Week 26 Focus on Life...?

This week we had no prompt and were given free reign to address anything we wanted to.  I had an idea of taking pictures of some recent bead weaving but today my mind was changed.

I took three grand kids out for lunch and gave them a bit of spending money as reward for doing well in school this past year.  Twenty bucks doesn't go far these days.... have you noticed?  It was fun taking them from store to store as they wondered if they would find a coveted item.  However, they kept wondering if the next store would be even better so hung on to their money until they couldn't stand it anymore.  My eight year old grand son Kyan spent some but had a few dollars left in his pocket which surprised me.  He doesn't tend to save anything.

 My thirteen year old grand daughter Jamisyn bought two items on sale...clothes of course and used it all.  She is a very focused shopper and doesn't mind looking on the sales rack.  Good for her!

Jenica my grand daughter has a giving heart

Jenica is 11-3/4 and she is an artist like me.  She is creative and loves anything shiny and glittery.  She is at the age where clothes don't fit - she wants to wear teen clothes but still has a child's body so gets discouraged easily. In the crafts department we found a mood lamp that would be marvelous for her room.  It is like a lava lamp but has colored balls in the bottom that change and glow as the light shines up through them.  She had about seven dollars left.

You may think this story is ho-hum and yes, it probably is but it's not finished - yet.

My last stop was an art store to get yet more micron pens and fine line markers for my doodling and zentangle obsession.  Who doesn't need more pens?  Jenica (my little artist) went with me and as I was self absorbed in the pen aisle I looked over to where she was.  She was dropping something inside a big glass jar.  I saw that it said:  Donation fund for flood victims.  

Jenica reluctantly told me she had put all her remaining money in the jar.  I told her I was so proud of what she was doing.  In the true spirit of giving, she did not want anyone to notice.  

As we left the store she said to me, "That isn't going to go very far is it?"  I told her that every little donation helps the Red Cross do the important work they do.  

  This is my focus on life - thanks for stopping by and leaving  positive comments.  I appreciate it.

Now head over to The Studio Sublime to see what others focused on this week.

Week 24 Focus on Life - Green

How can it be that we are at week 24 already?  I missed the last three weeks in spite of every good intention.   I gather all my tension in my neck and since I had been on a bead work spree, it really is a hard position to maintain for hours like I seem to do.  As a consequence for getting my muse back, I am suffering from shoulder pain.  I guess I need to take regular breaks and stretch.

In addition, I went to see a hand specialist and he did minor surgery on my thumb tendon/joint.  Was expecting a consult and a booking for surgery but no, he said he could do it then and there.  I had been waiting  17 mos. to see him so I wasn't about to leave.  My thumb was frozen and he proceeded with a fifteen minute procedure.  It has not bothered much at all and is healing nicely.  

So most mornings I sit on my deck....when the sun shines that is...and have my coffee and just contemplate the greenery around me.  It certainly does evoke a feeling of calm and balance.

The grandkids enjoy using this hammock and I admit to having tried it a few times.Great way to get a different perspective.  My husband was late getting his garden in so not much is growing yet.  

Thanks for stopping by again.  If you want to see all things Green - head on over to Sally Russick's blog.

Week 20 Focus on Life - Looking Up

The prompt given to us this week, was Looking Up.  Where I am presently everything in the city is built on hills or cliffs so there are many opportunities to look up or down depending where you are.  My husband told me about a trail beside a lake where we could walk the dogs.  He said it was a lovely spot and he was right!

We climbed down these stairs to start our walk so I turned around and looked up.  

                                       Great perspective.  What is it with me and stairs?

                          Fancy homes built on Long Lake.  How much closer can you get?  

                                            So many trees formed canopies over the trail. 
                                       I like this one of my husband and Rosie on the trail.

  There are some old growth trees at least 300 ft. high. I wonder how long they have been there?  The eagles are soaring above right now and they are nesting in the tallest trees.   I would like to get their picture but I don't have my telephoto lens with me.

 I couldn't help myself - I spent a lot of time looking up to the top of the trees.  Such beauty.

If you would like to see what everyone else looked up at this week - head over to The Studio Sublime

Thanks for stopping by.

Focus on Life - The Possibilities are Endless

I am so ready for spring but sadly there is still six inches of snow on the ground.  Color is very much missing and I am wanting to get out in my yard and start planting.  When I saw racks of seeds in the store this week, I grabbed up a few.  My husband loves to garden as in vegetables and after  he plants enough for a small village, ends up giving away many bags of produce.  I think he loves to do it just so he can give to others.  

I am dreaming of the possibilities of transforming my yard into something beautiful......

This is what I picked out....I love color so flowers are my specialty.  I will have to pick up many more bedding plants as well.  

This is a start and gives me hope that the place we moved into in late October might be very inviting this year.  That is if we ever get spring!  

Thanks for stopping by - now head over to see what everyone else focused on this week - at The Studio Sublime

Focus on Life - Week 9 - Knock, Knock

Knock, Knock....  Let's open some doors to see what awaits us on the other side.  

This was Sally's prompt as she guides us through 52 weeks of  "Focus on Life".  I am so impressed each week with the photos everyone is capturing and the stories behind them.  Such a diverse group in terms of who we are, where we live and what we focus on in our lives.  I feel like I am getting to know everyone and am so appreciative of all the wonderful comments.

This looks like it could have been a door...?

I absolutely love old buildings and am intrigued by the layers of weathered paint, crooked boards, cracks, rusty nails and am full of wonder as to what happened there throughout the years.  I would love to know the stories.   This little shack sits on the property adjacent to ours and it drew me in today as I went in search of pictures.   I couldn't access it so I'm not sure what it's purpose was - probably a workshop.  I am in love with the turquoise painted on the bottom half.

Then I found another door on the other side.

Some may see ugliness in this but I love the aged, cracked paint hanging in shreds showing layers right down to the weathered and bare boards.  I have to say that this old building was a stark reminder to me of the many layers of experience and life lessons that we go through.  I am not what I used to be in so many ways (thank goodness) and what I am trying to become is like this bare wood.....showing my true self.  The essence of who I am like this building that has stood strong for many years through many storms.  When I look at elderly folks I see beauty because of the strength of character and determination they have gained from hardships and physical labor they may have endured.  

This was my take on this week's prompt.

The house we moved into last fall was built in 1937 so all the doors are dark wood with glass door knobs.  So very pretty!  Where does this door lead?  To my delightful bright studio where I spend most of my days.  If you want to see pictures of that studio see my post Here 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit - now go see what others have been knocking on by visiting Sally's blog

Focus on Life - Week 7 - Flowers

Here in my world there is no evidence of anything blooming or coming to life.  Snow everywhere....and I was stumped as to what I could take a picture of.  I thought of going to the grocery store - but didn't.  I wasn't going to post but suddenly this AM I thought of an Art Journal page I made a few days ago.  Our assignment was to make flowers out of anything you have on hand so I gathered up tissue paper and began to form three different flowers.  The dimension compared to the other three which are stenciled and painted give them realistic qualities which I like.  This certainly brightened my surroundings since there are no real blooms outside.

 Here are my flowers for this week.  I hope this qualifies

An Art Journal page I made with tissue flowers

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such nice comments every week.  Now head over to see more at Sally Russick's Blog

Enjoy the weekend!