Christmas Baking - Pecan Delight Recipe

I have been busy cooking and making baskets.

I wanted to share this yummy recipe that I will call
Pecan Delight.

Preheat the oven to 250°.  I used 2, foil lined 11"x17" pans 1 box graham crackers ½ cup butter ½ cup margarine 1 cup brown sugar ¾ cup chopped pecans

Arrange the graham crackers in the foil lined pan.

 Combine butter and margarine in a sauce pan and melt. Add brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.  

Spoon melted sugar and butter over the crackers.  Make sure the crackers are completely covered.

 Sprinkle with pecans.  

Because of the size of my oven, used 2 racks. I baked them for 6 minutes then switched racks and baked for  6 more minutes. Depending on your oven 12-15 minutes.

 I let  them cool completely and broke into pieces.  Then, into little goodies bags with a cute label. The house smells so good.
Let me know if you try this and especially if you enjoy it!
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a  great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:  A Savior has just been born in David’s town,  a Savior who is Messiah and Master. Luke 2:10-11        

Mixed Media and Art Journaling With My Friends

Not too long ago I stumbled onto Roben Marie's website.  And ooooh, I have enjoyed it sooo much. So I decided to try my hand at mixed media/art journaling.   This is my first one. My paintings are so detailed (I love the details) that this was a huge departure. It is fun and relaxing. Paint a little, walk away and go paint a silk flag! Glue something, walk away and get something ready for watercolor class! Stencil something, walk away and fix lunch! Outline something, walk away...you get the idea   So, last night after Bible Study, a few friends came over to play with paper, paint, glue, stencils, ink, dye, and...   Pearlene and Davina   

Pearlene's (above)   Davina (above)   

Julie and Amy

   Julie's (above)   

 Amy's (above)  

I started this one, giving a few instructions along the way.

Davina's 14 year old daughter arrived about midway thru

our time together and I let her have mine to work on.

  It was a messy evening full of fun and fellowship with my Godly Girlfriends. I am thinking we will have to do this again - real soon!    

Palo Pinto Cafe

My family and I stopped for lunch

at a quaint little cafe in Texas. 

The cafe was a sweet, nostalgic step back in time. 

They served good food and great coffee. 

The Palo Pinto Cafe is no longer open. 

I am so glad I took the time to capture this image.

Watercolor 8x10

To purchase this painting

Click Here

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Who Needs A Fork? Not Me! Watermelon Watercolor

Watercolor on Arches 11x14

Summer is drawing to an end. 

One more slice, please. Watermelon on a paper plate, a salt shaker,

 and my Granddad’s fork. I was always scared of the needle sharp 

tines on that fork. This slice of watermelon was too yummy and juicy. 

I just had to eat it without the fork! I love the vanishing whites edges.

 A few details

 Who Needs A Fork? Not Me! 

To purchase click on the link above

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Cherry Cola Watercolor

I was working on a mural at a client's home. He had 

just brought in a sack of cherries. I was taking a 

break on the back porch with a handful of those yummy

treats. There it was! A wonderful restored,

vintage coke machine. All that red. I couldn't resist.

An old fashioned coke machine and a fresh cherry.

A fun study in red.

Cherry Cola 8x10 Watercolor

To purchase click on the link above.

My Other Blog 

Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Hollyhocks Watercolor

Pink Hollyhocks 11"x15"

Watercolor on Arches paper

Several weeks ago I spotted a beautiful

pink hollyhock growing outside my neighbor's

fence. I loved the morning light on it and 

that I could see the front of one flower 

and the back of the other.

That's the way friends are, 

back to back facing the world.

And then, my friend Renee posted a blog about

how to make a hollyhock doll! 

Too cute!

I decided if she can make a doll then 

I make a painting!

Click here to see her blog!

Renee, thanks for the inspiration.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better than one;

because they have a good reward for their labor.

Watercolor with Kay Smith

I had so much fun Saturday! I went to Big Spring for

a watercolor workshop with Kay Smith. I have wanted to

take one of her classes for several years.

In the morning we watched as she painted and instructed 

about colors, paper, and several other tips. 

She paints standing up and mostly uses a 1" brush. 

She paints dark to light in a loose and very vibrant style. 

If you have seen my work you know it is very

detailed and controlled. One of the reasons for taking

her class was to see if I could "loosen up".

 This is the basket she painted.

During the afternoon, we painted and 

then critiqued each others paintings.

This one is mine! Whew! Stretch!

Jim and His Camaro - Comission

SOLD!

Finished this commission of "Jim and His Camaro". 

