Light Bearer

Just this afternoon I caught this amazing image in the clouds--I did enhance what I saw a little, but not very much. To see it best, click for the larger view.

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And the darkest hour of the night, is just before dawn’s morning light…and now before this moment is gone, get ready, here comes the Sunrise.

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Hang in there. It may seem the darkness is growing and suffocating all that is good, but the light is bright and it is already surrounding you. Darkness cannot stand before light.

The Viking and His Lady

This is actually a tongue-in-cheek drawing of my darling husband and me. I was a LOT younger, and with my pen, I was able to remove most of our wrinkles. (grin) I have had the blessing of being married to a man who loves me. This man's love is a gift from God, because I do not deserve that kind of unconditional love. I am so very grateful to God for my husband.

I just read the funniest romantic story about young love at Smart Mouth Broad's blog, and was inspired to share a story of my own.

27 years ago, I had just emerged from a very terrible time in my life. I had been on drugs, living in a world which was not very healthy. And then along came a man, who saw me and loved my smile. He had been in the ministry, so on our first date I knew I had to set him straight about me. I liked him, but I was cautious. Before I met Alan, I had fallen in love with a man who, when he'd heard only a portion of my story, never called again.

Alan took me to the Fernwood Inn, a wonderful restaurant housed in a beautiful old mansion in historic Oregon City. After dinner I said, "I know you're interested in me, so I think you should know what you're getting into."

I told him about my life over those past four years, and spared none of the ugly details.

He quietly sat back in his chair and my heart pounded with sudden fear. Because you see, I liked him a lot.

Then this strong, funny man tenderly smiled and said, "When I look at you, all I see is a beautiful white rose. All I see is the miracle of what God has done in you today."

I am blessed to have this wonderful man in my life.

Comforted

For all the brokenhearted people out there--He Who weeps, offers comfort in your darkest hour. Blessings, hope and comfort to you.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."  Psalm 34:18

Moth Faery

I found a photo of the most amazing moth. It's wings were the colors you see here, as well as the antennae. Who would have thought such colors actually would exist together in nature? They do, and here is the little moth faery who tends these magnificent moths as they fly through the dusky air of night.

With Great Sympathy

Last Thursday our dear friend Deann from The Whimsey Asylum was by her father's side as he slipped away to heaven. I cannot imagine the pain she must be feeling right now as her Dad's passing has left a huge hole in her world. I created this badge as a way to express my sympathy for her great loss.

Years ago my friend Geri (now in heaven, too) sent this poem by Eva Sparks Taylor. I send it now to you, dear Deann.

So, I send this note to say

My morning prayer included you.

You might be braver if you knew.

And so I send this note to say,

I took your grief to God today.

Your troubled heart,

Your load of sorrow.

Asked Him for strength for your tomorrow.

Because I am your friend, I share

Your pain as well as joy. I care.

So earnestly I give you more

Than love's own gift. At heaven's door,

I lay your broken heart, and He

Leans down to comfort you, for me.

((hugs))

Cloud Cherub

 This is one of my favorite Cloud Paintings. Twenty-two years ago our little one flew away to heaven. Though the years have softened the pain of losing our tiny Sterling Dow before he had the chance to live, I still think about him.

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This darling cherub is exactly how I have pictured our boy over the years. His little face is filled with love, joy and mischief.

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I am looking forward to looking into his dear face, and hugging him when I get to heaven.

Above you see my precious boy, as I first found him in the clouds.

Blogger Friendship Badge

Here it is! The Blogger Friendship Badge. I've learned some totally new concepts as I created this badge. This award is a special one, awarded to new friends who have shown encouragement to me and to my family.

She Sleeps Beneath the Waterfall

How often I have walked in the Forest beside some beguiling small stream, to note the sleeping nymph beneath a sparkling, dancing waterfall.

Trust

There is rarely a relationship more wonderful or filled with trust than that of a dog's unswerving love. I am grateful for all the animal friends I've had over the years. They've brought richness and beauty into my life.
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My first dog was Gumbo. She was a darling little mutt, who had many puppies--Clytie, do you remember Fattyhat, and Fattyhat Two? (grin) Then there were Poncherella Prunella P. Ratley, Pompernickole Herman Junior and Pepi Le' Piu Flea Longstocking. Friends from long ago--beloved in my sight.

Mayday! Mayday!

Can you imagine what that pilot might be thinking if this mountain lion were real? My husband thinks he might be shouting something other than "mayday!"

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I shot this wonderful little photo near our small local airport.

Kitten with Wings

As you know, from other posts on my website, I am convinced cats actually have wings, which they never show to humans. The lovely young lady in my drawing is one of the lucky ones!

This furry kitten loves her little mistress so much, that, forgetting her wings she flies to greet her friend, landing upon the girls' fingers to wrap a furry warm kitten tail around her wrist.

I know...I know, I have a GREAT imagination. (grin)

The Branch

October 2007, I nearly died.

