Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Mushrooms


During my walk around the yard yesterday, I noticed how many mushrooms we have. Upon looking at them closely, they really are very interesting.
Doesn't this look like toasted marshmellow?

I like the color and the texture.




A cute lone little mushroom.



Sweet little fairy homes.










Whoa! Not so cute!!



Sunday, August 22, 2010

Tag Sale Treasures

I keep forgetting to post things when I go to Tag Sales. I've been to several this summer and found some wonderful items to put in my consignment shop. I've painted several pieces of furniture ~ transformed them into shabby chic pieces and they have all sold. The past two weekends I've been to several Tag Sales and picked up some great items. I love this pair of vintage carolers - I think they may spend Christmas at my house rather than in the shop.

This old wood oval frame is in excellent condition and looks pretty good with the print that is in it.

I was planning to paint this cute little round stand, but my DH cleaned it up and put Old English on it. It looks too good to paint now, so I'll put it in the shop as is.

I bought these lamps at a garage sale for almost nothing. DH cleaned them for me today and they look great. I picked up a couple of shades for them this afternoon and off to the shop they go.




A close-up of the painted dogwood flowers on the lamps. Very pretty!




This vintage telephone stand may be staying at my house, too. I am going to paint it cream and keep one of my many plants on it.




I thought this 3 tier shelf unit was unique. It is in great shape and I will paint it off white and distress it. I'm sure someone will love it.








This vintage stand with the bookshelf below is a nice sturdy piece. I will paint it and put it in the shop. I'm liking it, but I can't keep everything. It is so tempting to keep things.





I love this cute vintage sewing bench. The top lifts off and it is meant to keep sewing supplies in there. I think it would be a nice place to keep old love letters.
Or maybe new love letters.
Going to the shop? Not sure yet.









I LOVE this old framed mirror!! I couldn't believe my luck that no one had taken it off the wall yet. I grabbed it up. The frame is gorgeous and there are no little pieces broken off.
It really should go in the shop. ):











A close-up of the detail on the frame. I am a sucker for old frames. I have way too many!!








I bought this small section of old fence while in Ohio in July. I thought I would use it in the shop for a Halloween display. I stained it purple and plan to put lights on it and maybe a wreath or a bat or something spooky. Fun!








Friday, August 20, 2010



If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.
~Raymond Inmon
~ Photo by Audrey

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

No Energy

This is how I feel today. I have no energy or ambition. I just want to sit down in the middle of the room and do nothing. (Well, maybe look at some magazines that I never take the time to look at.)
I think these months of heat have taken their toll. I've had enough. I feel like a slug ~ moving slow and only because I have to.
Have you ever thought about the life of a cow? Boring! All you ever see them do is stand around. They don't even bother looking at you and if they do, they move their head in slow motion and look very uninterested. It doesn't even seem to bother them when the flies are walking over every inch of them. They stand around all day every day, some give birth, some give milk, and then some turn into hamburgers or steaks. I'm sure glad I'm not a cow.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sweetness




During our trip to Ohio this summer, Mom got to visit with her very special grand-daughter and her two precious great-grandsons. I just received the picture and I love it.

Sweet!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Yearning for Fall


After months of hot humid weather, yesterday brought us a day of constant drizzling and a drop in the temperature. It was a day of true comfort. The birds returned to the birdbath and feeder and the deer returned to do some casual grazing.


Today, the mugginess hangs heavy in the air and we are right back where we were. Yesterday was a teaser day letting us know that Fall will bring cooler temperatures and relief.

I look forward to those cool crisp days of Fall with the sound of crunching leaves, the smells of cinnamon and spice, and the glorious colors of pumpkins and autumn leaves.





I must remember to be patient. Fall is not far off.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jennifer !!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Silke's Surprise Birthday Bash


SURPRISE!!!!!! Hey Silke! It's best to take birthdays with a few grains of salt! .................preferably around the rim of a margarita glass!!
I think we'll start the festivities with a MARGARITA CUPCAKE just for you. It looks REALLY good!!






After your cupcake, you must have a nice cold PINK MARGARITA! YUM!




Once you've enjoyed that nice pink margarita, you need to move on and have a COOL GREEN MARGARITA! UM UM UM!!

















Well, let's see now. Pink and Green makes....... BLUE ???? Let's all have a BEAUTIFUL BLUE MARGARITA!














Now that you've enjoyed those margaritas, I think you should head off to MARGARITA ISLAND for a few days of Birthday R&R. Sound good?














While you're staying on MARGARITA ISLAND.......... you will enjoy lots of SUNSHINE!












And BLUE SKIES!!
















What's a trip to Margarita Island without SAILING off into the sunset......
















And LOUNGING at the shore........















Oh........
A BIRTHDAY DINNER on the beach at night?
A MUST!!!








And.... a few CANS OF PAINT await your arrival so if the urge to paint hits you, just pick up this brush and paint away!










