Cake, Dancing, Time and Smiles

I have found out...

I can't have my cake

and eat it too!

 I have neglected my blog

which means I have neglected my friends.

 I feel like I am dancing as fast as I can

but...

For now, it is time for me to say "Good Bye".

I leave you with a happy

 and thank you for your friendship.

I do hope to return sometime soon.

Enjoy!

A Tea Party You Can't Miss!

Tea, TEA, tea!

The most magical tea party of all is today.

Welcome,

to my kellio...

The Teapot is on,

the cups are waiting,

Favorite chairs are anticipating,

No matter what I have to do,

My friend, there's always time for you!

Author Unknown

This is a party where you can visit old friends

 and make new ones.

You can travel from America

to Africa to Germany to Japan

in just an instant.

Of course I am talking about the

An event that can't be missed,

So warm up your fingers and click away

to A Fanciful Twist

to discover,

 visit and be amazed

by the all the wonderful

Tea Parties you can visit.

Thanks for visiting

and

Thank You

to our special hostess,

Vanessa at

A Fanciful Twist!

Enjoy!

A Sneak TEAview

Miss V's FAMOUS,

FAN-tastical, 

FUN-nomenal

 MAD TEA PARTY!  

is less than 48 Hours Away.

Make sure your calender is marked 

with this YOU CAN'T MISS EVENT.

Over 100 bloggers will be throwing a 

Mad Tea Party 

and YOU are invited.

I want to give you a Sneak TEA-view 

of all the TEA-peration

going on at

Teacups and Ponies!

See you Saturday!

Enjoy!

Feathering My Nest with Memories

Welcome to my southern Nest!

I have been busy with the thrill of being a grandma

and 

setting up house in a small beach house that we are renting. 

We rented the Nest unfurnished.

It didn't feel like a home

but

I had plans to feather it with wonderful memories.

The walls were waiting to be part of a family,

my family.

This Nest welcomed 50 years of memories.

My grandfather recently passed away leaving

many treasures of his life.

I brought those memories into my blank little beach house

and brought it to life.

A true Nest away from Home.

This painting welcomed me into his home

each time I visited.

The chair sat to the right of my grandfather's desk.

The bookshelves are filled with my grandmother's and grandfather's personalities.

I know many of
the  treasures I wouldn't have selected for myself,
but I think that makes them even more special.

This sofa hosted many naps,

Every time I walk into this room it makes me smile.

Many family stories were listened to while swinging on the porch.

Many meals were shared around this table.

We all have settled in and are enjoying

our little Nest.

Everything old is new again!

Enjoy!

Baby Vs. Blogging

Hello Friends!

I have missed you and the magical world of blogging.

My absence is due to entering another magical world,

being a grandparent.

I look forward to returning soon,

when Mommy feels like herself again

(those darn c-sections take a bit off a girl)

and the snow promises to leave the cold Midwest.

So for now am enjoying being a Granny and Florida sunshine. 

I hope to visit you soon and catch up on your world. 

Enjoy!

Love Letters

Twenty five years ago

we were expecting our first child.

My husband traveled ALOT,

he managed several cities in the north east.

Lots of planes and little time for us.

On Valentines Day 1986 

while on his way to airport in NYC

he thought he would have his cab stop

at Tiffany's and pickup a small Valentine gift

that he had seen advertised in the morning newspaper.

Oh so Original!

He was thinking he had Valentines Day in the bag.

Much to his surprise...

hundreds of other men had the same idea.

He needed to make his flight so he had to abandon his plan.

He didn't even have time to stop for a Sweet Treat.

NOW THE PANIC SETS IN

He is sitting on the plane that is due to arrive early evening

and he is empty handed. 

(Honestly, I didn't have my heart set on a gift)

Quick thinking:

He pulls out his 1986 style laptop...

graph paper.

He writes me a letter,

a letter reviewing the past year

and dreams of the year to come.

I am sure he didn't think it would be

one of the most treasured gifts I have EVER received.

I cherish that letter and the 23 that followed.

Each Valentine's Day my husband

writes me a letter that comes from his heart.

The next year he wrote 2 Love Letters,

one for me and one for our daughter.

This year he has 3 letters to write,

we are expecting our first grandchild,

a little girl that will hopefully

have many Love Letters to come

from her loving grandpa.

