Egyptian Art

Kat hosted an Egyptzen Swap

she wanted us to add a bit of repetitive patterns to it today most call that zentangles.

Egyptian Cobra

Egyptian Dog

Egyptian Princess

Egyptian Dog

Flowers to my Delight

Robin hosted another swap at ATCsforALL this one was flowers.

Wild Rose #3

Wild Rose #2

Wild Rose #1

Made Especially for Mingo

Made Especially for Mingo

and

I added it to the

Zentangle with a Twist Article

at

ATCsforALL

Pumpkin Delight

ATC Art Quarterly

Created these Artist Trading Cards

 for

ATC Quarterly Magazine

Dance with Me

Gave my Heart to You

Happy Birthday

In the Garden there are Many Flowers

Collage Art

by Ranie Patridis

Look down at our feet there is mama

Waiting patiently for her little babies

That we ahve in a bag

Where shall we take them?

We must keep them safe

***

Betsy dear look at that

A bag full of puppies

Just for us

What shall we name them?

And where is their Mama?

***

Come Mama follow us

We are looking for a safe place for them

Betsy dear are you awake

Don't you hear the puppies whimpering?

Come Betsy let us find a place.

***

Out in the Garden among the flowers

They're the Garden Fairies

Will help watch over them

Mamam watch over your babies

Just like I do with Betsy Dear....

by Ranie Patridis

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad strips and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air.

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

***

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses"

Now it catches in the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream.

'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

***

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

***

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land

Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

INDEPENDENCE BELL - JULY 4, 1776

There was a tumult in the city

In the quaint old Quaker town,

And the streets were rife with people

Pacing restless up and down-

People gathering at corners

Where they whispered each to each,

And the sweat stood on their temples

With the earnestness of speech.

***

As the bleak Atlantic currents

Lash the wild Newfoundland shore

So they beat against the State House

So they surged against the door

And the mingling of their voice

Made the harmony profound

Till the quiet street of Chestnut

Was all turbulent with sound.

***

Will they do it? dare they do it?

Who is speaking? What's the news?

What of Adams? What of Sherman?

Oh, God grant they won't refuse!

Make some way there! Let me nearer!

I am stifling! Stifle then!

When a nation's life's at hazard

We've no time to think of men!

***

So they surged against the State House

While all solemnly inside

Sat the Continental Congress

Truth and reason for their guide

O'er a simple scroll debating

Which though simple it might be

Yet should shake the cliffs of England

With the thunders of the free.

***

Far aloft in that high steeple

sat the bellman old and gray

He was weary of the tyrant

And his iron-sceptered sway

So he sat with one hand ready

On the clapper of the bell

When his eye could catch the signal

The long-expected news to tell.

***

See! See! The dense crowd quivers

Through all its lengthy line

As the boy beside the portal

Hastens forth to give the sign!

With his little hands uplifted

Breezes dallying with his hair

Hark! with deep, clear intonation

Breaks his young voice on the air.

***

Hushed the people's swelling murmur

Whilst the boy crys joyously

Ring! he shouts, Ring! Grandpapa

Ring! oh ring for Liberty!

Quickly at the given signal

The old bellman lifts his hand

Forth he sends the good news making

Iron music through the land.

***

How they shouted! What rejoicing!

How the old bell shook the air,

Till the clang of freedom ruffled

The calmly gliding Delaware!

How the bonfires and the torches

Lighted up the night's repose

And from the flames like fabled Phoenix

Our glorious liberty arose!

***

That old State House bell is silent

Hushed is now its clamorous tongue

But the spirit it awakened

Still is living-ever young;

And when we greet the smiling sunlight

On the fourth of each July

We will ne'er forget the bellman

Who, betwixt the earth and sky,

Rung out, loudly, "Independence";

Which please God shall never die!

UNKNOWN

Everyone have a nice 4th of July

Remember our History

Freedom is not free!

LAND OF THE FREE

AMERICA, O Power benign, great hearts revere your name,

You stretch your hand to every land, to weak and strong the same;

You claim no conquest of the sea, nor conquest of the field,

But conquest for the rights of man, that despots all shall yield.

***

America, fair land of mine, home of the just and true,

All hail to thee, land of the free, and the Red-White and Blue.

***

AMERICA, staunch, undismayed, your spirit is our might:

No splendor falls on feudal walls upon your mountain's height,

But shafts of Justice pierce your skies to light the way for all,

A world's great brotherhood of man, that cannot, must not fall.

