Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation 2018 Individual Artist Award Grant

Sometimes we need to do things for no other reason than to push ourselves in a direction we never would have gone. Recently, I have been so blessed with career opportunities flowing my way for which I am totally humbled and grateful. Most of the time opportunities don't just present on one's doorstep; you've got to work hard, become vulnerable, and put your work out there for people to see. When you plant seeds sometimes they hit fertile soil and grow into wonderful things and sometimes they dry up and wither into nothing. Sometimes these opportunities spring up quickly and sometimes they need lots of time to grow and develop.

I am constantly on the look out for new opportunities to enter my work into shows, publications, and more recently, apply for grants. Last week I found out about the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation 2018 Individual Artist Award Grants which happened to be accepting applications for grants in the amount of $1,000, $3,000, and $6,000 in the category of photography. When I looked at the deadline for the application, it was this past Friday at 4:30 PM. Unfortunately, because of taking care of Brenna all week and then internet problems (rural life issues), I missed the deadline. I was disappointed because the grant only comes around about every 4 years in the photography category so I would have to wait a long time to try again.  However, as fate would have it, I received an email on Saturday morning saying that the deadline was extended to Sunday at 11:59 PM due to server errors on the grant application site. Now, I didn't have any more excuses. I had to submit. I decided to go with the theme of black and white photography showing rural/agricultural landscape in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. I had to submit 8 photographs that were taken after July 2014 to represent my body of work. These are the 8 photos I chose to enter.

Frozen Silo-Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Farm At Rest-Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Amish Farmer- Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Flock Over Farm- Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Wash Day- Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Winter Mount- Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

January Silos-Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Team of Four-Digital Photography-Black and White Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Competition for this grant is highly competitive. The winners are selected by a team of jurors from out of state. I will have to wait a really long time to see if I am awarded grant money because they will not notify the winners until April of 2018. I am so proud that I worked really hard to pull this together and submit. It was a long process on which I spent several days. I am so thankful to my family for their encouragement and patience as I was hooked to my studio and computer for many many hours. My chances of winning are slim to none as most people who win grants actually enter several times before being selected. This is the first time I've ever applied for a grant, so I am not expecting much. The good part, though, is it forced me to reach out of my comfort zone, go through several years worth of images (many of which I've never shown before), and try something new.

What goals do you have that you've been putting off? What box will you step out of today?

Have a beautiful Monday...stick around the rest of the week as I have some really cool digital art pieces, photography pieces, and announcements to make this week!

xo

The Bishop's Garden

Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, Maryland

Meet me in the courtyard of the Bishop's Garden.
Winter just birthed spring;
The leaves and fresh breezes are coming in.
Somehow the air smells different,
The birds sound different,
The stones look different,
The soil feels different
At this time of year.
New beginnings
That make anything possible fill my heart.
Upon each exhale,
The frozen stillness of winter melts away.
I think this is called hope.

Listen!
Hide with me in the laurel and close your eyes
To open your ears.
Can you hear the children's voices singing?
They are asking for hope...
"Give us hope and we'll show you the way."
Is echoing in the chambers of the sanctuary,
Echoing in the breezes of spring,
Echoing in the hearts of those
Who are brave enough to hear.

Meet me in the Bishop's Garden.
Perhaps hope is hiding there among the damp, fertile soil.
Wrap it up with beautiful ribbon and
Gift it to the children of the world.


*This artwork and poem was inspired by seeing my 9 year old daughter along with 150 other amazing children perform Saturday at this beautiful cathedral in Baltimore. Their song, Give Us Hope, is still echoing in my ears and it repeats in my head daily, haunting me in a most delicious way. An earworm of sorts, but more of a heart-worm. The lyrics of that beautiful song touched me and just can not remove them from my heart, soul, or ears. I hope you enjoyed the poem and the altered photograph. <3

Here is the choir my daughter sings with prior to their show Saturday...Deer Creek Youth Choir lead by the beautiful Julie Cullotta.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.
xo

Harford County Homestead- Digital Art by Baltimore Artist

About this image: The beauty of where I live is that almost everywhere you look there are quaint nooks of farmland snuggled into the rolling hills. This property belongs to a friend of mine and I created this digital painting from a photograph I took back in 2010 when she was hosting a Polar Bear Plunge in her frozen farm pond. In the original photograph there were people all around the pond in their bathing suits in the freezing cold weather and snow. However, for this digital painting, I just wanted nature so I left all the people out of the final piece. I was not one of the crazy dippers that day...I preferred to record all the action with my camera. My kids and husband did plunge, though, to help raise money for the Special Olympics. It is one of those fond family memories that we have and will never forget.

