365 Creativity Project–Day Twelve

My journal entry for the day:

My thankful list, which I forgot Thursday.

I am thankful:

1.   We have had a few cold days and some rain.
2.   I am still enjoying doing my creative project.
3.   I was able to get Mom’s neurologist to prescribe something for tardive dyskinesia.
4.   I still have a little money left for the month.
5.   We live in a country where studying the Bible is allowed.
6.   We have ample food to eat.
7.   I have friends who like following my creative project.
8.   Hope loves to walk with me and gives me a reason to get outside.
9.   I have a nice digital camera, though it is a bit old.
10. I will be able to sleep late tomorrow.

Some pictures from our walk:

Tree and bushes at the end of our driveway.

Berries on Hawthorn bush.

Puddle with reflections.

Oak tree…

Cedar and pines…

I hope you have a good night and a restful pleasurable Sunday.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Eleven

My journal entry with a poem:

A few pictures:

A gargoyle…

A pair of gargoyles…

An elephant I painted some time ago.

I have no plans to go to town tomorrow. I should have more time to dedicate to doing something creative than I have had the last two days.

I hope you have a wonderful night and a weekend full of inspiration.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Ten

Mom had an appointment with her neurologist today and we were gone for hours. I did not have as much time as usual to work on creating something. However, Hope and I did walk our mile this morning. I took the following photograph:

I wrote some haiku this evening:

I am tired tonight so I am not going to write much more.

I hope you find joy in the moment and imagination enough to make something lasting.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Nine

Today’s entry is a poem on a subject very dear to me:

A few pictures from my mile walk with Hope:

A plant green despite Winter.

These were experimental shots of our shadows.

Mom and I are doing Read The Bible For Life every day, and we are working our way through Genesis. Mom commented today that she did not realize how much violence and immorality went on in biblical times. She has read the Bible through before, but she read the King James Version and the stories did not communicate to her as clearly. We discussed how everything we experience in our society today was present in olden times. Technology has changed, but people are much the same as ever. The same challenges to faith and belief we face today were there for people of the past. We can learn from their examples.

Today, many sites on the internet went black to protest SOPA and PIPA, which are bills under consideration by government here in the United States. These two pieces of legislation have the potential to bring widespread censorship to the internet. I encourage you to let your representatives know that you want the internet to remain a free place for the exchange of information. Tell them you do not agree with SOPA and PIPA.

I talked to Alex, my son, for almost an hour this morning. It was wonderful hearing his voice. He is currently training in Hawaii and will be going to California before returning to his station in Okinawa, Japan. He seemed very upbeat and our conversation was enjoyable.

I hope there is peace and love wherever you are. May you be inspired to create some beauty in the world today.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Eight

The topic of my journal entry today is not pleasant, but it provides insight.

Hope and I walked a mile, and I took these pictures:

The resilience of plants to survive the elements of the outside world is amazing. They also make great subjects for our photographs and art. We are fortunate to be surrounded by such varied beauty.

I hope you enjoy your day and are able to find some wonder in it. May you be inspired to create something of lasting significance.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Seven

I have decided to go back to my regular font. I think it more fits my personality. If any of you has a preference for the other font, let me know.

My handwritten journal entry:

Some pictures from the mile Hope and I walked today:

We had Papa John’s pizza for supper, which was a pleasant treat. I did not do a drawing today because I did not use my limited time very efficiently. I should have gotten up before 1:00 in the afternoon, but the sleep was quite refreshing.

I hope all of you are having an excellent week so far.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project–Day Six

This has been a productive day. I have drawn and painted a picture, created a song, taken some photographs, and written a journal entry. I have also finished up the week’s Bible study with my Mom.

First, the picture I finished early this morning before going to bed:

The song I created while walking with Hope and my handwritten journal entry for today:

The photographs I took today:

A different angle on the Radio Flyer. This image haunts me.

Hope sniffing…

Hope hurrying toward me with her tongue licking her nose.

Wood and rocks with Radio Flyer in the background.

Hope in profile.

Hope relaxing after our walk.

As I work toward doing something creative every day it seems to get easier and feel more rewarding. I encourage anyone who is contemplating doing one of these projects to go for it. It stretches your abilities and gives you practice to help you move forward with your artistic pursuits. My only regret is that I did not begin earlier.

I hope you are following along and will continue with me on this adventure. Your input is priceless to me. If something touches you, or amuses you, please let me know. Even if you have a negative comment I am interested in hearing what you have to say. This is a journey on which I hope to improve my skills, so all opinions are welcome.

I hope you are having a wonderful day and that you are inspired to do something creative.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creative Project–Day Five

Today was a beautiful day and although I got a late start I enjoyed it heartily. Before I went to bed at 4:00 this morning, I drew and painted a picture on the Wacom tablet. It follows:

My journal entry for the day:

Here are the pictures from our walk:

This shot intrigues me because it shows the road fading away and the sky at the horizon, yet the plants in the foreground are prominent.

Gates interest me.

Even in Winter there is green.

The birds will come again.

Cedar trees…

Hawthorn bush…

Old trailer with hose and tarp.

Side of our barn constructed of scrap wood by my father.

The camper where I spent idyllic days during my childhood, many a year ago.

Abandoned Radio Flyer… faded memory of days gone by.

Wood…

Large pinecone…

I changed my font today. I will consider using it in future postings. Let me know what you think of the change.

I hope each of you has a blessed day filled with creative energy.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creative Project–Day Four

With reading less I am accomplishing a lot creatively. However, I am still doing a decent amount of reading daily. I am glad to have lessened the pressure on myself to complete so many books.

My hand written journal entry for the day:

This morning Penny, Mom’s fourteen year old dog, was sleeping in a unique place:

These are some pictures from our walk:

There is something fascinating to me about equipment sitting out waiting for use. I think it is the sense of stored power.

Boat, dock, and pond.

The field growing back toward forest, because my brother, James, is no longer here to fight the trees.

Big rocks…

Vegetation…

Swing and picnic table, abandoned for Winter.

Cane Mill…

No drawing today, because I have been rather busy.

I do have some thoughts about grief. When someone leaves the world, or even exits your life, it leaves a empty space that you always feel should be filled by your loved one. There are marks left not only on your heart, but in the outer world, by the absence. Things change because the work they did is left undone. Often I have heard no one is indispensible, but I tend to disagree. Our loved ones are forever missed where they once smiled, laughed, and walked in our lives.

I hope your day is full of joy and creativity. Make something, no matter how small or to your mind insignificant, and impact the history of the world.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creative Project–Day Three

Firstly, it is Thursday, thankful list day.

I am thankful:

1.   I have some awesome books to inspire me.
2.   Mom brought me lunch from Applebee’s today and it was very good.
3.   I am excited about working creatively this year.
4.   I have not had to go to town this week.
5.   Jeremy, my nephew, has a treadmill that Mom and I can try out here to see if we really want one.
6.   I still have an Amazon gift card from Christmas to use for books.
7.   I was able to set my old laptop up for Mom’s use and she is spending time playing games.
8.   My new coat is very warm and comfortable.
9.   Reba may be able to buy a house.
10. I was able to get our watch warranties extended to five years as advertised.

My journal entry:

The picture of a unicorn that I created on the Wacom tablet: