Good evening, Much has been going on and I have been away from writing in my blog. Earlier this year, I was doing so well with exercise on my Ellipticle. Then I decided to push harder. Wrong decision. I had pulled muscles and got shin splints. Several weeks of therapy and it is on the mend. I am allowed to exercise starting at 3 minutes.

Now I am in therapy for my torn rotator cuff. Hoping that therapy will work and that no surgery will be needed. However, I rest in the hands of my Heavenly Father. He knows what is best for me.

We have a new addition to the family. A little over a month ago, I adopted a dog from the Waterville Shelter. She is a four year old Doberman. I named her Bella as I did not like the previous name of Ziggy. When I think of Ziggy for a dog, I think of a Bassett hound or Bulldog. Bella is settling in. We will be going to training. She did not know how to sit or anything when I got her. We are working on some basic commands before we go for formal training. It is my hope that she will get her Good Canine Citizenship. Bella is a sweetheart and all of the cats except Kai Li get along with her. Kai Li tempts Bella into chasing her. Have a 65 pound dog running through the house is noisy and makes many a mess.

There are only four cats here now. Picasso is at a new home. He would not stop stalking and biting Tang. A friend of mine was looking for a cat and she took him. So far so good. I think he likes being the only cat and getting all the attention.

This summer I will not be doing any art shows because of my shoulder. It is near impossible to lift anything. However, my art has been juried into the Pemaquid Crafters Co-op. Hoping that there are abundant sales from there. Cards as well as art work is available for sale there. This is exciting for me to have my art in a store.

So since I am not doing shows, I am planning to go to yard sales and flea markets to stock up on art supplies. Currently, I am in search of rusted metal pieces and pieces of metal with a patina. There are many ideas running through my brain as to what I can make with them. A few years ago, I went through a phase of making art of all one color. Now, I'm into rust.

My heart is weighing heavy for my country. It is not going in a good direction and I fear it is going to get worse. What is it about the word illegal that people do not understand? I am not against immigration. I am against illegal immagrants sneaking into this country to get benefits that American citizens work too hard for. I say, give all your support to Arizona. If I had the money, I'd go there for vacation and show my support. The health care does not sit well with me either. Oh well, enough of my soap box talking.

May you find God in your life and find that He is all you need. Times may not be all that you expect them to be and there may be hardships, however, if you accept Jesus as your Savior, you will never be alone. God knows what is best for us. You can learn and grow through tough times and come out better in the end.

Take care and know that you are loved.

Contest for free book

Mixed-media artist Susan Tuttle is giving away a copy of her new book: Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements. For contest information: http://tiny.cc/zy259

Amazon informaiton: http://tiny.cc/zp3jg

The looks like a fantastic book and I want to add it to my library. If I don't win, I will be buying it. Please go and check it out.

Walkin' in a winter wonderland

Hello all, it is a fantastic day here in Maine. Yesterday was our first snow storm and this morning it is beautiful outside. I've take pictures and if you are on Face book, you can go see them.

Last night I left the front outside light on, turned out the inside lights, and watched the snow fall in the night sky. Amazing is God's artistry. Imagine how much He cares for us seeing as he puts so much into making all those tiny snowflakes. Each flake is an individual and beautiful. He has done the same with us - each an individual and beautiful. Oh but He loves us so very much more than a snowflake. He loves us beyond our understanding and I am very thankful that He does.

As I sit here at the computer and gaze at the sky, I see clouds just zooming by. They are moving quickly and keep making amazing pictures framed by the window. It is sort of like looking into a Kalaidascope. Every changing and always a treat to the eye.

Speaking of ever changing, I have been making Christmas cards for the two Christmas Craft Shows that I will be doing this year. Thanksgiving weekend at the Augusta Civic Center and December 12 & 13 at the Augusta Armory. The ever changing part is that every card that I make is completely different from the last. This is putting my brain to the test as I want each piece of art to be unique. I do not make duplicates.

I have been shopping for Christmas charms, ribbons, bows, and ephemera. It was a bit difficult to think of Christmas when it was warm and it was not easy finding the items that I needed. But now, there is a plethora of what I need and I am on cloud nine.

I have been listening to Christmas music and singing carols. I think that I may even what a Christmas video today to help me get more in the holiday mood. In doing this, sometimes, I also get ideas. If you have any ideas for Christmas cards, please let me know. I am always open to new and unique ideas.

Well, I am off to create. Hmmmmm, what video should I watch?

Have an extra special day. I love you.

Hello, greetings, salutaions

Hi, It has been awhile I have been busy creating for the Christmas shows that I will be participating in and my mind completely forgot about blogging.

