I'm back,

I know it's been another long time, but obviously Fantasy has been nibbling at the story I gave her.  She has grown about a half an inch, and I am thankful for that.  Her colors are still pale, but I think I can revive her with my visits, and with some short stories.  This is going to be a blog for some of the short stories which will end up as chapters (or just background) for my novels. 

Fantasy zooms to my palm, and signs to me, "You're back!  I thought you were going to leave me forever this time!"

I sigh in response, "No Fantasy.  You're a part of me, just as I am a part of you; I couldn't leave you even if I tried.  You have brought a deeper understanding of the five girls in the Elementals series, and eventually I'll be sharing their backgrounds with you."

"I can hardly wait!" I am amazed at how I can understand her signing.  My knowledge is so rudimentary, that I would think that I would have trouble, but not so.  Second, she is only an inch tall.  I am legally blind.  How was I able to understand?  Maybe it's because she is a part of me.

"Hopefully it will be soon Fantasy.  I will at least try to come talk with you this week." I look around me.  Green is starting to come to the forest, the same as in Edmonton.  "I WILL nurse you back to health!"

She smiles.

Gone a Long Time

I have been gone a long time from the glade, and I know it.  I trudge forward into the winter glade with a heavy heart.  I had always hoped that Fantasy and I would be weathering the ups and downs of the writing life, but much has happened since I was last there.

I was shocked at what I found.  The glade was supposed to be a place of green all year round with off-shoots of seasons, which would shift from place to place and grow larger throughout the years as stories came and went.  But I haven't been a good steward.  Was Fantasy beneath this rubble?  I glanced around me; she was nowhere to be found. 

I brushed off a log and waited.  I figured that if I hadn't been there for almost a year to feed her stories, that she would at the very least be weak.  I waited for 10 minutes, then a half an hour.  Then I felt a fly buzzing around my head.  A fly?  That doesn't make sense.  Flies don't live in winter unless they're fruit flies.  I shooed it away, but it zoomed back just as quickly.  Then it started tickling me on the nose.

"Get away!" I waved it away.  It danced away, and then tickled my neck.  Then it landed on the paper I brought with the story.  It had a faint blue tinge.

It's blue!  I watched as it hovered over the top of the page.  Fantasy knew I had a visual impairment.  She would make herself seen, if that's who it was.  I had brought a small set of acrylics as well as some paper in case I wanted to continue sketching her.  I opened the tube of blue paint and put some on the palette.  I then changed to a new piece of paper.  She wrote her name just as it shows below; I knew it was her.  She had been reduced to a spec - I had arrived just in time.  I had a mystery from Kent for her to gnaw on until the next time.  Hopefully it would be enough.  I reached out my hand, set aside the painted pages and read the next story called "A Mystery."

 

Art Therapy

Hi Fantasy.  How are you today.

Great Michelle.  It's good to see you.  She hugs me.  Her hugs are always like a warm fire enveloping me.  I love her for that.  And you?  You've been busy I see.

I have been, but I'm back with an article that I hope you and our followers will enjoy.  Want to see it?  It's about art therapy, and the color yellow.

Oooh, a change!  She claps her hands, usually it's about writing!  Sure, I'd like to see it.

Here you are.  I hand her the article.

Art Therapy and Yellow

In the next little while, I'm going to delve into art therapy. Although I'm not a qualified art therapist, I know that art can be used to heal. It has done so for me. So for the next few blog postings, I will be working on what colors mean as well as what they are in prayerful art, which is something I do on a regular basis.

We all respond to colors whether we realize it or not. They are a big part of our everyday life. For example, what do we wish for when it has been a long hard winter? We wish for green because we are tired of the browns, greys, and whites that we walk through every day.

For example, I found out today, that yellow stimulates your memory. How many times have we all forgotten things? Maybe that's why there are yellow pads of paper – to help secretaries remember what they're writing so as to make it easier to transfer to the printed medium. Yellow also stimulates the mental process, encourages communication, and stimulates the nervous system. Hmm, maybe we should all have lots of yellow on our computers? Just joking there. You have what you want on your computer. If it has a lot of yellow, that's your choice. Yellow also conveys optimism, being cheerful, and more.

For more information, you can go to http://sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-yellow.html

Here's another site. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Meaning-of-Color---Art-as-Therapy&id=708573

I myself also use yellow in my worship and prayer art. For me, a bright yellow indicates God's glory. Gold indicates his majesty and presence. Interference gold, which is a very pale Gold I use for Jesus' majesty. I haven't figured out for me what pale yellow or yellow ocre is for me, but you can decide for yourself.

Go to http://www.biblenews1.com/docs/colors.htm and http://www.raisedpraise.com/id19.html and this wouldn't hurt too! http://www.teachinghearts.org/dre17httcolor.html

I'll be going through more colors and adding what they mean to me in subsequent postings. My prayer is that you'll find out what the color yellow means to you personally. That's what matters.

So, today, when you go to your paper, or whatever you use, what will you create with yellow?

Good Friday

Last weekend was palm Sunday, where Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem.  The crowd was cheering, and he was well loved by all.  Things went downhill so dramatically, and until I viewed The Passion of the Christ, I didn't understand how much so.  He was abused to such a degree...

I'm having trouble conveying my words.  He endured this for me and you!  People probably wonder where the passion is in this movie; His passion was in the fact that He wants us all to come to Him when we die.  He has such deep compassion for us all no matter where we're at.  Fantasy and I learned a lot in our watching this movie; the depicting of Him on the cross will never be rendered the same. 

I encourage you to take a look at the movie, but do it with a friend or with a group so you have someone to talk with at the end.  it's very graphic.  I am hoping that some images or poems will come out of this in the weeks ahead.  I think this has changed us both. 

