This Is What I Do: Create

Our prompt this month was "rainbow" with a British children's song that I had never heard of. So, I decided to use "Rainbow Connection" from the Muppet Movie (the original one..."turn left at the fork in the road" one!!) I love that movie. I found a clip of Kermit the Frog singing it at the opening of the movie just a while ago on YouTube. It brought back memories of the MANY times we watched that movie with our children as they grew up! Wow! So here is my take, in watercolor, of the first lines of that song: This was so much fun! It didn't take a lot of imagination or time, but I think it's pretty damn cute! Until next time, Go! Create something! JF

Last Monday and Tuesday I felt really good. I got out of the house, had some fun with friends and was doing well. Sometime in the night, early Wednesday morning, I woke up gagging, nose running, and coughing. I deemed it a sinus problem, maybe even allergies. NOT!! For the first time in years, I had a head cold. Ok, not a serious thing. Whine, whine!! But not being able to lay down without coughing, and gagging on my own snot is not a good way to be missing sleep. I tried the recliner, and that didn't help. besides, it made my back hurt (read here...old recliner, stuffing shifted and doesn't support my spine like it used to.) I had better luck sitting up in my rocking chair, but I can't sleep well sitting up. Wednesday night was the same thing. I did however, stop at Walgreens and bought some night time meds which, incidentally tastes just as bad as it did when I was a kid. (One would think that after 70+ years, cough syrup meds could be made to taste like bacon!!) Thursd...

I read this quote recently and it got me thinking. "how many people settle for a just a job and put their passion on the back burner? How many people know in their hearts they are destined to do one thing, but allow the events in their life to lead them away from that calling?" I went to college wanting to be a teacher. I thought "Art" as a major would do it for me. I found out in a short time that Art would not be a good fit for me, especially if I had to conform to the head of the art department at the college I was attending. He and I did not see eye to eye at all. So, I switched majors to elementary education. Somewhere along the way, I lost my way, my drive, my desire to do much of anything. I quit college, I got a job doing piddly squat, lived at home with Mom and Dad and just existed.  I decided that a dead end job was not cutting it, and went back to school, this time at a different school. I got an Associates degree in Business Administration and Finance....

This month I chose to be inspired by "bloom where you are planted." Thinking about this I came up with the following: It is my belief that no matter where we come from, whether it be rural or urban, and no matter where we end up in our lives, we can bloom and grow into whatever we desire to become. Weeds, and even flowers can flourish in the cracks of a sidewalk, as well as in the fields out in the open. Be all you can be wherever you are. Until next time, Go! Create something! JF

Yesterday, I decided it was time to quit whining and griping about stuff I can do nothing about, and just get into the "studio" (read here..my dining room/studio) and just create. In keeping with my goal of sending birthday cards to my fellow choir members, I made these two. The first one is for my good friend, and fellow tenor/baritone. I used more of a collage construction for his card. It says nothing about being a birthday card on the outside, but has an appropriate message inside, plus a "tribute to music" that I found years ago that I though he would enjoy. This guy is, like I said, a very good friend, quiet, yet so funny and and big tease to everyone. Especially to our choir director. He and I have a lot of fun teasing and harassing her as well as the soprano section which is seated directly in front of us.  Sometimes, our choir practices on Wednesday evening can become chaos, but the fun kind.  The second one, was made for one of our sopranos' whose ...