Michelle's visit was great. I so enjoyed having her here and we had lots of fun. We went shopping at my favorite store, Goodwill. She found pants for work and jeans and saved a bundle from the prices down in the DC area. Food, we ate such good food and had wonderful conversations while we ate. We thought that she had a car but when she check for the car insurance, it would have cost her $450.00. It was a 2008 Kia. The reason for the high rate was that she lives in an area that has an extremely high vehicle theft rate. I miss her very much. She's thinking of moving back to Maine and that would be great for me. I am leaving it in God's hands. He knows what is best for her and for me.

Autumn is here and the beauty of nature has enveloped me. I have been out and about with my camera and enjoying every minute of it. The cool crisp air is so inviting. I am not a hot weather person. It is raining and cold today but I don't mind - put on warm fuzzy socks and a sweater and I am good to go. The one thing I don't like about the rain is that it will take many of the leaves off the trees.

After many years of taking my diabetes medications, I found that I was taking it wrong. I was told by a doctor that I used to go to to take this medication at lunch and supper. I just found out that I should be taking it at breakfast and supper. I was getting low blood sugars levels in the very early morning from the meds accumulating in my system. My blood sugar levels are much better now.

I have also started to eat healthier. Snacks are almost out of the picture. I do not say no snacks because that sets me up for failure. I do allow an occassional snack or sweet but that is all. Hopefully, this will lead to a healthier body and better control over my diabetes.

Since I am always tired, my doctor is sending me for a sleep study. I am not looking forward to it. I wonder how anyone can sleep with "things" stuck to their head and body and knowing that some one is looking after you. But I will get the questionnaire sent in this week (I have been procrastinating) and go through with it.

There is much to be done to get ready for the two Christmas craft shows. One is during the Thanksgiving weekend show and the other is mid December. That one is called the last minute shopping show. My prayer is that I will do well with both shows.

Have you ever tried to create Christmas items during the hot weather? I could not get into the creative mode. But have been working lots now that the weather is cooler. There is till so much to create so that I will have a surplus of cards and items for both shows.

Some friends are gathering to make cards for Operation Write Home. This used to be called Cards for Heroes. It will be a fun afternoon of creating and fellowshiping. These cards will go to the military over seas so that they have cards to send home and some are send with messages for our heroes to encourage them and let them know that they are loved. If you want more information on Operation Write Home, check out this site: http://www.operationwritehome.org/ Perhaps some of you will make some cards for them also. It must make these heroes very happy.

I am still trying to get organized. The more I try it seems the behinder I get. Any suggestions. I usually am not organized (except when I worked in an office. Then my desk had to be just so.) It has helped going through things; as I am finding stuff that I don't need and I have boxes full to go to Goodwill.

Well, I would enjoy going for a walk in the rain; with an umbrella of course, but duty calls and I must get some work done around the house and more Christmas cards created.

I love you all and my prayer for you is that you will find the peace that goes beyond all expectations. This peace is only available through our Heavenly Father. God bless you all.
ps. How many of you know what bean hole beans are?

Yes, it is me - I have not fallen off the face of the Earth

Hello, This has been a busy Summer. The art shows are lots of fun and lots of work also. For the most part, the shows were successful and I am very please with the results. However most of the Summer was rainy and our usual weekend picnics did not happen.

The weather for the shows was good but for two of them it was too hot for me. I am not a hot weather person. Give me weather 70 degrees and under. Therefore, the thought that Autumn is near is very welcome. It was so nice to open the windows and let in the cool air last night. Ahhhh, fresh air; nothing compares to it.

Creativity usually falls by the wayside during the Summer due to being so busy. However, I did have to create as so many cards were sold that I had to make more to sells. I love that. Customers are falling in love with my cards. Many buy the cards and then get a mat and frame and have a gift and card all in one.

Being out with the public and hearing there comments makes for an encouraging time. So many times, I hear "Thank goodness you are here. If I'd see another painted lighthouse; I think I would scream." I am not saying that the other artists are not good. They are very good but so many of them paint the same thing and people are looking for something different. If the economy were better, I would have sold more art. Too many people just don't have the money for extras and I see and hear their frustration.

One day this we went to Fort Knox and went up in the observation tower in the new bridge there. Well, I did fine getting off the elevator. However, when I started up the stairs that to to the observation room, my legs turned into jello and I had to go back down. It is beautiful up there but this fear of being up high just took over. I was told that there are several people every day that look out when the elevator doors open and say, "I'm not going out there.

The elevator door opens to about three feet of floor space and then there is a glass wall from floor to ceiling. There are about twenty steps to the the observation room and that is where I lost it. I have a habit of looking at the stair as I walk. This came about because of falling down stairs and breaking my ankle when I was in high school. Now I watch every stair I step on. Looking at the steps, I could also see through the glass walls to see how high I was up. Couldn't do it. Oh well, Jim went on and took my camera. I have pictures to see the scenery.

Now I am trying to get ready for my daughter's visit in September. There is also a show on September 12th in Portland. It is called the Picnic and it is at Lincoln Park. It should be a fun day as they are having band playing all day and there are 100 artists and craftsmen going to be there. Much needs to be done and I am lacking the energy to accomplish my to do list.

How do you increase you energy? I have tried so many different things from vitamins to exercise and nothing seems to work. I am open to suggestions. Feel free to respond and give me your suggestions.

Why is that the older I get the more I miss my family in Maryland? It is on my heart more and more as time goes by. Living in Maine is very enjoyable. The laid back lifestyle goes along very well with my views on life. My Church is wonderful. The scenery here is terrific year round. However, there is something missing and that something is family. It weighs heavy on my heart that we are so far apart.

There is much to look forward to this year as far as my art is concerned. I will be participating in two holiday craft shows for Christmas. One will be on Thanksgiving weekend and the other will be the last minute Christmas shopping mid December. I have already started gathering Christmas items to make cards and have created a few. Making Christmas cards is difficult when it is hot out. The whole feel of the holiday is not there for me. Don't think that I could live in a place where it is warm all year long.

I am looking forward to hearing from you. Please take a few minutes to send a message. Perhaps this will help with my longing for family and friends who are far away. Thank you.

May you find peace, joy, and many blessings coming your way. I pray that our Heavenly Father watch over you all. God's blessins always. All my love to you.

What a wonderful day.

When it started raining last night, I thought, "Oh no, another rainy day to come." Well, it was a gorgeous day. It does wonders for me to wake to blue skies and sunshine. I got up and proceeded to get ready for Church. Due to several things, I had missed Church for a few weeks.

Going to church was another thing to give me a boost. It was so refreshing. Pastor Brent and the worship team sang songs that just lifted my soul. The sermon was informative as well as being enjoyable. Then of course there is the fellowship with friends that brings joy to me.

There were no plans to go anywhere today. Yesterday, we went to Mt. Blue State Park for a picnic and today was just going to be a stay at home day. When I got home I asked Jim if he wanted to take a ride to Freedom. We were going to visit the three sister at Beaver Ridge. What I call the three sisters are three wind turbines.

We drove around Freedom, trying to find these giants. We could see them from some places and not others. We drove down dirt roads that turned out to be dead ends and some roads were in pretty bad shape. We kept trying road after road and finally went down the first road we thought might be it but rejected it at first. After driving in a huge circle, we proceeded down that road and voila, there they were.

Two of them were in front of us and the third could be seen after taking a short walk. They are beautiful. The three sisters were perfoming an aerial ballet. I was mesmerized with them and thoroughly enjoyed watching them dance. My camera came out and snap, snap, snap. The photographs are on Facebook.

I have heard many people say that they make a lot of noise. There was some noise but it was similar to a white noise machine. It was a relaxing sound for me and I could have take a nap. While I was walking about a family walked by with two beautiful German Shephards. They were so friendly and came up and started giving my hand doggie kisses. It was nice to feel dog drool once again. Can you tell that I miss the dogs we had?

Today was as near to perfect as it could get. In my prayers tonight, I will be thanking God for all the good things that He had placed before me today. May you find that God is putting good things in your life also.

Good night.

Hello, There has been sun for two whole days and I have enjoyed it. However, they say the rain is returning tonight. BLAH

Oh well, we can't change it so just roll with it.

I have come up with the idea of a Challenge as a fund raiser. There is a $5.00 entry fee. This fee will go to the Quirion's who are working with the orphans at the Sara Lee Center in Swaziland, Africa.

This challenge is open to any style of art - quilting, mixed media, collage, paint. You name it and you can enter. It can be a card, a pillow, framed art, let your creative brain lead you to what you will enter. Please be careful not to use words, phrases, or images that would be a copywrite violation.

1. The theme is "The Window of Your Soul".

2. Sign up by July 31, 2009.

3. A low resolution picture of the completed project, no bigger than 4x6 inches, needs to be emailed to me at ibelieve20045@hotmail.com before October 3, 2009.

4. The Winner will be notified on October 11, 2009.

5. The submitted pieces will be judged on creativity, style, neatness, and how well it fits the theme.

6. When submitting your picture, please send a paragraph explaining how your piece fits the theme. How does this reflect "The Window of Your Soul."

7. The entry email also needs to have your name, address, and email address.

8. The size of your piece of art is up to you. Remember though that only a low resolution 4x6 inch picture is what will be entered.

9. You can only submit one entry.

10. Make your check payable to Leadership for Africa and in the memo/subject line of the check write in Quirions. This is so that the money goes to them.

11. When you email to let me know you are entering this challenge; also mail, using the good old US Postal service, your check for the entry fee to:

Patricia Byther

870 China Road

Winslow ME 04901

12. Prizes

First place will win a piece of art created by me. It will be a mixed-media assemblage piece.

Second place will receive two of my mini-art cards.

Third place will receive one mini-art card.