Forest Treasure

You are probably wondering why this lovely young lady is wearing baseball gloves? I have wondered about that myself. Sometimes things just happen when drawing a picture. Hmmmm . . . . If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear from you!

This picture is a mixture of art mediums. I used graphite pencils to sketch my idea onto the paper. I put in the detail with indelible ink using various sized ink tips, erasing the pencil lines. My beloved Prismacolor pencils added color--after which I inked in crucial lines and detail which the beezwax from the colored pencils had blurred. I scanned the picture into my computer. Then I used an art program to add bright sparkles and shine to the faery and gloves.

Tea Cup Faerie

This is one of my very first watercolors. The Tea Cup Faery resides on the wall above the piano where my Mother-in-Law's wonderful antique teacup collection is displayed.

I fancy when we're not looking, this tiny delightful faery steps from the picture, to poke around in the bits of stuffs and sundry we've dropped into the teacups over the years. It is possible she puzzles over what she finds there. I can imagine her astonishment as she examines a small cat's head made of clay, bits of jewelry, marbles, pennies and other stray odds and ends. She might ponder why this, or that bit of "stuff" is so precious that it is kept in a tea cup?

I wonder about that myself.

Forest Defender

This is one of my more "whimsical drawings." As a youngster I loved and dearly enjoyed all fairytales, myths and legends. Coupled with a big imagination, I would often make up stories about the lives of the faery folk I imagined living in the forest. I was the staunch and brave defender of the woodland!
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The forest near where I grew up is beautiful. There is a small canyon, complete with tall trees, and a rippling, singing brook. In these magical woods grow snowdrops, pungent skunk cabbage, star flowers, vine maple and fiddle fern. The moss grows thick beneath fragrant fir and cedar trees, where vast bunches of green sword fern grow unrestrained. A few years ago, we found ferns growing near the creek, with fronds more than six feet in length!
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As children, my brothers, sisters, cousins and I played in Leprechaun Valley and Deer Valley. There were beautiful places we named Bambi's meadow, Reflection Lake, Castle Stump and Fairy Wing Pond. We would follow the distinct trails of the deer into thickets of low growth beneath the cedar trees. There we would find green-walled rooms, complete with lush moss carpeting. I remember the loveliness of delicate maiden hair fern and the rare find of an Indian Peace Pipe plant.
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I recall long summer days spent exploring, building forts and tree houses, eating blackberries from vines covering the steep hillsides, and red huckleberries from "Huckleberry Bridge." I can retrace wading in the cool stream and the way the soft mud felt when we would sink our feet deep into the Mud Flats formed by natural springs bubbling up from the rich brown earth.
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On this cold winter day, if I think hard enough, I can still smell the fragrance of the cedar trees and feel the green coolness of the forest on a hot summer day. I hear the stillness of the woods, spiked with bird calls, the creek's song and the crackling of underbrush beneath my bare feet.

Christmas Smiles

Christmas will never be the same after this year. So much has changed, so many amazing things have taken place--sad things, happy things, miraculous things . . . How grateful I am!

May joy fill your hearts, put a sparkle in your eye and smiles on your faces. Remember to laugh and count up all the blessings in your life--even if you are going through something awfully hard, the blessings are there if you look for them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fairy Sisters Three -- Wishing You a VERY Merry Christmas

These are three fairies who often visit in my garden during the summer months. (grin) They are full of the dickens and love to play tricks on the poor raccoons who often rumble through our yard in the wee hours of the morning. Tch tch tch--it's a good thing they're so cute! Today they are whimsically smiling, "A Merry Christmas to all!"

I know--I know, I have a GREAT imagination!!!
.This piece of art is just a portion of a much larger drawing. The original is 1 1/2 feet by 2 1/2 feet. I was just learning the use of various mediums together--and I used the wrong kind of paper. Because the art paper was too thin, it rumpled.

Pucker Up!

Isn't this fellow cute? He looks like a cloudy Casanova on a mission. I'm just sure he's out to find someone to kiss--so ladies, pucker up! He doesn't look like much will stop him from reaching his goal!

Above you see this cloudy bad boy, as I first caught him sailing across the skies.

Cloudy Day Nap

After all the hard work she's been doing over the past few weeks, the sweet angel has decided to get a little cloudy day shut-eye!

This is a pen and ink drawing I scanned into the computer. The drawing is one of my very first experiments adding digital color, using a VERY old computer paint program. It is rare for me to add color using the computer. I prefer the old fashioned way of doing things!

Christmas Candle - A Gift For You

This is one of the bookmarks I produce. I think they are so pretty. And this one is especially for YOU! This bookmark is a wonderful stocking stuffer, especially when thrust between the pages of a good book. For best results, be sure to print them with a color printer on photo paper. Merry Christmas!

Thank you again, dear ones, for your prayers for my sister, my Dad, my Mom--our family. You are truly precious in our eyes.

Tiptoe Softly Christmas Angel

Christmas tinsel, wreath and light,
Twinkling bright in dark of night.
Angel tiptoe through our day.
What is this, we hear you say?
Peace on Earth, good will to men.
Watch, listen, He's coming again!

