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!

I will See Him Again

Four years ago today, my Beloved flew home to heaven.  It was unexpected.  I still can't believe he's gone sometimes.  Today my Alan is with the Lord and I am grateful he is there--I smile through my tears.  He is in a better place and some day I will see him again. 

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.   

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

 ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

My husband could read Greek fluently.  He was a teacher and often taught that in the original language the words "caught up together with them" has the idea of being caught up next to those we know and love...  I treasure that hope with all my heart.

Eagle's Song -Paint Party Friday

Years ago I made this cloud painting from a photo I took over the back fence.  As you can see there is an Eagle flying next to the cloud--miraculous indeed.

I am posting it tonight, in honor of Dan Becker.  He was a veteran--a beautiful eagle of a man, who was strong, loyal, sweet, and kind.  He was a dear, precious friend.

About an hour ago, Dan unexpectedly flew away to heaven.  We have known the Becker family for a little over 25 years.  He was one of Alan's best friends and was a wonderful part of all of our lives.   He was a second Daddy to my children after their Dad left us three years ago. 

Now Dan and Alan are together in heaven. 

Please pray for Dan's wife, Judy, their family, friends, and for me and my children.  We are grieving and hardly know how to get through this additional loss.  Yet, there is comfort in knowing we will see them again.  God is here, grieving with us--and we are not alone.

Blessings, comfort and joy to all of you, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by.

My Beloved in the Clouds -SkyWatch Friday

Here is the face of my Beloved.  Monday is Alan's Heaven Day.  It will be the third anniversary of his parting from us.  He left a big hole in all our lives, and is sorely missed.

He was a beautiful person.  I miss him with all my heart.

Above you see the original cloud I caught with my camera.  I hardly had to do a thing.

God bless you, dear ones.  It is a good thing to look up. Have a lovely weekend and Happy Skywatch Friday.

Little Boy Blue -Paint Party Friday

The original cloud for this cloud painting formed over the back fence in the alley. I was astounded--I had very little work to do. The little fellow's profile was perfect.

Above you see the original cloud.  Such a sweet little boy blue.

Have a lovely weekend and happy Paint Party Friday!

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. 

Sky Angel -Paint Party Friday

I have been looking up at the clouds since I was a little girl.  It was after I nearly lost my life in 2008, from MRSA, that I began to capture what I saw in the skies.  My family bought a camera and photoshop for me and I became a cloud painter.

I haven't had much time to do much artwork this week--so I'm posting this cloud painting from 2010.  I will be speaking for a Women's Retreat tomorrow, so I've been busy preparing for that all week long. 

Above you see this beautiful angel as I first saw her over the back fence in my garden.  As you can see, I didn't have to do much!  I feel privileged that God would bring the beauty of the skies, with its wonderful possibilities, to my attention.  God is good!

Happy Paint Party Friday.  Keep looking up!  You never know what beautiful thing God may have there for you to see.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.  ((Hugs))

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.  

Hope of my Heart -Paint Party Friday

It is time for me to post another of my Cloud Paintings.  As long as I can remember, I have admired artwork found in Nature itself--its beauty authored by the Creator.  I even dreamed of painting a sunset with Him someday.  I'm sure God smiled over that dream.  

In 2007, I nearly died of MRSA.  Two hours more, and I would have lost my leg, my life, or both.  I  prayed that God would let me live. Not long afterward, my family bought a camera for me.  The gift I was given after my brush with death, allows me to see things hidden in nature.   

Years ago, looking into the sky, I caught sight of this beautiful young man, who looks so much like my own dear son.

This morning I was thinking about how important hope is to each of us.  I am so grateful God has given me a heart of hope.  Life would not be worth living without hope.  I am so glad He is the God of hope, and I do not walk my life's path alone.

Above you see the original cloud as I captured it with my camera. 

Have a lovely day, dear Friends--My prayer for you, is that you will live in the Hope God gives to each of us.  Hope lives.

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you lovely artists and beautiful people. May God bless you, dear ones, with His joy and peace.  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.  

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.

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.