I Am Astonished with Delight
Never Too Late to Learn Something Brand New!
I am retired several years ago, but keep active in many areas. I try to keep a good balance of my activities:
Spiritually – I enjoy my daily devotion and contemplation; attend bible study groups to feed my inner being.
Mentally – I read. In fact, I find interesting in reading my husband’s several men’s magazines. I write. When thoughts come, I write on the back of a receipt or a napkin. I research. When I have an issue to discuss with my doctor, I always do my research before I go.
Physically – Other than going to the gym to work out with machine, going for walks, I started doing yoga two years ago and getting better and better in my balancing on one foot.
Emotional – I enjoy listening to classical music and opera. My favorite is the 2-CDs with all the Adagios (slow movement) from great compositions. I do gardening as part of my emotional therapy; and let the beauty of nature flood my soul with delight.
Kinesthetically – I always like ceramic painting. I took a ceramic painting class with my daughter one summer when she was nine years old. I love doing it even since.
Out of my routine, I found a SURPRISE and it delights my soul:
In the fall of 2015, I thought I would try to learn watercolor and drawing. These are the two things that I always want to do in my whole life but didn’t have time to do. There were so many priorities and deadlines to meet that I never thought of sitting down to draw or to paint.
I took beginning classes on both subjects last fall.
I seem to have good visual perception of proportion, contrast, space and relationship in drawing.
In watercolor, I seem to learn the techniques quickly: wet in wet, wet on dry, glazing, negative painting, painting in different values of the colors.
I surprised myself with the progress I made in both drawing and watercolor in the first three or four months of study! I did so well that I DARE to do a painting for my daughter and son-in-law’s 5th year anniversary in May 2016!
This is great Miriam! 😃 I love how you did the sketch of the lady! I find it challenging to sketch people’s faces sometimes especially on a side view, I think you did great on this one! 😊
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I do better on a side view. Thank you for liking it!
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You’re welcome 😊 I’ve also just read about your recent award, Congratulations Miriam! 😃
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Yes, I think I got four awards so far! 🙂
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Wow! That’s awesome Miriam! I think God really gave them to you for writing about Him and His greatness and for being an inspiration to a lot of people reading your blog, God bless you Miriam! ♥️♥️♥️
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Yes, I think so. I took a two-year break because I couldn’t decide what to write. When I came back a few months ago. I couldn’t stop writing.
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Same here, I started my blog last year but then I got so busy with work and other things so I wasn’t able to blog for a while (maybe a year or more? or maybe less, I’m not sure but it’s been a while) but when I came back, I couldn’t stop already..it hasn’t been long since I came back and I’m so into doing it now more than ever and it really makes me happy 😊
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Yes, when I saw some of your works date 2015, I wondered if the same thing happened to you. I had a blogger ‘like’ my post, I went over, the latest post was 2005. Some people do take breaks and come back.
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I think so too and it feels like, blogging is so much better after the come back 😊
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Perhaps the thoughts are growing until they are mature. When we come back, they get better!
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Very true indeed. 👍👍👍
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My enthusiasm about blogging grew slowly. When I was ready and came back 3 months ago, sometimes I made several posts a day!
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I enjoy your presence and awareness. You write bluntly. How do I do, I like that simplicity.
You try new things in life and portrays very well. Thanks for letting me read … Feel well
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Thank you, sir. I’m not good in writing or reading fiction literature. So I guess whatever I write is just sharing of my life. Thank you for your generous comments.
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It is precisely that which is good. You do not complicate it. That can happen if you go to school. Just be yourself and write as you do … It’s good
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I went to school and got my doctorate degree, but I’m still myself. I don’t know how to pretend. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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It is all so wonderful. Your are using your creativity and new found gifts which is a blessing during your retirement. Enjoy and be well.
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Thank you so much. See you again.
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Thank you very much, Helene.
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Wow, those are amazing pieces of art! 🙂
Having a balanced-life is really important. Some people know that, but not all manage to do so…I admire you for being able to do so. 🙂
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Most of the things I do happened to be what I like to do. It turns out to keep a balanced life. :>)
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That’s pretty amazing! 😊
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Thank you! 🙂
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Thank you. Nina.
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I loved the hand’s sketch! ❤
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Thank you. I had fun learning how to do it.
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Thank you for visiting many of my posts and like them and thanks for the follow. Blessings.
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It’s perfectly fine. 🙂
Good day. 🙂
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Hi Miriam,
It’s safe to say you have a life.
I’m looking forward to learning how you stay so busy but balanced.
I seen you over at Nikki’s party.
Vernon
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Hi Vernon, Thank you. It was a great party. thanks to Nikki. I met quite a few bloggers.
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Hi 🙂 I found you via Nikki at A Kinder Way. I so loved the name of your blog so I came over for a visit.
Beautiful post, and you have a lovely presence. Looking forward to Nikki’s Meet and Greet !
Many blessings to you and your weekend,
Debbie
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Wow! Nikki’s idea is wonderful. We found each other through her idea. Looking forward to visit your blog.
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Hi .
You have the talent and taste.
you must master a technique and follow the story of the painting arts .
you can be a great artist.
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Thank you so much. I’m going to continue taking the classes this year.
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Good luck. friend
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Thank you
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I am certainly astonished with delight! Thanks for sharing your artwork; you have a gift! 🙂
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Thank you and credit goes to Martha who suggested the “project.”
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Thank you for the follow. I will also follow you and enjoy all of your posts.
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Wow, what a talent, but more than that I’m impressed by your balanced life. Thanks for the visit and sensible comment.
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Thank you so much of your kind words. In fact, when I was in my doctoral program, there was a class that we had to take to learn about living a balanced life in all areas. I guess I’m saturated by ideas and thoughts, and now it finally become autopilot.
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Thank you for reading all the way through!!! 🙂
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Pingback: Astonished With Delight – YOUR STORIES! | Martha L Shaw - Poet, Writer, Artist
Thank you Martha for a great introduction on the subject. I’ll visit other delightful bloggers.
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GREAT! Glad you liked it!
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Thank you, Martha.
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So lovely. Just goes to show it’s never too late to start something new and finding new passions and creative outlets. Well done to you. xo
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Thank you so much for liking my new creativity. I surprised myself with the progress I made.
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Beautiful portrait and beautiful paintings too especially 2a. I like it. Would love to see more.
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Thank you, Kunal. I just wanted you to see them because I’m excited about doing something I never thought I could do. 2a – that’s my daughter and son-in-law. My daughter is beautiful.
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2c is Dolomite Mountain Range. I saw the image on the web and painted it.
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Oh, Dolomite Mountain Range is in the northern part of Italy.
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You’ve really done a great job 😊
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Thank you. I’ll keep learning new techniques.
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I’m looking forward to your posts 😊
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Thank you. I’ll be leaving on vacation in a week.
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Have a great time.
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Thank you. Will take a lot of pictures.
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👍
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I LOVE THIS AND WILL SHARE ON THE LIST I AM BUILDING SO WE CAN DELIGHT OTHERS TOO!
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Thank you so much, Martha. I was so proud of myself of the progress I made in such a short period of time. I did a “Show and Tell” in one of our Women’s meeting. 🙂 They were surprised also!
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That’s great! You don’t know how many people you are uplifting with your words! These are seen worldwide! Meeting people through these is so great, too! I have 4 people so far but I will post something in a day or two with the list and can edit and add to it!
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Thank you, Martha. I am getting very excited. I am waiting for your post.
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