Holy Night

Praying we keep Jesus front and center amidst all the hustle and tinsel that sometimes seems to have become the season. Merry Christmas and God's blessings to all!

Linking with Scribble Picnic for this week's "Christmastime" theme. Join the celebration in various forms here.

A Nod to Sweden

With this week's Scribble Picnic theme being "Finland/Scandinavian" I hardly dared to not join in and give a nod to the Swedish heritage and community I married into almost thirty-five years ago! Rendered rather hastily with colored pencil... a Swedish flag, Santa Lucia, and a Dala Horse. Sorry to not take time to expound on them, but the links should provide some basic information if you're not familiar with them. I elected not to draw any lutefisk–you're welcome!

Visst, you can sail on over here to see what the theme inspired others to share.

Had to squeeze in one of the few Swedish words I know-certainly! :-)

Generosity

After missing a week, then having Thanksgiving week without a prompt, I almost forgot about getting anything drawn for Scribble Picnic. Oops! Just barely managed to get something done in time to link, using my watercolor pencils. This turned out to be a learning experience (which I'll need to practice more) for how to get white lettering on a solid background without painting over it. Obviously I didn't quite have my spacing all figured out either, but didn't have time to start over. That's okay--I think everyone gets the idea!

Check out other interpretations of "Generous" here, and remember to practice it year-round!

God Bless You for Your Generosity!

Cookies Are a Snap!

Gingersnap cookies have been a family favorite as far back as I can remember. Mom used the recipe from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Sometime in junior high or high school I typed the recipe (using Dad's trusty manual typewriter) onto a pink 3 x 5 index card. I couldn't begin to count the number of times I've pulled out the card, mixed up the ingredients, rolled the dough into balls, dipped them in sugar, and baked up dozens of the tasty treat!

Scribble Picnic theme for the week is cookie, so of course I had to give these gingersnaps a try with my watercolor pencils. Couldn't figure out how to get the sparkle of the granulated sugar on them. I'm anxious to see here what deliciousness the other participants have stirred up for their cookie jars!

I was curious to see if BH&G still has the recipe, so went to their website. I see the recipe they post now is almost

the same as mine, but not quite. Plus, they call them "ginger cookies" instead of "gingersnaps." So, I'll just post the recipe with the ingredient amounts the way I grew up with it!

Gingersnaps

1 1/2 cups shortening            1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar                         4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup molasses                   2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 eggs                                  2 teaspoons cloves

4 cups flour                           2 teaspoons ginger

Cream shortening and sugar; add molasses and eggs; beat well.

Add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. (A wooden spoon works great, since the dough will be stiff.)

Shape dough into small balls; roll in additional granulated sugar; place 2 inches apart on greased (or lined) cookie sheet.

Bake at 375º until light brown and puffy. Do not over bake!

Let cool a couple of minutes before transferring to wire racks.

Makes around 8 dozen cookies.

Timeless Toy

It's so easy to get out of a routine if you miss a week or two. At any rate, it's good to be back with Scribble Picnic to join in on this week's "Toy" theme.  (You can click here to see the fun others came up with.) I tried to think of a toy that most people would have played with at some point in their lives. I'm thinking this works!

Scribble, Emphasis on Scribble

     I needed to come up with an idea for a drawing to fill in the blank/negative space of

                         

for this week's Scribble Picnic. There was plenty of extra room on a sheet of paper from the blanket project, so I started scribbling ideas on it. Didn't originally intend do the "real" drawings on the same page, but that's where they landed. Nor was I going to post the top part of the page, but if I cut off the "scribbliest" part where I was practicing my initials, it would also cut off some of one of the more finished scribbles. So, you just get it all! I'm looking forward to seeing what others came up with here!

Covered in Love

     My grandmother (1900-1995), like so many of her era, seldom let anything go to waste. If shirts or dresses were beyond wearing, she would salvage what she could of the material, and piece that together to make blanket tops. I'm not sure that she did the actual tying or quilting, but none-the-less the resulting blankets were uniquely hers, with reminders of this shirt or that robe or this housedress or even that pair of pajamas. I ended up with some of these blankets, most of which have seen much use and better days.  But, I decided to go ahead and use them. After all, that's what they were made for, and despite their worn and torn areas, they are a lovely reminder of Grandmother.

     I started out sketching just a blanket, which quickly became a lap quilt, which had to be on someone's lap, which required a person, and she had to be doing something, so here you have it! I'm not entirely sure what she is reading, though quite likely it's her Bible; or it's also entirely possible that it's one of her old diaries.

     After doing the pencil version, I decided to add some watercolor to liven up the blanket.

      Scanning the painted version in black and white gives it another look.

     This page will take you to see what others are snuggling up with for this week's Blanket theme for Scribble Picnic.

Turn the Radio On

In the late 1960s/early 1970s, my parents had a transistor radio, almost exactly like this one, except it was green instead of brown. Look at that nifty flip-out stand!

By Joe Haupt from USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Probably around 5th grade, I remember desperately wanting a small transistor radio and a wind-up alarm clock of my own. I absolutely did not want one of the new clock radio combinations, as I wanted to be able to carry the radio around with me. One December day my parents had gone to a big city (west to Pueblo, Colorado?? southeast to Garden City??) for a day of shopping while my brothers and I were in school. When they arrived home I went out to the car to help them bring things in the house, and there was a receipt, the kind where they used to write every purchase out by hand, that I couldn't help but begin to read... "1 radio  $?.??" Oh dear! I wasn't supposed to see that! There was a brief moment of excitement knowing they had bought it, but as Christmas approached that changed because the fun of not knowing what I would receive was gone. The receipt I saw may have actually listed both the radio and the clock, I'm not sure now. At any rate, they were both Christmas gifts I received that year, and I enjoyed many years' use of them. Since then, I've always been careful to try to not figure out what gifts are ahead of time. It's much more fun that way!

The hand-sized radio I carried around had two rolling dials, one to turn it on and control volume, and the other to tune in your favorite station. It came in a black leather case. Kids today would surely be aghast to have to use such an antique thing, but it brought in the tunes of the day, and was the coolest thing ever at that point in my life!

These are similar to the radio and case I had, though I remember my radio as being black and silver.

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/guest-column-collecting-vintage-transistor-radios-of-the-1950s-and-60s/

https://www.vintagetoys.com/toys/classified/30030

Here's a page from my little sketchbook portraying that magical little box of electronics.

Visit this page of Scribble Picnic to see what others are tuning in on this week.

Penguin Love and a Treasure Hunt

Penguins–what could be more black and white, which is the theme for this week's Scribble Picnic. Did this in rather of a hurry using a 4B pencil in my little sketchbook. I don't appreciate the imperfections of the paper showing up when scanned and enlarged, but can't put the blame for all of them on the paper!

I will be spending the next three days at our huge garage sale (with other families) as part of the annual U.S. Highway 36 Treasure Hunt (400 miles of antique and garage sales across Kansas!) I don't know how every year we manage to pull enough junk treasure out of the house to be able to keep doing this. Oh well, as long as it keeps going out! You can check out more black and white contributions to the picnic here.

All Tied Up

A gift package could be all tied up with string or ribbon.

A shoelace could be all tied up–either a good thing or not, depending on the knots!

A hammock could and should be all tied up.

Our little granddaughters could have their wispy hair all tied up in cute waterspouts.

Yarn could be all tied up in a ball, ready for knitting needles or a crochet hook.

Who knows... it might even get all tied up and turn into something like this...

Crocheted afghan I originally made for my Grandmother T.
approx. 4' x 6'

...or this!

Crocheted baby hi-top sneakers made for first grandson

Go to this page of Scribble Picnic to see how others tied up their posts this week. Sorry to have missed the curly picnic last week, but I was all tied up!

In the Cross

What a privilege on Monday, August 21, 2017, to have been right on the path of the total solar eclipse that crossed our country. Some of the family camped out then spent the day at the pond to take in the once in a lifetime (where we live) event. Others drove half an hour north where the time of totality was about a minute longer. The view through the special viewing glasses as the moon passed in front of the sun was spectacular. Then as it came to the point of being exactly in front of the sun we were able to take off the glasses for those fast couple of minutes for the awe inspiring sight, including a 360º sunset!

I heard of one person who was fearful of the event, thinking Jesus would return that day. Oh, my heart breaks to hear of anyone who is afraid of that. For anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior, his return is something to look forward to rather than to fear.

For Scribble Picnic this week we were to "Fill in the Blank" by starting with a box with an X in it. I considered a quilt or a barn door, but settled on a stained glass window. Enjoyed using a permanent black marker, watercolor pencils, and an "Aquash" water brush for this. Links to other "X in a box" drawings can be found here.

