For Goodness Sake

While speaking with a friend this morning, a subject was touched on that I have pondered on many times in the past and I thought I'd share my thoughts with you. Feel free to let me know what you think.

Through my own experiences I have found that when offering to help someone or just offering to do something for someone, they often reply with "Oh thank you, but I don't need help" or "Oh, I don't want to impose on you! You shouldn't do that." To my shame, I also have responded in this way many times.

In Galations 1:2, we read: Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And in verse 10, we read: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

In Philippians 2:3-4, we read: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

And so, my thought (or question) is this. Could I hinder someone's personal growth and cause them to stumble, if everytime they offer a helping hand or desire to do something kind and good, I shut them down and do not give them opportunity to do so? Human nature is such that upon consistent rejection many will tend to stop offering deeds of kindness. Also, if I consistently reject help or kindness, am I really proclaiming I am not in need at all? Do I not need God? Do I not need my fellow brethren? Did not Christ organize His church in such a way as to provide one another with help and encouragement??

This is not to say that there are times and situations, when one just needs to tackle something on his own. And yes, there are times when, for practical purposes, one cannot help. Good sense and a desire to do what is good and right has to come into play.

So the next time someone offers to help you or do something good and kind toward you, graciously accept with a smile and thank God for dwelling in them. And do the same; offer to help someone in need or just do something kind and good to a fellow human being.

A Touch of Spring

A Touch of Spring, wc, 11 x 15

A tribute to my dear internet friend, Taylor Bush, who has encouraged me along in so many ways. I have learned so much from her! Visit her wonderful website at http://zoeartist.net

Family, 75 years, & Deer

On Saturday we drove to my parents home and my brothers and wives, nieces and nephews, etc. all converged on my father for his surprise 75th birthday party. My mother had planned it well and he was truly surprised. We all had alot of fun and enjoyed a nice lunch together. We had never been able to get everyone together all at the same time, so it was wonderful to grab a photo while we had the chance. I think, most importantly, my father had a wonderful time! Below is the painting that my mother commissioned me to paint for him. I have never done a landscape and this one was quite a challenge with the rainbow. I know it needs alot of work on the values, but after several attempts, my time (and patience) had run out. It does look very nice framed and matted. Dad likes it and that is what is important to me.
Yesterday afternoon I was pleasantly surprised as I stepped out on our deck! Our little deer friends were back and grazing in the yard below. I have not seen them in a few months.

A Place to Call Home

1. As some of you know, we have been looking to move to Florence (not in Italy, unfortunately, but just as well, on the beautiful Oregon coast). Well, it looks like we are going to be able to do that soon. I'll keep you updated as it all unfolds. Once again, as always, the Lord is sooooo good!!!

2. Watercolor class today! I know many of you tire of hearing about my class, but it is so important to me. It is my "therapy", my "respite", my "fun, fun, fun"!!!

3. We took our sweet kitty, Scooter, to the vet to be spayed last week and she healing up well. It is just a joy to watch her! You can see her sweet face here.

SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE!!!

1. It is so wonderful that the last few days have been filled with sunshine, wonderful and warm sunshine!!!!

2. Driving to Florence a few mornings ago I saw an elk standing along side of the road. Wow! I am thankful that I actually saw him and did not hit him. Also he was largely beautiful!!!

3. Am painting once again! My weekly watercolor class has resumed and I am enjoying it and my fellow watercolorists. I hope you enjoy this latest......I attempted grapes earlier and well, I'm back at it again.

The Paint Brush is Working Again

After an involuntary hiatus, it is time for the brush to start flying again. As you might have noticed from the lack of paintings appearing here, I have been in somewhat of a winter slump. But the other day, the sun was shining brilliantly and the temp reached about 50, so the paints and brushes came out. Voila! I'm not very adept with lilacs, but here is my first attempt with them. I have alot of trouble controlling the amount of pigment, but without a challenge watercolor painting would be no fun anyway. I can't wait for the watercolor classes to begin again! Not only am I able to work out problems and have questions answered, but it is a definite time set aside just for painting.

I received a wonderful little e-mail from a very special young lady this morning in which she directed me to her new website. Wishbone Arts features Brandi Richards paintings, drawings, photography & mixed media work. Pay her a visit at www.Wishbone-Arts.com I was quite impressed and I think you will be too.

I pray that everyone has a safe and wonderful New Year!! I will be visiting with my brother for his annual gathering and for my birthday. So, until next year...........................

Family & Friends, Puppy Mugs, and Healthy New Babies

1. Its always good to spend the day with family and friends! We drove to my brother's home and spent the day with him and his girlfriend, along with her kids, friends and all of the dogs. It was nice to visit with them and share a wonderful meal together!

2. A sweet 5 mo. old Boston Terrier puppy with the sweetest face! Dodger is the kind of puppy I have wanted for years.

3. Receiving a call (and email) with news that a dear friend gave birth to a new baby girl today! What a blessing! 3 little boys and now a baby girl....born on her due date and healthy too!

A working computer, A beautiful view, & A good read

1. I truly enjoy logging on to my computer and finding it works like new! I had to take it to be repaired as it just was full of yech! and it was running slower and slower. But, now it runs like new! Woohoo! now I can begin to try to keep up with my blog.

2. Sitting in my window (working on my computer) and having a perfect view of the bay! I figured since I had to send the computer in for repairs, I might as well rearrange the furniture too.

