Purple Rhododenrums

This spring I saw the most wonderful purple rhododenrums at Callaway Gardens. Looking thru some photographs I found this one and wanted to share it this moring.

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June 22 vs July 16

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It's all about TIME

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Anna Claire Franklin the morning of July 17, 2006
I just realized that it's all about time. Ten minutes here, one hour there, everything you do makes a claim on your time. The problem reveals itself when you find out that you have to be the master of your time. It's your decision. I've decided that today I'll make a list of all the demands on my time and see where I am. I'm not stressed because I'm always thinking that tomorrow will be another day and I'll get things done. Some of the things that almost never get done are things that I hate to do like vacumn the floor. Other things that here lately almost never get done are things I love to do like paint. On my list I'm going to try my best to divide the list into things that have to be done and things that I want done. How about you. Do you caught in the middle of a time crunch?

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The secret to a happy life

My son just gave me a new book to read, actually a journal-workbook, by Joel Osteen. The workbook follows his book "Your Best Life Now" which is a guide to reaching your full potential. The introduction grabs your attention right away with the words; "Millions of people are discovering what it means to live 'your best life now.' The secret is not really a secret at all. Happy successful, fulfilled individuals understand that the future begins with what happens today. They make the most of the present moment and build their future one day at a time." As I read those words today, I not only thanked God for each new day, but for my son who has grown into a fine young spiritual man that I am so proud of. He has a caring, loving heart and has become the rock of our family.

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"Okay", I said to myself. "Tomorrow I'll break out of this painting slump I've been in"... or do I have to start TODAY. How about just a sketch? Little steps, little steps.... the fog comes in on little cat feet....




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Carley asleep - sketch from life Sunday, July 16, 2006

By God's Grace Through Our Faith

Sharing a special blog - enjoy
By God's Grace Through Our Faith

Gratitude

This is a plein air pastel painting that hangs in my office studio. I painted this in Savannah, Georgia looking over a marsh in one of the State parks along with my artist friend Maureen Kerstein. It's a great reminder of the wonderful time we had. Keeping some work in my personal collection allows me to enjoy the day again and again.

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Gratitude

It was told that a man interviewed a very successful business person asking what was the secret to his success. "Never forget to be grateful" he said. In thinking about what this means, I remembered someone had told me that it only takes 60 seconds to say "thank you". Please and thank you were words we are taught early and if we listen and follow thru, they still serve us well as we age.

In keeping with those thoughts, I'd like to thank you for spending time reading my thoughts on my daily life, looking at my paintings and watching my grandchildren grow.


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Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Puttin' on

Blackberries in a Whitel Bowl

Thinking about my southern heritage and the funny sayings we have is a pleasant pastime of mine. I've said many times I should write down all the quirky idioms passed down from generation to generation. One idiom in particular makes me smile every time I think about it. Here's the story...see if you catch the meaning. :)

We sat in the tea room sipping slowly between soft chatter about who knows what when the tea room proprietor approached. "Here darlin's let me freshen that tea; where y'all from; can I get y'all some cobbler," she spoke in that sweet, slow southern voice that blended with the smell of vanilla I was sure she wore from cobbler cooking. "Oh, not too far from here, Thomaston, just down the road a piece," I said. "Oh yes, my friends daughter, Amy Ray, just moved there. Do you know her?", she questioned. "Yes, I did meet her....ah..." I was saying as she interrupted. "Does she still put on?" she asked without blinking an eye.

Well, that certainly made me smile and think about my grandmother who always told me never to "put on" or to "quit puttin' on" which meant for me not to think too highly of myself or pretend I was something I wasn't. Over the years I certainly have been guilty of "puttin' on". Lucky for me, the times I have, I have always had someone or something to bring be back to reality. I appreciate my heritage. It's taught and served me well.

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving..." Psalm 95:2

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