Until next time!  God bless you

Cockpit

I'm now in the position of Ann, the main character.  In front of her is a thirteen inch monitor with four buttons each side, each a yellowish white.  The screen is black.  There is a small red button above the buttons on the left side which say on/off.  I reach out and turn it on.  It turns blue.  Numbers and words appear in white with fluctuating graphs of different colors.  

"Wow Fantasy, this is amazing.  This is Ann's cockpit?"  I looked to my left, and spot her hovering in front of a door.  Upon doing so, I find out there is another bank of controls as well as small doors 

Yes Michelle.  This is the ship she crash lands in." Fantasy nods.

"Wow, there are a lot of buttons.  I don't know what a lot of them mean." I say.

"That's ok.  You'll learn."

"Learn?  You mean I'm going to fly this thing?"  My pulse begins to quicken.

Of course, how do you think you're going to learn how Ann feels when she does this?  You know that you're not going to hurt it.  

"I'm not sure of that Fantasy.  Remember, this is a different plane of existence.   It has a reality all its' own." I remark.

In a sense, yes, but this is in your head right now.  You can recreate it better if something happens.  

"Ok.  I'll give it a try." I look in front of me, below the screen.  There is a wheel that you can turn left or right or pull in or out as well as what looks like a throttle and a button.  To the right, are more buttons of different colors.  My seat is a leathery sort, it is smooth, and it is comfortable.

I turn around, discovering that the roof is low, and we have some cargo space behind me.  It is about four feet square.  It is dark there.

"I think that's enough for today." I turn back to the screen.  "We can learn about the workings of the craft next week."

Suit yourself.  We are immediately back at the glade.  I am sitting on a rock.

"Fantasy, I don't want to bore everyone.  I want this to be an exciting blog."

Whatever.  She's gone.  Her voice dripped disappointment.

What do you think?  Is this boring to you?  Please comment below.

Frigid

It's dark, and I'm cold, so cold that I think I'd die if I didn't see Fantasy hovering nearby.  I know that she is my protector in all ways out here.  I see stars and planets all around me, and a nearby one nearly blinds me.

"Where are we?" I ask.

We are in the void around the world in your newest story you call Seeker.  Setting is important, if you recall, and Space is important.  Next week, we'll be going into the cockpit and looking at the main character, but for now, we will explore the setting of Space.

"It's so cold." I shiver.  She touches my arm, and I warmed up.

Better?  I nod, as I do feel better.  I look at the nearby sun.

"Where is this place?"

You do not know?  This is the system where the two planets live in.  Over there is the planet where Ann comes from, and there is the one where Ann crash lands.

"Really?  The one where she comes from looks like a desert." I point to the brownish globe, "It has some green and blue patches though."

One word - terraform, or think of a different word for it.

"Hmm, good point." I look around me at the blobs of different colors not dulled by the atmosphere.  It's like a jeweled tapestry.  "Thanks Fantasy.  I hope this will help."

It will.  She takes me back to the glade.

A Streak of Light

I appear at Fantasy's forest, and she's not immediately there.  I look around for her, and I'm perplexed.  I call out to her, and she's there in a flash of green light.  I step back a little.

"Oh Fantasy!  You startled me!"  I smile, "I'm glad you're all right."

Fantasy is dancing in midair and the air around her is twinkling.  I've found something I think you're going to love.  I suggest you take in the site fully, but not before you do the exersise.  I know it's not a game, but I think you'll like it none-the-less.

"Ok.  Tell me about it." I sit on a log nearby.

It's at a site called Language is a Virus.  There is a lot going on there.  The exercise I want to tell you about is called Sentence Builder.

"Ok.  So what do you do?  I want to try it out, and I will check it out, but I want to try it out with you here." I open up my laptop and start up windows.

She waves her hand, and a pale green screen appears.  Write one sentence and split it into four parts.  

I write:

Sometimes I want to be a character in a novel, but then I realize when I write, I am!

Part 1  Sometimes I want to 
Part 2  be a character in a novel
Part 3  But then I realize
Part 4  That when I write, I am!


For each phrase write three phrases that say the same thing using different words. 

 Ooh, this could be tough, but I'm up for the challenge.  :)  

1  Frequently, I desire to 
    In times, I long for
   I dream often of
2  be an actor in a book
    walking inside a story
    participate as a part of a telling   
3  but I am startled
    but I am shocked
    but I am intrigued
4  when I create, I transform
    as I type, I become someone different
    as I dream, I can become someone else


Ohh, I think you did well with that.  Now, let's see.  It says to put the sentences into the form and submit it.  Are you going to?

I am hesitant.  I'm hoping it's not a generator that adds something to the sentences.  I could do that, but then again, this would be a good thing to do.  Already it has helped get the creative juices flowing.  I nod.  "I think I will.  Here goes."

I copy and paste my material to the form.  Here's what I got.  It basically looks like it put the sentences together in different ways; then it allows you to save the file.  Once you get the hang of it, you can do it on your own computer offline.


Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am startled when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am startled when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am startled when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
Frequently, I desire to participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am startled when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am startled when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am startled when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
In times, I long for participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am startled when I create, I transform.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of be an actor in a book but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am startled when I create, I transform.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of walking inside a story but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am startled when I create, I transform.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am startled as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked when I create, I transform.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am shocked as I dream, I can become someone else.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued when I create, I transform.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I type, I become someone different.
I dream often of participate as a part of a telling but I am intrigued as I dream, I can become someone else.

So what do you rate it as?

"Hmmm, 4 out of 5.  It was a good challenge, and it did help with the work, but it was predictable in the end.  I'll use it definitely.  Thank you Fantasy." I save the file and get ready to go to craft group.  "See you next week."

You bet Michelle.  She waves as I leave, and then she is gone just as quickly as she arrived.