Recent Reading!

I recently found Laini Taylor's first book, "Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer" at my local library much to my delight. Discovering her blog through Sunday Scribblings is what led to me finding out about her first book and reading the first chapter online. Laini is a talented artist and author.

Faeries of Dreamdark is the tale of Magpie Windwitch. Magpie is a faery whose noble efforts help to rid the world of devils and worse in a time when most of fairy civilization has fallen to frivolity. Through her journey she unearths dark secrets hidden since the beginning of the creation of the earth by it's creators and faces the resulting chaos head on.

I give this book two thumbs up! ;)

Future Studio...

Today was the day set aside to regain/gain some divine mojo as deemed by a fellow blogger, Megg. This morning I awoke planning to set aside the day to start making the space in our carriage house/barn deemed as mine, my own. This meant cleaning and going through boxes from our move eight years ago consisting of art school memorabilia and lots of negatives, photographs, and obsolete photography equipment mixed with some dried up clay and glazes. Throughout the day, I started to feel overwhelmed but I knew that today was divine mojo day and somehow that reminded me that I need to quiet those damned negative voices that normally keep me stagnant. I decided that rather than one day for divine mojo, I am going to dedicate the rest of this week to the project. I fully intend to write down all the negative things I tell myself, burn them up and release them to God to be replaced with positive energy and thoughts. Awhile ago the following verse from the Bible came to have new meaning for me,

"Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Before whenever I read this verse, I only heard the negative side of what it could mean... what I shouldn't be thinking about or watching on TV or listening to or whatever. Lately, though, it's taken on a deeper meaning for me... I think this verse means that we should focus on the positive things in life and ignore the negative voice in our head telling us that we aren't good enough, that there will never be enough time, that we are too old, etc. So, for me, finding divine mojo means taking this verse to heart.

The Outside:



Panorama of the inside (BEFORE)

Inspiration...

I didn't really get any good shots of the astronauts because it was so dark but I wanted to included one especially because of the astronaut on the right. He gave a speech at the beginning of the program that was quite inspiring. He applied to the space program the first year NASA took applications for the first space shuttle back in 1978 and was rejected. He applied again in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, in 1992 he called before he sent in his application to ask if he was getting too old for the program to which they replied, "No, you're not old enough", and he applied again in 1993 and was finally accepted in 1994 when he was 38 years old. Two years after acceptance and training, he went into space.
Most people would've given up. He spoke of how it became a joke before he was accepted. It's too late for me to be an astronaut but perhaps there's something else for me to be.

Drawing in Progress...

So, I wasn't going for flesh tones just so you know. And, it looks pretty much like sausage fingers but hey, at least I drew something.

Day 58- A New Appreciation

I wanted to add to this post that my new appreciation isn't only for this wonderful handicapped bathroom which was located in our hotel room but even more for people who live their whole lives in wheelchairs or on crutches. Things like ramps rather than stairs, rails for the toilet, a chair for the shower make life on crutches so much easier and closer to the average human experience. The height of countertops while sitting in a chair is also noticeable and I wonder how someone in a wheel chair adapts. .. if they put up with it or if they have their kitchens custom built or what.