3. In the evenings I love to curl up with a good book....what am I reading now you ask? Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting by Richard Schmid
For all of you who love art and painting!

Here's wishing each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Today has always been my favorite and most cherished "special day". I have very fond memories of all the family assembling together at our home or at Grandma and Grandpa's house. This is a day to enjoy one another's company, play games, and of course, eat all of our favorite traditional goodies. After the feast, the traditional nap. The aroma of a roasting turkey stirs up lovely images in my mind!

For everyone who visits my blog to view my latest watercolors....Last week I took a watercolor portrait class. What fun!!! So, a portrait or two has been in the works in my studio and I will be posting them soon. Check back!

Comfort, a Chef in the Kitchen, Artists

1) The moment I kick off my tennis shoes and slip my dog-tired feet into my comfy and cozy slippers!

2) I love watching my son cook in MY kitchen!

3) After missing my waterclass last week, due to mud-slides on 101, I was happy to join my artist friends for class today. And again I will see many of them at the WC Portrait class we are all taking on Thursday! I've got many paintings in the works, so please, patiently wait and I will post them as soon as they are complete.

Job 38:8-11, The Avenue, & Word from a Friend

1) At 8:00 this morning Austin and I climbed in the car and headed south. I had my weekly watercolor class in Florence and he had an appointment in Coos Bay later this afternoon. Once again, the rain was (and still is) falling in buckets and the wind was raging! In the winter, on the central coast, you will go nowhere if you wait for fair weather. About a mile out of town, one of the creeks was spilling over the road, but we got through just fine. As we rounded the bend at Cape Perpetua, water was gushing out of the mountain in more than a dozen places, but still we pressed on.......(hmmm? I wonder what drives a person to be so stubborn and/or stupid?). I was praying all the way because I was sure that without the Lord's help the mountain was going to come sliding over the top of us, shove us over the cliff and sweep us out to sea! Then just north of Sea Lion Caves, there it was in front of us.....a huge mudslide across the highway. Well there was no getting through, so we quickly turned around and began inching our way back north, hoping that the mountain had not come down at Cape Perpetua, leaving us stranded between the two. With the Lord as our guide, we made it safely home. Great is the Lord!!!!! All the while we are traveling along, we were watching the ocean. With the high surf warning today, the ocean swells are huge! The water is all dirty, brown and filled with debris. I was quickly drawn to thinking about the passage at Job 38: 8-11:

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’

I must thank the Lord for those boundaries he placed on the sea!!!!!!

2) I am most grateful for the avenue of prayer that God has given me! There are many times when I believe that if I did not have the blessing of being able to talk with my God, to cry out to him and to praise him, I would be a wreck!!!! I have tried to live without using the blessing of prayer and it is the same with any relationship; if you do not communicate, no relationship can grow. This morning was a time of unceasing prayer and He answered.

3) Though I was not able to make it to my watercolor class today, I spoke to my friend and WC instructor, Susan Weathers. After kindly telling me that she was glad I was making the safe choice, she informed me that next week she is doing a WC Portrait class. Yahoo!!!!! I have several "portraits" in my mind, so I am really looking forward to doing that! Maybe one day I will have a few under my belt.

Flamingo

I wanted to share all of my paintings, so I have added them here for your enjoyment. To see them all, click on the Gallery link to the left.

On the Fly

Bottles & Onions Still Life

Bluebird

Pot o' Apples

Pink Poppies & Sunflowers (permission of photographer, M. Affolter)

4th of July Storm on Amity Farm (permission of photographer, M. Affolter)

A Driver, a cook, and Bliss

1) At 8:00 am this morning I was on the highway heading 25 miles south to Florence. Any other morning I would be relaxed and comfortable with this drive, but this morning the winds were gusting about 50 mph and I was heading into them. With every bend I drove around the wind slammed into my small fuel efficient vehicle, jostling it all over the road. I had joined the "white knuckle" crowd as I rounded the bend at Heceta Head Lighthouse and by the time I reached Sea Lion Caves I was approaching a noticable nervousness. Then suddenly I turned on the radio and what was playing?...."Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. Have you heard it? Jesus take the wheel

Take it from my hands

Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go

So give me one more chance

To save me from this road I'm on

Jesus take the wheel

That was EXACTLY what I was needing!!!! The amazing thing is that very shortly, the gusting wind stopped!!!! How can you not love and trust in the Lord to take care of you????

2) Austin came home from working and being on these treacherous roads today, walked in the kitchen and baked up a luscious Pumpkin Pie. YUM, YUM!!! I'm thankful for a son that cooks!

3) I know this now is approaching a "food blog", but what else do you do in a storm, but cook and eat good food??? Okay, in this case, good goodies. Now usually I can take or leave ice cream, but I have finally found an ice cream that I find myself occasionally craving.......

Sheer Bliss It is absolutely wonderful!

Comes in an elegant keepsake tin and though it comes in several flavors, it's specialty is flavor is Pomegranate. Oh my! the texture is ultra creamy and smooth, the flavor is wonderful. This is the best ice cream ever! It has just begun to be distributed and it is a bit pricey, but it is well worth the request if your local store does not yet carry it. Also, if you are able to maintain any self-control, keep in mind that I am able to make this divine treat last 3 - 4 evenings (if your "roomie" doesn't find it).

The Hawk 11x15, private collection