Rain, rain, go away . . .

     Compared to a lot of areas we are having very little rain.  However, it has been pretty hard and steady for the last two days.  While I don't have any reason to be out, it makes letting Lakota out very difficult.  He does not like to get wet.  He also because of having been sick takes a very long time.  So I will be glad to have some dry weather. 
      Speaking of Lakota, he is SO much better.  His appetite is good.  He seems well on the road to recovery.  But he is an older dog and he was very sick, so Ray and I are overly jumpy.  I do feel like I can relax a bit. 
       Lots of art work this week.  I got several coloring pages finished.  I also did several tangled pieces.  Here you go - my last week's "work".

Every Inchie Monday - Canada
 

Line Weaving Weekend challenge - Using dangles
 

Diva challenge #369 - Orb-tastic





Mojo challenge

I hope you are having a wonderful (and not so wet) a week!  Thank you for dropping by and hopefully leaving me some sunshine! 



RollerCoaster!

      These past few days have been an emotional roller coaster.  I have at times tried to draw, but couldn't function.  Then I would try again later to help soothe my mind.  Lakota, my furbaby, got sick last Friday.  It was super sudden and we had no idea what happened.  He could hardly hold himself up he was so weak.  The next day, we saw some progress.  He was moving around more but would get tired quickly.  Each day he was better.  I don't think we are out of the woods yet, but we have prayed so hard for healing for him.  He is eating, drinking water and moving around much more easily.  All things we are viewing as miracles. 
      My system does not handle stress well.  (well, whose does?)  So to top it off last night I got sick with a major stomach issue.  Great.  Today I feel very drained.  It is all I can do to sit here and play around half heartedly with my art stuff. 
      The inchie word was Malta.  I don't really know much about that place, but after looking at the google images I would love to visit and learn more.  What a beautiful place! The water is amazingly clear and blue.  I could see myself being on a beach there for a spell!

      The Line Weaving weekend challenge was hard and I am still not too sure about it.  I started a "gazillion" times.  We were to look at Joanne Fink's Dangle letters and use that for inspiration.  Her style is so loose and flowing.  It has a real delicateness too it.  I simply cannot produce that unplanned look.  My lines look so rigid!  Aggravation!  My "L" is for Lakota.

      Diva's challenge was to use "straight lines".  So I used one of my favorite tangles - maryhill.  I also used the tangle m-lines and then just some straight lines to finish up.  Lines are nice to sit and draw when you don't really want to concentrate too hard.  They provide a mental break for me and I need that.

       And lastly a couple of coloring pictures for fall. 

     

          I am tired right now but going to bed won't help.  I am not sleeping so very well.  I don't usually anyway and this just adds to the reasons I am awake.  Thanks for dropping by and I hope you are having a very blessed day.  Keep me and Lakota in your thoughts, please.  Hugs!!  

Blessed

    When asked to do a "ghost word"  picture for the Line Weaving challenge, I knew right away what word I wanted to use - blessed.  That word best describes how I feel right now.  There are of course things I would change in my life, but when you look at what I have - well, it is pretty abundant.  I'm not talking things, though my needs (and quite a few of those wants) are met.  But it is just life in general.  I have always wanted time to do my art stuff and now I have that.  I miss my kids at school some, but this time is such a blessing to me.  I have lots of aches and pains but I am trying to get to a healthier state.  Exercise, changing my diet, lots of focus on my devotional life.  Yes, that's the word that I chose for me right now.  The challenge itself took nearly all day!  I searched every flower tangle I could find to make sure I used some "good" ones. 

      Last Christmas I got 4 coloring books by Creative Haven, one for each season.  I have been coloring in them from time to time, but saving the season for the one we are in.  So, we are pretty close to fall, right?   These next two pics come from the Autumn Scenes book.   I know it's a bit early, but I love this season and few extra days won't hurt.  Besides I can dream it is cool.

      New Zealand is our inchie word.  I think I could live there.  I have always been fascinated by the beauty of that place.  I chose to do the two types of kiwi.  First there is a kiwi bird (draped in the flag) and then one of my favorites - the edible kiwi.  That is sooooo yummy.  I wish I had one right now to eat.

     Diva's challenge was to use the tangle nzeppel.  This is one of my absolute favorites.  It is just fun!  My monotangle uses both nzeppel and crazy nzeppel.  Love them both!

        Now off to . . .  well, I am not sure.  Perhaps color or draw or whatever.  Have a wonderful day and hopefully stay clear of the path of the hurricane that threatens the eastern US shores.  Hugs and blessings.

A few more challenges

      Diva's challenges are back!!  Yahoo!   I am so glad she had a restful and productive break, but I am also very glad she has returned to the challenge scene.  I missed her.  Now if Joey would just return (hint, hint).  Diva's challenge was to get "back to basics".  Four basic tangles, black and white, and string on a 3.5 tile.  Pretty basic.  I enjoyed this one though. 

     And then there was the Line Weaving Community Mojo challenge.  The three tangles we were given were ones I had not used much before.  Curl V2 almost disappears with my colors, but I really like the color on the other two.  Reminds me of an afghan, lol.

      Now to chill for awhile and do some coloring.  I just got off the bike and it was somewhat hard today.  I bike Monday through Friday and then take the weekends off.  You would think Monday would be the hardest day, but it is not.  Wednesdays are for some reason.  Either way I am chillin' now!
     Thanks for dropping by and I hope you are having a wonderful day!  Hugs and blessings!

Happy Monday Morning!

    You know, I struggle for what to title each post.  I sometimes sit and ponder for quite a bit on what to name the post.  Silly, isn't it?  I may just start naming them #???.  But a number seems so . . . impersonal.  Maybe a catchy overall title will hit me.  Any ideas?
     The past week was rather uneventful.  I did manage to stay "upright", lol.  I am moving - very slowly - on my next virtual race, Yellowstone National Park.  It is really a pretty place and I am enjoying the pictures from there.  But the biking has been a bit slow.  Some days are.  It is paying off though.  I put on one of my earlier shirts (one of the first races) and it was actually a good bit looser!  I was pleasantly amazed!  Now I know I still have a LOT of weight to drop but hey, down is down, right?
      I finished lots of challenges this past week.  I suppose I need to make cleaning areas of my house a "challenge" so then I would finish those!  Here are this week's challenges -

EIM - Croatia,  The country's national flower is the iris.

Grid Journey challenge, part one

Using some orange challenge

Line Weaving Community weekend challenge - We had to use the first letter of our name.  This was my first attempt.

The second one I tried for the LWC.  I like this one better. 
 

     Time for one more from Color It's Dogs coloring book.  More of the chameleon markers and this time with prisma pencils. 

     Guess I better go and get busy  on something - not sure what yet.  I hope you are having a wonderful week and I really appreciate your taking the time to comment.  Hugs!

Cooler weather

   While I know it is not going to last, I have so been enjoying this much cooler weather.  I look forward to fall.  Not winter so much.  I don't like extremes.  I prefer milder temps.  So fall and spring are great.  I worked on a few challenges this week and colored a little.  I haven't felt super so I didn't finish any of the house projects I really want to get done.  Let's face it when you put housework up against doing creative things, well the choice is simple.  At least for me.
     Here are this week's challenges -

Iceland, Every Inchie Monday
 

Line Weaving challenge - Circe

Line weaving challenge

Line Weaving Challenge (don't these look like a flock of flamingos?)

     This is the only coloring page I finished this week.  The little solid color Lhasa apso looks like one I used to have, Ko-Ko.  She was such a cutie.  I am still loving the chameleon markers.  They are tons of fun.  I haven't tried skin or fur with them.  I usually use my colored pencils.  More control for me there.

     Thank you for dropping by and hopefully leaving me a comment!  I love hearing from you!  Have a great and blessed day!!

Crash!!

     To say that I have been blessed this past week is somewhat of an understatement.  I felt a huge blessing the other day.  We have a couple of steps going out to the back porch - a covered concrete slab.  We had let Lakota out and I turned to come back in.  I caught my bedroom slipper on the edge of the door and slam!  I crashed into the dining room floor.  Full force on my face.  I didn't have time to put out a hand to break my fall so my face did the job!  Major pain!  My glasses fell clear without breaking (blessing).   My mouth hurt but I did not break a tooth (another blessing).  And even though it bled a lot, my nose wasn't broken (yeah again).  It was a bit frightening how much I bled, due to the blood thinners I am on, but still no breaks.  I wasn't even sore the next day.  It could've been much worse if I had fallen OUT the door.  The concrete might have done some severe damage.  So all in all, I felt quite fortunate.  I did not however feel the least bit GRACEFUL. 
     The weather has been rainy this week so I didn't feel the least bit bad about sitting and coloring and drawing.  Perfect weather for it.  I also have been wrestling with a small stomach bug so being lazy this week came easy.  I still want to get started cleaning closets but hey, that can be done whenever, right?
      I am working in my Color It book, Dogs Man's Best Friends.  Here are a couple of ones I have completed.  I am still really enjoying the chameleon markers.  They give such a great blended look.  I love the ease with which they combine colors or do gradients.  I don't feel comfortable enough to try the dogs fur with the markers so I use the polychromos pencils for that.

      Here are a few of the challenges I did for this week.

Every Inchie Monday - Jordan's flag

An It's a Sting Thing challenge I forgot to post in time

Weekly Challenge (Lineweaving Community) - Feathers

     

Mojo Challenge using slidehats and meringue

      Thank you for dropping by and a huge welcome to the new followers I have!  When I first started my blog a long time ago, I went the next day to school and tried to find someone to follow me so I could have at least one follower.  My friend, the assistant principal, agreed.  I was so thrilled to have ONE follower.  To see it grow without me begging is so cool!  Again thanks.  Also thanks for your comments - they highlight my day!  Hugs and blessings!