Angel Praises

Here you see an angel, face full of praise, rising toward heaven. The smaller photo is the original photograph before cloud painting!

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Speaking of angels, I am so very grateful for the intervention of these amazing beings in our lives. I have some wonderful stories about angels.

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When I was in my early 20's I lived with my grandmother, next door to my parents. One day Dad and Mom asked me to use their car to pick my brothers and sister up from school. On the way home, a tire blew out on the old Lamaze. Narrowly missing a cliff, we landed in the hedge along the edge of an old man's front yard.

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The little old man could not help, but he let us use his phone. However, because Dad and Mom did not own another car besides the one I was driving, no help was to be found. Dad and Mom stopped right then and there to pray that God would send help.

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Meanwhile, my siblings and I were assessing the damage to the tire. Just then a sparkling white tow truck pulled up--no insignia on the side of it. A buff fellow about my age, with long blonde hair and wearing sparkling clean white coveralls, jumped from the tow truck.

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"Looks like you need some help," he said with a grin. Then he hooked our car to his truck, pulled it from the bushes, and backed it down into the old man's driveway. "I can't help you change your tire, but I can show you how to do it." This he did, then with a wink and a wave he drove away. My siblings and I ran to the top of the driveway to wave our thanks, but to our astonishment he and his tow truck had vanished. The road was clear in both directions. There was no possible physical way that tow truck could have gone out of sight so quickly.

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Angels watching over us. Angels sent to help--in answer to the fervent prayer of our parents.

Gruesome Twosome

I taught stage makeup "how to's" to a combined class of 26 junior high and high school children last Friday. We had a wonderful time. The night before, just for practice, I made up these two fellas with some rather gruesome wounds.
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There are all kinds of art forms out there--not just painting and drawing.
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This is another creative outlet for the artist.

Ladybug Bouquet

On this rainy, blustery day, it seems flowers are in order...and a little fun, too! Several years ago we traveled through California for a week of drama performances. That means lots of sitting time in the big red van. Even with the bumps of the road, I enjoyed drawing this pen and ink bouquet.

This bouquet is for you on this rainy, dreary day. Now, for a little fun. If you look closely, there are an undetermined number of ladybugs hidden in the flowers. How many ladybugs can YOU find?

Flirty Whirl Wind

I have often watched farmers working in their fields, first plowing, then discing the harshly furrowed dirt into softness. After that seeds are pressed into the rich brown soil. The crops grow, then are harvested by massive machinery with great fat tires.

It is interesting to me, that as the farmers work the fields, there are nearly always a few dust devils dancing alongside them. I imagine the whirl winds might be flirting with those buff, hard-working farmers. What do you think?
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Indigo Dreams

This is my youngest sister Leigh's favorite Cloud Painting. There's something peaceful about this piece--I snapped the photo last summer, south of town in the middle of a fragrant mint field.

Whispers

She whispers through my prayers. She does not know it but I pray. She is lost, but will be found. What sacrifice will be made? Amazing to find her profile in the clouds. Beloved girl. Adopted Daughter. Heart broken and so far from home.

Rose of My Heart

This is one of my very first watercolors. I've always loved roses. Their beauty and fragrance have always brought joy.

There are many memories associated with roses, the white blossoms which grew rampant over the old shed at Grammie's house, a start Mom brought home which grew up into the oak tree next to the pathway.

Our last home was surrounded by roses of every kind and hue, even a blue rose. I LOVED them. the blue roses were more purple than blue, but they were the most aromatic roses I've ever known.

I have always associated roses with my heart. Perhaps because in their fragrance I can walk back into wonderful memories from my life.

Roses of my heart.

Hearts, Hearts and MORE Hearts!

I challenged my darling sis to another duel.
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Said she, "The challenge ist "dual-ly" accepted. At thine bequest the gauntlet is flung back to thou. I shalt search for a likeness. Thou shalt search for a heart. The laurel of Supreme Wenchdom is at stake. Thine everloving sis - Clytie"
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Here therefore, sweet sis, are some of the hearts for which I sought!

So now thusly I join my sister Clytie, to challenge the rest of you to a dual--to find a face or heart in something unexpected--for a GRAND contest!

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The first prize winner of this goodly challenge, wilst receive as their own, a matted, signed, numbered piece of art from Beth Niquette Fine Art. The Second prize winner will receive a matted, signed numbered photo from Clytie of Random Hearts.

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The best entries will be posted on our new blog site which will be up and running in a couple of days.

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This fine contest ends on April Fool's Day!

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The gauntlet has been flung--Now forsooth! Who will take up the challenge?

Amanda's Angel

I've always thought cats might have wings. Perhaps their wings sprout when people aren't looking? Maybe they're invisible to the human eye? What do you think?
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This little angel kitty is too young to know a cat simply doesn't show one's wings to a human being.

Cherry Tree Maiden

Walking the campus of Corban College in Salem, Ore., I happened upon this lovely maiden gazing over the steep pathway below. I am sure she wishes she could join the crowds of students passing by--instead, she is fated to watch from her perch on the hill. If you enlarge the picture, you can see a tiny smile upon her face. Perhaps her wistful joy comes from the laughter of the young people she observes.

