Week 23 of Donna Downeys 48 Week Journaling Workshop and the End of Second Semester ~Positive Intentions~ with a lot of Tam

Hello I hope all has been going well with you and yours. We have been working hard here as usual. We have planted even more than usual....which in turns makes for more duties. Colten has had a new girlfriend and he hasn't had time to help out as much. So Bruce and I have been working extra hard. The boys have had a lot of school work and are getting spring fever to get out more and ride their skateboards. Mother's Day was nice Bruce put up a storm door on the second floor door to the front porch so we could have a screen to get a nice flow of air. I have asked for this door for more than 10 years...no joke. Now as Colby said "this door is amazing" it allows in such a nice few of air and a tremendous amount of beautiful cascading light. We have now had it almost a week, so we have certainly enjoyed it to the fullest. I can see all the hummingbirds we feed now without looking out the closed front door potentially scaring off the hummingbirds. I love seeing them!! Well this one took me approximately two weeks to complete. I did not have the stencils for the one Donna did nor did I feel for that one. This inspiration actually came from Tam's book  or you can view her wonderful community at Tamara Laporte Willowing.com she is full of beautiful sweet calming words and a passion for helping others to see the beauty in ones self and getting rid of that inner critic. ALL I CAN SAY TAM is AMAZING!!!! I started her first Life Book 2012 and one of what I call my best painting was on she taught me. Love ya Tam! Every since I saw her painting in the book I have wanted to paint it. She makes it so easy and it is nice to actually complete a project from a book and being able to use the inspiration. I enjoyed the process immensely. My aunt came out for Mother's Day and I fixed her a good meal and a cake. I didn't invite her for Easter (hello folks we are in a Pandemic) however she thinks I should have and was actually crossed with me. She works at a pharmacy and is a frontline cashier with no mask, no shield and no gloves. Anyhoo she came here and it was a very nice day. So this week which I can hardly believe it is Week 23 and almost the end of the second semester. I am feeling so accomplished!!! YES! Go check out Donna's 48 Weeks. She is fun and a great teacher! 

I love making these oh my do I ever! I actually learned this technique back in 2010 at a Donna Downey Inspired workshop I can't remember her name but she was actually a mural painter. This is what we made in class that day, but I had to finish it home....

this is what I made in 2010 

This is where it hangs in my room....going out to make back porch. 

the full spread of the two pages I just love it so much fun and whimsical 

if you would like to see the full last 22 posts see below on each of the weeks 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21 

Week 22

I can hardly believe I have made It this far....but so thankful and feeling so accomplished. 

Now on to week 24 and the end of the second semester 

YAY!!! 

Two more semesters to go

So basically I have almost completed half of the 48 weeks ~happy dance 

Dusty has been picking roses like crazy for our rose water we even have a new drying rack that hangs from the ceiling and is huge so now we have even extra room for drying roses and other herbs

I have been making bracelets again to add to my Etsy store GO HERE 

On the Etsy store 

So please if you would like to see Tamara Laporte go to her site Willowing dot com and you can find her book there and it was lesson 6 Looking Inward. 

I have been making more jams too getting ready for new fruits of the season to come 

Made raspberry again this is always a delicious jam 

its on my Etsy store too 

Love raspberry jam 

mango habanero 

Oh my delicious mango habanero 

I made a bunch more wintergreen salves these are excellent for my fibromyalgia pain and putting on your chest as a chest rub and for super dry hands and feet again on my Etsy store 

I already have beautiful tomatoes loving it!!! 

I have more than 300 tomato plants so we are hoping for an amazing year of tomatoes....it really helps our family out 

I planted a bunch in cloth bags this year a new thing we are trying just to see and easy on my back and my fibromyalgia pain I have fields of them too 

Go to see our pickle video on YouTube 

As you can see the fields are loaded 

Take care stay safe missing you all!!! 

Hugs to all and until to next time 

Love you guys!! 

Dawn Gallop 

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Week 22 of the Donna Downey 48 Weeks Journaling Workshop ~Keep Moving Forward~

Hello and Happy Friday....I can hardly believe we will be going into May.....I have been working harder than ever planting and taking care of plants. I am so excited for this year of planting with my back pain and fibromyalgia I have masterminded a total new plan....as of now its working out considerably great. I have planted many of my peppers, and tomatoes in buckets and huge pots. I will post a pic soon they are huge now already and I have baby tomatoes on them.....makes me proud to see. I have been working on cleaning up the art studio....wow what a mess. It is extremely hard to clean up when you have an exuberant creative mind. I clean a little then create a little...then ask myself "WHY" why do I have all these art supplies.....the creative mind can be too much at times. I am soo very thankful I have it though. Any how on to the painting......it was definitely different for me.....when Bruce saw it he said "Alrighty dighty" okay like what is he meaning with that??? He just kept saying "this is not you"....well sometimes you just got to go with the flow....I had fun so whatever. If you would like to find out about the Donna Downey workshop go HERE the original inspiration of this work came from Karen Schnepf  

My boys liked it a lot Dusty even said "that is awesome" so much depth 

Keep Moving Forward

I get so busy and run out time then the sun starts to go down almost too late to get a nice pic of the whole layout then the next day it rains....which is perfectly fine with me it makes me hurt more but at least I can fill up my rain barrels to water all my plants with. We have four 300 gallon barrels and one 1200 gallon water tank we catch all the rain from the greenhouse. So like I said rain is good!

