Beautiful light!

God's Word, like a lamp, illuminates. It helps us discern spiritual danger so we can avoid it, and it points us in the right direction to take our lives. It lights the path we take through life
~Psalm 119:105


I have decided to try different paper in order to find the one that I love the most and it is most suitable for water colors. Right now I feel a little *lost* and I think is because I am learning something new. Yes, I have always painted but water color is a new medium to me and the freedom is not something that I feel comfortable yet.
When one uses oil paints a lot of *control* is given . I have never painted with oils that did not take a long time. layers and layers is what gives an oil paint its beauty....
Layers is also used on WC however in a much softer way and the colors must run and find its way.... so different.
I am trying to *let go*of the control thoughts and training that I am used to from the oils and let the colors from WC find its on life.
I think it will take time for me to improve but I am truly loving to spend the time with this new medium.
I have a new sketch and I am growing in love for it... grin... I know... sounds silly but is true.
The sketch is an image of an older child trying to give a little sister some medicine( or food) I am not sure yet...
Drawing objects is also not easy for me.... I never did before... it has always been people , animals , flowers , woods... never a ..... table!
I am using my own rooms as models and incorporating into my drawings ... I am looking forward to spring when my flower beds will start to bloom and I can then sit and sketch from there.
Well.... I will close with these pictures that I thought *more than once* in sharing or not, I really dislike my looks but I figure you would appreciate , like I do, to see what a beautiful lighting that comes from the window where I sit and although I have many other places to call *studio* , my favorite ones are this one and my rocking chair next to my warm 1920 Majestic Stove. *grin*

Difficult Studies

Inspiration

Have you ever wonder where or how some people are inspired? Well, my inspirations for everything that I do comes from the love from God to me, my family , my farm , animals... etc...
After homeschooling my children for 11 years , I now have a tutor. Her Name is Mrs. Laura and she has 2 wonderful children- Ruth Ann and Lydia.

For many years , my older children would help me with the younger ones. English is my second language . English and Math were always a struggled for me and I knew I was in *trouble* the moment that I taught Phonics for those in kindergarten because soon they would start correcting *me*!*grin*

But I did it and now , I am so blessed to have help. Laura and her children are now living in our farm just up the hill and the girls walk to our school house everyday with their momma, having lunch with us and at most of the days ... stay and play.
I already have many pictures of them with my own children. They are well behaved children in the Lord and it pleases me to see how nicely they play together and how much they enjoy the outside, just like my own children.

Here below you can see my daugther Gabriela and Lydia.... I love how they are happy with the simple things.... I had to *paint* this moment.....Can you tell?

Making homemade pretzels

There is nothing like homemade bread of any kind... won't you agree with me? *grin*
For 7 years now we mill organic wheat such as spelt and red wheat . We also have soft white for our pastries . This wheat are the best tasting wheat ever, not to mention - it is healthier !
When freshly milled the flour is warm and makes the best breads.
Today kate told me she wanted to make some pretzels . We used white flour instead and they turned up wonderful.
It is snowing ... a lovely day for us. We knew it would be snowing today so yesterday Mark placed hay bales for the animals and they all seems to be fine. *grin*
I will post some pictures later on.... there is something *very* special about the snow .... my children , of course, are the first ones to show the excitement.... they spent almost all day sliding on the snow ... grin... I love to see them entering our farm kitchen for a small break and seen their red cheeks and shine eyes .....
well..... Kate and I stayed in most of the day... I painted and work on a polar bear and only wish he was ready for pictures ... would had been perfect ,no? *grin*
Soon, we will have a our supper and then practice our marionette play.*grin*
This was a new recipe that I got online and we found surprisingly good.

The girls and I rather have our dough very soft because it produces the best breads!

Yum! I am counting my blessings today.... so many.....smiling...

Recipe:

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt
Directions
Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.
Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.
In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.
Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Farm Table

watercolor and a... little bird!

Last week I did this drawing. I love to draw people , particularly children .My main medium has always been oil paint but for few years now I have been in love with the *dance and flow* that watercolors provides. Few years ago I thought to try but like every thing else in life , it is important to be dedicated to improve and find my own style. I have been really shy about it mostly because of the time and effort that is require in order to learn to paint with this medium ; however my heart really desires to spend some time ...some quite time doing just that.... so here it is .... and yes ,I will be showing you my goods and bads *grin* .I also plan to show you dear reader , what I use and perhaps you are like me ... just starting ...grin!

Soooo.... here I am i showing you my drawing that I did direct on the water paper.... I had the picture sketched on my mind but I should had sketched on a paper first because I had to erase my mistakes and I mess up the paper ...sigh... but I decided to continue anyways...grin.
First layer... very watery and soft... still ,the harsh pencil marks were not forgiven around the arms...

second layer....

Third layer ... I took this shot while the painting was wet.... it was late night and the artificial light was not good enough...

Then today , at afternoon , my little Ben asked me to go to the pond since he had finished his school work. I can not tell you how thankful I am that my children are home schooled. All our school work is done by 1 pm and there are always time for music, art and play.

Well... Ben had a surprise for me....*grin*

He found a little bird that perhaps felt out from it's nest... not sure yet.... Ben picked him up from the ground as he followed him and noticed that he could not fly.

I checked to see if he was hurt and could not find any sign .... the I got some water and bread and set him in a small box next to my table...... he gave me company and watched me work on my painting... smiles...my thoughts were then in Lord and how often I am like this bird... unable to take care of me.... how glad I am that HE has chosen me and takes care of me every minute of my life.smiles...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? "Matthew 6:25-27

Then I finished my little picture.... I had erased the pencil marks and used a water proof pen and add my highlights.... I changed her hands position a little bit too.

In this close up you can see a little better the details....smiles... I have another drawing to show you soon .... tomorrow will be another lovely day and I am anxious to see what what it will bring ... I know it will be wonderful because of Jesus.

Workplace

Today I want to share with you where I do some of my work. I am so blessed to have several work places here at my farm. God is gracious in deed!

This is my favorite spot to paint anything that is small. When ever I have very large paintings to do I go here , and for my miniature work and sewing I come here.









This is our baking room. It is very cosy . It is a room next to the kitchen. I use as an addition to our baking needs.

Below is a shot from where I sit. The gas stove is from 1920 and I use all the time.

I am thankful for teh light that comes from that window. I also can view the pond from my chair... early in the morning I listen to the birds and the farm animals and it makes me think that they too are thankful to the Lord and are telling Him just that with their sounds.