Digital Collage - Home

Home

I read this comment the other day that Christmas was all about being home. That it did not matter where or how you celebrated as long as where you were was home to you. The people you surrounded yourself with were home, the place you were comfortable in was home. That Christmas was all about being with those you love and that place called home. The more I thought about it I realized how true it all was. Once a year we celebrate and once a year it should be with those we love. This year I will not be able to be with all I love. They will be in my heart. I am expecting that I will celebrate Christmas several times this season with those I love. Maybe one day we will all be able to be in the same place on the same day. One can hope...

This digital collage is a combination of several textures and images. The home is from an old photograph of houses I have collected through the years. The woman is an old tintype. She has always seemed like she has experienced much of what life has to offer. Love, joy, hardship, want, and despair while keeping her dignity. The background is several scanned paintings I have doodled and painted along the way. I have found painting backgrounds is very soothing and relaxing. I often combine two or more to make a new texture for my digital work. They seem to add that bit of depth I am looking for.

This collage reminded me that going home is a timeless event. Whether it is now or later we all have that instinct to nest, to make a home, to find a home, to go home. I hope you all find your way home. 

Quote #7 - Home

Four Letter Words...Home

Colors of Home...

I have had several requests to take pictures of my home. As the days go by and I unpack and decorate I will share my new home. Right now we are painting, redoing floors and countertops, replacing lights, hardware, etc. It is generally a mess with little order. Soon though, I hope to have something to show for it all. I have years of collections to unpack - which I come by honestly. Both my Grandmother and Mother are collectors. I only have another 800 or so boxes to go through. Today I thought I would share a picture of one of my Mother's collections. When I walk in the door and see this I get warm inside. It says you are home, all is well.

Gratitude...

Sweet Home Alabama - Alabama the Beautiful. I see these slogans written all over the license plates of the cars and trucks in Alabama. Yes I am back in Alabama. My good friend has had her surgery and feeling much better.

The people who were devastated by the 60 something tornadoes that blew through the state are recovering. Not quite two months out, the trees that were damaged have turned brown and are piled in fields, along the roads, in parking lots, etc. Many stand torn and stripped.

Homes and businesses are cleaning up and starting to mend and rebuild. It is still a shock to turn a corner and see unbelievable damage on one side of a street, or through a neighborhood and normalcy on another. In many places you can see just wide swaths where homes and businesses use to be. It is chilling, heart stopping. Recovery here will take a long time. Not just the physical recovery of rebuilding, but the psychological recovery.

Saturday, I was in a small town on Main Street taking pictures, antiquing, and thrift store shopping. The skies turned dark and the wind began to kick up. Within two or three minutes shop owners were out watching the skies. I heard one man calling home asking someone to check the weather station. You could feel the fear. I had to stop and say a little prayer for all of those so scarred from the tornadoes.

So, today, this week, I am grateful that my family is safe, with a roof/roofs over their heads. How lucky am I! [please double click on the photographs to see the extent of the damage]

Four Letter Words - Home

Home

The holidays are almost over. Four of my five boys were here with their various wives and girlfriends, and puppy dogs. Some for a few days, some longer. It was so nice to see them together. They are growing into such fine men. Each so different yet the core is so alike.

We ate and drank a lot, every year we pick a country and try their wines and beer, I try to make some of their foods, it is like a little trip yet with the comforts of home. We talked a lot, looked through old picture albums and laughed more than I think I have ever. I even got them all to pick up some oil pastels and do self portraits and portraits of each other. We spent a lot of time around various tables - kitchen, dining, and coffee - sharing moments. As the last one left yesterday I realized how much I have to be thankful for. We all missed the one who was not here. Although we did have an extended phone conversation with him, we felt his absence. He is where he wants to be and is happy, what more can you ask for?

All in all it was a great holiday. It was relaxed and full of the people I love. That was the greatest gift I could ever receive. I did slip in a little art early in the mornings before everyone was up. Lots and lots of journal pages for my online class. I will share them soon.

Four Letter Words - Home