I thought it would be good to have some warm weather photos. These are all old and appeared on one of my blogs years ago. I love it that Blogger saves all the photos from your blogs so you can re-use them.

The "hello birdie" artwork is from one of my art journals. I would like to get back to my journals because it can be very healing to work out things in a journal-write stuff out and then cover the writing-or leave it-whatever helps.

I have been wanting to voice some of my opinions on what's going on in this country but I definitely don't want to make differences of opinions a sore point. I have many friends and even family members who don't agree with me. We have decided to love one another anyway, and to not get into arguments. This decision has taken some time to work itself out in real time.

It's important to realize your friendship or family love is more important than your rant-as much as you want to rant(both sides).

It's really the best idea to just be honest in a calm way and state what you believe.

Recently, we were honest with our pastor about our stand. We said we would not cause division in the church, and that if the subject came up (it does) that we would just be quiet (we have been).

I guess there's no real point in this post except to ask that you look at more than one news outlet. 

And please-there is way too much hatred and violence and division and retribution in this country.

We are allowed by First Amendment Rights to be able to have and voice our opinions.

My great fear is that this Constitution will be degraded into what a few people want, instead of our agreed upon laws.

And it is more than frightening that we are being told that eye witnessing an event can be taken in a way that is not true. Not only eye witnessing, but caught on camera.

That's my opinion.

Stay safe please

 "Bad Birds"

Debra Smith, acrylic on canvas

Please stay safe in the storm.

-ya gonna kick me out or what???

 I may have shown one of these before-I can't remember, and I didn't look at my blog first before I posted.

Google is doing a new weird thing and I may not be able to sign in to this blog-I have no idea if I'll just disappear. I would lose my YouTube account too.

So-anyway-hoping I can keep getting around the sign-in trouble I'm having-I don't really dare to change anything. If I get locked out, I will just start a new blog.

It's so nice to be in this space with friends I have known for so long!

Every day is new.

 Fox, of course

and landscape.

Acrylics on canvas and paper.

The landscape is crooked-I thought I had it edited to fix it but I guess not.

I'm looking forward to peepers in the Spring, and warmer weather.

Hello new year! And a huge thank You to God....

 Acrylic, Debra Smith , 2025

I realized the paintings I will do now will have a new year's date on them. The pile I have in my studio now were all done in December of 2025. It's funny how time is...

I have been cleaning out my studio and organizing it. 

Now I'll have a hard time remembering where I put everything for a while. 

Do you have the cleaning out bug right now?

Do you have any resolutions or ideas that you want to try for the next year?

I have resolved to keep the bright side of life more in focus.

I have let my vision get too clouded with the sad state of the world. I can see it happening in others' as well-there seems to be a not-so-niceness in people I think because everyone has so much on their minds.

I'm thankful that the Lord has shown me myself, and that He can help me get my JOY back again!

I don't want to be one of those down-lookers anymore.

Painting is one thing that has helped me-especially since it's such a huge surprise to me that I can paint again. I had gone through a long artist's block and was discouraged by that as well.

I feel God leading me in my painting. I have no idea what the outcome will be-

I am just doing the next thing.

Please tell me what's going on in your world.

I truly want to know!

Happy New Year, and thank you for visiting!

 Field study

Acrylic on cradled wood

Debra Smith

I don't think the colors translated correctly from the scan, but I still like the composition, and it was fun to paint.

Happy New Year!

***

A Story and a Painting

 The Fox

New fallen snow covered the hill like a tight blanket. Slow winds sifted tree branches till there were no bare spots under trees and bushes.

All was white except where corn had stood in rows and weeds had grown.

It was a snow that quieted footsteps and a far away train whistle.

I climbed a hill to the open field.

A bright red fox stood on the field ridge. My footsteps didn't betray me; the fox watched some hidden creature and posed, not moving. I caught my breath, not wanting this vision to end.

How long we both kept our positions in the field there way no way to measure. Time didn't exist for the fox, and it ceased to exist for me.

Which one of us would break the spell of silence?

A small breeze touched the fox's tail.

The trance was broken.

He sniffed the air and my presence was revealed.

One quick look at me and the fox was gone over the ridge.

A fictional story and painting

Debra Smith

Hope your New Year is blessed with love.

***