Speaking of looking back and memories, I've had so much fun looking back at old photos lately, that I've decided to share the fun with you and post an update on Nine Acres Designs Facebook page if there was a post from years past on that day.

It's Friday, y'all. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am hoping my jaw pain stays in check so I can begin to move about a bit this weekend. Sitting still gets awfully boring.

xo

Elf In St. Michael's, Maryland

About this image: I chose this image, an older photo taken back in December of 2010 but reedited in my current style, for today it would have been my father's 75th birthday today. My father absolutely loved the ocean, boating (although he liked power boats, not sail boats), and lighthouses. So, this is in honor of my dad. He is in heaven, but that will not stop us from celebrating his life and memory tonight with a big ice cream party. My father loved ice cream. He was not much of a sweets man...didn't care for candy and lots of cake, but man he loved his ice cream. He loved it so much he actually died with his ice cream spoon and bowl right next to him. He had just finished his bowl of vanilla ice cream when he passed away suddenly in 2014. At least he was a happy man when he left this earth.

I'd like to say thank you for all the well wishes and prayers yesterday. The procedure didn't quite go as easily as expected, but with me they rarely do. It turned out that the bone graft grew a little too thick in order for correct placement of the implants. So, before anything could be done, they had to cut open my gums again and shave the bone down to an acceptable height. Then, the implant base was drilled into the jaw bone, and stabilized with some sutures. I am not in an unreasonable amount of pain for what the procedure entailed and I am thankful for that. I am on bedrest until tomorrow afternoon to minimize bleeding but after that I should be good to go. I return in three weeks for a surgery site check and then hopefully will be released from care three months from then. Thanks again for all the prayers. Even though I was awake for this procedure, the staff  of The Krupp Center in Towson was fabulous and did everything they could to calm my fears, talk me through everything, and make me comfortable. Dr. Krupp is a fabulous and able doctor and I am thankful to be in his care.

My extended family is in need of prayers today, again, however. My husband, Brian's, uncle passed away last night after a long battle with colon cancer. Please keep his family in your hearts as they say goodbye to a loved brother, uncle, father, and friend. Thank you.

Have a great Thursday...the weekend is in sight!

xo

Long Shadows of Empirical Knowledge- Rural Landscape by Tracey Grumbach

About this image: Empirical evidence is the knowledge acquired by the senses and alludes to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Anyone who has taken high school or college philosophy is familiar with the story of the shadows and the cave...a philosophical statement about solely relying on your senses to create a version of truth. As I was taking a walk with my kids the other day, I came across this scene as the sun was beginning to fall low on the horizon. I loved the way the shadows of the trees cast extremely long shadows across the winter field, causing stripes of golden-reddish brown and black. I also loved how the house over the hill was just peeping out above the ridgeline, partially hidden by the rolling hills of Maryland's landscape. This time of day is divine. Anyway, I digress...coming across the scene, I was immediately reminded of my college philosophy class so many years ago and the Allegory of the Cave. It struck me that the allegory was so applicable to today's world and how we choose to create truth only from our senses...what we see and hear. Now days what we see and hear comes mostly from the media. If one believes only what one sees and hears from the media, which many people do, then one is creating their own separate truth based on the "shadows" presented to them by the media. Of course, shadows are not true reality. The trees in this image were rather average size trees but because of the angle of the sun, the shadows reached far longer than their true height. Just as the bias and angle of the media creates a "truth" that differs from reality.

Just as I said the other day in a post, I think nowadays we have stepped away from our true nature and rely too much on technology to gather our truths. We are much further away from being quiet within ourselves to trust or even hear our own gut instincts. We are bombarded with "truth" 24 hours a day 7 days a week and it is all just noise. God created us with amazing instincts yet we are so far removed from that quiet voice within us that we can't hear it.

