Vintage Thanksgiving

I won't be blogging for several days as I will be out of town for Thanksgiving.

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with God's abundant blessings!!

Honest Scrap Award

I was surprised, and honored, with this Honest Scrap Award, given to me by Anne, of El Milagro Studio. The award is for honest blogging. I am to mention and link the giver in this post: http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com

Thank you, Anne.

I am also supposed to list 10 things about myself. Not an easy task. What can I tell you that will help you to know me better? Since we are in the midst of Thanksgiving preparations, I won't spend a lot of time thinking too hard on this, so here goes:

_________________________________________________________

1. I hate slapstick and comedy that is stupid. I lean toward serious movies and the like. I enjoy coming away from a movie with something to ponder.

2. I am highly offended when Religion is used in jokes and such. I don't like to see God or His name used in any way that is not in His honor.

3. I'm a peacemaker. All of my life I have tried to keep everyone around me "happy" so there would be no unrest.

4. I spent about the first third of my life as somewhat of an introvert. I was quiet and uncomfortable in group settings. No more! Somewhere along the line, I realized that we are all human and no one is "better" than anyone else. Life is much more fun being more of an extrovert with just the right amount of aggressiveness. I know that I can be myself with no pretension.

5. For many years, I lacked the confidence needed to get out there and pursue my dreams. Of course there was family to be raised, time constraints, and life got in the way. Being older and wiser now, I feel I could tackle just about anything I set my mind to.

6. I've had Bells Palsy twice in my life. Once is rare, twice is really rare. First time was on the left side of my face ~ second time the right side. Paralysis of the face is something I would wish on no one. Medication and therapy brought my left side back to normal. On the right side, I've been left with a little numb sensation around my mouth and eye.

7. I'm a seashell collector. I have thousands of shells - in boxes, in glass vessels, in my flowerbeds, in my fountains..... I love the sea and the shells it provides. One of my life dreams was to live in a cottage by the sea. Having had the opportunity to live in Charleston, SC, last year.......I now prefer the mountains.

8. For a good part of my life, I felt that my art was not good enough. In recent years, I have claimed to be an artist, I am proud to be an artist, and I like the things I paint.

9. I passed up several cost free trips to Italy and Switzerland because of my fear of flying.

10. I am older... I am wiser.... I WISH I'D KNOW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW !!!

__________________________________________________________

Now, I am to pass this on to 10 bloggers I feel have honest blogs. I think all the blogs that I read on a daily basis are written by honest people. You can tell by the content and if I didn't think these people were honest, I wouldn't be reading the things they write. There will be duplication - it can't be helped - some people have outstanding blogs and have already received this award.

I must bounce it right back to Anne of http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com

Marlene of Marlene's Musings http://marlenes-musings.blogspot.com

Marilyn of Our Victorian Cottage http://ourvictoriancottage.blogspot.com

Tristan of Enchanted Revelry http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

Anna of Anna Rosa Designs http://annarosadesigns.blogspot.com

Linda of Lindaoma's Old Baggs N Stuft Shirts http://lindaomasoldebaggsnstuftshirts.blogspot.com/

Danita of DanitaArt http://danitaart.blogspot.com

Amanda of Bright Eyes http://ag-brighteyes.blogspot.com

Diva of Diva's Musings http://divaodete.blogspot.com

Flor of Flor Larios Art http://florlariosart.blogspot.com/

Blessings

May I suggest you take the time today to thank God for all of your blessings? If you can't make it to church, take a few minutes at home ~ find a quiet spot maybe in the backyard, on the porch, in your bedroom.....
He has made all things possible and given us the food on our tables, the roof over our heads, our families, our friends, our possessions, our talents, everything that brings us even a little happiness each and every day.
Ponder on the beauty that surrounds us.... the sky, the trees, the lakes, the ocean, the mountains, the birds, pets, wildlife of all kinds. Think about our freedom and our ability to do and say whatever we want, to go wherever we want. Think about the look in the eyes of a small child, the smile on an infant's face, the feeling when someone you love hugs you and tells you that they love you back. Think about the hospitals, the care facilities, and all those in the medical field who devote their lives trying to mend our broken bodies and broken spirits.
Reflect on your life, the people who love you, the people you love, and all the joys we take for granted every single day.
As I get older, it is so much easier for me to see how important it is to have Him in my life and to acknowledge Him in any way I can. He has given me so much. The least I can do is take some time each Sunday to thank Him, to pay Him homage for His greatness, His kindness, and His mercy. I know He understands when I also ask Him to keep me healthy enough to care for those I love, to help our country through this difficult time, and to bless the sick and the poor.
Imagine how wonderful He would feel if we all took just a minute today to say a simple hello and thank Him. Try it.... it will make you feel good.
Have a beautiful, special Sunday!

