Playing with water

Given that it is Advent, the church is in a new year and I have long learned I don't do well with resolutions set to begin on January 1st so I make them to coincide with the liturgical calendar (because I am a geek that way).

The resolution that will stretch me the most is the one to begin painting with watercolor.  My hope is to find a teacher relatively close to help mentor me through the process.  In the mean time, I will continue to move forward on this learning curve. 

Here is what I have done so far:

basis shapes

filling in some detail

I think it's done

My new age challenge (50 that is)

This week's diva challenge (#50) inspired us to move out of our comfort zones and to "biggify" some of our favorite 'tangles (http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2011/11/weekly-challenge-50.html ).  

My fav. 'tangle stretched really big

It was a stretch in more ways than one.  Several attempts were too "safe," others ended in the trash.  In the end I 'tangled my fav (flux) on the entire tile.  

fav. of challenge

The difficulty was realizing how much I rely on shading now to hide "flaws" and to have to think about what I was doing instead of checking out...in other words, I didn't zen with it....

a "safe" attempt

 

Red Thread Challenge

Weekly Challenge #49: "Red Thread Challenge"  ( The Diva)
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break." -Chinese proverb

To me, this sounds like an invitation to tangle. To my friend Sonya, it sounded like an invitation to help orphans in China, disabled kids in Haiti, and people in the United States who would otherwise be lacking in medical care and other essentials that most of us take for granted.  She is VP of an organization called The Red Thread Promise. Take a look at their blog to see the wonderful work that they do.

To raise awareness of their mission, your challenge this week is to create a traditional black and white tangle tile with a single red "thread" running through it. 

Here is my take on it:

  

when i grow up i wanna be a wave

when i grow up i wanna be a wave

i would spend each day dancing

playing with birds and fish

tickling tiny toes

my music soothing frayed nerves

teasing walkers

giving treasure to the seeker

rarely taken for granted

only a hindrance to castle builders

 and the one trying to stay dry

 making new patterns

and leaving the old behind

being brave as i join the chorus that leads to new shores

 

Day 3 of 50

The task for the day was to find the best oysters at the best price....

 

Along the way we found a fantastic restaurant loved by locals and at which you didn't need a ladder to pay (the description given between that and the 5 star one down the road)....

There was also a cemetery that likely had a story, but I didn't find it today....

Sad to be remembered as a pile of leaves and granite and nothing else.  I pray I leave at least a memory or two for the generations to follow me.




We met this little guy in a parking lot while on the quest for something non-fried to eat...

 A little time at the beach...the guy with the big orange nose was being picked on by others.  I truly hope he was just playing dead...

The catch of the day was slimmer, but fixed for supper...along with the oysters.

 Did you know water doesn't just magically appear...

Gotta go, supper is ready...

Beach Roses

Found in the midst of sand and shell

wonder of the story they tell

so at odds with sea oats and drift wood

what would they say if they could

a testament of love i'm sure

but was it bad or was it good

answers not found in the sand

i pray you are dancing to the band

as the circle on your hand

continues the tale in a place far way

may your love last alway

 

Happy feet

These feet of mine have been tired and in need of refreshment....

They are happy now....

because this is where they most belong....

Sadly like this one, they will soon be taken from the water. 

Day Two of 50

Today is day two of fifty...

Day one was spent at Host of Christmas Past...


We then jumped in the car and drove almost eight hours to begin unplugging here...

 

This little guy was quite photogenic, but notice his preferred sign. 

 This was as close as I dared to get...

A few different views from the pier...

 

Someone apparently didn't like the sign.

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

This came in handy after dark...

 

A plethora of my favorite decorating tool....

 Best fishing trip in that we both caught lots, but da bear still got the biggest....he amazes me at his ability to know when, where, and how to fish.  It is watching a dance perfectly executed.

We caught them here:

This is the big 'un....

I still don't like my picture taken and especially have to work at touching these things....

we never figured out what this was so he got to swim away until another day...

Our catch....

 Day two of fifty pretty much rocked!