Anyway, this was not meant as a philosophy lesson, but rather a look into what my brain thinks about when I create. I really do see symbolism in almost every single piece of art, and this one is no different. Some see a pretty winter landscape, but for me, it represents something much more deep, as almost all of my art does. Sometimes when people come see me at the gallery and ask about the meaning of a piece or ask why I titled something the way I did, often they are surprised that there usually is a very long and thought out story behind each one.

Perhaps I just think too much.

Have a beautiful weekend. I am heading to Arts By the Bay Gallery today for my shift to work, so come on out and let's chat about art and thinking too much!  I will be there from 2:30PM until 6PM (I believe.) Otherwise, I will see you here on Monday!

xo

Along Big Falls Road- Landscape Mobile Art by Tracey Grumbach

Along Big Falls Road- Landscape Mobile Art by Tracey Grumbach

About this image: Some days are just hard as a parent. You try to do your best by your kids every day, but sometimes one just falls short. A few weeks ago my youngest daughter started telling me that she couldn't see the board or pocket chart in homeschool very well. She kept getting out of her seat and walking up to the board over and over again. Being that they are homeschooled, I play the dual role as her mom and as her teacher, which sometimes is not a blessing. Knowing my youngest daughter as I do, I suspected that she was making up that she couldn't see as an excuse to procrastinate doing her work and to stretch her legs. So, I told her to sit down and do her work after several trips to the board. Then, yesterday, during school, she told me again that she couldn't see, but this time it was vocabulary cards in a pocket chart. The pocket chart stand is very close to her desk, so again, I thought she was procrastinating and told her to sit down. This time, though, I noticed her visible frustration as she squinted to see the chart.

Guilt immediately kicked in. Maybe she really couldn't see the chart or board! So, being near-sighted myself, I grabbed my glasses and put them on her. Immediately, her face relaxed and she said, "Oh, now I can see..." and she spelled the word right off the card from her seat.

Ugh. For about two weeks I was letting this poor kid suffer with not being able to see things at a distance! I assumed she was just procrastinating and stretching and wanting attention when she really truly had a vision issue. I immediately called the eye doctor and as luck would have it, they had a cancellation minutes before for that afternoon. We grabbed that spot. Well, turns out she did need glasses and so she picked the prettiest pink and purple pair they had. Poor thing.

You may ask, "What does this have to do with this image?" Well, as we were traveling to the eye doctor, I came across this beautiful scene. I stopped in the middle of the road (I live in a rural area with barely any road traffic and in both directions there were no vehicles in sight) and took a picture with my iPhone. While waiting at the doctor's office, I used all my mobile app art tools to create this piece. When I was finished with it (about 6-7 steps in the whole process), I showed the twins my work. They both gasped and said, "How did you do that when you are not even at your computer?"  Since they were with me in the truck when I took the picture, they knew what the original scene looked like and could compare it to the finished product. I loved that they were impressed. N, my youngest daughter, said, "Mom, you are the best artist."  LOL. I don't strive to be the best artist, I just have a compulsion to create and express my feelings through digital art, but the fact that my kids think I'm the best makes me glow. Especially since I know I am far from perfect and make many mistakes as a mom. But, they love me and forgive me all my shortcomings.

Don't forget to stop in tonight at Oxford Art Alliance to see me from 5-8PM! I have three pieces showing and for sale...all three are limited editions with only one print available! They will never be printed again, so grab the one and only while you can. Check out the flyer below for details and please make sure you introduce yourself tonight!

Also, on yesterday's post, I said to tune in for a big announcement today, but I have to postpone revealing what that is until later next week! Sorry for any confusion that may cause!
xo

Forgotten Wreaths- Digital Art St. Michael's, Maryland

Forgotten Wreaths- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

About this image- This is another one of my rediscovered old photographs that caught my attention. The original photograph was taken back in 2010 during a trip to St. Michael's, Maryland. If you didn't know by now I have, for a long time, been fascinated by houses and old buildings. This one was no exception. I was intrigued by the overgrown grass growing around the front door making it look as if no one was coming in and out of the residence. But, yet it was decorated for Christmas with beautiful wreaths. The home itself was in great condition with a beautiful golden eagle ornament sitting atop the peak and the dual matching chimneys. The semi-circular porch  reminded me of a carousel top and don't get me started on the beautiful attic window. I totally could have lived here.

Speaking of forgotten wreaths, this year is the longest that we have ever kept up Christmas decorations. We finally took down the tree and indoor decorations on Tuesday but our outside decorations are still up, although they are unplugged now. We have been so busy, we just haven't had time. Our house has the big empty feeling it gets every time we take decorations down. It seems cavernous and echoey. I miss the tree, but I don't miss the cats making toys out of all my ornaments, lol.

Today is full of errands after teaching homeschool. I will be off to the bank to deposit the last of the 2016 checks for art sales, then to Oxford, PA to deliver the three new pieces to the gallery there. Next, I need to rush home and prepare for my daughter's IEP meeting (I homeschool her but have a good relationship with the local school where she receives speech services and I maintain a current IEP for her in case she needs to return to public school.). Next, I have to rush home for a phone conference with my oldest daughter's admissions and financial aid counselor for a college she is considering. Then, I need to pack and get ready for our trip to Full Sail University. We will be leaving tomorrow and coming back on Monday after touring the campus and local housing options. After this trip my oldest daughter will be able to make her decision about what college she will attend.  I am so blessed to have my God-daughter and my oldest son watching the twins and running the house until we get back.

Try to stay dry out there! At least it is a bit warmer, which makes the damp a bit more tolerable.

xo

She Had an Autumn Soul- Photography by Tracey Grumabch

She had an autumn soul

Gloriously beautiful to look upon...

and dying every second

piece by piece.

-Alfa

Fall Delight- Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Because we all will need a little nature and zen to get through this election day. Sending, peace, love, acceptance, and sanity to all of America today. Go out and convene with nature for a while today and perhaps it will center us all.

Check Nine Acres Designs Facebook page a little later for a video of the spot where I took some of these images.

xo

Chapel Hills- Rural Landscape by Baltimore Artist

Taken at Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery in Perry Hall, MD

If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.

-Lewis Hine

I just don't have words today so I will leave it here.
Have a blessed day, y'all.
xo

Keeping the Light- Tracey Grumbach Digital Artist

Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

The heart is the lighthouse that guides all our senses and it is the essence of our humanity. 

That is why when they say "Follow your heart" it is never easy; 

because by doing so you've made a choice to follow a 

natural unexplainable genius that is beyond your comprehension.

-Asrar Abdulghani

I've been reading the book Anatomy of the Spirit, as I have mentioned in a previous post. It is very slow going for me as I am shocked at how relevant it is in my life and I can only read a few pages at a time to allow myself to absorb it fully. I feel like there are secrets to life and health in this book that is allowing me to grow as a human being. It is shocking at how relevant it is in my life right now. It's amazing how God puts things, people, events, and circumstances in our paths to help us on our spiritual journey. This book is one of those things...I am sure of it. I have so many underlines and highlights and notes that I will never be able to let someone use this book after me! That is ok because everyone should have their own copy to do the same thing.

One of the quotes I have taken away is a little prayer that means so much to me, so I will share it here with you to hopefully help someone else...

"Let me know what I am able to know and trust that behind all events, no matter how painful, there is a reason from which good can come."

What this means to me is asking God to allow me the wisdom to know what I am able for I will never understand the divine flow of the universe.  For all the things I do not understand, to release the pain to God knowing that although I may not understand all the "whys" in life, especially for the painful events in life, that He has a grand scheme from which good always, always comes without fail. Often times it is hindsight that we see the reason or the growth or the change that has taken place when we walk through a difficult time in our lives. But the trick is while in the midst of a painful episode to rest easy knowing God knows the reasons even if you do not. 

My explanation is a bit confusing, but as I said, it is my personal interpretation...so you may not connect with it. You may read it a totally different way and that is ok.

I hope you are having a fabulous week. I am preparing for the long drive home tomorrow from my visit with my mom. I would appreciate prayers for a safe journey home. Thank you!

xo

Chesapeake City Cottage- Digital Landscape by Nine Acres Designs, LLC

Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, 

in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? 

He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.