I can't take credit for the photo of the church. It is a stock photograph, but I think it is a sweet church and I love that it is in the woods. I would love to go inside. Wouldn't you?

Silent Saturday

Powerful Words From A Great President

THE YEAR THAT IS DRAWING TOWARD ITS CLOSE

HAS BEEN FILLED WITH THE BLESSING OF FRUITFUL

FIELDS AND HEALTHFUL SKIES - THEY ARE THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD!

~Abraham Lincoln

The REDS of Fall

Street Sign

While driving the other day, I went down a side street I had not used before very close to where I live. This street sign caught my eye as I was passing a crossroad. Wouldn't it be fun to live on this street?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSIE !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA !!

Sunday Thought

IF GOD SHOULD GO ON STRIKE

How good it is that God above has never gone on strike.

Because He was not treated fair in things He didn't like.

If only once He'd given up and said, "That's it, I'm through!

I've had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do.

I'll give my orders to the sun - cut off the heat supply!

And to the moon - give no more light, and run the oceans dry.

Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on,

Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone!"

You know He would be justified, if fairness was the game.

For no one has been more abused or met with more disdain

Than God, and yet He carries on, supplying you and me

With all the favors of His grace, and everything for free.

Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go,

But what a deal we've given God to whom all things we owe.

We don't care who we hurt to gain the things we like;

But what a mess we'd all be in, if God should go on strike.

~anonymous

Photo - Gibrob Enterprises

Chrysanthemums

Another oldie from a 1983 issue of

IDEALS Thanksgiving magazine

***

Chrysanthemums

***

Photo By: Fred Sieb

Sad

When I was a little girl, we lived at my Grandfather's house for several years. He had the biggest, most beautiful weeping willow tree in his yard. I loved that tree ~ that just might have been when my deep love for trees started. I never forgot that tree and I always wanted one.

This summer, we planted a weeping willow tree in the back yard. It was thriving and I was very happy about that.

The deer never bothered it.

Until last night.

Last night they decided to snack on THE WILLOW TREE!

Looking at the picture, there was another large branch off to the left - gone. They stripped the main trunk of its bark, and they pretty much shredded the entire bottom of all its small branches.

I guess I am partly to blame. I haven't sprayed the plants for over a month now ~ I was spraying all the plants, flowers, and the willow tree all summer. I didn't want to lose that tree. ): Since the flowers are pretty much done, I stopped spraying thinking the deer wouldn't munch on the half-dead, twiggy stuff - completely forgot about the willow tree with its little, tempting leaves that were still hanging on. Also, I didn't think about the fact that if they are hungry enough, they will try to eat just about anything. I don't know if it will make it now ~ I will go out and tend to it, leave it in the ground for the winter, and see how it looks next spring.

Sad.

Turkey Painting

This wonderful painting by George Hinke should help put us in the

Thanksgiving mood.

I found it in a 1990 IDEALS Thanksgiving magazine. Enjoy!

Veterans Day

HAPPY VETERANS DAY! Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country, keeping us safe and free.


Take some time today to honor the soldiers who have fought for our country.


On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistace, or temporary cessation of hostilities was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Question

I have a question. This is something I've been wondering about for some time. What exactly is response protocol when someone has left a comment on your blog?

If I see a comment on my blog, a lot of times I will respond to that comment by leaving a comment of my own directly under the visitor's comment on the post. I have noticed that several people do this. However, not being sure that people actually return to that particular post, I will sometimes go to their blog and leave the comment there just to be sure they see my response to them. Obviously, this is time consuming as I am leaving a similar response twice to the same person.

