Words of Wisdom

To live content with small means.... To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.... To be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich.... To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly.... To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart.... To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.... In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.... ...........this is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing

2010 Life Path Challenge

The theme for today is one for which I've often thought I would like to actually do a whole mini-book album. I suppose because it really couldn't all be covered in one piece of art for me. So get out your pencils and put on your smock.

Question or rather theme for this week:

PLACES I'VE LOVED

Those of you writing could easily do a book, but focus on specifics and how you felt/feel. Those who are writing email me or post a comment just to let me know you are still around: coleenfranks@gmail.com Have fun, Coleen

Crimean Irises

These beauties came from our trip south a couple weeks ago to the Crimea. Since it is warmer there, they are ahead of us in the north. Our irises have just started here. These were taken from our little village of Nikolaevka that is on the west coast of the Crimea on the Black Sea. We lived here from 1994-97 before moving north to be closer to an airport so Jeff could more easily travel to the countries where he was working. Aren't they just lovely? Such a marvelous Creator we have.

Crimean Doors

I have to confess, I have this thing about doors. When I see something really beautiful I just have to photograph it. What I call really beautiful also usually happens to be rather dated in its architecture. The top two photos where taken in Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine. Can you believe the wisteria? This lovely piece of work (bottom picture) was found in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine. I happen to have a whole collection of doors I've taken in various European countries. Hope you enjoy it as I do.

Apple Blossom in my Backyard

Spring In Ukraine

Simplify is the Key Word

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. -- Henry David Thoreau

Precious

Like little bells these beauties grew in my back yard. I have a berm there that I landscaped several years ago and this is just one of the many residents on the berm.

Ukrainian Friends

While our oldest daughter Sarah was here we had a dinner in her honor to bring together some of the Ukrainian friends she grew up with. Here we have three generations of the Kulbich family. Lena, on the left and Sarah were good friends when they were younger. Now all these friends are married with families. My how the time goes.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Today I'm showing you a Zentangle bookmark/tag I did. It is just a method of doodling that has grown in popularity. I read an article in the "Babyboomer Yellowpages" that said doing Zentangling is good for releasing stress. And that it is even is replacing crosswords and suduko for many. All I know is I like it.

Today's Question:
IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY WITH NO RESTRICTIONS, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOSE TO DO?

I want to thank those of you who have shared with me about your writing projects using these questions. It is always gratifying for me to hear how you are enjoying these weekly questions. Check out the banner above to see some of the recent artistic contributions.

The Black Sea

This is daughter Sarah and her son Tripp last week at the Black Sea. Tripp will be two years old tomorrow. We had so much fun and after two weeks together we miss them so. Our time flew, but it was a joy.

The Black Sea

This is daughter Sarah and her son Tripp last week at the Black Sea. Tripp will be two years old tomorrow. We had so much fun and after two weeks together we miss them so. Our time flew, but it was a joy.

Pink and White

This picture is from about a week ago. Many gardens around the world are way ahead of us here in Ukraine and our season is shorter than many, but it makes it an especially precious time of beauty and greenery. We left town a week ago and the garden was just getting going. After returning and a week of rain we were amazed at the growth. It's as if summer was just dropped on our doorstep....or I should say, in the yard. This interesting tulip is different from most of mine in that the petals were all pointed. Each fall I buy one new bag of bulbs to plant in a different area so it's been fun to see the different varieties and colors and their different timing. Hope you enjoy them too. Blessings on your day. Coleen

Zentangle Fun

These are called zentangles. Most were done by me. And Leah and I collaborated on a couple. She did the dragon fly at the top. This was part of a swap we did with the Yahoo Group, Making Mini-books. It was a lot of fun.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Well, I must apologize for being a day late. Yesterday and Sunday found us traveling back from the Crimea area of Ukraine, some almost 900 kilometers from home. I hope you all are enjoying the pictures in the banner across the top. Just click on that to go to our Flickr group to see more or to add your crafty interpretation.

Question: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BRING MORE UNITY INTO YOUR FAMILY THIS YEAR?