-Laurence Sterne

Seriously? I want to live here. This tiny cottage by the water. Gingerbread trim. Lamppost. Waterview. Not too much to clean. My goal in life is when I raise my kids and release them into the world, I want find a cottage similar to this along a lake somewhere. Just like the quote, I want Providence as my neighbor. And that is all.

Have an amazing Tuesday. 

xo

Rock Run Grist Mill- Harford County Digital Art

Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach- Rock Run Grist Mill in Havre de Grace, MD

 

 

 

It's been a crazy week.

I was out of town for five days on a trip to California to take my oldest daughter college shopping. She wants passionately to go into the television/film industry (possibly to be a director or producer) and some of her top choices for college are of course, in the Los Angeles area. So, my husband and I took her clear across the country to visit the colleges and the L.A. area in general to see if she would be a good fit. Leaving your family at 18 and moving across the country from family and friends all by yourself is a scary proposition, so we felt it was necessary to make sure she was completely serious and committed to this idea.

Turns out she is.

She was a perfect fit in California. She has always said she was a California girl, even though she had never been anywhere near the state. So, in between college and neighborhood shopping, we fit in a few fun things such as letting her take a surfing lesson (which she rocked), visiting the Santa Monica Pier, and of course, we had to visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the famous Chinese Theater. She was totally in her element. She also fell in love with her top college choice, Columbia Film Academy, Hollywood. The tour was great, the school is small (and she likes that), and the immersive curriculum would get her started into her field of interest the very first semester. There literally was nothing she didn't love about it. You should have seen her face when she walked into the college's library that is filled with movie and television scripts, DVDs, Blue-Rays, etc. I thought she was going to have a stroke. 

So, it looks like we might be seriously pursing this direction for her. This mama's heart is sad at the thought of my baby all the way across the country, but I also want her to reach for her dreams and I will do anything necessary (including cutting the apron strings) to let her do just that.

On another note, traveling with a chronic illness takes lots of planning and is not always easy, especially when across the country dealing with time changes. But, with the help of my husband and daughter, I fared well on this trip, resting as much as possible and sticking to my treatment plan.

Lots more happened this week, but I've rambled enough for one day. I hope you enjoy this digital art piece that I have submitted to a juried show themed "My Havre de Grace." I won't know for another week or so if it has been accepted or not, but I will keep my fingers crossed in the meantime.

Check back for more updates...coming soon.

xo

The End of Summer- Creative Digital Art

The end of summer draws near and the season of changes is creeping up. All around me corn is being harvested, sunflowers are drooping their heads, the temperatures have cooled a bit, and the days are getting shorter. Autumn is my favorite season. I am very much looking forward to jeans, sweaters, boots, jackets, and hot tea on my front porch swing. What is your favorite season? Why?

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday. Stop for a minute and see if you can smell, hear, or see the changes around you. Hugs...

xo

Concord Point Lighthouse- Harford County Art

I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. 

There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, 

no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. 

It beckons through the storms of life. 

It calls, 'This way to safety; this way to home. 

- Thomas S. Monson

The home phone rang. I picked it up expecting it to be the third telemarketer of the day, but instead I saw on the caller id that it was my husband. 

I answered, "Hello?" 

But instead of a reply all I could hear on the other end was traffic noises.

"Hello?" I said again, starting to feel an empty pit form in my stomach. Nothing...only a bit of static and traffic noises.

I hung up. Maybe it was a bad connection. I was sure he would call right back. 

As I waited for the phone to ring again, I remembered that my husband was traveling that day. He had a meeting that morning away from his office and it was just about the time his meeting would have been over and would be traveling back.

Another minute passed and just as I was getting ready to call him, my nerves rising, my cell phone rang. His cell phone caller id showed once again, but this time on my mobile phone.

"Hello?" I answered. 

Nothing. Traffic noises.

"Brian?  Are you there?  Hello?" Fear was just beginning to bud and take root in my gut. 

No answer. 

Panicked now, I hung up and decided to try to text. Something wasn't right. Why could I hear background car noises but not his voice?  

I texted..."I answered both phones but can only hear traffic noises. I can't hear you. Are you ok?"

The reply came in a short time..."My car is totaled. I need you to come pick me up." 

Stomach acid began to rise in my throat, a shot of adrenaline coursed through me as I struggled to push down the panic and think clearly. Where was he? Was he hurt? How would I get to him? Was anyone else injured? Why wasn't his phone working?

I screamed for my oldest daughter, told her what was going on and asked her to mind the twins while I left to go find Brian. I threw a pair of shoes on and ran out the door as I was calling Brian once again to try and connect with him and find out his location so I could get him. 

Hearing his voice settled my nerves a bit after the call finally connected (his cell phone was still connecting to the car bluetooth so while he could hear me, I could not hear him because he was out of the car but not far enough away to drop the bluetooth connection). But I had an hour and ten minute ride to get to him. This was a long time to drive and wonder what happened and of course, imagine all that could have happened. 

This is when I began to pray. I prayed to the Lord, handing him all my fears and worries and rested in knowing that He had this. He is in complete control and there was nothing I could do but trust in Him. My shaking settled. My stomach unclenched. I began to praise Him and thank him that Brian was not seriously injured. While it was one of the longest rides of my life, I was thankful for the complete silence in the truck (no radio, no kids, no phone) so that I could throw complete trust to God and his plan for our lives.

By the time I got to the accident scene I was completely calm. I was centered. I was ready to deal with whatever was required of me to help my husband. 

I share this story with you to remind you that even in times of turmoil and confusion, the Lord has you in the palm of his hand. Even in the midst of panic, if you can remember to seek God, calmness will overtake you. The quote above, "Look to the lighthouse of the Lord" is so true. There is nothing He can not guide you through.

I am so thankful my husband and the other driver were safe and uninjured despite a horrific accident with massive vehicle damage to both cars. Neither one of the drivers had a scratch or a bruise on them. It was a miracle and no one can tell me it wasn't. I believe in angels and I believe in the power of putting all your worries in the hands of God. 

xo 

You Make Your Mark

Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and they scrub it off.

-Bansky

No matter how hard they try, they can not erase me. They may be able to erase my art, silence my voice, and delete my words; but they will never get rid of me.

 I was in awe, standing in an alley in Baltimore City, just trying to absorb all of the art spray painted there. The paint was fresh. The art new. The pungent smell of paint still lingered in the air like a badge of courage of those risking arrest just to express themselves. The acrid bouquet cut through even the strong urine smell that lingered around the edges of the building. It was like walking into some brightly colored cartoon, the drabness and grayness of the city fading away into this vibrant new world.  A new world where color was king, expression freely accepted, and nothing was permanent. Everything was free flowing and liquid. With the breeze blowing, I almost felt unsteady on my feet. What was this amazing world I had entered?

Standing there, contemplating, I yearned for the ability to camouflage myself into the wall, like a chameleon, by taking on all the beautiful colors I saw there. What if our skin could blend perfectly into the wall and take on the exact art that our shadows were covering? How freaking cool would that be to disappear into this most vibrant, beautiful world? And that is when the idea struck me...I can. I can simply disappear here...and I did.

Hope your Monday and the rest of your week is vibrant and beautiful.

xo

The Best Thing To Do Is Walk Out of the Barn- Digital Art By Harford County Artist

I love the title of this piece of art because it reminds us that even in stormy, difficult times, it is best to walk out into the open and be vulnerable. Take chances. Live your dreams. Take steps forward when all you want to do is stand still.

Whether it is personal or career related, taking chances has never been easier for me. Somehow when you are faced with difficult health, it really puts other things in your life into perspective. I used to be afraid to ask for what I want and need, but I've learned that if I don't advocate for myself, then no one will. The worst that can happen is someone tells you "no." Big deal. Is not fulfilling your dreams a risk you want to take just because someone may tell you no? For me, it is a clear choice.

So, whether it is for my health or for my career, I have been practicing intention and not letting fear stop me from moving forward. I ask for help when I need it.  I put my art out there to be judged. I accept a no when it comes, but it doesn't freeze me.

In the past week I have contacted two local publications and one national publication to consider publishing my art. Also, I have committed to entering a juried art contest on the local level. Nothing may come of any of this, but if I didn't try and stick my head and heart out there, then NOTHING would come of it for sure. Because when you do nothing, nothing comes to you in return. But, what if everything came of this? What if all three publications said yes! What if I won the contest? Yes, what if.

So, what are you waiting for? What dreams do you have that you can take a baby step toward today? No is not a barrier...it is just a detour sign. Don't be afraid of it, just take a different route. Get busy, people. Take action toward your goals.

xo

It's Heartening In a Strange Way

Parkton Bridge Along the NCR Trail

Nobody knows anything. I deal with people in all walks of life, 

some of whom should have some idea of what they're doing. 

And they're all clueless. 

It's astonishing that any bridges stay up, 

or that planes don't constantly plummet from the sky. 

It's heartening, in a strange way. 

 ~Peter York

This is how I feel about Lyme disease...there are people who should have some idea of what they are doing, but they're all clueless. While I wouldn't say they are "all" clueless, it is pretty frightening how many misconceptions are out there, not just among the regular population, but among doctors as well. That's why it is so important that I use my voice and my experience to get word out to the citizens of my community that this disease is dangerous, rampant, and growing into a larger problem every single day.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and recently I had the honor of attending my local County Council meeting where they read a Proclamation declaring it as such in Harford County. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but this is a huge step in getting local government on board to not only admit there is a growing problem, but also help be part of the solution. If you'd like to see the proclamation read by the Council and received by the members of the local Lyme support group, Harford Lyme Advocates, a chapter of the National Capitol Lyme Disease Association (to whom I donated a portion of the proceeds from my solo art show in October), you can watch it here.  You can forward the video to time marker 8:48 to skip the opening business and see the Lyme portion. A loud thank you to our fearless leader, Janet Jensen, who leads our local chapter with her unrelenting, kind, energetic spirit.

Since my solo show in October, Janet has kept me informed of how the money raised has been used to advocate for Lyme awareness and Lyme patients.

What is going on at the local level:

4 Lyme education awareness tables at public health fairs
Supported work to pass the Maryland Lyme disease bill (2016)
Increased the number of support group meetings to monthly (meet 3rd Thurs each month, 6-, Upper Chesapeake Medical Ctr)
Provided Lyme education materials to local medical offices

What is happening at the national level via NatCapLyme HQ:

Completed work on the K-12 curriculum-  It's ready for public use.
Updated, revised education content in the  website, including updated formatting
Passed legislation in Maryland and Virginia requiring medical providers to give lab report of Lyme testing to patients and disclaimer that testing may not be reliable enough to rule out the disease.
Funded Lyme research conducted by JHU Dr. Zhang and Dr. Aucott.  

So much great work is being completed and pushed forward by an amazing group of people in this county and in the wider Maryland/DC/Virginia area. A hearty thank you to every single person who lives and breathes each day to bring Lyme awareness and fight to see the disease eradicated.

In celebration of Lyme Disease Awareness month, I will donate a portion of the profits from any art sales in the month of May to the National Capital Lyme Disease Association so that I may do my part in helping to keep this never-ending work pushing forward. Thank you in advance to anyone who sees fit to either donate or purchase art this month! You can make a donation here or you can contact me about purchasing art via my email form in the sidebar.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to explore my Living With Lyme link here on the blog, or to contact me via the email form in the sidebar. I will do what I can to help get you information!

xo

Disrepair

The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. 

You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poor-house. 

The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. 

I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, 

and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.

~Henry David Thoreau

I absolutely love this quote. It is so true and you must admit we all know at least one person who finds fault with everything. We all do.  Right?

This piece of digital art is based off of a farm near where I live. Since I have been here...going on 12 years, I have only known this farm to be in disrepair and falling down. But soemthing about it still draws me in. I know, I am weird, but as I said before, moody landscapes and old buildings just intrigue me. A mixture of photograph, digital painting, textures, and stamps, this digital mixed media piece is a favorite of mine. 

Don't be a fault-finder...instead see the beautiful setting sun reflecting just as brightly from the windows of the alms-house. xo

The View from The Walters

I am currently working on a new piece that is more detailed and more work than anything I have done previously...so it will take a while. In the meantime, please enjoy this view out the window of the Walter's Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Have a wonderful Friday and a safe, happy weekend.  xo