Gnome Glow -Paint Party Friday

Here is another Cloud Painting inspired by what truly seems to be a glowing gnome making his way across the skies. I was walking along the river watching the truly magnificent storm clouds chasing over the water, when I saw this fellow.

He seems good-natured and I imagined him humming a tuneless tune through his front teeth as he moseyed across the horizon.

I am re-posting this older cloud painting, because of the business of the week--thank you SO much for dropping by.  Your sweet comments always make my day!  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Cat on a Wire -Paint Party Friday

Hello sweet Friends.  I am re-posting this Cloud Painting from long ago--I haven't posted one of my photomanipulations in awhile.  It has been so busy this week, I decided to repost this one--mostly because it is one of my happy memories.

My husband and I were driving downtown one stormy afternoon. We pulled up to a stoplight and I happened to catch sight of this amazing cloud cat on a wire. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had my camera out as always and clicked her picture through the windshield. I only had an instant, then the light turned green and she was gone. I'm not sure what she was after--perhaps that's a mouse creeping along the wire there to the left? What do you think?

As you may guess, I was astonished to see this cloud so well formed, a cat cloud actually sitting on the telephone wire. This is the original, untouched photo. It was one of those miraculous moments when I happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Thank you for dropping by, sweet Friends.  I appreciate your visits and comments more than you know.  Blessings and peace to you, dear ones.  And Happy Paint Party Friday!

Mourning into Joy

Above you see an enhanced photo of a heart I saw in my old wood stove.  It was beautiful--and seems like the perfect beginning to share the wonderful thing that happened on my way home from church  Easter Sunday afternoon.

Above is the original photograph.  

After Easter services, I stopped for takeout from My Beloved's favorite restaurant. He was on my mind so much yesterday--and I wanted to celebrate his life this way. Haha--he really, really loved good food.

As I was waiting in the darkened room at the counter, with its lights beaming down upon me, the young man behind the counter came up to chat. I shared why I was there and who's life I was celebrating.  I noticed then his eyes were full of unshed tears. I was touched--there was something about that kid. So I gave him the bit of "napkin art," I had drawn of Alan as I waited.

Out of the blue he introduced himself  and confided he had just lost his cousin--a dear brother to him. He had returned home from the memorial the day before.

Then Daniel asked how I was able to get through the sorrow, the grief--and I told him. It was a long conversation...and when we were done speaking together, Daniel placed his hand over his heart and with tears sparkling in his eyes he said, "Thank you. You have brought me great comfort today."

I was so moved. To think the awful grief I have been working through would have been such a help to that dear young man...It was a gift--SO sweet to my heart.

I felt God's power in sharing my journey. The words I said came from Him, not me.

Praise to God for His loving kindness and sweetness--for His comfort, that I have the privilege of sharing the comfort with which I have been comforted...God truly does bring joy out of mourning.

Angelic Warrior -Paint Party Friday

This is a Cloud Painting I made for my middle daughter for Christmas one year.  This Angelic Warrior could be one of my all-time favorite pieces of cloud art.  I love the wings, hair--and the weapon in her hands.

I clicked the original photo from our back yard. 

I find the heavens are full of fascinating and wonderful things, if only one would look up--I have a habit of walking along looking into the skies.  I trip a lot.  (grin)

Above you see this angel as I first saw her.  As you can see--I didn't have to enhance much.

Have a lovely week and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Daddy, Tell Me a Story -Paint Party Friday

I posted this once before, back in 2009.  I have been so busy, I just haven't had time to do much art, so hence this post.

This Cloud Painting takes me back to when my children were small. Every night when we'd tuck them into their beds inevitably one of the kids would say, "Daddy, tell me a story..."
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My Beloved was a wonderful storyteller.  Over the years--since they were tiny babies--Alan would tell them fantastical bedtime stories about a mysterious Sea Captain. The Sea Captain became so real the kids once stopped a man in Oregon's coastal town of Lincoln City, to ask if HE was the Sea Captain.
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Each of the Sea Captain stories had a theme.

One evening the story he told was to teach the children to call upon God in times of trouble. The lights were were low. Alan lay on his back on the old waterbed, the girls perched on his outstretched arms. They were on a boat in the open sea.
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Suddenly a storm blew up out of nowhere! The wind was ferocious, the ship began to rock. I provided the "sound effects for the wind."

