The Patriot

Every boy seems to dream of being a soldier.  This is an early drawing of mine from way WAY back.  I am posting this in honor of all those boys who have sacrificed their lives for our Freedom.

Tale of Tails - Illustration Friday

When I was a girl, my siblings and I would pretend to be shipwrecked.  My garden, located in the middle of the blueberry field--was an island surrounded by rough seas.  We would build forts and have picnics there.  My brothers would battle all kinds of dragons and slithering creatures from their imagination.  Those bygone days were such great fun.

After I was done with this drawing I noticed I did something really funny--can you spot it???

For more wonderful illustrations, please drop by Illustration Friday.

Cape Ape

When we were on our anniversary trip we had the fun of witnessing a minus tide.  We were able to walk along cliffs normally covered by the ocean.  Have you ever felt like you were being watched?

I felt astonished when I glanced up to see the kindly face of this gentle giant.  My husband, brilliant man that he is, came up with the name Cape Ape.   

Above you see this great ape, as I originally caught him smiling down upon the shoreline.

I added this photo to give some perspective on how HUGE the Cape Ape really is!

Floatin' Face

The sun came out to play for a few days.  What fun to see this fellow's funny face floating over the backyard fence!

Above you see this Floatin' Face as he first appeared.

Early Rains, Woodland Waters - Illustration Friday

I love the magical forests of our childhood.  My sister Clytie and I often walk there with our cameras.  This year, with the arrival of early spring rains, tendrils of water thread their way down the canyon to the creek below.

For more wonderful "Early" artwork visit Illustration Friday.

Lucky Buck

There are books full of tales of enchantment.  Many are stories which include an angry immortal casting a spell upon a handsome prince--a spell which can only be broken by the kiss of true love.

True love or not--this fellow is one Lucky Buck! 

Raccoon Rhapsody

We had a wonderful time away.  Part of the charm and magic of our trip was that I spent time each day doodling another Pen and Ink.  I've been itching to draw this one ever since I saw Abe Lincoln's inspiring Raccoon picture below.

If you look closely you will see the dear little Raccoon is playing a "daisy" harp--at least she is in my imagination!  Hence the name Raccoon Rhapsody.

If you would like to see more wonderful photography by Abraham Lincoln pop on over to My Birds Blog.

Abe, thank you so much for your wonderfully inspiring photography, stories and comments.

A Viking and His Lady

27 years ago today I walked down the aisle toward my

husband to be.  Would I go back and do it all over again? 

A resounding YES!

What a great adventure it has been!

Face Man

Most of us have seen faces in the clouds. As a very young girl, I remember days when my brothers, sisters, cousins and I, would lie on our backs in the middle of a summer field of tall grass, watching the clouds form overhead.

As an adult I still love to watch clouds. I never tire of looking.  One late summer day as I walked along the mint fields near where I live, I was amazed to photograph this vividly shaped face wafting over the gentle green hills.

Above you see this Face Man as I first saw him.  I sure didn't have to do a lot of work to enhance what was already in place!

I was thinking of the faces of all the people I know. Each person has a special identity--their own face through which they see the world. As we live our lives, our faces change with time. As time passes, our faces reflect the lives we live.

God longs to shine His face of beauty and glory into the lives of those who love Him. As our hearts glow with inner radiance, the ravages of life, or age seem to soften and slough away, leaving the only His beauteous peace beaming from our faces.

So, my special gift to you on this lovely Spring morning is this verse: The Lord bless you, and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace. [The Bible, Numbers 6:24-29]

Bandit the Wolf

Two years ago, when  snow actually fell here, I was delighted to capture some of the wonderful creatures hidden in that white sparkling world--including this wolf peeking from the branches of the fir tree which graces the corner of our front yard.

I dedicated this cloud painting to Bandit. Bandit was a wolf-mix dog, who chose my mother as his very own. But he had to find a new home. I know my darling Mumsie still grieves over not having her friend close by. When they leave our lives, we never forget them. 

When Mom saw the wolf cloud painting, she recognized her beloved friend Bandit, looking toward heaven.

Above you see Bandit as I first captured him howling up to the snowclouds.

Malaya's Lessons - Happy Mother's Day!

I have been collecting fairy tale books for years--a whole shelf full of them. In particular, I've loved stories of mermaids, mermen and their families. I even found a book called The Mermaid Reader, which details the lives, stories and legends of the merpeople.

This morning, in honor of Mother's Day I am re-posting one of my favorite drawings.

Here you see a tiny mermaid learning how to swim, instructed by her lovely green and blue tressed mother. The fish is a helpful friend--bubbling encouragement to the little one as she learns to flip her fins.

My reference models were my Sister Leigh and darling little niece Malaya.

Happy Mother's Day!

Eagle Song

This Cloud Painting is one of my favorites. In late summer, I opened the kitchen door on the alley side, to discover an amazing cloud formation stretched up across the skies. It looked like an eagle in full flight, wings extended high overhead.

I ran back into the house, grabbed my camera and shot over 15 photos from various angles. Later that day, I perused my "catch."

Imagine my astonishment when I discovered a REAL eagle in one of the frames. What are the chances an eagle would fly next to a cloud shaped like an eagle, just as I was snapping this photo? It is miraculous.

I am reminded of the hope described in Isaiah 41:29-31 (NASB). He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Our family has faced some very hard times. How marvelous to know when we wait for God's perfect timing, He gives us incredible strength to endure, to look up and to watch expectantly for what He will do.
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Above you see the Eagles, as I first caught them with my camera.

A Boy and His Lion

This is one of my favorite Prismacolor pencil drawings.  There's something so compelling about the friendship between these two.  A Boy and His Lion.  The drawing almost happened by itself.  It reminds me of Aslan from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis.

I would love to run with the Lion too.

Cowboy Poet

Uncle Jody always seemed to understand the heart of his small niece.

He would stoop down--somehow folding his long, lanky body into a comfortable crouch, easily balancing back upon the heel of his pointed cowboy boots--to look directly into my face.

His clear blue eyes would beam and his craggy face would light up, as he would listen to that small girl I once was. I can still hear his easy laughter. How I loved my Uncle Jody. I knew I was special in his eyes.

He wrote beautiful poetry and loved the work of Robert W. Service, who wrote Dangerous Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee. I can still hear his voice, a delightful cross between soft snow and rough gravel as he would read those wonderful poetic stories.

I remember Thanksgivings where Dad and Uncle Jody, along with Mom, all my cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles would fill an entire house with shouts of laughter, loud debate, good food and fun. I would go upstairs, lay my ear against the floor and listen to the rumble.  One of my favorite memories was when Dad and Uncle Joe ate an entire bottle of pickles so hot their eyes were streaming with tears. One could almost see the smoke rolling from their ears.

I miss him. I remember what Uncle Jody whispered, after hearing my daughters and I sing Amazing Grace in three-part harmony.   "I'm not so far away from God as they think," he confided with a mischievous twinkle in those clear blue eyes awash with bright tears.

I am confident I will see our beloved Cowboy Poet again--his worn Stetson hat slung low over his face, his blue eyes sparkling, his beautiful crinkled features creased into a big happy smile.

All Uncle Jody's brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews loved him with a great love--he made each of us feel special.   And we were.