Settling of a New Day- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

It truly is the settling of a new day. Not only has the month changed to June, but we, as a family, have changed into a new chapter of life. Brian and I now have two children who have graduated high school with just two more to go. My oldest daughter, Brenna, graduated with honors on Tuesday and we couldn't be prouder. She will be heading off to college in August to attend Full Sail University to study film production. We are so proud of the wonderful young adult she is turning into and can't wait to see where the rest of her life will take her. This summer she will be exploring Canada, working as a nanny, and preparing herself to head out into the world on her own. Life, indeed, is changing and God is good.

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

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!

The Land Is Ours- Digital Painting

A typical sight around my rural home- This Land Is Ours- digital art

Sending happy Friday wishes to you and your families! I hope you all have a wonderful autumn weekend. It will be an exciting one around here because tonight is my daughter's last high school football homecoming game and tomorrow night is her last homecoming dance! I can't believe she is a senior this year.

See you on the other side of the weekend...

xo

Disrepair of America- Harford County Artist

I must say that I feel this image represents the state of our country right now. It is just one board away from falling, completely crashing into the ground and landing in a pile of rubble. I never thought in my lifetime I would see a presidential race where my two choices were an obnoxious womanizer or a career criminal who time and time again puts our country in a horrible place with her decisions.

I am not normally a political person. As a matter of fact, I can't stand politics. And the media...don't get me started. I feel as if I just can't feel good or settled with either of the choices presented to us. In the entire country, these two people are the best we have to offer? Pitiful.

If circumstances would allow me to relocate my family, I would certainly stay in the U.S. but I would love to go off grid somewhere in the middle of nowhere and unplug from life for the next 4 years. I just don't want to know. I just don't want to see what will happen to the country I love with one of these two people at the helm. Ignorance would be bliss.

So, I call this piece Disrepair of America because honestly, we are teetering on the edge of disaster here.

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

Freezing Over

It is so pleasant to sit and do nothing-and therefore, so dangerous. 

Death through exhaustion is like death through freezing-a pleasant one.

Reinhold Messner

While driving through Lancaster county after our historic blizzard a few weeks back, I came across this silo in a farmer's field, spilling over a waterfall of frozen water. I've actually seen this same silo before, this scene duplicated about 2-3 years ago when I was driving along the same stretch of road. I've never seen another silo do this, so I don't have a clear explanation for why it spills this way. I'm guessing that without a top, it fills with rain water throughout the year and when winter hits, the water expands as it starts to freeze, pushing upward until spilling and creating this beautiful waterfall. Whatever the explanation, I love this scene. It reminds me of a lighthouse, the way it is up on the hill with long grasses blowing in the winter breeze...

Digitally painted and texturized, this has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces this winter. I hope you like it too.  

Happy Friday...have a great weekend and I will see you on the other side.

For the Inactive Windmills

For the inactive windmills, even the winds from the bird wings is a hope.

~Mehmet Murat Ildan

Hope:

1.  to cherish a desire with anticipation

2.  to desire with expectation of obtainment

3.  to expect with confidence

For such a small word, it holds not only the world on its shoulders, but also the slow burning glimmer that lives inside each soul. Four letters spells out such a broad, sweeping concept. 

Even the winds from the bird wings is a hope...

Keep hoping because as long as hope is alive, so are we.

xo

P.S. Here's to hoping we get some snow soon, y'all.  You know I love the white stuff.