Merry Christmas





May the little moments and kindnesses matter.

Sweet Slumber

A mother deer brought her young ones to our part of the woods all through the year.  It's been so fun to see the fawns grow and become stronger and stronger.  Mom's tired after all the hard work of raising her little ones and takes a much deserved nap while her two almost full grown children rest close by.
 

 

Solstice Sunrise

Our front door opens to the East.  On this shortest day of the year and first official day of winter, I was greeted by the most glorious sky of vibrant colors to start my morning.  It was bone chilling cold, but I just had to be outside to be a part of the awe and I wanted to share my moment.

Holiday Happiness

Shanti and Silver wish everyone a peaceful, restful holiday full of joy!

 

Christmas in the Hollow

 

We've scaled way back on our Christmas tree this year.  It's our cats first Christmas, and a big tree full of shiny, sparkly baubles and bows would just be too much temptation for our curious, active kitties.  So, this season, we have a mini, table-top tree surrounded by woodland animals ... still fun and festive ... and, most of all, cat safe.  We want it to be a happy season for all, furry family included!

My house plants are making up for the lack of "grandeur" provided by a full sized Christmas tree.  All of the flowering plants, the two Christmas cacti and the African violets, decided to bloom at the same time.  They are so showy and so bright!

Winter Blessings

The winter season of cold, gray days is softened by holiday decorations and lights.  Candles with their soft, amber glow bring a bit of magic to the time of the year that we all tend to go inward and become reflective.

 



Nature is getting ready for the "sleepy" time of year, too, but gets in some final bursts of brightness before the somber tones of gray and brown and soft white snow envelop the land.

Bucket List

 

What do Northern Lights and Snow Leopards have in common and why would I feature them in many of my paintings?  Guess the title of this blog post is a dead give-away ... seeing both of them is on the top of my Bucket List.

 

Life has been good to me in so many ways.  Most of all, I feel fortunate to have raised a beautiful, healthy, and strong daughter and to be sharing my life with my wonderful husband who is my true love and best friend.  Despite earlier hardships, life is comfortable now, with much to enjoy in the moment and much to look forward to experiencing in the future.  I am content and grateful.  I feel complete.

 

Ever since seeing the movie The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, however, I've pondered upon what my top tier items on such a list to see and/or do would be.  Of all the sights I'd still like to see, gazing up at the aurora borealis in all its glorious colors and shifting patterns comes in number one. A tie for that place would be to have the chance to see and admire the magnificent, elusive snow leopard.

 

What a magical experience it would be to see a fluffy furred snow leopard under the swirling, vibrant colors of a Northern Lights sky!  Perhaps, I'll combine my two bucket list number ones, and create that very scene in my next painting :)  

What the World Needs Now ...



... is love sweet love



Worn Out His Welcome

 

Though charming and cute, this guy just couldn't take the hint that it was time to go home, you know the type! After polite requests just didn't do the trick, my husband took action with his Star Trek Mark II, 3 Watt Phaser (note purple phaser flash on bear butt).  The no longer welcome guest took off running ... no doubt sure to be seen again soon for more fun and action packed adventure.   

I See You & You See Me

 

Our woodland friends visit everyday in our backyard.  We never know exactly who will show up on any given day, but it's a given that we will receive visitors!  As they sit at their window side seats, our cats are kept ever amused by the steady stream of backyard, over the fence type woodland folk be the guest small, or, in the case of the two pictured above, those on the rather large side :)

Mammals in Miniature

Eastern Chipmunk




Red Fox Kits



Black Bear

White-Tailed Deer Buck





Gray Squirrel

This year has been a busy one for me creating art card miniatures.  Here is a sample of my mammal miniatures!

HAPPY Halloween!!!

Homemade Halloween

Halloween is here ~  Time for homemade treats!  This year at our house there's a wacky Halloween cake and decorations in orange and black.  Pumpkin carving will take place tomorrow.  From years past, I have fond memories of Halloween costumes I made for my daughter.  One year it was a Dalmatian dog outfit, another, a witch costume, complete with cape and pointy hat.  Now that she's all grown up and on her own, Halloween is a quieter time, but none-the-less a fun time of year!

A Visit to Our Local Zoo

 

Going to any zoo comes with mixed feelings for me.  Loving animals as I do, I enjoy seeing all of the zoo residents, but it's always so sad to see animals enclosed and not roaming free in their natural habitats.  I think visitors help relieve boredom for these beautiful and amazing, captive animals. The animals are in small areas that rarely offer enough stimulation ... so, as we look at them, they look back, and, perhaps, they too enjoy these close encounters.

 



Kitty Update

Our little Halloween Cat

Silver loves his box and bows

Shanti with her favorite toy!



                            Sun Worshipping Silver

Silver and Shanti have been with us for almost 10 months now ... such happy, personable kitties who've brought so much love & joy into our lives!!!

Late Summer at the Shore

Spectacular Skies

Calm Seas

 

Stunning Sunsets

A trip to Ocean City, Maryland in mid-September was a perfect time to enjoy the beach without the crowds.  The sights and sounds of the ocean environment were so beautiful and relaxing.

 

Butterfly Bush Beauties

Cute As Can Be

Just before this afternoon's rainstorm, a little chipmunk was scurrying around for grains of grass to nibble.  With its tiny size and big bright eyes, it definitely wins the cuteness award!

The First to Arrive

Monarch Butterfly on Butterfly Bush

August is the month we start seeing the Monarch butterflies on migration,
and sure enough I saw my first today!

 

Late Summer Flowers

Red Fox & Flowers

Black-Eyed-Susan Flowers
 

Summer lingers on long and hot, but bright patches of flowers provide color, cheer, and even find their way into my paintings. I was so happy to see the sunny yellow and black centered Black-Eyed-Susan blooms come forth because the deer nibbled their leaves and many of their buds to the nub. Guess they hadn't heard that Black-Eyed-Susan plants are supposedly deer resistant :)

 

 

A Visit from the Young 'ens

Come on ... Let's explore!!!

Two young fawns warily step onto the patio

What's this thing?

Striking a pretty pose

Ymm ... these smell good

Enough pictures already!!!

Now where'd those two rascals get off to?