Wishing you LOT OF LOVE on this Valentines Day.

Enjoy!

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever

noun


Boredom, restlessness, or irritability that results from a lack of environmental stimulation, as from a prolonged stay in a remote, sparsely populated region or a confined indoor area.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

As a result of cabin fever I put together this collage and poem.

As I sit in the dead of winter, I dream of warmer days.

Green foliage serenading the magic of the forest.

Red roses without thorns providing a velvet blanket

for a new born foal with a gingham bow.

Simply A Few of My Favorite Things

Now you have the proof that I am suffering

from Cabin Fever.

Thanks for visiting and I hope the "fever" passes soon.

Enjoy!

The Magic Returns!

Last night the Magic returned to the Farm.

 At 11:56 p.m. the first foal of 2011 was born.

Last year I posted about the Magic by introducing you to this

little guy's big brother, "3-D"
Click here to read about it

Now I introduce you to "Stinky Dirty Levis" a.k.a "Stinky"

I am sure you are thinking what an awful name for such a sweet face.

I must admit that I had a nicer name picked out but then...

I met "Stinky"

I must defend myself a little bit concerning the name.

Traditionally horses are named with the parents names in mind.

The mare is "Dual Me Dirty"

The sire is "Smart Little Levi"

thus "Stinky Dirty Levis".

This foal told me who he is from the minute I walked into the stall.

(I have mostly retired from the actual foaling of the mares,

after 30 years it is nice to sleep through the night during foaling season)

He really didn't want his picture taken.

He was using his ears and tail to do his talking.

Ears back and tail swishing.

He wasn't scared in the least.

He actually wanted to give me a shot from this end.

So that nice little name I was thinking about 

 went out the window.

Regardless of this little "stinker's" attitude the fact that he is

here is truly magical. 

 A little miracle every time it happens.

So let the Magic continue!

"Dirty Double Down" 2010 Stud Colt

Enjoy!

I Am SOOOOOOOOOO Thirsty

I am parched.

I am so thirsty.

My beverages of late have been

colored with white, gray and occasionally blue.

As beautiful as they are I have grown a bit tired

of the same old drink.

I have found that I can't go for long without

a drink...of COLOR.

Saturday, I went in search

of a "drink". 

I found such a drink.

An arrangement of roses and gerber daises.

 

The colors of

sunset,

red wine,

purple royalty,

sunshine.

Ahhhhhhhh, it tastes so good.

It has satisfied my thirst for a while.

I hope a little "drink" of color will brighten your day.

Enjoy!

It's Not As Easy As It Looks

I have found creating and photography

are two very different art forms.

I always thought if I created something

it would be easy to show it to others
 just by taking a picture of it.

Well, I found something gets

lost in the translation.

Currently I am taking a class called

Picture Winter.

Each day we get an assignment

we try it out,

we post our pictures in the "classroom"

and critique each others work.

I must admit that I haven't been

excited about all the assignments. 

For example a couple of days

ago the assignment was

COLD

let's face it

how many of us

have said

"just a minute I need to take a picture of "COLD"

Being the good student I am

I went to complete my assignment

with a couple clicks here and there

and this is the result

Now I know I would have NEVER EVER

 taken these pictures without my class assignment.

I actually like them

Surprise, surprise! 

Creating Vs. Photographing

This has always been a challenge for me.

Today's assignment is CENTER OF ATTENTION.

I thought I would apply today's assignment  to

photographing my art. 

This is what my very wise teacher, Tracey Clark

stated in today's assignment

that "clicked' with me.

Sorry I couldn't resist

"Keeping the background super-simple (yet still maintaining a sense of place and not just shooting against a bare wall) holds our focus on his stance and the way the light subtly outlines his shape. A simple centering of your subject can be effective. Even still, don't lose sight of what is all around your subject. It can make a lot of difference in the end."

I have a few examples of my frustration

the so called "Before and After"

When I photographed this collage, several days ago

I wasn't pleased with the result.

 

The Before

This is the photo I took today.

I made this mannequin over a year ago

and once again the picture was a disappointment.

 BEFORE

 AFTER

I have lots of room for improvement

but I think you CAN teach an

old dog new tricks.

Thanks for visiting,

I'll stop by and say "hi" soon!.

Enjoy!