Time Out...

After working hard for a few days I thought it was time to take a break. So I dug through some un-packed boxes and un Earthed my watercolor paints and brushes. Just the other day I remembered a sketch I had made of all the beautiful leaves that fell this Autumn... and decided that today was the perfect day to get started on it.

Tri-Color Maple Leaf

Oak and Red Maple

   In my head I envisioned a very loose and stylistic leaf... which I planned to outline a little 'off' with a very fine line Sharpie marker.  As you can see in the photos above my hand had a different vision... a much more realistic view. That's OK... you have got to go with the flow. You see... when creating anything you mistakenly think YOU are in control... as the piece develops you realize your hands are taking direction from some other creative, mystical power.  I can't wait to see the finished picture. I'll be just as surprised at the end result as you.

Have YOU ever created something that turned out totally different than what you planned? Was it better than you thought it would be... or worse? Leave a comment below and let me know.

I'm just a country girl!

Blue Skies

My yard is paved in gold... and brown... and red... and orange... and green. Is it just me... or are the fall leaves unusually colorful this year? I don't know if it is because of the hot and dry weather we had this summer... or maybe it's the first year I have been able to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and actually enjoy nature's technicolor display. Maybe it's just the new neighborhood that is filled with wise old trees. Whatever the reason, I am stunned by the beauty. One would think this was the first time I have ever seen fall leaves.

Miss Darla

My daily dog walk with Darla takes forever as I stop to inspect all the colorful leaves littering the street. I can't stop myself from picking up each jewel to press in the phone book (who uses phone books for their intended purpose any more?). As our family silently acknowledges what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving these pressed beauties will be scattered on the table to remind us of what is right in front of our faces every day... and to not forget the 'little things' in life.

Abandoned rake

Raking the leaves takes twice as long as it should. I find myself dropping the rake to run in to the house to grab my camera in hopes of 'capturing the moment' as a brilliant red leaf falls on a pile of translucent yellow ones... such a jolt to my senses!  This is the first time I have ever had to rake leaves. The old house had such a massive yard that the wind blew them right across the lawn and in to the back woods. I never knew the joy I was missing.

Chop! Chop!

Between raking and gathering wood I feel like a 'country girl'. I remembered to put out the recycling this morning... and broke down all the moving boxes to put at the curb. Finally... they are out of my driveway! Now I have to concentrate on learning how to chop wood. I'm really good at breaking off the small branches of debris and storing for kindling... and OK at stepping on the medium size limbs to snap in smaller sections to fit the fireplace... but the larger branches have me stumped (pun intended).  A friend and neighbor said he has a 'chopper' that I can borrow... Oh goody, I can't wait.

Yummy Pot Pies

I'll leave (get it? leave? leaves? I crack myself up sometimes) you all drooling with a picture of the most delicious homemade Chicken Pot Pies ever assembled on this planet. I made them yesterday from an Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) recipe I found on the web. I changed a few things... of course... and they took all morning to make... but they are sooooooo worth the effort. Makes the store bought ones taste 'blah'. Oh... and the house smelled like Thanksgiving!! Mother Nature's Potpourri.

Take time out to sniff the crisp fall air... 

Enjoy the moment!