tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30956787053106946202024-02-02T02:59:13.857-05:00 WORDS A JOURNAL OF MY THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-37922638694753236752022-08-22T15:48:00.000-04:002022-08-22T15:48:11.669-04:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ASG Embellishment Challenge 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Recently I rejoined ASG in Jacksonville after our move up here in 2016. This year for the annual meeting we were given a challenge to create something and embellish it. I had this pattern for a dress designed by Diane Erickson and the linen from years back as well as the strips I had cut for a different project and an idea was born</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdBMAs_9N_tApgIbDGsiSY8LRCwhoHz4IrOiMqijtZmYEpMqti0f4G6StV-AWtqa7reOY6SXagalwR_h2e1ucQJyMC-aKaaVKvl_UYKjn4lJ5awsHuMxC6QxOq7V1zf_hNKgsVwsXaCc55A8jSFrqftg7ZLAtesD22Gyb4FfVYLB8tdc4Nk2yysMW/s3434/IMG_20220625_164004800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="3434" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdBMAs_9N_tApgIbDGsiSY8LRCwhoHz4IrOiMqijtZmYEpMqti0f4G6StV-AWtqa7reOY6SXagalwR_h2e1ucQJyMC-aKaaVKvl_UYKjn4lJ5awsHuMxC6QxOq7V1zf_hNKgsVwsXaCc55A8jSFrqftg7ZLAtesD22Gyb4FfVYLB8tdc4Nk2yysMW/s320/IMG_20220625_164004800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Front of dress</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiV6y8LD2cN_c1O4pH0aTvK84L2bXyefQAnlYhvL5BcHwOYVQIQz8uRPCd4f5wu66MAjfQyUWkug5b89GhMwZg_0h8ClsERfioi74AVDmRg2UeatlAjVA5srAiV_cy720LmaswSeJ2q_qqIHAI703fFfqPtMUIP1UmPBV4vbXCAunEE_rAho23eMa/s3904/IMG_20220625_164043846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3904" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiV6y8LD2cN_c1O4pH0aTvK84L2bXyefQAnlYhvL5BcHwOYVQIQz8uRPCd4f5wu66MAjfQyUWkug5b89GhMwZg_0h8ClsERfioi74AVDmRg2UeatlAjVA5srAiV_cy720LmaswSeJ2q_qqIHAI703fFfqPtMUIP1UmPBV4vbXCAunEE_rAho23eMa/s320/IMG_20220625_164043846.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><p> Back of dress</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrQ80uJca41y3tjnm1-pJ-kBwtC7z1Q4cgGUYKZaI-MweUKPSkMCnCZtAMO5Msob5QooC8M7_jvcYShtuW3QVRFBwuPbBylfE-x3bo-I64ForD8DZ29j3paC505uqA5LR8a1446J-T-FYayzujUtksxhzmNfJDnMEx51FN_VLU-bkxJ6pDttoLR7R/s1339/IMG_20220813_154349352_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="967" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrQ80uJca41y3tjnm1-pJ-kBwtC7z1Q4cgGUYKZaI-MweUKPSkMCnCZtAMO5Msob5QooC8M7_jvcYShtuW3QVRFBwuPbBylfE-x3bo-I64ForD8DZ29j3paC505uqA5LR8a1446J-T-FYayzujUtksxhzmNfJDnMEx51FN_VLU-bkxJ6pDttoLR7R/s320/IMG_20220813_154349352_HDR.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Changed neckline</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-QJVDj0xGXK-JD_kuksvky8leF-6tJG448Uq1kDZIMBKS01yTpYloaJPw0a7gGTeCjDif5PmUZzfc_sIQwMJlHZ4cecVtpYdtAdi8uTeWrxzDsom74fcBHDznKzChb9DNHhfLuZb-FerzsSwY3Sef7kJH79QvzCVeunqFQ-agvba5dN6TbDKQZo1/s1495/IMG_20220814_122344553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="813" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-QJVDj0xGXK-JD_kuksvky8leF-6tJG448Uq1kDZIMBKS01yTpYloaJPw0a7gGTeCjDif5PmUZzfc_sIQwMJlHZ4cecVtpYdtAdi8uTeWrxzDsom74fcBHDznKzChb9DNHhfLuZb-FerzsSwY3Sef7kJH79QvzCVeunqFQ-agvba5dN6TbDKQZo1/s320/IMG_20220814_122344553.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hat I will be wearing at the luncheon</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFWU7X_WzbaNsVTVa7qyE0-bcapBaZvG2Tel-IBtLU1hpk6KJYZJrKSBci-wOntmR2kT7pzfKlMZ_Yn3L5ZFOp-z_5ftVlnJ5lqTJYbITd2SLf2L7ZlG7Mmm75hg1fvXPEryX51Ibe9-M0Pml34ikU9etjPGUtSe7fiOAMPjXNDRaTI8EaGBoYV-1/s1563/IMG_20220814_122357295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFWU7X_WzbaNsVTVa7qyE0-bcapBaZvG2Tel-IBtLU1hpk6KJYZJrKSBci-wOntmR2kT7pzfKlMZ_Yn3L5ZFOp-z_5ftVlnJ5lqTJYbITd2SLf2L7ZlG7Mmm75hg1fvXPEryX51Ibe9-M0Pml34ikU9etjPGUtSe7fiOAMPjXNDRaTI8EaGBoYV-1/s320/IMG_20220814_122357295.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well as the little purse made of matching fabric</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDJZgSPHkZFp3_Rm1v0-IKtmEAlm6IYMckrOaVcdWhGpIxfYDp0daqd1zG01rdTksaFtOx8LyOpGDOnL6acT0nWQSYdSTPWwsrWYyHPc0BmWKE5TVb914g42Gvhj9vHxl6UFM3C1t05ec-20fMLz-TRlwTrG7fJJixFNFZrmWm0U5kh5hiPnuxiU8/s1600/IMG_20220814_122446256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDJZgSPHkZFp3_Rm1v0-IKtmEAlm6IYMckrOaVcdWhGpIxfYDp0daqd1zG01rdTksaFtOx8LyOpGDOnL6acT0nWQSYdSTPWwsrWYyHPc0BmWKE5TVb914g42Gvhj9vHxl6UFM3C1t05ec-20fMLz-TRlwTrG7fJJixFNFZrmWm0U5kh5hiPnuxiU8/s320/IMG_20220814_122446256.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Closeup of neckline</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This dress took me forever to complete as I had multiple problems with it. Most of them stemmed from the neckline and how to stabilize it so it didn't stretch out of shape. I finally came up with the idea to use the fabric strips which I do like. I had already finished off the neckline so I had to take it apart and re do it. Finally I can call it complete and ready to model at the luncheon. </div><br /> <p></p>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-39757332507712661042021-09-28T17:32:00.000-04:002021-09-28T17:32:22.266-04:00<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">LOVE</p><p style="text-align: center;"> My mind still talks to you</p><p style="text-align: center;">My heart still looks for you</p><p style="text-align: center;">My soul knows you are at peace</p><p style="text-align: center;">I miss you every single day</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniIVISDFYKuEkigwaNmVSrRkNmnf_1txiHKJ2_4Z0eAgC2w8CdKoCszgPS1MoqeEmgzupN6uMei_171eT3tfMJalsanoV68VxGDHugUJiKVlQv-RcnxJTyHvhdm7ipYOSZV2SIRIZyGg/s2048/IMG_20160113_101000985-3+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniIVISDFYKuEkigwaNmVSrRkNmnf_1txiHKJ2_4Z0eAgC2w8CdKoCszgPS1MoqeEmgzupN6uMei_171eT3tfMJalsanoV68VxGDHugUJiKVlQv-RcnxJTyHvhdm7ipYOSZV2SIRIZyGg/s320/IMG_20160113_101000985-3+%25282%2529.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love leaves a heartache</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">no one can heal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Death leaves a memory</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">no one can steal</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-9701719475797834422018-01-09T12:04:00.000-05:002018-01-09T12:23:52.869-05:00SURVIVAL<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having survived a couple trips to emergency room with Bob and then the hospital for a few days, that was followed by bout of illness for both of us. Then the holidays came which can do even the hardiest of souls in but finally a reprieve from our "winter" of extra cold weather.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFlm7aQx1tpNZlynGt9BZwUJ8a1_k8GIqgSzDGFORMzEyGb-L_nIzv_vdBDGRe7Di0HZutF4JlFgsoMQsRp-ofXCUKp1xTm6emmYDezrLEAJng_zeze1gUE2TkJGmwdO5riGYoqfI2yg/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFlm7aQx1tpNZlynGt9BZwUJ8a1_k8GIqgSzDGFORMzEyGb-L_nIzv_vdBDGRe7Di0HZutF4JlFgsoMQsRp-ofXCUKp1xTm6emmYDezrLEAJng_zeze1gUE2TkJGmwdO5riGYoqfI2yg/s640/IMG_0843.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckman bridge from Manderin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a balmy 48 degrees Saturday so we fit a nice road trip in our week and drove over to </span><a href="http://www.mandarinmuseum.net/visit/walter-jones-historical-park" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Walter Jones Memorial Park</a><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> . The museum, and old school house were both enjoyable as well as informative and the stroll around the park on paved paths felt especially appreciated after a few months of doing nothing. Usually I take a ton of photos when we are on road trips but this time I snapped only a few...Mostly of the beautiful ancient trees and their trunks. The weather was a perfect 48 degrees with no wind and lots of sunshine creating lovely soft shadows.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTuAUIEBmo_s4jJxwzya33XGhb5p_2BCxD9jc-hmqJkf8yjnTSl-gNeQKfYabLE1dGdurQuEc_LAezUPozQZ83ZdlRft5mkpVXqXWGSpwWphS5VyXTcq0OZPP4MV67bWWJShfz8MGmU/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTuAUIEBmo_s4jJxwzya33XGhb5p_2BCxD9jc-hmqJkf8yjnTSl-gNeQKfYabLE1dGdurQuEc_LAezUPozQZ83ZdlRft5mkpVXqXWGSpwWphS5VyXTcq0OZPP4MV67bWWJShfz8MGmU/s640/IMG_0844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OluaX96pc1CyAWPkkm4ynWjcvzzYFQjYRFyBinxgynZerKrfZsIQ_CXvFDoq3FDNohGgppX5kK59ctQVwVNtxA63cU_dsHUufQfNAlCKtRgIt8wtmNh7XunJlWIIppY2UBI9PwzZ_YY/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OluaX96pc1CyAWPkkm4ynWjcvzzYFQjYRFyBinxgynZerKrfZsIQ_CXvFDoq3FDNohGgppX5kK59ctQVwVNtxA63cU_dsHUufQfNAlCKtRgIt8wtmNh7XunJlWIIppY2UBI9PwzZ_YY/s640/IMG_0845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoiVjjC21qNGUUOl5kYJuPU2N4F1V-8PWq827OHR3gQEaOaaj6aSBxcsGO_kiABz7YEXQyKSqGhqTttrhnn7Gn4mSEydPWmb2zOTQzOnP_y1aEk6ei9AKgVOBP-27vmxGuX7-j0TplwA/s1600/IMG_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoiVjjC21qNGUUOl5kYJuPU2N4F1V-8PWq827OHR3gQEaOaaj6aSBxcsGO_kiABz7YEXQyKSqGhqTttrhnn7Gn4mSEydPWmb2zOTQzOnP_y1aEk6ei9AKgVOBP-27vmxGuX7-j0TplwA/s640/IMG_0846.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSs4v-lWUsvJj-oVM9AsguY_mKBvHS4U7_TLFFyNICxGxMV-UtB2hZkmuqNEuapESK1mrcvUIEpbuyuZrUHv3MR3bIKgCknmK1bt6C_c94AeiGX8tYZE1ZvjZh7GNYfr57Vy2ItiY4j0/s1600/IMG_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSs4v-lWUsvJj-oVM9AsguY_mKBvHS4U7_TLFFyNICxGxMV-UtB2hZkmuqNEuapESK1mrcvUIEpbuyuZrUHv3MR3bIKgCknmK1bt6C_c94AeiGX8tYZE1ZvjZh7GNYfr57Vy2ItiY4j0/s640/IMG_0847.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRIJpEu3BBSHKnUqKwwCb77xl8zEQxQg0CA4FInCyRNmhd2QYmKQi55XNHgLKBCKVcjYFfo8BE-KIgtmJTOD2uW8sVLDmyNP-IfcMUl4Kb7x8n60sdS9fHmXnz7ILZrOKEQLzqy45rOk/s1600/IMG_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1532" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRIJpEu3BBSHKnUqKwwCb77xl8zEQxQg0CA4FInCyRNmhd2QYmKQi55XNHgLKBCKVcjYFfo8BE-KIgtmJTOD2uW8sVLDmyNP-IfcMUl4Kb7x8n60sdS9fHmXnz7ILZrOKEQLzqy45rOk/s640/IMG_0849.JPG" width="612" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q7WZRG-UaKJK5w0E3ZST0IQ1AaGR3H3Dg7Gv_j8bjkZu9tBQNPbd-6ShNatOseUWv2uiXs6HCBEYt1b16KVGLXVMPoKt7ZzWfk5tvoJStOvZgYQ86jvJhyphenhyphenTS2RtZ6wMjDioHOJzcVbo/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9q7WZRG-UaKJK5w0E3ZST0IQ1AaGR3H3Dg7Gv_j8bjkZu9tBQNPbd-6ShNatOseUWv2uiXs6HCBEYt1b16KVGLXVMPoKt7ZzWfk5tvoJStOvZgYQ86jvJhyphenhyphenTS2RtZ6wMjDioHOJzcVbo/s640/IMG_0850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_k0YVYkust6nwvKM2GtuLh8Ip95HOhTxF0d0pFPNEiCUWVNlS4alss1qclrmFTX81JcsseBdvYtfFQW6cVq9r1t-L8hJdyyNfPHomB-siVDl7y3cJM5PMIGGHP38MUHKOkL8Ri6exrY/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_k0YVYkust6nwvKM2GtuLh8Ip95HOhTxF0d0pFPNEiCUWVNlS4alss1qclrmFTX81JcsseBdvYtfFQW6cVq9r1t-L8hJdyyNfPHomB-siVDl7y3cJM5PMIGGHP38MUHKOkL8Ri6exrY/s640/IMG_0854.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a couple hours of enjoying the sun and scenery at the park we drove to 'Iggys Bar and Grill' and enjoyed a great fish and chips dinner with a glass of beer. A great day was had by all.</span></span></span>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-69568225455223747582015-12-06T23:16:00.001-05:002018-01-09T11:38:16.493-05:00MOVING <div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">is never an easy task and dealing with the feelings that are part of it is an emotional affair to say the least. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyIlSx8PGKPAflpNk1a0jHsVf5SFgLyoPAXHi2JDQ9skCAAQttiwxCI3vb6gEiA_JvCasy-AYQ_zA4rouVIYdkq-Pec0i9Q2iao0k-20AZoptbgHMYqIt_p-cdXz7ShqETLHMBj4fyD8/s1600/IMG_20151206_122719444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyIlSx8PGKPAflpNk1a0jHsVf5SFgLyoPAXHi2JDQ9skCAAQttiwxCI3vb6gEiA_JvCasy-AYQ_zA4rouVIYdkq-Pec0i9Q2iao0k-20AZoptbgHMYqIt_p-cdXz7ShqETLHMBj4fyD8/s640/IMG_20151206_122719444.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bamboo free to spread where ever it wants to go...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We have lived in this house only a short 15 years but during that time span I have had a love affair with my back yard which I affectionately called my garden. Bob helped me built a tea room off the one side of the house complete with walls made of jasmine covered lattice, mirrors and art work and seating for 4. A nice lace to relax in the late spring or early fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Next to that I had an outdoor studio where I could work on messy stuff. It had a canopy made of mesh screening to help keep the sun off of me on sunny days, an outdoor sink with running water and a place to sit if a break was needed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Farther back on same side I had a pergola that housed all my paintings. Bob built it for me the first winter we lived here and I loved it dearly...It was covered in three types of jasmine and smelled so divine every spring. You could smell our back yard from the street. We had two benches where you could sit out of the hot sun if you desired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Next to the pergola was a section of bare ground that had acquired the name, on the first day of living here, "The grave yard." That is where Bob put all the bird houses he made perching them on post in various heights. It was like a small town. It had a train station, church, school house, soda fountain and feed and seed shop. They were so cute poking up out of the tree branches like a town in the hills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Then there is my ancient sand pine we named the 'ugly tree' that I dearly love and I am sure will be one of the first things to be removed with new owners...But I will try to not think about it since I have no control and need to let go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I walk around and look at the beautiful trees we planted that are finally coming into their own. In the spring the wild plums bloom but have not gotten fruit yet. </span>The magnolia is finally blooming and looking wonderful. The Palatka Holly is 40 feet tall now and my Mary Noll Holly has overgrown her space but is thriving. My pergola is in full bloom every spring and my wisteria surprised me and started growing a couple of years ago...full of beautiful hanging bloom every spring. I am going to try to get one started from the seed pods...for my new yard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I spent some of each day walking around out there taking photos of the daily blossoms and critters I found and captured with my camera. I had a number of ideas for future art but as happens, life gets in the way of our plans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We are moving closer to my daughter to have better access to shopping and events in preparation for when we can't drive ourselves around...It is not something we like to think about but I can attest to the need for giving up your licence at a timely age every day when I read the accidents caused by elderly drivers..In my county 68% of the population is over the age of 65...You would think they would have planned this when touting it as being a place for retirement...planned shopping and transportation and of course being a healthy and active 60+ age I didn't think of it then nor did Bob who could keep up with the best of them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was sad for me to watch Barry taking apart the lawn mower garage so he could move it to his place for the riding mower we gave him.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7bqPtp921lHMr2UevmcmfufwQNfnQebP6rjAEMY78MJWuLHo6xV8aCtIEYPAUGiXj4YR7v7fWlujQKR6enasbXlxxM36h8BSbI3IqDoGPhFfOyOz-za0M9PdGtiMb-vdUiO-Bc9UpP4/s1600/IMG_20151206_122551737+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7bqPtp921lHMr2UevmcmfufwQNfnQebP6rjAEMY78MJWuLHo6xV8aCtIEYPAUGiXj4YR7v7fWlujQKR6enasbXlxxM36h8BSbI3IqDoGPhFfOyOz-za0M9PdGtiMb-vdUiO-Bc9UpP4/s640/IMG_20151206_122551737+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barry hard at work trying to get the parking garage taken apart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Taking my garden apart and packing it up is one of the hardest things I have ever done with a home and we have had 3 homes to move from...Once I figure out what I want to keep and use up in my new tiny yard I will see if any one wants the remainder and after that it will go on the curb for free pick up...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Tonight as a car went roaring up the street with the music so loud reverberating from speakers and our two neighbors have all moved, one from a rental but the other from relocating I knew we have made the right decision. Both house are large, 4 and 6 bedrooms and we have nothing against families but the neighborhood seems to attract unsavory and unsettled kinds so will not mind leaving it all behind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It has been a long journey this year getting through all the paper work required to purchase a short sale home and now finally seeing a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel but I think we should be moved by mid to end of January.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLeJngGRIe6iFn_NtM3j2AZEywYqtJcrhl9c3FhxG8vBF95cmLQNYvsBIwXALOBoe6nAzzqsJCcF131l2zBOkE1RlTfN3KsWHzEG9EdyuZZk4mFL0uA5cfRWKZRTDmRDIk181xZrlc64/s1600/IMG_20151206_122735489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLeJngGRIe6iFn_NtM3j2AZEywYqtJcrhl9c3FhxG8vBF95cmLQNYvsBIwXALOBoe6nAzzqsJCcF131l2zBOkE1RlTfN3KsWHzEG9EdyuZZk4mFL0uA5cfRWKZRTDmRDIk181xZrlc64/s640/IMG_20151206_122735489.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPhEgSL4idrsPwL_WNeoR-2mzF7iklwfpwU34hin1zpwR_vxmKSX3Mo3RPoGDQy8Sre1EW1-YnKhl8q1FiAd_LttjzLox7dr0hS07vzSU0nimUBM6sfVlSuyIEJ5lBqSp1lJ_Rx2nQtE/s1600/IMG_20151206_122757052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPhEgSL4idrsPwL_WNeoR-2mzF7iklwfpwU34hin1zpwR_vxmKSX3Mo3RPoGDQy8Sre1EW1-YnKhl8q1FiAd_LttjzLox7dr0hS07vzSU0nimUBM6sfVlSuyIEJ5lBqSp1lJ_Rx2nQtE/s640/IMG_20151206_122757052.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-42151294771970895312015-11-04T23:29:00.000-05:002017-09-11T22:30:15.196-04:00DAY 3 of 21 DAY CHALLENGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today was a potluck luncheon for Bob's surveillance unit. I do not like potlucks or buffets since it seems I have less control over what I eat but today I did pretty good. Here is what I ate.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJabICVVUjknjoD-P3aUo5J1f8GQLzIjRw-l3OEUADQke5yg2g26ufT4R0mSnspjNMfT8nYJxtHOEKhmHRXUMA7sawPze-JbAZjQ1F667W6BTbvG7VUG7J289TkiR1h9f7dZ4A19ypxOs/s1600/IMG_20151104_104530388+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJabICVVUjknjoD-P3aUo5J1f8GQLzIjRw-l3OEUADQke5yg2g26ufT4R0mSnspjNMfT8nYJxtHOEKhmHRXUMA7sawPze-JbAZjQ1F667W6BTbvG7VUG7J289TkiR1h9f7dZ4A19ypxOs/s320/IMG_20151104_104530388+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few slices of ham and a bite of scalloped potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqF-d5QshWlaeHj78mPJE4bgiIu0Y18atvpokPoCfMROoRt0twm6SfWp186ksMYIpvQ8VKejbXlLkPksBp24YTYfiDS4FVcHFv-5KKnKPQbmhvzMow2PnBcHY2C_z16d41NSXbdwPvTk/s1600/IMG_20151104_104706361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqF-d5QshWlaeHj78mPJE4bgiIu0Y18atvpokPoCfMROoRt0twm6SfWp186ksMYIpvQ8VKejbXlLkPksBp24YTYfiDS4FVcHFv-5KKnKPQbmhvzMow2PnBcHY2C_z16d41NSXbdwPvTk/s320/IMG_20151104_104706361.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">pulled pork<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8833zPeooNIiUHKwtcOHIV0rUdPLRN6b2k1OxcRCGGf34yeRoO3Yan-2ii3dOhiK4Q7Rch1bSakcKWNpKBdCk3Qgu25xujrQt_dmaDxYmWHsjBpExa0TjdAijyuWxcnQ9nGMVdVzy7s/s1600/IMG_20151104_104509134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8833zPeooNIiUHKwtcOHIV0rUdPLRN6b2k1OxcRCGGf34yeRoO3Yan-2ii3dOhiK4Q7Rch1bSakcKWNpKBdCk3Qgu25xujrQt_dmaDxYmWHsjBpExa0TjdAijyuWxcnQ9nGMVdVzy7s/s320/IMG_20151104_104509134.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">a bite of coleslaw<br />
and<br />
corn pudding<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKov-mOZxTel0sPoppFxFU-aUsA_wkI9uvEmG7yDW5PD1tVEAwLj4dfZVNZA30D1x1VFUE0XIT532vPe3U5xjqxBhxpvpFLyRtdrxk280wMVN4s2UUReKOKiuf-v9iy4nyJcMfAWjnJnI/s1600/IMG_20151104_104503900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKov-mOZxTel0sPoppFxFU-aUsA_wkI9uvEmG7yDW5PD1tVEAwLj4dfZVNZA30D1x1VFUE0XIT532vPe3U5xjqxBhxpvpFLyRtdrxk280wMVN4s2UUReKOKiuf-v9iy4nyJcMfAWjnJnI/s320/IMG_20151104_104503900.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFliMK-LuykJQu_2ZgIdJnNXOntDHbOv4MPB0L-K8wgHZunsITXzsng2qcnp4uxZqaMSysWbscWAQ2PsboV_72G1OVyXmM0GuEpR870f3eLxmak68oYPJ9BEKRA8J5-oXrtDR2VlHqao/s1600/IMG_20151104_111051060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFliMK-LuykJQu_2ZgIdJnNXOntDHbOv4MPB0L-K8wgHZunsITXzsng2qcnp4uxZqaMSysWbscWAQ2PsboV_72G1OVyXmM0GuEpR870f3eLxmak68oYPJ9BEKRA8J5-oXrtDR2VlHqao/s320/IMG_20151104_111051060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few bites left </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirgrEMIm-YslBkKJTHJDvbXS38hAo3JXovl6_vhOCIgSZc3cRmIZ8gTvAciqiYNtKQN2gBLJFmKS5UNSXCj3AaXWojGwsDPXhar7YDRcCXnhOTL4EK2hgF2lwcqHYc5rFl7ukwQ0f-w/s1600/IMG_20151104_104450266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirgrEMIm-YslBkKJTHJDvbXS38hAo3JXovl6_vhOCIgSZc3cRmIZ8gTvAciqiYNtKQN2gBLJFmKS5UNSXCj3AaXWojGwsDPXhar7YDRcCXnhOTL4EK2hgF2lwcqHYc5rFl7ukwQ0f-w/s320/IMG_20151104_104450266.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sliver of cheese cake and key lime pie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No bread, cake, cookies or soda!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No cream salads or icky green bean casserole!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No going back for seconds </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
even though </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really wanted another slice of pie!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
GOOD CHOICES MADE TODAY</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-52890465386562476162015-11-03T14:01:00.001-05:002015-11-04T23:31:29.824-05:00DAY 2 of 21 DAY CHALLENGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-34BxKI-ii198boBxiPOW43IgTowFMEy8LZcfe77y6jIOoRbmhrWjwW0rryFmzWw2dgwdVq5WuhaLh7ns5J97kiceaWSiBKjMaQ3h6mlnAic3raHrgmP6CkrAp7bxwtzZQosKrS-m9Q/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-34BxKI-ii198boBxiPOW43IgTowFMEy8LZcfe77y6jIOoRbmhrWjwW0rryFmzWw2dgwdVq5WuhaLh7ns5J97kiceaWSiBKjMaQ3h6mlnAic3raHrgmP6CkrAp7bxwtzZQosKrS-m9Q/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOlUaWHA1Ecr8q_1nWFhpZZajtHUsAn0udLbKbqPewtjNexN5VQzNQP7-qJ_YNiLNiiV6RASsUEYMww2VSWIWb6GOMt72ha8RKeAeTGBwWtWEZE0bh5nGVIbfeO5FrEgY40Jj8D-77os/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOlUaWHA1Ecr8q_1nWFhpZZajtHUsAn0udLbKbqPewtjNexN5VQzNQP7-qJ_YNiLNiiV6RASsUEYMww2VSWIWb6GOMt72ha8RKeAeTGBwWtWEZE0bh5nGVIbfeO5FrEgY40Jj8D-77os/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuCcTWRR1TEAOwxy4n3GyA1q27140IlFjXcLkUW9EPGsu01MbzZF-H1LyTYMfgCuPuRw2gQTMLP8UrLN-9oqQ19_HuY-czK4hacq4YMz6sX9zbCAlvUCLbtqigQKwG63TEkkTiOzfgO4/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuCcTWRR1TEAOwxy4n3GyA1q27140IlFjXcLkUW9EPGsu01MbzZF-H1LyTYMfgCuPuRw2gQTMLP8UrLN-9oqQ19_HuY-czK4hacq4YMz6sX9zbCAlvUCLbtqigQKwG63TEkkTiOzfgO4/s200/IMG_0031.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB32oO43CmWikfD2hbGxkt3r4l3FjfYq9Mj5_ukMpYkHNWZSyhrkzvWI1AUIttWbUXPk7eq1Pm8G_nB2qo2pFZcTFAGvbaE0v3zVrHUlKrcBjWeJff-fDrDjdFXR5GblElPxkw_avRpFk/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB32oO43CmWikfD2hbGxkt3r4l3FjfYq9Mj5_ukMpYkHNWZSyhrkzvWI1AUIttWbUXPk7eq1Pm8G_nB2qo2pFZcTFAGvbaE0v3zVrHUlKrcBjWeJff-fDrDjdFXR5GblElPxkw_avRpFk/s200/IMG_0029.JPG" width="200" /></a> Today is not such a good day it seems. I went to bed early...early being by 11:00 pm and got my body out of bed by 7:00 am...that should have been a good 8 hours but my Fitbit said I only got 5 hours sleep and my body feels like it today. I did good on breakfast, having my Shakeology and juice as usual the proceeded to move all the plastic filled storage boxes from these closet shelves and space to the bedroom with all the other stuff that is stored from yesterday...(see previous blog) Some of them were extremely heavy with fabric and now I am really tired out and I have a back ache. I probably should not have moved them but it is done now. Frustrating that we can't remove these shelves until I get the remainder of the books packed, my sewing machine cabinet moved and do not need my printer any more.<br />
<br />
Lunch was a less then a satisfying scrambled egg with salsa on it and then set about to figure out a dinner of chicken thighs that did not require much work. I found a crock pot recipe that didn't require but 4 hours to cook on high so it is on to cook will have those and a salad to go with for dinner.<br />
<br />
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED WAS TO GO OUT TO EAT AND INDULGE MYSELF<br />
<br />
Still working on getting enough exercise and drinking enough water but think I will do okay there also. I feel good that I didn't give in to eating out and got more packing done.<br />
<br />
<br />Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-72164826208123948492015-11-02T22:24:00.000-05:002015-11-04T23:31:04.951-05:00DAY 1...of 21 DAY CHALLENGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTDGqhFnLudJ8cvlJzLqYHET4VYo_MhEjpWkIkpnQ-BKvrEVldVXcJWKJn7aaef6IXqaJ6tTw30bq9r9kSEGIvXXucbpEam5fSrzUMGOAo4bNCX8tFE0eIR1qXFF5ZTkq8kAla8RoYbk/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTDGqhFnLudJ8cvlJzLqYHET4VYo_MhEjpWkIkpnQ-BKvrEVldVXcJWKJn7aaef6IXqaJ6tTw30bq9r9kSEGIvXXucbpEam5fSrzUMGOAo4bNCX8tFE0eIR1qXFF5ZTkq8kAla8RoYbk/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is a good day if it is measured in what I accomplished. I enjoyed a Shakeology for breakfast along with some tomato juice to wash down my vitamins and the other two meals were equally good, sardines for lunch and sauteed cabbage and kielbasa for dinner...all within my allowable calorie count. I didn't get the extra steps in that I had wanted to do but got lots of extra exercise. I needed to get serious about packing so with Bob's help we removed all the stuff from our large hall closet and packed it into boxes...then Bob took the wooden shelves down that needed to be removed. They will be replaced with the original wire shelves. Then more stuff was packed and stored for moving. All the boxes in this photo are from 3 closets and there is still more to pack up in two of the closets. Books, books and more books... </span>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-60889299821696548682015-10-30T12:36:00.000-04:002015-10-30T12:36:11.698-04:00PRELUDE TO 21 DAY CHALLANGE<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">I AM AN APPLE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today for a 21 day challenge I joined I assessed my mental,
emotional and physical health and took measurements of my body…I am definitely
an apple…Albeit a crab apple but soon to
change that…I have also made a list of goals I will work to accomplish during
the next 21 days and forever after…Here is what I am going to do;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Strengthen my core and improve my balance.
