Weekend Worship

Hoping your weekend is filled with meaningful worship--sometimes the best kind is just being still and waiting before Him.

This morning when I was trying to put my thoughts and words away and let God speak to me, I found it hard but not impossible.  The result was a very precious time spent alone with Him--it didn't end up being as long as I wanted but the result might as well have been a day spent in His presence.

Sarah Young in Jesus Calling for August 29 describes it this way:

"By waiting with Me before you begin the day's activities, you proclaim the reality of My living Presence. This act of faith--waiting before working--is noted in the spirit world, where your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness..............As you look to me for guidance I enable you to do less but accomplish more."

I have been away from my watercolor painting for several months as the house has been in disarray while we have done some redecorating.

We got it back together about a month ago and I was wanting to get back to it so badly but every day seemed to present obstacles.

It was this morning that I realized the last sentence from the above quote had materialized in my life.

I did this 9" x 12" painting yesterday afternoon.  It is kinda rough--takes a little practice to get back into the groove of watercolor but I am pleased and excited and ready to get started again.

I painted it fairly loose and then took it into Photoshop where I added some more details and a few more reflections in the water--and yes, the birds--.

I hope it is not too much like hers to be called my own, but I did look at a landscape done by Pat Weaver at pat.weaver.net for inspiration.  I love her loose way of painting.

Have a wonderful weekend and a great Labor Day or non Labor Day!

Much love,
Dianne

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2014

connecting with:

A Friday Find

Going through some very old files this morning, I found something I wrote about 35 years ago. Hopefully, it will still speak to someone.

******

 Recently, I had driven across town to Chandler Park where the city of Tulsa holds its annual baseball tournament.  There were five fields loaded with little boys of all ages.

There were big ones, little ones, freckled ones,  bespectacled ones, skinny ones, chubby ones, loud ones and quiet ones--

If you've never been the mother of a little leaguer, it might be quite hard for you to envision just how dirty a baseball cap can get over several months of steady baseball games and practices, not to mention the uniforms that have endured repeated washings with all kinds of stain removers added each time they went through the rough and tumble agitations of a filled to the brim, tired old washer.

Now with most every little guy there were a couple of parents, a set or two of grandparents, older and younger siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Leading up to the playing field and surrounding the spectator's area are sidewalks bound on either side by ground covered with a limestone dust.

I have an aversion to being late so as I approached the fields I was surprised to hear the blaring sounds of the National Anthem already being played over the somewhat inadequate (but very loud) PA system.

"I have never experienced a scene that touched me more than seeing scores of little boys standing at attention with their dirty, grimy caps held proudly over their hearts.

As I stood there and took in the whole scenario of young, middle and very old-aged persons sharing a common bond, the bases of my mind were loaded and thoughts raced from one to another.

Thoughts of my father who loves baseball with a passion unequaled by anyone else I know--thoughts of him serving his country while in a strange and lonely faraway land during World War II--

Thoughts of how he would be there except for the fact he lived in another state--

Thoughts of all the women and men in uniform who sacrifice for us every day--

Suddenly a knot as big as a baseball that I cannot swallow, gorged my throat as "Old Glory" waved to us from the centerfield fence seeming to say--

"Yes, it is important that my colors fly over the capital of the United States and on the wings of Air Force One--and its wonderful that even the stars and space salute me as my banner floats on the moon--

But there is not a more important place on earth for me to fly my colors than over a little-league field.

For you see, there I say to everyone

'Drink your cokes, eat your hot dogs and chili, let the buttered popcorn melt in your mouth, combat the mosquitoes, let the little ones run over your toes playing tag and making trip after trip to the concession stand, yell for your sons, your grandsons, your nephews and brothers for this is what America stands for--this is what I truly represent--

Learning to win humbly, learning to lose graciously, sportsmanship and learning to work and play with others'--"

These thoughts come down hard as my son strikes out and with head bowed low passes the on-deck circle where his best friend reaches over and pats him on the back.

Thank you, God that I was born in America and thank you for using a simple thing like a baseball game to make me aware once more of your wonderful grace and mercy to America. 

***********************

I am so thankful for all the countries in the world that promulgate a free, democratic society.

This post is dedicated to all those people who are experiencing unparalleled torture and discrimination in countries who don't.

 My love, prayers and thoughts are with you today.

And to those who are parents of girls, I didn't mean to be partial to boys--

We had three sons of our own so that was where I was in life at the time of this writing.

We now have six granddaughters and two grandsons!

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2014

Come In With Me and Sit A Spell

Come in with me and sit a spell,

We'll get to know each very well.

If you were here I would ask many things--

The scope of your joys, hopes and dreams.

We'd make some memories certain to last,

I'd ask you for sure about your past.

We'd try to makes connections,

For those are such fun--

To see our paths have almost crossed

Through some other one.

We'd finally get thirsty and have some tea,

We'd talk how our friendship was pure destiny.

I'd ask about your favorite memory as a child--

Your most embarrassing moment when everyone smiled.

I'd want to know your hobbies and what makes you tick--

Your happiest moments and what makes your heart sick.

The more we'd talk the closer we'd be--

Tears would come when time to part company.

******************

Dedicated to all the wonderful people I've met online,

the moments we've spent in each other's world--

and those who are new to this little corner of the world.

All my love,

Dianne

For Texture Tuesday I edited the photo in Lightroom with one of my own presets,

exported it to Photoshop where I textured it with Kim Klassen's evolve 2 at 100%.

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2014

Mater Maximus Find

Just a little play on words here. If mater is mother in latin and maximus is greatest, then mater maximus in the south would somehow mean "greatest mother of all vegetables." Well, or something like that!

I was born in September and my mom said she craved tomatoes all summer long.  She passed the mater gene down to me.  I could eat them three times a day and sometimes do.

A relative is out of town and told us we could come over and pick all of the maters that were turning pink.  I think they have about 10 plants.

Boy, did we make a haul--51 of those beautiful latin lovers.

We found them over, around, in and through and on the ground.

What a find!

What a find!

Hope your Friday finds you doing well and having a wonderful day!

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2014

The Dining Room Reveal

Well, it's been a long time coming but here it is finally--the dining room reveal.
Warning:  Lots of pictures

Here is a link that shows our dining room before--

The room was a dark reddish terra cotta and we painted it Ivoire by Sherwin Williams.

The drapes are from Tuesday Morning and were very reasonable.

The blinds were already there.

I've had the collection of blue plates for many years.

The metal shelves were bought at Hobby Lobby (half price) and we spray painted them with a cream color and then knocked it down with some sanding.

The oval, white plates belonged to my mother-in-law and are very old.

The chandelier was brass--we took it down and prepped it and spray painted it with an oil-rubbed bronze color.  

I almost wish I would have left it because we ended up adding quite a bit of brass (I should say keeping quite a bit of brass) in the adjoining living room.  

And "they" say that brass is on it's way back in.  For sure if I had it to do over, I would paint it the Annie Sloan Old White and distress it a whole bunch.  

This has definitely been a process.

The mirror was once a window in a very old chapel in Canada.  

While living in Tulsa, a neighbor moved in right across the street and soon thereafter was experiencing a very rough time in her life. 

 It belonged to her and she knew I really loved it.   When she got ready to move she wanted me to have it.  That piece is so very special to me.

I think the main thing I have learned through this whole redecorating thing is to keep what you love, love what you purchase, and forget the trends for the most part.

We also just purchased the brass lamps at a flea market.

I added the burlap drum shades.

They lamps are older and quite tarnished.  

I'm not sure if I want to leave them tarnished brass, clean them, or paint them with Annie Sloan Old White and sand down quite a bit until the brass shows through.

I've had this mother-in-law tongue for many years and can't remember where I purchased the pottery.  I've also had it a very long time.

The sweet rose plate belonged to my grandmother.

The rooster was a recent $4.99 purchase from Hobby Lobby.

My brother-in-law made this dough box for me and it is filled with faux succulents.

The buffet was a recent purchase from Cost Plus Warehouse.

The silver cups were gifts when my sons were born--they have their names and their birth dates engraved on them.

The precious little blue and white pitcher came from my mother-in-law and is part of a creamer and sugar set.

The pictures of pottery and fruit are very, very old and came from my mother-in-law.  I would guess in the range of 60 or 70 years old at least.

We've had this rug for about 9 years but chose to move it from the family room into the dining room.

The cushions on the chairs were a very dark mix of colors.  We recovered them in a beige toille.  It looks more black and white in this picture but the printed part is dark beige with a very old world design.

By far the biggest part of this redesign was the painting and sanding of the table and chairs.  

We've had the set for 20 years or so.  It was not cheap but was not real expensive either.  

If it had been, I might not have chosen to paint it.  The chairs are all wood but as we painted and sanded, we discovered that there was a veneer over the top of the table.  

I especially felt justified in painting it after I discovered that.

My husband did most of the painting and I did all of the sanding--quite a job. I will probably go back and sand some more off at some point in time--too tired right now. Our friend and designer, Florance, liked the chair that had just a little rougher look.  So do I. It was painted with Annie Sloan Old World white.  I absolutely love her paints.  In my opinion, nothing else even compares with them.

I'm very thrilled to have this work done and behind us but I hope all of you know that this is just stuff.

None of it means anything compared to the rare and beautiful treasures that are a part of my life and hope in Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3,4

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008-2014