Hungry Deer

I got lucky this evening ~ this deer must have been too hungry to run. He let me get close enough to take a few good photos before he took off. I am still in pursuit of the perfect deer picture. One of these days.......

A Little Visitor

This little one comes visiting quite often but always eludes my camera. This week, I snapped the picture just as he turned to vanish into the woods.

FULL MOON

Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons. Each full Moon name was applied to the entire month in which it occurred. These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

The other night I took these photographs of the June FULL STRAWBERRY MOON. The Algonquin tribes knew this Moon as a time to gather ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon and the Hot Moon.

~2009 Old Farmer's Almanac

Gratitude

I received this in an email the other day. I hesitate to post anything when there is no author name associated with it. However, I really liked this and thought you might too.

A Drink of Water

According to legend, a young man, while roaming the desert, came across a spring of delicious crystal clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked the student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart. Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"

The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving kindness and nothing could be sweeter."

Self motivation without gratitude is impossible. Our energy is "sapped" when our entire focus is on what's wrong instead of what is right with our lives. One of our greatest challenges is to live and love in spite of pain and disappointment ~ to find gratitude in the midst of it all.

Gratitude unlocks the fulness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Simple Beauty

Only minutes from the rat race you can find some very tranquil spots to breath in the simple beauty of an evening in Roanoke.

Thought For The Day

CREATIVITY
Clutter is what silts up exactly like silt in a flowing stream when the current, the free flow of the mind, is held up by an obstruction.
~May Sarton

Clutter seems like a constant in our lives. Our houses are cluttered, our desks are cluttered, our minds are cluttered, and our lives are cluttered. This is the curse of women who do too much.
We can never find our creative selves unless we reduce some of the clutter in our lives. The mind must have the opportunity to flow freely if we are to be healthy.
We are such strong, powerful, beautiful, and intelligent women. The world needs what we have to offer.
~From: Meditations For Women Who Do Too Much by Anne Wilson Schaef

Thought For The Day

"ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS IN THE END IS THAT YOU LOVED."

~Regina Brett

Thought For The Day

"GET OUTSIDE EVERY DAY. MIRACLES ARE WAITING EVERYWHERE."

~Regina Brett

Daily Visit

This sweet little bluebird comes to my birdbath everyday. The mockingbirds are very territorial and sometimes aggressively chase other birds away. If I ever see the mockingbirds chase the bluebirds away, they will no longer be welcome here.

Mockingbird

"Everybody have you heard

He's gonna buy me a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird don't sing

He's gonna buy me a diamong ring

And if that diamond ring don't shine

Surely gonna break this heart of mine."

After watching intently and doing some research, I now know that the bird I talked about the other day that sings so much and jumps up and down, is a Northern Mockingbird. I have two or three of them living in and around my yard. These slender-bodied grey birds sing almost endlessly and they flaunt their bright white wing patches. They sit atop the roof peaks, singing their hearts out, bolting several feet into the air in a looping motion, with wings outstretched to display their white underside. I enjoy watching them fly from one rooftop to the next and back and then to the streetlight and back to the roof. They prance around in the grass foraging for insects, all the while singing nonstop.

Some people find them to be an annoyance. Others find joy in their constant singing. At this point, I am enjoying their presence.

I did my best to photograph one of them jumping. The picture will at least give you an idea. I also took a picture from inside my studio, looking out, to show you how I manage to see all this activity.

Memorial Day 2009

During our Memorial Day celebrations today, let us take the time to really remember what Memorial Day is all about ~ take a minute to think about those men and women who have fought in the name of our country and sacrificed their lives so that we can live in freedom. We are so blessed to live in this great nation.

Settled In

"SERENITY DOES NOT CANCEL HOPE OR ADVENTURE, WORK OR LOVE. IT FLOWS THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR BUSY LIVES, QUIET AND STRONG. CLEAR AND GENTLE. REFRESHING ALL WE DO OR DREAM."
~Pam Brown

At last, the moving process is over and we are settled back in beautiful Virginia. The best description I can give for how I am now feeling is "serene".
Things are in good enough order for us to live comfortably. I still have boxes to empty and all the little things that go along with a move, but I am happy, content, and calm. There is no hurry to put things in their place.
I started that exercise program I have been wanting to tackle and I am walking in the yard everyday soaking in the beauty of the flowers, the trees, the mountains and the birds. I have learned that some things are more important than others and I intend to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of life and leave the unimportant things for later. In a short time, my studio will be ready for me to start painting again.
I will leave you with a few photos that I took since being back. The flowers are self explanatory as is the sky over the mountains. This bird comes to the house everyday and sings his heart out. He jumps up and down and turns around and sings and sings. I do believe he might be doing some kind of mating dance. All I can say about the view from my back porch is that it is a gift from God.
Have a blessed day!!!
Audrey

Mother's Day

I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

ENJOY!