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So, tiptoe softly Christmas Angel,

Spread your message of hope and cheer.

We are grateful for your presence,

And your care of those who are dear.
~ Beth L. Niquette

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SISSY UPDATE: Clytie is still doing great--gaining strength every day. One perk is that her eyesight has improved. She sees more clearly than she has in years. What a wonderful thing for my talented photographer Sis! Be sure to drop by Clytie's blogs this morning--she has two entries you will want to read. Thank you everyone for your warmth, thoughts and prayers for my darling sister.

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Here are the links: http://clytie-randomhearts.blogspot.com/ and http://clytie-randomstuff.blogspot.com/ May God bless you all--and a very Merry Christmas to you!

A Miracle for My Sister

Thank you--everyone who has prayed for my sweet sister Clytie's recovery . . . as I write to you, it is with a thankful heart.

Clytie, darling Queen of Hearts, had a stroke at 5 a.m. Friday morning. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital--it took me an hour to get there from where I live. Her right side was paralyzed and she could barely speak. To write of this, just . . . well, as I type here I am weeping . . . I have lost a brother and came close just now to losing my beloved sister, my friend.

I stood by her side. They had done everything they could do--it was a waiting game. She would get better, worse, then better, then worse—that last time was the most frightening, I was rubbing her numb foot when suddenly I realized she wasn’t feeling the pressure of my fingers.

I walked to her side, looked at her right hand and it was starting to curl. I felt so scared for her. I took her hand into my own. The nurses did some tests and she could not lift her leg or her arm--her speech was blurred. The nurses left.  She had closed her eyes--her face was white and so still.  So I put my hand on her hair.

I was praying over her when I felt that God was telling me to put my other hand on Sissy's head and to pray for her healing. I felt a little foolish—I thought maybe it was my own wishful thinking.  But I obeyed.  As I prayed for her healing, my hands got hot—like an oven. It was the strangest thing--I could feel the heat actually radiating down from my palms. My prayer was that God's healing would pour down through her body like warm oil, sweeping away the numbness imprisoning her. In my mind’s eye, I saw the connections that were hurt, reconnecting and sparking. I don’t know how long I stood there praying.

When I was done praying, I lifted my hand away.  Clytie opened her eyes and said as clear as a bell, “Aren’t you getting bored standing there with nothing to do?”

I said, “of course not, I’ve been praying for you!”  Tears gathered in my eyes as I tried to explain what had just happened.

A couple seconds later Clytie lifted her right hand—the one she couldn’t move before and was looking at her fingers and hand with astonishment. She started wiggling her fingers. She lifted her leg and curled her toes.  The numbness was leaving her body.

Just after that, I left for my parent's place to pick up the twins to see her. While I was at my parents house I wrote the last blog entry. By the time we returned the numbness was totally gone. Clytie could lift both her right leg and arm easily, she could speak clearly, the numbness was gone!

Clytie has steadily improved since then—Last night she ate dinner, she sat up in the chair and she’s been walking the halls—if all goes well she’s going home this afternoon. I’m just so amazed, and moved. Clot busting drugs and the power of God and the prayers of a loving sister--I am convinced a miracle happened.

All the doctors and nurses are just agog. The physical therapist says Clytie is a “rock star!” (grin) They are astonished she’s completely recovered, given that her entire right side was totally and utterly paralyzed. One nurse told me a full recovery like hers is exceedingly rare. The neurologist hardly knew what to say, except to stammer sometimes things happen they can't explain.

Please pray for my precious sister's continued healing and growing strength—the MRI shows she did have a stroke—the doctor says it is an area the size of a Lima bean, with a kind of vulnerable halo around it. She says she doesn’t feel anything is different than it was, but she’s still a little weak and tires easily.

I am so thankful for your good thoughts and prayers for my precious little sister. I promised Clytie I would let everyone know how she's doing and she sends her grateful love and thanks to each and every one of you.

Sometimes we wonder if God cares about us as we live our lives here on earth. He does--He cares. He's watching over us and loves us! All Glory to God for the things He has done!

Sissy in Hospital

No photos, no art today. Just a request for your prayers. My darling Sister Clytie had a stroke at 5 a.m. this morning. I have been at the hospital most of the day with her and as of this afternoon, I believe a miracle has taken place.

She has miraculously regained movement in both her right arm and leg and the numbness in her face and limbs has gone. But she is not out of the woods yet. Her blood pressure is still fluctuating and she will be in the ICU for the next 24 hours. She will probably be at Meridian Park for the next couple of days.

I would appreciate your prayers for my sister--and if you would like to send her a hi and hello and a word of encouragement, you can find the links to her blogs on the sidebar of this blog.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I will update you as I know the facts--please pray. She is one of my very best and dearest friends.

Garland of Birds

My husband and I were having lunch with our dear friend Vern, when through the windows, I noticed the exquisite profile of a woman silhouetted against the darkness of the clouds. I hastily took my camera out of its bag to click the picture--as I did so, a garland of birds encircled her hair.

Above you can see the original untouched photograph I took through those wonderful big glass windows at Eola Inn Restaurant!