Hands, Gardens, Snakes and Kittens

This is for my cousin and his soon-to-be wife.

I have recently planted some things.  Although I love my little plot, I'm pretty sure the Lady Catherine would say, "You have a very small garden, madam" [Pride and Prejudice]; but I love it and can't wait to see what happens!  It's my first year doing anything with dirt and growing things and stuff so if just one plant survives then it's a success!

 My Garden.  It's not much... yet!

 Lavenderrrrrrrrr!!!!!

This fella's name is Sneaky Snivellus Sherlock.  He eats Raucous Rough Rattlesnake and his cousin Creepy Kooky Copperhead;  I like him because of this.  He lives in a hole under our house and my cats reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaally want to eat him.  Padfoot (below) was whining and clawing at the foundation to try to get in the hole.

 Shh!  Don't wake the beast!

D'awwwww...

I love kitties.  I love our new snake Sneaky.  I love painting.  I have just fallen in love with gardening.  I love summer where I get to dig and pull weeds and travel and see friends.  And I don't love poison ivy, but I am thankful to learn a lesson from it.  I'm so excited for my cousin and his gal and how their lives will be mirroring the church's relationship with Christ: Christ died for His bride - woah!

There is a bigger wedding that's going to happen although I don't know when:  Jesus will marry His church; that's anyone who believes that He's the Son of God who died and rose again to pay our death-debt that we couldn't pay.  And that day will be sweeter than the smell of the most luscious garden, more pleasurable than the closest marriage, and even better than the touch of a soft, fluffy kitten belly (I find this one hard to believe).  And the various forms of sorrow that everyone of us has experienced will VANISH FOREVER.  

"I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I did not hide;

I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD';

And You forgave the guilt of my sin."

Psalm 32:5

I don't usually have texts that go with my artwork, but honestly, I might start taking this route more often.  To see God's truth in passing, as well as writing it out, helps me remember His promises.

I encourage you to read all of Psalm 32.  It's really yummy.

Happy birthday, Megan Brown!  I don't know if this painting was more for me or for you, because I was in need of a good painting fix.

And can I just say how glad I am that it is Spring and that I can photograph/paint any kind of flower I see? And this wonderful rain has made everything greeeeeeen! Thank you, Jesus!

So... About that whole "I'll post the elephant picture tomorrow" thing: I'm sorry. The mood left me for a while.  So here is the finished product from that.  What makes it really terrible is that I've had the painting done for five weeks and I'm just now posting it.

Drawing Challenge Day 9: An Animal

Drawing Challenge Day 9: An Animal

Today's challenge is a bit underwhelming because it is just the outline of a water color I'll be doing for a friend.  I'll show the finished result of the elephants tomorrow!  I also got in the groove last night/early morning and painted some poppies... Oh man... I've got to get back into the swing of going to bed earlier before I start to go back to work.  No more late night creative surges for me!

Drawing Challenge Day 8: Something Near You

Drawing Challenge Day 8: Something Near You

I was preoccupied tonight with TV - and for good reason(s)!  Reason #1: I don't have cable at my own home, so I took the opportunity at my friend's house.  Reason #2: Someone I went to high school has been on American Idol, Ben Briley, and I've really been wanting to see him perform live.  Reason #3: I am WAY behind on The Walking Dead.

I caught up on The Walking Dead - then interrupted that show to watch American Idol. When Ben Briley didn't make it, I decided to make a molten chocolate mug cake in his honor.  I then proceeded to sad-eat whilst watching the remainder of episode 13 of TWD.

When I squinted, rubbed my eyes, and stepped out of the realm of wonder and back into reality (needless to say) I didn't feel like drawing.  I set my half-eaten chocolate decadence down on the kitchen table; I paced a little, I think... then decided to hunker down and sketch that chocolatey mug.

I raise my mug to you, Ben Briley.  You're a man of many talents.  God already knew what was going to happen tonight and He knows what He's doing with you tomorrow.

And Daryl Dixon, I'd make you a molten chocolate microwave cake ANY day.  With ice cream on top.  And for those of you who don't know me well, I'm kidding.

Drawing Challenge Day 7: A Mood (no face allowed)

This is a rendition of a photograph of my dad and my older brother.  I hope you get a mood out of it!  I know I did; actually I got more than one!