10 More Things.....(I mean 5 more things)

I am part of a Blog Circle that originated from a class I took from Kelly Rae Roberts called Flying Lessons 2012.  We had a large class and it was awesome.  The material that Kelly Rae taught us as well as the amazing women who took the class are what made it so awesome.  I love that I have had the privilege of getting to know some of those women in the past year and staying connected to them.  A blog circle was born out of that class and the current subject is 10 Things I need to be creative. Hmmmmmmm, I have to think about this one.

First I need time.  Time is the most important ingredient because I consider time to be the most valuable thing I have besides my family. Time is even more valuable than money because it is limited.  We can always get more money but we cannot get more time.

Next I need inspiration.  That can come from any number of places.  It can come from nature, magazines, fabric, books, a movie, a photo, a pretty display somewhere, or even from a vision in my own heart.

My third need would be a location to be creative.  Depending on what type of creativity I am engaging in determines the place that I need.  If it is photography then that place can be just about anywhere.  If I am painting then I prefer my studio or a table somewhere but am thinking of stretching myself and painting plein air.  If I am sewing or quilting then I definitely like to be inside.

Fourth, I need materials.  I can be creative with virtually anything...that even includes food.

Next, I would say that I need to be rested.  I tend to really make mistakes that lead to even more mistakes when I am tired. Sometimes those turn out to be happy mistakes but sometimes they are not so happy so being rested really helps me to be on my creative game.

Honestly that is it for me. I guess there are only really 5 things I need for creativity.  I was going to add that I needed to be in the right mood but that isn't really true because I can still be creative even when in a bad mood.  Depression can squash some of my creativity but it tends to pop out in a different way when I am depressed, such as in my journal or something.

Creativity is such a big word for me because it isn't limited to just my painting or writing, or photography.  Creativity pops out when I sew, garden, cook, decorate, build websites or blogs, post to social media, dress, shop, dance, sing, worship or even pray...it is virtually everywhere because I am a creative person created by a creative God and put into a creation that inspires.  Creativity is everywhere for me.  Inspiration is everywhere too (especially on Pinterest...hehehe).

Be sure to go check out my friend Karllin Bain and see what 10 things she needs in order to be creative.  She has quite a good blog called Karllin Bain Creates that I think you will enjoy as much as I do.

Arbuckle Wilderness Davis, Oklahoma

Here is an oldie but goodie!

I thought I would take you to another really cool place in Oklahoma that is very close to the place we visited last week. This is the Arbuckle Wilderness in Davis, Oklahoma. My husband and I visited and we found it to be a delightful place full of lots of cool critters who were always willing to pose for the camera. If you purchased food to feed them, the fun was enhanced even more by animals who would come right up to eat from your hand.

Have you ever noticed how animals are much like people?

Some of them really stand out . . .

Some hang out in a crowd . . .

Some make that one special friend . . .

Some are kind of wacky and quirky . . .

Some can be a bit standoffish or are they being shy?

There are those people who watch everything going on and don't say much . . .

And there are those who like to join in . . .

There are some who will only hang out with others like them . . .

Some people hang back and are not really open to new people. They are quite happy doing their own thing.

Some people never know a stranger. They walk right over and introduce themselves . . .

Some people are comfortable with anyone

Some people like to look you over before they include you

I guess maybe they have been burned before and just are not sure . . .

And then there are those who are open but they wait for you to approach them

And there are those who are so self absorbed that they never even notice anyone else . . .

It would be so easy to judge some of these kinds of people but I have found that so many times there is a story behind their behavior and if I ask the Creator, He helps me to see behind that exterior and find a way to love them where they are, as they are, without judgement. And you know what? Many times I find a new friend who really just needed someone who was willing to reach out to them and be understanding.
Have a great week!
Until Next Time

Debbie

Grrrrrrrr...One Of Those Weeks

This past week has been one of those weeks.  Do you ever have those? You know what I mean don't you?  Those kind where things just seem to go wrong and frustration sets in.  That is what mine was like.  I lost two of my beloved cats.  Zara died on Monday and then on Thursday I had to have little Gracie Lou put to sleep (sadness and tears)  I am pretty certain that my beloved Mr. Buttons has been two timing me.  He finally showed up after being AWOL for 2 weeks.  Someone had trimmed his hair (I say, get your own cat!)  I have 3 huge dogs in my house (all Rhodesian Ridegebacks).  2 are a handful but 3 are a houseful, especially when one is depressed because her owner left her behind in order to go on vacation. When she arrived she promptly jumped into my mother's lap.  Have you ever had a 90 pound dog jump in your lap?  I can tell you that it is quite shocking.  She also keeps jumping into my bed which is not OK. All 3 of the dogs and my daughter's visiting Westie decided to take a swim in my pond which has all of them really stinky (I just don't have the heart to bathe them right now...sigh).   I won't even go into the dog and cat hair that I am vacuuming up every day. Our pup Rosie is only 4 months old and she is quite a handful by herself.  She is still resisting being potty trained despite my insistence and she has been in trouble most of the week because she keeps chewing up my new plants and their plastic containers that I have been unable to plant because the weather has been bipolar.  I sure hope this winter to summer thing stops long enough for us to have a proper spring.  I also pray we will get more rain.  Our soil has turned to dust which does not make for much of a garden. I really have spring fever bad right now and those plants that need to be planted are only making my symptoms worse.  If that isn't bad enough, my son was so thoughtful to bring me a huge pile of laundry to do and just when I thought it was all done he brought me another and I still have all of mine to get done too because I was so busy running back and forth to a class I am taking (100 miles away). Believe it or not there is sooooooo much more that I could tell you about this week (those were just the highlights).  I am going to leave it with that because I don't want you to feel as overwhelmed as I have been feeling this week. Despite it all, I still say that life is good and so is God.  It is having weeks like this that serve to highlight that for me.  I couldn't do it without Him.  He is so good to make sure that I have just what I need when I need it and He is so good to comfort me when my heart is sad.  Thank you God, thank you for all that you do and for all that you are.  This week you have been my strong tower, my hiding place, my comforter, my provider and so many other things. Thank you.

Until Next Time

Debbie