Verse 1:

Jesus, keep me near the cross; 

there a precious fountain, 

free to all, a healing stream, 

flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Refrain: 

In the cross, in the cross, 

be my glory ever, 

till my raptured soul shall find

rest beyond the river.

"Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" was written by Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) long ago, but her words in this and myriad other hymns she wrote continue to express the beliefs of Christians over the years.

Flower Bed

It has been much more dry than usual in our little spot in the state this year. For that matter, it's more dry than other parts of our county even. We try not to be jealous when glorious three-inch rains fall at the other end of the county and we receive maybe ten hundredths of an inch. We do know that God will send the rain in due time, and meanwhile we dream!
My colored pencils got a workout for this week's Scribble Picnic "Flower Bed" theme. You can see what others have growing here.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Did you ever play "Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?" It was another simple party game I haven't heard of for years, but played many times as a child. I won't go through the details of the game, but if you've not heard of it you can read a simple explanation here. Games don't have to be complicated to be fun!

The Scribble Picnic theme of Buttoned also brought to mind times of going through Mom's collection of buttons, then later of my own kids going through my collection. At some point I came in possession of a small basket labeled "button basket" and started throwing buttons from old shirts in it. Mine actually has handles, and most of the buttons are white, but it is similar to this colored pencil sketch.

See how others buttoned up their posts this week here.

Draw the Curtain, and the Winner Is...

     The first time I remember paying attention to curtains was in high school when I was allowed to choose a new paint color (yellow!) for my bedroom. Then Mom helped me pick out material and sew new curtains for the two windows. I'm pretty sure they were pink with some kind of "modern" flower design! We slept with the windows open in summer, listening to summer night sounds and hoping for a cool breeze to blow through the screen.

     About five years ago I drew these mauve curtains that hang on our half-frosted bathroom window. If I were to draw them now, I'd probably try to make everything a bit darker (or in color) so as to show up better. But, it is what it is!

Thought I should try some new curtains. These remind me of the time my sister-in-law was watching some of her nieces (and nephews?) She couldn't find one of them, until she saw the little one's shoes peeking out from the bottom of the living room curtains!

     The host of Scribble Picnic had a prize drawing a few weeks back. I was pleasantly surprised to hear my name announced as the winner, and thrilled to open the fun package when it arrived. Michael had generously included everything you see here in the photo–an issue of Bella Grace magazine, a package of pencils, bookmarks, a fun pencil box, a decorated egg (how did he know I have a collection of Easter eggs?), a kneaded eraser, a fabulous watercolor journal, two kinds of chocolate (anyone who knows me, knows that's right up my alley!), a couple of tea packets, a notecard made from his original painting (how can I give it up to send to someone?), two different watercolor brushes (that will encourage me to try more than just pencil sketching!), and a lovely personal note. Thank you, Michael, for your generosity, for hosting the Picnic, and for encouraging us to keep stretching our artistic wings!

You can go here to see other curtains hanging around on this week's Scribble Picnic.

Scribble Picnic–Ladybug

Fly away home to this page of Scribble Picnic to link to ladybugs who are sure to be more creative and interesting than this one. She's not too exciting, just munching away on some aphids on a stem, but at least she's definitely a ladybug!

Scribble Picnic – Fill in the Blank

Did you ever play "Pin the Tail on the Donkey"? It was a common game at birthday parties when I was in grade school. It was also the first thing I thought of upon seeing this prompt for the "Fill in the Blank" theme of this week's Scribble Picnic. (You can see at least a dozen other takes on the theme here.)

I just did  a couple of initial sketches along the "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" line of thinking.

They didn't go any further, so instead I went with several dozen "pins" and multiple colors to come up with this.

Though at this point I prefer to stick with paper and pencil, I think this would have worked well for me to try on a computer program. Will I ever? We'll see!

Watermelon

     We had a great three days celebrating the Fourth of July, beginning at church on Sunday morning where the offertory was an inspiringly rendered patriotic melody. That afternoon we, plus my brother and his wife, joined up at our daughter's church for a pot-luck, patriotic service, homemade ice cream, and fireworks display. Attended a wedding on Monday, then spent Tuesday with family and friends. The Fourth was a beautiful Kansas summer evening for a picnic that included grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, fruit, and of course watermelon–which was sliced into easy to handle pieces.

Grandchild #3 doing a great job balancing her plate of small watermelon pieces!

     Played some bocce ball, then Grandchild #1 found some fireflies to try to catch. (Edit: Sorry, I don't know why the video won't play. Guess I'll have to try another time.)

