Feed your spirit well. Feed your body well. Not necessarily in that order.
A Gentle Encouragement...
Begin each day well...
Feed your spirit well. Feed your body well. Not necessarily in that order.
Feed your spirit well. Feed your body well. Not necessarily in that order.
Country Living? Nah...
I say I live in the "suburbs"...and I do...in a declining, probably now a lower-middle-class neighborhood. And I live here with a precious grandson whose parents bought a house across the street from me. My other daughter, her husband, and baby girl live almost inner city.
Though my home is in a suburb, it is smack-dab in city limits. With a pawn shop and a liquor store and a Pilot gas station and a drug rehab center and a Strike N' Spare bowling alley, all within walking distance.
The other day, there were two attempted robberies in "my" grocery store. I was there for one of them. The manager confronted a really large, braless, belligerent black woman about some stolen items in her purse.
Three steps away from my Cracker, under 140 Pound Self.
She threatened the young male manager, also white, and smaller than (even) me. Then she bolted towards me. I literally ran away, pushing my buggy. She ran past me, only to be blocked by a few male employees, who tried to form a human enclosure, to contain her until police came. It was loud and scary.
Depressing stuff, I won't lie.
But then I read stuff like this.
(A wonderful blog post that will challenge your ideas about the sweet country farmhouse/Catholic school/private school/home school life you think you want to give your children...)
And like www.flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com and her entire October "31 Days of Going" series.
This stuff will mess with you, if you read it. You might want to leave it alone.
On a bad day, I still want to go all Pioneer Woman, and move to the country, milk cows and live in benign seclusion.
But then I hear my neighbor's granddaughter, abandoned by her mother, living with her grandparents - my neighbors - and she is loudly singing in the yard under my window. Someone has to admire her 5 year old soprano, and show her the love of God. I sorta want the job.
Deep thoughts, here at the cottage. I am proud to be a NOT country blogger...a NOT wealthy, suburban grandmother...proving every day that I can be earthy and wise and eat from farm to table without property and livestock. And I can be politically aware, and don black sunglasses and carry a Michael Kors bag without living in a hip urban loft.
I am more like most of you. We can do this thing...we can live lovingly and compassionately and artistically right where we are. Right where we are, we can be a fragrance of Christ.
Daughters, Sons-in-Love, Sons, and Grandchildren
Jonathan, Sarah (one of my grown, married identical twin daughters), and Aidyn Esther....
Justin, our "other twin" Hannah, and the never-still Timothy Paul (The Preacher's namesake)...this picture says it all!
Hannah and Timothy. Oh, those two year old boy eyes!
The Preacher and I have known our share of heartache...we have sons who are "working on their testimony", and the stories about that...aside from the stress of ministry...would drop your jaw. How is it we are still friends and still in loving relationship with sons who have pulled what our boys have pulled? How is it we have managed to raise the bar (in terms of our Godly standards) instead of lower it, draw lines where lines should be, yet still exhibit grace? Still preserve relationships?
At great cost. By grace alone. Living by the law would be way easier. Like...way, way.
The Gospel. Living of the Gospel. That is how we do it. Our relationships with our children (and their spouses or Significant Others...and our grandchildren...and our friends) are infused and suffused with grace. Perfectly imperfect.
I am, like seriously, sloppy blessed. Still living a dream I have not earned and do not deserve.
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Of Jaunts and Junkets
The Preacher and I "slipped the surly bonds" of chores and counseling and obligation yesterday...we couldn't finish errands until the afternoon, so our jaunt lasted only for a few hours; we were back home working on mowing and church manuals and preparing for overnight guests by 7.
But guess what I found?
The most adorable vintage (circa 1960's) children's books...two of them, three dollars apiece, and in almost new condition. Every page with a winsome, beautifully rendered animal (in one) or an illustration of a nursery rhyme (in the other).
Even the lady at the cash register was jealous. I was firing off questions at The Preacher, as creative ideas tumbled out..."Is our flatbed scanner big enough to scan these pages? They are public domain, now!". "Will these images print on cold press watercolor paper, you think?"
She asked me what I was going to do with the books, and I explained how, as a mixed media artist, I intended to share these gorgeous children's books with the world, reincorporating them into art, while fully preserving the original books themselves.
She looked me in the eye, and said, "You totally just scored. I don't want to sell them to you, now. I want to do what you are describing. They are beautiful books, and your ideas are amazing. I wish I had thought of them."
Then she grinned and gave me her blessing.
Not that she had a choice. I was prepared to punch her in the neck, and run away, yelling brilliant artsy rhetorical flourishes at her as I exited the shop. Much like Grandma Moses might have done.
Never get between an artist and her muse.
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But guess what I found?
The most adorable vintage (circa 1960's) children's books...two of them, three dollars apiece, and in almost new condition. Every page with a winsome, beautifully rendered animal (in one) or an illustration of a nursery rhyme (in the other).
