……..Just stay home!
Yeah, actually those three words are my best advice about Christmas shopping. Trust me, I know these things! After sixty-three years of  marriage and the age that implies, I have tested all methods of Christmas shopping. Of course, that was before online shopping, which I love. Back to the subject.
I first published this blog December 2, 2013. This morning I realized I was beginning to have the same thoughts about Christmas shopping and suddenly remembered my own Excellent Advice. So here it is again.

I love numbers. After my husband served 6 years in military service; after 5 years of his undergraduate studies; after many years of his graduate studies; after 3 children, (all this time with 0 discretionary funds), I finally began to notice a singular truth about my shopping: If I went out of the house I would spend money! That’s it! It was as simple as that! To resist the urge to shop, I would make a cup of coffee, grab a cookie, and wait for the urge to pass….and it would pass. Yay! Just think how much money I saved today, I would think. Perhaps the thought of taking three little children along with my shopping trip had something to do with deciding to “…just stay home.” Maybe.

Fast forward to today with the convenience of online shopping at my fingertips. Remember I said that I love it. Well, I’ve learned something about that, too; If I fill out all the necessary information in the Shopping Cart…i.e. the mailing address, credit card number, on and on, I’ll probably make a mistake and have to delete the whole thing. I’m usually so aggravated and bored by that time, I go find something else more fun to do. Yay! Just think how much money I saved today.

Recently while shopping online at a fancy store website, I came to the final bottom line stating the cost, it was really low….yes LOW! I thought how can that be? I just ordered some expensive items, jackets, sweaters, etc. I pondered this for a while and decided to start over by going back to the home page of the store. Oh! I see it now….in big bold letters it read “EVERYTHING 70% OFF TODAY.” That answered my question and confirmed my growing suspicion that I am the world’s worst shopper. Yes, I started over and bought all the same things I wanted as before. Oops! I didn’t save any money that day.

You might also find it helpful to know that if you are traveling with all your children and you are on a tight budget……don’t stop the car……ever! It will cost you money if you do. I’ve tested that theory before, in fact, we’ve lived it. However, I’ll admit it is a little difficult if you are trying to get to Lubbock, Texas from Houston, Texas in one day. At last count it is almost 600 miles.

Friends, that is the extent of my shopping advice gleaned through hard-earned experience and a lot of fun. Get a cup of coffee and a cookie….and wait.

Merry Christmas, one and all. Praise Him as we celebrate His birthday. 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14

‘Till He Shouts!

A True Story!

While other women are totally occupied with Christmas shopping, cooking, gift wrapping, card writing……I’m sitting at the breakfast table (at 9:45 AM), sipping my hot tea and thinking about the time I killed a scorpion. Yes, I, not David, killed a household bug. I’m still proud.

It was a lot of years ago in Dallas and in the evening. David was at a meeting and all three kids were asleep in bed. Ahhhh! My time to enjoy a TV show of my choice.

However, my special time was interrupted when I noticed a big scorpion slowly walking across the living room floor directly in front of me. Horrors! For a few minutes I watched it make its slow progress. I knew that having my feet up on the sofa and ignoring it was not a solution. I had to kill it…..before it got away. Me? Double horrors! But I reasoned I had three little children, 4,2 and 1 to think about. What if the scorpion got away only to appear again among the Lincoln Logs as they played the next day?

After forever, I made my move. I rolled up a newspaper, slowly crept off the sofa, on the scorpion’s blind side, whacked it really hard, left the newspaper on top of it and jumped back on the sofa. Time passed as I fully expected it to come calmly walking out from under the newspaper, totally unhurt.

After another forever, I mustered the courage to move the newspaper. I had to know. Yay!  It was dead.  I had saved my children! I’m brave after all!

Finally I went back to enjoying my TV show when I noticed another movement on the floor in front of me near our fireplace. A big beetle was slowly walking across the floor right in front of me, heading toward the scorpion road-kill. He assessed the situation, then calmly broke off a piece of the scorpion, turned around and took it back to the fireplace where it had been hiding watching me being brave.

Over and over the beetle patiently walked to the scorpion, got a piece,and took it back to its lair. Back and forth, back and forth. I’ve often wondered if the beetle had planned the whole thing. I’ll never know. Now there was nothing left for David to clean up when he got home.

Good beetle!

P.S. I’ve been doing art things for a lot of years, but I think this is the first time I’ve ever sketched a scorpion or a beetle.

Merry Christmas!

Considering the serious and dangerous  nature of world conditions and those in our own country, I’ve been thinking about Bible prophecy lately.

Therefore I began to once again read the book of Daniel in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. I first began studying this glorious book over fifty (yes, 50) years ago. I was expecting our second child and determined to name him Daniel, if a boy baby was on the way. When he arrived we gave him the name Daniel as his middle name. Our son has brought honor to that name, I might add.

