The Magic, Miracles and Joy of an Artist: Grow Your Blog Party

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Grow Your Blog Party

Hi!! Welcome to the GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY hosted by Vicki of 2 Bags Full.

I'm thinking this is a great day to have a party since today is my Birthday!!

My name is Audrey. The little fellow I'm holding is our mini doxie, Jake ~ he had his first Birthday in September, he's the first dog I've ever had, and I love him to the moon and back. I post photos of Jake on my blog from time to time.

I lived in Ohio all my life until 2006 when we moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia ~ to a small town that is part of the Roanoke Valley. It is beautiful here and I post many photographs that I've taken showing that beauty in many forms.

Audrey and Jake

I started this blog in December of 2008 and I continue to enjoy blogging to this day. Blogging has introduced me to many wonderful people with like interests and I've made some very good friends along the way.

My main interests are art and photography, but I post articles and photos that have to do with gardening, flowers, trees, nature, family, and anything that I think might be of interest to my readers.

"Silent Color" by Audrey, 2009

I'm caregiver for my 95 year old Mother who lives with us, so I only have limited time to make art right now. I enjoy Mixed Media and if I do any creating, I post photos of it. I love purchasing art made by the many artist friends I've come to know through blogging and I try to remember to post those works of art.

"White Ice" by Audrey, 2013

I invite you to become a follower and make return visits often. Please scroll through some of my older posts to give you an idea of what my blog is all about.

To find others who are participating in this GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY, go to Vicki's Blog, 2 Bags Full, for a complete list.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon. Feel free to leave a comment ~ I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy the party!!!

Audrey

21 comments:

Holly said...: Wow, Audrey - I have enjoyed looking around at your very fun blog and all the art! It is nice to meet you and Jake. =0)
I am your newest follower!
xo; January 19, 2013 at 10:37 AM
The Sage Butterfly said...: Your blog is wonderful, and it was so nice to find it through the Grow Your Blog party. It is always nice to connect with other creatives. Enjoy your weekend.; January 19, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Jan said...: Happy Birthday Audrey! You are one of the most consistent bloggers I know! Keep it up, my friend. Such a pleasure knowing you. I didn't realize that Jake is the first dog you have ever had. aren't they a joy?!
Hope you have a wonderful day!!; January 19, 2013 at 12:26 PM
OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...: Happy, Happiest Birthday to Ms. Audrey, who just happens to be one of the most kind and loving woman I have had the joy of meeting along the way. Oma Linda; January 19, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Gail H. Ragsdale said...: I always love your blog Audrey! And happy birthday again!; January 19, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Anonymous said...: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY- AND- MANY MANY MORE!!! LOVE TO BROWSE THROUGH YOUR BLOG. SAY HI TO SISTER AND MOM. HAVE A GOOD ONE AUDREY!!!!! LINDA; January 19, 2013 at 7:38 PM
Elizabeth Edwards said...: hi. i a new follower. also a Virginian ... that is too cool. i have found a few so far. wish you a great weekend. please stop by my blog. take care. ( :; January 19, 2013 at 8:27 PM
Deborah said...: Audrey!!! Such a coincidence I log into my blog on party day! OOoooo and you Birthday! A million happy wishes for you. **blows kisses** Deb; January 19, 2013 at 8:55 PM
Countrywoman said...: welcome to the party nice to meet you; January 19, 2013 at 9:58 PM
yoborobo said...: Happy Birthday, Audrey! I hope it was wonderful. And I didn't know Jake was your first doggie! He is such a cutie. :) xox; January 19, 2013 at 10:17 PM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday. I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and did something special to celebrate...thanks for always being a positive blog force in this virtual world! xox; January 20, 2013 at 6:37 AM
Tami Von Zalez said...: My mom is 84 and still quite independent but should she live into her 90s, I anticipate I will be her caregiver. You are blessed to have her in your life.

Popped in from the Grow Your Blog hop.

Give me a visit some time ~
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com; January 20, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Terri said...: Hello Audrey, I am happy to meet you! You have a great blog! Happy Birthday too : )
Hugs,
Terri
artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com; January 20, 2013 at 5:34 PM
Patrice said...: I'm visiting from Vicki's blog. I am your newest follower. I invite you to visit my blog, Everyday Ruralty. It would be great if you could follow my blog too. I look forward to seeing more of your creations. Jake is really cute! :)
Patrice
www.everydayruralty.com; January 20, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Sandra Kaye said...: Such a sweet little baby :):) Thanks for sharing!! Happy blogging!!; January 20, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Caterina Giglio said...: first off, Jake is so darling... I just want to snuggle him! second, your package is in the mail and you should be receiving it very soon.. xx; January 21, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Donna Heber said...: Hi Audrey,

It is so nice to meet you. Your blog is lovely and your photos are amazing! I'm still making my way through visiting everyone from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party. I hope you will stop by to say hello.; January 24, 2013 at 4:29 AM
Maggie said...: hi Audrey, nice stopping by your blog from the Grow Your Blog party. I'm still plowing through the LONG list! Your dog sure is a doll...how sweet that he's your first dog ever. I love all the through-the-years photos in your sidebar; looks like lots of good memories! Stop by my blog and giveaway if you get the chance!

maggie
www.themagrag.com; January 27, 2013 at 3:55 AM
kareninkenai said...: You have a wonderful blog, Audrey. My mother passed two years ago in a couple weeks and I miss her sorely. I was able to caregive for almost four years. It was a blessing. Thanks for doing Vicki's party. Please stop by if you haven't already and sign up for my giveaway. (I'm tardy because my motherboard died and went to the grave!) But, I have a replacement now! Hugs from Alaska. Karen

www.alaskabluemoose.blogspot.com; January 28, 2013 at 3:42 AM
suziqu's thread works said...: Lovely to meet you Audrey and that dear little heart melting Jake!
You do some lovely artwork and I'm a glad I had this window of opportunity to come and look thanks to dear Vicki.
You might like to visit me also.
Wishing you lots of happy hours creating your art.
Suzy; January 30, 2013 at 5:45 AM
Amanda said...: She's the best!! love you!!; February 5, 2013 at 9:27 PM

For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come!

I AM A "SEARCHER"

"I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter. We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves."

~ James Kavanaugh

I am THE LOVERS Tarot Card

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse. THE LOVERS represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made. Originally, this card was just called LOVE. And that's acually more apt than "LOVERS." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that you have or will come across a person, a career, challenge, or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.