creates, if we look hard enough we will still see beauty. As I went to take out the trash this afternoon, I noticed how the snow clung to my new rock wall. I thought it interesting how it clung to some areas and yet totally missed others creating another interesting God type artwork.

img_20190115_145030 — Hair hanging down covering eyes while someone with more hair nibbles on the ear

I am big on patterns and coming from the quality control world sometimes those patterns can let you know if something is off or not. Now that I am retired, I just like to see what pattern emerge when I look at things. I have teased Irene of Heaven’s Sunshine on her post of Dark Star telling her where my quirky visual eye saw Mary and baby Jesus in her flower of the day.

And then today I told CitySonnet on her wonderful picture of a Pansy when I could see someone in yellow shirt with white sleeves and blue bell bottoms praising the heavens.

Its a fun way to share our individual quirky art side. Some of us more quirky than others but that is why art is so subjective. Its in the eye of the artist. Even with writing. My book is now fully complete and edited so I am trying to figure out what to do about publishing it – traditional or self publish. What are the pros and cons of each. Who is good, who can you trust. It a lot to process for a newby. Plus the content is really out there unless you are an avid dog lover who truly believes all dogs do go to heaven. LOL. But we will see. I am up for any advice anyone wants to share. Until then I will continue to share my quirkiness, fun side and kindness here in the blogusphere world.

As you share with each other here or even as you go about your day, I remind you to always be kind. Kindness is the light of Christ shining through us to help lighten the darkness of someone’s day.

kindness10

Intriguing Paris

Paris is the largest city in France and holds a great desire of visitation from Tourist each year. Last year there were over 83 million foreign visitors and France is the most visited country on earth. I have not been but my daughter has. I know of three main sight seeing attractions but I am sure their are a vast number I do not know about that are as intriguing as the 3 I know of.

I find it interesting that across the world our fascination with Paris brings us to name cites and town in honor of the real one and thought I would share them. I did not check other parts of the world, just my neck of the woods.

In Canada there are 2 such places. In Ontario, there is a community called Paris and in the Yukon, there is a former community called Paris. Not sure of the community is no longer there of if its name got changed.

In the USA, I have to put it in a list as it is extensive since we are very infatuated with Paris. I am listing them by state and I guess it size is noted by city, town or community.

Arkansas – city
Idaho – city
Illinois – city
Indiana – unincorporated community
Iowa – unincorporated community
Kentucky – city
Maine – town
Michigan – unincorporated community in Green Charter Township
Mississippi – city
New Hampshire – community
New York – town
Ohio – two separate counties have an unincorporated community
Oregon – unincorporated community
Pennsylvania – census-designated place
Tennessee – city
Virginia – unincorporated community
Virginia – unincorporated community
Wisconsin – several Wisconsin localities
Several US locations have Paris townships
Beresford South Dakota – a city formerly called Paris
Loraine California – an unincorporated community formerly called Paris
Paris Mountain – South Carolina (Paris Mountain State park)
Paris Mountain – Virginia

So you can see the name Paris is a much beloved name with fond memories for its people. Many famous cities have been copied for various reason but at the heart it was probably the beauty of that city wanting to be duplicated. For instance, there are 23 location in the US that have the name of Athens. Some prominent and some much smaller. But regardless of where you are, take pride in where you live and help it be the best it can be.

And in all things remember to be kind. The steps of kindness you share with others can leave footprints of love where ever you step.

Linda G Hill and Kellie have brought us another fun prompt of Paris. Come along and enjoy.

Ways of Reflection, #JusJoJan 14

There is something so calming about watching the sun go down near water as it reflects its last light towards you. Some of my favorite places to watch a sunset. But I have seen many beautiful pictures through this realm of communication with reflections on water, in mirrors and glass of high rise buildings.

Life itself is a reflection and how we live it reflects who we are, who we want to be or maybe who we wish we were not.

Linda G Hill and Janet have brought us today’s prompt of reflection. Come join in and enjoy the fun or just stop by and say hi. We always promise to make it interesting.

My thoughts for today center around a reflection of my returning to the working world after being retired for 10 months. My energy levels were not ready to retire but the abuse my feet were getting from 40 years on concrete demanded a change. So we got some much needed rest; some corrective surgery to the feet which are about 80%L and 50%R in the healing process and I am getting bored. I don’t sit well and now I don’t walk well. So when the church called needing someone to answer phones and do light filing – I am there.

