Sunday Drive

It was a lazy weekend here.  The days were overcast and we didn't feel energized to go far, but we got out for a nice drive through the countryside today.  We actually live out in the country and many of our neighbors are farmers.  The neighbors across the road from us raise goats and the farmer directly behind them raises cattle and a variety of field crops.  A short drive down the road you'll find the local fruit and vegetable farmer who has extensive apple and peach orchards.  We made a stop at his produce market today where I purchased some fresh spinach which I'll saute with garlic and onion to go along with tonight's dinner.

We always love to see the new spring foals.  The little guy in the photo above was sticking right close to his Mom as she grazed in the field of buttercups.

The mare above was so hungry for attention and quite a photo bug ~ loved to pose for the camera!  I was worried she would hurt herself on the barb wire fence when she poked her nose through to be pet, but after she was done getting patted she used the wire fence as a scratching post.



After arriving back home, I took this photograph of the pot of pansies I planted earlier this spring.  Behind it are my perennial herbs that returned with a flourish this year.

A "photo shoot" wouldn't be complete without snapping a picture of my favorite focus of attention :)

Living (and Loving) A Simple Life

Our home life at the cabin is a quiet and simple one...conducive to a peaceful existence.  A lot of my time is spent in the kitchen. I fully enjoy the over-the-sink window where I can look out at the back woods and catch the activity of chipmunks and squirrels as they scurry across the patio.  Every once in a while, I'll see a skink or snake basking on the retaining wall, lavishing in the warmth of the sun's rays.  We don't have a dishwasher ~ dish washing is done the old fashioned way with liquid soap, scrubber, and elbow grease. Having this window to gaze out from makes the task a much more pleasant one!

Every day, a walk outdoors reveals new surprises.  Kevin and I discovered one of the Jack-in-a-Pulpit seeds we'd strewn near the pond came up this spring.  So far, the deer haven't nibbled away at this graceful, lime green and purple striped beauty.  Come fall, if it keeps going strong, we should find a bright red cluster with more seeds to scatter.

Left to its own devices, nature provides its own home decor.  This Virginia Creeper vine is making it's way up the downspout enhancing our cabin's beauty with its gorgeous, emerald green trail of leaves.  Grapevines are also making their way up the front side of the cabin and will soon form an archway over the front window.  Patience and letting things be provides a world of loveliness. 

To curl up with a good book, a cat on either side, is a perfect way to close out a day.  Life in our cabin is usually slow and calm ... and just the way we like it :)

Ahhh ... Spring!

A walk in springtime provides a feast for the senses. Everywhere, new life and beauty abounds. Garden flowers awaken and bloom in vibrant shades. Wildflowers sprinkle color over what was just days earlier a barren looking landscape. Our tulips are open and beautifying our small front garden just in time for celebrating Easter this coming weekend.




The trees are especially colorful in early spring, too. Budding leaves are bright green and some trees are full of blossoms. The graceful red maples that will be so showy with their vibrant red leaves all aglow in autumn, start with a show of color with their tiny seed head clusters in spring. The tell-tale red stems help identify the seeds as those of the red maple.




Wild violets are always a favorite with their purple flower heads so regal yet delicate. Violet flowers are often featured in my paintings.




The May Apples unfurl and open up wide into the greenery that, as kids, we called umbrella plants. Soon the deer will nibble away at the leaves until only the stalks remain.



And finally, the gorgeous Red Bud tree. We are fortunate to have three of these graceful beauties growing alongside our winding driveway. As you peek through the branches in the photograph above, you can catch a glimpse of the farm valley across the road. The fields are now emerald green and such a welcome sight after winter's shades of brown and gray.

Art Secret Revealed

"Garden Fantasy"

"Sun Worshipper"

"Cat and Coneflowers"

I have been creating a series of miniature cat paintings for my eBay patrons. The buying public seems to love the little black cats in fantasy scenes ... every one that I have painted has sold. The three pictured above are just a small sample.

The secret to my success is my beautiful model ~

Jasper ~ "The Picturesque Little Black Cat"

On Its Way

Spring was definitely in the air here today. The temperature reached almost 70 degrees and the sun felt warm on my skin when I took a walk around outdoors. Already the green frogs have come out of hibernation. They laze around the surface of the pond by day and are so raucous with their constant mrrping at night. The bright green tulip leaves in the front garden are about half a foot in height and the columbines' frilly greenery has sprouted and begun to spread. It's so exciting to see all the signs of rebirth with spring's arrival.



The bright yellow colts foot flowers are some of the earliest wildflowers to bloom here, and those in the photograph above are the first I've seen this season. Bloodroot, spring beauty, and violets will soon follow, too. It's so nice to enjoy the outdoors again without having to wear a heavy jacket and gloves. To feel the sun and warm breeze caress my skin is heavenly. Just love this time of year!!! Though spring is not officially here yet, it's truly on its way!

Happy Birthday!

I love this photograph of my daughter taken last year by her boyfriend ~ her happy, strong spirit shines through. In my previous blog, I posted a baby picture of Desirae and now here she is all grown up. HAPPY 27th!!! and many, many more glorious years.

Momentous Month

February is a very important month in my life, filled with important events and poignant memories. Two of the most important people to me were born in February. My mother was born on February 28th and my daughter Desirae came into the world on February 23rd. I'm not sure how it all started, but each of us have spirit birds. My Mom was nicknamed "Bluebird of Happiness," she nicknamed me her "Little Chickadee," and Desirae became my "Feisty Little Hummingbird." Our namesake totems fit us all very well, too.

February 8th will be the two year anniversary of the kidney transplant when Desirae donated one of her kidneys to me so that I might go on to live a long, happy life and keep my eye on my feisty little one :) What an experience the transplant was to share with my daughter!!!

On Ground Hog's Day, February 2nd in 2009, my beloved brother Jeff passed away ~ certainly a sad day for us all, but, especially for Jeff and his love of sunny summer days, a fitting day for his departure after the Paxutauny Phil's prediction for 6 more weeks of winter. It could be said that Jeff maintained his sense of humor to the end by exiting the physical world when he did. It would be just like him to go out giggling. It somehow eases the pain to think of things this way. Jeff would have wanted to provide comfort to others at his passing, too...so, who knows? Life is a mystery!

And, of course, February 14th is Valentine's Day, a day I will celebrate forevermore because of and with the love of my life, my husband Kevin.

My "Feisty Little Hummingbird"