Catching fireflies!

     After that we lit our small collection of fireworks, and were also able to see many of those set off in town and in the surrounding countryside.

     Hope you all have a chance to enjoy some watermelon sometime before summer ends!

     I tried a watermelon sketch in my usual black and white first, but decided it might be better with some color this time.

     You can find plenty of other juicy watermelons here for this week's Scribble Picnic. P.S. If you commented on the fox last week, please check back for my group reply.

Scribble Picnic–Fox

     I didn't like missing last week's Scribble Picnic, but life was zipping along at too fast of a pace to fit it in. Think I would have preferred doing last week's jar, but at any rate, here's my attempt for adding to this week's "skulk", "leash", "earth", "lead", "troop", or "charm" of foxes!  I'll try to take a look at everyone's jars too when I visit your foxes!

     Now that you've had your first impression, I'm wondering what you think it looks like this fox is doing.  Personally, I'm seeing it as something other than I first intended.
     Have a good week full of God's blessings!

Scribble Picnic–Bird

     We're blessed to have many trees around our house, which also means many birds. My husband likes to grow birdhouse gourds and hang them up for the wrens. Their chattering, which I love to hear, goes on and on throughout the day this time of year! We also have a large rock in our backyard. It has somewhat of a basin on the top, so when that is kept full of water it attracts a wide variety of birds–finches, robins, bluebirds, wrens, sparrows, orioles, cardinals, bluejays,...

     Many years ago my brother who lives in the city mentioned "how noisy" it is here in the country after the birds woke him with their early morning singing! He wasn't really complaining, just commenting!

     I already posted this drawing of a ceramic bird figurine from a class I took years ago, but I'll share it again, as it's one of my favorites. 

     And just because, here's a quick little colored pencil sketch of a bird of no particular variety.

Joining Michael at Scribble Picnic for this week's bird theme. Fly on over here to see the other birds at the picnic.

Mail

I love getting handwritten mail, but that doesn't happen nearly as often as it used to. I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I don't write letters like I used to either. Used to have a pen pal; would exchange letters with a cousin; stayed in touch with good friends when we moved after elementary school; wrote to new friends met at various conferences; wrote to my parents after I struck out on my own; there were a few letters exchanged with my now-husband the summer before we were engaged; and I sent out a Christmas letter, usually with at least a short handwritten note added at the bottom, for years and years. Hmmm... sounds like I should round up my stationery, notecards, and stamps and put pen to paper again!

Linking up with Scribble Picnic for this week's Letters/Mail theme. 

Books

     I wonder how many hours of my childhood and youth were spent with a book in hand? It had to be MANY, as I recall books received as gifts; walking (or riding my bike) the two and a half blocks to the town library at least weekly; A Fish out of Water; the Nancy Drew, Donna Parker, and Annette series; bringing home books from the long, low classroom shelves; reading the stories in old school reading books over and over on my own; book reports; ordering paperback books from the flyer brought home from school; reading in bed, in a tree, in my "hide-outs" in the garage and basement, in the car,... How fortunate to have had that privilege!

     I'm so glad that our oldest grandchild (nearly four now) has loved books from the time he was very little, too. He just may have been my inspiration for this week's Scribble Picnic theme of books! You can read and see what others came up with here.

Potted Plant–Peace Lily

     This past week has gone quickly, with it suddenly being the deadline for joining this week's Scribble Picnic. I've always had potted plants around, even before striking out on my own. Probably one of the first I had was the sturdy philodendron. I know we had an airplane plant around when our son was little, as I recall him getting hold of one of the shoots and pulling the (thankfully lightweight) pot down on him and his walker. We probably did some rearranging after that, after cleaning up all the potting soil! Funerals have been the reason for the acquisition of several plants. I know we ended up with peace lilies after the funerals of at least three, and I think all four, of our parents. Here, with no current bloom, is a last-minute drawing of one of the peace lilies.

You can see what others in the picnic have growing here.

La Puerta

     I spent most of yesterday in a classroom as a substitute teacher. The class? High school Spanish! Do I speak Spanish? Not much, though I have learned some basics through an app on my phone. Fortunately, the school is linked to another in the district for distance learning, so the aide at the other school was able to lead anything that actually required knowing the language! Keeping order and handing out quizzes at my end of the district were my main requirements.  There were some items in the classroom labeled with vocabulary cards, including... the door! Perfect, since that is what I needed to draw for this week's Scribble Picnic, and I ended up with enough free time to draw it in my sketchbook!

