Florida Highwaymen Artist-R.L. Lewis

 Robert Lewis is one of the original "Florida Highwaymen" artists, and has been inducted in the Florida Hall of Fame for Artists. He is one of a group of African-American painters from the 1950's and 1960's who continues to paint Florida landscapes. Unable to sell their paintings in galleries at that time, they sold them from the trunks of their cars along the highway.

This jovial, gregarious man talked, answered numerous questions, and painted at the same time. His technique is wet-on-wet. Below is the progression of one of his paintings.

The artist painting only from his mind, none of us knowing the outcome.

Here's hubby, pretending he didn't know he was in the picture. :P

 The end result. Amazing! I can't imagine fending off questions and still completing this wonderful painting.

Robert Lewis, age 71, is an example of persevering and believing. I feel privileged to have witnessed this.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6  

May I remember that the Master's hand is still holding my wet paintbrush, until He signs my portrait.

photos:karenrevans

Tampa Theatre

The Tampa Theatre, was built in 1926, and still is host to performers, movies and other things. Once a month they give tours, so naturally I brought my camera. Come tour with me for a bit with a few of my pictures.

Here's the box office for tickets. Now you know something elaborate is coming.

This is the outside light right before you enter the doors to the lobby with all it's wonderful artistic carvings above. Now please bear with my shots. The entire theatre was dimly lit, and my pictures are not the best, but you'll get the picture. ha, "get the picture..."

Okay, seriously, has anyone ever drunk out of a water fountain like this???

In the lobby all around near the concession stand rimming the ceiling are gargoyles. Kind'a different, huh? But amazing.

This is the stage. Once orchestras played in the pit there, now it is just a stage.

But there still is an old Wurlitzer pipe organ that rises up from underneath with a sound that'll knock your socks off! (1,400 pipes)

This desk is the "only" original piece of furniture there, the rest has been restored. I snapped a quick picture and promised myself I'd come back and get a better one on the way out. I didn't want to miss out on anything on the tour, so I ran with the group. But sadly as you see, I didn't remember to go back and get a better picture. The item I wanted to capture the most, I passed by.

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6

Lord, why is it I sometimes treat those I love the same way, in such a hurry, I just give them a cursory word or acknowledgement? Or even worse, make them feel bad.

Teach me to stop for the important things.

Photos:karenrevans

Okay, I'm awake!

It's been a while since I've been in blog-land. I'm trying to wake up. Maybe if I admire my long nails, hmmmm a manicure would be nice but that would take up more of my time and won't help me write.

How 'bout if I sit up straight and pretend I'm alert, no one will notice my closed eyes.

But if I don't wake up, how will I know what's going on with ya'll? My head might just melt into the wall holding me up!

Okay, okay, I'm awake. A bit cross-eyed and dazed, but I'm awake and back. Oh wait, I see I put my name on this picture twice. Sooooo, maybe I'm not totally with it, but I'm here.

"Then He (Jesus) came to the disciples, and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand.'" Matthew 26:45 (parenthesis mine.)

Lord, you didn't say I shouldn't rest, but that I am "still" resting. May I act on Your words and not become lazy. Each hour is at hand.

Photos:karenrevans from Busch Gardens, Tampa

Hanging, Balancing or Solid-ing?

Hanging on with all five (ummm, do they have only four) toes when the world seems upside down?

Perched on the top of the world, and all is sunny and bright?

Then.....

The balancing reality of your situation hits?

Or is there a solid structure underneath?

"Your granite cave is a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety. You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down." Psalms 31:2-5

See, no matter how high or how low, God can handle it all. Boy, am I glad God is my "solid-ing" Father.

photos:karenrevans

Leave it to a Marine....

to start giving PT to his 3-year-old! that's physical training... :)

But isn't my grandson a cutie? I just have to brag.

 "Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren." Deuteronomy 4:9 (MS)

There can be no greater goal than this. But you know me, I tend to read the last part of this verse and sluff off the first part. I too, need to be disciplined. Lord, help me with those crunches.....

 Now, about Marine PT? That's a horse of another color. :)

Video:DavidMEvans



Side-Steppin'

 

Birds love our oak and palm trees. Therefore we find little white spots on the ground that I try to "side-step." This is what I saw walking with Major outside. Can you spot it?

I walked around it but Major went in to give it a sniff. Taking his cue, I went over to shoo him on.

I took a second look and this is what that spot was.

It was a gorgeous white moth. If you click and enlarge it, he looks like he has feathers on his head. He's all pristine and altogether lovely in among those awful pollen weeds. If I hadn't taken the time to stop and look, I'd've missed him.

And wouldn't you know it, the Lord used this to show me where I did miss an opportunity.

I was leaving a hardware store and in the parking lot walking towards me was a person in baggy, dirty clothes with a baggy old cap. I couldn't tell if it was a man or woman until she spoke.

"Do you have any change?" she asked.

I quickly walked to my car, not answering. There was a YaYa's Chicken Restaurant just a bit down in the same parking lot. I don't like giving out money-not knowing what's it's for-but I should've asked if she was hungry. (I know in today's society we have to be careful, but hubby was with me.)

Why didn't I offer the food? Huh? Why? I might have missed something beautiful, or at the very least fed someone who was hungry. I totally side-stepped her.  What if she was an "angel unawares?"

"But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." I Corinthians 12:7

Father, may I respond to Your Spirit for the good of others. Keep my feet from side-stepping.

photos:karenrevans

Check Your Shoes!

I keep a pair of old shoes on the back porch to slide on when I let Major out. Since our yard is a big sand box, this also keeps a boat-load of sand from drifting into the house. (All puns intended.) teehee.

Anyway, I put my dainty little foot into my shoe the other day and felt something. I thought it was a leaf or fern or whatever. BUT when it moved without my foot moving, I carefully and strategically drew my foot out of my shoe. HA, not--I kicked it off and it hit the screen.

Inside my shoe was this gargantuan lizard! Now I'm not afraid of lizards, but don't like'em in my shoes.

But actually, this was the correct size.





Guess I need to check my shoes, huh?

"For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence." Psalms 91:3

Lord, even when I forget to check with you, please keep the hiding-lizardy-scary things out of my mind and heart.

Photos:karenrevans