Just playing around!

"Just playing around!"

The dolphins may be, but I'm sure not!

Today was a productive, not so productive day.

I got a lot of the things on my to do list checked off, but there is so much more to do.

Some are small inconsequential things that if they don't get done, the world won't fall apart.

Unfortunately, I might! (Fall apart that is.)

Then I remind myself to breathe!

I have a thought in my mind of things I want to do, but God sometimes decides otherwise.

"Many are the plans of man, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21

In other words, this joke comes to mind.

Wanna make God laugh? 

Tell Him your plans.

God's plan is always better, but in our stubbornness, we pitch fits.

"But I want it this way!"

Then like Balaam and the donkey, we beat the animal until it speaks to us.

Reminding us to slow down and not sweat the small stuff.

"But I'm a detail person and I sweat the small stuff."

Sometimes it keeps me awake because I ruminate over things.

To counter this, I make lists and maps.

Although this time, the maps escape me because I can't visualize the rounds in place.

I can see the wall in my mind in the booth and it's beautiful.

But I can't get it on the graph paper.

Not even on paper.

Maybe I'll try again tonight.

In the meantime, I erased, wired, and varnished the last of what we are taking this weekend.

As I was laying out my vinyl pieces I've had for 15 years, I realized how much history is on them.

I've threatened to paint them white but never seem to find the time.

The opposite side is neon green vinyl.

They once were cushions in a doctor's office. I bought all he had at a yard sale.

I used the cushions for my dining area and in a camper Chris built.

The vinyl was cut apart into strips that I cover my table with to prevent paint from getting on the wood.

There are so many projects on these pieces, so much history, so much work.

I can recall a lot of the projects, some for church, some for family, dozens of ornaments, 

varnishing, and painting canvases white.

Some of the projects haunt me, one in particular.

I worked with my daughter Jessica on the giant bird Kevin from the movie "Up"

Those blue feathers somehow keep reappearing on my white canvas years later.

This is after I have swept them, rolled them with lint rollers, shook them.

And still, the bright blue feathers!

Ornaments and decorations from Christina's baby shower.

Little ovals from her birdcages.

Apples for the church.

Sets for the church.

I guess I'll keep them as they are, too many memories to paint them white.

We also got another boat today.

I guess this will be the Winter project this year for Chris.

It's going to be a lot of work.

Chris invited me to lunch and took me while he was going back to the 

gentleman's house to try and get the motor.

He picked up the boat earlier along with all the supplies to outfit the boat that the guy bought new.

New seats, new lay down seats, various items to complete the project.

Anyway, this motor was a beast, a 1973 Evinrude.

Extremely heavy.

They were trying to rig a come along to hoist it into the truck and I became extremely nervous.

I suggested maybe a trailer would be better and safer.

So, off we went back home.

Chris got the trailer, and I went back to the studio, praying the entire time he was gone.

I once had a friend whose father was nearly killed by a 

come along snapping and throwing the chain at him.

Chris finally got home.

We rode the dogs.

We then loaded the van with a bunch of equipment and his new system 

for lifting the art above the tents, walls, weights, chair, umbrella, etc.

It's a lot of equipment to put on a show.

Especially a double booth!

We load in artwork tomorrow after we hitch up the camper.

We are almost at the end of the 100 days~100 paintings.

It's been an adventure this year as it is always an experience to remember.

New species, new works, new life. 

It's all here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Just playing around! Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24

Day 98 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025