Category Archives: somethin’

QUOTE 1

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“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast
the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, 
that would be giving as the angels give.” 
George MacDonald
December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905
a scottish author, poet, and christian minister
known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, 
george macdonald inspired many authors, such as 
w. h. auden, j. r. r. tolkien, c. s. lewis, e. nesbit and madeleine l’engle.

TIME

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Eliminate physical clutter.
More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter.
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Sometimes I think it should be a rule of war
that you have to see somebody up close and get to know him
before you can shoot him.
April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011
Elephants and grandchildren never forget.
January 14, 1919 – November 4, 2011
Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. 
Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful,
that’s what matters to me.
February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
You find out who your real friends are when you’re involved in a scandal.
February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011
When i go out there, I have no pity on my brother. I’m out there to win.
January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011
The only mountain that i would still like to climb: I’d like to break 85.
September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011 – age 83
“I think we need to be put back in touch with our childhood…
to be reminded of what’s important,
like memories about people we loved,
or things that happened to us that affected our lives,
things we can laugh about and shed a few tears about…
I think storytelling is a way of saying ‘I love you.
I love you enough to tell you something that means a great deal to me.'”
June 2, 1918 – June 12 2011
I believe the equal rights amendment is a necessity of life for all citizens. 
The cabinet sometimes felt that I shouldn’t be so outspoken.
April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011
You will not be able to stay home, brother.
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,
Skip out for beer during commercials,
Because the revolution will not be televised.
April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011
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Part four: Time and Eternity 1924

Death is a dialogue between
The Spirit and the dust.
“Dissolve” says death – The spirit “Sir
I have another Trust” 
Death doubts it, argues from the ground.
The spirit turns away
Just laying off, for evidence,
An overcoat of clay 
1830 – 1886

NOTE

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Blogging has led me to some delightful, online friendships. Frequent interchange is with a few people that have a great interest in writing. On my travels around the web, i happened upon this photo that i found appealing and wanted to share with my writer friends. I happen to use blank index cards all the time for quick drawings and writing of notes. I will have to use them to write more ideas on how to use them :-)
“Nabokov wrote most of his novels on 3″x 5” note cards, 
keeping blank cards under his pillow for whenever 
inspiration struck. Seen here: a draft of Lolita.”

SIMPLE WAYS

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It’s okay.
Just relax and take a deep breath.
It’s all about doing things with a very special kind Love.
The kind of Love that is not of us, but comes through us.
It is not something that we buy.
It comes through simple ways. 
It is Love.
Dear, children of God.
Look into someone’s eyes.
Shake a hand.
Give a hug.
Speak in a loving tone.
Give a pat on the back.
Kiss a cheek.
Listen to someone.
Hold a hand.
Tie a shoe.
Allow Love to flow to others.
It is the best gift-giving in the world.

WORDS

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All that glisters is not gold
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgement old,
Your answer had not been inscrolled.
Fare you well. Your suit is cold

William Shakespeare

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
.John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
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WORDS

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Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams

Quotes are weird.  A line of words, probably taken out of context, something that someone else [usually a famous someone] thought up, and who is usually considered an instant authority. We hang on every word.  We use the words almost as our own.
I happen to like this quote. It’s funny and, in some ways, true. There was a time that i just had too many blocks keeping me from doing art. The thing i ended up doing was to see every art project as an experiment. The word “experiment” helped me to let go of many of the things that held me back from starting and enjoying the process. 
In this quote, the word “mistake” is used. I think that we are all afraid of mistakes. Someone might call something that we make…wrong! Ahhhhh! But, the last part of the quote refers to art as knowing which mistakes to keep…not keeping things that turn out exactly as expected. How many wonderful things are here to enjoy because someone allowed their self to make mistakes. What else do we make most of the time anyway? Who does anything perfectly? What is so wrong with making something that we didn’t expect? Not all mistakes are wrong…and not all of them are called mistakes. Some of them might even be called “art.”
the printer’s ornament
was found online
and is free to use

PHASE

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I am going through a phase. With Picasso, it was a blue phase. With me…well, it’s an ornament phase. Actually, they are known as printer’s characters or printer’s ornaments. I suppose that some people are into their Christmas ornaments right now. For me? It’s those wonderful little black on white images.
They are not my artwork. I have been finding them online. Perhaps they will lend some ideas toward my label designing.  I like the ones with the bold designs that look similar to wood block prints. Yet some of these designs can be fine-lined and i like them as well.
Feel free to copy and use any of them for a project. Some of them would make nice bookmarks. Or maybe a book plate-sticker…or even a calling card. All of them that i collect appear to be free to use.
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TIME

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It is time.  A year.  An idea that i have been growing into.
Well, L. L. Barkat did it. She made time to be in her yard every day, for a year, and to write, as a spiritual practice. Lyla Lindquist is in the process of a once-a-week journey to be in day prayers at a Benedictine monastery, and doing some writing about it.
Yes, a year has been inviting me, and i have been accepting the invitation.
A couple of months ago, i had decided to start doing art. Not just a little here and there. I was ready to do more. To step out into my yard… to go to my monastery… to be a child at heart. To do art like a child, with God. To let go and just do it. 
Some on-line friends gather once a year at a place in Texas. I have, in the back of my mind, wanted to go there and meet some of these people. The years pass, and i wondered if i would ever make that trip. Then i started to think about what i do that could help me to make money and perhaps make the trip next year. That is where it started, and it is now growing into something more than just making money. It is becoming about the growing and doing and sharing…right here…where i live.
I started a painting a few weeks ago. However, today, after reading Lyla’s post, i thought perhaps that i could do daily writing in addition to doing the art. It seems right, since writing is another way for me to comprehend some of the things that God is saying to me. Writing can be a conversation with God, just as painting can. I find that writing words really lends itself to conversation and thought processing.
So i grabbed a journal that i had already made some art notes in, wrote “a year of art” on the front of it…and started writing. Today is “officially” the first day toward what “God willing” will become a year of art, and my art journaling conversation with God.  
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