Things I Love......

Family * God * Friendship * Seashells * Trees * Pizza * The Smell of Dirt * Mountains * Mexican Food * Rain * Salem & Roanoke, VA * Altered Art * Beaded Things * Lizards * Jewelry * Moss * Leather * Starfish * VW Beetles * Starfish * Seahorses * Fenton Glass * Soul Music * Snow * Mermaids * Stars * Full Moon * Jeans * Little Birds * ART * Quilts * Art Galleries * Good News From Doctors * Walking on the Beach * Walking in the Snow * Wedding Cake * Visiting KSU * Donald Drumm Studio * eBay * Etsy * Memories * Cosmo Wild Flowers * Angels * Fountains * Blogging * The Smell of Gasoline * Indian Food * The Smell of Just Mowed Grass * Fall * Spring * Leaves * Pumpkins * Halloween * Christmas * The Smell in Concrete Stairwells * Tag Sales * Vintage Jewelry * Vintage Fabric * Cottages & Cottage Decor * Deer * Frames * Peace * Chicago * New York * Windchimes * Container Gardening * Birdbaths * Monkeys * Painting * Making People Smile * Bowling * Turtles * Photography * Cool Breezes * Thunderstorms * Books * Eating Out * Coke * Vintage Christmas Ornaments * Paper Dolls * Marbles * Antique Malls * Valentines * Porches * Barnes & Noble * Chocolate Chip Cookies * Waterfalls * Riding in the Country * Music * Artists * English Gardens * The French Language * Italian Food * Visiting the Neighborhood/City Where I Grew Up * Ponds * Lakes * Ocean * Time *

A Few of Today's Treasures

Angel Fountain

This beautiful fountain is outside of an antique store at Folly Beach. I love it!! Being a fountain AND angel lover, this fountain is perfect. However, being very large and very expensive, I will have to look at the picture from time to time instead of the real thing.

Spring Quote

"BEHOLD, MY FRIENDS, THE SPRING IS COME; THE EARTH HAS GLADLY RECEIVED THE EMBRACES OF THE SUN, AND WE SHALL SOON SEE THE RESULTS OF THEIR LOVE!"
~Sitting Bull

Resolution

Yesterday I had to run to Folly Beach to make a return for my sister who had visited there a few weeks ago. When finished, I only had time to park the car and zip out into the sand and snap a couple of pictures. You, of course, are seeing those pictures on this post.

I am so tired of not having the time to go to the beach and walk and relax. I am always in a hurry and have a zillion things that need done. Enough! I resolve to go to the beach one day this week to walk, pick up shells, take pictures, look for little sea creatures in the sand, and just R E L A X !! I will soon be moving away and won't have the opportunity to go to the beach on a whim, so I must make time for this. I will post about the restful, dreamy day I had.

Anoles

One little creature that I will be sorry to leave here in SC is the green anole lizard. Anoles are slender climbing lizards, 6-8" in length and they can vary their skin color from green to shades of brown. They are cute little lizards and I have become used to seeing them on my porches almost every day. They are fun to watch.

I don't think there are any lizards in VA ~ they seem to like the warmer southern temperatures. I will miss seeing them scurrying around. These are some of the anoles that I have taken pictures of over the past year. Cute?

Flowers

EARTH LAUGHS IN FLOWERS.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

We took a quick trip to VA on Friday with our car once again loaded! It rained on us all the way there, the entire time we were there, and all the way home. And guess what it is doing today here in SC? Raining.

Much to my surprise, the trees were blooming in VA. So pretty in spite of the rain! I took the cloud picture in Fancy Gap, VA. This is where you are descending the mountain on 77 and going into North Carolina. It looked much the same as the clouds look from an airplane window. I have been through that area in the fog many times but I never saw the cloud of fog laying over the valley like that. It was neat.

The tree is at the entrance to the NC Welcome Center. The fungus makes an interesting, colorful texture and a pretty picture. While driving through NC, we passed this cool old barn and shed tucked way back in among the trees. It takes me at least an hour longer than normal to reach my destination when on a trip ~ I make many, many stops to take pictures.

The last two pictures I took this morning here in SC in my yard. The vinca vine has several blooms now and the bush is blooming with small magenta flowers. Love it!!!

I am spending the day packing my china cupboard items ~ a good thing to do on a gloomy, rainy day.

Bittersweet

"She said she usually
cried at least once
each day not because
she was sad, but
because the world was
so beautiful & life
was so short."
~From Mostly True by Brian Andreas

How true is this? The world IS beautiful and in the scheme of things, our time here is but a moment. Tears of joy fall from my eyes easily and often. There are many beautiful things and beautiful souls in this world. There are places to see, people to meet and thoughts to be painted. Time is marching on so quickly, I sometimes wonder if I will even get the necessary things accomplished before my time is up, yet alone the fun things. I have many, many ideas and thoughts to put on canvas; I have friends that I want to spend quality time with; there are creative people out there that I want to meet and befriend; I want time to just sit in the dark under a full moon and watch the stars twinkle; I want to sit in a boat in the sun for hours watching the birds dive for tasty treats; I want to make angels in the snow and walk in the dark during a heavy snowstorm; I want to run in a huge field of wildflowers and fall to the ground laughing with exhaustion; I want to spend time in old churches, alone, talking and visiting with God; I want my son to give me a grandchild that I can hold and love. I could go on but I think you get the idea. I think if more people would concentrate on the good and the beautiful things in this life, we would have less turmoil and unhappiness. Even in these difficult times, there is much to be thankful for and there are ways to enjoy our time, alone or with friends, that does not cost a dime.
Let's concentrate on our blessings and the beauty that surrounds us. I hope that if you cry today the tears will be joyful ones.
Audrey

Blossoms

Just sharing a few pictures I took this week. It is so wonderful to see flowers. I am not sure what these flowers are ~ haven't learned all the SC flowers yet. I just know they are blooming and they are so pretty. The winter cabbage is just as pretty. I am told the tree is called a redbud. Why would a purple flowered tree be called a redbud??

Leaving for VA again tomorrow to take another car load of things. Making real progress now and hope to move in about a month. It has been so warm and pretty the past week and now the temperature is dropping. I believe there is a cold front moving in so I guess I should be prepared for some cooler temps in VA.

Have a great weekend. Think Spring!!

SPRING

"I STUCK MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW THIS MORNING AND SPRING KISSED ME BANG IN THE FACE."
~Langston Hughes

Flamingos and More

Good morning Friends.

Just returned from another weekend in Virginia ~ took a load of items to the house there and painted the foyer. Getting closer to the move. This wonderful weather is making me want to get moved and start planting!! Unfortunately, I only have two arms and can't get everything packed and ready fast enough.

I wanted to show you what flew into our neighborhood while I was away. Aren't they the prettiest shade of pink? I haven't seen pink flamingos in a yard for many, many years. It was a fun thing to see!!

I also wanted to share these Lowe's pictures with you. While in Lowe's in Virginia, I noticed the artistic way the girls there hung the MDA shamrocks that you purchase for $1. to help fight muscular dystrophy. Most establishments hang the papers that you purchase for whatever charity/cause in rows or just wherever they can find space. I realize Lowe's has very large walls to work with, but I was impressed with the imagination that went into this and I had to take pictures.

Thank you for keeping up with my Blog in spite of my lack of art and lack of postings. I fear it will be sporadic until I get moved from SC to VA. Hopefully, you are enjoying the things that I am posting in the meantime.

Have a joyful day!

Audrey

Happiness

Simply imagine happiness, your own happiness. Feel the smile stretching across your face, notice the lightness in your step, hear the sparkle in your voice, and all things, material and spiritual, will dance to the beat of your drums.
Happy Thursday!!
~TUT....A Note from the Universe

Winter sky and Winter moon over South Carolina!!