America now...

In my background noise...I am listening to stories about Americans struggling with a variety of financial woes.  As a woman making many changes myself... I can understand the humiliation and anxiety these families are enduring.  The courage to keep moving forward...and know there are many families walking difficult paths.  Ken has a holiday reprieve from radiation  on Monday...Labor day and I can honestly share this respite is welcomed by both of us.  We are both tired...and a small time out is a gift.  I realize as I pack up my kitchen...plan and wash for the bedroom set ups ... the arranging of a very small kitchen...and even more scary is the fact that the house is carpeted with white carpet.  Yes... I know this is going to be a challenge...life takes a dancing turn for the future.  But with a coat of paint...and taking one day at a time...we will add out own sense of colors and warmth.

This morning I worked with my artists.... down at Dawes Arboretum in the Learning garden.  They were enjoying collecting flower petals to add to their handmade papers ...plus harvest the mixed greens...and delicious tomatoes...for a lunch salad.  Laura had made zucchini muffins with one of their harvested vegetables...and they were so moist and delicious.  We made new handmade papers...pressed out flower petals...and next week we will add them to their paper.  The temperatures were close to the 90 's and the humidity made it a bit uncomfortable ...but the laughter continues as we all work together.  The gifts ...from special hearts... looking into their trusting eyes and an occasional hug renewed my tired heart.  I came home and had an ear of sweet corn and fell asleep for over 2 hours.  Thank you Ken...I know it is a combination of things pulling my energies ... but tomorrow we will work here and make do with the energies we have to share in preparation.

Yesterday Ken and I took care of the three grands while Mom and Dad attended the Fall Open house for Cole and Morgan.  It was a pizza night ...then time to sketch and draw on the kitchen table.  Cole and Morgan were delighted to just draw their own kitten subject... with water color crayons...then adding sketch texture marks with layers of crayons.  We were enjoying our quiet time together and quiet talks about all of the changes that would be coming.  Looking into the eyes of my beloved children... eases the moments of change.  I think you can see in the photographs...the loving trust and soft breathing and giggles...we celebrated with some homemade raspberry pie and vanilla ice cream.  Life could not get any better!  Peace.

first we sat down and played with with art materials....

 I amnot sure what I was saying...

 Morgan began gently adding her design elements while Cole studied where the position of the eyes and nose might be on our kitten...

 Cole is deep into the sketch...and learning how to make his fur look soft and fluffy....

 we all were using Underwent watercolor crayons..sketch first...then with a magic touch...of water...the painting becomes alive...

 I demonstrated the sketchy approach to my outline...and I confessed that drawing kittens was not an easy thing to do....

 Mr. Lyndon sat quietly playing his Minion game on his I Pad...he had chose a book to read with Grandpa...Never Let a Pigeon Drive the Bus....

 I think Morgan is pleased with her paintings...

 I enjoy the freedom and abandonment a child possesses when they really enjoy their sketching...

 Cole is working on his tree...the first changes of Fall are becoming evident...

 By jove...I think Cole has got it!

 He added legs and a story to his sketch...and enjoyed his tree representation...

 Now the young ones ...are busy teaching me about I Pads.........

 Cole and I returned to our sketches....

 we employed the crayon carousel and markers....

 I think my kitten looks very puppy like...........

 a green folder to protect his sketches......

 Cole wants to show his Dad his newest works.......

 we are using our imagination ...bright colors  can make it well just exciting.......

 This young man is changing the world...

 then Cole decided to research more animals for us to sketch....

 a bedtime story...or two...or three...

Super heroes are still popular!  Sweet dreams little ones. 

I hope you have shared your passion with a young heart...it is never about perfection as much as embracing time and process. together.   Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart