I Have Experimented

I've noticed that some of my old post have been read lately and that has given me a curious look myself. I've opened a couple of them to see what I've written and noticed that I've done some experimenting along the way since I started this blog.

I recently deleted my second most read post because I wasn't really thinking when I wrote it and I thought it may have been offensive to women. Thinking back, I was angry not at women, but with TheWife and just happen to blurt out loud my frustration and the post really had nothing to do with why I was upset with her.

In general I am happy to say that my blog hasn't really changed although I have done some experimenting. 

This post...World Class gets a lot of reads and reflects the core of my blog. I believe that life in general is our place of learning. Not taking away from text books, but they can't give what life itself does. If we can't learn from life, all the books in the world are useless....that's just me.

Life Has...is another post that has been read most recently by a few people. After reading this again brought to mind a post I had written about Steps. 

Reading these reminded me of the style of poetry I like to write most although I have written a little on the dark side. 

A stroll down memory lane has brought back the experiences I have in writing this blog and what I've learned along the way. It's not a very popular blog but I do appreciate my followers and those who happen to drop in unexpected. I keep moving along and I'll see what this journey has in store.

A LOT Of Thinking

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about many different things. Some of it making me very angry, some making me think even more, some giving me feelings of despair, and some giving me answers. 

Early in my life, I had been taught to take responsibility for what I do and I have done that for the most part. I am far from being anywhere near perfect and I acknowledge that. I have made many mistakes that I take the blame for. I hurt when I hurt others.

When others make mistakes that affect me, I try to remember that they too are human and mistakes happen. But when the same types of mistakes happen on a consistent basis I have a problem with that. I know we are suppose to forgive, but the Lord knows I have trouble with consistent mistakes. When and where is the line drawn? I know too we are to forgive at all times.

In this skin that is humanity, it is very difficult...all too easy to hate those that do these things to us. But in the end, it is I who will suffer because of not forgiving. I will be the one whose bones will ache and drawn into a state of depression and despair. It is my mind that will be filled with bitterness that is best used for the betterment of my life and for those around me while they that choose to live a life of doing what they do continue to do what they do, whether knowingly or not. 

The importance of forgiving is just that...very important. The effects of harboring unforgiving thoughts is far more damaging than one can imagine. It has no benefits that will be good for me. 

I am really struggling at the moment and I know I need to turn this around. I need to stop looking at what has happened over the past few years and move on. I have a lot of positive things going on and I am thankful for that.

Humility is hard to swallow. Perfection was given only to the one true God and He said that we are to forgive because He knows that if we don't...it is we who will suffer...and we are to leave the rest to Him. 

Still At It

I'm still at it as far as my clocks are concerned and my latest is a custom design for a co-worker, Ken who bought it for his uncle who is a Minnesota Vikings fan. 

Ken wanted to know if I could do an official NFL design and I told him that was not possible because of copyrights and licensing. I told him I could come up with something I think he would like.

After the initial design was complete I sent it to him to see what he thought and what he would like to change. All he wanted changed was moving a few things around. He was totally happy with the design itself.

I wanted to get some feedback on the finished product so I took it to work and everyone that saw it was really pleased with it. Nothing definite but I may have two more orders coming because they liked what they saw.

I know everyone won't like it but I am happy with the response I got so far.  

The clock face on this one is 8.5 x 11 landscape.

I always print a draft copy of the original so I can have something to work with
while the frame is being finished as you can see in the background

A Bloggers Pic In Poetry 5

Welcome to

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry

This is number 5 and again Daniel Plumer is the featured photographer.

I just have one question...do u see what eye see?