Alarmed the Sea Captain began to shout orders. Alan's up-flung arm became the mast, as our youngest daughter began to pull in the sails. On the other side, the eldest was ordered to "frappe" the boat as the waves of the sea grew higher and higher. Our young son, the official thundercloud, began to bounce up and down on Dad's feet. The lightning flashed! I flickered the overhead lights. And the thunder grew louder and louder!
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The boat began to bounce and rock dangerously from side to side! The thunder growled and the clouds grew darker and darker. I switched off the bedside lamp. It began to rain furiously. The deck was so slippery no one could walk without being swept out to sea! Giant waves were splashing clear up over the ship!
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"Nothing more can be done!" cried the Sea Captain. "What should we do?"
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But all that rocking had put one little sailor nearly to sleep. She opened one eye, and with a huge yawn she replied, "Call 911!"

Alan was a great Dad.  We all miss his stories and wonderful jokes.  Sunday afternoon, the kids and I sat around the fire pit playing music and sharing stories and laughter, as we often did when Alan was here.  We will miss Alan for the rest of our lives.  He was such a wonderful man.  He filled our world with color, laughter and song.  What a blessing for those precious memories.

Here are the original clouds I photographed for the cloud painting Daddy, Tell Me a Story.  God bless you, dear ones.  Have a lovely week and Happy Paint Party Friday!

My Beloved -Paint Party Friday

It has been awhile since I posted a cloud painting.  I have been so busy this week that I haven't done much artwork, so this will have to do.  This sky painting is of my Beloved--from 2008.  Every now and again I catch the faces of people I love in the clouds...this one was on our anniversary years and years ago.

Tomorrow would have been our 33rd anniversary.  I miss him so dearly.  Our life together was truly an adventure--one filled with memories of both difficult and good.  I am so grateful for the time we had together.  Our life together was so amazing...so wonderful.  And you know--one needs both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.  My life has been spent in the rainbow.

I took this photo on our anniversary years ago.  We were at the beach and the cloud looked so much like Alan's profile, I snapped a picture of him.

Have a lovely day, dear ones--hug those you love and have a beautiful Paint Party Friday!  Thank you so much for dropping by. 

Old Man Winter -Paint Party Friday

Here he is, Old Man Winter. I saw him smiling down at the bare limbs of the trees in November of 2009. You have to look closely to see him. Winter is quite illusive at times--like today when it seems so balmy, except for the leafless trees, one might think it were September.

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Above you view him as I first saw him in the clouds. As you can see, I didn't have to enhance Old Man Winter very much at all..

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Old Man Winter

He has a real long beard that's white as snow

He has icicle fingers and popsicle toes

He has chestnuts roasting on an open fire

He has you scootin' down the hill on a worn out tire

He has sleigh bells ringing out into the night

He has everybody feeling alright

When Old Man Winter comes to town

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He has the whole world sleeping beneath a blanket of white

He has everything shining on a full moon night

He has kids of all ages, clowning around,

Building snow forts and knocking them down

He has frost on the windows, Ice on the stairs

Smoke from the chimney and pine in the air

When Old Man Winter comes to town

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people.  God bless you, dear ones--have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.  

Sky Dreamer -Paint Party Friday

This dreamer in the sky was made especially for a young friend of mine named Emily. She has a bit of the dreamer in her eyes.

Above you see the sky dreamer as I first caught her floating along the cloud's edges.

Thank you so much for dropping by!  Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Lion Slide -Paint Party Friday

I realized I haven't put up a cloud painting in some time--so here's one I painted in 2011.  I took the original picture out over the back fence.  I thought, at first it was a sliding dog with large flapping ears.  But as I worked on the picture--a lion began to form.  I laughed at the expression on his face--he's having SO much fun sliding down that cloud bank!

Above you see this frisky feline as I first saw him in the clouds.

Thank you so much for dropping by!  Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Masked Face in the Sky

I haven't posted a cloud painting for a long time, so I thought I would do so today.  Since Halloween is coming soon, I thought a masked sky person would be just the perfect thing.  This is a painting from a few years back, which I have never posted before.  I love the gentle look of her eyes--it seems like she might want to say something wonderful. 

Above you see my original photograph.  This was taken in the skies over the fence along the alley outside my kitchen door.

Have a lovely day, everyone--I sure am looking forward to the coming storm.  It shouldn't be too bad.  And I love a good storm.  

Fiery Cheetah

I love fireworks.  This year I used a different setting specific to fireworks and the result was some amazing photography.

As you know I often see things in clouds and nature.  This time I saw something in the fireworks.  At first I thought it might be a dragon--but as I worked with the original, it turned into a cheetah.

Above you see my original photograph. Do you see the cheetah?  If truth be known, it really could be a  dragon.  In time, I am sure there will be a wee dragon born from this same fiery photograph.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Cloud Kitten

Every now and then a fluffy cloud kitten peeks over the back fence.  That particular summer day I had my camera nearby, so was able to capture this darling, mischievous feline just before she ducked back into the curling mists.

Above you can see the original clouds--and if you look closely--there she is!

Have a lovely week!

Lady in Squirrel Tail Hat

Here she is, wearing her squirrel tail hat!