I contracted a "flesh eating" staph infection in my foot. For three days my doctors were not sure I would make it. I later learned there was a 73 % chance that I would not. If my family had not insisted I go back to emergency when I did, I would have lost my foot, my life--or both.

I knew something was terribly wrong. Though no one had said so I knew I could die. Lying in the hospital bed, not knowing what the future held, I prayed that God would spare my life. I promised Him I would use my artwork to bring joy to people's hearts. I asked Him for a new way of "seeing."

Four months later (still using my cane), in an obscure park in Stevenson, Washington, I shot this photo in a thicket along the edges of the great Columbia River. When I first saw the naturally altered branch in it's lovely setting against those moss-covered boulders, I could not believe my eyes. What you see here is exactly what I saw--only I added two little sparkles to emphasize The Branch.

Since then, I've found even more amazing photos in nature. Perhaps to say that God has given me a special gift of "seeing," is presumptuous, but there seems to be no other explanation.

I am grateful for my life, for the ability to walk unhindered--for the joy of "seeing" hidden pictures in nature. My life will never be the same.

Curious Little Faery

I was doing some Spring cleaning yesterday, when I thought I heard a gentle tapping, tapping. Sitting back onto my heels, pumice stone in hand, I saw (with my imagination, of course), a curious little faery waving down at me through the bathroom window.

"Come out and play in the garden," said she. "What are you doing in there, anyhow?"

I carefully balanced the pumice stone on the edge of the porcelain, er, fixture I was scrubbing. Then I removed my gloves. I set aside the Windex, Comet, Kaboom & bleach, and pushed the hair out of my eyes. "Not something I enjoy much," I replied.

She smiled. "Come out to the garden. The goldfish are awake, flowers are beginning to bloom, and the earth is stirring from its sleep."

And so I did. That very moment.

Eeeek! It's a Dragon!

Last Summer I was down by the river taking photos, when I noticed a dragon hovering closely overhead. I'd never seen a dragon before, so I snapped a picture of him. He didn't mind in the least. In fact, I believe he was rather curious. I was amazed at the detail in his wings and face.

Above you see the original dragon I saw in the skies.

Angel Warrior

Time for another angel story!

We were on our way back from another performance, traveling over a mountain in our van, trailor in tow. The pastor's son sat in front with Alan, I sat behind with the children next to me.

Suddenly the van began to sway dangerously. At the higher elevation the road beneath us had unexpectedly iced over and we were sliding over the slick mountain road toward a steep cliff. I clutched my children, and heard myself shouting, "God help us!"

Everything went into slow motion. We were in the gravel, slipping inevitably ever so slowly toward the cliff's edge, when something big hit the side of our van with a tremendous thump! The van swerved, its wheels bumping back up onto the pavement, where we skidded to a stop. Time snapped back into focus. For a moment I thought we'd hit a barrior of some sort. But nothing was there. Stunned, we thanked God for His protection.

Alan drove slowly, inching down the icy mountain, finally pulling into the driveway of the pastor's home where we were to spend the night.

The first thing everyone did was to leap out to look at the side of the van where we'd all heard that huge whack. There in the tough road dirt and grease from miles of traveling, we saw the shiny imprint of a mighty shoulder, and a trace of feathery lines.

An angel? We think so. I can just see that giant angel warrior, eyeing our danger, shooting toward our van, colliding into its side with a mighty blow, to blast us back up onto the road, out of harm's way.

Tender Tears

Because this blog augments my art web page, I will occasionally be re-submitting some of my earlier art stories. This morning I decided to re-visit Tender Tears, and the mystery which surrounds this chalk drawing.

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I was 11 years old when my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Young, gave the class a page of black construction paper and a thick stick of chalk. I vividly remember drawing a fan of lines from the bottom of the page, with horizontal lines crossing where I thought the eyes, nose and mouth should be. Time seemed to slow as I gently smudged chalk into the darkness of the paper. Slowly a face emerged. I did not know who it was, but I loved the tender expression of his eyes.

My Mother liked it so well, she framed my drawing and hung it in the stairwell of our home.

Over 30 years later, I slid the picture out of its frame to scan it into my computer.

Here is the mystery.

Imagine my astonishment when I noticed tear stains soaking through the chalk, trickling from those wonderful eyes, seeping down the plane of one cheek. If you look closely you can actually see the tear stains pushing through the chalk lines. How on earth did they get there? My drawing had been sealed in its frame for more than 30 years.

Today the picture, which I've entitled Tender Tears, hangs in our upstairs hallway gallery. Every now and then I stop to look, and to ponder how those tear stains got there.

Sissy thinks the picture looks a little like my husband. I am not sure. Either way, it's a wonderful mystery.

Elegant Magnolia

I had a lot of fun putting in the detail you see in this pen and ink. I enjoy patterns, lines and the feel of beauty which fine detail adds to a drawing. The flowers were inspired by some photos I snapped in the quaint town of Stevenson on the Washington side of the great Columbia River.