I’m at my parents’ house for a few days to help them as my mom recovers from surgery to repair her broken wrist, so my work has been a little different for a couple of days. That’s also why this blog post is coming out a day late, but hopefully you’re too busy with life and your own creative work to notice. I did bring along things to do, though, as I continue to plan for 2026 and prepare to launch some new things.
So, I’m doing this and that between doling out doses, rotating ice packs, helping around the house, and confiscating expired medication (seriously, one pack of Tylenol Cold my dad had in his med stash was over 24 years old). We had a good laugh about that, and I bought some new cold medicine that will certainly be more effective.
Here are my four things for the week: Art Rivals, A Complete Unknown, a voice & a guitar, and my next original art sale…
what I’m reading
I was sad when I finished Paris in Ruins because I enjoyed it so much, so I started reading another book by Sebastian Smee, The Art of Rivalry. I haven’t enjoyed it quite as much as Paris in Ruins, but it’s still a great book, and I’m looking forward to getting to know more Matisse, Pollock, and de Kooning. I haven’t read as much about those three.
what I’m watching
Jeff and I watched A Complete Unknown, a movie about the life of Bob Dylan, and it is excellent. As someone who plays the guitar, I am so happy the actors actually played the guitar. I could see the chords, picking, hammering the strings, and everything. I love so many of Bob Dylan’s songs, so I also enjoyed how much music they used as a part of the storytelling. It is rated R for some language, but it is otherwise a pretty clean movie.
what I’m loving
I am loving listening to folk music. So much so that I made a new playlist with some of my favorites from the movie soundtrack, along with some originals. I added in some Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, and Joni Mitchell, and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to that mix while painting and working.
I like and appreciate a variety of music styles, but my favorite is a guitar, a voice, some harmonies, and lyrics like poetry.
what I’m working on
It’s been a pretty exciting week! My artwork was featured on a TV Show (more on that in another post), and I received the first draft layout of my new book!
I have also been preparing for my next original art sale, scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm EST. I have painted almost every day to put together a variety of small, medium, and large works. I even made a fresh batch of color charts on antique linen. I will post a preview of all available works, sizes, and prices on Monday.
What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?
9 Responses
Good morning Marion. Glad to read that your Mom had her surgery, now the healing can truly begin. I am sure Rosa Jo is keeping a close watch on your Mom.Animals know when extra attention is needed. A new to me book arrived yesterday. It is the most encouraging book. It is “ feels like Home” by none other than Marion Parsons. I am enjoying this book immensely, with every page I turn I feel like a trusted friend is walking me through a new chapter in my own life. The other day you mentioned that you wanted to be known as an encourager, well you are definitely an encourager. I truly believe you were called to do the work that you do. So from one military brat to another thank you. I will continue to pray for healing for your Mom. PS- the painting of the pointer in this post is amazing.
Thank you, Suzie! I hope you enjoy the rest of Feels Like Home. 🙂
Healing prayers to your dear mom!! She is so blessed to have you and I’m sure it has helped with her healing! Plus, she gets to see her talented daughter at work! That dog you have on this post is fabulous Marian!
Wow, what a month it’s been so far and it’s only been a week lol! I too am a big fan of folk music and guitar! Being the age of 64 I learned a lot in the 70s. I also like to sing harmonies too. A few years ago I came across a video I think on Netflix that was about the Carter family, JUNE Carter, Mabel Carter, and a little bit of Johnny Cash too. They focus on the Appalachian folk music and it’s really quite interesting. I really like Alison Krauss.
I’ve been trying to paint my dogs every day, but I’m not as good as I want to be. Seeing how you have grown in this arena has motivated me to try it. I have so many books on my table, but right now painting it’s taking a free time I have.
Oh, I’ll have to see if I can find that. And yes, I feel like our ability as artists will never catch up with our taste level, and I think that’s a good thing. We will always be striving.
You are an inspiration on so many levels to all of your followers!
When I hear that someone likes folk music I like to recommend the very talented John McCutcheon.
I first heard him playing on a football field one summer night long ago in Fredericksburg, Virginia. – he used to live in Charlottesville.
My husband and I have now seen him in concert multiple times and we highly recommend him.
He is a 6-time nominated Grammy artist, and one of his songs was even used by the USPS for their Christmas TV ad! (Mail Myself to You) He plays a wide variety of instruments but favors the guitar. His website is folkmusic dot com.
Our family and several friends adopted his birthday song, Cut the Cake, as our birthday tune of choice.
His song “Christmas in the Trenches” from his Winter Solstice album is based on a true story and if you check out anything, it is worth looking up on YouTube.
On a side note, his wife is also a talented artist. She is Carmen Agra Deedy and is a award winning author of children’s literature.
I hope you and your family enjoy him as much as we do.
I just watched the YouTube video of Christmas in the Trenches. What a beautiful song and message – so very much worth watching! Thank you for the recommendation!
Sending healing prayers for your mom. I know she and your dad are so thankful to have you there helping out during her recovery. I have never been a big Dylan fan, but there is one song of his that I have always loved which is “Tangled up in Blues”. I heard that the young actor that played him in the movie was excellent. I fall in love with Joni Mitchells beautiful voice the first time I heard the opening chords of “Help me I think I falling in love again”. I have been watching alot of podcasts and following Anne Graham Lotz & her daughter Rachel-Ruths Bible study program. Billy Graham once said that Anne was the best Bible teacher in the family, and I think he was right!
I think you’d appreciate my musician friend, Joe Newberry. He’s a traditional bluegrass singer/songwriter who plays both banjo & guitar. A real storyteller in the form of tunes.