Important at any age but especially my age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Add 500 or more additional steps each day to my
daily total until I reach 10,000 plus a day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Lose inches overall especially in my waist <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Lose pounds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Journal each day if only a few lines listing my accomplishments and struggles <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Spend some time each day doing art <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Post a daily gratitude affirmation</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have three days to get ready, set, go! </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
</div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-25002441192643596112015-01-26T23:19:00.002-05:002015-01-26T23:25:09.266-05:00WEEK 4 PHOTO CHALLENGE~2015 Outdoor In Nature<div style="text-align: center;">
~Manmade in Nature~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKCs6cGcbzVpeHZznBoiHxbdq_Ln-KXCzd19-Q17b3C1GLLTPgV1E6S9EFOT4nnPzJMkJq5oOqlRtsPtNNEyEj3IdgjH1FuJMmOR3jkV1I0stPKqNPUe-iCMlQzf9ACqFedo1tS0u8IA/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKCs6cGcbzVpeHZznBoiHxbdq_Ln-KXCzd19-Q17b3C1GLLTPgV1E6S9EFOT4nnPzJMkJq5oOqlRtsPtNNEyEj3IdgjH1FuJMmOR3jkV1I0stPKqNPUe-iCMlQzf9ACqFedo1tS0u8IA/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Came across this old structure in a small town in Rural Florida. Love the contrast between the foliage and the wood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://%E2%80%AA/#photochallenge2015" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#photochallenge2015</a></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-5489026629067462742015-01-26T17:55:00.000-05:002015-01-26T23:25:50.215-05:00WEEK 3.. PHOTO CHALLENGE 2015~Outdoor in Nature<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">~TREES~</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRFd2NIxTMwThwTmTJZpPJO_BmyOc_CalOt5kGt-x6ziESnqdT9-I93UjhP5JzM_T8G7gVZ5KxELldeAoqepUo5JwEimML-gVmBTvb8bV2SOLKZ6a4tI3YForZAV-aBYq5ogsSZmKTu0/s1600/DSC01822+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRFd2NIxTMwThwTmTJZpPJO_BmyOc_CalOt5kGt-x6ziESnqdT9-I93UjhP5JzM_T8G7gVZ5KxELldeAoqepUo5JwEimML-gVmBTvb8bV2SOLKZ6a4tI3YForZAV-aBYq5ogsSZmKTu0/s1600/DSC01822+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Lichen growing on the base of a tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://%E2%80%AA/#photochallenge2015" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#photochallenge2015</a>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-3388294295482931162015-01-13T22:42:00.001-05:002015-01-26T23:23:45.197-05:00WEEK 2.. PHOTO CHALLENGE 2015...Outdoor in Nature<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">~ NUMBERS – 10 and Under~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EapdKZR8b8OJeYuEW6ZJEbNI3P32NsbusXAwI8rDf_U2ymFbhTpyz6wlS9MKDKbZf-RVyWFEosWjCsKmegqOK4HmmW7VT-nrMk3DQ-4dSbB62_l9jSCurGQF0vhTxqAFiebkeRMYA-0/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EapdKZR8b8OJeYuEW6ZJEbNI3P32NsbusXAwI8rDf_U2ymFbhTpyz6wlS9MKDKbZf-RVyWFEosWjCsKmegqOK4HmmW7VT-nrMk3DQ-4dSbB62_l9jSCurGQF0vhTxqAFiebkeRMYA-0/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://%E2%80%AA/#photochallenge2015" target="_blank">#photochallenge2015</a></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-59534456965238070292015-01-10T11:03:00.000-05:002015-01-26T23:23:23.108-05:00WEEK 1~PHOTO CHALLENGE 2015~ Outdoor in Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="mailto:darsperber@gmail.com" target="_blank">~MACRO KITCHEN~</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
It is always nice to add something new into the coming year so I have joined a photography group and since I am enjoying a resurgence of my 'love for photography' this will be fun. Especially since it is only one photo a week. <a href="http://photochallenge.org/" target="_blank">http://photochallenge.org/</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnC-rQhQ-4luqjBiO3mVKC6fbYvMUTm8v-WT1ubA90wkvfb5uK4VruXwNGjx36UTvgFqRM-CfiA2wiyp-3Mgsd007F1r9uyaMXnJkZg3DZmYEc_7PnwuJu2tsfgFmKQMpSXMVzUdtsnQ/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnC-rQhQ-4luqjBiO3mVKC6fbYvMUTm8v-WT1ubA90wkvfb5uK4VruXwNGjx36UTvgFqRM-CfiA2wiyp-3Mgsd007F1r9uyaMXnJkZg3DZmYEc_7PnwuJu2tsfgFmKQMpSXMVzUdtsnQ/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-45685397255700272552014-09-21T22:44:00.002-04:002014-09-24T10:32:07.875-04:00AUTUMN EQUINOX FREE FALL CREATIVITY.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
10 </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Days Of Continuous Creativity Countdown</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I am going to spend many of these 10 days of the challenge working on improving my sketching with different mediums.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Day 1 </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Graphite pencil using decorative a ball as a model..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAVbeDTmEZNU1MEXIRXnYkQ1lDTOzOWU15qk0Ef64btehkoY4VHuypmw1BKpWVY4UHW7rhmteXlZ-K8pJxALLmesfBXqR3gmWwz6dNmvG5XRFNPb4WadSuNhaFX5baiZXNsS0S5h8oCA/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAVbeDTmEZNU1MEXIRXnYkQ1lDTOzOWU15qk0Ef64btehkoY4VHuypmw1BKpWVY4UHW7rhmteXlZ-K8pJxALLmesfBXqR3gmWwz6dNmvG5XRFNPb4WadSuNhaFX5baiZXNsS0S5h8oCA/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Day 3</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Colored pencils from a photo I took of my Passion Flower</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uNdnbwt2418lhQfVzQeDcXu9nwbfiki59e8fj3413e6V-kq3L6inVehN-jYzGtFQ5T1RXI_DW3Kx3SWKv_6mXFpTkWgsqeV81ocheXSnPfmU04ghPSEZg90tIwkZTbqoW6JOumaVF5U/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uNdnbwt2418lhQfVzQeDcXu9nwbfiki59e8fj3413e6V-kq3L6inVehN-jYzGtFQ5T1RXI_DW3Kx3SWKv_6mXFpTkWgsqeV81ocheXSnPfmU04ghPSEZg90tIwkZTbqoW6JOumaVF5U/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-20210386185764104902014-06-18T12:14:00.004-04:002014-06-18T12:15:32.312-04:00MONDAY FUNDAY BLOG PROMPT #13: THE SOLSTICE AND NOTING CHANGE<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<div style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">
This week Denise ask us to reflect on what has happened since the last winter solstice and what our aspirations are by the next winter solstices</div>
<div style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Wow...lots of things have transpired in my life since last </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">solstice in December 2013. I am celebrating having more time to do what I want. I dropped out of my Altered Minds art group and filled my time with sewing and some art projects I wanted to do but put off. I tend to be hermit like so I am trying to find outside activities to join in but so far I have not found any that appeal to me. We are soon to become a one car family so I have to take that into consideration when looking. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">...CELEBRATING...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLuu7TTHGLS8db5w-Ic2kf3xrLRSyeudtrgqKt6DvpdKQ7GvVAzVKnQi0xdcMpCMCRviicdXysAfsorfWzldFfRT2A1ob9f222KscsNdF08FlB72h3u8NM9EQRx5J2o8pKB4jItjzaGc/s1600/2014-01-24_17.16.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLuu7TTHGLS8db5w-Ic2kf3xrLRSyeudtrgqKt6DvpdKQ7GvVAzVKnQi0xdcMpCMCRviicdXysAfsorfWzldFfRT2A1ob9f222KscsNdF08FlB72h3u8NM9EQRx5J2o8pKB4jItjzaGc/s1600/2014-01-24_17.16.03.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Art</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vGZc2rmMF8tiWW-1sdGoarrfMe_3bBhkduIOlINRjrgDJfESKxkCsUW1Nhiuaf1cUmapx3qqQSmtTgc7uXpzbIyf81JbqC32I82EHjP8isna2NC1iSRSTThgh7oUBsPJsReX4-L4b2g/s1600/Aug29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vGZc2rmMF8tiWW-1sdGoarrfMe_3bBhkduIOlINRjrgDJfESKxkCsUW1Nhiuaf1cUmapx3qqQSmtTgc7uXpzbIyf81JbqC32I82EHjP8isna2NC1iSRSTThgh7oUBsPJsReX4-L4b2g/s1600/Aug29.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Exercising</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmbXqxq3GlVsVa39gM9B3V0HY81kRocdjEDYAbSFKAVlyY0XGkhKo56h3tCRJNoKnAng6xM-T7BcQJHqjFYfoyNQXyeEG3aZOGpBE6kfIpwdYBVduZCmdcqlo5ygD5cSCI6GIoAUzHxA/s1600/2013-08-28_15.45.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmbXqxq3GlVsVa39gM9B3V0HY81kRocdjEDYAbSFKAVlyY0XGkhKo56h3tCRJNoKnAng6xM-T7BcQJHqjFYfoyNQXyeEG3aZOGpBE6kfIpwdYBVduZCmdcqlo5ygD5cSCI6GIoAUzHxA/s1600/2013-08-28_15.45.52.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sewing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">...CHANGES...</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCObcmt2mvrHTsNwyUz7BBl9Qw5k1j6uf9gWaykvt9f_Uh4-Xf45zJsWf7Ph80QvGclcshuTcj1FuENHHdu2fbHSh_SBGwzNHFW2WzqsXMuHZw3xSl87t55FaXpOgqBcHhsHgMpcI9JbQ/s1600/DSC00670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCObcmt2mvrHTsNwyUz7BBl9Qw5k1j6uf9gWaykvt9f_Uh4-Xf45zJsWf7Ph80QvGclcshuTcj1FuENHHdu2fbHSh_SBGwzNHFW2WzqsXMuHZw3xSl87t55FaXpOgqBcHhsHgMpcI9JbQ/s1600/DSC00670.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decluttering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I will know when I have succeeded in my quest to declutter when I no longer feel like I am drowning in stuff</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">...TO DO LIST... </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">(Things I want to finish by years end)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Wedding book</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Life Book 2013</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Trip to see daughter in Washington</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Finish that damn hand sewn tee shirt</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">There are other things I want to do but these are the ones nagging at me far too long.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">...CHALLENGES...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> The biggest challenge in my life, in everything I do, is to learn to let go. Physically, mentally and emotionall</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">y. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">********************</span></span></div>
<i>Continuing with the theme of changing seasons, at the end of this week we will celebrate the June 2014 solstice.<br />I invite us to think back six months ago to the last solstice, December 2013.<br />What has happened in this period that you would like to celebrate? What has happened in this period that you wish had been different? Is there anything else significant you'd like to mention?<br />Now think forward to the next solstice, December 2014.<br />What do you hope to accomplish between now and then? How will you know you've achieved success? What will it look like? What challenges do you anticipate? How will you help yourself over them?<br />Answer all, some or none of these questions. Perhaps the simple theme of 'change' resonates with you more.</i></div>
</div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-57109632964331541112014-06-14T22:47:00.000-04:002014-09-21T22:37:37.203-04:00MONDAY FUNDAY BLOG PROMPT #12: SIGNS OF SUMMER<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trish asked us to do post on Summer related photos or anything we wanted related to summer...I live in Florida so summer to me is the least desirable time of year...We have bugs, heat, humidity and storms. The storms I like the most. I love when the clouds swirl overhead and the rain bombards us with drops the size of bullets: and if you go outside it feels like you are getting pelted with bb's...Did I say I love the storms? Sometimes the thunder is so loud you can not hear yourself think. The poor dog runs for cover or cowers and tries to climb onto your lap for protection and solace. Then the rain stops, the heat builds up until you feel like you are in a sauna. That is summer in Florida. <br /><br /> But also, as in many other areas, summer includes swimming and BBq's... and beautiful sunsets. Here are some photos of summer...</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfEZvnjItQplYR3j4_3xN1PWr3jkIJRcJIg4eU47qJH2TocP7ppVInQl1knJW246wcrQtE-mfKqhe4ExPcGZS5R6MCdIBl2CEplU2BzLr7hqClFW0D6scvi8UF3KiEdCik2FgSdFkjwM/s1600/DSC01556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfEZvnjItQplYR3j4_3xN1PWr3jkIJRcJIg4eU47qJH2TocP7ppVInQl1knJW246wcrQtE-mfKqhe4ExPcGZS5R6MCdIBl2CEplU2BzLr7hqClFW0D6scvi8UF3KiEdCik2FgSdFkjwM/s1600/DSC01556.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr3s1au9nMgXAxf5Rb6ZunpHm-2gFsYa-BEpJszjQf4rh5VapocjjQhiAGcQfHuxq7nOtLW0_xiUKWtUVyLcrPBlszkXZLgwYayYy7DzsQF1p_rBVD6YckC3pRJnbTqeNkmt86rmJ1ZQ/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr3s1au9nMgXAxf5Rb6ZunpHm-2gFsYa-BEpJszjQf4rh5VapocjjQhiAGcQfHuxq7nOtLW0_xiUKWtUVyLcrPBlszkXZLgwYayYy7DzsQF1p_rBVD6YckC3pRJnbTqeNkmt86rmJ1ZQ/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNV9SQw4J88bTw4pUW8ge58qOAqz7liVsaWRZ-NY_CkrXfn0hpfmLGdCd5CycTIORvy-FIC8nXKaZ0JI9lHixN7qB5r6zFYPUZJItB1KFJNA4qAYWSy93eWS-aBApnl9nHeqz6nf4B6w/s1600/DSC01602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNV9SQw4J88bTw4pUW8ge58qOAqz7liVsaWRZ-NY_CkrXfn0hpfmLGdCd5CycTIORvy-FIC8nXKaZ0JI9lHixN7qB5r6zFYPUZJItB1KFJNA4qAYWSy93eWS-aBApnl9nHeqz6nf4B6w/s1600/DSC01602.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUFGUqENS3f3GoljPi0pMobE99aU7Sd7_t-wrufy5gLdoxC3YFWFMxmrecZll-q_35-3o1wx1XyJF4AuOJcKaVsR8XROL4tEiFUKa_4hyphenhyphenB5lAyulXB6Tf9uDp1v66Q2W_5C4TW8DAQKs/s1600/DSC01607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUFGUqENS3f3GoljPi0pMobE99aU7Sd7_t-wrufy5gLdoxC3YFWFMxmrecZll-q_35-3o1wx1XyJF4AuOJcKaVsR8XROL4tEiFUKa_4hyphenhyphenB5lAyulXB6Tf9uDp1v66Q2W_5C4TW8DAQKs/s1600/DSC01607.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRIkidFjVS0iVVWDkEDtrHyjjif-WBrMZaF3mwbze072JAOirmejqjQ9FhCPLjBZD8tvk7rgkH2ItlJE0LK-rCIJqAhvFhUuFI2pj4Ok6AUEU3AOfEdR7BSLydcxSHUIjyTHMrMzi5X0/s1600/DSC01611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRIkidFjVS0iVVWDkEDtrHyjjif-WBrMZaF3mwbze072JAOirmejqjQ9FhCPLjBZD8tvk7rgkH2ItlJE0LK-rCIJqAhvFhUuFI2pj4Ok6AUEU3AOfEdR7BSLydcxSHUIjyTHMrMzi5X0/s1600/DSC01611.JPG" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVGbAYVB9noPWC7AVx4F9krXRWh9tHOU_8AxCsDDrbzihPPBeUdlS4FCEIG0bYBksgwsPNV2LBIhZ1DoVvX-rwzweZlYgMwA0kkLBy66-ATZqnrRVXVZdyo_X9pvUPqFFibhvvB0JsXQ/s1600/DSC01615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVGbAYVB9noPWC7AVx4F9krXRWh9tHOU_8AxCsDDrbzihPPBeUdlS4FCEIG0bYBksgwsPNV2LBIhZ1DoVvX-rwzweZlYgMwA0kkLBy66-ATZqnrRVXVZdyo_X9pvUPqFFibhvvB0JsXQ/s1600/DSC01615.