Photography & Art - Blissful Journey

 Once again I have some catching up to to in the form of blogging. 

I've blogged about my adventures out and about - around town - and such - and I have some more to share with you.  This time around it will be a bit different, tho. 

Starting with this photo.  The only filter I used was a 'Black & White' setting after taking the photo on my iPhone.  It was taken at a local park.  This is part of Soldiers & Sailors Park in our downtown/Business District (also known as our Historical District). 

You can see the steps going up.  On both sides there are cement seating/bleachers for outside concerts (the stage is behind me).  At the top you will see a small structure - a cement gazebo.  You can sit in it.  There is also a large Sculpture to the left with soldiers as a remembrance.  Behind you can see our Main Street Buildings and Storefronts.  Of course there is a road in between this and the other side of the street.

Several weeks ago I took a walk over to our Crescent Park area of the city.  That's were our General Hospital is and other medical buildings but also a very nice walking park and water front.  This section of town is a big part of why we are listed as a Tree City USA City.  It's not really promoted much around town so I had to do some research on my own!  As you can see I took a LOT of photos that day and held off for a while to post here because I wasn't sure how to go about it.  So last week I did a collage of a few dozen photos and thought that might be best - or this post would have been a mile long!  You should be able to click on each photo to enlarge if you so choose!

Some day I will post photos of the water and ducks but for today I will stick with the trees.  This is really the first time I have concentrated on trees in that area.  There are also historical markers and structures that I will post down the road, too!

There are many things that make me happy - nature, photography, art, culture, traveling, etc. 

I thought I would take some time-out and share some of them with you.  As far as ART is concerned - if you followed my old Crafting Blog you can see see many of my past projects.  But I took a long hiatus from crafting and am trying to slowly return.  I think I am going to switch gears and focus more on Mixed Media for a while and maybe more altered projects.  I also think I will be posting them here on this blog instead of my old one since this is my main site now.

Here is one of my new projects - an Art Journaling page using mixed media.  I know it's a bit dark for my Blissful Journey site, here, but it all can't be rosy.  PLUS...I find this therapeutic so it does bring me bliss.  Almost like a before and after type thing.

"Everyone Has a Dark Side"

"Darkness Lurks Its Head.  Was It Something I Said?"

I used: Gesso, Modge Podge, Powdered Chalk, Glitter, Perfect Pearls, Tattered Angels Ink Spray, Digital Stamps, and Sharpie Craft Markers.

Because I did various layers this page took a few days of going back and forth.  In a way I keep going back to the thought of dedicating this page to those struggling with depression and alcohol and substance abuse.  I know of many and think and pray for them daily in my own way.

This And That Tuesday

 I don't have nearly as much to chatter about as I did yesterday but here goes!  Here is what I have been up to since my last post!  I'm really trying to get back into crafting again!  If some of you have wandered over from my "few and far between" Crafting Blog - THANK YOU - I MISS YOU!  If you are a reader of this blog only you may or may not know I enjoy paper crafting and had been getting into Mixed Media the last year or two, too!  I was on several Design Teams and am now on TWO Design Teams that have been VERY patient with me over the last year.  So I figured I would do a little cross promoting here and include a quick project into this blog for today.  For MORE Crafting Stuff visit my other blog which is BlissfulCraftingPlace.com  As for the above photo - it's a small Gift Box I did!  It's made from a punch-out template which I folded, taped, and then added decorative/patterned tape on top and bottom and a fanned Embellishment with a Gem in the center smack-dab in the middle.  It was quick and easy and fun!

 I had mentioned last week that Paco hasn't been slowing down much...well...last night I tried something!  I put one of his sweaters on him and he calmed down right away!  I'll be testing this again SOON!
    

Here's a look at my dinner last night - YUP!  That's right I already BLEW my Meal Plan! LOL - That's why I like to call them my Meal HOPES.

Whole Grain Bread

Fakin' Bakin' Strips

Sauerkraut

Tomatoes

Russian/Thousand Island Type Dressing (I used Veganese with Ketchup and a bit of Hot Sauce)

Kind of like a Reuben, I guess!

How was your Monday, btw?

Participating Post:

Craft Room Signs

 Signs!  Signs!  Everywhere are Signs!  Even in my HOUSE!  This Office Sign was on one of the doors even before I moved in.  We used to use that room as our office/den but that has morphed and moved and now the old Office is My Craft Room!

 I found this sign a month or two ago at Walmart and HAD to buy it!  It's in my Craft Room for sure!  Some of you may have seen my last blog post on My Blissful Crafting Place Blog.

And what Hippie Crafting Room wouldn't be complete without one of these babies?

Participating Post In:
Signs, Signs
Share Your Cup

Learning Something New

Since this is my Blissful Journey Blog I like to post about new discoveries, positive attempts and findings, things that make me happy and/or healthy, and much more!

Sure - we learn something new everyday - and I post about many of them.  But here are a few things I learned this week that I haven't blogged about yet!

 

FindingVegan.com - I have been searching many recipe sites time and time again and the newest one I have been stalking is this one!  Today I will have more time to really sink my teeth into the recipes (pun intended!)

T-Shirt Necklaces - I've been intrigued by T-Shirt Necklaces for a few months now.  I have been watching YouTube Video Tutorials and seen many pages feature them including this one.  I have a few T-Shirts in mind that I want to re-purpose but have yet to pull the trigger.  I think this might be one of my mini goals for this next week or two - to finally try this!  Plus it would get me back into crafting which is something I have been slacking on as you can see I haven't posted on my once very active Blissful Place Craft Blog.  Yet another mini goal, I guess!   

Brothers McClurg - Which are actually Christopher and Anthony Hoisington and what seems like a million years ago I went to church with them and LOVE their family!  I spent LOTS of Saturdays in Kids Choir with them...in addition to certain Wednesdays, Fridays, and of course almost ALL Sundays with various other church activities!  My Aunt told me about their YouTube Channel and I have been listening for a few months now!  They are amazing as ever!

 

Veg*n Shopping on a Budget - Yes!  I like to shop at Wegmans in Lakewood or Erie and a Co-Op in Erie when I am able but Lakewood is about 30 minutes from my house on a good day and Erie is over an hour and in the winter months that is usually out of the question not only for traveling but for pinching the pennies!  So I do most of my shopping at Aldi.  It's about 6 or 7 minutes from my house.  I like shopping there because it's cheaper but also because their produce is generally fresher.  They do NOT keep their items in the 'back room' as they do not have one.  The produce goes from the truck to the floor.  I also noticed there are many Veg*n Products there if you give it a good look-over!  I recently found this site.  It's not overly active but it's a great idea and source.

And Finally...I found the girls over at Aloha Friday which I hope to participate in every Weekend here at My Blissful Journey!

Thanks for sharing Journey's with me - have a great weekend!