Act 1

The three women driving down the country road were laughing and talking like old friends; one would hardly guess they were mother and daughters. The scenery was familiar and comforting as they traveled, and topic of when the melting snow came up once more.

“Can you believe all this snow?” Mother asked. “And March is only a few days away.”
“Yes! I can’t wait for this snow to melt, and then Spring,” replied Emily.
“I know,” chimed in Breezy, “I’ve already seen two bluebirds in our backyard!”

Yes, Spring indeed was on its way, but Winter seemed determined to stick around a while more. As the old brown truck rumbled down the driveway of Mrs. J, their piano teacher, someone made the comment about getting stuck again. “Since we drove the truck this time, we shouldn’t have a problem.”

An hour later after the piano lessons, the ladies exited the house, still chatting with Mrs. J. Two of her young boys ran giggling ahead. The three ladies settled into the truck and headed up the frozen-slush covered hill. With a running start of 35mph, the brown truck made it back up the drive. Almost.

“Please, Lord! Please get the truck out! Pleeassee!” The prayers whirled through their hearts as fast as the wheels spun in the ice. Backing up 20 feet, the mom laid on the gas pedal. Right back to where the tracks ended last time. The truck dejectedly backed up to the house. There was no way they were getting out of there.

Act 2
Mr. J. was now in the front seat. “There’s not enough weight in the back.”
“Would it help if we sat back there?” Emily suggested.
“‘Might”

So the girls hopped out, and into the back. Their mom soon joined them.

Mr. J. drove the truck in to the yard, hoping for some traction. Exhaust fumes and a layer of ice under the snow created an aura of survival versus surreal. First he’d drive one direction up the hill, then after getting stuck, back up, then try a slightly different route. Several times. Still too light.

The next thing they knew they the whole J clan had joined them. Surrounded by her three boys and her three chagrined guests, Mrs. J said, “It’s just a guy thing now.”

“Daddy’ll get you out,” chirped Gavin. “He’s determined!”

And got them out he did. With a last attempt, the extra weight pushed them up the hill. Up it went and on to the road with a whole troop of adventurous homeschoolers. The truck was parked as the J. clan jumped out and walked back down the drive. They had to get to mid-week service at their church, and we needed to start supper.

Act 3
As they triumphantly chugged down the bi-pass, they noticed the J.s in their truck behind them, Smiling and waving as they turned right.

At the stop light Mom said, “Oh, you might want to put your seats belts on.”
“Mine is stuck in the door.” Emily shoved the door open and plucked the belt in just in time for the green light.

Off they rode into the sunset, weary from their little escapade.

“What a fiasco that was,’” contemplated Emily. “I wonder if they ever saw the belt hanging out the door.”

The End

I’ve been working on some art projects for the IAHE art contest. Now that the deadline has passed, I can finally show you what I’ve been up to!

I wanted to do a “Copy the Masters” but I couldn’t find a big enough print to copy from. -Boreas, by J. W. Waterhouse-

Instead, we found the artist’s preliminary sketch, and I copied that for fun.

-my copy of the original sketch-

After much ponderance, I decided I’d send a portfolio for the contest, and include the above drawing. A portfolio (for this particular contest) consists of four pieces of art work, all in different media. The Boreas sketch (above) is in sanguine Conté crayon (a chalk-like pastel in the form of a thick pencil).

My three other entries include:
an illustration from “The Secret Garden.” The extra messy one is a “color sketch.” It’s only 3½”x 4½”. I scanned it then blew it up via slide show and traced right off the computer screen. I did it in Prismacolor colored pencils, and a Prismacolor olive green marker to fill in the first layer of the background. In case you are wondering (because I’m pretty sure you are), the flowers around their heads are their imaginings of the secret Garden. The light source is actually a fireplace we can’t see.

above, color sketch. below, final piece.

Number three; a little piece I call  “Good Night, Baby Birdies.” It was completed in pen, brush, and ink. Once again, I used the scandolous yet perfectly legal trick of enlarging the thumbnail, but this time tracing off the copy held up to a glaring window.

above, thumbnail. below, final piece.

And last, but not least - number four. I illuminated the poem “How Doth the Little Busy Bee” by Isaac Watts in watercolor, with a wee bit of Prismacolor pencils.

*deep sigh* and they’re off! I hope they get to the “officials” safely.

I get to take a little breather, then I’ll start on another large project. (I’ll give you a hint: I’m doing an illustration for a magazine!)

(This “meterless poem” is my mental image of Bach’s wonderful Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major. I wrote this merely to record the ideas and feelings I have when I listen to it.)

How the crisp and cool air wraps around like the fragrance of crushed petals, brushing and turning the leaves in splendid moonlight.

And those silent stars - how they sing their nocturnal anthems in the ever-rising ocean-like canopy. Oh, the glory! Is there a depth any deeper than that of the celestial bodies dancing in space? Farther and farther they reach, and all the more I cannot see. Surely their existence is spent in reveling in that Greater Glory, that deeper depth called The King of Glory!

My bare feet slowly touch the cool stepping stones; I am surrounded by violets and columbine traced in silver. The melody of a sleepless frog echoes off the sparkling fireflies. Around the damp grainy shore of the stream, to the slumbering groves my steps turn.

Resting to unearth, reclining to hunt. Nestling in the grass, I hardly mind the damp earth or the falling fog and dew. Nearly in blissful slumber, I sleepily inquire of the heavens how they were made.

Today is Wednesday! One of my favorite days of the week!

Why is Wednesday the most exciting day? Because…(drum role, please!)…it’s my day for art class!!! (Breezy proceeds to run around the room, bounce off the walls, and swing from the chandelier)

Besides so many other things, I’ve learned that I can draw and paint under pressure, finish assignments for class (and on time so far!), and numerous other things about art, painting, and story boarding!

This class has been right down my alley, and plus, I am also making a few friends. A good thing about taking the college class is that even though it isn’t competitive, I love the challenge and encouragement I get there. Something about the Prof giving these passionate and animated “lectures” on art have really inspired me.

Getting a credit in this class is not the objective. Actually, I’m just auditing, and when I mentioned that when I was signing up, they just couldn’t understand it. Most people these days go to college just to grab a degree and the “college experience”, without caring about actually learning something.

This class has been a big help to me in not only putting what I see on paper, but also how my gift can glorify God and bless others.