Good Monday Morning !!

~photo by Audrey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jan !!

Sending good wishes across the country to Oregon.  There are people we encounter every day who come and go.  Then, there are people we meet who leave an impression.  For some reason you just mesh with them.   I met this sweet lady through blogging a number of years ago.

We've not met in person yet ~ I am hoping that will happen one day.  But, through our correspondence, I have come to know Jan enough to know that she is the kind of person you want as a friend.  She is a dog lover, has a sweet personality, is multi-talented, a free spirit, very kind, and has the heart of an angel.

I am so happy that we met.

Have a beautiful birthday, Jan.

Buddha Says...

Fun in Vegas

I never knew you could have so much fun in Vegas without really being there!!!

This is Terry's Billiards Team out in Vegas this week.  They won the league and as a result were sent to Vegas for Nationals.  Terry has been to Vegas several times so he opted to not go, giving the guys a little more $$.
They posted this photo on facebook today.  While celebrating their first night in Vegas... notice Terry is with them.  They shipped a cardboard cutout of Terry out there so he could be in all the photos with them.  
Terry doesn't have a facebook account, so they are posting the photos to my account.  Terry was quite surprised when I showed this to him this morning. How cool!  What a great (and thoughtful) bunch of guys!
Congratulations Awful Arthur's team, AWFULLY TRICKY!!  I know you'll have fun in Vegas ~ I hope you do well in your matches!!!

Boot Scraper

22" Vintage Cast Iron Dachshund Boot Scraper/Door Stop

My prize purchase.  I spotted this guy in the photo ad for a Tag Sale last weekend.  I didn't go the first day and figured he would be gone.  Went on Saturday and there he was waiting for me.  I suppose if I didn't have Jake this wouldn't have stirred my desire to own it quite as much.  But, I DO have Jake and I love this new piece.  It looks great in front of the fireplace!

John Bramblitt Strikes Again

Newest painting by John Bramblitt.  WoW!  John and his family are vacationing in Myrtle Beach right now.  John painted this while on the balcony at the beach.  Amazing. One of my favorites.  

I love your work, John.

Wordless Wednesday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Josh !!

Be sure to make some time for a birthday bash at the beach while you are in Florida.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Silke !!
You've done a lot of celebrating lately  ~ traveling overseas, your anniversary, and now your BIRTHDAY!!  I hope the coming year will be as exciting as the past two months have been for you.

Blessed Virgin Mary

Over the years I have nurtured my devotion to Mary by collecting statues of her.  It really happened slowly and by accident.  I would see a statue of her at a tag or garage sale and my heart wouldn't allow me to leave her there.  Some of them are shabby and missing some paint here and there... some of them are like new.  One in particular was given to me by a special old friend (the "Young Mary" sweeping).  I like to look at this one thinking she is working hard passing the time until her Son is born.  They are all beautiful and special to me. Along with my living room curio which is graced with her presence, I have others throughout the house.  I have enough, but if I see Mary at a sale and she looks at me...

  

If you want to see details, click on the photos to enlarge them.

August Evening Sky

  No words necessary.  Breathtaking.

Photos by Audrey

17 Years

August 3, 1996

♥ ♥ ♥

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dan !!

Wishing you a happy day and all good things in the coming year. 

If Dogs Worked In Offices

Thank you, Kathleen Harvey, for this email I received this morning.  It was a great start to the day.  It is just too cute ~ I must share with all my dog loving friends.

ENJOY!!

~~~~~

If Dogs Worked In Offices

 CEO

 CEO's RIGHT HAND

 UPPER MANAGER

 UPPER MANAGER's RIGHT HAND

 SEASONED EMPLOYEE

 NEW HIRE

 SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

 FINANCE

 SECRETARY

 INTERN

 THAT GIRL FROM THE OTHER OFFICE

 COMPANY EVENT

 AFTER THE COMPANY EVENT

 SECURITY GUARD

 JANITOR I

 JANITOR II

 5:01 PM

 AT HOME AFTER WORK

 FRIDAY NIGHT

 SATURDAY MORNING

 SICK LEAVE

 FAKING SICK LEAVE

 RECEIVED LAY-OFF NOTICE

VACATION

Tropical Sunset

TROPICAL SUNSET

by John Bramblitt, Denton, Texas

I am SO excited.  I just purchased this wonderful original painting by John Bramblitt.  I wrote a post (6/29/13) about John after his visit to Roanoke in June.  This man is blind and he paints the most colorful, wonderful paintings.  We have exchanged several emails and I must say John is not only talented, he is quite personable and has a great sense of humor.  I recently started to read his book,  Shouting in the Dark My Journey Back to the Light.  I cannot wait for this painting to arrive.

Monday Photo

"Chillin' On the River"

by Audrey, July 2013

Wax Plant Bloom

 July 15

 July 18

July 21

While visiting in Maryland one summer, I was given a "start" from a friend's Wax Plant.  That "start" has done very well and has grown into a lovely Wax Plant.  However, it only gets one bloom on it every year.  This is the second time it has bloomed this year.  I love the blooms.  They are fun to watch as they take their time opening up and they last a long time once opened.