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-91080230382478236942014-06-08T14:34:00.001-04:002014-06-08T14:34:30.799-04:00MONDAY FUNDAY BLOG PROMPT #11: METAPHORIC OBJECTS<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not having read Peter London's book "No More Secondhand Art" I am just going to follow Ruth's list in order and see what I come up with. To start here are a few of the words I chose to describe me and use for my metaphoric objectification. I am sure there are many more.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Stubborn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Curious</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Restless</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Determination</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Tenacious</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Faithful</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Creative</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Compassionate</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Reflective</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Moody</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb63gCLaoJadxxeQTeFx3JFhiM73j4jZUT6NHqkDweDUtPZftTRl9vSGy7iZxmWN0DnzGnomR1oTiDmF-otLF7NsuPKtd6WjUK2H7HpLW4zOBWqVaTcy1XGcwLcOW1klz-HbY1bCc6B8/s1600/DSC01526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb63gCLaoJadxxeQTeFx3JFhiM73j4jZUT6NHqkDweDUtPZftTRl9vSGy7iZxmWN0DnzGnomR1oTiDmF-otLF7NsuPKtd6WjUK2H7HpLW4zOBWqVaTcy1XGcwLcOW1klz-HbY1bCc6B8/s1600/DSC01526.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first object that came to my mind when I spent time contemplating this prompt was a map. I love maps. I can get lost in maps, reading the exotic names and places, looking closer at the shapes of countries and the information given on each one. Dreaming of what it would be like to travel there or live there. Local maps show the many roads to adventure. I have never made a wrong turn on a road. It may not have been my original intention to turn down a particular road but once I do I just consider it an opportunity to see whatever is there or have an unscheduled adventure. Maps pretty well represent four of my personal characteristics. Stubbornness, curiosity, determination and restlessness. You've heard of restless leg syndrome, well I have restless feet syndrome. These characteristics have gotten me into trouble more than one time but I love that they are inherent in me all the same. I love and will always take the road less traveled literally or metaphorically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKDyl1j6Xp4SDeRVMEzbTLV304Od7FjA9cyxMN8YUNwMp-OybzGNE8rDPo5mQyAawAhChGN6G7bJSNFvEUVUK1kIlcmwMhmOGE32J6gWgP5I4UUphniOFwNsjAFejwvH90_WS6uxiY9U/s1600/DSC01530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKDyl1j6Xp4SDeRVMEzbTLV304Od7FjA9cyxMN8YUNwMp-OybzGNE8rDPo5mQyAawAhChGN6G7bJSNFvEUVUK1kIlcmwMhmOGE32J6gWgP5I4UUphniOFwNsjAFejwvH90_WS6uxiY9U/s1600/DSC01530.JPG" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The second character I picked as one that is inherent in me is tenacious. I looked it up to make sure I chose correctly and all the synonyms listed for tenacious fit me to a tee. Persistent, determined, strong willed, patient, etc...I have been accused of being obstinate on more than one occasion but once I make up my mind 'it don't change'. The object I chose for my tenacious character is my wedding ring that I have worn for almost 58 years. . My persistence, determination and strong will, sometimes called obstinance has worked well for me on many occasions during my lifetime when without those character I may have given up many times over. It also represents continuity which my life has been and faithful, another words that describes me. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw9TrnQQ3KK21LtsVwyugs3Bt0XItZ1tAF90af4hmlFb1oVTil7npHp_ANTsV_05npLr5n5L8G0rzY8-pKWnAfWxm4VXJAvD60Y81MQPq5UMR6-JZj7saF2tsijj0oicIQsbY0PSYQKc/s1600/DSC01537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw9TrnQQ3KK21LtsVwyugs3Bt0XItZ1tAF90af4hmlFb1oVTil7npHp_ANTsV_05npLr5n5L8G0rzY8-pKWnAfWxm4VXJAvD60Y81MQPq5UMR6-JZj7saF2tsijj0oicIQsbY0PSYQKc/s1600/DSC01537.JPG" height="352" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I chose a pencil and sharpener as my metaphoric object for creative as that is where I turn to when I first start my creative process. Sometimes the ideas come to me in my dreams, or when I am driving down the road and now when I am dancing intuitively or I'm walking around my block but always they go on paper first after that. I either sketch them or write down ideas so a sharp pencil </span></span><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">(I detest dull pencils)</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> is what I need to get started. I love this pencil sharpener which has been my faithful companion for so many years. When Bob ask me if there was anything special I wanted for our 25 anniversary I said I wanted a pencil sharpener.( I told you I take the road less traveled.) You can only imagine how happy I was to receive this workhorse. It has sat beside my work space for 25 plus years and has never failed me.Unless I forget to empty the shavings out.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil27wfM6ORm65tFJlMeeoFzQBzv4oe2gWPxaufxowyGLiSbBs6QaPyQfWcSgCEjCW9-9bAyoEQ4EEJ7KgxiuLt2wXBAPN3dfgq3FqODrzxUOotjw4c7cQ8__xeN_MBkJh9CLWx2sZin4Y/s1600/DSC01521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil27wfM6ORm65tFJlMeeoFzQBzv4oe2gWPxaufxowyGLiSbBs6QaPyQfWcSgCEjCW9-9bAyoEQ4EEJ7KgxiuLt2wXBAPN3dfgq3FqODrzxUOotjw4c7cQ8__xeN_MBkJh9CLWx2sZin4Y/s1600/DSC01521.JPG" height="392" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I chose this mirror as my object depicting my moodiness and tendency to be reflective when I get into a 'mood'. I tend to dwell on events and over think. Trying to work out the outcome or see if I could have done something differently, changed the end result or just not let it happen. I also have chosen this particular mirror because it is hinged and can be open or closed and because of the seashell decoration on the face of it. Sea shells have always reminded me of the open water and to look beyond the horizon, to dream the impossible. The freedom to just be.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NNrR4J0SofaenyQzG2RHP8W83EepWWOuJUIlXnHwVn9SjYnY8Q4CdxmK2JFj17w_OErAoAprH8Sd-kN9okZtRrcw4tXv5SKX5tjSVWhutUZILelD4tENBe6yHtiFwORsKIo7st7h2I/s1600/DSC01535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NNrR4J0SofaenyQzG2RHP8W83EepWWOuJUIlXnHwVn9SjYnY8Q4CdxmK2JFj17w_OErAoAprH8Sd-kN9okZtRrcw4tXv5SKX5tjSVWhutUZILelD4tENBe6yHtiFwORsKIo7st7h2I/s1600/DSC01535.JPG" height="216" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The hinges on the mirror show the two sides of me. I am the mirror. Sometimes I am open and give freely of myself and other times I am closed and want to be left alone. </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I don't like being moody but I am and when I get into a mood I just need to be left alone and allowed to sink into it and work it out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">So now I am at the end of my week of putting together my metamorphic objects and their meanings. I have only the 5 objects but I think that must be all I need. A map, a ring, a pencil and sharpener and a mirror.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I am using the map as a base since movement and adventure are a big part of my life. Movement for physical health and adventure for mental health. The other metamorphic objects are all of great value in my life so they are placed together in the middle of my map. The wedding ring because it is most important to me. </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">It cautions me that I need my</span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> persistence, determination and strong will to help me navigate through what remains of my life. The pencil sharpener goes smack in the middle also so it is readily available to capture any and all creative images and words that may flit through my consciousness and record them as my own. And lastly is the mirror. It is my anchor. It reminds to take time to be reflective and time to be open, free and giving. </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> It is what keeps me grounded and sane.</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYAC2Q8ePWR904Ix308LonHWjE-LER98nwVqOHo-Y3DYugD1wo3d2u7hiyLxkc21IHuIHKZU2QQ_K_E48sqOyXaUy15De_LD9kikRDK5yPw7WDMTK0r1m0WOvt4UanZH_hv1hX174iPg/s1600/DSC01542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYAC2Q8ePWR904Ix308LonHWjE-LER98nwVqOHo-Y3DYugD1wo3d2u7hiyLxkc21IHuIHKZU2QQ_K_E48sqOyXaUy15De_LD9kikRDK5yPw7WDMTK0r1m0WOvt4UanZH_hv1hX174iPg/s1600/DSC01542.JPG" height="280" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-65178397702825653292014-05-27T13:21:00.001-04:002014-12-12T11:26:10.796-05:00MONDAY FUNDAY BLOG PROMPT #10 YOUR CREATION STORY<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For our Funday Monday art this week we were ask to create our creation story. This is a story of my beginning but is not a story about me. This is the story of a woman who met a boy and at an age way too young, became a mother. Soon after another baby was born to them and a family of three grew into four. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Times were hard back then with the country being in the middle of the great depression. Parts of the midwest and southwest were recovering from the dust bowl that devastated our breadbasket states causing families to leave their homes and migrate westward looking for a better life.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Families by the hundreds packed up their belongings and en masse migrated to the promising western states leaving behind a familiar world looking for that new life only to find the depression was taking it's toll on everyone everywhere. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon this family of four became five but then broke apart as so many times happens when there is too much stress and not enough </span>substance<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to sustain. A young mother is left to raise her three children by herself. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then another baby comes into the world and because of conditions and circumstances she is not able to control this baby is left for another to raise leaving a deep hole in this young mother's heart. Never to heal completely and leaving her to try to fill that void her whole life</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A new war starts, the army swells as men, long out of work, find a place to earn a living and soldiers from all over the country are sent to places they only dreamed about before. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New relationships are formed and a young mother meets the love of her life. A young soldier, who only wanted to grow up and play baseball, falls in love and takes on a ready made family, both thinking this is what they had both been looking for. </span>Together<span style="font-family: inherit;"> they have a child and with four </span>children<span style="font-family: inherit;"> they are the typical American </span>family<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">War and strife takes it's toll and this young mother, losing her childhood too early and now with scars that will not heal and chained to a life she is not prepared for spirals in and out of depression, drugs, deceit and </span>despair<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the course of years they travel, adopt two children, she trying to fill that empty place in her heart and he trying to make her happy. Their four children are grown now and they </span>should<span style="font-family: inherit;"> be enjoying their time together but life has left too many wounds and the hurt will not go away even when, in their </span>middle<span style="font-family: inherit;"> years and </span>perhaps<span style="font-family: inherit;"> by accident, they have one more child together. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This young mother with so many dreams </span>unfinished<span style="font-family: inherit;"> left this life behind many years ago still trying to find the missing piece and her soldier left to join her some few years back. Together again in eternity she will someday find the son she lost so many years ago and be at peace. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In her honor</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn2_Bfaof1I-KX9MLVZsTkJp1QzThc6lpqBXEgL00JRs5SyD527QcEvZv5iFFmnIeTsEghTQMSxH_bDT1llh01S-i6_F_I71Lsw-Rs-TtxkkNBCZtZMnP0ZKRX2iJYpDWtBvbtGn96kw/s1600/MS+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn2_Bfaof1I-KX9MLVZsTkJp1QzThc6lpqBXEgL00JRs5SyD527QcEvZv5iFFmnIeTsEghTQMSxH_bDT1llh01S-i6_F_I71Lsw-Rs-TtxkkNBCZtZMnP0ZKRX2iJYpDWtBvbtGn96kw/s1600/MS+8.JPG" height="640" width="484" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my mother, this is my beginning but not my ending. My story is still being written. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-61705829893770545602014-05-22T16:19:00.000-04:002014-05-22T16:22:04.414-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY May 19, 2014...# 9 Visualization...<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Looking at reading as visualization, perhaps a source for learning visualization. Have particular writers inspired you to visual expression? Ever had inspiration from reading to do something visual, in writing, or other art expression, music, movement? Self-help books, facebook, online, biographies, poetry, spiritual, fiction, children's books, magazines? How does one transfer an idea or insight gathered from one art form into another art form? I don't mean these particular questions to be answered, but an attempt to point to examples. Or does reading have no part at all in your art expression? Or sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't</i></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The paragraph above describes the Funday Monday prompt for this week on the Daily Creative Practice. I am on a hiatus from Facebook right now but Ruth has kindly offered to keep me up to date and post my blogs for each Monday's prompt.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I am a visual learner and since books are a huge part of my life in all ways I think they have definitely played a big part in how I have progressed as a person and as an artist. I can't name a particular writer or artist that has left permanent indent on my psyche though there are many I admire and often find myself trying to emulate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61weD7IisIL._SL1024_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61weD7IisIL._SL1024_.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Visualizing Movement." <br /><br />My most recent visualization is using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cYYzcTzm6Y">The Wave</a> dance to augment my exercise program. To add variety to a part of my day that I try to put off but can't ignore if I want to stay around a bit longer. It has added fun to my exercise and I thank Lee Russell for bringing it to my attention when I complained that, having two left feet I could not dance. She assured me that with this video and the quiet instructions given throughout any one can dance. She is right..if I can any one can. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81ojztsPZjL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81ojztsPZjL._SL1500_.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />"Visualizing Spiritual."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I recently realized I needed more direction on my life and remembered getting little tid bits of this book in my email each day but lost them when I changed addresses. I googled it as I do with most things I need to know and came up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(book)">The Secret </a>which is the most interesting 'self help book I have read to date and has inspired me to become more than I thought I could ever be.</span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZh1jhtCIsEgQBs0Qfn_OTqY-3tTnHA9FV1ai_8L2MhImCgjuZBNkP71TXRURpEoBoa40u4MC2NecJOmths-mPXj-3LH44539UqtweD8r599qiV-6VVKrhEozTEueFvItSLxxdN2rUtw/s320/DSC_2470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZh1jhtCIsEgQBs0Qfn_OTqY-3tTnHA9FV1ai_8L2MhImCgjuZBNkP71TXRURpEoBoa40u4MC2NecJOmths-mPXj-3LH44539UqtweD8r599qiV-6VVKrhEozTEueFvItSLxxdN2rUtw/s320/DSC_2470.jpg" width="367" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>"Visualizing & Transferring ideas." </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I enjoy a challenge and when my grand son showed me this drawing he did I was immediately inspired to recreate it in 3d. <a href="http://musingsandart.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-goal-when-doing-my-art-work-is-to-be.html">Here</a> you can see how I took this one dimensional drawing and turned it into a 3 dimensional assemblage by visualizing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I prefer books to classes as I can reopen a book where as with a class, once you leave the class you better have good notes or a good memory.Books are always my 'go to' for tutorials when I want to learn a new process or sometimes just to wake up my muse. I can create 'uniquely mine' clothing and accessories by seeing ideas in magazines and online...</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Visualization. ...it is the way I create, the way I see and the way I live. Thank you Tj Worthington for this interesting prompt. I don't think I have done it justice but it is what it is and I did enjoy it.</span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-sUsjXbo2lxw%2FUVukKMTsPOI%2FAAAAAAAAAzM%2F7_Jk4KSNrgM%2Fs320%2FDSC_2470.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZh1jhtCIsEgQBs0Qfn_OTqY-3tTnHA9FV1ai_8L2MhImCgjuZBNkP71TXRURpEoBoa40u4MC2NecJOmths-mPXj-3LH44539UqtweD8r599qiV-6VVKrhEozTEueFvItSLxxdN2rUtw/s320/DSC_2470.jpg" -->Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-4098099976611749172014-05-13T19:15:00.000-04:002014-05-15T14:02:00.742-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY May 11, 2014 # 8<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl-FtjoCfi3WxDE7bT3fpicRmbN3LmuX56kRSi6kMBrZPO6G2yF95H-IrNsdqIjO5_i6omrx_2NL_HsfSujNmovU9FV24D8dgVqVgxedWJvg3Wga58Svx7M1RDQ7SyFVcncE48wPw-rg/s1600/DSC01249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl-FtjoCfi3WxDE7bT3fpicRmbN3LmuX56kRSi6kMBrZPO6G2yF95H-IrNsdqIjO5_i6omrx_2NL_HsfSujNmovU9FV24D8dgVqVgxedWJvg3Wga58Svx7M1RDQ7SyFVcncE48wPw-rg/s1600/DSC01249.JPG" height="346" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back yard feeder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Why do we create art?<br /><br />Take a minute today to get present to what is so for you in this question. You can do it right now - take a deep breath, relax. Let the answer come to you from the peacefulness of your inner being. Why do you create art? When an answer comes, keep asking. Don’t get settle in any specificity, keep inquiring, until you feel so inspired by your own findings that you get chills. Goose bumps. Feel in awe. The purpose of this exercise is to connect deeply to what moves, touches and inspires you.<br /><br />Picasso once said “The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away”<br /><br />I personally believe the act of creating, the creativity behind an artwork, is crucial for personal happiness and satisfaction. I paint because there’s nothing else I would rather do. I paint with my eyes, with my imagination, with my hands. I look for beauty all around me. The way the light drapes over my water cup. The way my daughter’s eyes squint a little in the morning right after she wakes up. The way a ray of sun feels on my arm. I love to observe. To look at something without judging, analyzing or dissecting it. Just notice. Observe. Wonder. I pick up the brush and take emotional notes of my observations on a surface. Painting is poetry on canvas. Ahh the moment the water is moving from wet to dry, the way the backwash slowly expands, tickling my soul with every wet area in which it spreads carrying color, with a life of it’s own</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When I was young I dabbled a little in art, mostly with drawing which I learned to love at an early age. I would take a picture and see how closely I could copy it and was told by many family members that I didn't draw it but traced it...that sent me into a world of not wanting anyone to see what I did for fear of criticism not realizing that their words meant to hurt and belittle were actually a compliment since it meant I was good...At least I was good at copying.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />As a young mother I sewed but stopped drawing and took up oil painting and loved it but oil paint was pricey and we did not have the income to spend so I stopped and have since given all of my paintings away.</span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPUM86RFoxQ2bHbb3G2YMMm96NR5L2fJ03571QT1nHUfbMax_GptoMYaVFSDQc6aLdvJXXvzfmQR6gSBazNrxSs7JlJ-vj-bY5RvvWCg5E6t7_nx5NqCi2fwL00vKV69A4r99VtokkYQ/s1600/DSC01224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPUM86RFoxQ2bHbb3G2YMMm96NR5L2fJ03571QT1nHUfbMax_GptoMYaVFSDQc6aLdvJXXvzfmQR6gSBazNrxSs7JlJ-vj-bY5RvvWCg5E6t7_nx5NqCi2fwL00vKV69A4r99VtokkYQ/s1600/DSC01224.JPG" height="400" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />I kept sewing because the money spent was a benefit to the whole family in ways of making gifts and clothing but even then I had this need to be different so started doing my own thing with sewing. My sons had the coolest flared pants (disco period) and my daughters had beautiful maxi coats...I even made a rust colored corduroy sports jacket with plaid lining for my hubby which was my first attempt at tailoring. I made most of my own clothes...and they were all couture. So my youth up to my retirement years I spent most of my creative energy sewing with a short time in college where I learned how much I love black and white photography and writing. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHwNy4Wa2Yv_aDrZ948h25fPzaZiP55_pyP8G2ePQnb21dvKEvD0zbXkUGVJWg898XrRKKX767qvhBpjIiqrSaSr-bKkn4ycw1RxpkU8MW9GMZlesbRrqO24yc00hjwTl7yWqIezuDXM/s1600/DSC01227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHwNy4Wa2Yv_aDrZ948h25fPzaZiP55_pyP8G2ePQnb21dvKEvD0zbXkUGVJWg898XrRKKX767qvhBpjIiqrSaSr-bKkn4ycw1RxpkU8MW9GMZlesbRrqO24yc00hjwTl7yWqIezuDXM/s1600/DSC01227.JPG" height="400" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly installed outdoor studio sink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then I met a cloth doll maker and my world changed.<br /><br />I started making cloth dolls and was fascinated by the doll artist that could make life like dolls. I strived to be like them until one day, years after I retired, I discovered I did not care to make life like dolls at all but to make fun and artistically beautiful dolls. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of my dolls are right down ugly or so I have been told. That pleased me. I felt like I had arrived. <br /><br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQRS7r4l-MKLvF8o-h7jsExLGeMzkx6PuV4kn9lj7BUgz_-UB8YmXU_M6D_DGFUAXt-y5fiNN2xCoYx24cVlyKm7FJOElhxq-KFC4BNWtWfzlscXnorQ5wZ_jV0eB5Ip3lAmojE3lI3g/s1600/383732_251752618212931_2107753344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQRS7r4l-MKLvF8o-h7jsExLGeMzkx6PuV4kn9lj7BUgz_-UB8YmXU_M6D_DGFUAXt-y5fiNN2xCoYx24cVlyKm7FJOElhxq-KFC4BNWtWfzlscXnorQ5wZ_jV0eB5Ip3lAmojE3lI3g/s1600/383732_251752618212931_2107753344_n.jpg" height="338" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted gourd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A long time ago a person I did not know but was going to become quite familiar with ask me why I wanted to make dolls. So why do I create art? Both are one and the same to me. <br /><br />My calling cards describe me as "a collector and creator of stuff". My inspiration comes from the 'stuff I collect. Bottle caps, old used car parts, copper elements from my replaced air conditioner, corks and boxes. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kogTGtAm8CsxHsnBLnQqmVRGtHa_KaI8O4Yi2zp4ntVxauFGd8q4Btr6tGOIcL3IhYba_UXdvMctOVtlBTr8s9nhEDyzwGaF_GfqRDyP2G6LDm3pvFVcwMeoPQo11MR3EJoD09U3NeI/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kogTGtAm8CsxHsnBLnQqmVRGtHa_KaI8O4Yi2zp4ntVxauFGd8q4Btr6tGOIcL3IhYba_UXdvMctOVtlBTr8s9nhEDyzwGaF_GfqRDyP2G6LDm3pvFVcwMeoPQo11MR3EJoD09U3NeI/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" height="171" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future art</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Styrofoam packing pieces and wine bottles. Old jewelery, pieces of unique wood and rusty chicken wire. Fabric that feels good to the touch, coconut shells and rattle snake bones. Old cast off dolls, doll heads, doll body parts and let's not forget really cool pieces of cardboard. Gift wrapping paper, metal wine bottle toppers and candy wrappers made of foil. These are just a few of my favorite things....When I see, feel and think about the 'stuff' I collect I am in love and when I am in love I want to touch, play and have fun so I create. That is my ultimate fun. <br /><br />Now in my old age I want to do it all. I want to draw, I want to paint and I want to mold clay into shapes that are pleasing to my eye. I want to take my old cast off parts and make beautiful art pieces. I want to make new books and alter the old ones. I want to learn watercolor painting and do more intuitive painting. I want to use torn paper for collages as well as torn fabric. I want to sew but instead of following a pattern to the letter as in the old days of sewing when I was learning and conforming I now want to use the pattern to see how I can manipulate it to something that is 'mine'. Something different then anyone elses. I want to do everything and fret over the fact that there is not enough time to do it all.<br /><br />My creative spirit comes in spurts. When I get the urge to start a piece of art in one medium or the other I can feel it in my fingertips, see it in my dreams and all my waking thoughts are spent working out the next step or the next piece. I am consumed with the working of it until it is called finished. When that time arrives I feel </span><span style="font-size: large;">exalted and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">deflated all at the same time. That is when I read.<br /><br />Reading is my first love. I use it for escapes, for inspirations for relaxation. Now I am adding one more love to my life which is dancing. Brave intuitive dancing. A chance to move my body, free my spirit and find my soul. That is why I create!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qAvczOIP9-vy1PX1x6HTBSMQaOgSTY7KqY6vT4exVG6HEwJiEtAs7jcY6shgYXsCybUvrVn8pHFWNYDwZGzIpEdjAAq3Dhk7tzx2mtO7dvk5oYXx56xXHq8zuErZQS6LJhylUSi1LIo/s1600/DSC01236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qAvczOIP9-vy1PX1x6HTBSMQaOgSTY7KqY6vT4exVG6HEwJiEtAs7jcY6shgYXsCybUvrVn8pHFWNYDwZGzIpEdjAAq3Dhk7tzx2mtO7dvk5oYXx56xXHq8zuErZQS6LJhylUSi1LIo/s1600/DSC01236.JPG" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-56251133448495865032014-05-09T23:25:00.000-04:002014-05-09T23:25:00.391-04:00SPRING HOUSECLEANING<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLC-IWe5Y6FqANo6Aok03HrXSmvOFsqvlsNkJDa4_wAGAyxUfHu34-s6J0bxMUy7IA5njqGA0vt9rJDQeiNmDSNOo01OQ5MDoEKuMX1TL7YoRkutVSLN6VdSqoM3PzEXbnLFEHAw9YF4/s1600/DSC01169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLC-IWe5Y6FqANo6Aok03HrXSmvOFsqvlsNkJDa4_wAGAyxUfHu34-s6J0bxMUy7IA5njqGA0vt9rJDQeiNmDSNOo01OQ5MDoEKuMX1TL7YoRkutVSLN6VdSqoM3PzEXbnLFEHAw9YF4/s1600/DSC01169.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Squirrel Nest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, yesterday and last week, I spent a huge amount of hours on the computer and our cell phones trying to correct screw ups by others that I thought would go away if I ignored them, Sort of the Ostrich syndrome of sticking your head in a hole. Any way after so much frustration with internet and online stuff I decided to take a break from Facebook, the great consumer of time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YIVDNx9nqgUNWClFBU9ziKZf-OgsL-1Dz9-b1ZBsJU-1cH4wXXq-9SCbh4EZDOvYa6XpGXIIEFNeyYxhQfbv51kLkX4j8MLKDmmxQR4SMlCQvhBZZStnJnBrTq-rBa2J_zuFpM43Nao/s1600/DSC01171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YIVDNx9nqgUNWClFBU9ziKZf-OgsL-1Dz9-b1ZBsJU-1cH4wXXq-9SCbh4EZDOvYa6XpGXIIEFNeyYxhQfbv51kLkX4j8MLKDmmxQR4SMlCQvhBZZStnJnBrTq-rBa2J_zuFpM43Nao/s1600/DSC01171.JPG" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passion Vines</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I need to get my life back in order, get away from online social and get more face to face social, get some physical exercise and have more time to do some art which I have hardly done at all in the last couple of months..I have sewing projects to finished and even more projects </span><span style="font-size: large;">to start...</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF11_0yM61jPtXPDsCTcXZVxvdBBcNTEYeNteIVeVUaSQmUP3pW0la3AoigaSOyxkv3MmTedJBBmq08j_aoFH1eV99jEoQyxKof68aRPhrymQJnXTwX5dtPCLvEpgPrX79OWwdftkiyc/s1600/DSC01176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF11_0yM61jPtXPDsCTcXZVxvdBBcNTEYeNteIVeVUaSQmUP3pW0la3AoigaSOyxkv3MmTedJBBmq08j_aoFH1eV99jEoQyxKof68aRPhrymQJnXTwX5dtPCLvEpgPrX79OWwdftkiyc/s1600/DSC01176.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Winter annuals</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I need to pay closer attention to my health and to Bob's so this way I can get to bed early, get out of bed early and have lots of extra time to do all the things I want to do..Starting tomorrow I will get to bed early, out of bed early and be on my way to actually having the time and energy to accomplish something. And </span><span style="font-size: large;">I need to get more walking in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQaclXv9-GaN7QCkOfx-CtMucoxS-sO9fKBxYVvFQavO4j9v0UnNrS3Q4gRxGv1DrnpiE5i_e7EE26D8EcRRQIyM4XspNwxouuvJ_O6vNfwRSa6oSH9XNtgPuiapX99iGNgfVsk2hgqA/s1600/DSC01185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQaclXv9-GaN7QCkOfx-CtMucoxS-sO9fKBxYVvFQavO4j9v0UnNrS3Q4gRxGv1DrnpiE5i_e7EE26D8EcRRQIyM4XspNwxouuvJ_O6vNfwRSa6oSH9XNtgPuiapX99iGNgfVsk2hgqA/s1600/DSC01185.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My street where my walks start</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully my walks will be a little more than a stroll around my </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">garden</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCHoVq3j4_I0aoCvZk4YYYFNa6s8sZwAJXIepjCSX8e5hu3WfLblVIk5SReYvOyj0_IAeG-bKZO7kvgDDFZC4JOj3MjpEp19E1D-bLZ1w5CUIpY9Mh3W7Q7i1EcTZwwwJ5Ef7FMJy8pY/s1600/DSC01177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCHoVq3j4_I0aoCvZk4YYYFNa6s8sZwAJXIepjCSX8e5hu3WfLblVIk5SReYvOyj0_IAeG-bKZO7kvgDDFZC4JOj3MjpEp19E1D-bLZ1w5CUIpY9Mh3W7Q7i1EcTZwwwJ5Ef7FMJy8pY/s1600/DSC01177.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Confederate Jasmine in full bloom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-80285323339886710772014-04-22T23:10:00.001-04:002014-04-22T23:10:19.850-04:00 FUNDAY MONDAY April 21, 2014 # 5 Natural Creative Instincts:<i> An Earth Day Creative Celebration. This week we celebrate Earth Day! How does the natural world influence or inform your creative process? Do you incorporate or reflect your personal natural environment, the everyday environment around you, in your creative work? Do you seek creative recharge in the natural world? If so, where do you go in person or even mentally to reconnect with the Earth? Share some examples of your creative expression that reflects or was influenced by your experience of nature. Help connect us to the nature that most influences you. Whether you write a post or not, I hope you'll find as many ways as you can to celebrate our mother Earth this week!</i><br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I celebrate our earth everyday and not just one week out of a year by working hard at leaving a smaller footprint, by recycling, repurposing and reducing my needs. I practice this in my art and in my home and in my personal life. My contribution to this blog prompt is to post a poem I wrote a few years ago for a contest on the poetry site I belong to. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Both of the photographs posted were taken in San Francisco in 2013.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iSAu-zMU6Sbf9_1v3dvVQ4PpbRQa0RLCAyF9PJzwZT7VMfw1avxGL4SC-o50m3HiawXmM4qg7APZTz3tuSiaFeiu9Btx3qyxCUgd0skUHcYAzjLh_ZloTv78_zPbZVktPoi0W4iFPRA/s1600/DSC00243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iSAu-zMU6Sbf9_1v3dvVQ4PpbRQa0RLCAyF9PJzwZT7VMfw1avxGL4SC-o50m3HiawXmM4qg7APZTz3tuSiaFeiu9Btx3qyxCUgd0skUHcYAzjLh_ZloTv78_zPbZVktPoi0W4iFPRA/s1600/DSC00243.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
Mortals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3c3a35; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As the
moonbeams touch down and turns the grass to silver<br />
As the rays of the sun bow their heads and give way to the bewitching hour<br />
As the breath of Mother Nature escapes her lips the earth shivers<br />
Only then do we as mortal man know we are weak and have no power<br />
<br />
We try to tame mountains and rivers and fly to outer space<br />
We say we are only seeking to live together in peace<br />
We all too often forget to 'live and let live' within our God's grace<br />
And until we do, the winds of our torment will never cease<br />
<br />
Until we stop judging each other based on our beliefs or race<br />
Until we can live together with no walls to keep others out<br />
Until we learn we are all God’s creatures who he wants to embrace<br />
Only then can we be happy of that I have no doubt<br />
<br />
No matter how far we travel in outer space<br />
No matter how many mountains and rivers we tame<br />
Until we are kind to each other and in Mother Nature's good grace<br />
We will have no one but ourselves left to blam</span><span style="color: #3c3a35; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">e<br />
<br />
Darlene Sperber<br />
June 20, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVk5ZcbBz1AjaqgRxJC5ImSRF6Ig-uabLDCeFYHgJoqlgzPsp-G4LI9PzwPE9E76riEuvWbzJGOikXkmjkSkaToWZqFcRFb_K-YGofNqeo7lyy_SlF3hf2DgeUtaLZXJw4GwBaqJMBrY/s1600/DSC00421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVk5ZcbBz1AjaqgRxJC5ImSRF6Ig-uabLDCeFYHgJoqlgzPsp-G4LI9PzwPE9E76riEuvWbzJGOikXkmjkSkaToWZqFcRFb_K-YGofNqeo7lyy_SlF3hf2DgeUtaLZXJw4GwBaqJMBrY/s1600/DSC00421.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-34225396261262859352014-04-15T13:38:00.002-04:002014-05-20T16:57:14.231-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY April 14, 2014 # 4 Show and Tell<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i> Every consciously creative person I know has a stash of images, quotes, books, spices, garden ideas, etc. that they have been drawn to, and use as inspiration. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i>SHOW something that inspired you and what it inspired you to create.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i>TELL: What do you keep as inspiration? How and where do you store it? And, when do you pull it out? Why? Whose work do you collect? Is there one person who inspired you to take your creative path? Maybe include links for others of us to learn from and be inspired as well.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lee has ask us to do a bit of 'show and tell' and share what, who, where and why of our inspiration. For starters I will do a bit of show and tell. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not long ago after seeing the </span>photo<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that Ruth posted of a statue at the Ichno-Art Cat Palace </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">on her FB </span>page it<span style="font-family: inherit;"> inspired me to make my own statue. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozNvQawQhL1UuwRiYSIBLQ8ml8dDy0DN9NImzDkNsM39pVx2QojRZa5JOYsshB0s-mbCY6gMM5RXFtatvEoljg0KuqMUNoaS-J9XHTYPIyS_SDEfPi1WtumRiSjAVGduvlZLNjC7Pnk/s1600/10269540_10152186963301655_6828283426008508295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozNvQawQhL1UuwRiYSIBLQ8ml8dDy0DN9NImzDkNsM39pVx2QojRZa5JOYsshB0s-mbCY6gMM5RXFtatvEoljg0KuqMUNoaS-J9XHTYPIyS_SDEfPi1WtumRiSjAVGduvlZLNjC7Pnk/s1600/10269540_10152186963301655_6828283426008508295_n.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My inspiration..."A Garden Goddess by BlueFire MacMahon..Go <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluefire.macmahon">here</a> to see her site.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vbOuGDZq8VzkoVQZ05Tbgd9ENbOajSi4Vvjdl_RWXuVrwrui0AQXidyU3_KugKwikaJ21FwvCLiuV2G3nf6h8rBmU8_0UO8aYwCUsCIoEPGDtxZrSQ9SWTvxTaetDic8DIQxmEBd3HE/s1600/DSC00997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vbOuGDZq8VzkoVQZ05Tbgd9ENbOajSi4Vvjdl_RWXuVrwrui0AQXidyU3_KugKwikaJ21FwvCLiuV2G3nf6h8rBmU8_0UO8aYwCUsCIoEPGDtxZrSQ9SWTvxTaetDic8DIQxmEBd3HE/s1600/DSC00997.JPG" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my </span>Pixelated<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Women inspired from Ruth's Garden Goddess above. You can see </span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> complete assemblage of her <a href="http://musingsandart.blogspot.com/2014/03/bust.html">here</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwstIBKJTxdjvKhZavSav_bJ9mfkyba49jRO1YtRWxo2tFpmckRjuvVWB0l3cRBsG46akx51r-txS5GDmV_M5H8DolkO6QaICbJuUGuMNLObO-1rB279fTERWrOhJGs0aFT6Qs1IgCI6s/s1600/DSC01002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwstIBKJTxdjvKhZavSav_bJ9mfkyba49jRO1YtRWxo2tFpmckRjuvVWB0l3cRBsG46akx51r-txS5GDmV_M5H8DolkO6QaICbJuUGuMNLObO-1rB279fTERWrOhJGs0aFT6Qs1IgCI6s/s1600/DSC01002.JPG" height="640" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Art, doll making and<br />sewing books</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a huge stash of stuff I have collected over the years...I won't even try to list what I have...some of it is useless and some is non </span>replaceable<span style="font-family: inherit;">...all of it is getting sorted again soon but I think my favorite thing to have is my collection of books..I love books of all kinds and have since as far back as I can remember...I have books on doll making, and quilting and many types of art. I have </span>quarterly's<span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span>monthlies<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and annuals. I have </span>hardback<span style="font-family: inherit;">, magazine types, altered and hand made books. And I just </span>keep<span style="font-family: inherit;"> on </span>collecting.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I would part with my first born son before I would part with my books. I am kidding of course...I use them for inspiration, instructions and browsing. Sometimes just for reading. If</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> it is written it is precious to me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">If you read you can learn anything, go anywhere and be anyone...all it takes is a little imagination...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCTETOdoRlc1RwJKlReoen9gdOuMOVh_szabtzPXVtiXixKkPATiyr-IdrwpI90rpkkBvy_KyqDDtO1dCoibu2ie0AgHex0PMh1r-IZYSZJbhHd2DKf7XMqqEcVttqLGNo_ZKe8m8eUA/s1600/DSC01003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCTETOdoRlc1RwJKlReoen9gdOuMOVh_szabtzPXVtiXixKkPATiyr-IdrwpI90rpkkBvy_KyqDDtO1dCoibu2ie0AgHex0PMh1r-IZYSZJbhHd2DKf7XMqqEcVttqLGNo_ZKe8m8eUA/s1600/DSC01003.JPG" height="228" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More of my sewing books</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ8ycj5WeXotWFFLJcamli8KJXDD1aozzBCRFTJc5statxk6xYx7qL7fA9hjd1lib4a5-170s9mXejJ64DfeyFxnC4HdziT0RKnF9DoEUt8X5upr1plCquBOUuFjWaZbXfGBJnkyhzS0/s1600/DSC01001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ8ycj5WeXotWFFLJcamli8KJXDD1aozzBCRFTJc5statxk6xYx7qL7fA9hjd1lib4a5-170s9mXejJ64DfeyFxnC4HdziT0RKnF9DoEUt8X5upr1plCquBOUuFjWaZbXfGBJnkyhzS0/s1600/DSC01001.JPG" height="202" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Quilt books in back files and art books in front files</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oaBPbZjgCuMYTKufB1MU-ZZaxsS_04LiCBmOCcrwoC0hlFbJrq2csvWx9EjoBnhd83HD8ln9NK4GIEckuQl5hx5Vq0QxYA-WmyXXPecisXTXo8vZpfmREDgpg8w7sgcn_vJERF-hq30/s1600/DSC01005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oaBPbZjgCuMYTKufB1MU-ZZaxsS_04LiCBmOCcrwoC0hlFbJrq2csvWx9EjoBnhd83HD8ln9NK4GIEckuQl5hx5Vq0QxYA-WmyXXPecisXTXo8vZpfmREDgpg8w7sgcn_vJERF-hq30/s1600/DSC01005.JPG" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a sampling of some of my favorite 'how to' books...My interest runs the gamut from altered art, to couture sewing to playing in concrete. The concrete book is where I learned the technique for sculpting the way the 'Pixelated Goddess is done.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagxIbuDEnJ_X2StDkXWEs6n0dlpIIBBWrOR-qu0vC-9Ljsaf88-QYuj9GiSjUrBD0vs58asgmM9LrIre8xxsuHeHMxXczxKJHhpqdlvRDnOKYqMU3mzOavw0Ie99ip8Pw6KYw_WTbHvk/s1600/DSC01007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagxIbuDEnJ_X2StDkXWEs6n0dlpIIBBWrOR-qu0vC-9Ljsaf88-QYuj9GiSjUrBD0vs58asgmM9LrIre8xxsuHeHMxXczxKJHhpqdlvRDnOKYqMU3mzOavw0Ie99ip8Pw6KYw_WTbHvk/s1600/DSC01007.JPG" height="395" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my all time favorite artist is Kumiko Sudo. Her work is so gently elegant. I have collected all of her books to date and have tried to make something from each of them...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CzjoOKEGc6VKZzTL-MkJZozqAPAVaTu3K4gqQ1VLCYV2PTl657X-DZxwExdPahIkvAUUcWOcaJyABIiQNuqcFM4yU5g_y9O7voRCFKiIQF17oc8Sv2IgQ9HJDSw-J6ZWNqk1qkhROxc/s1600/DSC01006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CzjoOKEGc6VKZzTL-MkJZozqAPAVaTu3K4gqQ1VLCYV2PTl657X-DZxwExdPahIkvAUUcWOcaJyABIiQNuqcFM4yU5g_y9O7voRCFKiIQF17oc8Sv2IgQ9HJDSw-J6ZWNqk1qkhROxc/s1600/DSC01006.JPG" height="383" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is a sample of a quilt I did from her book which I then taught to my quilt group a few years back. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also used an idea from one of her quilt designs for a page in my LifeBook 2014 that I am working on completing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Someday</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
I have never formally studied art. I have no degrees other than a degree in patience to learn however I can. I have no one artist in particular that inspired me to start on the path of art. If the truth were known I was discouraged to do art at a young age by negative criticism from teachers and family. Somewhere along the way I found my self and embarked on a creative venture...It has led me to many different venues, mediums and people of like mind. I love going to museums, galleries juried art shows and I love surfing the web looking at art and for art tutorials. I enjoy looking at some of the artist on our DCP page and have been inspired by many of the member artist featured here. I especially enjoy reading their blogs...Sort of a like having a book with chapters in my computer. Have I mentioned how much I love books?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Weber Gallery is a small gallery located in the CFCC near my home in Florida. The exhibit changes each month or so and it is free...Free is good! I try to make it to each exhibit either with my hubby or a friend. I find looking at other's art is a great inspiration to me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnQBdJKNKwVOwVDwnfNZxlOOUjelUjIw8nLJ-P4NnR3RWrAko_Fzz5-3CL0V-6SapP22lBbR11J1CMB-CqN4QSCFaNrDhYSdsQqJDeAyzPVGyhXYVV16UDl-U3jX_-iyOLtzYMMyYXK4/s1600/DSC01009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnQBdJKNKwVOwVDwnfNZxlOOUjelUjIw8nLJ-P4NnR3RWrAko_Fzz5-3CL0V-6SapP22lBbR11J1CMB-CqN4QSCFaNrDhYSdsQqJDeAyzPVGyhXYVV16UDl-U3jX_-iyOLtzYMMyYXK4/s1600/DSC01009.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And did I mention I love books... !</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-78773449011265887412014-04-10T15:42:00.001-04:002014-04-10T15:42:57.696-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY April 7, 2014... # 3 Thinking Outside The Box.<div class="clearfix _5x46" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; margin-bottom: 11px; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_3dp _29k" style="display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;">
