RedDancer-Studio

Creative Diva Day 12 - Blossoms

 
I had a little fun playing with one of the filters in PhotoShop and layered the blossoms on one of my National Geographic/Citra Solv backgrounds. Quite stunning in its simplicity.

My youngest son, Bill, and his wife, Eva, visited Mom and me this past week from Gainsville, GA. It was wonderful to see both of them even though we didn't get to spend much time together. They enjoyed themselves and were glad to return home today. I have no idea when I'll be able to visit them.

 Mom is doing rather well. She smiles a lot at family and visitors, is able to take a few steps with her silver-grey walker, and she sleeps a lot. She was supposed to get a haircut this week and I'll see it on June 4 when my oldest son, David, comes for a week visit from Cumming, GA. She still doesn't like to swallow her food but likes yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake, and anything she doesn't have to chew.

I did something this evening that is quite unusual for me. I made some great tea from the Wildflower Bread Co. It's their Passion Fruit Tea (black tea, passion fruit and strawberry). I added a little sugar free vanilla sweetner from Starbucks and it is great. Well, that little jolt of caffeine gave me enough energy to get on the computer, visit the Joyce Meyer website, and take care of other emails.

I've been working on folding the cut up quilt pieces I did a few months ago so I can make the quilt packets for Art Unraveled 2011. My next project will be to actually make some artwork that I learned from KC Willis at a workshop that Suzanne and I took in early February. In fact, it was a week before Mom's last hospital stay and the downturn in her health.

 
 
And wonders of wonders, I cleaned the hall bathroom. I stopped drinking Diet Coke a couple of months ago and often get regular ice tea at McDonald's. But this must be great tea because after I get done writing this post, I'm going to keep cutting up quilt pieces and watch a DVD that I've seen before but is delightfully romantic. I think it's called THE BUCKANEERS.

Creative Diva Day 11 - Wilted Flowers are still beautiful

 
I have so much fun taking pictures with my Blackberry camera phone. These wilted flowers were standing in a small pot in the shipping and receiving office at Coconino Community College last week. I'll find beauty in the simpliest things. I don't know what kind of slowers these are. The only thing I did is resize the image. I didn't make any adjustments in PhotoShop today.

It's early morning and beautiful in Flagstaff. I've already journaled, spent some time with God in prayer and meditation, and done some of my back strengthening exercises. I'll do a few more before I prepare for work today.

A lovely and treasured friend gave me several Joyce Meyer books yesterday. She knows I like to listen to JM CDs in the car and now I have books to also help me. The one I plan to read first is BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND. I have several other suggested books to read by other authors. I'm in the part of my life where I really want to find the true beauty of my Lord, Jesus Christ, in me, and then let it shine out to the world.

As many of you know, the past few years have been challenging with Mom's aging process. She is doing her physical therapy (sometimes under duress), speech therapy (to teach her to swallow food), and occupational therapy for other things. All this is covered under Medicare. You can bet that I'm a supporter of Medicare.

Here's our photo taken last year for Mother's Day, 2010 at Denny's.

 
And here's a photo I got taken on Easter Weekend (1 week ago) of us with my Blackberry. It's not as clear but it's still a great picture of me and my Mama.

 
It's easy to see the changes in both of us. I have let the color grow out of my hair and returned to my curly white/grey. Mom has lost some weight which can be seen in the photo. I sure love my Mama. At this time, Mama will no longer be able to go out to eat at some of her favorite restaurants. She only walks a few steps with her walker and the physical therapist. Most of her time is spent in her wheelchair as she participates in group activites at Brighton Gardens.

This Mother's Day weekend, I hope to get pictures of me, Mom, my youngest son, Bill and his wife, Eva, Troy, maybe Stephanie, and Baby Emma. Brighton Gardens is having a Mother's Day brunch on Sunday. Bill and Eva arrive on Saturday for a week.