Early Morning Walk – Lake Ontario – Rochester, NY – August, 2019
Seasonal.
Life is seasonal.
It is cyclical.
Recognize the season.
Embrace the cycle.
Let go of a past phase.
Choose to move forward.
Do it with peace.
Do it with clarity.
Live life joyfully
through its seasons.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was all such a Blur.
It was cottony,
it was fluffy,
it was soft,
it was flaky.
It was powdery.
it was picturesque,
it was drifting,
it was blowing.
It was cold,
it was wet,
it was icy,
it was blinding.
It
was
all
such
a
blur!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
December Joy!
December just might be
my favorite month
of the entire year.
December is
anticipation
and hospitality.
December is
glowing lights
and homespun ornaments.
December is
warm, crackling fires
and glowing candles.
December is
fleece blankets and hoodies
and flannel sheets and shirts.
December is
hope and dreams
and sweet and indulgent.
December is
traditions and family
and magic and memories.
December is
carols and hymns
and elves and angels.
December is
my favorite month.
December is JOY!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Falling for Fall -Mars, PA – November 8, 2017
Falling for Fall.
The days may grow shorter with darkness coming earlier….
but then we get to enjoy the warm glow of candlelight,
and breathe in the scents of pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
The air may grow crisp and the temperatures colder….
but then we get to wear flannels and hoodies and knit sweaters,
and sit by crackling warm fires under fleece blankets.
The leaves that once brought shade may turn dry and fall from the trees….
but then we get to kick and roll in the heaped, crunchy piles
and wait for sparkling white snow to stick to the bare brown branches.
The change of each new season…
brings opportunities for us to Fall for each one,
and embrace the joy and blessings it brings.
Fall for Fall!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi*
*A Born-Anew Autumn Lover!
Autumn Reflections Watercolor 11×14 140 lb Cold Press
Autumn Reflections.
Looking back….
I wonder why
it took me
so long
to realize
the beauty
of Autumn’s
brilliant transformation.
Looking forward…
I appreciate the journey
that got me
to this place
where I embrace
the inspiration
of Autumn
reflections.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Flames of crimson, pomegranate, and persimmon,
ambered gold, chartreuse, and mossy greens
struggle to compete with the saturated sapphire sky
marbled with softly suspended cottony clouds.
The intensity of the beauty surrounding me
almost overwhelms my senses.
My eyes and my mind try to absorb it all
as if snapping photos in a continuous burst mode
trying to find a special place to store them
to remember on a dark, dreary day
when my heart can’t remember the bright warmth
or the splendorous display of Autumn’s kaleidoscope of color.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Autumn Art Sonnet.
I recently took my very first online art course at the gentle urging of my blogging friend Jill at Jill’s Art Journal. Actually it is my first-ever any kind of art course.
The class was hosted on Carla Sonheim’s website and presented by the amazing Lendon Noe. The short 2-week, 6-session class was on Meaning Making: Inspired by Poetry.  They were short 20-minute recorded sessions that you could watch at your own pace and at a convenient time for you.
I LOVED it! I learned so much from Lendon – about art, mixed media, poetry, and even about myself.
My first art love is watercolor, but I loved dabbling into the mixed media world. And what fun it was to combine my love of words, writing, poetry, watercolor, and stamping.
In my art piece here, the lines are actually an artistic version of a Shakespearean sonnet, where verse is written in a pattern of AB AB CD CD EF EF GG. You might notice that the lines are repeating in the same pattern. I used a combination of Sumi Ink, Walnut ink, watercolor, water soluble pencil, and a splash of Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Gold Ink.
I photocopied (directly on my photocopier) a sprig of burning bush leaves and berries from my front yard and gesso‘d it right on top of the “sonnet.” I drew a trio of leaves directly onto the piece, stamped some patterns and words, and then “scribbled” a collection of autumn words on top with a Pilot Parallel Calligraphy pen.
I woke up early yesterday and created this piece after considering all the things I learned in the class. It is my little mixed-media sonnet about Autumn.
The air is finally a bit crisp and cooler than it’s been in a long time this weekend. It is really feeling like Autumn.
And Autumn is quickly becoming one of my favorite times of year. I wonder if it is because I am in the Autumn stage of life too…
Have a wonderful day – whatever season you are in or love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Pumpkin’ It Up for Fall.
Happy First Day of Fall!
Happy First Day of Autumn!
Happy First day of Pumpkin Season!
I may have a slight obsession….
with all things pumpkin.
Can you ever have too many pumpkins…
to celebrate
Fall?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Front Yard, Mars, PA December, 2016
December snow
is the brightest snow.
It makes the sky bluer
and tree trunks browner.
December snow cleanses the earth
and also the soul.
It evokes memories
and fills us with anticipation.
December snow…
I love your Christmas spirit.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Red Autumn Leaf on Rusty Spring – Mars, PA
Spring or Fall?
The things you find on an Autumn walk
that resonate with your thoughts….
Like the old rusty box spring
that has been sitting for years
against a pile of well seasoned cut and split firewood
on a path I pass frequently on my walk.
It sits there as if its purpose
is purely to create artistic beauty
A paradox…
a contradiction.
Just like a crazy 74 degree November day
in the little town of Mars, PA.
Is it “Spring” or is it Fall?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 
