It is a quiet peaceful Monday morning here in Virginia.  January 30th ~ it is more like a cool spring morning than the middle of winter.  The only snow I've seen this year has been on the news.  I miss the snow.  I'm a snow lover, used to the heavy snow days back when I lived in Ohio.  I grew up in the snow ~ never minded driving in it, never minded shoveling it.  I especially miss those nights when the snow was falling.  I would go outside to the calm serene sight and feel of it ~ everything clean and white under the star filled sky ~ snowflakes melting on my cheeks ~ breathing the cool crisp air ~ watching the snow on the ground twinkle from the light of the moon ~ nothing like it.  Well, a girl can dream... and I'll always have those memories.  Although, I'm almost certain it will snow again here in Virginia someday, some year.

Friendship is a word 

the very sight of which in print

makes the heart warm.

~Augustine Birrell

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Constanza !!

My wish for you is that you will be showered with blessings and joy not only today, but throughout the year.  You have a beautiful soul that is deserving of good things!  Sending love your way.  ♥

Birthday Wishes are speeding across the sea to Indonesia where a certain special witch lives.  Only a "good" witch could become so much more beautiful each year!

Love is heading your way, Mita, along with wishes for a special, joyful day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my friend !!

It's a beautiful mornin', ah
I think I'll go outside a while
And just smile
Just take in some clean fresh air, boy!
Ain't no sense in stayin' inside
If the weather's fine, and you got the time
It's your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day
Either way
It's a beautiful mornin', ah
Each bird keeps singin' his own song
So long!
I've got to be on my way now

~Lyrics by The Rascals

~Photo taken this morning, "Jake"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Linda !!  You are in our thoughts today.

~Sue, Patty, and Audrey

Birthday

Once again, I must apologize for being away from my Blog for so long.  January has been a hectic month and has left me with little time to myself. 
Yesterday was my 64th Birthday.  No big deal in my eyes.  I have never been one to let age stop me from feeling very much alive and filled with desire to accomplish the many goals I see for my future.  I very seldom sit still for very long as there is much to accomplish in a world that seems to be spinning faster each year.  I must say that I feel blessed that many of the friends I've come to know through blogging, though younger, could care less about age.  It pleases me, also, that a lot of bloggers are in their 60s and enjoying their creativity time and planning future events that will bring happiness into their lives and the lives of those they love.  I hope to be around for a long time and, God-willing, I plan to fulfill some of those dreams that are still floating around in my head.  Also, being the "baby" of the family always helps make me feel young. 
My sister and bother-in-law arrived a week ago from Ohio and will be with us for another week. We have been spending time visiting and running here and there. Jake keeps me very busy.  It is no joke that a puppy is much like having a baby in the home.  He requires a lot of my time and attention.  He is such a cute and good puppy, I am enjoying every minute as we form a solid bond.
My family gave me a very nice birthday ~ special gifts, a delicious cake, lunch with my husband, a little time away in the afternoon to run to some of my favorite places, a good dinner on my return, a fun and lengthy phone call from my son, and an evening of talk and laughter.  I received many beautiful birthday cards which I love and an especially sweet one from my husband.  The many wonderful birthday wishes I received on facebook and the videos and ecards received were fun and appreciated.  They all made for a fun and happy birthday.
I received one gift in the mail that I would like to share with you.  It has a special meaning to me and brought tears to my eyes when I opened it.  It is from a dear Ohio friend.  We grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same grade school and high school.  The one thing that bound us together with many other wonderful people was our church ~ St. Paul's Catholic Church in Canton, Ohio.  St. Paul's was our foundation while growing up.  We attended Mass there every morning before going through the doors into the building that housed our school of St. Paul's. 
There are many many memories there - my baptism, first communion, confirmation, the formation of friendships that taught me the true meaning of friendship, and eight years of schooling by Nuns, Priests, and others, who helped make me who I am today.

This beautifully framed verse, with the photo of the large stained glass window that is in St. Paul's Church, touched my heart.  Susie, the sender of this special gift, knows what that church means to all of us who grew up in that neighborhood. The church was closed last year and when that last Mass ended, many pieces of broken hearts remained behind those walls and will stay there for all time.  Thank you, Susie.  I love this gift and I will cherish it always.

The verse reads:
We were the pillars that anchored you,
Yet without You, we should fall.
Our hearts forever shall remain,
In your loving arms, Saint Paul.


for Audrey
January 19, 2012

Winter Flowers and Jake

My Amaryllis opened up this morning.  They are such a soft, delicate pink and have a bit of a shimmer to them.  Hard to capture that in a photo.  They won't last long, so I plan to enjoy the beauty while I can.  

Jake, sunning today in one of his favorite spots in the living room.  We have a lot of windows and the sun pours in. He moves across the room to the sunny spots as the sun moves across the sky. We've only had him a little over a month now and I can't imagine life without him. 

Oh, that moon!

That great big beautiful moon!

~Photo by Audrey, January 7, 2012

Toy Car Installation

I love this installation of 2500 old toy cars by UK artist David T. Waller.  I'm thinking he must have had a lot of fun creating this beautiful, interesting, and colorful work of art.

"One kind word

can warm three winter months."

~Japanese Proverb
~Photo by Audrey, January 2012

Inchies 5, 6, and 7

Cotton Candy Sky

Thursday evening's cotton candy sky.
~Photos by Audrey, January 2012

Inchies 3 and 4 and the start of a new painting!

TIME!!!  Wow, here it is ~ already the 2nd day of the New Year.  And a Monday.  There is something about the word Monday that makes me want to NOT do anything.  But, that will not work ~ it's the first week in a new year and there are more than a few things that need my attention today.

As promised, I am posting the art I made yesterday.  The mixed media piece is 9" x 12" and I had fun doing it.  Corrine's words, "Let Go" kept running through my mind, so "let go" I did!  It felt good to just let it develop into what it is.  the Inchies speak for themselves.  One a day ~ this means I only have 363 to go!  It will be interesting to see what might develop from these.

I want to paint more today, so I better get those Monday tasks done.  The sooner I can get into the studio, the better.

Happy Monday!

A Year of Inchies

Well, it is New Years's Day, 2012.  The Pork and Sauerkraut meal is over and the kitchen is cleaned up.  While Terry, Mom, and Jake nap, I am taking this opportunity to make some art.  My goal for 2012 is to make time to be creative.  I have piles of work I could do today, but I made up my mind I would devote the afternoon to being creative.

Inchies

For some time now, I've been wanting to make Inchies.  Inchies are 1" x 1" works of art.  They are small, easy to work with, and you don't have to devote a lot of time to them.  There are many things you can do with them ~ you can collect them, make collages, make greeting cards, use them in mixed media art pieces, put them in journals, swap them, or use them in any manner that suits your needs.

I am planning to make an Inchie a day.  What will I do with 365 Inchies at the end of the year?  Hard telling.  I will probably use them as the year goes by.  

I've signed up in the Creative Every Day group for 2012.  Having been involved in this for the past 2 years, I failed in my attempt to be creative every day.  Of course, the creativity does not have to be a painting.  You can be creative in many ways every day ~ you might make a new recipe, knit a shawl, or you might sew a curtain for the window.  There are many ways to be creative!

I will post my Inchies on my blog, probably a few at a time.  If nothing else, making Inchies will get me into the studio and wonderful things could develop from that!! 

So, I am off to play with paint, colored pencils, ink, or whatever my fingers decide to pick up.  I am excited to get to it.

Winter Sunset Cross

~Photo by Audrey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Marlene !!