Open the door to drawings by others in the picnic here.

Winter Swing Tree

     Have you ever climbed a tree? I hope so! Many, many childhood summer hours of mine were spent up in the branches of a big (elm?) tree in our side yard. It was huge. Well, most likely it wasn't–but from my perspective then it was! Dad, probably with the help of one or both of my older brothers, secured some flat boards (a small door?) a ways up in it. 

     The platform was just big enough for two children to sit on. Sometimes it was just me and our cat. Usually I was by myself, and could stretch out and imagine the hours away, enjoy whatever breeze came by, "spy" on the neighborhood, read (probably a Nancy Drew mystery), make endless plans in a spiral notebook,...  Dad also secured a rope a few feet out on the lowest sturdy branch. The knotted rope was just long enough that a brother or friend could reach up and throw the end for you to catch as you stood in the crotch of the tree. Then you could swing out as Tarzan, or a pirate, or... 

     We moved at the end of my grade school years. I wonder if the platform and rope were still up when we left.

     Our own kids enjoyed a railed platform that Benny built between some trees. It had a short slide out from one corner, and covered a sandbox. He has also put up various swings for them (and us) in several different trees over the years. One tree in particular earned the title "Swing Tree" for its just right branch, height, and location. That tree is still at the end of our driveway, but sadly the perfect branch on it succumbed a few years ago to too many ice storms.

     My drawing is not of that particular tree, but it's what came out of my pencil. I don't believe this swing goes very high, but it might be just right for some very young ones. The tree is waiting for Spring and their arrival!

Linking with Michael at Scribble Picnic for this week's theme. To view more trees swing over HERE.

Scribble Picnic–Ladder

I keep thinking I'll get something posted between Scribble Picnic Wednesdays, then here it is time again to finish up a new sketch and get it posted. So, before I do that, here's a follow-up on the previous post. You'll be glad to know that it appears that "Little Bunny Foo Foo" has repented of his bad behavior and has been given another chance at being a good hare. I caught him hanging out in our yard this evening, looking quite contrite among our dandelions. (Oh dear, but those do need some serious attention!) No field mice in any apparent danger!

On to the picnic, where we've been thinking about ladders. My first thought was about a "ladder of life," but no, none of us know how tall or short that ladder would be. Maybe a ladder that goes on and on and on...., kind of like the never-ending to-do list that most of us have, but no, too depressing and how would I show that? Or maybe a crazy one that goes up, then over, then slants up, then..., but no, a bit too complicated. Ladders, hmmm... I've certainly been on my fair share of them. Sometimes to change lightbulbs, sometimes to try to clean accumulated grunge from ceilings, many times to hang wallpaper or borders, and numerous times to paint walls and ceilings! So here you have it. A rendition of the trusty folding stepladder, ready to hold a bucket of paint and a painter to add some color to that plain, white wall!

To view more ladders climb on over HERE!

Scribble Picnic–Rabbit

I remember attending a day camp in the 1960s.  I'm sure the leaders put much time and energy into all the fun activities for the day.  About all I remember specifically is learning through song about a little bunny who had a penchant for misbehaving.  When he came to mind this week, thought I would see what he looked like when I put him on paper!

There are some variations of the song, of course, but this is the version I remember. Don't miss the moral of the tale at the end!

Little bunny Foo Foo

Hopping through the forest

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head

Down came the Good Fairy, and she said

"Little bunny Foo Foo

I don't want to see you

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head."

I'll give you 3 chances,

And if you don't behave, I will turn you into a goon!"

Little bunny Foo Foo

Hopping through the forest

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head

Down came the Good Fairy, and she said

"Little bunny Foo Foo

I don't want to see you

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head."

I'll give you 2 more chances,

And if you don't behave, I will turn you into a goon!"

Little bunny Foo Foo

Hopping through the forest

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head

Down came the Good Fairy, and she said

"Little bunny Foo Foo

I don't want to see you

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head."

I'll give you 1 more chance,

And if you don't behave, I will turn you into a goon!"

Little bunny Foo Foo

Hopping through the forest

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head

Down came the Good Fairy, and she said

"Little bunny Foo Foo

I don't want to see you

Scooping up the field mice

And bopping them on the head."

I gave you three chances and you didn't behave....

POOF. She turned him into a Goon.

The moral of the story is:  Hare today, goon tomorrow!

Linking with Michael at Scribble Picnic for this week's theme.
To view more rabbits hop on over here!