I Stood Upon the Hills- Throwback Repost

Throwback to December 15, 2011 when I posted this Longfellow poem along with this image I took in Maine. Beautiful words, beautiful landscape, beautiful memories.

I stood upon the hills, when heaven's wide arch
Was glorious with the sun's returning march,
And woods were brightened, and soft gales
Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales.
The clouds were far beneath me; bathed in light,
They gathered mid-way round the wooded height,
And, in their fading glory, shone
Like hosts in battle overthrown.
As many a pinnacle, with shifting glance.
Through the gray mist thrust up its shattered lance,
And rocking on the cliff was left
The dark pine blasted, bare, and cleft.
The veil of cloud was lifted, and below
Glowed the rich valley, and the river's flow
Was darkened by the forest's shade,
Or glistened in the white cascade;
Where upward, in the mellow blush of day,
The noisy bittern wheeled his spiral way.

I heard the distant waters dash,
I saw the current whirl and flash,
And richly, by the blue lake's silver beach,
The woods were bending with a silent reach.
Then o'er the vale, with gentle swell,
The music of the village bell
Came sweetly to the echo-giving hills;
And the wild horn, whose voice the woodland fills,
Was ringing to the merry shout,
That faint and far the glen sent out,
Where, answering to the sudden shot, thin smoke,
Through thick-leaved branches, from the dingle broke.

If thou art worn and hard beset
With sorrows, that thou wouldst forget,
If thou wouldst read a lesson, that will keep
Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep,
Go to the woods and hills! No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

24/365- The Harvest of My Daily Life

Digital Painting by Tracey Grumbach

“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal- that is your success. All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality. Perhaps the facts most astounding and most real are never communicated by man to man. The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

20/365-Our Picnic Spot- Digital Painting by Tracey Grumbach

Digital Painting by Tracey Grumbach

It's not fair to compare one artist to another because they all come with their own sort of elements to the picnic, you know. Annie Lennox
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annielenno574518.html?src=t_picnic

It's not fair to compare one artist to another because they all come with their own sort of elements to the picnic, you know. Annie Lennox
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annielenno574518.html?src=t_picnic

It's not fair to compare one artist to another because they all come with their own sort of elements to the picnic, you know.
-Annie Lennox

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For this digital painting of a pond at Longwood Gardens, I took a photograph using my Canon 5D Mark III and then painstakingly used different brushes in Photoshop to paint over it. Next, I exported it to my iPhone 6S Plus and used various apps to add elements and textures. Then, I returned it to Photoshop and tweaked colors, contrast, and sharpness of details.

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Brenna made it safely back to Winter Park yesterday. Her car was covered in leaf debris, but otherwise unharmed. Her apartment complex has a lot of piles of debris, but her building seems to have faired the hurricane well. The apartment building next to hers had some minor damage to the siding but seems otherwise livable. Her food was a complete loss in the refrigerator, of course, but she went grocery shopping last night to replace what was lost. She is scheduled to start classes again today. Thank you all for your amazing support during this difficult time for her. Now, if we can keep the other hurricanes away, I will be one happy Mama!

I am heading back to Longwood Gardens today with some dear friends. I am looking for inspiration and beauty!

Have a great day!

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

Hunger Moon- Mobile Art by Harford County Artist

About this image: Around my town there are tons of buildings that reveal the history of this place. As I drive around on my daily chores I often see these dilapidated old buildings that once were in their prime and serving some sort of important function. As time has passed these businesses, farms, orchards, silos, and houses have been lost. Nature has started to reclaim many of them, the owners have neglected them, and yet they still stand with dignity for their once purposeful life. It is not unlike how we treat our elderly and sick in this country. It is a shame, really.

This building is on a piece of land that is a favorite of mine. It is one of many buildings that have been abandoned. I believe it was an orchard at one point. I was able to capture this image without having to trespass as it is near a main public road but the other buildings would require me to walk onto private property. Perhaps one day I will get permission to do so. In the making of this image, I used a texture from one of my favorite texture creators, Cheryl Tarrant of Distressed Textures.  She has some really dreamy, fairy-tale textures that I absolutely love, so check her out.

It is a crazy windy day here in Maryland. Last night at about 10:30PM it sounded and felt like a freight train plowing through. I've never seen anything like it. One second it was perfectly still (I took the dog out before bed) and the next minute it felt as if the house was going to fly away. It literally was that fast. There was no build up of a breeze, it was immediate 50-60 mph winds. Weird. So far we still have power (which in a rural, wooded area such as where I live is a stinking miracle) and there is no structural damage to the house so far that we can see. I am sure before it is all said and done there will be some large branches or possibly some trees down. I hope everyone stays safe and has a beautiful Monday.

xo

On the Way to Granny's House- Before and After

About this image:  Little Red Riding Hood...that is the fairy tale that popped into my head when I came across this scene that I photographed back in 2010. In my minds eye, I could see Little Red walking through this forest on the way to Granny's when she comes across the Big Bad Wolf. I love scenes that have an air of fantasy about them. It gets the imagination going.

