Christal Kelly

Create, Love, Laugh

Christal Kelly
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Musings
  • Poetry
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Musings
  • Poetry

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

  • A small blonde dog is next her a woman with blonde hair. They are facing forward sitting in a car. The dog has a pink harness.
    blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  Grief,  Pets,  Thoughts,  Thoughts

    Rescued

    April 23, 2023 / 2 Comments

    During my divorce, I moved to an apartment that was about a block and a half away from the Pacific Ocean. From my balcony and over the canopy of trees, I could see the ocean. If I left my sliding glass doors open (I had three! One in the master bedroom, guest room and living room.), I could hear the…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • Cypress trees
    blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  divorce,  Effys's Blogging Challenge,  Grief,  new life,  separation,  Thoughts

    Let me tell you about Sophronia

    April 22, 2023 / 24 Comments

    Sophronia Thrush is my great-great grandmother on my dad’s side of the family. I never knew of her existence until a few years ago. After my separation from the ex-husband, I was looking for a place to live. I needed to be some place that would bring me healing from the hell of the last six months I spent trying…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • Klimt's The Kiss. Man embracing a woman whose head is tilted back as he kisses her.
    blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  marriage,  new life,  Thoughts,  Thoughts

    Slow Down

    April 1, 2023 / 2 Comments

    There was a lot to hate about the pandemic, like not being able to see loved ones, hanging out with your neighbors, traveling, dining out and all the ugliness that a certain orange one encouraged in his followers. There was a lot I hated about it and I greatly struggled in the first few months of it. I did not…

    Read More
    christal
  • art,  dealing with life,  divorce,  marriage,  meanderings,  new life,  Thoughts,  Thoughts

    ten things

    November 23, 2021 / 1 Comment

    We are getting ready for the holidays in our own little way being two people who lived several decades married to other people. We will visit my parents for Thanksgiving and the new husband will finally get to meet my sister and her family. I’m bringing my oft requested sweet potato soufflé along with my artichoke jalapeno dip and a…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • alone time
    Adventures,  blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  Grief,  lifestyle,  meanderings,  new life,  Thoughts

    Returning

    May 6, 2021 / 17 Comments

    Yesterday, I had to go to the my office to print up documents for a project for work. It was a lot of pages to print up at home, so going to the office was the only answer. I’ve been back in the office only one other time since we were shut down. My desk is still a mess (where…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • April Year of Mary
    Acrylics,  Adventures,  art,  blog,  colored pencils,  dealing with life,  divorce,  Effys's Blogging Challenge,  meanderings,  mixed media,  new life,  Thoughts

    Give in to Joy

    April 29, 2021 / 16 Comments

    I finally finished the painting I started the other day. It is from Effy Wild’s “Year of Mary. There were a number of times where I was feeling frustrated with this girl and wanted to throw it in the bin. I decided to start talking to her lovingly and thinking nice, lovely thoughts towards the painting and this girl. She finally…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • How I feel when I stay within my budget
    blog,  divorce,  Effys's Blogging Challenge,  favorite products,  lifestyle

    YNABer (Or fun with budgeting, really!)

    April 15, 2021 / 6 Comments

    After my divorce, I decided to be better with my money. The ex and I were never very good savers and planning things very well financially. We tended to live paycheck to paycheck and when we wanted something, we never hesitated to charge it. When it came to the divorce being finalized, we both walked away being in a lot…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • black bird
    Acrylics,  Adventures,  art,  blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  Effys's Blogging Challenge,  Grief,  mixed media,  Thoughts,  travel,  watercolor

    The Bird in the Storm

    April 14, 2021 / 13 Comments

    Art I’m in a rut, artistically speaking, right now. I’ve signed up for quite a few things this year and nothing is speaking to me. Yesterday, I continued working on a piece that I started this week-end and I’m very “meh” about it right now. I try to be gentle with myself as a newbie artist, but this is something…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • Standing fighting trying
    blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  Effys's Blogging Challenge,  Grief,  marriage,  new life,  Thoughts

    Dreams

    April 7, 2021 / 12 Comments

    Most days I’m content in my new life. I feel very fortunate to have met and married someone who values and cherishes me. This marriage is new and a very small slice of my life. When you have been with someone since you were a very young woman and grew up with that other person and yes, probably outgrew them…

    Read More
    Christal Kelly
  • A Year of Mary
    Acrylics,  art,  blog,  dealing with life,  divorce,  divorce,  marriage,  mixed media,  new life,  Thoughts,  Thoughts,  watercolor

    Messiness

    April 1, 2021 / 12 Comments

    Today’s picture is from Effy Wild’s “Year of Mary” lesson. Each month she does a painting inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver. This was the lesson for March and it created so many challenges for me. In fact, it’s been sitting on my art cart for about two weeks because I could not get her face done right or to what…

    Read More
    christal
123

Musings

  • SS Sphinx
  • Enchanting Egypt
  • Relaxing and Exploring
  • Adventures in Maui
  • Our Travel to Mexico

Categories

© 2025 Christal Kelly