Express Your Joy

A flower cannot help but express its joy!

May each of you, dear friends, find a way to express your joy…and may the spirit of God shine through your eyes.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Joining Pink Saturday with Beverly and all her pink friends at How Sweet the Sound.

Back In The Saddle

Well friends, I’ve done it…I’ve pulled my second novella out of the file, and I’m back in the saddle.  It’s been a while, but I’m writing again.  My great aunt is the inspiration for the new book, based on a true story.

I just finished another short story written in ‘fairy tale’ style, called “The Turbulent Tongue”.  It’s about a gossip and a wise old priest who teaches her a very good lesson.  So now it’s on to finish more adventures.  I’ll keep you updated.

Expect good things, because God is good!  Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Above cartoon image by Charles Schultz

A Little Something Extra
4/21/12

Here’s a tidbit…Last evening I read in my local town paper that bald eagles have made their nest in a neighboring town!  Wow… I live in SE Texas and I’m not quite sure I’ve heard of bald eagles this far south.   The photo was wonderful.  It showed the parent eagle bringing in food for its young.

Well, I think it’s amazing, and wonderful.  Of course no one is allowed to get  more than 100 feet from them.  There are always wonderful surprises in store if we slow down enough to see them.

Monday Marketplace

I’ll be at Monday Marketplace today.  Stop by and join the fun!

This scarf  has an airy pattern and soft, lightweight feel.  It measures 60″ L  x 1 -1/2″ W, excluding fringe.  Hand washing and drying recommended.  Price ~ $7.50

To purchase this item, or to see other beautiful items, please click My Little Bloomin’ Shop.

Thank you for visiting Leisure Lane.  Make yourself at home, and stroll around for a while.  If you see anything you like, please let me know.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Monday Marketplace is hosted by Debra at Common Grounds.
Thank you, Debra.

The Painter of Light Goes Home

Hello friends…

I’m sure by now that most of you have heard about the passing of the gifted artist, Thomas Kinkade.  And I felt compelled to comment here about what he left behind.

For a brief time I was not so taken with Kinkade.  It really didn’t have to do with his life or his art, as much as it had to do with my short lived association with a local Kinkade gallery I was being trained to work in.  The woman who managed the facility didn’t really appreciate that I was being placed in her gallery by the owners, and hence she made it very clear my ‘intrusion’ was not going to be accepted with opened arms. I suspect she didn’t want her commissions threatened by sharing sales with another person (she insinuated this with a couple of comments).

At the time, the whole experience turned me off to gallery work and Kinkade.  But later, after I left the situation, and no longer felt the stings of outrageous animosity, I began to appreciate Thomas Kinkade’s work much more.  I began to see in it what others saw…the light and quietness of Love.

For all of his popularity among the masses, Kinkade was not well liked among the ‘art world’, and it’s been said of him that his work would never be accepted by museums because he wasn’t innovative.   (He was in good company, though, because the impressionists didn’t like William Bougeureau’s realism).  And the fact that Kinkade appealed to the masses by reproducing his work on just about every household item, as well as prints, didn’t cozy him up any more to the avant garde crowd.  But Kinkade felt that mass production made it possible for everyone, in every financial situation, to enjoy beauty.

His body of work appealed to the masses because it portrayed the idealism of serenity and security.  It gave a promise of hope to family and community alike.  And I can see why.  I mean…

who wouldn’t want to come home to or be greeted on a cold winter’s night by this scene.

Or this…

And who couldn’t imagine living here…

or here…

Amongst the abundance of flowers, the mists, the glistening lights and cool shadows, the imagination is free to roam with the promises of hope each painting stirs within.  And isn’t that what art should do?  Shouldn’t it stir the imagination, make a statement, provoke conversation, thought, and emotion?  I think Thomas Kinkade succeeded at all of the above.  And he’s first rate in my book.

Due to recent bizarre behavior, and misfortunes in his personal and financial life, some now say that though Kinkade painted serene, idealistic scenes, his life was anything but…  Well, whose life is completely ideal?  Who hasn’t fell upon rough or thorny patches personally, financially, emotionally, or spiritually at some time in their life?  Perhaps that’s one reason he was drawn to paint the secure and serene, the ideal…perhaps he wanted that in his life.  Perhaps he achieved it for a while.  It was obviously in his heart, because you don’t paint like that without it coming from your heart.

Thomas Kinkade gave the world a little more beauty and light, and I believe that his heavenly Father kept a precious light burning in a window for him.  Perhaps in the window of a lovely cottage similar, yet more magnificent, to those he painted, surrounded by the most beautiful gardens he could ever imagine.  And perhaps, even now, the Painter of Light is sitting in that cottage with Jesus, the true Light, chatting and taking in the ideal Paradise.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

The above images are of Thomas Kinkade and his paintings.

Monday Marketplace

I’m hanging out at Monday Marketplace…come by and join the fun.

“Pretty Perfect” ~ This beautiful, one-of-a-kind blanket makes a perfect baby gift, or lap cozy.  It measures a generous 31″w. x 36″ l.   Lovely ribbon rows of blue, yellow, and rose, are crocheted into the blanket ~ an heirloom for many years to come..  Fit for royalty.  Hand washing recommended.  Price ~ $35.

To purchase this item please click My Little Bloomin’ Shop.

Thank you for visiting Leisure Lane.  Make yourself at home, and stroll around for a while.  If you see anything you like, please let me know.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Monday Marketplace is hosted by Debra at Common Grounds.
Thank you, Debra.

Symbols of Easter

Hello friends,

More often these days we are hearing the question, “What do eggs and bunnies have to do with Easter?”  I understand that we have to be careful not to replace symbols for the true revelation of the Resurrection, but I feel, this Easter, that I should address this question, and the true significance of these symbols.

I don’t think it was a random coincidence that Jesus was born in the Spring, and physically died in the Spring.  The Spring season has always represented rebirth, restoration, replenishment, and resurrection.  So is it any wonder that pre-Christians and even the early Christians would hold onto the very symbols of New Life.   As far back as time itself the earth and man have looked forward to the promise of Spring, and sought the very Creator who originated that promise.

From within the recesses of the dark egg emerges life.

Bunnies, bless their hearts, have always been the symbol of replenishment.

All things are born new during this season.  All things are resurrected from the dark bowels of the earth.

It was in the Spring that Jesus came from the dark womb, kicking and exercising his little lungs with audible bursts… the first sounds of his treasured voice.  And it was in the Spring that he rose from the bowels of the dark earth with a restored, replenished body…with the promise of resurrection for all.

So dye your eggs, put out your baskets and little bunnies, display your beautiful flowers with faces bright and beautiful, remembering the promise of Rebirth-remembering Jesus, our sweet Lord, and all he came to teach us.

I wish all my friends, near and far, a happy, most joyful Easter.  May your minds, body, and spirit be replenished during this truly Divine season.

Thank you for visiting Leisure Lane, and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne ☼

Joining Beverly today at How Sweet the Sound for PiNk sAtUrDaY!

A Touch of Red

A touch of red can save the day,
And chase your troubles far away.

Hi, everyone!  It’s Rednesday at It’s a Very Cherry World.  Come join the fun and share something red.

Thank you for visiting Leisure Lane.  Every heart is welcome here.  Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

The above flower painting and verse are by Marianne Coyne.  All rights reserved by said artist.

A Delightful Duo

Good day friends…

Last week I was delighted to find a reminder of the treasured blessing blogging has brought into my life…new friends.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered these in my post…

Cheerful wall art, as you see,

sent to me by sweet Miss Tea.

They were wrapped in pretty rose decorated paper.  Miss Tea is the author of the blog Tea Diary.  She’s a dear young woman, with a love of tea, family, friends, photography, fun, and of course. everything Cath Kidston.  Stop by and say hello to her.  Miss Tea also loves creating, so while you’re at it, drop in to visit her shop, where you’ll see quite a few of her crafty finery.

Tea Diary

Thank you, Susan (Miss Tea), for such a lovely and cheerful surprise.  They are sure to brighten my living space with the aura of your friendship.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

The above “Tea Diary” image is courtesy of Tea Diary.  All rights are reserved by said blog, and are reproduced here solely for the purpose of this post.

Joining these tea times :