A gift to be cherished
like a rare and perfect gem
the glow of Autumn’s
final exhibition
against a backdrop
of molten sapphire
Glistening in the sunshine
the tree beckoned me
Breathing in deeply
I savored the golden glow
An Indian Summer afternoon
walk and respite
to warm my heart and soul.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It is awesomely Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and I can’t remember the last time I have enjoyed this season so much!
Is it a more beautiful than ever one this year?
It seems to be peaking a bit later or lasting a bit longer this year…
The sky seems bluer…
the sun warmer and brighter…
the air fresher…
the colors more vibrant.
Or has it always been like this and I am just learning to appreciate it?
Charlie and I try to talk a walk every day, and there is a beautiful yard we walk by that has this fence that has often attracted me and I have photographed before. The colors of the trees around it yesterday were so amazing! They inspired me to come back and paint late afternoon.
I have been struggling with my watercolor painting lately… I keep thinking that I should be doing much better at this point, but then I don’t do it as much as I would like.
This little painting just felt good to do. I was relaxed and just took a half hour to unwind and enjoy. It is surely not a work of art, but it is a work of heART, and I’m okay with that.
Some wise artist friends have been offering great advice, and I am learning that sometimes trying too hard or not just enjoying what we are doing can stifle our creativity. I am trying to worry less about what the end result will be and let the art speak for itself, so this is what I ended up with.
My “Mom 2,” Carole, has been an inspiration to me in the journey to learn to love Fall. She chooses a special tree each day to appreciate, and has influenced me think about it too.
This was my tree yesterday, and I am going to send her this card to let her know how much I appreciate and think of her.
Hope you are having an awesomely amazing Autumn (or Spring for those in the Southern Hemi!). Happy Weekend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
McConnells Mill State Park, Lawrence County, PA – 101715
Rocky trails,
a rushing creek,
earthy smells of Autumn pines.
A churning mill,
a covered bridge,
sunshine, clouds, a slushy sleet surprise.
Laughter and love,
reminiscing and remembering,
moments to cherish always.
An Autumn weekend afternoon
wandering with
one of the besties of bestie friends.
Nothing is ordinary
nature is EXTRAordinary
when we cherish life in between.
McConnells Mills State Park, Lawrence County, PA 101715
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This week’s Paper Players Challenge #267 is a Clean & Simple Leaves Theme.
I needed a thank you card to send to Charlie‘s “Aunt” Tracy who babysat him while we were away at Krautfest last weekend. (After all, the sweet “Aunt” that she is, she even let him sleep in bed with her – and hog the covers – and woke up at 6am with him on a Sunday morning to go for a walk!) THANK YOU my dear friend Tracy!
So this was a great reason to turn my CAS leaves Paper Players Design Team inspiration card into a special thank you card.
Charlie in the Fall Leaves
Trying to keep it “clean and simple,” I chose the StampinUp “For All Things” stamp set with oak leaves that stamp in a watercolory kind of effect. I stamped them in Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, and Cajun Craze Ink colors, and stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip Brown Ink.
Charlie and I wrote her a note of thanks inside, where I also stamped some acorns, which should remind her of the acorns Charlie likes to chomp on our walks and that I like to crack and smash when I step on them to hear that awesome crunching sound.
You see – Tracy has been my walking partner for the past 20 years or so! We are neighbors with a path through the woods to each other’s homes now and were neighbors before these homes! Wow – another testament to how time flies! We have been walking together all this time and neither of us is skinny yet! LOL! But we sure do enjoy the company and the “therapy” our walks provide – both physical and mental.
So thanks, Tracy, for your great friendship.
And thanks to all of you for visiting today.
In all things give thanks, for there is so much to be thankful for!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi (& Charlie)
One Autumn leaf inspired me to create a little painting that closely replicated it in watercolor.
But then I decided to go a little free form and make it whatever color I wanted.
And then another color.
And then a little different shape…
All from one Autumn leaf picked up on a walk back from the mailbox.
The simple, smallest things that can create such joy…
Cherish the moments!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Happy First Day of Fall!
The other day – as I continue to convince myself how much I love Fall (and it really is happening!) I dabbled with a couple abstract watercolors of Autumn trees. One I “doodled” up and the other I didn’t.
Interesting what a different effect it gives. And more interesting – I kind of like both. (what do you think of that Charlie O and Laura!?!?)
So I asked my guys that evening, “Which do you like better?”
Hubby picked one… and my son, Nick, picked the other.
I knew that was going to happen!
Which one do you pick?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Like the beautiful leaves of Autumn…
each unique
individual
and beautiful in their own way…
Be your own kind of Beautiful.
Wouldn’t want you any other way!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Why do I get a little knot in my stomach
when the days grow a bit shorter,
the air a bit crisper,
the breeze a bit lighter.
It is gentle
and beautiful
and comfortable.
But my heart remembers
summer ending,
school beginning,
Autumn breezes bringing school buses
and schedules and new beginnings.
I recall old endings…
and I am melancholy.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My friend Janet spotted and called this abandoned home amongst the brilliant Fall foliage to my attention on our walk at #ChristmasintheWoods yesterday. More to come later on our fun day, but thought I’d share this for my daily #wwMc (Walk with My Camera) photo today. Happy Sunday!
Standing out in the Crowd – Perfection in Imperfection wwMc9 – Click to enlarge
On my walk yesterday, this leaf stood out so boldly among the others. It was an unseasonably warm 80 degrees F October afternoon, but the sky was filled with fast-moving clouds and the warm wind was whirling the leaves all around Mikey and me. This leaf with its vibrant color and curvy shape laying on the fallen tree just spoke of perfection in it’s imperfection to me.
And does anyone else see the little face in the bark staring at the leaf and it’s eye reflecting the orange glow? Or do I just have a really wacky imagination?! I can’t take my eyes off “him.”
Yep – these are the things I notice on A Walk with My Camera #wwMc – at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 