Daisies Of Yellow

Slowly approach, does the Cloud Of White

Sneaky he is, disguised in upper top right

Under cover of thick and dark it seems 

Hiding behind glasses, his eyes are not seen

Laying in wait is the Rock Of Stone Mount

Face in center below, lips parched under its snout

Hand of left ready to batter what the cloud will bestow

His chest still and steady beneath the face, coming slow

'Tis a battle to commence betwixt these two fellows

See them flee the scene, all these Daisies Of Yellow

Photo by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me  

   

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 4

Hello everyone and thank you for your interest in the series

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 

This is number 4 in the series and another photograph by Daniel Plumer

What stands out for me in this photo?...the fire and ice look, each giving the other their due respect in opposites, creating a union of beauty.  

Two Beautiful


A fire travels above the cool quench below in sight

Consuming not to destroy, but to give wondrous light

The coolness below touched not by its red hot glare

Seems they two admonish, their beauty declared

Photograph by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 3

This is the third in the series

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry

Reading has taken on a technological turn and more people are reading on electronic devices and when I saw this it brought to my mind the art of reading a paper book. 

I don't remember how I found this one but it definitely caught my eye. The first click of the picture took me to Britta Nickel's Tumblr blog/page which is linked to Sweet Southern Nights also on Tumblr. On Sweet Southern Nights you will find an array of photos that range from A to Z.

Read

The art of reading in abnormal tradition

Feet in air bare monumental condition

Hard copy in hand, there's nothing like it

Twenty seven times straight, becomes habit

Photo taken by: Unknown 

Poem by me

  

                                                  

I Spoke Too Soon

I may have spoken too soon when I mentioned how bad it wasn't here, concerning Hurricane Sandy....not thinking about what may happen elsewhere. It began to unfold as I got bits and pieces of what was happening north of us while I was at work today.

As I sit here watching the news, the devastation is coming to light. I almost feel as if I was being selfish, but I posted that before the northern portion of our area had been hit. Still for me, it doesn't lessen the blow.

The loss of life and property is mounting and so does my feelings of being an idiot.

Lessons are learned in so many different ways. I wish I didn't have to learn this one.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones and to the survivors who will recover from this change that has taken hold of their lives.

What A Difference

Hurricane Sandy is making an impact but could be much worse due to its size and I for one feel very fortunate because this could very well be a Category 2 or higher hurricane which would have made this a much more destructive storm than what it is....not to say Sandy isn't doing any damage at the size it is.

The photos above were taken one week ago at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront at 9th street.

These were taken today, same area.

They were taken in the morning around the same time, about 8:30.

What a difference. 

This is a short video I shot while taking the pictures.

PS...read more

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 2

This the second in the series titled

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 

Like the first one, this photo is by Daniel Plumer 

 Whoda Thought

I stand in place, never thought to be seen

Stand I sure I do, mine eyes do believe

Possible not, but here I do

Standing strong proudly tis true

I have weathered storms of many

More to come, they are a plenty

Faulter not have I, years gone ago

Up to now and now until, who know

Photo by Daniel Plumer    

Poem by me

A Blogger's Pic In Poetry 1

I recently came across this photograph by way of my Google+ stream courtesy of Anissa Mayhew  who shares a lot of nice pictures on her stream from other members.

I don't know what it was about this photo but I was impelled to write a poem about it. 

To give you a heads up, this is the first of more to come in a series I'm calling: A Blogger's Pic In Poetry. 

I'm not sure where I will find them or how often I will see a poem in a photo, but when I do, it will be included in the series.

I will say that I have spent some time on Daniel Plumer's Google+ page and I have four poems from some of his photographs. This is the first and I will post the rest in the order that I viewed and wrote the poem for each one. 

Reflection

What is, reflects of itself

Doubling of single, non-stealth

Rocky hard, branches sticking

Softly seen, yellow green lifting

I am who I am, am I?

Seen as such is, to eye

Same as is, unchanged two one

Crazy it is, when seen how it's done

Photo by Daniel Plumer 

Poem by me

Am I Too Hard On Myself?

Sometimes I think I have to justify being critical about what I do or want to do to achieve the goals I have set. It has not been easy for me to push forward to reach for that gold ring as the wheel goes around. 

I think of the setbacks and how hard it has been for me to regroup, breath, forgive AND forget. It is so hard to keep a frame of mind to NOT let things keep me from accomplishing what I know I am capable of doing. It is so easy to listen to that voice telling me to give up, quit, it's not worth it, OR that it can't be done. Telling me that no one really cares or wants what I have to offer. 

Sometimes I start feeling and believing that. I do want to stop and I do hear myself say those words, breathing sighs of discouragement.

Yes it is easy to drop it all after losing so much in preparing for this moment in my life...when just a few short years ago I was tool ready and now starting from scratch.

I could let these emotions fester like a sore and destroy me, but then I'm asked if I still make Shadowbox Clocks and I say yes and now find myself custom designing an 8 x 8. 

I do have a lot of things going on and I do intend to keep moving on and NOT giving up. 

Yes I am hard on myself at times but it's a good thing. As much as I would like to post on a regular basis, I's getting busy for me and it may get quiet here, but...

Here They Are

Here they are....the most recent Shadowbox Clocks I finished. The first is the gift clock I mentioned before. 

It has a picture of Theresia's son Austin, as a baby with a poem from him to his mom. 

This is the printout of the design that was used in the clock. I wrote the poem after a few thoughts were given to me what he (Austin) wanted to say.

What you see in the bottom left corner is something I can't go into, but it was requested.

           Here it is in the frame.

Some of you know of the Rise Above design on the left. So this is the front side of the picture in this post.

Now this next clock was designed for one of TheWife's co-workers. Sitiquat explained to me what she wanted but I asked her to draw a sketch for me.

This is the picture she sent to me in an email and I tried to use it for her clock but because all the elements are joined together, I couldn't get the fill colors separate. So I started going through my inventory of art and came up with this. I used The Bottomless Heart in place of a solid heart and I think it gives a ribbon type look as a bookmark.

She wanted a digital clock instead of a dial clock but I forgot that when I was doing the initial work. 

If you're interested in what the dial face looks like.....

These are my two most recent and I'm currently #workinon a few other things.

See anything you like?

It Was A Grand Visit

TheWife and I went over to Charles' and Darcel's to visit earlier today. 

Kiah greeted us at the door.

 

Ava was brushing her teeth.

Samuel was out cold.

They are growing so fast!

After Samuel woke up, I asked if I could take his picture and

he said "NO!" A few minutes later he was standing in front

of me and I called his name several times and he ignored me.

So I took this one.

Kiah drew the picture of the house and girl 

Ava traced her hand and made a girl out of it

Samuel got to go to the library to return books and DVDs and also

to get some new stuff.

Upon returning, it was time for each of them to claim their spots

for viewing a DVD of their choosing.

Aaaah yes...such a Grand visit.

Back At It

I'm happy to report that I am back to working on past and future projects, and getting myself on a schedule that will work for me....not easy. Most of the graphic designing is done late evenings into the wee hours of the mornings, so my daytime is mostly frame work...cutting, glue, testing to see what works and making necessary changes.

A new project I have is another custom 8x8 shadow box clock. This is a digital clock design that should be done soon...the clock is currently in shipment to me. Once it's here it won't take long to finalize everything. As you can see in the picture below, the facial molding is being put in place. 

Once the moldings are in place and secure, I will cut the glass for the front of the clock. The frame won't be painted until the glass is cut.

Yes, I cut glass too

I'll be working on this and other frames I have in waiting. They will not all be clocks. 

If you remember, I had sold two 8x8 shadow box clocks but didn't post any pictures because one was a gift item and I was waiting for permission to post the pictures trying not to spoil the surprise. But one of them was another Rise Above design.

Rise Above 8x8 Shadow Box Clock

The one on the right is the gift clock

I'm going to get an update on the status of the gift clock because I really would like for you to see it.

I'm also updating my website as I go along and will soon have clocks for sale and please don't forget to visit my online store.

If you have any questions or comments...I'm all ears!