Only Love Matters.
Autumn Leaves
are the most beautiful
right before they fall to the ground
and die.
Did you ever notice that
about people?
Some of the most beautiful moments
are experienced
when someone knows
their time left is short.
Things they once thought important
seems insignificant.
Only love matters.
Why can’t we live like this
all of our days?
Embrace that beauty within.
Let it shine.
Share it with others,
and see their beauty.
Only love matters.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Live intentionally.
Look with your heart
instead of your eyes.
Listen with your soul
instead of your ears.
Feel with kindness
instead of your hands.
Give unconditionally
without expectation.
Trust completely
without hesitancy.
Love incessantly
without inhibition.
Live intentionally.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Summer Morning Sunrise – Mars, PA
Be the light.
Let the light
within you
shine as bright
as the morning sun
breaking through dawn.
Be the beacon
to those who
cannot see
through the thickness
of the misty fog.
Be the light.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Spider’s Home, Conneaut Lake, PA – June, 2019
Your Own Special Place.
Everyone has
their
own
special place
and time
and purpose.
Respect
each
others’.
Cherish
your
own.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
View from our window Sunday morning at one of our favorite “retreats” – Conneaut Lake, PA June 2019
Open.
Open your eyes
to the beauty of a new day.
Open your ears
to the music of nature.
Open your mind
to others’ ideas and beliefs.
Open your hands
to offer support and kindness.
Open your heart
to love and be loved.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, Butler, PA – 5/27/19
In the Shadows.
So often
it is in the shadows
in the quiet of the shade
away from the light
away from the bright
away from sight
that the greatest peace
the most euphoric joy
can fill your heart.
In the shadows.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Simple Scent.
You stop me
in my tracks,
and I realize the sight of you
is only a small part of your beauty.
I close my eyes,
and I inhale slowly… deeply.
I let your scent
completely fill me.
It is full of hope
and new beginnings.
It is fresh
and brimming with life.
Happy memories
fill my soul.
Appreciation of the present
warms my heart.
All from the simple scent…
the sweet sniff
of the Lilac.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
#mbpreset
Mason the Monkey 11×14 Watercolor
Mason the Pickle-Loving Monkey.
Mason was a monkey that many considered fickle.
Instead of eating bananas, Mason loved a sour dill pickle.
He would often pay a nickel,
and sometimes even triple
for that tart, tangy prickle
of a pickle on pumpernickel.
On tasting leaves and seeds, he was truly noncommittal,
for his taste buds and his palate, they simply did not tickle.
He loved the pleasant pucker, and he would often stickle
over anything that was even remotely artificial.
Dilled cucumbers he claimed to be the official
absolute favorite and most nutritional.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Mason the Pickle-Loving Monkey is another in a series of paintings and poems I am working on for a new children’s book. This new book will be special because it is going to feature characters that are based on the grandchildren of my best friends. Mason is the grandson of Joyce, son of Nikole, and brother of Ella.
Prints and greeting cards of all of these paintings are available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop, where you can also order a customized painting and poem of or for someone dear to you.
Other fun products, like pillows, canvas prints, tote bags and much more are also available at our Mx2D Society6 Shop.
I will begin putting my book together soon and let you all know about it! If you are interested in my first children’s book of watercolor animals and silly poems, you can find it here: Klaus the Mouse and Other Silly Animal Tales.
Cherish the Moments.
When the day is done,
take some time to reflect on the things
that made it special.
Remember the moments
that brought you joy
or made you smile or laugh.
Close your eyes
and savor those thoughts,
knowing tomorrow will surely bring challenges,
but also realizing there will be
new moments to cherish –
even if you have to search really hard.
And tomorrow will bring another sunset
and more opportunity to reflect,
and the hope of getting to do it all again.
Cherish the moments…
for the moments
are what make up a life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Ella the Elephant.
Even as a baby, Ella was an exceptional elephant.
Her charm and her wisdom were immediately evident.
Not only was she stunning and delightfully elegant,
she was also most exceedingly well-spoken and eloquent.
As Ella grew she organized an annual innovator’s event
where she spoke about the things she was going to invent.
Carrying a book wherever she traveled and went,
Ella could easily recite the most informative content.
She understood the principles of what democracy meant,
and she cared very deeply about the environment.
Ella had a backbone that simply couldn’t be bent.
She clearly was destined to be the President.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Ella the Elephant is another in a series of paintings and poems I am working on for a new children’s book. This new book will be special because it is going to feature characters that are based on the grandchildren of my best friends. Ella is the granddaughter of Joyce and daughter of Nikole, and they are three very special ladies in my life, as are their guys.
I have one more special character to create before I begin putting this book together. The poem for Mason the Monkey is already written, and I can’t wait to paint him. Mason is Ella’s brother, and I’m looking forward to sharing him with you.
Prints and greeting cards of all of these paintings are available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop, where you can also order a customized painting and poem of or for someone dear to you.
the creative life in between 