Even the lady at the cash register was jealous. I was firing off questions at The Preacher, as creative ideas tumbled out..."Is our flatbed scanner big enough to scan these pages? They are public domain, now!". "Will these images print on cold press watercolor paper, you think?"
She asked me what I was going to do with the books, and I explained how, as a mixed media artist, I intended to share these gorgeous children's books with the world, reincorporating them into art, while fully preserving the original books themselves.
She looked me in the eye, and said, "You totally just scored. I don't want to sell them to you, now. I want to do what you are describing. They are beautiful books, and your ideas are amazing. I wish I had thought of them."
Then she grinned and gave me her blessing.
Not that she had a choice. I was prepared to punch her in the neck, and run away, yelling brilliant artsy rhetorical flourishes at her as I exited the shop. Much like Grandma Moses might have done.
Never get between an artist and her muse.
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New In the Shop
New in my shop this afternoon...
I am venturing into a genre called "She Art", and I love it way more than I expected to. My intentions were to dabble, here and there...
...now, I want to create little other than "She Art". I am on a big, big She Art kick. Such an encouraging category.
This is an 8x8 print of the original I painted last week. The painting is entitled "Maria", and was inspired by a time of personal prayer over a friend. As I prayed, this is what came out...and I sensed that it was on target.
Don't we all need to hear encouragement to keep doing what we are doing, in spite of the difficulty and the pain?
This print is, as of today, beautifully framed in a simple, elegant, well made black frame. It is available for purchase in my shop.
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Bragging...
Look at how utterly, heart-squeezingly adorable. My little Aidyn Esther.
It rocks to be a grand mommy. It rocks to be me.
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Working...
Working ideas out in the art journal first. My favorites...the ones I'm really feelin'...will be done again on canvas.
I am feelin' today's results. This will definitely become a rather large canvas.
It says, "Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come..."
I preach the Good News to myself, through my painting.
I am feelin' today's results. This will definitely become a rather large canvas.
It says, "Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come..."
I preach the Good News to myself, through my painting.
Hospitality
Preparing to serve dinner to 13 people...leaders representing three churches.
Many thanks to my two daughters for beautifying our huge outdoor dining space...
It isn't 4th of July, I know, but this is the only bolt of fabric I have that is large enough. I love it.
...the fire is laid in the brick fire pit...
The guest room is fluffed and ready for our dear Pete Beck. God is so very good.
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Morning...
Soft breezes...waxing sunlight, diffused by clouds and soft rain...birdsong...hot coffee..."October's meditative haze"...peace and plump fruitfulness...Bible reading...prayer...feeling nested.
My very heart nested this morning.
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My very heart nested this morning.
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Studio Addition
This evening, as I was working on a huge painting (the biggest one yet) The Preacher noticed that several inches of my canvas was hanging over the edge of my table...the piece covered my entire table, and then some.
And now, just a couple of hours later, I have a new, bigger top, firmly attached to the old tabletop...
...and painted with black chalkboard paint!
Love it! Not only is the tabletop able to accommodate the large canvas I was working on, but I have extra inches to sit my tubes of paint, the bowl I use for matte medium, and my jars of brushes and water.
Fun stuff.
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My Warped Sense of Humor...
Went with a friend to an exclusive art gallery in Atlanta...one that features several mixed media artists. It. Was. Heavenly.
For fun, on the way down my friend and I arranged to have this picture snapped, at a Georgia rest stop. I sent it to The Preacher's phone...with only the word, "Oops" :
That was my best "Oh no. I got busted in 'da hood" face. It was the best this homegirl could manage. The Preacher knew the pic was a hoax. He knew right away that I was messin' with him. He failed to see the humor. Me?
I howled, giggled, guffawed, and chuckled my way all the way on to Atlanta, where I commenced to having yet more fun.
This is how I deal with stress. Thank you, Georgia State Police Department, for cooperating with Operation Recover Sheila's Sanity.
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For fun, on the way down my friend and I arranged to have this picture snapped, at a Georgia rest stop. I sent it to The Preacher's phone...with only the word, "Oops" :
That was my best "Oh no. I got busted in 'da hood" face. It was the best this homegirl could manage. The Preacher knew the pic was a hoax. He knew right away that I was messin' with him. He failed to see the humor. Me?
I howled, giggled, guffawed, and chuckled my way all the way on to Atlanta, where I commenced to having yet more fun.
This is how I deal with stress. Thank you, Georgia State Police Department, for cooperating with Operation Recover Sheila's Sanity.
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My Granddaughter
Something tells me Homegirl didn't want her picture taken. She probably wanted her binkie. She's a binkie kinda girl, through and through. Her momma and daddy don't dare leave home without a stash of pacifiers.
Isn't she beautiful? This picture makes me smile, from way down deep inside.
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Latest Addition to the Art Studio...
...is a beautiful chandelier, made by my daughter Hannah, over at Daughter By Design.
She finds old-but-working light fixtures, and she blesses them with her eye for design, painting them, and adorning them with real crystals - either clear or of various colors. Then she sells them for a pretty penny. But this one, she made just for me...for my new art studio.
Gorgeous much?
I knew you'd agree. I think so, too. Ignore the art journaling going on at the table (the beautiful leather bound book with the hand-edged watercolor papers, a gift from my other daughter, Sarah)...
...it has been a rough couple of weeks, here at the cottage. I'm emoting on paper. I've heard it called "Praying In Color". It's cheaper than therapy, healthier than meds, and much easier on all my friends.
I'll fill you in on whatever it is that is going on later....whenever I figure out what is going on. This could be a good thing, or it could be a very bad thing. Youngest children tend to give their parents a run for their money like that.
And the nest? Well...it may or may not be empty. We shall see.
I know, right? Pray for me, friends. God, grant me the serenity. Help me, Rhonda. Jesus take the wheel...
...and I am so grateful for wild sons and stable daughters. Both are a blessing - just in different ways. One tends to be a happy sort of blessing, the other a blessing that deepens and strengthens you.
You know. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I say it again - by faith, before the outcome can even be seen:
Grace will accomplish what the law could never do.
Gorgeous much?
I knew you'd agree. I think so, too. Ignore the art journaling going on at the table (the beautiful leather bound book with the hand-edged watercolor papers, a gift from my other daughter, Sarah)...
...it has been a rough couple of weeks, here at the cottage. I'm emoting on paper. I've heard it called "Praying In Color". It's cheaper than therapy, healthier than meds, and much easier on all my friends.
I'll fill you in on whatever it is that is going on later....whenever I figure out what is going on. This could be a good thing, or it could be a very bad thing. Youngest children tend to give their parents a run for their money like that.
And the nest? Well...it may or may not be empty. We shall see.
I know, right? Pray for me, friends. God, grant me the serenity. Help me, Rhonda. Jesus take the wheel...
...and I am so grateful for wild sons and stable daughters. Both are a blessing - just in different ways. One tends to be a happy sort of blessing, the other a blessing that deepens and strengthens you.
You know. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I say it again - by faith, before the outcome can even be seen:
Grace will accomplish what the law could never do.
Sold Before I Could Put It In The Shop...But!
The original sold before I could list it in my shop. But! But prints are available in my shop.
Also, this is now available:
Yeah. Pretty much, that is my demographic. We're a small demographic, but our destiny is world domination. (Cue Handel's Messiah..."and He shall reign forever and everrrrrr!")
You think I'm kidding.
I'm stinkin' proud of it. So proud to be serving the King with my gifts and art and life and blog...and stuff and things.
Goodnight. It is late. Amen.
Can Anyone Say It Better Than The Grace-Man, Spurgeon??
(clipped from the devotional "Morning and Evening" by C.H. Spurgeon, that Prince of Preachers...)
September 18 — Morning
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. {#Ga 5:25} The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master in experiential theology, for they are vital points to a Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which does not have as its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe to those who seek after the one without the other!
There are some who cultivate faith and forget holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in condemnation, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others who have strained after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were “whitewashed sepulchres.” We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure.
Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself in it? He needs a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we wish to have comfort in the day of doubt.
But do not seek a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are equally full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by heavenly care. Oh Lord, give us today life within, and it will reveal itself to your glory.
My First True Abstract-And My Personal Interior Design Style
Above the sofa, is my first large canvas - 4 feet long - and my first abstract mixed media piece. I painted it "on commission"...my daughter Hannah asked me to paint a large abstract for her as a housewarming gift. This is it, hanging in her new living room. (if you click on the image above, you can see it, slightly enlarged...)
I was pleasantly surprised with how it turned out. I was also surprised at how difficult it was, yet at the same time, how fun it was to paint!
You can't see it, but I embedded an antique key onto the canvas...a gift from my neighbor Earl. I also stamped all the special dates that the McConnell household has experienced in its short history...their wedding day, Timothy's birthday, and the day they closed on this, their first house. You'd find them, hidden all around the canvas, if you could see it up close and in person. You'd also see vintage and antique book, hymnal, and wallpaper scraps in the background, giving this painting beautiful depth and texture. Heavy-bodied acrylics in shades of salmon, coral, orange, navy blue, turquoise, yellow, and slate gray were used, along with inks of black and yellow ochre.
I finished it off with daubs of white plaster, applied randomly with a palette knife.
Cannot wait to paint another, for my own living room, in calm, cool shades of orchid, eggplant, gray, misty blue, and putty colors....very Restoration Hardware.
As I renest, I have arrived at a very precise description of my personal style...I love Swedish/Gustavian flavors, but those words are too wide...too sweeping. I have long thought of how to describe the design I am going for - the quirky house-beauty
I see in my addled imagination.
Instead of merely "Swedish-Belgian-Gustavian" or "French Country", my style is precisely this: think Restoration Hardware meets Granny Chic.
I know. It has never been done. Y'all watch this...
...I am about to do it. I promise, over the upcoming months, to share photos. Leave it to me to pioneer a whole, new design aesthetic.
Now to give it a name...
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