Scenes from the Porch: A Lesson in Slowing Down

We lead busy lives around here most of the time.  I have a regular job, LeissnerArt, Creative Clearinghouse, and all the work that a household requires.   I also have a husband, two teenagers, two dogs and six cats, all of whom require varying degrees of attention.  So, although I do come home from work some days and pass out in front of the television, it's a rare occasion that I get to spend several hours just sitting on the porch in the quiet--no requests for anything, no basketballs echoing off the driveway, no guinea fowl squawking their complaints that there's not enough food in the coop, and no arguing penetrating the exterior peace from the interior chaos.   Today was that day.

Today I learned, if you are quiet and listen, you hear the ducks splashing in the tank (that's what we call natural and man made, smaller scaled, earthen bodies of water here.  Elsewhere it might be called a "pond". No self-respecting Texan would call that a "pond".  It's a "tank".)

 You may also see a beautiful butterfly reaping a bounty of pollen in the Texas Sage.

Or watch a hawk land in a tree top,

And take flight again when the big white dog barks.

You might notice the helicopter hum of the dirt daubers busy with nest building.

You may experience the ruby brilliance of the setting sun through the trees.

And, if you are especially still and especially quiet, you'll discover the favorite tiny perch of the favorite tiny bird.

Sometimes, when the noise of life seems almost too much to bear and the hurry hurry that accompanies it seems impossible to maintain, the only answer is to slow down, be quiet, watch and wait.

"Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14

May the good Lord bless you with quiet moments to calm your soul. 

<3  Lori

Good Things

I don't know if she does it anymore, but Martha Stewart used to have a section of her show where she talked about "good things".  She'd create a six foot tall centerpiece out of a stalk of wheat, a pineapple and a roll of duct tape then look into the camera and say slyly, "It's a good thing."

I got some good things today, too (no duct tape involved).  Actually, I have had the good news for a while but I didn't want to say anything until I saw it in person for myself.  Thanks to my friend Ursula who mailed it to me, I now have seen it in person!

My art is in the Sept/Oct issue of Cloth Paper Scissors!!!!

 

It's a good thing.

I found a blog post today from my friend Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman, who doesn't know that we are friends, by the way (but we are)) that says I should blog more.  Since I know she has my best interest at heart, I'm going to try to do that.

So, I'll see you again soon.  Until then, may the good Lord send you good things, too!

<3 Lori

Giving Thanks, Giving Back, Giving Flight

Button cred goes to the super talented Susan at Susan's Charming Trinkets

Welcome to the Summer 2011 Flying Lessons 1st Anniversary Giving Flight Blog Hop!  We are all celebrating the companionship, comradery, and community that class has afforded us in several ways. Today I am giving thanks, giving back and giving flight.

Giving Thanks

I am so thankful today to our Heavenly Father for the amazing blessing He has given me in being physically and financially able to pursue this dream.  It's a slow moving process, sometimes almost imperceptible, but there is movement.  I am also thankful to all of you who read here, hang out on my Facebook page with me, follow on Twitter and Instagram and help to create this community. I'm grateful.

Image cred All Things Bliss

Giving Back

Part of our celebration is to talk about how we can give back some of the blessings we have realized as a result of participating in this class. One way that I do that is the BEtter KIND of MONDAY (BKM) project I've talked about a few times here.  BKM is an effort to make Monday's a little brighter, little less stressful, little less...um...Monday.  You can do anything to make a Monday better for yourself and those around you. It's just some small kindness to brighten a day. I'm not trying to blow my own horn here, but there may have been a couple bucks left under the gas handle at HEB, maybe a few coins in the coin return of Coke machine at work, some cards mailed out to unsuspecting folks...that KIND of thing (get it?).  Let's do it!  Let's make BKM a movement??!! 

This Monday, do a little something.  You don't have to tell me or anyone else what it was.  But I would LOVE it if you could come over to my Facebook page and tell me if you BKM'd anyone.  LOVE it.  Make my day, m'kay?

Giving Flight

Another part of our celebration is to Give Flight to someone else.  We have created 8 amazing opportunities for others to enjoy the last Flying Lessons class that Kelly Rae Roberts is offering this September.  (Cue Ginsu Knife commercial voice)~~~ AND THAT'S NOT ALL~~~ Kelly Rae has most generously agreed to MATCH our donations.  At last count then, there are SIXTEEN opportunities to win a spot in this class, the last time it will ever be offered. 

To enter, go here to the FlyTribe blog (which will be live after 12 midnight, Aug. 20, 2012).

Thanks again for stopping by and for participating in BKM. You have already done a couple of good deeds today.

May the good Lord bless you with opportunities to live your own dreams. 

<3  Lori

Please continue to celebrate with my friends by moving to the next blog on the list below.

Janet Forrest http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com

Cat Athena Louise http://www.catathenalouise.com

Stacey Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/giving-flight-giving-back/

Renee Burke http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com

Mary Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com

Michelle Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com

Constance Rawlins http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/

Kelly Hoernig http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com

Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org/2012/08/the-gift-of-giving/

Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Claudia Dow http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com

Susan M. Walls-Beverly http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html

Linda Barutha http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html

Linda Kinnaman http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/

Cheryl Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/

Sofia Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com

Jill Lambert http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Sally Rose http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-gift-of-flight.html

Ursula Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog

Deborah Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/

Lori Leissner http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html

Creative Clearinghouse http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse

Lenore Angela http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/

Katharina Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com

Rachél Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P

Sherry Richert Belul http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts

Deborah Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/

Shannon Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com

Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com

Kelley Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Wini Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com

Carol Bray http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving-back-by-giving-flight.html

Tracy Yarbrough http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html

Diane Enright http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/

Jamie Burch http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Susan Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com

Lori Moon Studio http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/fly-tribe-blog-hop-giving-back.html

Kim Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com

Tina Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com

Catherine Pistone http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/

Mary MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway

Fasten Your Seat Belts. The Pilot Is Ready For Takeoff.

If you've been around LeissnerArt very long, you will have heard about "Flying Lessons" a number of times.  A year ago this month, I embarked on this creative journey by registering on a whim for Kelly Rae Robert's Flying Lessons creative business class.

What I found there was not just a class on building a creative business.  In the private Facebook group that comes with the class, I found a community of other women who have become my friends.  They come from many walks and seasons of life and from literally all over the world.  We share triumphs and tragedies, victories and defeats, personal and professional.  We promote each other's businesses, cheer each other's successes, and counsel each other.

The group has brought me a lot of laughs, some tears, a new love of learning through on-line education, and a new business venture in Creative Clearinghouse with my classmate Ursula Smith.  It's been a great year.

You are invited to our anniversary party! 

Check our group blog FlyTribe  on August 20th for more details about our Giving Flight First Anniversary Blog Hop. 

I Can See Clearly Now

I'm very excited to now be the proud owner of a "real" camera.  She doesn't have a name yet, but she has joined the LeissnerArt creative team.  And she's cool.

I wanted a camera I could keep in the car for all those great impromptu photo ops that occur when one does a lot of country driving.  This little guy was following his mommy across the road in front of the house.  Obviously, I still need some practice in the quick draw of the camera. 

And remembering to take the lense cap off.

But I did get some pretty good shots around the yard.

Max guarding the guineas

Cardinal

My favorite so far..our friendly neighborhood crane.





One day soon maybe I'll do some more painting.  Until then, may the good Lord give you beautiful images in your viewfinders.

<3 Lori

This is My Cathedral

Happy Independence Day!! 

I was sitting on the porch (my very favorite place in the world so far) this morning while the family was sleeping sipping my coffee and thinking how grateful I am for our blessings.

 My boy got home safely from camp.

My girl had fun with her friends at a sleepover and pool party. 

My man had the yard looking nice, and we had a beautiful day before us with no plans to go anywhere or do anything except a little reading, a little writing and maybe some fireworks and a movie later. 

Some other fun stuff that's been happening around here~~~

My friend Ursula and I have launched our website where we are collecting information on all kinds of creative classes in one spot for your searching pleasure www.creativeclearinghouse.com..  Come on over and have a look around, create an account so that you can make a favorites list and keep up with all your favorite classes and instructors.  We'll be doing a grand opening soon.  Make sure you have an account! You won't want to miss out!

Speaking of classes...I'm taking one by Mindy Lacefield called Paint Your Story.  I painted this first venture into the cool layers she makes.  I'm sure this is not finished.  I'm not sure when it'll be finished. I'm just grateful to have gotten to put paintbrush to canvas, something I had no confidence would happen at all this summer.

Other fun views from the porch:

Max practicing his lounging.



Ruby checking the aroma.

Texas Sage that will soon be filled with bees.

And now I'm going to go get the pork roast out of the crockpot.  This arranging of photos is driving me nuts. 

I'll plan to be back sooner next time.  Until then, may the good Lord continue to bless you...because when you are living in the land of the free and the home of the brave, you are already blessed far more than you could ever deserve. 

<3 Lori

Might as Well Have a Sale

I'll come back later to do a real post, but I was sitting here thinking, "Why not have a sale?" 

So I did.

Use coupon code "MIGHTASWELL" for 20% off everything in my shop. 

It's good for the rest of the day and the next few days until I change my mind. :)