I am certain she is a small flowering cherry tree. As spring approaches and new leaves unfurl, I shall be back to record her spring colors. I would love to see her with a crown of cherry blossoms.

Be sure to click on the pic for the larger version--I think that is how she is best discovered.

Cloud Perch

Here you see a small faery, caught in a moment of repose. She perches atop the shoulders of her giant cloud friend. How lovely to ride across the skies with one she trusts and loves so much. I wonder what she is thinking. Though secure in the strength of her large companion, she still seems pensive and thoughtful.

How wonderful! Thank you Cheryl, for bestowing such a lovely award. I am truly honored. You made my day!!!

Snow Twirl

During our last big snowstorm I found this little faery dancer in the delicate twirls of a curly willow tree. I love snow, especially the way it transforms our sometimes drab world into a beautiful, magical place.
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Once in a blue moon there is a snow storm in late February. But it doesn't look like we're going to see more snow this year! Spring is kissing away winter's cold, and soon the flowers will bloom.

Angel Naptime

The littlest angel has been very naughty. He knocked over the golden candlesticks, lost his halo, and pulled out an eagle's tail feathers in passing. He even tripped the mighty angel Gabriel, who fell end over tea kettle, to land head first in the great river flowing from the golden throne. So now the small, wayward one has been sent to bed early.

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Can you find him?

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When people study this "Cloud Painting," they often see many different things. One young boy saw a bearded man, other folks have pointed out various children's faces, and one lady saw, of all things, a mouse! What do you see? Can you find him? I'm sure he must have a sprinkling of freckles across his nose. There is something about that pouty little-boy face, which would tug at any Mom's heartstrings.

Manly Man Tree

As you can see, this photograph by my beloved sister Clytie is AMAZING! You can see why I gasped in amazement. I didn't have to paint much--it was all there to begin with!

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You can find Clytie's wise and humorous insights along with her wonderful photographs at http://clytie-randomstuff.blogspot.com/

Swamp Thing

This is a REAL departure from the norm for me. I rarely draw frightful things.

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The story behind this, er, swamp monster, starts with the awesome talent of my sister, Clytie. She has a wonderful blogsite, by the way--you can check her imaginative writing and photography at http://clytie-randomstuff.blogspot.com/

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Last week she sent the most amazing picture of a tree in the form of a man's face. The tree is located in the forests of my childhood. It is such an incredible photo, I gasped when I first saw it.

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However, what you see here is the lower lip and chin of the tree, along with what I am sure must be the "Swamp Thing" of my childhood nightmares.

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Judge what you see here for yourself...I'm convinced! (I think it's coming to get me!)

They Carry Our Children

I recently sent a copy of "Mayday! Mayday!" to my talented friend Phil Bogle. Phil has a wonderful gift of writing, and a unique way of seeing the world. He has been an inspiration to Alan and me, many times over the years.

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When Phil viewed the photo, he wrote, I just get an entirely different thought process when I see the one you entitled "Mayday! Mayday!" I think of the MAF pilots...flying the missionaries into the jungle. Taking the dear workers of God into the jaws of death and attacks by Satan. The little David, against the roaring lion, delivering hope and the Gospel. My son goes into the jungle frequently and I worry often. The MAF was the only way my kids and grand kids got to their home in Mulia, New Guinea. Now they are in a different place called Cannibal Valley (not one bit more comforting). But knowing that MAF pilots do their job, so Ben and others can do their jobs, is the image I get from your piece.

Phil's description of these brave pilots, and the inspiring poem he wrote, deeply touched my heart. Please be praying for the courageous men and women who risk their lives to bring hope to those who have never heard.

Icy Lace

The cold beauty of our first winter snow is especially lovely as you see it here--captured in the icy lace of the curly willow trees near our home.

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A few hours after I shot this photo, the silver thaw began in earnest, covering everything with nearly an inch of ice.

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We heard burdened trees and branches breaking, popping and crashing all around us. One big oak tree lost a huge limb, which fell onto a nearby home, crushing down through the roof into the room below. Thank God no one was hurt.

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I had a bad fall myself. I accidentally stepped onto an invisible patch of ice on the cement steps of our front porch. I have been very sore since I fell, but that doesn't matter as much as the fact that my beloved camera broke. I would appreciate your prayers. It is silly, but when the camera broke, I felt like I had lost a part of myself.

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Next week, I will see how much it will cost to either fix or replace my camera. Though truthfully, right now we cannot afford to do either.

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However, though I grieve over the loss of my camera, I am also grateful for the wonderful photos I was able to shoot before I broke it. I haven't looked at all of the pictures I took yet. In fact, the photo you see here is one of the first I've seen--I am so excited to discover what other imaginative images I was able to catch.

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The truth is, if one looks hard enough, even when bad things happen, there is always something for which to be thankful.

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Happy New Year, and God bless you dear friends.