A Sad Day

Forgive me for my lack of visits and comments today. It has been a rough one and I am tired. I've been at the hospital all day with Mom. She had to undergo several heart tests and being 93 it was not easy for her. It hurt me to see her have to go through this but the Dr. felt it was necessary.

Perhaps you noticed I had a candle on my sidebar with prayers for Sandy, a friend of mine from Ohio. She has been battling cancer for the past year. When I returned home this afternoon, I received the news that Sandy left this world today, to join Renee and all the other angels. Sandy was a wonderful human being ~ a beautiful, fun, kind, talented lady with a strong faith. She leaves her husband, Mike, who loves her unconditionally and many good friends who love her as well. Sandy's friends and loved ones are sad today ~ the angels in heaven are joyous.

Rest in Peace, Sandy. You are free from pain at last. You will be missed.

Confetti Tree

This weekend, I did something a little different with this tree painting. It's on an 8"x10" canvas, done with acrylics, gesso, and glazing medium.

I wanted to make it a little whimsical and fun, so I added the confetti by using small pieces of shredded shiny foil and cellophane.

It's a happy tree ~ it sparkles and shimmers in the light. I like it.

The Renee Award

This morning, I received The Renee Award from my friend, Ces. This is a beautiful, meaningful award and Ces is a beautiful lady with a beautiful soul who gives love to her friends in the most amazing ways. Ces is an artist with an eye for the unique. She draws intricately and creates beautiful oil paintings. Many of her drawings are memories from her childhood ~ She captures tiny details on paper that bring memories to her and enjoyment to us. Ces has an imagination beyond the everyday. She draws things that most of us take for granted and things we would never see in our mind's eye. Ces's deep love for her family, her dedication to her career, her friends, and her art, are the cornerstones of her life. Ces can be very serious or she can be fun and silly, depending on the situation.

Ces made this award (illustrated by her special friend, Bella Sinclair), for her dear friend, Renee, who she had a special bond with and who she will love forever.

Receiving this particular award makes my heart sing!

Thank you, Ces, from the bottom of my heart. Only God knows why I was first led to your Blog. I thank Him that I was. I hope that during my life journey, I will grow to be a tall and sturdy oak tree.

♥ audrey

Ces and Her Dishes http://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com/

Bella Sinclair Doodlespot http://bellasinclair.blogspot.com/

Saturday Evening Moon

What makes the moon so magical? I took these photos this evening ~ the moon was beautiful, magical, not quite full, a ball of white cotton sitting in the middle of the blue-grey sky. It made me happy just to look at it.

I went to Palm Sunday Mass this evening and while driving home I saw something beautiful everywhere I looked. I took 157 photographs today, many of them on my drive home after church. I will post some of them this week but tonight I just wanted to post the moon.

This is your moon, Ces. I am sure you saw it, too!

Sunset Thrush

Perhaps he was not praying
The sunset thrush I heard
Perhaps he was not saying
His thanks;
Perhaps a bird in leafy dimness
Swaying
Can have no thought of prayer;
But my heart is praying
Because I heard him there.


~Jane Merchant




I realize this is not a Sunset Thrush, but I wanted to post one of
my bird photos with this wonderful poem. It is uplifting to hear
any bird sing.
I must thank my sister, Patty, for sending this poem to me. I
am now sharing it with all of you.
♥ audrey

Spring Blooms

Spring truly has arrived in The Roanoke Valley.

I Believe

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.
I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is,
They're going to hurt you every once in a while
And you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.
I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.
I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've
celebrated.
I Believe...
That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
The world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you ~
you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken away from you too soon.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best
of everything. They just make the most of everything they have.

~ author unknown

Butterfly Tree

This past week I finished a painting I started over a month ago. As much as I love to paint, I am finding little time to devote to it right now. I am going to try to make time to do more as I find it very relaxing.

This is a mixed media painting titled BUTTERFLY TREE. The size is 9" x 12" on acid free 110# acrylic paper, matted in a 12" x 16" black mat. I used acrylic paints, stamping, tiny butterflies I cut out of paper, bubble wrap for texture, napkins, and glazing medium.

I have a couple of other paintings started and once I finish them, I plan to list this one and the others on eBay or Etsy.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

~ George Eliot

It's Here!

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING.......

I CAN FEEL ITS ENERGY, AND MY SPIRITS SOAR!!

~Helen Hayes

IF

If you had to choose the most beautiful NAME of an existing country, what would you choose?

Shamrocks and Four-leaf Clovers

Here is some interesting information that came to my attention today.

The four-leaf clover is often confused with the shamrock. While the four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck, the three-leafed shamrock is mainly an Irish Christian symbol of the Holy Trinity and has a different significance.

The shamrock is a symbol of Ireland. It is a three-leafed old white clover. The shamrock has been registered as a trademark by the Government of Ireland.

The shamrock is a traditional icon of St. Patrick's Day because it tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain how the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could exist as separate parts of the same being. His followers took to wearing a shamrock in celebration.

The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in Boston. Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated with large parades, the wearing of the green, and drinking beer.

St. Patrick's Day ~ 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day ~ 2010

May you always have
Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Susann !!

Sisterchicks

We sisterchicks and friends need to stick together --- Love and pray for each other --- Stand with each other --- Stand for each other --- Support and encourage one another --- That's what sisters do best!

Sunday Morning Squirrel Story

Sooooo good.

I WILL get these seeds.

Uh oh !!

Can I get away?

Please don't hurt me.

Sweet Cardinal

A Situation

Hmmm....

New development.

How do I handle this?

Things That Made Me Smile Today