If you would like see the rest of the weeks go here to each week for a peak 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21 

only two more weeks to be onto Semester 3  "YES!!!!!"

Week 20

These are 7 and 10 gallon cloth bags which I have almost 50 of them as you can see my tomatoes are rocking it...

My mom found this awesome apron and gave it to Bruce for Christmas one year 

All the planting has been transpiring 

                                 This row has all peppers I planted outside of the high tunnel

This is one of the boys favorite meals 

Chicken and Broccoli casserole I made a video on how I make it 

I have been getting orders on my Etsy page which has been are only means of income it hasn't been a lot but I AM SO VERY THANKFUL for the orders and I appreciate the messages, notes and feedback I have received on the Etsy page and other social medias. Thank you everyone who has ordered we all greatly appreciate you!!! 

Please do visit my Etsy store 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LeafLoveSoaps

Well it's actually Friday morning at 1:30 am I can't sleep so here I type. Hopefully you are staying safe and well. 

Wishing you a great weekend.......stay happy and healthy.

Lots of love to all and air hugs..

Dawn Gallop 

Keep Moving Forward 

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Week 20 in the Donna Downey 48 Weeks Journaling Workshop ~Stay Safe~

Hello and welcome as we all are facing so many uncertainties in these unusual times, my heart goes out to everyone as I know each and everyone of you, your lives have been disrupted or completely turned upside down. I want you to know I am SOOO VERY THANKFUL for our health care workers, our teachers, lunchroom workers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, grocery store workers, truck drivers, our chefs, cooks, tasks force, FEMA, our fearless governors, and so many more that I failed to list.....THANK YOU!!!! 

THANK YOU ALL!!!

I thought when things were changing so radically and there would be so much more time to reflect on things that matter most.....however I didn't think of all the anxiety that would come from all of this....being an empath I feel others pain. I put myself in their position and think about what they must be going through at this moment in time and before you know it I am overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and somewhat panic. I have been staying busier than I thought possible, one our orders have picked up since we are unable to attend the farmers markets and the shows. We sell out of eggs quick, several have came to pick up their honey and other goodies. I have been selling more and more of my Etsy Store stuff.....SO GLAD!!! Here is the link 

Helping the boys with their school work has added on extra work for all moms...and dads...and grandparents so I understand that. I can't thank the school teachers enough for getting all the work to us and having to learn new ways to instruct children.

I have been making more videos too for my YouTube Channel which has been fun sharing some of my knowledge. 

Here is one of my videos I did this week I made forsythia jelly it made five jars and I sold all four jars  this week alone. One jar Bruce had to have as he always says this is "my favorite" honestly they are all his "favorite" my eyes roll!!! He even said he was going to plant a 100 more.....

LOL

Anyway back to the painting....this was week 20 of the 48 Weeks Journaling Workshop if you want to find out more about this workshop go HERE Donna had said in the video that "inspiration was from Karen Margulis her Hollyhocks" you can check Karen out HERE you will absolutely love her work. 

Also if you like to see the rest of the weeks I have painted go below

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 

Week 19

This week was a challenge at first as sometimes I get in my mind I just can't paint flowers as you may know I like to paint people or faces. So at times when I start painting flowers it seems I get in this slump like It just isn't looking right and then I keep at it and finally I get it....AHHH which in this week I certainly enjoyed the process and am so glad I got to paint in the my journal. SO VERY GLAD I GOT TO PAINT!!!!! 

The texture the brightness the whole meaning of the painting....love it!

Hollyhocks 

The whole journal is getting so thick 

The other side of the journal

The full layout as you can see how large the journal is

I made buttermilk with fresh raw cow milk

I made buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips one of the boys favorites now if I had added bananas too that would be their all time favorite. I also made butter from the raw cows milk

I dehydrated celery so I could add to my soups since I haven't been able to get my celery on a regular basis 

Dusty working on school work while on the Covid-19 schooling at home program 

(note the sauerkraut in the back) 

This beautiful flower in bloom that my dear friend Aylene gave me last year has come back with many blooms this year such wonderful gift!!! 

The tomatoes I planted are doing amazing you can see how all my plants are doing 

We finally had our corned beef 

I have been making bread like everyday....of course the boys love it 

As you can see we have been staying busy and working hard. I also have been trying to keep up with the news to keep us informed.  

