What Matters

For the first time ever - a second thought provoking post on Tuesday (the original post was scheduled and I had forgotten about it until I found this video and posted it - I think in a way it goes in part with the first TPT).

Jostie Flicks entered this video into the Christian Filmmakers.org's 48hr contest. And got first place.

Another provoking thought

If your life was to end 8.5 seconds from now, could you honestly say that you lived it to the best and fullest?

Giveaway

Sara Burrier is giving away this original watercolor painting!

Check it out Here

Thought provoking

Those minutes where I am alone, just me and my pillow. I think. A lot. I think about everything, anything. It varies form “what am I doing with my life?” to “did I have homework?” The room is so silent, but my mind is so loud. It drives me crazy because the things I would never think about, I think about. Sometimes, I hate it because it brings up things I rather never think about again. The spilt second before I sleep is the most active second of my life.

Talent - that is what I have.

If only...

If only I had money to spend.

via

so cute...

Giveaway, over at horsefeathers

Yeah - the title explains nearly everything needed. But what you don't know by reading the title is that this a pretty darn - totin' awesome giveaway. 

Just take a look at this thing! A-maze-zing!

I recommend you stopping by horsefeathers to place your bet against it as well.
       Oh, and Molly the Pirates blog too (I'm jealous of the name, but Libby the Pirate just doesn't have that certain ring to it... *sigh* - I guess I'll just have to live with that)

The Breaths You Take

This song has been in my head for this whole past week - some things have happened around me and this song just has just been on repeat since then. Thought I'd share it. Its an amazing song.



He looks up from second base dad’s up in the stands
He saw the hit, the run, the slide there ain’t no bigger fan
In the parking lot after the game he said
“Dad I thought you had a plane to catch”
He smiled and said “Yeah son I did”

Chours
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

Fast forward fifteen years
And a thousand miles away
Boy’s built a life he’s got a wife
And a baby due today
He hears a voice saying “I made it son
He said “I told you dad you didn’t have to come”
He smiles and says ”Yeah I know you did”

Chours

Just like it took my breath when she was born
Just like it took my breath away when dad took his last that morn

Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
If ya don’t slow down the pace
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

Check it out!

Peeps! Check out what the main page for google is right now! No clue why its like this - but totally my fave.

Inspirations

 What are some of your inspirations? Here are just a few of mine - pictures, songs and sites.

Polyvore




(my sister's photo)

Promise

(I can't get enough of this picture - it is my account button on my computer. So alive!)

Nothing Else Matters

Electirc Romeo



(Most awesome picture ever - it's my wallpaper on my computer account)



Wipe Out =)

 Slow Fade

The Breaths You Take

California sunrise. I took this two years ago while in Dinuba CA, it so much more beautiful at the time - this picture does not give it justice.

Drum Duets

Fireflies (the song and video - but this is the only song I like by him)

"Are you from Canada?" "...no..."

I totally know this is true, becasue I have been asked before if I'm from Canada (and Wisconsin...).
Fun.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: North Central "North Central" is what professional linguists call the Minnesota accent. If you saw "Fargo" you probably didn't think the characters sounded very out of the ordinary. Outsiders probably mistake you for a Canadian a lot.
The West
The Midland
Boston
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Step by step: Watercolor life-like Pine Cone

(please forgive me of my blurry photography - I am not my talented sister ;)

A step by step guide... for who ever would ever like to sketch and watercolor a (sugar) pine cone. This project took me about 35 minutes.


First off, the materials. Watercolor card or watercolor paper (your choice - I'm using watercolor paper that I've folded into a card size), favorite pencil (pencil sharpener), kneaded eraser, watercolors, paint brushes, and a jug of water.

Create a rough sketch of said pine cone, something similar to picture on the left. Nothing fancy as you can see. Next, you need to start creating random third dimensional points, don't worry about grouping them together too closely - you need that space between them (better yet - find a pine cone on your land or at the park or even buy some) to give depth.

This is what you should be trying to get (click to zoom). Random and fun.

Once finished, clean up around the pine cone with your eraser (kneading it into points to get into the small openings around the pine cone). Now it's the fun part - pull out your paints. I use watercolors - they are the easiest for me. Either using tubes or a watercolor pan like my pocket/travel size.

With watercolors, you start with the lightest color you will be needing, and then build up on that with dark and darker colors until finished. Here I start with a dark tan or goldish yellow and focus on the side that is highlighted (the part not colored in yet will be in shadow = darker)

Picture on left: Have filled in most of the points - but not the in between yet. Added some brown to the gold to make it darker on the shadow side. Let dry.

Picture on right: Start filling in between with brown and a little rust color red. Go with just under the points at first, (let dry) and then carefully out line them them. After you have done that, and let it mostly dry. mix your brown/rust color with some black (remember! Even a little black can over power a large portion) to do under and to the side of shadowing of the points.

Make any adjustments that you think are needed, more gold or black as you see fit. Each pine cone will be different.

And you are finished! I finished mine off with Pinus Lambertiana scribed in small type around the bottom and created it into a card (which I hope to sell at my local Farmers Market).

This is mostly just for fun - and to see if anyone really even wants step by steps or just the show.
Thanks all for dealing with me. =)

Edit

(the header was made from items from Polyvore - and assembled on Paint.net)

EDIT2:

Yes - I keep on adding more feathers to it... there is no such thing as too many. There.

New... ish-er!

I'm so tickled - I finally did something with the blog! And I change things - deleted and added! (this coming from someone who usually runs away from change) And it was so easy. Here is a picture that I took so that we may always remember the old. (*moment of silence*)

Alrighty! Now onto the new! As you might have noticed, I've changed the title as well (my eyes were tightly closed while I did, for you information), It's shorter, simpler and to the point. I love wood trails - my mind is forever branching off into trails (not trains =) and I just like it a lot more.

I also made the whole blog brighter, and clearer (I hope!). Still, if anything starts whacking out, or you are having problems viewing - please don't hesitate to tell (either via comments or email).

Thank you so much to those who still read this blog! I really want to get back on to posting more - just hang tight!