First Painting

This is my first watercolor I did art the Art Academy.  I first drew then inked the picture, then I used watercolors to paint it.  We only used the primary colors and black.  I guess the other colors in the paint box don't reflect the other colors perfectly, so we had to learn to mix colors to get the desired effect.  That was the hardest part.  You look at the color, brightness, and other factors when you are mixing your colors.  But I still enjoyed it and look forward to coming back after their too long break!  I still don't want to leave the class, I so enjoy it.  And I still find it relaxing.  

Minnie

My parent's beloved dog, Minnie, passed away last Thursday.  She was very sick and not getting better, so they decided to peacefully end her suffering.  Although I don't live with my parents, I loved Minnie as if she was my own.  She helped me when I lost Chocolate, and when I was recovering from my dislocated shoulder.  She helped all of us when my dad dislocated his hip.  She protected my mom and I from strange animals and hyper dogs.  She protected her doggy friend from an aggressive dog.  She was always taking care of us. I guess she got worn out worrying about us.

She was always happy to see me, which made me smile.  Dogs don't care what you look like or what you do for a living.  They just want to be loved.  And that's all Minnie wanted too.  She didn't play with toys or chew on bones.  She just wanted to be loved.  I could spend all day scratching her and petting her and that wouldn't be enough.  She just wanted to be with us, no matter what we were doing or where we were.

Now going to my parent's house is very quiet, and I miss her presence.  She loved to lay on the couch with us, or sit in our laps.  She loved to race with the cart as we drove it around the property.  She just loved life, she was so happy and energetic.  

But she got old, like we all do.  I want her back but not as in the end, but when she was happy and smiling her doggy smile.  It always seems too soon when we have to say good-bye.  We are never prepared enough.

Minnie was a rescue dog, and the best dog.  Rescue pets seem to know they have been given a second chance.  So I'll end this with a plug to adopt, don't shop.  There are too many wonderful pets out there who just want a second chance.  

History Matters

I went to this museum this past weekend as they had two new exhibits I had not seen.  This is a great museum for all ages, for it is hands-on, and makes history come alive.  It is not just about MN, but how history affected and is affected by MN.  They also have two great stores with lots of fun gifts, and a cafe with the best chicken wild rice soup.  I highly recommend this museum, along with all the other MN Historical Society sites throughout MN.  I haven't been to them all but the ones I have been to have been very interesting and relateable.  I like their motto, History Matters, because it does.  The older I get the more nostalgic I get,  and it is meaningful to see and experience the things I knew as a child.  History is part of our makeup, it is part of our story.

Steam

I just saw a fabulous show this past weekend that my niece, Emily is in.  She is on this poster, the lower left corner.  She plays the leader of the aliens and the leader of the Morlocks (looks like a post-apocalyptic biker gang).  She was in most of the scenes, and did most of the acts.  I was and am amazed at her talent and her energy!

Emily has been performing here for about 10 years, and does everything except clowning (I hate clowns!).  My favorite act in the show is the wheel of steel, which is terribly dangerous but I can see why she loves to do it. 

She wants to go professional someday, and I hope that she does.  I know she has the talent for it.  She has worked so hard and suffered through so many injuries, yet she doesn't give up.  She is a tough person, not one to mess with!

I am so proud of her, and I hope she knows how much I love her.  We are not a demonstrative family, and I know that even though Emily and are so similar in some ways, in other ways we are very different.  But I still love her and am amazed by her.  

Pain Update

For those who may not remember, I have had traveling chronic pain from my elbow to my index finger for three years.  At first, I thought it was due to smartphone use, but now I wonder if it is from my car accident about the time the pain started.  Nevertheless, I have seen three doctors about it, along with having a cortisone shot, physical therapy, braces, x-rays, nerve conduction tests, and neck MRI.  All the tests were negative, and the shot and PT didn't help.  I see a final doctor this Friday, one who has helped my family with their pain, and I hope she helps me because I am tired of living with this pain.  It is the worst when I am trying to sleep, driving, typing, or doing nothing.  If you could, could you please pray?  I know some of you live with chronic pain as well.  Mine is minimal compared to yours I am sure, but I am tired of it and tired of not getting any answers.  Thanks for reading!  

NORTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE

I went to this conference last weekend.  I loved it!  I was inspired to begin writing again.  I took two seminars on getting my work published, and another on coping with the rejection and failure.  The woman who taught that wrote an excellent book that I am reading now, a fiction taking place during WWI.  I so enjoy reading Christian fiction because there isn't gratuitous sex, violence, or swearing.  Those things aren't necessary in a good story.  I figure if you need all that then you must not have a very good story.  Not that mine are great.  

I was encouraged in remembering that I was offered a contract three years ago for my memoir.  I kind of regret not taking it.  But I was focusing on my new career as an ESL teacher, and my dad just had his accident, and to be honest, I was scared.  I never imagined that anyone would be interested in my story.  So I think I will try again.  I need to edit it and look into sending it to publishing companies again.  I have some ideas percolating in my mind, it's just a matter of getting it done.  It will be a while though, with the other stuff in my life, but at least I have something else to do in my free time.  I actually miss writing.  I guess maybe I needed a break.  So we shall see  I also have to find help for my sore arm and hand.  But I will write about that in a later blog.  My arm and hand are sore.   

First Drawing

This is my first drawing that I completed in my art class.  It is a copy from another drawing.  It is quite a process of first tracing the picture on a clear plastic large grid sheet with a red pen, then drawing on large grid paper.  Then I used a calligraphy pen to trace the picture.  It took me about 5 hours.  I so enjoyed doing it.  Partly because it doesn't involve my left hand and arm that are often sore.  I'm quite pleased with the results.  It feels good to be successful at something.  And it is relaxing.  Even if I make a mistake, I can erase it and it affects nobody.  I can keep working on it until I get it right.