The Value of Community Art Showing

Talent abounds within our rural area of Grant County.   Artistic abilities shown through a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, or authoring a book, often are hidden until a venue brings attention to such creations.  One such venue was recently held in our area through an annual art show. This particular event provides artists within the community to exhibit their creations to the public. Their inspiration of heart is expressed through varied mediums and subject matter.

The Community Art Show is now in its 12th year.  I took photos of individual works displayed and wanted to share some with you today.   Because of limited space, I cannot show them all but wanted to give you, my readers, a sampling of art shown by our local artisans.  

Carrie Bellinger, Artist

Kathy Rogers, Artist

Patricia Ross, Artist

We were privileged this year to display bronze sculptures created by Hans Magden, as shown below.

This beautiful wood sculpture of a Bighorn Sheep was carved by Ken Justice.....

It was tough to choose among the beautiful creations displayed at the art show to put in my blog.  All were worthy of recognition.  These few selections highlight the manifold talents that exist in our rural community.

Join me at The Turn-Up Patch for my next posting on Monday, June 4th.  Until then, here is a quote by Julia Cameron.... "Creativity is a spiritual issue.  Any progress is made by leaps of faith, some small and some large"....

A Day in the Life of a Cat

Hi to my readers and blogger friends....

Two weeks have zipped by and I am sitting at my computer composing a blog that is already a day late from the scheduled post.  It's been a busy two weeks and I am hitting a blank wall as to what to write.  I do so admire those bloggers who write a daily blog that is always substantive and never seem to run out of material. 

Instead of something profound or informative, I have decided to share some recent photos of my cat.  Don't laugh!!  She is the furry critter that became my rescue cat and to whom this blog is named after...Turnup and thus, 'The Turn-Up Patch'.  Five years ago, when she became a part of the Clark household, she is still alive and well and is always a comfort as a valued friend.

Yes, she is a little on the lazy side or maybe she just knows how to relax.  Here is a little saying called "Busy, Busy".....
                                    It's 8 a.m. and time to nap
                                    It's 10 a.m. and time to relax
                                    It's 12 p.m. and time to doze off
                                    It's 3 p.m. and time to zonk out
                                    It's 6 p.m. and time to slumber
                                    It's 9 p.m. and time to snooze
                                    It's 12 a.m. and time to sleep
                                    It's 4 a.m. and time to jump on sleeping human friends....

Pretty typical!  Anyone who has a cat as a beloved pet understands.
 

See you in two weeks at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, May 21st.


 

The Pinnacle and The Shepherd

One of many descriptive names given to Jesus is that of the Good Shepherd.  Various paintings depict the artist's interpretation of Christ as the Shepherd.  This particular one is rather powerful in explaining scripture in such a visual way.  As you look at this sheep alone and helpless on a pinnacle of rock, you can see fear in its inability to move for there is danger all around.  There is a paralysis of movement in such a frightening and seemingly hopeless situation.  A staff is being lowered by the shepherd to bring the animal to higher ground and safety. 

The shepherd's staff has two significant purposes .... (1) as a longer arm used to reach and catch .... (2) the curve or crook on the staff facilitates recovery of fallen animals.  The staff is symbolic of care in particularly difficult circumstances.

Obviously, the lone sheep is distressed in apparent separation and danger.  As humanity is likened to sheep, how often do we find ourselves in situations of peril that come from our own making or life's circumstances that entrap with no obvious escape.  We can become crippled emotionally, spiritually and yes, even physically if we remain in harms' way.  The Good Shepherd is always on guard in His provision of safety for His flock.   His reach defies the chasm of consequence.  His compassion is accessible to all in redemption out of ensnarement, placing you in His green pasture to nourish and restore.  Ezekiel 34:16 - I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak....

Take time out to view this video on Psalm 23 and sink deeply into the meaning of these words.  This is how our Lord and Savior would have us live as we allow Him to be the Good Shepherd over all our days....

You can also watch it on this link....    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLI8Sv8_HlA


You are invited to view my next posting at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, May 7th....

Faith and Time Capsules

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the unblemished love of God.  A love so perfect that it lays beyond the grasp of humanity in comprehension. In our limited awareness, it takes faith to walk into the mysteries of God without fully understanding.  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12

This scripture itself can be deemed a mystery, that our Creator God knew us before we were ever formed. He knew us - we were fully known - each one, before our time in life came into fruition on the earth.  He is the past, present and future and our existence lies somewhere in time capsules of living moments on earth.  As we struggle to search out God and know His ways, He has perfect knowledge of mankind, individually and collectively.  Faith is necessary to believe in the Divine, for God is beyond humanity's limited capacity in formulating His Being.  This commodity of faith brings us into the spiritual realm of revelation, where we begin our journey in knowing God in part.

We do have tangible expressions of God through His visible creations in all diversity.  From the depths of the universe with its multiple galaxies to our planet earth - all proclaiming the work of His hands in magnitude of His glory.   And He is so much more....

Come! and join me at The Turn-Up Patch for my next posting on Monday, April 23rd.   Until we meet again....

Unblemished Love

God is Holy being the Divine, the Sacred.  God is also Whole being the Complete, the Perfect.  He truly is without spot or wrinkle; undamaged and faultless.  Humanity is flawed, blemished and broken.  How can one be reconciled to the other?  What bridge brought the two together?  Could it be the unblemished love that came from the Timeless One to subject Himself to time as humanity knows it.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  Infinity became finite to redeem and restore.  Jesus opened the pathway to oneness between the imperfect soul of mankind and the perfect Spirit of El Shaddai.  The veil in the temple was torn in two when Jesus gave up his last breath on the cross.  Jesus, the Sacrifice, became the power to split humanity's veil of darkness and be awakened to His resurrection of Light.

We have just celebrated Palm Sunday... the remembrance of the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.  People were shouting Hosanna, "Save Now",  waving palm leaves and scattering them on the ground before the donkey that He was riding.  Some of these same people were shouting "Crucify Him" not many days later. 

The song, "When Love Comes Riding By", is a reminder of a Savior who seeks to bring His  unblemished love to any open heart who would receive and become whole ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGzEJHv7-l0
The title of the song in the above video is "When Love Comes Riding By (Hosanna)".  Music and lyrics by ToddZero from his album Kid Heart.

Until we meet again in two weeks at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, April 9th.   Have a blessed Easter and may you experience newness of Life and Light in a new day of God's grace and mercy...


 

A March Foal

Little filly has arrived!   'Any day now' turned into a 3-week wait when our mare finally had her baby on March 5th.  Both mare and colt are doing fine.

I took these photos on the same day of the filly's birth date. The maternal mare presents her offspring in a guarded stance and consistently checks to make sure her baby is by her side in protection.  It was difficult to take pictures since the mare did not want me too close and was in constant movement with her baby.  I finally had to use the camera zoom to capture a few photos that show the bond of love already taking place...

 

Such awkward long legs trying to find footing in the first few attempts to stand up and then stay standing up.  Instinct kicks in as the baby colt makes it way to the mare's milk for the first sucklings in nourishment.  The last photo shows the true color of the colts legs, which is gray.  Sometimes, imperfect lighting within a photograph does not do justice to the actual coloring.  In all likelihood, this little filly will end up as a grullo/grulla dun.  This color is characterized by a gray coat with a black stripe marking down its back with typically dark mane and tail.  She will be a beauty as she matures.

Here's a quote to share with you that is a play on comparison of our animals friends....
                                               Cat looks down at a man
                                               Dog looks up at a man
                                               But a Horse,
                                               Looks a man square in the eye,
                                               and sees him as equal.


Hope to see you again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, March 26....
 
                                     
                                   

The Photo That Wasn't

For any of you who do photography as a professional, an amateur or a person who simply enjoys taking a picture for a memory - there are moments that go undocumented in a visible way.  Such is my story that only lives on in my mind's eye and is a constant reminder to have a camera always at hand to record an unplanned event.   

Such an event happened several weeks ago when our horses escaped to the neighbor's property across the road.  My husband, who is the horseman in the family, grabbed a halter and proceeded in plan to catch the tamest horse to lead in hopes that the others would follow.  I was positioned at the end of a hillside road that turned into the town of Mt. Vernon.  Eventually, I heard him call out something about being the piped piper (a person who induces others to follow).  Standing guard at my positioned point intent that no horse would break past me, here the 'horseman cometh' with a horse in tow and a trail of horses following.  It was quite mesmerizing to watch a string of nearly 35 head of horses trailing behind their human leader who now could only be detected by the bobbing of his cowboy hat as he walked in front of the herd.  They calmly moved along the path that leads to home, trusting in this man who feeds and oversees their care.  

I then realized that I missed a tremendous photo opportunity because of  a lack of  a camera to record the event.  No words can possibly tell you how it really looked but it lives on in my memory.  The best I can do is share a few photos with you that was taken last summer when this same horseman was moving his horses from a pasture onto the hillside.  If you look close enough, you'll spot a white cowboy hat among the herd in this first picture...

The below photo is the view as they came up on the hill.  As you can see, we live in beautiful country that is diverse with hills and valley, juniper trees and sagebrush.... and silence.  Blessed silence with no motor sounds from traffic noise, train whistles or busy sirens.

This story contains the dynamics of trust and familiarity.  The horses came to be familiar with their horseman and he gained their trust through interaction with them.  They also knew where they belonged in a place of safety and provision.  Oh yes, they did escape into an unknown place but their horseman came and brought them back to their belonging home.  If we equate this spiritually, the same dynamics of trust and familiarity stand out.  Trust in our Father God opens the door to relationship with Him and we become familiar with His ways.  There are times that we do 'escape' and find ourselves in an unknown place but our faithful God comes and leads us back on His pathway to the home of His heart.

See you in two weeks on Monday, March 12th where we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch....