Being Creative With The Sisterhood of the Ya Ya Traveling Creative Pants...

My sister is coming this weekend... I feel like a little kid at Christmas!  My girlfriends, sister and I used to have our Creative Scrappin' Weekends every three or four months, but lately, we are lucky to have it once a year... Normally, we have six or seven of us.  This weekend, my sister Holly and a girlfriend Bonnie, will drive out and come to my house.  We will have lunch and play on our lap tops, talk, laugh and catch up.  Around 3pm, our other girlfriend, Barbs should be home from work.  We will take her some lunch and continue our Creative Celebration all together the rest of the weekend... They will leave on Monday morning...

We have a Digital Scrap Booking magazine we want to explore and try some of the projects...some mysterious photograph trick Barbs learned from Bonnie, recipes to sample, a possible slumber party on Friday night...(my sister is staying with me and Bonnie is staying with Barbs...but we may have to combine forces in the Creative juices suck us all in...

We ALWAYS have a blast, whatever "trouble" we get ourselves into... I have a vinyl quote I want to hang above my dining room slider leading into the back patio...it says, " The Fondest Memories Are Made When Gathered Around The Table..."  My sister is going to help me hang it..or should I say, "stick it" to the wall.

We may go sight seeing and take photographs and then do something with the photographs...it is a spontaneous combustion of who-knows-what and let's-go-for-it, type of weekend... My sister and I will no doubt do some treasure hunting at a few thrift stores, we are always good luck for one another... She is bringing a stamping she is going to let me borrow.  I want to try some jewelry making...

When we are all together, we are the Sisterhood of the Ya Ya Traveling Creative Pants...

Magpies and Other Thoughts...

Magpie #63

Photography by Tess Kincaid atLife At Willow Manor

Writing/Poetry challenge Magpie Tales

Childhood

Isn't it scrumptious

the way an object,

a smell or a sound

transports 

in a magical time machine

back to childhood?

Images, memories, colors

encompassing,

capsulizing

in the most unique,

captivating, kaleidoscope of

day dreams...

~dkb~

Photography by Mari at 365 Days

Aging in Grace...

I am like an old barn

standing quietly,

unobstrusively

on the side

of a less traveled road.

A "diamond in the rough"

surrounded by prosperous

acreage of family and friends...

Surveying and observing

 from my dormer windows

of unique viewpoint,

 stored with memories

and wisdom...

Green pastures of a full life

fill me with experience

 solid structure

and contentment.

I've learned upkeep

is far more crucial

than a eye catching coat

of red paint...

Don't mistake my moss covered

roof as idle folly;

I may be settled with roots

but still yearn to learn

and be of good service.

My weather worn exterior,

having stood the test of time,

is not inconsequential

suitable, only for shelter...

I was built within

a formable generation

with great worldly presence.

Valued and appreciated

by family heritage,

proud to call home 

this family land

where in God, we trust...

~dkb~

Six Word Saturday...With A Trip To Springs Reserve...

Describe your life in six words

Anxiously waiting family arriving for Easter...

Family arrived safely.  We went to the Springs Reserve and walked around enjoying natural trails, flora and fauna, flash flood experience, living green examples, Paiute Indian village, Garden center with native plants, flowers and trees, animal feedings..and more...(see the link above).

They had an EggStravaganza and picture with the Easter Bunny.  We arrived close to quitting time for the EB, and the line was too long...so we took this picture of my daughter, her boyfriend and baby Jacob...

I am holding Jacob in front of Jeff, that's why Jeff's rear is sticking out so far!

We are all pooped...so heading to my bed for a nap...everyone else is already crashed out...after we rest a bit, we are off for a two for one buffet at Green Valley Ranch....  zzzzzzzzzz....

Some Times We Build Fences...

Photography by Mari at 365 Days

some times we build fences

corralling ourselves

painting it bright

white in righteousness

casting shadows on

dreams

blowing opportunities

like spent golden leaves

weary from waiting...

to drop outside fences

making it fertile

for new growth

without us

spending too much time

tending the fence

into

strong, thick, solid

restraint

in protection, to feign

trust with a sly smile...

rationalizing it is not a wall

doesn't make it any

easier to get in...

the harder we protect

the bigger the fear...

open the gate

wide...

 venture out into

 the sunlight of bravery

feel the tenderness

of sprouting spring grass

hopeful

upon a bare soul

make it a new day

to feel the freedom

in living the life God gave you...

~dkb~

Pardon Me While I Explore...

Check it out!  Diane at The Blue Ridge Gal made me two blog buttons! Please feel free to take one from the side bar of either of my blogs...  She does them for free and she also helps beginning bloggers in designing a custom header for your blog!  She is very nice, kind, generous and works very fast!  Check her out!

 

I am in the process of changing some things on my blog... so please bear with me...

Pardon me while I explore the world of Template Designer...I originally wanted to make my painting of STARGAZER as my Header picture. 

It worked fine in my old template, but I wanted to try a wider blog template and possibly three columns.  I kind of felt like a change...being Spring and all...When I attempted to go back to my original template, I could not remember which one it was...so making a change became a necessity...

I kind of liked the wider blog version, so I set out to find a different picture which would fit... the sky in STARGAZER made it difficult to find a way to make the title of the blog visible for a button; so my second choice for a blog button was the one below... It was one I would often switch to for a header picture...

But it would not fit the wider version either... I also used the desert scene below...which might fit this new wider version...as it is a larger wallpaper picture, which was my original header picture...I used this one for quite some time, as I live in the desert and it was contemplative and peaceful...I loved the colors...

I do like the purple background as a white background is hard on my eyes.  The darker colors work better for me.  So after experimenting, I tried the picture below, which is also a wallpaper picture...

I liked the colors and it went with my invitation to explore....the meaning of our lives...

So what do you think? 

Any suggestions? 

Join me, if you care to give me an opinion,

 as I delve into the reconstruction of this blog...

SURVEY: I Would Appreciate Your Opinion...(2nd post today)

What do you prefer when commenting on blogs... Would you rather have a reply back by email or would you rather go back to the post where you left your comment for an answer?

Generally, when one of you leave me a comment after my post, I email back to you, rather than answering in the comment section...unless we are having a discussion...but I noticed lately, I have almost exclusively been emailing back directly.  I also have noticed my comments have slacked off...maybe not seeing my comments after every one's comment, gives the impression I don't respond.?  Or is everyone just busy?

I am interested in your opinions and input... thanks!

Magpie #62: Egg Chokes

Photo by Tess Kincaid

Challenge from Magpie Tales

She settled her cloth

napkin in her lap

admiring the way the sun laced

itself through the kitchen window

the corners of her mouth curved as

she bit into the whole wheat toast, so

crunchy, just the way she liked it, as she

sliced away another mouthful of egg a crash

of glass behind her startled her, dropping her fork

she grabbed the air over turning her tea cup spilling

the warm beige liquid down her leg as a strong, hairy, arm

encircled tightly around her neck choking the life from her breath

~dkb~

Faith...

Photo by Mari at 365 days

some

times

things

look 

 so bleak and barren

yet

 know

 the

 Lord

 is 

here

first

last

for

ever

watching...

and Spring will soon

come to reveal His glorious splendor.

~dkb~

Doubt, Faith and Mandalas....

"Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that

Faith is his twin brother."

~Khalil Gibran~

Action

and

Accomplishment

relaxes

 settles the mind

bringing clarity

trust

faith

stress and

negativity

compress

tighten

suffocate

doubt

 panic...

~dkb~

Have you heard of Mandalas?

Artist of mandala and explanation
Directions: Go to link above, to category search, select Mystical,
find it 12th row down, 2nd from the left, click on it to discover...
Artist: Lori Beaty "Flower of Life Sphere"

About: The Mandala Project

Circular patterns

intricate or simple

to color

used to center

meditate

connect

heal

tune in

free your soul

relax your spirit

calm the chaos

find inner peace

Try it

~dkb~

Magpie #61 Celebrating Us...

Motivational Photography

prompt by Tess Kincaid

Challenge by Magpie Tales

momentous                     memories

celebrated

you, me, this sweet, wine, nectar

lulling my mind, igniting my body

producing this infatuation with your

lips, so full, created for pleasurous

kissing, captivating me with the

warmth of your

bear

paws

 upon

my

face

oh

forever love

~dkb~

Magpie #60 Crying In The Shower...

Photo by Tess Kincaid

Challenge by Magpie Tales

Long ago,

she remembered

being

so miserable

 she cried

each night

in the

shower...
frustrated, hurt,
disillusioned,
angry and bitter...
They had only known
one another

four months

before they eloped...

Not taking the time
to make sure
he was father
material
instead of
rushing to silence
the biological clock
in her head...
Destiny
cloaked her

The eternal wheels
moved forward...

 She gave birth
to her firstborn

 ecstatically happy

 wanting

children
 a dozen years...
Motherhood, at thirty,
was long over due.
 A crucial
life goal ...
a need
a force
a craving
satisfied...
Another child
at thirty-two
   fulfilling
 a dream,
blossoming
into the woman
she wanted
to become;
Feeling complete
she felt she could do anything,
even
make
that marriage work...
fighting
the shock
of the man
she thought she
knew,
she continued
to make excuses...
but
his cursing
anger
bewildered her soul
his drinking
his gambling
shattered her mind
casting her into
slippery walled
depths of darkness
saved only
by the bright eyed
cherubs who filled
 her heart
with love
giving her
determined reasons to try...

Transformed in loving

gratitude
in becoming
 a
Mother
yet
overwhelmed by the
crumbling
marriage
clawing
suppressing
the reality
clinging to
"just one more time"
for
these precious jewels
captivating
her life...
How can

the power

the magic
the sacred

of

a man and

a woman

creating life together...
not be
strong enough
to hold it all together?
Isn't the importance
of life
to

raise a family,

live life together
share a history
make memories
embrace the familiar
take on life
together

despite

all the adversity?
Isn't it to live
the dream?
To fight
to keep
it all together
protect it,

from which makes it
twist, break
fall apart
and
go wrong?
he left
she stayed
with her
precious cargo...

Divorce

was worse than
being left a widow...
If only she knew
then
how strange
and foreign
it would feel
 to make
a new relationship;
feeling the
dull disconnection
with another man
other than
her children's father...
still
mourning
the dream
so very difficult
to find...
She would
not
succeed;
it
never
felt
right...
She had
to do it
alone...

scared out of her mind

not knowing how

she would make it work...
yet knowing
she would
because
failure was not
an option
anymore...
Her

 faith

in God
helped

get through,
still

 she cried in

the shower
praying
for
strength
mourning

for what was

 never to be again...

~dkb~

Slumber Is A Seductive Word...

It has been a busy couple of weeks...I wrote about what I have been up to on my other blog, here.  I had some outside yard projects and am still working on lowering the utilities.  It is amazing to me how I can call and speak to one person, call back and what the first person told me is unknown to the second person. I spoke with a really nice woman from our Internet/land line provider.  She agreed to give me the deal they only offer to new customers.  She told me to take the weekend to discuss it with my husband and she will call me on Monday afternoon.  Now, if she does it, I will make sure customer service knows how much I appreciate her help.

I've made progress in the garage but need to weed out my art stuff.  I need to find a place to dispose of an old computer monitor.  It is so big, it looks like a TV.  The place I found for disposal costs $10.

I have been so tired... If I stop and sit down to watch TV or get on the computer...my head feels fuzzy and my eye lids press down on my eyeballs like heavy weights.  Slumber is such a seductive word...

I really want to visit and blog...but I can not keep my eyes open...maybe later...I am so boring!

"O bed! O bed! delicious bed!

That heaven upon earth to the weary head."

~Thomas Hood~