The problem I am having is REFLECTING on what I used to do, being a quality manager and controlling all documentation. Now you got NO control so just hush. LOL. In all serious it is interesting in reflecting on the differences in working for so many years in a mildly hostile environment and changing to a non hostile environment. Oh, I am sure there will be days but its not every day and that makes it nice. It is so much easier trying to get along and make the road a little smoother than to be the constant firefighter watching for smoke to get it eliminated before the real fire erupted.

So as I try to reflect on new ways to do things, I also reflect on other ways to be kind. And I ask you to come along in remembering to always kind. You may be the only light reflecting in someone’s dark day. So be their spark.

kindness10

Living Art…#JusJoJan & #SoCS

Art is very objective and life is ever a challenge so when you put the two together you get living art and living art can be terrifying or the most beautiful thing you could see. Artist over time have tried to capture the beauty of life as they see it but for me I have reconnected with the medium of photography now that I have retired. Many photographers here in this blogging world have exquisitely captured the beauty of this world and life as they see it and they share it with us.

I love the beauty of nature and thank God for His handiwork to awe us sometimes or make us giggle sometimes as nature like other mediums of art is tied to our emotions.

Today it is snowing. The first winter snow. Now in November we did have a freak snow come through with 14″ of wet heavy snow but that was in the fall. And after that storm, weather has been really mild. Just last week it was in the 40’s and for January that’s unusual…and weird. I fear we will pay for that mildness for the remaining of winter. This week temps have been in the teens but even with cold temps nature’s art was available to see if you looked for it. Below are a few pictures to share of what I saw first thing this morning. With a better camera than my phone, I am sure the art of snow would be more breathtaking. But it beautiful and peaceful to watch.

Everything looking pristine and fresh…and cold. Although the bird feeder is completely covered so the birds are having to did out their treats.

So very glad it is Saturday and I am not expected to go anywhere in this. Even though it is only a few inches, still, I am glad I don’t have to get out in it. I also want to thank Linda G Hill for a fun way to share the snow today with “art” being the theme word for Just Jot January and Streams of Conscious Saturday.

When going through the art of life, remember to paint to paint gently. Paint with encouragement, love and with an abundance of kindness. Kindness is felt in all of nature and can make your painting shine the beauty that God has intended.

He flew over…JusJoJan #11

bird1

The bird flew over it and what did he see

But craziness below of a torn up Christmas tree

The lights and ornaments were slung everywhere

While the flu engulfed me and I rested in a chair

He circled the room getting caught in the drapes

Then he raced up the flue in hopes to escape.

The silliness of quick poetry on a tired Friday night. Thanks to Linda G Hill and M for the fun challenge of “flew/flu/flue.” Come join us for Just Jot January, see the zaniness that we can come up with and say Hi.

We are all birds of one kind of feather or another but we all want love and kindness, so remember to always be kind. And if you live in the midwest like me…its coming y’all…

snowflake

Patience, Weekly Word Prompt

Patience is a hard to obtain word when you are faced with various challenges. I remember as a young mom praying for patience with my over active ADD child only to open my eyes in time enough to see him sitting in the middle of the dining room table turning the sugar bowl on it side to watch the cascade of sugar spill onto the table.

I learned quickly not to pray for patience but have learned as I have gotten older to appreciate patience in others as well as myself. It is an acquired attribute. In August of last year, most of you know I started a process of corrective bone alignment surgery in my feet. Left foot first, then in November the right foot. Being in your 60’s is not a good time to learn how to walk again but it is what I have had to do with much patience. And slowly we are getting there but I am still using a cane to assure balance. Hopefully by February we can be done with it but I am not going to rush it. Most people are very respectful of a gray haired old lady with a cane and I will patiently plug along until I feel comfortable making a full stride.

So thank you to all those who have cheered me on. By spring I should be able to “have camera will travel” and participate in some of the fun photo challenges I see here on word press. And thanks to gc for the fun word and the great prompt to share.

