Little Things Get Me Through the Day

Don't you agree that it's the little things that make life worth living? As much as I look forward to big, wonderful events such as the imminent arrival of my grandson, I think it's those small bits of happiness that get me through the day. The soft persistent snoring of my dog underneath my desk as I type at my computer. A fresh new bar of soap in the shower. The happy memories evoked by an old song on the radio. And sometimes a little unexpected surprise.

Yesterday when I stepped out onto our patio, there was a leaf lying upside down on the table. (It's been unusually windy and strangely fall-like here in Atlanta, very unusual in August.) I picked it up to throw it away, but when I turned it over, I saw the most beautiful colors, ranging from pale yellow to beautiful coral. I scanned it to preserve the moment, and here it is, but of course it was even more beautiful in real life. How I'd love to have a silk scarf in these colors!

Recently I had a another serendipitous moment when I opened a package of old letters I had purchased on eBay. Of course, I bought them for the beautiful penmanship and the history in the letters, but when I turned one of the letters over, I was amazed at what had happened. The letter had been folded, and the side hidden from the light remained pale while the exposed side aged.

Just for fun, I combined my two surprises in Photoshop, using the multiply blending tool.

I have one more thing to share — my final artwork in the colors round robin. This is for Joyce's book using her choice of colors, robin's egg blue and old paper.