What are your thoughts? Am I being too concerned with this? Once in a while, someone will say something that I really want to thank them for or I just WANT to respond. I have gotten in the habit of returning to a person's blog to see if they have responded to my comment. Does everyone do this? I am curious as to how everyone deals with this. Comments are something we all look forward to. My main concern is if someone asks a question in a comment or something does need responded to, I sure don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and have them think that I've ignored them.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.
Audrey

PAY IT FORWARD

FROM HERE

Good Monday morning!

I came across PAY IT FORWARD on Marlene's blog and thought it sounded like a fun thing to do, so I am joining in.

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in. (No pressure.) What it will be and when it will arrive is a TOTAL SURPRISE! The catch is that you must participate as well:

1. Comment on this post.

2. Write a PAY IT FORWARD post on your blog.

3. Change the FROM HERE link next to the picture above to: a link to the blog where you signed up for this. Example: I signed up on Marlene's blog, so I am linking FROM HERE to Marlene's blog.

4. HAVE FUN!!

Will the first 3 interested people who comment and join in this venture please email me your address so I will know where to mail your handmade gift?

Email to: moonsfolly@comcast.net

I hope you will join in PAY IT FORWARD and keep the fun going!

Audrey

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM !!

One Final Look

IT ONLY TAKES

A MINUTE

TO BE KIND TO SOMEONE.

Mystery Solved ~ It's a MUSCOVY DUCK

With the help of comments from Anne and gallagherassoc, we now know the duck is a Muscovy Duck. Anne sent me an email with a link to information on these ducks, gallagherassoc added some information in his comment, and then I did a search on the internet.

With that in mind, here is a little information on the muscovy:

It is a species of wild duck, native to Central and South America, where it nests in the trees of the forest swamps. It is often kept as an ornamental bird for lakes and parks.

The wild muscovy duck is blackish, with large white wing patches. Both the drake (male) and the hen (female) have a nude black-and-red or all-red face; the drake also has pronounced caruncles at the base of the bill. The drake has a low breathy call, and the hen a quiet trilling coo. Muscovy ducks are popular in the orient as a food source.

Now we know what a muscovy duck is. If I ever see one again, I'll know it isn't a mutant duck. (:

Thank you, Anne and gallagherassoc.

Duck?

Anybody know what this is? A duck? It sure looks like a duck, but it also has some other fowl characteristics.

This guy was walking along the Blue Ridge Parkway when Amanda and I were driving on it last week. He was all alone and very different looking, so, of course, I had to stop and photograph him. We couldn't decide if he is supposed to look like this or if he is a mutant duck.

Any ideas?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRUNO !!

I WON !!!!

From today's post on Tristan's Blog: ENCHANTED REVELRY http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com/

**********************************

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

and the winners are...drumroll please
The winner of Holly Harrison's book Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and other Adventures in Bookmaking is Audrey of The Magic, Miracles and Joy of an Artist.The winner of the Stuart Houghton calligraphy dip pen is Teri of Pear Tree Gallery .

I am so very excited and happy to have won this book ~ I know I am going to love it.
Thank you, Tristan, for your outstanding Blog and for having this give-away!!

Wordless Wednesday

Blessed Virgin Mary

Remember that you can ask her for protection, help, or blessings, anytime.

November Siestas

November Siestas

~ by: Lansing Christman

On these November days of sun, I journey to the meadows and woodlands for a familiar siesta, a siesta of reverie and meditation. I go to the fields and marshes to be surrounded by the soft winds and murmuring rills. I go to lose myself among the trees and grass, the reeds and songs.

Beneath the open November sky, I can escape from the hustle of the world around me. It matters not that the fields are brown and sere or that the days are shorter. For there, with the arms of nature around me, I am secure and I am at peace. Except for the evergreens, the trees are leafless; and a bright world seems to open before my eyes, a world with an infinite sky of vibrant blue.

As I breathe in the autumn afternoon, I enjoy watching the long threads of gossamers sparkling in the sun as they float from tree and fence and stubble. I do not mind that the delicate strands may pass lightly over my brow and face and hands, much as they did long years ago when I was following the plow through the November fields.

If I go to the swamp in the valley between the hills, I like to think of it as a cozy room where I can listen and dream. I smile as I hear the bell-like notes of the tree sparrows and the songs of the nuthatch and chickadees. The wind whispers in the ears of the reeds and cattails, and the red berries of the alder radiate in the mellow sunlight.

It is November. Loveliness rests upon the land where I seek my siestas in the sun.