<div class="_6a" style="display: inline-block;">
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;">
<h5 class="_5pbw" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px;">
<div class="fwn fcg" style="color: #898f9c;">
<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 1.38;"> Funday Monday blog prompt - thinking outside the box. and I mean this in terms of the tools you use - not just your everyday brushes and paint. Do you ever see a stick and wonder what kind of mark it would make? Do you ever - while cleaning the kitchen - wonder about the texture and color the coffee grounds might have? the burnt embers in your fireplace? If you are a musician - do you secretly listen to theTango music of Gordel, or maybe Katie Perry? If you are writer, do you look at The Enquirer. We'd love to know how you think outside the proverbial BOX. Show us what you have done if you can! We all learn from each other.</span></div>
</h5>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">Vickie has asked us to write about how we are <i>t</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;">hinking outside the
box…</i><span style="font-size: large;">That is pretty much how my life has gone over the many years I have been</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">thinking for myself…or at least as far back as I can remember. I was never one
to follow the rules or color inside the lines and because of that I spent many
hours in the corner as a child and in trouble, albeit minor, as I grew up both at
home and at school. I was never a follower, always swimming upstream, going
against the norm and I hated when others tried to tell me how or what to do. That
is not to say I have not learned and been influenced by others. But I have
taken the information I have gleaned from others and played around with it,
sometimes following the directions but many times making my own directions. But
I learned and then if I liked what I learned I went on to do my own thing and
if not I discarded the information or stored it away for future reference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4XlMKzxnKB7t9FJHTA3ef0EYHXlaNd1xpr97YY3E0GDWtyCqH7_A4TPn_XGc-WX6T6-8uhQdPYpnpFguNMmNDUhyphenhyphenXzQLkEWxMnpfXi80omhLCLkf8N-Q_DyaFnZJ58ZAm8Ne1ux3q8E/s1600/20140202_114022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4XlMKzxnKB7t9FJHTA3ef0EYHXlaNd1xpr97YY3E0GDWtyCqH7_A4TPn_XGc-WX6T6-8uhQdPYpnpFguNMmNDUhyphenhyphenXzQLkEWxMnpfXi80omhLCLkf8N-Q_DyaFnZJ58ZAm8Ne1ux3q8E/s1600/20140202_114022.jpg" height="86" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">I stepped outside the box with my yard and with my ideas and my husband's very hard work we now call it our garden because it is no longer just a
yard. It is an art gallery, a woodland, a butterfly garden, a place to display
my collection of eclectic stuff and a place to relax with a good friend and a
cup of coffee. I call myself a mixed media artist because I like trying
everything and using everything to make art like 'stuff'. In fact I have calling cards that describe me as "a collector and creator of stuff." I have just never
decided what type of art form or medium I like best so I do it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPX1SMR1gGwK6ktc3vxAo5Prq86gFWry9LjUDAPO5QecUrYd16ZwQCk_k42lny91b1tARGwaZNiBs5rNk9kdVSUtCHX5NtgJvp1KzvRe_dCvNp9WM7vonEAslv1PXQNDEb1-aE_2y0FwA/s1600/DSC00929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPX1SMR1gGwK6ktc3vxAo5Prq86gFWry9LjUDAPO5QecUrYd16ZwQCk_k42lny91b1tARGwaZNiBs5rNk9kdVSUtCHX5NtgJvp1KzvRe_dCvNp9WM7vonEAslv1PXQNDEb1-aE_2y0FwA/s1600/DSC00929.JPG" height="640" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gear based statue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">I like using what is available and not waste resources so
I have gotten in the habit of looking at everything with a fresh eye which is
something I learned from a couple of friends. Everything under the sun can be
used for other purposes other than what it was originally intended. Car parts can become stands
for art work,peanut butter pretzel jars can be used for wonderful
stackable storage, credit cards make great tools for spreading glue,
paint or mark making. Oatmeal containers cut down make great holders
for tools such as pencils and brushes. tissue dipped in Elmer’s glue and adhered to a piece of cardboard make hard durable
surfaces for art work </span><span style="font-size: large;">when dry. Tyvek and</span><span style="font-size: large;"> brown bags
make great jewelry or faux metallic or leather surfaces. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> And the list goes on and on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fHGRkV03mfXRJxuFLrcQCiIDwQQl6jTXNPGOkbcvPINtR71eMv13C_KAfSRVgDnISuohVRiE3uRfaXo93S9h7x1MsCgd8UZHQx5UMv7Dg92PHx3D6h5Evl_UdpfImPZbebL6rD7M3WI/s1600/DSC00926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fHGRkV03mfXRJxuFLrcQCiIDwQQl6jTXNPGOkbcvPINtR71eMv13C_KAfSRVgDnISuohVRiE3uRfaXo93S9h7x1MsCgd8UZHQx5UMv7Dg92PHx3D6h5Evl_UdpfImPZbebL6rD7M3WI/s1600/DSC00926.JPG" height="640" width="206" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">The doll on left is made using a stick for an arm and branches for antlers. Here base shown below is wrapped with fibers from a palm tree root.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCyJme0wvrMlSjQAUP7nS46Rgs-SYHlPHty3i8McnAme97_iSswsoe_toYU7CGavEtGFex1jKIW-FYR6bWwWbzo9bFiRmyr8vAu2qmHkWo8TmDF8z9GDkZeKHGjkqrbEgv6Mwjb0yr28/s1600/DSC00927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCyJme0wvrMlSjQAUP7nS46Rgs-SYHlPHty3i8McnAme97_iSswsoe_toYU7CGavEtGFex1jKIW-FYR6bWwWbzo9bFiRmyr8vAu2qmHkWo8TmDF8z9GDkZeKHGjkqrbEgv6Mwjb0yr28/s1600/DSC00927.JPG" height="640" width="258" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you think outside the box art can</span><span style="font-size: large;"> be made with anything you can put your hands on.</span></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-43461951870564773722014-03-31T20:57:00.000-04:002014-03-31T20:57:26.170-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY March 31, 2014... # 2 Process<div class="clearfix _5x46" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; margin-bottom: 11px; zoom: 1;">
<a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_57" class="_5pb8 _5v9u _29h _303" data-ft="{"tn":"m"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=698347838" href="https://www.facebook.com/christinenicholsgautreaux?fref=nf" id="js_58" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-right: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="_s0 _5xib _5sq7 _rw img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/t1.0-1/p50x50/74936_10151821681477839_429092929_s.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 40px; width: 40px;" /></a><br />
<div class="_3dp _29k" style="display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;">
<div class="_6a" style="display: inline-block;">
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;">
<div class="_5pcp">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">When I </span></span><br />
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; height: 40px; vertical-align: middle;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My </div>
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;">
<h5 class="_5pbw" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px;">
<div class="fwn fcg" style="color: #898f9c;">
<span class="fwb fcg" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" style="font-weight: bold;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=698347838&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A125480317640649%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/christinenicholsgautreaux" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Christine Nichols Gautreaux</a></span></div>
</h5>
<div class="_5pcp">
<div style="color: #898f9c;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38;"><i>Today's prompt is about process...When you are in your "artistic flow" what are the tools or rituals you used to get yourself there? Is there a certain time of day you do your art and for how long? Do you listen to music? If so what kind? A favorite creative shirt/outfit you wear? We want to know the details and would love to see a picture of you creating!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #898f9c;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdK4lhHAdfADlwLOUjfLE2Y-8y07qUGQLPG2zD6W-G1CVcEeX5-PpnNcI6j3qWiwXcC25ReRtO2RvZuhq439B_OtdZe9ZO0UfEOfsyG2QFTJ2or1A2CL3mCWSVn_VpJb3q62TYIaVaoQ/s1600/LB+17+Stained+Glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdK4lhHAdfADlwLOUjfLE2Y-8y07qUGQLPG2zD6W-G1CVcEeX5-PpnNcI6j3qWiwXcC25ReRtO2RvZuhq439B_OtdZe9ZO0UfEOfsyG2QFTJ2or1A2CL3mCWSVn_VpJb3q62TYIaVaoQ/s1600/LB+17+Stained+Glass.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">I don't think I have special rituals when I am getting ready to work in my studios. I pretty well just plan my days a bit ahead so I can fit all the meetings and extra </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">curricular</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> activities into my week. If I don't plan and make list I tend to waste a lot of time wondering what to do next.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2sL0NwB1uxLoRF7MZsxBbXbwwbXbWm5FyL379aJcKv9bMZzC1HY37rwWYqaV7U47NFM2dw0BES9ds0cWJvZbwv1Bdnm95w26vMMsxh2ZBl7m8RvK3BAEylPLOBJiToxGljHCALti-fQ/s1600/Aug29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2sL0NwB1uxLoRF7MZsxBbXbwwbXbWm5FyL379aJcKv9bMZzC1HY37rwWYqaV7U47NFM2dw0BES9ds0cWJvZbwv1Bdnm95w26vMMsxh2ZBl7m8RvK3BAEylPLOBJiToxGljHCALti-fQ/s1600/Aug29.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">If the weather is nice I like to start with a walk. Not always a long one but one to get my blood moving and the kinks out of my joints. I have gotten in the habit of taking my little camera along instead of relying on my phone but these are not for art work. Just for fun and sometimes a nice photo to add to a blog or comment.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">I do know I am most productive in the early part of the day and start winding down about coffee time in afternoon. By the time I finish my coffee and get dinner on the table I am pretty well finished for the day. Using the evenings to catch up </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">with</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> correspondences and friends on The Daily Creative Practice. I like to write in my blog daily and do the editing of my photos in evenings and sometimes on into the night. I love to read so if I am busy in the </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">daytime</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> I will spend way too many late hours reading. Usually until I can't see any more and have to quit.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">My favorite clothes to wear when I am working on a project in one of my studios will depend on the weather if I am out side and if I am inside will depend on what I am doing and how messy it is...I have some old clothes and an </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">apron</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I like if needed..If I am sewing it will depend on my mood...but no matter what I do it will always be somet</span>hing </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">comfortable</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;">. I am all into comfort now...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAXHt6h-G6Lgg1PqD4TLn5NXO2QRnr3-MIWsyOL5N2AADKH2znRJc75SYaV-lWmgB-lO8zoRncQPgt6XAtJ4VvxSalylIP2QNq8RE4iktW_4Q0hVpfXwQajbBgu_BO6VOXLuEi8poyKQ/s1600/LB+7+Celebration+and+Bravery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAXHt6h-G6Lgg1PqD4TLn5NXO2QRnr3-MIWsyOL5N2AADKH2znRJc75SYaV-lWmgB-lO8zoRncQPgt6XAtJ4VvxSalylIP2QNq8RE4iktW_4Q0hVpfXwQajbBgu_BO6VOXLuEi8poyKQ/s1600/LB+7+Celebration+and+Bravery.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">My parents both worked when I was a teen and I hated to wake up in the morning to a silent house so now the first thing I do when I get out of bed in the morning is turn my TV on to the music channel. Either Classical or Easy </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">listening</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;">. It is always quietly playing in the background and does not get turned off until the TV goes on in the evening to watch </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">whatever</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> favorite program is on that evening. In my studios I prefer quiet. I can then listen to my thoughts, nature or the ringing in my ears. I tried to have music in my studios but learned very quickly I much prefer the quiet and the sounds of nature. I do a lot of thinking while I am working on my art...</span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">either</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> planning the next step or how to do the next step or </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">sometimes</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> just random thoughts flit around creating the most interesting </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">montage</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> of images that may or may not </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">become</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> a new art project.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">The images posted here, except for my shadow photo, are all from the Life Book 2013. A 52 week art class that is a work in progress. I hope to </span><span style="line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">finish</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> it before this year is over with.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzpwUGcfMFFwNSCyWrVz0ENavz-aMpKJlVE_dxjDGgs2wEUnfeji-B9P7BxRrUfQYaXBhiEIE6bM84fxopEWyI1K78VvygRIwxxGTi1iqzv8vEH_Yt4NOGC9UNq5S8Jikt09apWtxF_M/s1600/LB+14+Quirky+Birds+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzpwUGcfMFFwNSCyWrVz0ENavz-aMpKJlVE_dxjDGgs2wEUnfeji-B9P7BxRrUfQYaXBhiEIE6bM84fxopEWyI1K78VvygRIwxxGTi1iqzv8vEH_Yt4NOGC9UNq5S8Jikt09apWtxF_M/s1600/LB+14+Quirky+Birds+5.jpg" height="232" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #898f9c;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095678705310694620.post-53476156743910771132014-03-25T10:19:00.000-04:002014-03-31T14:06:45.295-04:00FUNDAY MONDAY March 24, 2014...# 1.COLOR<div class="clearfix _5x46" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; margin-bottom: 11px; zoom: 1;">
<a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_64" class="_5pb8 _5v9u _29h _303" data-ft="{"tn":"m"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1396346244" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeslgordon?fref=nf" id="js_65" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-right: 8px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="_s0 _5xib _5sq7 _rw img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash3/t1.0-1/c4.0.50.50/p50x50/10150609_10203405976895564_2096985985_s.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 40px; width: 40px;" /></a><br />
<div class="_3dp _29k" style="display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;">
<div class="_6a" style="display: inline-block;">
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; height: 40px; vertical-align: middle;">
</div>
<div class="_6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;">
<h5 class="_5pbw" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px;">
<div class="fwn fcg" style="color: #898f9c;">
<span class="fwb fcg" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" style="font-weight: bold;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1396346244&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A125480317640649%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeslgordon" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Jes Gordon</a></span></div>
</h5>
<div class="_5pcp" style="color: #898f9c;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mbs _5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5px;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<i>Since I'm known as the color girl... I thought I'd do our first DCP Monday Funday blog prompt - about color!!! </i></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Do you have a favorite color? How does that color influence your creative practice? Do you know when you first fell in love with that color? What feelings, emotions, imagery, etc does that color provoke for you? Have you ever looked up the personality description of your favorite color? If so, does it describe you? If you do not have a favorite color, describe why you don't..</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45CwFcMqFhWLONlGzqrr8MUfFPGDVHUaUHhe4xakbxto79gC4go8yShlq1n9lmkB4SjSsbRsRzDw87khRZYUZnRiwBZ-E-UHeVUCKHwkv_syEXM_BdeZjCDt25OiEsGUZswpGx0q1ChE/s1600/2014-01-26_14.44.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45CwFcMqFhWLONlGzqrr8MUfFPGDVHUaUHhe4xakbxto79gC4go8yShlq1n9lmkB4SjSsbRsRzDw87khRZYUZnRiwBZ-E-UHeVUCKHwkv_syEXM_BdeZjCDt25OiEsGUZswpGx0q1ChE/s1600/2014-01-26_14.44.16.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have been excitedly awaiting for our first prompt for this blog and when Jes Gordon posted it I was happy to be off on a new blog adventure. Since then I have been thinking and trying to figure out what my favorite color is and when did I decided it was.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously I don't have only one favorite color since if I did it would not have been a chore to figure out which one was a favorite. I even went so far as to look up all the </span>definitions<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of colors to see if maybe they might help me decide. They did. I decided I did not have a </span>definite<span style="font-family: inherit;"> favorite color but I do have a color family that I favor though it has also changed over the years. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was a young teen I loved all blues...every shade and hue of blue...from teals to navy blue. I also loved the parts of nature associated with blues...From the physical aspect I love to swim and always wanted to learn to fly. Emotionally I was always shy and didn't mix well socially, </span>preferring<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to spend my time alone doing what I wanted not what others wanted. I shied away from yellows and oranges and never cared for pinks or reds and browns were </span>totally<span style="font-family: inherit;"> taboo and to this day pastels are not for me. I want my colors, any colors, to be strong, intense and vibrant. Pale and wishy washy is just not in my nature either physically or emotionally. I think in my subconscious I was </span>preparing<span style="font-family: inherit;"> myself to grow into my adult colors </span>because<span style="font-family: inherit;">.....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<i><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">Blue</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">: Soft, soothing, compassionate and caring, Blue is the color of deliberation and introspection, conservatism and duty. Patient, persevering, conscientious, sensitive and self-controlled, Blues like to be admired for their steady character and wisdom. They are faithful, but are often worriers with somewhat inflexible beliefs and can be too cautious, and suspicious of flamboyant behavior.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blue-Green:</b> Exacting, discriminating, poised and attractive, the Blue-Green person tends to be sensitive, intellectual and refined, persevering and stable if rather detached. Blue-Greens have excellent taste, and are usually courteous and charming, capable but often refusing help or guidance.</span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">...now I am grown up and my taste have grown and evolved several degrees. I think that is a good thing </span><span style="font-size: large;">else ways I feel we stagnate if we never evolve. Now my taste run towards the rusty oranges with bits of brown and yellow, which is what makes up the rusty color family I love. I enjoy a little red and some vibrant blues, a touch of purple and definitely</span><span style="font-size: large;"> most shades of greens. But if I had to pick just two colors it would have to be be rusty orange and a sage green.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Orange: </b>This color of luxury and pleasure appeals to the flamboyant and fun-loving person who likes a lively social round. Orange people may be inclined to dramatize a bit, and people notice them, but they are generally good-natured and popular. They can be a little fickle and vacillating, but on the whole they try hard to be agreeable. Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and restlessness.</i></span><span style="line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Green:</b> The color of harmony and balance, Green symbolizes hope, renewal and peace, and is usually liked by the gentle and sincere. Greens are generally frank, community-minded people, fairly sociable but preferring peace at any price. Green people can be too self-effacing, modest and patient, so they may get exploited by others. They are usually refined, civilized and reputable.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Brown: </b>A Brown person has stamina and patience, tending to be very solid and substantial, conscientious, dependable, steady and conservative. Browns are not impulsive, and may be inarticulate and tactless but they love responsibility and are reliable and kindly. If you chose Brown, watch out for a tendency to be obstinate and inflexible</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">Purple</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">: Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty and sensitive, with a strong desire to be unique and different. Temperamental, expansive and artistic, a Purple person may become aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood. If you chose Purple, you tend to be unconventional, tolerant and dignified, likely to achieve positions of authority.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have listed the colors that I most relate to now at this stage of my life which is again changing. </span><span style="font-size: large;">When I read the different definitions of color I see I have a bit of all of them in my personality and makeup...Nothing stands out and that is a sure sign <span style="font-family: inherit;">of a Libra...a fence straddler. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know when I first knew I favored the</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> colors of my later years but when I shop for </span>anything in this last decade, <span style="font-family: inherit;"> be it clothes, furniture, or flowers I am always drawn to the same orange and green </span>color families. Even my art work, if I have a choice, will fall into those two color families most of the time. When I had my intuitive painting workshop in January all of my paintings were in the orange families and my friend's were all in the blue, pink and purples. I think i</span><span style="font-size: large;">t is a subconscious choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">White is entering my life of late...It was nothing to me before other than to use as a diluter of other colors but now I am drawn to it in ways I had not thought of before...my hair is turning white and my preference in clothing is getting lighter. Home decor that is light and airy appeals to me but with intense, vibrant colors added in accessories.</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">White</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">: Symbolic of purity, innocence and naivete, white has strong connotations of youth and purity. If you are an older person, your preference for white could indicate a desire for perfection and impossible ideals, maybe an attempt to recapture lost youth and freshness. It may also symbolize a </span><a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-live-less-stressfully.html" style="color: #0c739e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">desire for simplicity</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"> or the simple life.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Red is another color that is late coming into my life. I have noticed it popping up in the most </span>unlikely<span style="font-family: inherit;"> places and </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">situations and in greater quanities and each time I feel good that it is there.</span><br />
<br />
<i><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">Red</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">: The color of strength, health, and vitality, Red is often the color chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous and impulsive—or someone who would like to be! It goes with an ambitious nature but those who choose it can be abrupt at times, determined to get all they can out of life, quick to judge people and take sides. Red people are usually optimistic and can’t stand monotony; they are rather restless and not at all introspective, so they may be unaware of their own shortcomings. They find it hard to be objective and may blame others for any mishaps. Quiet people with a preference for red may feel the </span><a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/warm-colors-at-home.html" style="color: #0c739e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">need for the warmth</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">, strength and life-giving qualities of the color, or they blanket their true feelings under a sober exterior. Red is usually chosen by people with open and uncomplicated natures, with a zest for life.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have added Turquoise last because it is the one colors that has been with me my whole life in one way or another. I associate it with the south west and my heritage. Where ever I go and whatever I see if it is visible it will draw my eye to it. It brings up latent memories and feelings that are so faint and fleeting that I can barely perceive them yet I know them. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Turquoise:</b> Complex, imaginative and original, Turquoise people drive themselves hard and may be in a state of turmoil under their outwardly cool exterior.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am looking forward to seeing what the next part of my "color life" holds for me..maybe I will add </span>a little<span style="font-family: inherit;"> mystery in for fun.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<i><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">Black</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">: Dignified and impressive without being showy, Black people want to give the appearance of mystery, but their preference may also indicate a suppression of desires and worldly aims, suggesting hidden depths and inner longings.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">A thought came to me after posting this blog ...is the reason black is last on my list because it incompasses all colors and at the end of life that is all there is...everything in a big mesh pot of color creating 'black'. A thought to muse on!</span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uMk_JvTN1HPSwR6IKGqDAaL6PcuZxdHHkJ3QbEwFQQwBwsahLDLgqSoXXblBzhgQHgOMoPQ3mH0m8cHJj1GA3Fj3P5O9HTFlAYcvPY9e0oxwJs4YytDfp8j3AY5xaOfkA2voBQlT_iI/s1600/2014-01-26_14.32.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uMk_JvTN1HPSwR6IKGqDAaL6PcuZxdHHkJ3QbEwFQQwBwsahLDLgqSoXXblBzhgQHgOMoPQ3mH0m8cHJj1GA3Fj3P5O9HTFlAYcvPY9e0oxwJs4YytDfp8j3AY5xaOfkA2voBQlT_iI/s1600/2014-01-26_14.32.54.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></i></div>
Darlene Sperberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842207296309478132noreply@blogger.com5