The original photograph left a lot to be desired. It had a huge sign blocking the left side of the barn, and the sky was not very interesting. So, with a bit of digital magic (read: hard work recreating the left side of the barn), I was able to create this final product that I felt good about. It is moody, dark, and has an air of fantasy about it. Bingo.

I've been fighting an illness this week and today I am down and out. I am typing this from my bed on my laptop as I have committed to rest today, trying to fight the fever and terrible sore throat that has plagued me for a few days. Aren't sore throats the worst? My ears always seem to follow suit when my throat becomes infected and then it hurts to swallow, breathe, or talk. Ugh. Anyway, I will be resting, taking lots of zinc, colloidal silver, Vitamin C, drinking lots of water and bone broth, and diffusing essential oils all day today. Hoping to kick this virus's butt.

Have a beautiful weekend and I will see you, hopefully feeling better, on Monday.

xo

The Marsh in Winter- Mobile Art Landscapes

About this image: The marsh in the winter time may seem dead and lonely, but oh, how it deceives. As I walked around the perimeter of the wetland, I could feel the life teeming below the tall grass and reeds, just out of my sight. I could hear the high pitched warbling of the red-winged blackbirds...one calling and another answering. I saw evidence of some beaver activity...a lodge of some sort, expertly built out of branches and piled high in a dome form rising from the shallow water. There was a sprinkling of sandy soil surrounding a freshly dug hole in the hillside ridge that divides of the low grounds and the high grounds. Ground squirrels were rustling about in the dry leaves that littered the ground, scrounging for a nut or a seed. The day was unusually warm for February in Maryland, temperatures nearly reaching a balmy 70 degrees. How was it possible that snow was forecast for overnight? A drop of nearly 40 degrees, ushered in on the wings of a windy arctic cold, was on its way. I wonder if the animals could sense it?

As I type this post, I am looking out my window, the same one I had cracked to the warm air yesterday, to see a light dusting of snow decorating the fields and trees. It looks like confectioner's sugar primly dusted over a sweet cookie. The wind is howling and the temperatures are continuing to drop. I am so thankful that I was able to get out for a walk yesterday. Today will be an inside, comfort day filled with good books, good music, a fire, and the smell of fresh laundry coming out of the dryer. I hope you are able to find some warm comfort today.

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

Dana Point- Mobile Photography Art by Tracey Grumbach

The beautiful view from the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

You know the Let Her Go song lyrics by Passenger that go:

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Well, I find this true with so many things in life. The old saying is that we don't know what we've got until it's gone. The challenge in life is to know and appreciate what you have while you have it.

My cousin's devastating accident has reminded me, and by the amount of support they have, a lot of other people as well, to stop and appreciate every single minute before it is gone.

The other day I was starting to get agitated with my kids. I was picking up around the house and I found a cookie container open and empty sitting on a pantry shelf. All the cellophane ripped off and the empty container just sitting there when the trashcan is three steps away. I guess they think I can and will throw it away. Why bother with the three steps?

Then I noticed a dirty hand print on the wall. A perfect brown dirt handprint right on the corner of the wall as if a little one rounded the corner in a hurry and grabbed the wall with his/her dirty hands for support. Something else for me to clean up. Grrrrrr.

I began to look more closely around me. I allowed myself to see things I normally block out as every day messes...the dog and cat hair balls on the floor, the nose smudges on the windows from the house animals looking out. Glancing outside I noticed the annoying and ugly construction fence that is still in place after several years. We still have not completed our house. Just below the window I was looking through was a sink full of dishes. Ugh.  The list went on.

But as my irritation grew, the song lyrics of that Passenger song popped into my head and I stopped, sat down and began thinking about my cousins. I bet my cousin wishes that instead of being in the hospital with her two critically injured children, she was home again cleaning up after her two teens. I bet she would give anything to see empty cookie containers, smudges on the wall, and dog hair balls rolling across the floor instead of beeping hospital equipment. And in that moment of realization all of the things that were annoying me instead became a blessing.

The open cookie container and the handprint on the wall meant I had happy, healthy children running around the house to make messes. The pile of dishes and laundry meant I had enough food to feed my family and enough clothing to keep my family warm. The wet dog nose smudges on the windows and the dog/cat hairballs rolling around the floor meant that we had healthy loving pets to add joy to our lives. The construction fence meant that I had a warm, safe, beautiful home being built into my dream home, even if it is baby steps at a time.

Once I changed my perspective on all of these things, I realized just how much I have. I am so blessed to have a house filled with a loving husband and four children. I am blessed to have three cats, a dog, and a horse. I am blessed to have construction mess around my house.  It means we are living a happy, healthy, normal life when many others out there don't have the same privilege.

It's all about perspective. What is one annoying or bothersome thing that you come across today that you can change your view on?  Think about your own self dialog today and see if you can catch yourself into be thankful for the mess instead of angry about it.

Have a wonderful day and pass on love.
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

The Road to Poplar Forest- Landscapes by Tracey Grumbach

The Road to Poplar Forest, VA

Since this is the view looking back down the road at one of America's great patriots, Thomas Jefferson's, country home, Poplar Forest, I thought a quote from him would be appropriate.

I never considered a difference of opinion

in politics, in religion, in philosophy,

as a cause from withdrawing from a friend.

-Thomas Jefferson 

I am hoping that on this special day, Veteran's Day,  the United States can come together in some sort of unity and harmony after the election. I have a hard time watching Americans rioting and protesting the democratic process. Time to buck up and get on with it! I am unplugging somewhat from social media because I just can't stand the negativity. So, instead, I will plug into nature, where harmony reigns.

Happy Veteran's Day to all of the people who serve or have served our country. Without you we could not enjoy the freedoms we have today. Thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you out there. Be safe and be kind.

xo

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

Thomas' Barn- Landscape Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Thomas' Barn was taken at Poplar Forest, VA

As I mentioned a while ago, my digital art piece, Four Pillars, was selected as one of the displayed images in Havre de Grace library's juried exhibition (there were 77 entries for only 13 spots, so that in and of itself is an honor).  I am so excited to announce that Friday night, I attended the artist's reception with my family and discovered that out of the 13 entries, Four Pillars won honorable mention! One piece of art (a beautiful watercolor called M.I.A.) won grand prize and three others were chosen for honorable mention, mine being one of those three. I was so shocked and pleased that other artists saw value and talent in my work. The show is on display at Havre de Grace Library during regular business hours now through December 7th if you'd like to see all the entries.

Here are a few snapshots from the event:

Four Pillars (top) is on display at Havre de Grace Library.

My beautiful children (including my oldest son's gorgeous girlfriend). From left to right:
Me, Brenna, Zachary, Natalie, Leah, and Tyler.

My husband, Brian, and me.

Also, I will be working at Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace this Saturday. Stop in and see me before we switch shows.  This is the last time my current pieces will be hanging there before the new show goes up! I will be there from 11:00AM-2:30PM. Hope to see you there!

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

Autumn's Glory

I drive by this tree quite often. It is always splendid...in every season, but especially in autumn. It's fiery orange leaves seem to glow and it is the crowning jewel of these rolling hills, standing alone and proud along the fence line. God's power, beauty, and love seem to shine through this tree.

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. I will be hanging out at Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace tomorrow from 11:00AM- 2:30PM for my time to man the gallery. I'd love it if you would stop in and say hello.

Also, I've added a new page to the blog, Upcoming Events, to list and keep track of all my art related events, including when I am working at the gallery, where my art will be showing, workshops/photowalks I will be hosting, and publications that will be coming out. Check it out!

Slow down today and this weekend and take in the beauty of this time of year. I know I intend to. Have a great weekend!

xo

The Road West

Well, yesterday's visit with the surgeon went really well. He removed the sutures and protective membranes in my mouth with no pain at all. He was pleased with how it is healing and said there is no current sign of infection! I am thrilled to have all that stuff out of my mouth; I am much more comfortable. I am still having difficulty eating because I still can't chew on the entire right side of my mouth, but hopefully as the tissues continue to heal that will become easier as well.

Now I just need to wait 3 months and go back for a bone scan of my jaw. They will be looking to see what the bone density is where they grafted the new bone and evaluate any signs of infection (hopefully there will be none!) After that they can tell me if I am a candidate to have implants to replace the teeth that were damaged from the infection and had to be removed. If all looks good, I can then schedule a second surgery to have the posts drilled into the jaw bone.

Thank you for all the prayers. I was nervous about the procedure yesterday, but it didn't hurt at all and it was very quick. Now for the next three months to go quickly and easily.

I hope you all are enjoying the amazing fall weather we are having. The golds and reds and browns seem to shine with their own light at this time of year and I just love being out in it. I was driving home from the surgeon yesterday and a breeze grabbed some leaves and caused a small blizzard of bright yellow leaves to swirl around my truck and it made me smile. I love this time of year.

Have an awesome Thursday. I plan on it. :)

xo

The Lost Balloons- Travel Art By Tracey Grumbach

The Lost Balloons- digital art by Tracey Grumbach

The sun was so huge that night. I've never really experienced a sun that looked that big before as it crept toward the horizon. I've seen my fair share of sunsets, but not one quite like this. The din of the board walkers/bikers/fair goers was dimmed by the roar of the Pacific waves crashing into the Santa Monica shore and the gulls fussing over their last few chances to grab a bite before nightfall. One distinct sound I heard, though, was the sorrowful cry of a young child as the balloons she was holding were accidentally released. The helium that gave them form, lighter than the atmosphere surrounding them, gave lift to the pink spheres, guiding them away from Earth's pull toward the heavens. It was all very dreamlike and enchanting...the kind of moment you read about in a storybook and certainly a memory one wants to hold on to forever.

xo