How It All Got Started

I haven't really "done art" since my senior year in high school 30+ years ago (Art 1 with Coach Welch, God rest his soul.) And I haven't done much gardening, either. I used to make rosaries before I became busy with midwifery work, but my beads have sat untouched for years.

Since having retire early due to a medical condition, I've spent more time in prayer and more time outdoors. Art, jewelry making, music, and gardening have been healing therapy for me. It would be easy to become depressed when I don't feel as well and I'm not able to do as much as I use to do. Being outdoors in my colorful patio prayer garden, surrounded by reminders of my faith, listening to the sound of the fountain and my favorite music, interacting with the cats and cardinals and hummingbirds, I'm being intentional about choosing joy. And I really do feel joyful out here.

I have always loved colorful things, ALL the colors. It started when I decided my poor neglected back patio needed a little joy. I went from this:

To this:

It's a constant project, undergoing transformations each season, as I think of new additions and improvements. I spend as much time out here as I can. This is where I make a lot of my art and rosaries.