His daughter purchased this and surprised him with this gift. 

The reflection is Jim when he was 14 years old.

Acrylic 16 X 20

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Lava Bed Watercolor on Yupo

 

Watercolor on Yupo. 23X30

I took part in my first art lesson/workshop 

as a student last Saturday. 

Carolyn Walker was the instructor.  

Very unpredictable an out of my control. 

Very different and a lot of fun. Reminds me of painting on silk.

To Purchase click here 

This was a stretch for me because I love to try to control watercolor.

Sometimes I have to step out of the known and into a new 

place. Hmm! Please, Let me know what you think!!!

I will be teaching "Amazing Colors with a Limited Palette"

Saturday, August 4th at the Dutch Art Gallery.

To sign up for the class, contact Pam 214-348-7350

Keith and Elizabeth's Wedding

 In April, Joe and I went to Tuscola to be part of a wedding. 

Our friends, Keith and Elizabeth were beginning their new life together. 

It is an incredible and very Godly love story.

 We were blessed by them to get to stay at this beautiful cabin 

at Gateway GetaWay. Very peaceful! 

Several years ago I met Jennifer Jones, a prophetic artist.

 This retreat is owned by her sister, Carla. It's a small world.

 

I think this room was decorated just for me!!!

This was the spectacular view from the dining area.

We could see for miles. 

The dusting of red in the distance - Poppies!!! 

I grabbed my camera and Joe grabbed his walking stick

in case of snakes.

 The wind was blowing something fierce! But I was having a blast!

Amazingly, there was a only a little breeze during the rehearsal.

The night before the wedding - thunderstorms, wind, and rain.

What a surprise in West Texas.

 The wedding day was clear but windy. 

Setting the tables for the reception was a bit challenging but so fun.

I don't have pictures of that. Sorry!

 The location of the wedding was beautiful and the wind behaved. 

Keith and Elizabeth asked me to dance for their glorious celebration.

 I danced to "Love Came Down" by Brian Johnson. 

What an honor!!!

When I got back to my studio, I pulled out my photos

and remembered and painted...

Thank you, Lord, for good friends, for new friends,

for Christian "innkeepers", and for displaying Your splendor

all around us. Open my eyes to see even more of You!

I love you, Lord!

My Thoughts About Shadows

 I am so glad you came back. I told you I was going to

paint my answer to the question,

"What does the shadow concept mean to you personally?"

First, darkness and shadow are not the same!

Darkness is the absence of light-Carlsbad Caverns.

Darkness does not force the light out but just the

opposite. Light dispels or forces the darkness out.

Shadows only exist where there is LIGHT and SUBSTANCE.

Invisible doesn't make a shadow.

 So here we go. I painted this sweet little pear. 

Nice shape but flat as a pancake. 

"The earth was void and without form, and darkness was over

the surface of the deep..." Gen. 1:2 (no presence of light)

I added a soft little shadow on the left side of the pear.

As a artist, determining the light source or direction is

important to know where the shadow will fall.

"...and the Spirit of God was hovered (overshadowing)

over the waters." Gen1:2

 To increase the feeling of shape, more shadow was added.

Just a little note- I used purple (not black) for my shadow.

Purple is a royal color.

Ex 13:21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a 

pillar of cloud to guide them on their way.

He made a shade or shadow for them in the heat of the desert.

Shadow and light go together!!! 

You can't have one without the other!

Just a little note. 

Gen 1:3 "God said 'Let there be light' and there was light"

Then in verse 16 And God made two great lights; 

the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: 

he made the stars also.

 ¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to 

give light upon the earth,

 ¹⁸And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the 

light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

  ¹⁹And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Did you see it? Day one -He created the light 

but it was several days later when He created the sun and moon.

He is the light!

I lifted a couple of light areas on the right side 

or light side of the pear. But, notice in the picture above,

the pear is floating. What is needed to anchor it?

 Ta!Dah! You're right!!! A shadow.

The shadow is the shape of the pear. Even in the images

above, the first shadows follow the shape of the pear.

The last step - stronger shadow closer to the pear
and brighter light on the light side.

I have also thought about my children while contemplating
"shadow". When they were little, all 3 of my sons were
like my shadows. They were close and right by my feet.
They wanted to see what I was doing, help with whatI was doing, or maybe they just wanted to be where I was.
I want to be that way with my Heavenly Father.
 I want to LIVE in HIS SHADOW!

My friend and fellow blogger Renee has
a great post about Psalm 91.
If you have a minute, check out "If Then".