Dianthus

My Dianthus has been opening over the last few days.  Many more to open yet.  I look forward to this every year!

One Beautiful Bloom

 My wisteria has magically given me one gorgeous bloom after the freeze wiped out the tree several weeks ago.  Normally, it would have been covered in blooms that would have been gone by now.  

The sad looking tree has dried up drooping blooms that were just getting ready to open when the freeze hit.  Yesterday, I walked past it and there was one beautiful flower.  The tree is now starting to get some green on it, so hopefully it will be ok next Spring.  It is planted on the top of a hill in my front yard and really gets battered by the wind.  I'm going to have to talk to Patrick about watching over it.

Dear Ms. Thing

This was written by one of my facebook friends who is always the positive thinker!  I read this first thing this morning and it was like she had written it for me.  Angi believes the right time for anything is NOW.  I told her that I DO fall into bed exhausted every night from trying to make everything perfect and get everything done, and that I let my passion (creating ART) sit on the back shelf waiting and waiting for the right time that seldom happens.  

Thank you, Angi, for opening my eyes.  I am going to set the "song in my heart" free!

Dear Ms. Thing,
You have permission to pause.
You have permission to wait.
You don't have to figure it all out
and fill your days with doing, doing, doing
until you fall in your bed, exhausted and disconnected
from the song in your heart.
You are the Divine Feminine embodied,
and as such,
you are a receiver.
You, by your very nature, are attractive and alluring.
Dreams are looking for you so they can come true.
Blessings ache for your embrace.
Action and adventure follow you,
hoping you'll give them a way into the world.
Every bit of magic in this sphere is birthed through you.
Including yourself.
Slow down.
Breathe.
Open, allow, receive.
Own the space that is uniquely yours.
It is sacred ground.
So are you.
~Angi Sullins

Monday

Somehow it's Monday again!  Jake is chipper and ready for the day.  It is sunny and bright outside - good reason to be happy and ready to tackle what the day has to offer.

Happy Monday to everyone!!

A Worrisome Night

I had a fun time at Rivers Edge Earth Day festivities yesterday with my good friend, Tricia.  We went to an estate sale and then had a delicious lunch at Nawab Indian Cuisine.  We finished the day off by going to Michael's to swoon over art supplies.
This is when the day turned sour.  I came home, fixed some dinner, sat down to eat, got back up to get my pills, and dear little Jake walked right under my foot.  I tramped on him ~ hard!  He yelped! I lost my balance and fell.  I was in tears immediately because I had hurt my dear little sweetheart.  We watched him closely and he seemed to be walking ok.  But, I would have worried myself sick, so I insisted we take him to the Emergency Vet Hospital to be checked out as I was very concerned about his spine.  That was at 8:00.  We got home at midnight.
Jake is fine.  I feel SO blessed that he is alright.  The hospital was SO busy.  It was filled with dogs and cats when we arrived and they just kept coming in.  It was a LONG wait, but we met and talked with some really nice people and their pets as we all worried together.
Mr. Magic is diabetic.  When we were finally in with the Dr., I noticed that he was acting strange.  Then, it hit me.  We had dropped everything right at the beginning of our dinner and rushed off to the hospital.  His blood sugar had dropped.  They were very kind and gave him a granola bar, and when we got back to the car to leave, he ate another bar.  By the time I drove us home, he was coming around to being where he needed to be.
All is well.  Mr. Magic is fine.  Jake is fine.  I hope there aren't any more nights like this in our future.  

Earth Day

We only have this one Earth  ~  Be kind to it.

Prince

The world mourns once again ... the death of another musical legend.

PRINCE

1958 ~ 2016

"I never meant to cause you any sorrow

I never meant to cause you any pain

I only wanted to one time see you laughing 

I only wanted to see you

Laughing in the purple rain."

Columbine

My columbine is blooming!  Gorgeous!!

The Sound of Music

Look what appeared in my mailbox a few days after my "convent" post!  Thanks to longtime friend, Tom Stephan, once my nun collection is joined by these 3, they will never lack the sound of music.

Stamped "1956" on the bottom, my love for old figurines makes these even more special to me.  Thank you SO much, Tom!  I am blessed with kind and caring friends.

This is ME for sure!!

Back Home

Just brought Jake home and he headed for his favorite spot on the couch.  He was at the vet hospital all day having his 6 month comprehensive exam, blood tests, vaccines, etc.  Feeling SO blessed ~ he is in perfect health!

Father Alistair McKay, C.Ss.R.

Our Lord took our dear Pastor, Father Alistair McKay, home to eternal life at 10:15 this morning.  He was loved and he will be missed.  In spite of the cancer that was stealing his time here with us, he recently celebrated his 70th Birthday with his parishioners after Mass in late February.  I will never forget his wonderful sense of humor and his deep commitment to spreading the Word of God.

Rest in Peace, Father McKay.

Audrey's Convent

Had a fun week with Sister and Brother-in-Law while they stayed with us.  They usually visit for a month in January to escape cold Ohio, but that didn't work out this year.  SO, we celebrated Christmas and Birthdays last evening.  Had SO much fun ~ I have to share this one gift.  This adorable whimsical nun who has been added to my nun collection.  I will soon have a Convent!!

Living the Creative Life ~ April Gathering

 Our Living the Creative Life group met last evening at Aurora Gallery.  We started to make book covers out of matboard that we will fill with art pages later.  We were joined by River Laker and his friend Ben.  We enjoyed helping Ben create a collage.

 Tricia is showing Ben how to make origami.

 Therry's book cover in progress.

 Wally's book cover in progress.

 Audrey's book cover in progress.

Matboard pieces that Tricia worked on with Gesso.

We enjoyed another fun evening of art as we eagerly wait for our May gathering.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maria !!

Along with me, all these animals have gathered together to wish you a Happy Birthday!!  Wishing you a day spent with those you love, those who love you, your animals, your friends, cake, gifts, and anyone/anything else that might make you smile on this special day!

Photo credit:  KKSlayer

Dooleybobbers

 I received this fabric piece the other day from my friend Jan who lives in Oregon.  She calls it a "dooleybobber".  This one is small in size, but I've posted photos of two larger ones I have hanging in my home.  They were all stitched by Jan and I love them.  I especially like the feather, the lace, and the little birds in the small one.  Jan makes gorgeous quilts, art cards, and many other creative things.  Her talent has certainly helped brighten my home.

Spring Deer Sightings

Wisteria

My wisteria is just starting to open its beautiful buds.  The weather is not the best ~ it is cloudy and windy with a threat of very cold temps and possible snow.  It will break my heart if this wisteria gets zapped.  It is special to me because Patrick helped me dig the hole to plant the small bush when he was last here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Tricia !!

On this birthday, I want to thank you for being the kind loving soul that you are.  An aura of friendliness surrounds you and draws people to you.  I've been blessed to enjoy every meeting we've had ~ whether it be just to chat over a cup of tea, have lunch, share some creative time together, or to brainstorm future goals and solve personal issues.  I cherish those memories of time spent with a special friend.

Wow! The changes that have taken place in your life over the last year have brought you to a new road, an exciting new beginning.  I am honored to be one of your friends who lines that road and cheers you on.  May this birthday be the beginning of many new and happy adventures!!

♥

72* and gorgeous out there today.  Freeze warning for tonight.  Crazy weather!!

Angry Wind

Very HIGH wind all night.  Blew some furniture around, beat my bleeding hearts to the ground, and blew some siding and edging away from the house.  Power off just momentarily, though. Sunny out this morning, but COLD.  It looks like we have some work to do out there.  

Spring turned around and ran the other way!!

Magic

The sun giving beautiful reflection from our stained glass windows in church this evening.

April 1

I am loving this sunny warm breezy first day of April.