So in closing as the word prompt says – patience – try to show some and have some. And in all things that you do, try to be KIND. Your kind gesture may the the spark of sunshine someone needs to help them get through the day.

kindness10

Some Smarter Than Others, #JusJoJan & #1LinerWed

Sad confession of NOT always understanding prompts confused and it taking me nearly 3 months to get that #1LinerWed means ONE LINE…

so since I should obey the rules finally, it will be long as I must remind also for everyone to always be kind.

kindness10

OK, so I am breaking the rule again but I need to introduce the wonderful people who make prompts for us to play with ; Linda G Hill with JJJ2019 & #1LinerWed

Me, My & Myself…#JusJoJan#8

How can you write about yourself. With Ritu calling today’s prompt from Linda’s Just Jot January prompt, she chose “self “as our prompt word to write about.

I fully agree with Linda’s take as self is many parts of you. So for self I chose to write about my alter ego self of Skeeter C. As a face painter, Skeeter does functions with the church, community and PUNCH to help promote kindness and the love of Christ.

Skeeter has an alter ego herself that is Scatter C but I don’t have pictures of her. Scatter likes to go to hospitals and visit those who will tolerate her scatter brained self. She really was standing behind the door when the brains were handed out. Oh my, that was not a kind thing to say. Sometimes truth hurts, Sorry Scatter. Both selfs like to promote kindness, gentleness and encouragement. Having been on the opposite end of those attributes more times than they cared for they can really see the value of kindness and how if everyone could be kind there is an opportunity to engulf the world and maybe soften the hurt and sadness of it just a bit.

So I bid you, along with Skeeter C and Scatter C to be kind. If we can turn more frowns upside down and put more sparkles into those sad eyes, think how much fun that would be. Oh, and the “C” in their name stands for Christ as He is the center of what they do.

kindness10

New

What a exciting word Debbie Smyth has challenged us with for One Word Sunday. I don’t really have my own pictures but tomorrow promises to be a new day so I thought I would join in. New means a fresh start, replacement of something old or broken or the beginning a whole different adventure. For me its a whole NEW adventure or job as it were. Last February I retired from 40 years of quality control and management of the manufacturing process. A much needed and well deserved rung of my latter but of late, even though I have fully enjoyed my writing and my new found friends across the world, something was still lacking. So when my church asked me if I would be interested in being the secretary for the church, I thought about it for a while and then said yes. Going from standing the firm line on making sure the manufacturing process was correct to answering the phone and being gentle like the previous secretary was may be a bit of a challenge. While I have always been a strong proponent of always being kind, now I have to add gentle into the equation.

So as I start my new chapter( its only part time) I will have to add a reminder not only to be kind but to also be gentle. That also is a fruit of the spirit mentioned in scripture.

gentle 1

Master of …, #JusJojan

It’s a word than dons power or specialty as in “master of my house” or “jack of all trades and master of none”; then in golf there is the Masters Tournament each spring in Augusta Ga. or in biblical times and even up to current times there is the master/slave relationships of people. For today’s Jot in January we are following Linda and Sadje’s prompt of master and since it is also a Sunday my mind went only in one direction – The Master.

It is my belief that all people follow. Even those that lead, follow. They follow what they believe to be the truth according to their own priorities and these priorities are gain by things they have lived through and assessed to be the truth in their hearts and mind. And that truth is their master.

Look at all the good and bad leaders of this world we have seen thus far. They lead from their hearts and were able to convince others that his/her priorities were correct and true until someone else came along with a better idea of what they believe to be true. I think in each person’s heart, whether it be for mastering his own life or mastering the hearts of a nation, it starts with being true to what he believes as the truth and that therein is the root of the problem.

In John 18:37, Jesus explains to Pontius Pilate that he is the witness of the truth where Pilate retorted “What is truth”. Philippians 4:8 reminds us that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things.”

In my opinion when you take life and boil it down to the stickiness left in the bottom of the pan there are only two defining truths and therefore two defining masters – the Masters of Good and Evil and who those Masters are. You can walk in the gray matter between the two for a while but there will be a day where a choice will need to be made. The first choice you have to make and that choice will decide your direction of choices is do you even believe there really is a Good Master and Evil Master.

My beliefs are there is definitely a Good Master and an Evil being that wants to be a master but has already lost. He is just going to take as many as he can away from the Good Master through his trickery and lying by deceiving those into believing the Good Master is not the truth. The choice is intimately up to each individual as he searches for his own truth and that which makes him happy.

Everything we do in life is a choice and my hope is that more of us choose the Good Master as he will bring to us the love, tenderness and kindness we are all so hungry for.

kindness1