Good Book - Every Last One

I've been reading the book Every Last One by Anna Quindlen for a few days now.  I thought it was pretty good, kept my attention, but no major suspense.  Family with three kids, one son a bit depressed, one son a big jock, the daughter a funky writer about to go to college.  Daughter breaks up with long-time boyfriend and he gets really upset.  Well, just in today's reading so MUCH has changed.  I truly feel like I got the wind knocked out of me with something that happened.  Obviously I don't want to give it away, but wow, the grief in this story now.  I almost feel numb like one of the characters does.  My husband says, "why don't you stop reading it then?"  I told him I guess I like books that make me feel.  Is that normal?  I have a friend who just won't read books that upsetting.  Is there something wrong with me?  I guess when they make me really feel, almost physically, they are memorable and they are more meaningful.  They are worth my time.  Maybe they help me become more compassionate to get a slight peek into someone elses world, someone that could be me.  Have feelings for the grief others do go through, even though this book is only fiction.  I just had to write an entry because it really took my breath away today.  I'm not done yet, but I'll say I know it will leave me with quite an impression.

Yeah!

Yeah!  I just won $200 on a local radio station just by signing up and calling in when I heard my name!  Perfect for Christmas coming up.  I really don't think I've really even won much in my life that I can recall, so this is really exciting.  I guess I can say I'm having a lucky spell right now.  If I keep thinking that way, perhaps more luck will come my way!  I're read so much about positive thinking and putting thoughts out into the universe about what I really want to happen.  There are times when I have done some "visualization" and thought, "this is going to happen" and something good actually did in regards to my art.  I just need to keep this luck and positive thoughts in my mindset.  I wonder how many others think this way and do good things happen?? 

A Wonderful Life

French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette said, "What a wonderful life I've had!  I only wish I'd realized it sooner."  Pretty powerful.  Things don't always seem wonderful or spectacular but maybe they really are or maybe they don't have to be.  Maybe just the ordinary moments are wonderful.  Maybe if we look at them differently we'll enjoy our one and only life more.  Perhaps I can look at my messy kitchen and just love it because it's mine and dinners and memories are made there.  Things don't have to be shiny and perfect to be wonderful, right? 

New Painting - Our First Snowfall

I love snowmen, have for years.  I even have quite a collection that I can't wait to put out in December.  Don't know why, but maybe it's the simplicity and the whiteness--I know not very specific, but there's just something about them.  I just finished this new painting titled "Our First Snowfall" and it's just a cute little 8x8 canvas to bring some whimsy into someone's home during the winter/holiday season.

Good Book

I just finished the book Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.  Near the end I couldn't put it down.  It had some mystery, suspense, murder and some big surprises throughout.  It took place in Mississippi and it was a story of an unlikely friendship in the south in the early 1970s between a white boy with a cruel father and a very poor black boy with no father.  The white boy was accused of kidnappinig and murdering a girl after a date with her but her body was never found so he was never convicted; however, he was an outcast in his small town his whole life afterwards.  Years later another girl went missing and he was blamed again.  Some shocking truths slowly come out and it turns into a page turner for sure. 

New Painting - Joy to the World

I've already got the holiday bug.  Once it gets colder, I look forward to Christmas and its cozy season.  I just added this new painting on etsy called Joy to the World.  I love the first snowfall of the year especially at night when the sky is clear and all is quiet. 

Cozy...Ahhhhh

Even though I'm not a fan of cold weather, I do enjoy this time of year when you can snuggle up on the couch under a blanket, reading a book or watching a movie.  Life seems to slow down more when the temperature drops.  I want to stay home more and just hang out.  I don't feel like I have to run run run.  I found this picture and it just says ahhhh to me.  I'd love to be in that room reading a really good book on that cushy white couch, at night the fireplace lit up.  Ahhhh.


(image:  Cote de Texas via Pure Style Home)