HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The day before Thanksgiving and I am not running around, buying food, cooking and stressing over having a BIG crowd at my home. One of the perks of growing older is being invited to some one else's home to share in the holiday feast. I've been a vegan for about 3 years, so preparing the traditional turkey dinner no longer holds much appeal. I did a few errands, sat in the sun and read a book on my deck and met with two friends today. One of them brought me an arm full of oranges picked fresh from her tree. I had one, it was delicious and juicy!

This morning I spent some time putting some of the many people and things for which I am grateful onto my journal page. It is not a comprehensive list .... it was really nice to take the time to thank God for the blessings He pours into my life on a daily basis.

May you each have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for each and every one of you.

Tuesday's Page

I had a day with nothing on my calendar today.... how nice. I decided to run a few errands and to go to Kaiser to order new glasses. I was pleasantly surprised at their good "deals", especially as a family member of a Kaiser employee. My son in law is a Kaiser physician in Roseville. I was thrilled to find out that I got an additional discount as a Grandmother. Sometimes, old age comes in handy!

My goal is to record my days in my journal... this is a suggestion from an online class I am currently taking. Just put everything on the page... grocery lists, to do's, art, thoughts etc. It is hard for me to be free and not "neat" but I am going to work my way to just letting it fly. Stay posted and see what happens as the next month goes by. Our class is 6 weeks and I am in week 2.

A Couple of New Journal Pages

Who would guess that something Oprah said on her show last Friday would trigger something in me that resulted in this page. She used the phrase "The Yellow Brick Road of Blessings". This is how I feel about my life. And, so I had a lovely time sitting down and thinking about what I could put on each brick of blessing. I really could make a much bigger and longer road but this was a good beginning.

I'm taking an online visual journal class and this was an exercise for today. We were asked to capture our day on a page. Today was a very nice day filled with lovely nurturing activities. It was a pleasure to record my day in my journal. Wouldn't it be lovely to have days like these every day!

A New Journal and a New Class

I am starting an online journal class with Cathy Johnson.

This map is one of the two homework assignments she gave us for this week.

There are 95 of us taking this virtual Journal class and the members live all over the world. I am impressed that they all are proficient in English. I could never take a class in a foreign language.

The rose painting below was my first try with watercolor in my newest journal. It is a Handbook that is 8.5 x 11 when open to a full spread. I did the color with a very light touch so you really can not see the blue of the water in the vase. I have to figure out how to scan a book in my scanner without letting in extra light. It washes out the image.

Painters and Feasters

Our Watercolor Journaling Group met today at our new inside location at a local church. The nursery school located in the church was having their Holiday Feast. So we painted out in the patio and shared our colorful leaves and Autumn fruits with our little friends. They used our Autumn Bouquet for a centerpiece at their table.

Thankfully, today was a mild day so it was okay to be outside. We have been blessed with a really mild November so far. I'm sure the rains will start soon and then we will really be grateful for an inside space to be on Tuesdays.

A "Real" Painting

I got out my brushes and did a watercolor of some beautiful Magnolia pods that come from a tree in my neighborhood. These pods are a brilliant reddish, magenta, rust color. My daughter has a magnolia tree that produces the plain brown variety.

I don't know what makes the difference, but I am in love with these brilliant pods.

The reds of the pods are in such contrast to the waxy green leaves.

Here is the watercolor.

It was fun to use my bigger brushes and larger palette.

I have been doing a lot of pen and ink and watercolor sketches in my journal.

I had to stop and remember how to "do" watercolor without the use of pen and ink.

Watercolor Journaling Group Moves Inside

Our Watercolor Journaling Group had its first "inside" gathering today.

Of course, it was clear, sunny and warm so instead of painting in we painted out.

It is nice to have a warm, dry room in which to gather during the winter months.

My church offered us a this space for which I am very grateful.

I tried to draw the cupula on top of the sanctuary building. As you can see, I had a lot of trouble with perspective... OH Well..... I did have fun and it helped me to really "see" the structure.

We all sat in the patio and enjoyed our bag lunches and shared our journals. It was a lovely day and I am looking forward to more of them here at WP Church.