Virginia

WE ARE HERE! Waiting for the moving van to pull in! YAY!!
It rained hard most of the way here yesterday and it is dark, gloomy and rainy today. But even that cannot take away the joy of being back.

MOVING DAY HAS ARRIVED!!

Finally, we will be on our way to Virginia in the morning. The truck left this afternoon after loading all day yesterday and this morning.

Said some goodbyes to neighbors, had lunch with my son, and spent the rest of the afternoon doing a final cleaning of the house. I have worked so hard the past 3-4 days ~ I don't remember ever being SO tired.

The cable people are coming to the house on Friday, so I should be up and running in no time!!

VIRGINIA HERE WE COME!!

Afternoon At The Beach

ISLE OF PALMS, South Carolina

The Beach

I went to the beach this afternoon for 2 hours.... walked, took many pictures, and watched the waves in the awesome ocean. It is a little sad to think I am this close to the beach and now I am moving away. But once I get to Virginia, any sadness will quickly leave the minute I see those mountains that I love so much. Later tonight, I will post some pictures I took today.

A Note to My Blog Friends

Hello friends!

I apologize for not posting much of anything recently and for not having any paintings to show you. My paints, brushes, canvas, etc. has been packed for weeks. However, I hope you have been enjoying the photographs that I have taken and posted. I certainly enjoy reading the Blogs that I visit daily. There is so much talent out there!

You will be glad to hear that the trips to VA and the packing and moaning is almost over. My time next week will be spent doing the last minute things before a big move.......packing the refrigerator and bathroom items (tedious "not fun" things), closing accounts, changing the address, trying to decide what you need to throw in a suitcase for the night, eating that last taco at a favorite restaurant, saying goodbye to the sweet little geckos, one last look at the ocean, and much more.

We are making one last trip to VA tomorrow with all my plants. I LOVE my plants. I have had some of them for many years and I don't want any harm to come to them, so I have to transport them myself. Some of them are touchy (cacti) and they lose their parts if they are bumped or jostled. Any true plant lovers out there understand.

The truck is coming to load on Monday, May 4th (39th anniversary of the KSU shootings ~ I will always remember that date ~ I was there). I don't know if I will have a chance to post anything else until after the move. Thank you for visiting my Blog and I will be posting again ASAP, so please check back.

In the meantime, enjoy the Spring sunshine and flowers, be grateful for your blessings, remember to smile, and try to hug someone everyday!

Audrey

VIRGINIA

I am now certain that this posting area has a mind of its own. No matter what order I put pictures in, they never post in that order.

Virginia was in its peak of Spring beauty this past weekend. Notice the trees, the tulips, and even my bleeding hearts ~ breathtaking.

While walking in downtown Roanoke on Saturday night, we happened upon a new piece of art ~ Interactive Public Art. Interesting and fun to play with!

I only have two weeks left to pack the remainder of the house ~ we then move back to Virginia the first week in May.

One Little Prayer

PLEASE SAY ONE LITTLE PRAYER FOR THE CURE OF CANCER. We all know someone who is in need of one little prayer.

A Visit to the Mountains

I want to let you know that I will not be posting anything until next week. We are leaving tomorrow morning to take more things to the house in Virginia.

This picture was taken from my back porch when we were living there before our move to SC. I am so excited to be going back to the same house in the Roanoke Valley. Can you see why I love it there so much?

CHANGE

"OPEN YOUR ARMS TO CHANGE, BUT DON'T LET GO OF YOUR VALUES."

~Dalai Lama~

EASTER

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Joyful Easter!

GOOD FRIDAY

I am going to take some time today to thank Him for giving His life for us. If you can, take a minute out of your day to remember the pain and suffering He endured.





~Painting by Simon Bisley

It is a beautiful, sunny, warm day here in Charleston! This little guy is HAPPY!!!!