Thanksgiving Dudes

I saw this picture on FaceBook and thought it was so cute--especially since these little "dudes" are such PESTS in the summertime.....they dig up flowers, bury stuff in my landscaping, and are generally undesirable!  But, the picture is cute, and they are hibernating (probably burrowing under our Garage floor???)   

ONE Leaf

I went out to the front porch after Cliff had raked and blown all the leaves away....but one lone leaf was there--so I brought it in and watercolored a facsimile--just for the record. Yukky, rainy day today, tomorrow is supposed to be Sunny :-)

Fall Colors

The Colors this season (Fall) have been outstanding!  Our Backyard is full of Maple Trees.  In fact all over our Chestnut Ridge Subdivision we have Maples and the views have been wonderful! 
I couldn't possibly capture all of it, but here are a few of the reds & yellows.  Sadly, the leaves are all down now and the eaves troughs are full :-)

I made this sign on my computer and put it in my Car Window!  So tired of people zipping thru parking lots with a phone in their ear....or holding up traffic while they chat on and on.  Got a few "thumbs up" too :-)

BUTTONS

 

I was going through some of  my older sketchbook journals, and came across one of my favorites.  I had selected buttons of different sizes and colors from my "button collection" (doesn't everyone have one of these???)  I did lay them out and sketched and watercolored them--for some reason, I really like this display :-) 

Roaring Fork Nature Trail Drive GSMNP

This is a sketch of one of our favorite scenic drives in the Smokies.  It's about Ten Miles around (?) One Way, and very narrow and hilly!  But the views are wonderful and historical.  I did this last Spring and never posted it....  I tried to picture all the interesting places along the way.  Love the Smokie Mountains and everything we used to do like Hiking to Mt. LeConte, etc. 
We are "past the age" of hikes now, but still enjoy the Mountains.  Just posted this on a whim--as I said, it's about a year old.  :-)

Sketchbook Watercolor Journaling

 Our first day in Class (Bay View, MI) we sketched in front of the Memorial Chapel.
(Outdoors, of course).  Then I sat in front of a Pipe-Railing beside some flowers.
The third picture is a practice of fences, flowers,  and rocks. 
We only had to paint "inside" one day--because of the rain and wind (and cool).
I always need to practice "looseness" (in painting, that is :-)

Wisdom from Bella

My daughter  "Dog-Sits" for her Son when the 'need' arises.  This is such a fun pet--enthusiastic about everything!!!
After having Bella for a few days, she came up with what she learned :-) from Bella.....I call it "Wisdom from Bella."
(BTW: Bella is my "Grand-Dog :-)  Read thru it, you'll get a big smile.
You may need to "click" on it to make it bigger  :-)

Drawing in Church Dr. A., Speaker

Our Pastor and family are on a much-deserved vacation, so our Shepherding Pastor (Dr. A.) filled in.  Also had a piano number by our Organist, Paul.  The piano is twice as long as pictured, but I didn't have room to draw it all :-)   Even got in some of my gardening stuff :-) 

The RePaving (Asphalt) has started!

Hooray! the first layer has been laid....we can drive on it a little.  Decided to paint my HollyHocks against our brick wall.  The Garage is across the street and I just put in a hint of the new Asphalt.  It will be so nice to get back to "normal."   :-)

Our Street is gone...New Asphalt Tomorrow!

We are having our Road (that we live on) resurfaced....So these are some of the pieces of equipment we have been dealing with (lots of noise, too) for almost a week now.  We can't park in our garages, or driveways--we park about a block away.  Like I said, it's been about a week....so hopefully we will have new Asphalt tomorrow!  We will totally appreciate our "driveway & attached garage"  :-)  Maybe I'll go back to sketching flowers & trees......

A Closer Look with Dr. Ainsworth

Our Pastor is away on Vacation, so one of our favorite (other) Pastors filled in....He's Dr. Ainsworth, but we call him "Gordie".  I even put some of my blooming HollyHocks in the notes for color.  The choral trio was excellent--better than the Gaithers'  :-)   And we 'sent off' a group of our Youth Group to the Detroit InnerCity
for fixing-up ministries.  We do have an "involved Church."   

Yellow Lady Slippers (Hemingway Pointe--Lake Charlevoix)

My Sister-in-Law sent me a picture of the Yellow Lady Slippers growing in the woods behind their Condo up North on Lake Charlevoix (Hemingway Pointe).  I couldn't resist sketching/watercoloring some of them and just had to post them.  Thanks Betty!

Love these and would love to find some pink ones :-) 

"Cover to Cover Series"

We are into the Book of Isaiah now...."Restoration Paths"   I just had to paint Joyce wearing her Shirt with the great big flower on the back and sleeves--it takes my eye every time!  No one else I know has one with that big a flower!  I'm easily entertained :-)

Memorial Day 2014

I may have posted this previously--but wanted something for Memorial Day.  This is a sketch of our Flag in our Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School) Room. 

Sunday Memorial Day Weekend

 "Restoration Paths" is the name of the continuing Studies the Pastor is covering in the "Cover to Cover" (thru the Bible) Series for our Sunday Morning Worship Services.
We had our Brass Orchestra and Choir for the music this a.m.

Orioles Migrating or Staying? Hopefully Staying :-)

We are having lots of Orioles stopping by to take advantage of the Oranges and nectar and Grape Jelly we put out for them....We are hoping that they will nest nearby (we have a small woods behind us).  That would be so awesome!
Tried to use my "Derwent Intense" Watercolor Pencils to do this--since the colors are so "deep."
We have had both male and female birds coming regularly. 

Drawing in Church

When we stood to sing--These two women looked like they were color-coordinated!  I just had to sketch them.  One had Black hair, the other blonde, and their outfits were opposites, too. :-)

Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Celebrations

Our Palm Sunday and Easter (Resurrection Sunday) Celebrations were so Worshipful and Awesome.  Decided to post both Sermon Note Pages on my blog.  The music (Choir & Orchestra) was grand!  Wish you could've been there. :-)

 

 

 

   

Divided Kingdom - Hearts Turn Toward God

I sure do miss posting on the Drawing in Church blog! (It's on "hold" right now).
It's getting to look more like Spring now and so I tried to put a singing Wren up in the corner :-)  My GellyRoll Pen was smearing this morning--but I got it working :-) BTW, I hope we get some Wrens making a home in our newly purchased Wren House this year.

One of the Scenes from Music Man at PCA

OK, so here's our Granddaughter in one of the scenes from "Music Man" -- she's talking to "Professor Hill".  We so enjoyed the Students doing this play :-)

The Music Man

This past Saturday Evening, we went to PCA (Plymouth Christian Academy) to see our Senior Class Granddaughter perform in the musical "The Music Man".   The student "players" did an awesome job! 
I always take my sketchbook/journal with me and was able to capture a few memories of the evening.

I  "color" my sketches at home :-)

Posting "Stuff" of Color

I love Thistles (to draw & watercolor) not to touch :-)  Saw this on a Daniel Smith page (of their Catalog) and decided to paint it on my own.  These even look interesting when they are dried in the Fall Time!  Be careful tho' , they are a little "pickkery" (?)

Birthday Card

I paint my own Birthday Cards, Note Cards, etc., then I scan them and print them on Avery Card Stock (in my Card Program).  I have fun doing this, and since we are all looking forward to Spring Weather (hopefully) after this long winter--I love the budding flowers :-)   (looks like I also scanned a "smudge" down at the bottom :-)

Drawing in Church, continued

Since our Drawing in Church Blog has been put on "hold" I have been posting my Sermon Notes on my own Blog.  This week Pastor finished up the "Soul of Worship" study.  Next week, we will be back into I Kings, etc. to keep on with the Cover to Cover Series--going thru the Bible.    Stay tuned.....  :-)

Ecclesiastes--All is Vanity?

  

The "meaning" of Ecclesiastes is in the last verse of the last Chapter.  ("Fear (reverence and devotion) God and keep His commandments, This is the whole duty of man.")

The Hymns and the music were especially awesome today--Choir and Orchestra were very meaningful ...... getting my journal ready for Tomorrow's lesson. 

 

 

Cover to Cover Series--Proverbs

I should've posted this last week.  Pastor "highlighted" verses in the Book of Proverbs.  We are enjoying the Series--but the weather (outside) is awful.....we are sick of the Cold, snow, and blowing!

Flying to and From Washington DC

We made up our mind about 10 years ago that we would not fly anywhere, anymore!!!
Too Crowded, Small seats, long walks, etc.  But we were invited to fly to Wash DC because of a Medical Research Event that my husband was a part of....It was a wonderful trip, except that all the "flying rules" have changed even more--more crowded, more charges, etc. 
We had a wonderful time in DC--but still will not fly unless we absolutely need to.
I took my sketchbook of course and tried to capture the "Sardine Factor"  :-) on the Airplane.

Painted from a Picture

I painted this from a picture I saw--loved the colors--decided to try it!  It is so "white" everywhere from the snow and we are supposed to get 4" more by morning.  Also, trying to "watercolor" something every day or so.

"COVER TO COVER" Sermon Notes--2 Sundays

 These notes are from the last Sunday in January.  It was a very Snowy Day and we were not sure we could make it to Church.  We did and even on time...the roads were well-plowed.  The Service was awesome!

This is the First Sunday in February.  We always have Communion on the First Sunday.  Lots of notes to take today--so no room for little pics!  I tried to keep it colorful tho'  :-)

Painting from a Brochure because it's Winter

I saw this picture (actually, it was a photo) in a Brochure about flower arranging--and since it is all Snow outside,  I wanted to watercolor and post some pretty flowers for some color.

Drawing in Church 1-19-14

I took these notes in Church today--part of Pastor's "Cover to Cover" series going through the Bible.  We are covering it in Chunks and continuing in "Servant Kings"
Today was also 'Sanctity of Human Life' Sunday and we had a wonderful report from our own Dr. Wendy......!  She helps at the Pregnancy Care Center and does Ultrsounds for the clients "-)
Also I painted the pine tree at home (on Saturday). I wanted to practice a Watercolor that my friend/instructor posted on her blog.  I was happy that it actually resembled a
snow-covered Pine :-);
It's been very Snowy, Flurries, and Cold here lately--with more 'Polar Vortex's' on the way.

Coffee Buddies

Quite often we go to Tim Horton's for "breakfast" after the "Y" workout...and we always see these guys having coffee together.  they often sit in the corner in front of the window--so today I decided to sketch them and would watercolor them when I got home.  I knew they saw my husband and I there often, so when we got up to leave, I showed them my sketch and said I would "color" it when I got home!  One said "Don't forget I'm the best-looking, etc....."  And another said to put on the picture that they were the WPS "World Problem Solvers"   How could I resist?