I hope you enjoyed your Birthday trip to Margarita Island, Silke!!!!!!
HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!!!
I wish you many happy, sunshine filled days!!
♥ audrey


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Josh !!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

"Transfer Love" Class ~ GIVEAWAY


WIN AN ONLINE "Transfer Love" Class BY CATERINA
Caterina Giglio of LA DOLCE VITA is having a giveaway. She is giving a Transfer Class online ~ teaching the hows of gel transfers, paint transfers, etc. Visit Caterina's Blog to comment and have a chance to win this online class. The Giveaway ends on August 15th.
Transfer Love in Caterina's words:
"Transfers bring a gentle depth to a piece of art especially to mixed media and collage. It is always handy to have several different kinds of transfer methods available to you. I aim to demystify the transfer and help you find the methods that are easiest for you to use.
We will go over every kind of transfer you can think of and then some! Large tape transfers, wax transfers, caulk transfers as well as exploring all the different kinds of gel mediums and how to use each one to the best of their potentials.
We will experiment with substrates by using a transfer on paper, canvas and cloth and show you how to work your transfers into your journal pages, as well as on canvas or paper."
Even if you don't win, you might be interested in one of her future classes. Caterina's Blog is beautiful, interesting and fun. The photo above is one of Caterina's transfers.

A Beautiful Giveaway Win












A few weeks ago, Janie of MOTHER MOONS MESSAGE had a First Anniversary Giveaway. Janie gave away multiple prizes - one for the MIND, one for the BODY and one for the SOUL. Janie's granddaughter is showing my name after it was pulled. I was fortunate to be the winner of the prize for the BODY.
Last week, a large box arrived filled with things that Janie made. The kitchen is one of Janie's favorite places to be and she gets much joy in giving her kitchen creations to others.
Along side of three berry jam (which was the best I think I've ever had), cinnamon, vanilla, vanilla sugar, and vanilla meringues, there was stationery, a large wooden spoon, beads, a beautiful red vase, an embroidered kitchen towel, a set of pear glass magnets, and the cutest little red and white stuffed and stitched bunny.
I was delighted to receive such a beautiful and generous prize. Janie is a beautiful lady with a big heart and a wonderful Blog. Please visit her at http://mothermoonsmessage.blogspot.com
THANK YOU, Janie!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Saturday, August 7, 2010

The Bumble Bee



The Bumble Bee

Sometimes after I've taken a photograph of something, it arouses my curiosity of the subject. So, here are a few interesting things I've learned about the Bumble Bee just today.

A Bumble Bee is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. There are over 250 known species, existing primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, although they are common in New Zealand and Tasmania.

Bumble Bees are social insects that are characterised by black and yellow body hairs, often in bands. However, some species have orange or red on their bodies, or may be entirely black. Another obvious characteristic is the soft nature of the hair, called pile, that covers their entire body, making them appear and feel fuzzy.

Like their relatives, the Honey Bees, Bumble Bees feed on nectar and gather pollen to feed their young. Bumble Bees tend to visit the same patches of flowers every day, as long as nectar and pollen continue to be available. In at least a few species, once a Bumble Bee has visited a flower, it leaves a scent mark on the flower. This scent mark deters visitation of the flower by other Bumble Bees until the scent degrades. It has been shown that this scent mark is a general chemical bouquet that Bumble Bees leave behind in different locations and they learn to use this bouquet to identify both rewarding and unrewarding flowers.

Once they have collected nectar and pollen, Bumble Bees return to the nest and deposit the harvested nectar and pollen into wax cells for storage. Unlike Honey Bees, Bumble Bees only store a few days' worth of food and so are much more vulnerable to food shortages.

Bumble Bees are important pollinators of both crops and wildflowers. They are in danger in many developed countries due to habitat destruction and collateral pesticide damage. Some Bumble Bees native to North America are also vanishing.

Bees beat their wings approximately 200 times a second. Their thorax muscles do not expand and contract on each nerve firing, but rather vibrate like a plucked rubber band. One common, yet incorrect, assumption is that the buzzing sound of bees is caused by the beating of their wings. The sound is actually the result of the bee vibrating its flight muscles.

~Information from Wikipedia

~Photo by audrey

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Most would never admit it, or they hide it from themselves, but everyone can sense God within.

And once admitted, they can sense God in others.

~Quote from theuniverse@tut.com

~Photo by audrey

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I DO


Fourteen years ago today, in a gazebo in the park, Terry and I said "I Do", with Casey at our side.
♥♥♥


Monday, August 2, 2010

Sweet Little Hummingbirds


I recently purchased a Hummingbird Feeder and I put it out on Saturday. I was amazed at how quickly the sweet little hummingbirds came to the feeder and how they kept coming all day and all evening.
They are fascinating little creatures to watch ~ their speed is unbelievable. I know I will get much enjoyment watching them and I will be taking many more photographs.






Saturday was a gloomy, rainy day ~ I didn't get any closeup shots that were crisp and clear. I will have to keep working on that.

These little birds are just one more example of God's amazing creations.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dan !!!