Beautiful

WOW!

What a beautiful sky out back tonight!!

New Doxie Figurine

 I bought Jake a little vintage doxie figurine today for HIS (wink wink) doxie collection.

 He loves to open gifts and wanted to play with this, but I didn't think that was a real good idea since it's china.

 Looking at it lovingly.

 Nose to nose.

 Thanks, Mom.

Little doxies... all in a row.

Our New Pastor

Father Ken Shuping

Filled with hope seeing our gorgeous mountains this evening on my way home from first Mass with Fr. Ken, our new Parish Pastor.

I spotted a heron on the Roanoke River this afternoon.

One of our neighborhood wanderers this morning.

Again!!

Mr. Toad is in the fountain again!  He acts like he can't get out, scraping at the sides.  He's either a dumb toad or he's playing me.  I took him out again ~ we'll see if he goes back in.  I suppose I need to put a toad ramp in the fountain???

Last night ~ sky over Salem, Virginia.

Rare Full Moon Summer Solstice

Today was a special day.  It was the Summer Solstice ~ the day with the most amount of sunlight ~ the longest day of the year ~ the start of Summer!  

And, this year's Solstice includes a Full Moon ~ there has not been a full moon on Summer Solstice in decades.  

Happy Summer Solstice!  Take time to gaze at our beautiful Strawberry Moon! 

Front Flower Bed

Mr. Toad

Last evening, I had just finished planting the last of the flowers when I noticed Mr. Toad having a very hard time trying to get out of the fountain.  Mr. Magic scooped him up and saved the day.

Stormy Sunset

Storm clouds fighting the sunset this evening.  Beauty, nonetheless.

Lesson Learned!

I unknowingly threw my phone into the washer yesterday with a load of sheets.  Immediately took it to ValleyiRepair where Jeff Maiden did everything he could to bring it back to life.  Wasn't meant to be.  So, off to Verizon I went.  Since I had to get a new phone, I decided to go big!  I got the iPhone6SPlus.  I think I'll like it.  Sadly, I let my icloud fill up and I let my 1800 photos linger on the phone, so I've lost several hundred of my recent photos, contacts, etc.  Lesson learned!!

No trip to Kure Beach for the big art sale this weekend.  Money spent on technology instead!

My Amaryllis

Treasured Gifts

My sweet friend, Becky Hudson, brought these gifts to me from her recent trip to the Louisiana/Texas areas.  The cross will hang on my icon wall and the rosary (made from palm fronds) will hang with my rosary collection.

Thank you, Becky, for thinking of me.  These gifts are treasures to me.

A sculpture gift from Casey many years ago, now nestled between Paige Morgan's schefflera and an estate sale spider plant, on my back porch.  Love!

10 Years

10 years ago this month, Mr. Magic and I left our home state of Ohio to move to Virginia.  It has been quite an adventure.  Ohio will always be "home" in my heart ~ there are still friends, family, and many many memories there.  But, I love the home we built here with views of the mountains, I love the art community that feeds my passion, I love the friendships I've developed here, I love that it's only a 7 hour drive to Casey's (not 14 hours), and I love that something spiritual in this mountainous terrain has strengthened my faith.
I have to add that I love that Mom was SO thrilled when we asked her to come to Virginia to live with us.  She loved Virginia SO very much and had 7 very happy years here before she died at the age of 96.

CHEERS to 10 years!!

The Nest

I spent the evening at Art on Kirk Studios and Framing, downtown Roanoke, with Tricia Scott and Miki Overcast, having a working art night.  I finished another mixed media 5"x5" titled "The Nest".  Had a really fun evening!

Throwback Thursday

Indialantic, Florida, June 1992 ~  On the beach at night ~ skinny and tan!  24 years later - not on the beach, not skinny, and not tan.  Hmpf!  

Great memories, though, of time spent there with my dearest old friend and her family.

Creative Evening

Finished this little 5"x5" mixed media tonight.

6-6-16 Sky

Wow!!  Our sky tonight!

A Special Day in Heaven

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Patrick!!  
Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.  Miss you SO much and love you forever.

Photo: Patrick holding Casey, 1974.

Stormy Sky

Our sky out back this evening.  Storms everywhere, but we were fortunate that they missed us this afternoon.  Hopefully, we will make it through the night with little happening out there.  The East Coast of Virginia is preparing for some bad storms tonight.  I pray everyone will be safe.

Busy Saturday

Busy day!  Estate sales, Taubman Museum Art Show and Sale, and dinner at the Lebanese Festival tonight!

We dined in Roanoke tonight and this was our view as we left the restaurant.  There is a lot of beauty here in the Valley.

Honeysuckle

My honeysuckle flowers are ready to open.  I love the beautiful fuschia color.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Honeysuckle is a medicinal flower that has been revered for thousands of years for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and calming and relaxing properties.  It is a potent detoxifier and is known to swiftly remove poisons and heat from the body.

Honeysuckle is also very helpful for respiratory problems such as bronchitis, COPD, asthma, coughs, and colds, and acts as an expectorant and emollient to help clear and soothe respiratory passages.  Honeysuckle has also been known to help treat diarrhea, chronic gastroenteritis, fever, urinary tract infections, digestive disorders, ulcers, and skin infections.

It is highly beneficial in fighting off the bacteria that causes strep throat, tuberculosis, and salmonella poisoning, and for helping to alleviate headaches and nausea.  Honeysuckle's anti-infammatory and diuretic properties make it particularly good for those suffering from auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, lupus, bursitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome or those who suffer with edema, bloating, and water retention.

Honeysuckle is often prepared as a tea with 1 teaspoon of dried herb to 1 cup of water.  Pour boiling water over herb and let steep for 10 minutes or more and sweeten with raw honey if desired.  Essential oil of honeysuckle is a popular addition to massage oils, soaps, creams, and vaporizers as it is known to help relax and calm the body, mind, and soul.

Honeysuckle cream is also beneficial for eczema,psoriasis, skin rash, rosacea, as well as for anti-aging and wrinkle prevention.  It is also commonly found in hair care products due to its ability to add volume, shine, and elasticity to hair as well to keep the scalp healthy and clear.

Information taken from Medical Medium Blog

One Last Bleeding Heart