Here's how I first saw her...

And the snow-burrowing squirrel who made it all possible! 

I have been so envious of everyone's snow, until this unusually late snow storm which has dumped over 14 inches into the Independence Vortex!  I am SOOOOOoooo happy!

Have a lovely, lovely day!

Laughter and Light

I did a photoshoot last week with three of my favorite people.  They are so amazing.  Not only lovely to look at, but beautiful inside.  I adore this photo--and couldn't resist playing with it in photoshop.

Have a gorgeous day--don't forget to spread laughter and joy to everyone you meet!

Sky Ship

I have posted this piece before, but this morning something about this magical vessel caught my eye.  I remembered the moment I saw the original cloud.  My darling husband and I were off to get some groceries.  I hopped out of the van to find my husband rounding the end of the vehicle.

"Look!" he cried, pointing toward the Western sky.  "It's a ship!"

I gasped.  Indeed--it was a ship.

Above you see the cloud as we first saw it.  As you can see--it really was a ship--and I was inspired.

Have a lovely day!

Monday's Angel

I was out taking pictures of the amazing storm clouds this afternoon, when I caught sight of an angel in the sky.  After today's tragic terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon, I was deeply touched to see her floating there.

Above you see the angel as I first saw her.

We have many friends in that fair city.  Our prayers are with them.  I thank God for His protection of those who survived the bombing.  May He give healing to those who were injured and comfort to the families who have lost their dear ones.  I can't even begin to imagine how they must feel... 

Face in the Clouds

This is a cloud painting I did in January 2012--little realizing what heartache the coming year held in its grasp.  This painting reminded me of one of the Psalms of King David.

God, You are my God;

I shall seek You earnestly;

My soul thirsts for You,

I yearn for You in a dry and weary land

Where there is no water.

Thus I have beheld You in the sanctuary

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your loving kindness is better than life,

My lips will praise You,

So I will bless You as long as I live.

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

...For You have been my help

And in the shadow of Your wings

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

~ Psalm 63:1-5, 7 

A Psalm of David

When there is nothing left to hang onto...

God is there.

I have felt melancholy at times...a little lost.  I am sure it has a lot to do with Dad's death.  I was my Daddy's girl always.  Tears seem close to the surface especially in the evenings.  How grateful I am to God--He holds me safe beneath the soft shadow of His wings.  His Shadow overshadows life's shadows.

I wanted to share the original cloud picture from which I created the painting above.  You can see it below.

 As you can see--I didn't have to do much enhancement of what was already there.

I'm putting this up for Guest Heart Thursday--as there are several hearts to be found.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.
 

Angel Blanket

I was talking with Mom this morning--she told me she believes I should be doing more cloud paintings.  She says she was given a special word about it.  It has been a LONG time since I've posted one of my sky art pieces.  Since Dad had his stroke last October and left us for heaven in November, I haven't spent much time cloud painting--I kind of lost heart.  In honor of my lovely Mumsie and Dad, I shall begin to paint clouds again.

I took the above photo over the back fence--truly, as you can see, I didn't need to add much to this lovely angel.

Have a lovely day today, sweet Friends.

Into Heaven's Sunrise

Ten days ago, Daddy left us at Sunset--here he is, joyfully stepping into heaven's sunrise.

This is the final effort of one of my first attempts to meld my own artwork into a real photograph.  The actual photo is very small.  I'm so grateful for this wonderful scanner.

May God be gracious to you 

And bless you 

And cause His face 

To shine upon you.

Joy of the Angels

Saturday, December 17th, just before six, I was in the middle of setting up the stage for yesterday's drama.  Suddenly I became so dizzy I had to sit down.  It was the strangest feeling--as though a part of me was suddenly missing. 

Miles away, at the VA hospital, Mom had been holding Dad's hand praying.  Then his fingers gently cradled hers--a moment later he was gone.   He flew away at 5:45--exactly when the dizziness overcame me.  I know Dad tenderly carries a piece of our hearts with him always--we who are left behind grieve, yet we have hope.

I can only imagine the joy of his Shepherd and the angels, as Daddy arrived in that beautiful place prepared just for him.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers over these difficult weeks.  Please continue to hold Mumsie close in your prayers.  She will be walking a different path now--one without her best Friend and lover--as Mummers has always said--he was the wind beneath her wings.  Also, pray for my sweet sissy Clytie, who has always been such a great gift and help to my parents and the twins. Sissy Leigh, who will be helping with all the arrangements and her family, our brother Mark and his family and Darren and his family will all welcome your prayers.

Take time with the ones you love.  Work can wait.  You'll never regret spending those precious moments.  Life is fragile. God bless you--every one of you dears out there--with abundant life, extraordinary love and amazing joy.