Sunshine and Gratefulness

A little bit of summer sunshine on a cloudy day ... 

"As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common,

everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful.

They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness --

just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks;

just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day;

and a cool breeze when the day is warm."

- Laura Ingalls Wilder -

Texture Tuesday | Dreamy Dandelions

Read more about this photo challenge below ...
This is my edited image before adding Kim Klassen's textures

...and after adding two of Kim's textures
Loveinlayers
Grungedup

We had an abundant amount of dandelions this year, so I thought I would share one of the many images I captured.
I must say, I've seen quite a few 'dandelion sessions' here on line ... they really do make such beautiful subjects.
I also added two of Kim Klassen's textures, and am entering her Texture Tuesday Challenge.

For this weeks challenge, she wrote in a previous post, asking that we ...

        * choose two of her textures from the archives

        * mix our blend modes and opacities

        * think outside the box

        * and shake things up a bit

Lol!  Well, if I recall correctly, {must admit my mind has been all over the place these 'daze'}, this is the first time I've entered her challenge, although I have used her textures on my images before, and I'm hoping she will think I did a fair enough job with this one!  I want to do her textures justice ... they are amazing!  Her work is so inspiring, and I love to see what she creates each week!

For this edit 'recipe', I started out working on the original image, adjusting color levels, and saturation.  When I was happy with those results, I added her 'loveinlayers' texture in the multiplied blending mode, then pulled the opacity back from 100% to 25%.

For the second texture, I used 'grungedup', in the overlay blending mode, adjusting the opacity for that one back to 29%.  Finally, I set the contrast to 3%, then using the brush tool in vivid light which I set at 10% to smooth and give it a bit of a softer tone.

As I said, this is the first time I've entered, and I would love your thoughts!

For those who haven't entered before, come join me, and the rest of the texture lovers, over on Kim's site by clicking HERE!
Have a wonderful week!  xoxo

Beginning again ...

Sharing a bit of spring with you here today.

Ours arrived early this year, and it seems summer has already set in with the muggy days!

Yes, it's been awhile, but I do believe I am back, and ready to move forward again. 

Sometimes life throws you a curve, and takes you down a different path for a season. 

I'm still walking through some things, as I'm sure others are, as well,

but God is showing Himself to be faithful ... that is who He is!

Still, I have missed being here and sharing with you all.


Made some much needed changes here on the blog, simplifying it, then creating and adding my own banner,

courtesy of an 'old friend', {the now retired} Picnik, which helped me to make the collage.  Did any of you every

use that particular editing program?  I used it mainly for the collage feature, myself.  So easy!


I still have a bit yet to do to complete everything here, though.  I'm also looking forward to reconnecting with you

all again ... until then, enjoy every moment you are blessed with, and have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo