IF Yield

This little bear is happy to yield the right of way to his little bunny friend! And the bunny is delighted to charge ahead in his little car. This topic made me think of how often in our life we choose to yield to others! I do it for so many different reasons and I not sure sometimes it is the right thing to do. I yield to my Mothers wishes most of the time as she is not in her right mind and not to yield would cause her distress and would confuse her more. I put my foot down when that decision might hurt her. I yield to my Children sometimes just to keep piece in the family and sometimes just to help them along in their journey. I know that is what parents all over the world do. I yield to people that have strong convictions if I don't have an opinion on the subject, as not having enough information would keep me in the background. But I don't yield when I feel my character or beliefs in life are challenged. I try to live in the truth as much as possible and when someone comes from lies and deceit enters my space I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stick straight out! I have watched these untruth doers over and over try to manipulate my life to make theirs what they want it to be. I think what a waste of time and energy they are spending on something they won't achieve. WOW how did such a heavy subject come out of such a simple topic and a children's illustration? Guess it is some of the stuff I see going on in my everyday life. It's a beautiful day here so a drive down to the beach to stare at that vast ocean is on my list of things to do. I hope you are free of manipulative people and that you have a beautiful special space you can retreat to if needed. Life is not always easy and we need to take advantage of the calm and peaceful times. Enjoy the small moments.......

Temptation?

When I started this painting my intention was to capture the feeling of how wonderful it would be to have a wonderful bed, soft and beautiful deep in the forest. The smiling Moon overhead and nothing but you and your thoughts to fall asleep with. As the painting developed the colors seemed wrong on the woman so I changed them and realized that if using mostly black and white something red would really stand out and the apple came to mind and the next thought was Eve, why not she WAS looking tempting I think! I used the trim around the head and foot board to represent the snake, and if you look closely you can see the snakes head at the bottom right side. I was surprised with how this theme developed. Much like life we can never predict just how life will turn out and I know that to be true as every day passes. I also know that this is not a dress rehearsal and as far as I know we need to live life to the fullest. My breath is still taken away by the sight of the wonderful ocean. My heart still skips a beat when I truly look at my beautiful Children and Grandchildren. Amazing how did we get this far. Where did the time go? Flying by as all the older people say, I wish you all many days full of temptation, after all whats life all about if not about making choices? Make yours good ones!

IF Forward

Little Red and Grandma are beating feet as fast as they can forward to get away from the Big Bad Wolf! I guess we are all trying to run forward as we go through life. Many different things are chasing us as we make our journey. When I was small I was moving forward trying to hurry life along so I could do the things the big kids did. Later I hurried forward to fall in love and get married and have children, why, because everyone else did. And now I'm moving forward to the unknown parts of my life and being a care giver to my Mother is now my big bad wolf! This task has shown me many sides of my life and personality I didn't know I had, or if I knew I chose to forget it. My Mother is sweet and always has been but her short term memory is gone. And repeating herself is constant. Sometimes, many times in a role and try as I may my patience wears thin. I find myself remembering things that annoyed me about her many years ago and disliking these things now again like I did then. I didn't know I could be so short with someone or that I had the ability to run away from her so I don't have to listen to the repeating. It would seem like it would be easy to be nice but sometimes I find it a difficult thing. Believe me I have analyzed why and the conclusion I have come to is that I am really mad because I miss the Mother I used to have. The one I could talk to the one I spent time with having fun and giggling. The one that made sense, even when I didn't want to listen. She went and got old on me. 93 in April, and life inside of her head must be harder for her with the confusion and inconstancy. I know I sound shallow and unappreciative! I vow to work on this and to continue to love and take care of my Mother as she did for me for many, many years! Big bad wolf Im not running anymore!

IF Sink

Harriet is in quite a mess. In her excitement to enjoy the warm beautiful water she has jumped in totally forgetting she can't swim! I will continue the story... that the large fish at the bottom of the picture will rescue her and swim with her on his back safely to the shore. I think we all want a happy ending to the story and find distress when it looks like it isn't going to happen...I attended a Holiday program at my youngest Granddaughters school last Friday. I also attended the same school and I was excited to see what the program would be like. The teacher was really smart and ask all the kids to wear their PJ's. Well the brightest of styles and colors were seen. No need for Christmas costumes the outcome was delightful! Their 6 year old faces were all so different . Some were confident, some were frightened and some were just there taking in all of the parents looking at them. My Granddaughter knew all the words and gestures and of course was the best in the group...Really... she was.... one of her friends parents watched her as she said that she knew that she was doing it right. I fought back some tears a couple of times when I remembered being in that same cafeteria so long ago. And I wondered what the future would be like for all of these beautiful children.Where did the time go? It is true it does go fast...when you get to be my age it becomes so apparent that everyday does count. No dilly dolling around any more. My quest to do some things must be attempted NOW as no one knows how much time we have left. I don't say that in a sad way just a real way! I always knew that we had to make the most of it. ...back to the kids ...I wanted to draw these great kids and will soon. Color and fun I intend today to have more color in my life and a lot more fun... I hope you can do the same....I will think of those that are not having fun and need extra love and send it to them...you might try to do the same....byeeeeeeee

IF Round

She was so round, in fact everything around her was round.....I had fun with the suggestion for this week with the word ROUND....the woman you see here embraces her curves and makes no apology for them. She also emphasizes them by dancing with the round balls....I haven't had much time for IF lately as I was busy printing and designing a line of greeting cards made of allot of the paintings I made for IF. I have them in a store I see to and they also carry my paintings on canvas and this month have sold three of them. Iam delighted and thrilled at this and was lucky enough to find out that the new owner of one of them is newly widowed and starting out on a new life. My painting is a woman at the beach, red hair flying in the breeze with her apron full of wonderful sea shells. So her friend thought it would inspire and make her friend smile. That is just what I hope my art does, make the person looking at it smile. I also ran into a friend that had bought one of my paintings a few years ago of a still life in a pitcher with a mermaid on it. She told me she moves it around her house ,its pretty large, so she can enjoy it where ever she is working. It is now hanging happily in her work room. Many days have gone by when I wondered if I would ever make a difference in this world of Art. My question has been answered many times this month and I feel humbled and happy at this event. So onward with my paintbrush in hand and ideas in my head! This may be happening in a small way in my own backyard, but you know it feels really good and right now that is good enough for me.....I hope you are also enjoying knowing that your art makes a difference, even if it is in a small way...I think it is a start!

It's raining here in Sunny California!

I woke up to rain this morning and the feeling that winter just might be on it's way. I enjoy the changes of the seasons so this is good. My plants in the back yard really need some water and this will save me the task of watering, but I really enjoy the time outside. ...This Cat card was created by tearing construction paper in various shapes and drawing and cutting out the actual character. I really had fun tearing and cutting and gluing, reminding me I need to do just that more often. Things have been fairly quiet in my life. The natural changes of life continue and many deep breathes are taken in trying not to fight life but instead "go with the flow". Not to be a wisp of a person but knowing when and how to become involved. I remind my oldest Granddaughter to try to remember not everything she has to say should be said out loud to everyone. Some thoughts are best left to herself and not the general public. She knows its important to be heard but sometimes gets herself into trouble when talking back to her parents. Boy this life thing is backwards. I have always thought that we should be parents before we are children.... I know that won't happen and maybe be should listen to those who have gone before us...but that won't happen either....so I guess that leaves us with the learning experience of life.... and me wanting to cut and paste again...it has always worked and maybe a trip with this Cat of mine to Catalina...it's been years since I have been there and it is a lovely island ....who knows..........

IF Hibernate

I often feel like hibernating until I feel better about things or getting all of my obligations over. I have wished that the world would stop and only I could keep going and have the most productive day ever! This little bear is all decked out in his red flannel pj's and has his favorite toy to cuddle with as the winter passes. ..Today is dreary and rainy and I love it. We need more rain and it is promised for tomorrow. I enjoy staying home and listening to the rain on the roof. My cat hates the rain and wants to sit in my lap all day.... not possible.....but she almost insist and makes me a little crazy.....I think the Grand kids are in the groove of school...not happy but going without to much of a fit. ...Mother is still vague and confused but able to do the little things around the house that make her feel independent. She has always liked to be the underdog and to feel persecuted so in her forgetting she often places herself in places that make her feel this way. I feel sorry for her and will often correct her with the correct information so she won't feel unhappy. But to my dismay she then says, "well then I am a liar"....can live with them , can't live without them...so I try everyday to practice what I call Protection and Maintenance for her. Let her feel she is in control and knowing inside that she will feel however she will without my help. Love her and try to guide her but sometimes it seems feudal....I guess that is when I truly want to Hibernate!...So to the drawing board I go...sooooo glad I have this talent and hope to draw and create until I need someone to Maintain and Protect me! Have a good day, hug someone and remember to smile as if you know something that no one else does...its true isn't it?