Many years later I was given the opportunity to teach the book of Daniel to a women’s Bible class at our church and was very excited and challenged by the opportunity. The summer before the class was to begin I spent fully three months of almost constant study preparing an eleven week series, with daily homework, which at the time was a popular format. I don’t recall ever working as hard as that before in my entire life, and I include the challenge of raising three children very close in age to one another.

A large class quickly formed and the day finally arrived to begin. The ladies were faithful in attendance week after week, eager to learn, and an all-around joy to teach. It continued for eight weeks when by orders from the church staff it was abruptly stopped by a situation caused by one man at the church.

It was a shocking and very disappointing event. Further,  I was not allowed to ask questions nor given an explanation.

The phrase and title of this blog, “The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways” is not found in the Bible, but holds truth, nevertheless.  I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God and that He works all things according to His own will, not mine. For a reason we may never know, the Lord wanted my husband and I to move on.

Ephesians 1:11 has sustained me in many difficult times throughout my life, and this was another opportunity to believe God’s Word.

“In Him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.”

My intention and motivation in writing this blog is to encourage you in difficult times. Trust Him. He has a plan; a far better one than you or I can imagine. And regardless of our plans, His plans will prevail.

‘Til He Shouts!

Okay, I’ll admit it has been a long time since I’ve written about my “Life With Them”.

I don’t know why it’s been so long because life with them is never dull, but always an adventure. They provide lots of material.

Being a Certified Personality Trainer, I recognized the two colliding personalities in our cats right away. Abby Cat is a Peaceful Phlegmatic and Tomboy is a Playful Sanguine. Abby Cat wants peace and solitude at all times; Tomboy wants to play and romp at all times. The Peaceful Personality will try its best to stay peaceful, but if pushed, that Personality can make you sorry you ever dared disturb it.

On the other hand, Tomboy, the Playful Sanguine, was raised outdoors as a stray, and came to us very street-wise. You simply cannot hurt his feelings. You must outrun him if you want peace. Of course, you can’t hide from a cat with their second-only-to-a-dog ability to smell things. He knows where Abby Cat is hiding. I could say “He nose where Abby Cat is hiding”, couldn’t I?

Today I’ll focus on an important part of “Life With Them”…..their litter boxes. Yes, we have two and are often asked if each cat has its own box. No. Often Tomboy will prepare one box……dig, dig, dig, dig, rearrange the litter, stack it up just right….then step over to the other box to leave his deposit. Strange.

I’ve had a lot of experience with cats through the years but all by himself, Tomboy has done things with the litter boxes I’ve never seen before. For instance…….

 And then…this morning Abby Cat demonstrated that she is not to be outdone when it comes to originality with a litter box.

I like this quote by George F. Will________”The phrase ‘domestic cat’ is an oxymoron.”

Our Tiny Kitchen Tree

It is NEVER too soon to decorate for Christmas. Never!

Considering the sacred and divine reason for the Celebration of Christmas, it is relevant year round. The message of the coming to earth of the Second Person of The Holy Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ, taking on human form,  is so profound and far-reaching, it cannot be repeated too often. You may remind me any time, any place, and frequently….please.

I love everything about Christmas, even fruitcake (but only from a special store in Corsicana, Texas). I love the music, the colors, the lights, the fragrances, the family get-togethers, the food, the little Snowmen figurines, church specials, cookies too pretty to eat, wrapping paper, tinsel, glitter, cats knocking over the tree, Christmas cards, selecting the perfect Christmas stamp, ugly Christmas sweaters, wreaths at the windows and doors, jingle bells, silly gift exchanges, (stop me….I could go on and on.)

And the graphics. Oh yes, the graphics of Christmas. I realize my noticing graphics comes from the fact that I’m an artist, but, oh my….have you ever wondered what our Christmases today would be like if it were not for graphic designers and artists the world over? They design decorations, wrapping paper, cards, toys, figurines, special chinaware, table decor, wreaths, candles, again….I could go on and on. I appreciate and thank the graphic designer/artists of the world.

Another reason I love Christmas is my birthday, which is very close to Christmas….very. I must have been about 8 years old before I realized the lovely decorations, special foods, guests, gifts and sweet attitudes were NOT because it was my birthday.

Don’t get me wrong, I love and celebrate Thanksgiving, too; turkey, dressing, family, pie, cranberry sauce, spiced peaches, and football games. But I can take in a lot of celebrating…all right on top of each other. It is all welcome in our house.

“We Need A Little Christmas!”

“Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.”

____ From the musical “Mame” by Jerry Herman

I think I’ll turn on some Christmas music.

The total number of people who have attended my last THREE art shows to see MY art…………………one!

Now you know.

The “Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge September 2015” has come and gone.

The Lake Houston Area Artists Fall Art Show has come and gone.

Should I take a break or get…….

back to the drawing board and my cozy little watercolor corner?

