What a difference a year (or 11 months) can make!

What a difference a year can make, well 11 months anyway. Last summer Kansas experienced the worst drought ever but I didn't know any better considering it was my first full summer in Kansas. 

These photos were taken the first week of June last summer and I thought all that brown on the hillside was normal! 

(I posted about the drought last summer here, one of many places.) 

I took a photo of the same hill, different viewpoint of course, just yesterday. 

Look how green it is! I can't believe how different the two views are. 

We've had a beautiful wet spring and it's so welcome to see so much green...

....and puddles too! 

Although the rain clouds can look kind of menacing coming in across the prairie...I'm not going to complain if it brings rain! 

Sunday Devotions - Withered Grasses

The grass withers, the flower fades, but he word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 


Right before Christmas we were blessed with lots of beautiful snow. Over the last couple weeks the kids and I have enjoyed walking and playing in the snow. There is just something about a bright new snow that brings joy to my heart. 


However over the last week our temps have been rising and the snow, all 6 inches of it, and ice have been quickly melting to reveal the brown dead grass hiding below. Where the sight of white snow brings joy, the sight of all the dead grass brings a bit of despair. It's hard to look at it and think that our landscape will ever be pretty again, whether with snow or green grass.


Sometimes we get dogged down in life the same way with the same thoughts. Days go by where we are trodden down by worries and chores, then the negatives headlines or unexpected stresses just add upon the despair that can build in our hearts until we may think we'll never be happy again or life will never be 'good' again. 


But God gives us a never ending promise in his Word. Heaven awaits for us where there is no sadness, there is no pain. Although today we may be filled with despair, by believing in the love of God we are reminded that we won't always be here on Earth, that is full of despair. Thank goodness! 


Lord, I sometimes feel as dry as mown grass. Still, your Word sustains me. Your promises give me courage and hope. Draw me deeply into Your Word. Teach me to love. Amen (God's Promises to a Woman's Heart)

Buffalo Grass Pastel

Last night I finally had the chance to get back to doing some drawing. This one has been sitting on my easel since before Thanksgiving. I probably worked for a good hour on it and then felt I had to stop before I messed something up. Usually I can give it a couple hours and have an idea what I need to do next to a drawing but this one has me stumped.

It's an abstract take on some weeds I saw in a ditch a while ago with buffalo beneath them. As though the plants are growing from the bodies of the buffalo; circle of life type of thing.

Buffalo...

...weeds....

What do you think?

I like the bottom (dark buffalo areas) and I like the top (blue sky and weed tops) but I'm not feeling the center (weed stems and horizon line) but I don't know what I need to do.

I thought maybe I need to develop the stems. Or maybe I need to work on the horizon line and background. Now I'm not sure if I want the buffalo to look as though they are below ground or above ground. I do know I like the rough sketchy style going on. I don't want anymore realism here, just abstraction.

Thoughts? Opinions? Any ideas would be most helpful.

Photo Thursday - Kansas Weeds

Kansas....

...can even make weeds....

...look beautiful...to me anyway!

Photo of the Day - Just one Drop

Sometimes it's the smallest, simplest things in life that I find the most wonderous...like a single drop of dew.

Photo of the Day - Dandelion Seeds

I just absolutely love the texture in this shot. I'm not loving the green vignette though. I lean toward black myself.

What do you think? Should I change it?

Photo Thursday - Sunrise, Dew, Fire and Sunset

Sunrise

Dew

Fire

Sunset Silhouette