***

AMERICA, in God we trust, we fear no tyrant's horde:

There's light that leads toward better deeds than conquest by the sword;

Yet our cause is just, if fight we must until the world be free

Of every menace, breed, or caste that strikes at Liberty.

***

AMERICA, home of the brave, our song in praise we bring-

Where Stars and Stripes the winds unfurl, 'tis there that tributes rings;

Our fathers gave their lives that we should live in Freedom's light-

Our lives we consecrate to thee, our guide the Might of Right.

ARTHUR NICHOLAS HOSKING

Telephones

Telephone is an amazing bit of information

You never know what you will hear

It maybe good news

Or

Bad news then it maybe something funny.

Telephone

Has come such a long ways

Remember when you use to round it up

Hanging there on the wall

Sharing your conversation with all.

Telephone

How did we do with out them

My Grandma had a black one that sit on a table

Nice sturdy big phone

Lots of conversation went through that phone.

Telephone

Remember when you could see a pay phone

Usually at the Gas Station

So convenient to drop some coins make that call

Letting love ones or friends know this n that.

The other day there in Redding we stop

In a Serve It Your Self Gas Station there before me

Standing all alone was a

Pay Phone

I can remember there would be at least two or more.
Looking so sad and lonely all alone

Standing there not able to move

Watching phones traveling with their masters

All day long as they pass by giving him a wink

He may look sad and lonely but not really

For he knows not everyone has a cell phone

and

He is there to serve

Knowing he is giving a helping hand.

Telephones have come a long ways in the old days

They were just use for communication

Keeping in touch with family and friends

Now they are use for entertainment and communication

From iTube to Facebook lets not forget the newspaper too

All those lovely photos to texting and music too

The

Telephone

Has become an amazing bet of information

Much more than communication

Wonder what my Grandma would say to day

If she could see what phones can do today

by Ranie Patridis

The Joys of Spring!

I dream of Spring through the Winter months

It seems as I get older
The days get longer.

Maybe it my joints
Complaining and groaning
Telling me it is hard to bend.

I don't know

Just wish that Spring has Sprung

I dream of warm days cool evenings

Listening to the frogs sing  as it warms up

Watching those little heads pop out of the ground

to bring you joy a smile comes to your face.

As Spring gets close the days get longer

Here in there we have more sunny days

A bit of cheerfulness finds it way to you

The first blooms to pop up are my Miniature Iris

Reminds of a friend no longer with us.

Who would know the Sun

Would be taken over by the Clouds

Tis over cast and dreary

My spirit falls down.

Not feeling well to day

The wood stove a going it is nice and warm

Sinus acting not helping a bit at all

As I sit and doodle

The art shows my feelings

They say April Showers brings May Flowers.

Now its raining cats and dogs

Tis a dark and dreary day

I wonder how my poor little iris are doing

Afraid to go out and check

A few day later the Sun pops back out

I venture out

Only to discover that my poor little Iris

Did not do so well.

A sadness comes over me and I think to myself

Wow! Its Cold!

Out here!

Why is it not warming up

The Sun is out shining giving no warmth.

Went to bed that night

Woke up to snow.

That day it snow some more

Getting deeper by the inches

Snow is beautiful

Makes everything nice and clean

But oh is it cold to be out there

I prefer my warm little shack

With the good olé wood stove

Just a cranking a way.

Again my sinus bothering me

Been rough for a couple of months

Wish this sinus would disappear

As I'm thinking how bad I feel

I set down to doodle

to keep my mind off of me

What is that I'm a hearing?

Oh know!

The wind is blowing!

As it get stronger and stronger

I hear branches falling

In my mind I see the tree's bending

As they struggle to stay upright

I fear that my flowers that I have left

Are blowing in the wind.

Landing
Know one knows where

Surely where ever they are

It must be warmer than here.

As I struggle with this sinus infection

Finally went to the Doctor

Gave me some antibiotics

Hope that does the trick.
They say get a Neti Pot
Wash that nose away
Oh my!

For in about 2 weeks or more

I'll be off to Monterey

There we are holding our

1st Annual

California AFA Gathering

Where we shall have

Workshops and Demos

All gathering around to trade and play.
Dare I say I do feel better!

There you have it
The
Joy's of Spring!

Here Little Pussy Cat....

Cats! Oh my!

Do I love cats

The can be so cuddly

yet so full of mischief

There is one that is always watching everything you do

Or waiting patiently for that poor little mouse

Not to say a cat that knows it all

No matter what you say or do

Miss Know It All 

is constantly talking right back to you

There is always one that loves to purr

so fat and lazy

it just wants to curl up into your lap

The Talker who is constantly

meow, meow, meow

no matter what you do

That cat is constantly talking to you

Cats are amazing creatures

with those soft mysterious eye's

Always ready to be near you

Yet not willing to be control

Always stands a bit away

Ready to bounce at a moment

Here little pussy cat come

cuddle up to me!

~Ranie Patridis

What is Life What is Death

Now you thinking what brought this on

You have been so quiet for such a long time

Sometimes life gets in the way

Then you say what is Life

We take it for granite

We don't think much about it

Till something happens in your life

to make you stop and think.

We start out as precious bundles

Our loving parents coo and aw over you

Then we grow up hearing our folks comment

Your time's a coming!

We play, we work, we travel the world around

Most of us never get out of our towns

Through books, movies and Internet one can dream

Still not knowing what life is all about

Through Faith we say we found our way

That life is precious in God eye's

We worship him, we depend on him

We try to walk our life with him

Thankful that he forgives us for our transgressions

As life go rushing by us each day we say

We are ready

but

Are we?

Each day passes by faster and faster

As the years go by

We rush back n forth

Life is good

then

Death comes knocking at the door!

Death you are never really ready for it

It is a shocking thing to go through

Emotions run high

Feelings are numb

You say and do things you wish you had not

You are never prepared for Death

Nor do you handle it well at all

With all the faith that one may have

When it comes down to watching a love one go

It is hard to find the words to help them through it.

You hope they find comfort with you silent sitting by

Stages of death is a mystery in it self

From watching movies you think it is fast and sweet

Let me tell you no it is not

For one must pass through the valley of memories

along death march.

Friends come by, some pray with you others don't

Family come and go not sure what to say or do

Emotionally all well one want you to believe

Mentally you are a mess

Unless you have things right with God

Physically the pain is unbearable

Your thankful for the pain pill to ease the pain away

A time comes when you just lie there

With your eye's close

hearing the sounds around you

Heart is strong, breathing is calm

Day by day as you get weaker

There is one that is constantly there beside you

You hear their pleas and prayers

You reach out to them in a spiritually way

You are told it is alright to go

With God's Grace!

Funeral comes

Friends and Family are there to say goodbye

Most are there with good intention

Some you wonder why they came

You can't help but feel that somehow all be touch

One way or another by the person who passed away

When it comes down to it all things are blur

Memories are clouded

You shake hands, gives hugs, shed a few tears

Go out to eat afterwords why I don't really know

It seems to be the thing to do

Some talk about the past other joke around

Some get reacquainted with long lost friends or family

I come to the conclusion that eating is a comfort thing.

The days are getting quieter

The spouse goes one last time to the Mortuary

To finish up business there

The friends you have are still there

Life just gets in the way

They think of you often

Your always on the back of their minds.

The phone does not ring so much

that it hits you suddenly

you are all alone!

Life!

The living must go on living

Do not dwell on the past

Start a new beginning

Be happy

Enjoy life

It is so precious in God eye's.

What is Life What is Death?

Do you know the answer

I think I do

Life is the Beginning the Walk of Life

Death is End of Life

It is what we do with our lives

How our out come will be

You see

Life is precious in God eye's

He loved us so much

He gave us his son to redeem mankind

When we truly walk with him

Believe in him

Converse with him

He will be with you at Death Doors

Guiding you each way through it

You see you are never alone

In life or death

As long as you have God by your side.

In that day when God Redeems this earth

The Righteous will be caught up into the heavens with him

Life is so precious it is how you live it how the outcome will be.

 

In Loving Memory

of

Waldo Ira Jones

August 14, 1920 - February 7, 2010

My Step-Dad the man that raise my brother and I

 

Friendship

What is a Friend?

I don't know...

***

I have heard friends come and go

Like the breeze in the afternoon

Some come for a Season or Time

I wouldn't know I don't believe I ever really had a friend.

***

Some have friends from childhood

or

College days

That are a big part of their lives

Do you have a friend like that?

***

I don't!

I was so shy in my childhood or youth

I was tease alot

Those were rough years

Times were changing

Nylons, girdles, mini skirts were in style

I wore bobby socks, oxfords shoes and dresses

down to the calves of my leg not to say my hair

pile high on top of my head
The accent the pronunciation of my words
did not help either

I stood out like a sore thumb

Dated a couple of times

Had a crush on one but he never really saw me

or we would be together today

My first love my puppy love was special until we broke up

I really did not have a friend that I could talk too

cry with tell my secrets too.

Never had a sleep over

Never went to birthday parties

I can say I don't have a friend like that!

***

What is a Friend?

***

We like to call individuals a friend

sometimes we call them our best friend

when a lot of times they are just acquaintance

***

Came to the conclusion that a friend

a
true friend

is someone really special.

They accept you for who you are

Do you have a friend like that?

***

I believe I have a friend

A special kind of friend

Every so often she check up on me

To see how I'm doing

I should do the same

I just don't know what to say

Not easy for me being such a loner

One that can occupy their time before you know it

the day is done

There are times I don't know what to do with my friend

We don't always understand each other

or

agree!

We always seem to find time in our busy

schedules to share a moment

to check out each other art

to support each other

as often as we can.

Who is this friend you ask?

**SMILE**

Well my friend knows who they are

and that is all that matters.

Friendship Zentangle

Be Happy!

Be Happy!

So much to be thankful for.

Be Happy!

Always bring a smile to your face a twinkle to the eye.

Be Happy!

We chuckle we dance we laugh the night away

and then we start again the next day.

Be Happy!

Nothing better to see than a happy face

with a gigantic smile across your face.

Be Happy!

For life is to short not too.

~Ranie Patridis

The Mask

Tis night the true democracy

When as the day

Like some great Monarch

With his train has passed by

In regal pomp and splendor.

The stars above shine bright for all we know

along the Milky Way.

As jostling crowds in radiant disarray

pass down Broad Boulevard in pageants vast.

We dance we play we parade down the street

wearing our bright colors to our delight

Over our face we wear our mask

To cover our fears

Disguise the sadness

The loneliness within our soul.

Hearing the music in the distance

The laughter of those along the way.

Hiding behind the bright colors

We dress to the occasion we laugh, sing, dancing along the way.

When daylight comes into the shadow we go

Letting our mask fall to our side

Looking inside knowing that for a time

We thought we were happy our fears at bay dancing along the way.

Each one of us playing our part in the

Mardi Gras of Night

Ranie Patridis

In The Foggy Mist

Early in the morning

as the fog dances in

there is a feeling of quietness

that leads to a eerie peacefulness.

The trees are grateful for the mist

they graciously extend their limbs

reaching, reaching for the dew drops

from the falling mist.

In the early morning in the foggy mist

if you look carefully

very carefully

you may see a Trinity Fairy

dancing in the mist.

There she is, do you see her?

Dancing away in the mist.

Funny about the early Foggy Mist

it lets your imagination

works it best.
~Ranie Patridis

Bobby the Cat

Be still, don't move

My mistress may never see me

Cause I am so still.

As I hide here beside this plant

Thinking  and wishing this

plant would get out of my face.

Sit still don't move a muscle

I just might not get caught

There she goes off into another room.

Boy I hope she stays in there for a while

I'm itching to put my paw in one of these planters.

Ooops!

She is back what is that in her hand?

As she puts it up to her face

Calling my name

I look up in disgust

As a flash of light came from that box

She holds up to her face

Dog gone it I'm caught!

Story n Photograph by
Ranie Patridis

Story of an Acorn

I am a little acorn

so proud and strong.

When my time comes

I may choose to become a Oak Tree

or

food for the forest creatures great and small.

I come from the Oak Tree who graciously

spreads those towering limbs above for shade.

Little by little as the acorn said.

I am healthy and strong a bit proud to say

as I slowly sink into my mossy bed.

Hidden deep in the earth away

hiding from all by day.

As I grew getting stronger each day

My roots grow hidden deep in the earth away.

Downward I send out a thread like root

Going deeper n deeper each day as I sipped the dew.

Striving deeper n deeper attaching myself to the earth

One day up in the air I sprung a tiny shoot,

Day after day and year after year

Up I grew

Little by little my leaves appear

strong and stout as I proudly stand

My splender branches spread far and wide.

Till the mighty Oak Tree is the Forest pride!

I am a little Acorn

so proud and strong.

I fell by the way side

Unable to root.

As I lay upon the ground

I become nourshing food 

for the great and small creatures

of this Forest I love.

Don't be sad for me I say,

Not all of us can be a tree

To be able to give something back

is the grandest gift that I can give.

I am a little Acorn

so proud and strong!

Ranie Patridis

Puzzle Post Card

Time comes, time goes by

as you put the pieces together

one by one.

Sometimes they fit

sometimes they don't

you never give up looking for the right piece.

Tis the puzzle of it all.

Ranie Patridis

Opus n Aura

What is an Opus n Aura?

Heck I don't know

Just a fancy name that I know of

for a zentangle pattern

to me it looks like flowers n leaves

at least my verison of it does

So tell me what do you think an

Opus n Aura

is?

Ranie Patridis