Finally!

I don't know what took me so long, but I started this while on the road home and was finally able to finish it this morning.  It's been a crazy week around here!!!  I'm still trying to get my Challenge piece done this week, but it's not looking like it's going to happen until maybe Saturday.  I hate that!!!  I hope this week is being good to you and you're able to find joy in all that you're doing1

Travel day

I have to say that I'm a little disappointed.  When I got my new cell phone a couple of months back, I made sure it had my blogger app on it so I could blog while I was away from my computer.  Well, much to my dismay, I tried a couple of times to blog from my phone and even though it appeared to work fine on my phone, the blogs never appeared on here.  So sorry my friends!!!  This is my last travel picture for awhile.  I've got some catching up to do that's for sure!!!  Happy week to you all!

Wrapping things up!

This is my last challenge piece for this week.  I'm glad I've had the time to play around with it.  Sometimes (like all of you) I get so busy that the challenge is just getting the piece done, but when you have the chance to really study and work the challenge, it becomes a whole different piece.  Also as I finish this up, my travels will take me home tomorrow.  This has been a wonderful break but like with any trip, it's always nice to think about going home to the things you're comfortable with.  I wish there was some way to pull both of my favorite places together, but since that's impossible, I'll just enjoy each place when I'm there.  Happy day my friends!

What a view

I was raised a California girl!  From the time I was three I lived in CA where we enjoyed the water, the mountains, the snow (when we wanted to), camping, hiking, drives in the wine country, shopping trips to San Francisco and all the fresh fruit you could imagine.  BUT for the last almost 20 years, my husband and our kids have lived in the mid-west (where my family is actually from).  We go back to CA three or four times a year to visit family there and we usually drive.  I have to say the trips are much easier since our kids are grown and it's just the two of us traveling.  The sites in our country are amazing but I have to say my favorite trips are the short trips we take throughout the center of our country.  There has never been a trip where the scenery has disappointed me.  The rolling hills, the trees, the manicured landscapes, the lakes (and ponds), and the architecture of the buildings in the small towns and the big cities is amazing.  Green has never looked as green as it does here.  As I sit looking out the back windows, I see pine trees and maple trees (and other trees I have no idea what they are) form a canopy over our backyard and I  feel like I'm in Lake Tahoe.  Man I love our country!!!

Walking Down the Streets

When you visit a new city, the best way to get the true feel of it is to walk around in it's downtown area.  We have tried to do this when visiting new places and it's amazing how much more you can enjoy it.  You miss so much by just driving by things.  We've been to Milwaukee most recently (which I fell in love with and I think I would move there in a heartbeat), and to Indianapolis which has a gorgeous fountain in their downtown, and an awesome night life (which I'm not usually a real fan of) once the sun goes down.  There are way too many beautiful cities to name but I would suggest the next time you're visiting a new city, you drive around the downtown area (to be sure it's safe) and then let your feet do the walking and enjoy the flavor that each different place has to offer.  You won't be disappointed!

Tiny-ness

I was sitting with my mom at the doctors' office not too long ago and I remembered I had my little sketchbook with me.  So I got busy right away - BUT I noticed the pen I had was HUGE for this little sketchbook.  When I got the page filled (which didn't take long) I was a little disappointed because it went so fast.  I think I'm going to have to change pens to something finer.  Anyway hope you like!

Where's the vacation?

I must need a vacation really bad!!!  It seems like everywhere I turn I'm seeing vacation themed things.  I see vacation wear when I get dressed (probably because I've worn them on a trip before), I hear airplanes and wish I was on one going to some wonderful place, and now that last couple of drawings I've made make me think of some sort of vacation destination.  I have vacation on the brain!  This one looks like a floating island with a huge palm tree in the middle.  There are obstacles standing in front (like always) hiding all of the exciting things going on there, but you can only imagine (the sound of live calypso music being played, feeling the cool crystal clear turquoise ocean as you relax and play in it, laying under an umbrella listening to the water rush back and forth on the shore, enjoying a fruity drink with, of course, an umbrella in it, and there's so much more).  See I told you I need a vacation!!  Since today is our Memorial Day Holiday, I hope you can not only remember the sacrifice our soldiers (past, present, and future) have and will make for us, but make today a little bit of a vacation in your world - wherever you are!  Be safe and enjoy!!

Feeling Empty

Wow today's blog is hard to write.  I know I told you some old friends lost their youngest daughter in a car accident - yesterday was the funeral.  Two of my sons went to the funeral (it was a 9 hour road trip each way) and they were on their way home when I was working on this tangle.  After talking to them on the phone a couple of times (because I'm a mom and freak out when my kids travel even though they are all adults) I was really glad they made the trip (and so were they).  Our old friends were very happy to see them again and the boys were invited to the church to spend time with the family and catch up.  They said it was the best funeral they had ever been too (not that they have been to many) but it was a happy event with balloons and clapping - a real celebration of this young girls life.  She was a straight A student, was taking college classes (as a Jr.) in hopes to someday become a doctor, was liked by everyone who met her, had the most beautiful smile, loved to play basketball,  and was very active in FCA and in their church. Her parents are comforted by knowing they will see her again - how awesome is that??  I'm sure it doesn't take away from the emptiness they're feeling, but it's great to know God is comforting them and helping them through this horrific time. Sometimes what we think are accidents are really Gods' plans in acction and we need to recognize that - no matter how hard it is. 

Home at last!

I decided to show you the two best pieces I did while traveling.  I keep forgetting that trying to ride in the car while drawing is almost ridicules.  As you can see, there is no such thing as a straight line - even those that are supposed to be straight!  Between the wind blowing the car around, the traffic (I'm a victim to the weaving in and out of traffic) and the worst is the horrible roads, it's a wonder that I even managed to get anything that resembled a completed piece.  I have to admit that most of the shading I did when we were stopped.  Life seems to be that way too - overcoming obstacles to get to your final goal.  Today I hope you reach whatever goals you have set for yourself.  Enjoy!

All along the way

I started this a couple of months ago with just the ribbon string.  The more I looked at it, the more I wasn't sure what to do with it - so I did nothing (but look at it and shake my head).  When I ran out of paper over the weekend, I had to resort to finishing projects that were just lingering.  When I finished with this it reminded me of our recent road trip.  The road wound around through the mountains then the salt flats then we had snow and rain and if I think WAY back I think we had something called sunshine - it was a trip that covered a lot of scenery and elements.  So I guess the lesson is - if you have something you've started and can't quite put your finger on how to make it come together, just give it awhile and go back to it with fresh eyes and you might be surprised at the outcome.  Besides, who doesn't like surprises - especially when they come from your own creative hand!

Endless Highway

Mr. Thisorthat and I have been on a road trip.  Do you know how hard it is to draw different patterns while you're riding in the car???  When you're the passenger and you're looking around while you're going down the road, it's surprising all the things you notice.  The one thing you'll be sure to see is a place where several roads intersect.  That is where I got the idea for this tangle.  Roads that are endless, criss-crossing each other, with other things going on - on all sides of the highway.  I guess no matter where you go or what you're doing, there is always something else going on around you regardless of what you're focusing on.  Take time to step back, wherever you are, and see what else is going on, I think you'll be really surprised!  Enjoy the surprise!