I have finally photographed my other January square for my journal in honor of my Nephew Ryan Williams. He wanted so much to be a policeman and attained that goal. He loved his work and the people that he worked with. Ryan had a great smile that you couldn't ignore. He was and is so very much loved and missed.

I have completed my third watercolor, it is of course another bird. I love all the little birds that show up at our feeder at various times of year. Now back to beading for awhile.

Well I finished my small 4x6 acrylic painting of Ahna Iredales Pottery shop. I took a photo of her shop on a beautiful summer day three years ago and have always wanted to paint it in oils, but decided to do it in acrylics instead. It turned out well. Today is another rainy dark and overcast day. I am going to go check the mail and see if my bead order has arrived. Hope so. Then I need to work on my other January Bead Journal page. Keeping them simple will be a benefit since I am working on two.

Well the month of February has been very wet and chilly. It rained all night last night and now the winds are picking up. I am working on a couple of acrylic/watercolor paintings in between beading. Grief is such a draining emotion. I keep hoping that it will soften quicker. I am being selfish thinking of my own grief when Ryan and Chris's parents must still be aching so badly. Projects, projects, projects. Staying busy is best. Both beading and painting are such calming and meditative past times, and yet memories slip in and drag you down again, even when they are happy memories. Well, maybe today its the weather working against me. Anyway, I will post the first painting that I have finished. (Note: I entered this painting in the Spring Show of the Kachemak Bay Watercolor Society and surprise!! It sold. Wow, how great. )

This is my second February "page" for the journal dedicated to my Nephew Ryan who lost his battle with cancer. The three hearts within the broken heart represent his Mom Janna and his Dad Ken and Brother Wade. The three stars above the heart represent the three small children that Ryan had to leave behind. What a battle they all waged, but life goes the way it goes, no matter how much we want to change the outcome. Ryan is so missed, by so many.

I have finished both of my February journal pages. I have yet to finish my second January piece, but that's coming soon. This first "page" is for my Grandson Chris. The two faces on the broken heart represent his parents Mike and Laurie. The crystal drops represent the many tears we have all shed at his loss. So many tears. Jack looked at these February pieces and was not happy with them. He didn't think it looked like my beading, it was too messy. I told him it looked just like I wanted it too. Tattered. A heart in shreds. It upset me for days and I even entertained the thought of not doing the journals. Shows how close to the surface the emotions still are. Its just so hard.....