Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Wednesday-10am

Good morning, my peeps!
Sloppy Spring has arrived.
The brown grass that has managed to be revealed with all the 30 degree weather...
...is under pools of water.
Even when it is in the teens and twenties in the morning...
...Karma tucks her feet under her and basks in the patch of sun in the corner of the porch.
 
If it's not too windy, of course.  The wind is still dang cold--like this morning when she was forced to pass on her sunny spot outside.
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Karma's feeling so much better.  Back to her sprawly self...
...guarding her toys... 
...and using hard things as pillows. 
And me...the 21 Secrets Workshops started on the first of April.  I thought I might try doing them in order.  The first one on the list is Following the Wild Wind with Carissa Paige.  It's all about getting back in touch with nature and the child you were.  She mentioned totem animals and I have always wondered if I have any.  Well, that sparked memories of special relationships I have had with soooo many critters...and the ones I have rescued (with failures that have haunted me).  I started making a list because she used pictures for her mixed media collage, right?  Well, I went on google images to find pictures that represented all these different animals I have been up close and personal with...
...from a brown bat the janitor was going to kill...

...to the limp hamster covered with sticky maggot eggs... 
 ...to a litter of five kittens whose eyes weren't open yet (mother got run over by a truck)...
...and, you know--I felt much better about my failures.  There were so many more pictures of the successes over my lifetime.  
****
Oh, I just remembered another one--the baby red squirrel while I was in college over in Moorhead!  I might even have a real photo of that one!  
****
Sorry, as I was saying--I have so many pictures now that I have to decide how to use them.  They could take up many pages of an art journal (maybe start a whole separate journal and write the stories?)...or I could make up one large canvas.  I'll have to decide.  Anyways, even though these aren't the actual pictures of any of these precious animals...they make me smile because my memories are very real.
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I also looked for pictures to represent the prairieland I grew up wandering.  I should still find some pictures of the edge of a wild lake with dirt and mud pathways for small bare feet...cattails and tadpoles.  Well, I only have a couple weeks to finish.  In order to complete all the classes I have two weeks or less for each one.  What a gift this was, eh?  I really needed this!  :)
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I think, like Karma, I must have a touch of spring fever.  I had this idea to make a background on watercolor paper that I could use to make my thank you cards.  Was thinking something pretty and sedate.  
Got out my Lyra watercolor crayons (yes, I removed all the paper wrappers)... 
...and this is what happened--lol!  
The bright stripes seemed more for a birthday card--so the next day I tried some of my liquid watercolors...and this happened--lol!
I am just in love with color at the moment, I guess.  I was having so much fun scribbling with the Lyras and splattering with the Dick Blick liquids...well, this is what I ended up making.
I have all these bright birthday cards printed off for 2014!!
And these bright, striped thank you cards for all my birthday gifts, too.  I was loving the color so much I didn't want to detract from it and kept it very simple.  They make me smile.    
And thank you all for your cards and letters...can you see them lined up across the ledge?  Of course the wet cat one on the end is Karma's card--lol!
I have been slowly making my way through blogs to read the most current post or two and it is so nice to begin to be in touch again.  :)  To be playing with paint.  To smell wet sloppy spring trying to fight her way in the door up here.  Groceries are coming this afternoon.  Donald fired Omarosa.  Life is good!  ;)  See you soon!!
****
"Gratitude is the sweet fragrance of an opening heart."
Aine Belton

19 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i've heard fargo is on flooding watch again! yikes!

Intense Guy said...

I love the "hi tech"/"lo tech" multifunction device next to the typewriter!!

:)

Nice to see you are up and about! I hope you have a canoe!

Dana said...

Your cards are beautiful! The bright colors make me happy. ☺

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Glad to see Karma is her old self again. I'm sure you are happy, too.

The weather's been nasty here, too. But our ground was so dry, it took all the snow and treated it like a sponge.

What irony about the totems. I'm attempting to make one this month and I saw a lot of the same or similar images you saw when I did an internet search (not google, though). I found your thoughts on these to be hilarious, but somehow saddening, too.

Beth said...

The cards are beautiful. Lovely colors.
I am so glad that the both of you are doing better!

Shelly said...

Those are beautiful colors! And hey, are you trying to play with Karma's toys? Is that why she's having to guard them?

DJan said...

Those cards are simply beautiful, colorful in just the right ways. And the pictures of Karma make me smile. You know, I don't think I've ever seen a picture of her standing. Does she ever? :-)

Janie Junebug said...

Your colors are those of joy. Karma never ceases to amuse me.

Love,
Janie

Anonymous said...

Rita, I'm enjoying your blog today. I read a lot. It's so soothing, I took a little nap...I never do that. Your repeat visitor is not a stalker. :-)

Anonymous said...

Both sets of cards turned out wonderfully--so simple & yet so beautiful!!

Serena Lewis said...

Love the happy-feeling cards you made, Rita! I love that you are a kindred spirit, especially when it comes to loving and caring about animals. Have fun with the workshops! :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful watercolours and how nice to see some sunshine.

Dee said...

Dear Rita, your posting on all the wonder of your life right now and your gratitude for this goodness touches me deeply. I, too, have awakened to gratitude since April began. It does seem to be the thread that holds my life together. Thank you for sharing your wonderful esprit de joie. Peace.

Darla said...

There is something about color this time of year, especially the spring colors you used. Many of us need those colors as we hold on until spring actually arrives.

Besides you made some great cards.

Darla

Debbie Jones said...

I absolutely love the cards you have designed! They are awesome! Looks like spring is coming your way, slowly but surely. You are an animal lover like me and my family. We have rescued lots of animals over the years too, with various degrees of success. We are also kitty lovers like you! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Victoria said...

Hello friend..so lovely to visit, it has been too long! yay..glad Karma is doing good..sweet thing! And love your watercolor crayons..they look so fun and dazzling..and your art is super gorgeous..wonderful and uplifting..powerful!!
Wishing you a fantastic day
oh ya..have fun getting to know your special totems..shine on..it is a special and sacred journey connecting and reconnecting with them! Enjoy!
HUgs
Victoria

Zue said...

Your Watercolour backgrounds are really so pretty and perfect for cards. I am not going to Sweden now, it will be too cold, but thanks for the good wishes. Glad Karma is properly on the mend.
Xxxx

Far Side of Fifty said...

Pretty springy cards!! Good to hear that Karma is still doing okay...what a relief! There is more snow coming tonight..Karma can track in some snow. It has been so cold out..what a terrible spring so far..or is it an extended winter..perhaps. I cheered when the Donald finally fired her.. :)

AliceKay said...

I love the brightly colored cards, too. They came out quite well and are very "springy". :)

I heard the people of Fargo are sandbagging again. I hope the flooding doesn't come. Will be thinking of all of you out there.