If you've not participated with us before, I'd encourage you to grapple with these questions each week. Ultimately the real benefit will be when you start creating a compilation of these questions that delve into the meaningful questions of life. It will truly be a legacy for your family capturing your thoughts and feelings that wouldn't have been recorded anywhere else.

Stranger in our Midst

I wanted to show you this little beauty. I have only one. Like the lavender primrose I don't know where this came from. It is not in a place I would plant and I wouldn't plant a lone bulb. They don't even sell them that way. Nonetheless, I have marveled over its beauty and uniqueness amongst my red tulips. Maybe it will grow again next year. The real treasure of the fleeting time of flowers is to enjoy the wonder of the moment. It means appreciating here and now. Oh, I can try to capture things with the camera or some art, but there are always limitations. I think this must be another bulb the garden fairies hauled in from somewhere.

Daughters

The handsome red head is our grandson Tripp, soon to be two this month. Below that is all our kids, Sarah's husband Jamie, Sarah and Leah. I had both daughters here for Mother's Day, first time in 10 years and it was fun. They came for a two week visit and the time flies. I'll post more brag book pictures in coming days.

Mystery Primroses

I love to see the things that happen in my garden. I have lots of yellow primroses in the front yard. In the back I have a deep burgundy with yellow trim variety I. Then recently I came across this lovely set of light lavender. Just where they came from is a mystery to me as I've never planted any such color. I think it is the garden fairies at work again.

Bethany Baptist Church Craft Ladies

This is a group of our sweet ladies preparing for children's crafts and then doing a cards class. We had so much fun.

What is this Flower?

This is a progression from bottom up of the opening of this lovely flower. In Russian it is called Czarskaya Corona which means the Queen's crown or czar's wife's crown. If you know what this is called in English I would sure like to know so leave a comment below. I've only seen it here in Ukraine though we have many of the same flowers as in the U.S. Sure would like to know.

Butterflies and Faith

I love butterflies, dragonflies, birds, almost all things that fly and I especially enjoy when I can combine it with a message.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there. You should be honored and blessed by those around that love you.

Question:
What could you do to honor the mother figures in your life today and this week and ongoing?

Spring In Ukraine

This little beauty is a small holly bush. I never knew that holly had flowers, but then, of course, where do the berries come from? I am constantly amazed at the variety and wonder of this creation. Did you ever stop to think....what kind of mind it takes/took for the Creator who gave us this mass of variety? That is certainly something to ponder.

Use Scanner for Custom Scrapbooking Paper

For custom scrapbooking paper line your scanner or copier bed with a sheet of clear plastic (to protect it). Next take anything you'd like to copy like shells, small stones, pasta, flowers, grass, cookies, candy, chocolate chips, crayons, sewing supplies, yarn, bubble wrap, lace and even birdseed or dried pet food. Place it carefully on top of the plastic liner sheet then scan or copy it.

You will end up with some of the most amazing scrapbooking paper around! It looks totally real. Color usually works best, but some things (like lace) look wonderful in black and white.

By Cyinda from near Seattle via ThriftyFun.com

Recycled Coaster

I always knew these coasters you find in restaurants could be turned into something fun. This is one I did for a swap on Swap-bot.com. The dangles are glass beads so I got to embellish with some of my beading skills. The things I learn from doing some of these swaps are quite useful in translating to crafting classes, camps and Sunday school. This craft I may use in the Gorenichi camp this summmer.

2010 Life Path Challenge

With the coming of Mother's Day I've been thinking about families and relationships more than usual lately. It is quite interesting when we stop to think how our Creator put families together. So in celebration of Mother's Day and families in general I decided to do a series of vintage tags that speak about relationships. Hope you like this one and the ones that follow.

Question:
What is the one thing you've held back expressing to your mother or other significant loved one, that you could say and bless their day and life? How will you go about this?

Upstairs Nook

My husband recently caught this nice light in the upstairs book nook. It is part of my art studio and I've often thought of taking pictures to show you since it is such a big lovely knotty pine room, but alas, I must clean it up first and since I am ever working in it, that just doesn't happen. Maybe someday. Notice the fruit trees in bloom outside the roof window. Our Creator is certainly putting on a show around our house these days.