This summer I was happily working on my “Art Project Summer 2015 Watercolor Journal” when I interrupted myself to take on the September 30-in-30 challenge. I promised my beautiful but odd journal that I would be back.

When October arrived with the completed  30-in-30 challenge, I began work preparing for the Lake Houston Area Artists Fall Art Show. It took most of my energy and discretionary time to select paintings, order frames, fill out forms, pay dues, attend the LHAA meeting, frame the eleven paintings I selected to show, and find room for all the incoming boxes of frames and stuff.

It was all fun…every moment of it…including the heavy rain on the day of the show. I almost ruined a really cute pair of shoes wading through the water. Even though I was carrying paintings and an umbrella, I made it into the venue back and forth without incident. I must admit David did most of the work. Our good friend, Melanie Bankston came to my show and helped us load the paintings back into the car in the afternoon. Many thanks, Melanie; for coming to my show and then helping.

I’ve spent the last few days straightening out my workroom, storing paintings away, hanging up the Ribbons for all to see and wondering if I will be ready to go through this all over again. My 8 paintings that won Ribbons are eligible to compete in the Lone Start Art Guild Convention early next year. I’ll rest up; maybe buy some rain boots, and hire someone young and strong to haul all the paintings in and out of the huge venue. I’m wiser now.

Hello, cozy little watercolor corner. I’m back!

Summer, 1951

I’m wearing a necklace David gave me that year  to celebrate our “going steady” . The silver pendant has my name on one side and David’s on the other. I still have it, of course.

October 17, 1952

Woodland Christian Church in Houston, Texas. My brother, Rev. Emil Bunjes Jr. officiated. It was his first wedding to perform as a new seminary graduate and preacher.

2015 and happier than ever.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3: 15 through 17

‘Til He Shouts!

1 Thessalonians 4:16

I’m an artist and I hate glue-guns! There, I said it. I feel better already. With the fall art show coming up in a couple of weeks, I’m busy framing the paintings which once again includes gluing paintings into floater frames. No, I didn’t buy new floater frames; I’ve learned my lesson.  Since frames are expensive I used four I had not used before.  I do not see the purchase of more floater frames in my future….ever again.

A once trusted friend had told me that  a glue gun worked just fine with floater frames. Further she said to re-use a floater frame “All you have to do is pop the old painting right out.”  But she failed to tell me that the painting might “pop” out unassisted. That year four paintings fell out of their frames as I walked into the exhibit venue. Bad timing. Bad!

For the full story read my blog, Art Show Fall-Out

Pretty frame, isn’t it?

Back to work.  Today I got out my glue gun intending to try my hand with the glue gun once again.  Four of the eleven show paintings were waiting to be glued into a floater frame.  It was soon apparent that I had not developed a talent for using a glue gun since I last tried and failed.

Feeling empowered by the frustration I threw the offending glue gun in the trash (after it had cooled, of course) and got out the “big gun” of the glue family………

Warning: Before you use this glue, you must have firmly decided that you want the object to be glued to STAY in that place forevermore. It…will…not…come…unglued! A little later these four paintings were happily attached into their forever-home floater frame. Done! Note: I’m not being paid to advertise this glue; just thought you might like to know about it.

By the way, the art show will be on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Kingwood Christian Church on Lake Houston Parkway, in Kingwood, Texas, from 12:30-4. It is a come-and-go event.

The Last Paintings of the September 2015 “30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge”

The idea to complete the last paintings as postcards came to me when our Granddaughter, Emily, gave me a gift; a pretty little tin of  4 x 6 watercolor paper postcards. She had just returned from completing a year of study at the London School of Economics.

When last did you receive a postcard? I can’t remember when I did. Now I have a neat little collection of them hand-painted by………..me!

“A Postcard From Switzerland” –Switzerland

“Vermillion Sunset at Grand Canyon”   –Arizona

“Yucca Plants in West Texas”   –Near El Paso

“Indian Paintbrushes and Bluebonnets”   –Central Texas

“A Corner Lot in Texas”   –Near Schulenburg

“Okaloosa Island”  –Florida

“Okaloosa Island Beach”    –Florida

“Deep Woods Pond”    –East Texas

“A Summer Day in Vail, Colorado”   –Colorado

“Brothers”   –Galveston, Texas

“A Courtyard in Mistra”  –Greece

“Wide Spot in the Creek”   –Central Texas

“Chamisa By The Road”    –New Mexico

“An India Evening”     India

“Main Street”      –New Mexico

“Taos Blue”    –New Mexico

“A Texas Backyard”   –Central Texas

 I painted each of these from photos I’ve taken myself, except for two; I have never been in India or Greece. I asked and got the permission from the photographers in each case.

More postcards are in the tin waiting to be painted. I’ll get to them another day….or month. Maybe the next 30-in-30 challenge.

Me, after completing the 30-in-30 Challenge.