STAY SAFE 

E Hugs

Dawn Gallop

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The 48 Weeks Journal Workshop By Donna Downey My Version of Week #18 ~Love the Story~

Hello once again....since I wrote in the blog last a lot has happened, as you know that's life! I told Bruce that all I wanted for Valentine's Day (however I expected nothing) as we worked and traveled that day to the Wine and Chocolate Festival which I spoke of in my last post see below. For Valentine's Day was to paint....it is really hard for me as someone/somebody/something always needs or wants me. No complaints there! So when I get to paint its just so wonderful and relaxing. The last time I got to work on the 48 Weeks Workshop was my last entry for the Week #17  back in late October 2019. You know the rest is history....always busy. I am always tired too idk if its the Fibromyalgia or just old age or the fact its winter, raining, no sunshine, and COLD. So I have been extremely tired. I keep working as I have too, when I am finally finished (if that's a word on a farm), I am too tired to paint. So for Valentine's Day I wanted to paint....SO I DID...it wasn't Valentine's Day but it happened and that's all I care about. I GOT TO PAINT!!!! YAY!!!! I went way off path of Donna but that's me...when I am on roll.....other times it will be very very similar to Donna's with as Mindy Lacefield always said "with a touch of Dawn" referring to the paintings. I spent a whole weekend with Mindy Lacefield at Donna Downey's one weekend when Dina Wakley came to teach at Donna's place. If you would like to check out the 48 Weeks Workshop. She has some amazing classes to offer online and in person. 

I was so very happy with this painting in the journal I am calling LOVE THE STORY. I love to paint and journal so much its a true LOVE that I am very passionate about....and absolutely LOVE!! I think it, dream it, and talk about it all the time. 

If you would like to see any of my other weeks go to the week below. As I have said this all started back in 2013/2014 and here I am only on week 18....as I always say "better late than never"....works here! 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

I used the Rebekah Meier stencil I bought back in October at Art and Soul..... Go HERE to see the post. In that post you actually see my cat Jack who now is not so tiny anymore....he sleeps with Bruce every night. The flowers I punched out with an EkSuccess flower punch. The paints are Golden Paints. The paper I used is the Basic Gray which y friend Beverly gave me awhile back its called Lime Rickey (that goes way back......) 

This stencil was also Rebekah Meier as well I had bought this one so time ago now.  

TEXTURE.....you know I love that. 

More texture 

Love, Live, tell the story

A sticker by Tim Holtz 

When we were on our way to Fayetteville for the Wine and Chocolate Fest we stopped here at Kenly 95 truck stop talk about a shopping experience....of course we only left there Colby getting a Dairy Queen blizzard.  Of course make it a cookies and cream. 

Dairy Queen Blizzard time 

He was thrilled to be with Capt Jack Sparrow....aka Johnny Depp. He is his most favorite actor!! 

Want to go back down memory lane......

Halloween 2014 

Colby as Jack Sparrow 

Dusty was The Mad Hatter (another Johnny Depp character) 

Amanda made the hat back in like 2010

Cooper was Edward Scissorhands which is another Johnny Depp. I made the hands from Dollar Tree stuff. Aves Apoxie clay. 

Anyways back to the Wine and Chocolate Fest

it was fun and we met a lot of awesome folks....of course a bunch of Army guys and gals...it was a BLAST!

I was telling about the Mead 

This was one of the Instagram Props 

Another one of the Instagram Props 

Photo OP

All Set up at the Wine and Chocolate Fest.

It was so busy Bruce had lines.......LINES!!!!! 

There was an hour break from 4-5 pm which really wasn't a break we still busy...it started at noon for the VIP and went till 4, then 5 the VIP came in for the second session from 5-9. Colby went and found the Funnel cakes....always a great find....am I right??? Well they certainly enjoyed it!!! 

So this Saturday we were at Grassfield High School for the craft show which is always AMAZING we have great customers there and I get to see all my vendor family and just have a great time. We had snow on Thursday and Friday there was no school, so I was so worried they would cancel the show....but so THANKFUL they didn't it was a GO! YAY!! They always have a great raffle ticket where for $10 you buy a arms length of tickets and if they draw one of your numbers you WIN...well my number got drawn three times......SWEEEEEET so my number was one of the first drawings and I won the rooster picture by Frank Cambron with his business Paintings, Portraits, Animal Pictures and More, OMG what a beautiful painting!!! Then I won again towards the end of the day....and I got the colored pencil art from Dismal Swamp Girl Studio.....love them both! Then at the very end of the show I won again and it was a yellow crochet blanket.  A very lucky day!! 

This is Jack now talk about not so tiny anymore....He is the sweetest...WE GOT SO LUCKY we Denise gave us Jack. We love him so much!!! He is on my bed....if ya don't recognize it. 

So we have had plants growing for awhile and we have transplanted here and there and now we were transplanting again today....put more lights up...spring will be here real soon!!! We both work so hard everyday. 

Today while we were out taking care of the bees and moving stuff in the greenhouse you could see signs of spring everywhere....beautiful! The peach tree. 

Always like to show you how large this Journal is......

I thank you for stopping by and seeing a bit of what has been going on around here...its the usual with a bit of added work load with all the plants, etc...but as long as I got to paint I am a very happy girl!! 

Have a wonderful week!!! 

No show this weekend....its a Leap Year....yep February 29. My next show will be March 14, 2020 at the Smithfield Farmers Market in Virginia behind the BSV Bank in Smithfield VA. from 9-12 there will also be a St. Patrick's Day Parade. I love that!! 

Sending hugs and love to all until next time!! 

Dawn Gallop

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