The Empty Bench

snowy-lake-and-bench-mars-pa-december-2016

The Empty Bench.

Make room…
in your heart,
in your soul,
in your home,
in your life.

Fill it with…
love,
acceptance,
warmth,
peace.

#RealMeaningofChristmas

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Goodbye November

img_3994

Mars, PA – November 2016

Goodbye November…
The hush before winter.

Just like that
another Autumn is gone.

You were a good month this year
my Sweet November.

Thanks for giving
such great joy!

Cheers & Hugs
Jodi

 

 

Simple yet Complex

north-park-lake-11-18-16

North Park Lake, Wexford, PA – November 18, 2016

Life can be so simple
yet so complex.

Much like nature.

And either way…
it is a beautiful thing!

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Tranquil Trees in a Serene Scene

Tranquil Trees & Peaceful Mountains - 7x9 Watercolor in Prussian Blue & Panes Gray

Tranquil Trees & Peaceful Mountains – A Serene Scene Watercolor in Prussian Blue & Panes Gray – 7×9

Today I wanted to paint and share something peaceful…
tranquil…
serene.

On a day in the U.S. that is likely not to be.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Come Sail Away

sailboat 5x7 sakura koi

In honor of our last day at Geneva on the Lake for #GFCGeneva2016, my watercolor for #WorldWatercolorMonth is a super quick little sailboat on the lake done with my inexpensive Sakura Koi Watercolor Travel Field Set.

I painted a few backgrounds late one night and then added the boat the next day since the random mingling of dark blue and teal reminded me of our beautiful view this past week of the lake.

Come sail away with me… to the lake… or the ocean… or the sea.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The other side of the fog

foggy barbara j conneaut lake black and white monochrome

When life gets foggy,
thick and blurry,
and you can’t see as far ahead as you would like…

When there is no other direction to go
except through it…
do it!

Things are clearer
once you get through it…
on the other side of the fog.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Happy Place in the Fog

foggy fisherman conneaut lake

Foggy Fisherman, Conneaut Lake, PA, 10/2015

Peace and joy can be found
even when things seem foggy.

Trust your heart, your gut, your “happy place,”
and things will become clear.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

I captured this photo on a recent trip to Conneaut Lake, PA. We were walking to a friend’s house for breakfast before the Fall Festival Parade and our Krautfest Celebration. The fog was thick over the lake, and there was a nip in the air. Within moments, the fog cleared, the sun broke through, and the day became happy and warm and beautiful. The fog, however, was magical and beautiful and couldn’t stop this fisherman from enjoying his “happy place” on the lake.

Break of Dawn

pink conneaut lake at dawn

At one of my favorite places in the whole wide world…

shovels in the greenhouse at dawn

mostly because I am with some of my favorite people in the entire universe…

rusty sun grapevine wreath

I arose at the break of dawn…

sunflowers at dawn

to bask in the beauty…

zinnia at dawn

and to cherish the moments.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Monochrome – Life in Black & White

I love color, but sometimes, life in Monochrome is pretty cool too!

So – Yep – I get this look pretty often from these two!   But I secretly know it really means they love me a lot!   
Two of my precious boys:  Nick and Mikey.
Anybody else agree with me that they could be models?!  🙂

monochrome nick and mikeChristmas is beautiful in color, but isn’t it oh so magnificent and nostalgic and warm and cozy in black and white?

christmas tree snowflake black and whiteMud puddle reflections cause me to stop and gaze and ponder and reflect on the simple pleasures and the majestic beauty of nature.

mud puddle reflection black and whiteI’ve got your back, if you’ve got mine…

ducks black and white

And snowflakes look just as amazing (if not more) in Black and White…

snowfall deck black and whire

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Reflections

Conneaut Lake Sunrise November 9, 2014

Conneaut Lake Sunrise November 9, 2014

Reflections on

a beautiful place to wake up to on a Sunday morning

after a beautiful weekend

with even more more beautiful people

 

Life is good

 

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi