(Pro tip: Click on the title to see this post as I intended it to look!)

I’m sure it’s not news to you that life is full of sudden sharp turns and stressful detours as well as beautiful vistas and delightful surprises. I didn’t start this blog to dwell on the hard parts, so here is a little beauty for a mini-break from thinking about those.

Hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since David and I were on what we called our Year of Adventure (which actually took 13 months). It was the reason this blog was started in the first place. [Here’s the first one if you want to see how it all began.]

Lately, I’ve been looking through a lot of my old photos for painting ideas. I’ve just finished a class on painting with acrylics and have completed (maybe, sort of) my first two canvases.

I doubt you remember the original photo from a post in October 2014, but I did, and the teacher let me go for it. Some of his best advice was to put the photo away at some point and let the painting be its own thing. That was freeing! One of the things I love about painting with acrylics is there are no permanent mistakes. Anything can be touched up or painted over. Wouldn’t that be handy for other parts of life?

Here’s my second:

This one’s even less closely tied to the original photo, because the teacher wanted more water reflections. Of course I wanted fewer, since I had no idea how to paint them, but I obeyed. Still don’t really know the real technique. I just basically smeared paint sideways instead of dabbing it on. Probably should google it! Class is over, but I won’t stop now. Having too much fun!

Besides playing with paint, I’m still doing some songwriting with various teams at church, and that also is a delight. We’ve got a new song we’re planning to introduce next week for advent, and I hope there will be more to come.

But above all, my greatest joys are the people in my life, including these two rascals:

Well, that didn’t go as he’d planned, but he seems unbothered. If only we could all navigate life with such sangfroid.  Somehow, even after my [unspecified number of] decades, I cannot predict the future with any accuracy. All I can do is trust God, who is much wiser than I am, help where I can, and find the bright side as much as possible.

There are still so many things to be grateful for, like you who continue to read my meanderings and enjoy my photos. Grace and peace to you always.

BTW, I still hate how these posts appear in email, whether on your phone or laptop, so be sure to read this on my actual site. Otherwise the photos’ aspect is distorted and it’s just not as good. Clicking on the title will do it.

Okay, it doesn’t really feel like the season has changed, except for the one rainy cool day we had last week, but the calendar insists it is now officially fall. I can still get away with flip-flops and sleeveless tops, but I bring along an extra layer these days. Fall classes have started for everyone. Still, I was able to spend the bulk of a Saturday with the little guys, including a trolley ride to get ice cream at Walrus.

Then back to the Museum of Discovery for ALL the fun things there, including LOTS of very loud drumming in The Garage, where they practiced their rock ‘n’ roll faces and shook the place to its foundations.

Then a bit of zip-lining.

Be sure to note the handful of woodchips and the look on Brooks’ face. Yeah, those woodchips came straight at me. Little imp.

Tonight the sky was outdoing itself.

I wasn’t sure whether I should enjoy the show or run for home, but I wanted to check out my favorite pond. Remember this?Here’s the milkweed now.Definitely different, but not necessary something to lament, just a new season. If you can’t quite make up your mind if you’re ready for the change, you’re not alone. This tree is right there with you.

Of course, the adventures aren’t over just because summer is. Here’s wishing you a season of glowing beauty and many challenges to capture your imagination.

As always, grace and peace to you and yours!