astral weeks

ok.................i got my copy of van morrison's new astral weeks cd today. i was tempted to plug it in the cd player on the way home....but.....no......this was a prize to be savored.............. i waited until the sun had fallen..............it was quiet except for the rain softly tapping on the window of my studio................i turned off the overhead light..........turned on the fairy lights............laid back in the wrecked piece of recliner i use to collect my thoughts in my sacred space.........placed the cd in my computer.........cranked up the volume until the walls shook........................and was transcended................

omg

i can't begin to explain how this music makes me feel...............touches my soul.........it's like standing on the highest mountain top.......arms stretched out by my sides............face upturned to a sky filled with a thousand shooting stars...........breathless................rave on....van morrison........rave on.

leuckit's shop

how much do you love these!!!!! this one (my favorite!) is called "good to the last drop". and this one......."flour girl".

i found these at leuckit's etsy shop. check out her other things.....too cute!

friend tractor

as my thoughts turn to tilling up my garden....i remembered this shot i took of a derelict tractor .....parked on the wayside. i can't help but wonder how much food this machine provided it's owner......laboring back and forth in the fields.......leaving earthy smelling fallows painted across the countryside. what were the day dreams of the farmer as he worked in the sun..........beads of sweat running down his back and forehead.....how many children climbed aboard for a ride....or received their first driving lesson on this sagging seat. if you listen closely you can hear the clack clack clack of the engine.....squint just right and you'll see the calloused...weather beaten farmer......satisfied with a good day's work.....making his way slowly back to the barn. don't forget to turn the can upside down over the exhaust pipe rest easy......friend tractor.......i feel sure you've earned it.

wilhelm staehle

i love this guy's art......and sense of humor!

check out his silhouette masterpiece theatre and website.

our disappearing america

my job takes me on all the back roads and hidey holes in our county. i get to see an array of interesting sights. yesterday i came upon a small roadside produce stand with a sign saying "fresh eggs....large...double yolk". well.......how could i possibly pass that by? i turned around and pulled into the drive. it was a small .....one room......tacked together affair with a sign on the door saying....."help yourself......leave money in box.....if you don't have the right change....blow the horn". i blew the horn........with the vehicle i drive i didn't want to be accused of any wrong doing! it took several minutes before a grizzled old man slowly made his way from the house to the stand. i told him i wanted to get some eggs and just wanted to make sure i was supposed to just drop the money in the box. "yep" he says....and just stands there looking at me like i've lost my marbles. "sorry to bother you" i say.......dropping my money in box......getting my eggs.....i take my leave. you just don't see this kind of trust in today's america!

here's how the eggs were packaged................


aren't they gorgeous?

one egg covered the palm area of my hand......errrr....i'm not a small person!
this darker egg is a large organic egg i bought at the grocery store. see how much larger these are?

i couldn't wait for breakfast this morning. crap! broke the yolk........good thing there's two!

look at the color of these yolks.......nothing like fresh....free range eggs.

i only eat a breakfast like this on weekends.......the rest of the week i get protein shakes and fruit.

now.....as my grandfather used to say......"get down....and lite....look at yer saddle"......grab a chair and let's eat!

a visit with my new grandson

technology is so wonderful these days. i got to meet my newest grandson tonight via 3d ultrasound. this is a picture from a pregnancy site to show those of you who've never seen the 3d ultrasound what it's like. it's amazing how much detail can be seen. we have a dvd set to music of him moving about...... smiling..... waving his hands. his name is landon......his sisters are two and four. the two year old can't say landon so she calls him lemon.......now everyone refers to him as lemon. we're looking forward to meeting lemon in person this june.

the sentinel

i just had to snap a shot of this guy sitting in a shop window. it was a good day to find a warm place in the sun.......sunny and beautiful but the wind would sure get your attention.

cats always seem to make me smile.

happy valentines day

serendipity

i got an early valentine! i flipped open my makeup...layed it on the counter....began putting on my moisturizer....and when i looked down i saw this heart.

now........................where's my candy?

julian beever

julian beever is so talented! his pavement drawings are so realistic! check them out here.

they do walk among us

it's really a shame that when someone does something very nice it's extraordinary instead of the norm. maybe it's just my line of work.......the fact that i deal with such ugliness on a daily basis.....but i was surprised today by a genuine act of kindness. my mother was an avid reader and had a rather large library of books at the time of her passing. i donated the books to a small community library in our county so others could benefit from her collection. i stopped in today....... while i was working in the lower end of our county....... for a short break. the librarian motioned me over and told me she had something for me........one of my mother's books......a 1945 edition of "Rebecca" by daphne du maurier......signed by the author. she said she knew i'd want to keep this one. that book was screaming EBAY to the top of it's lungs but that librarian has been saving it to give back to me for several months now. there are still good people among us.....contrary to what you see every night on the news.....or read about in the papers.......they just don't get recognized because the media would rather sensationalize peoples' misfortunes. a heartfelt "thank you" to that librarian.......she's been a bright spot in my day.

my garden lady

i've been spending a lot of time lately cleaning up and organizing files on my computer. it's been fun discovering pictures long forgotten. here is a picture of a garden lady that i made for my sister in law. for those of you not familiar with the garden lady....she holds a flower pot on her lap......between her gloved hands.

my sister in law used her as a prop for our garden club's booth during the local fall festival. she told me she had to stand guard over her lady because everyone was trying to buy her. i've been collecting some old chairs in hopes of getting myself in gear and making a few of these ladies to sell at our farmers market. i guess i need to start junking for some clothes for my girls too............like i need an excuse to go junking!

shanickers wall decals

check out these wall decals by shanon at her etsy shop. valentine's day is coming up......wouldn't this be a great gift? how 'bout the sunflowers? i love these!

i'll take one of each...........................

dirt under my fingernails

what a glorious......glorious weekend! finally......sunshine.....60 degrees....oh happy dance....oh happy dance! i spent both days working in the yard ......something i'm sure i'll pay for in the morning...... but i am sooooo not complaining! dirt under my fingernails......sun on my face.......i did some tidying up and checking on my "chillrens". the lambs ear seems to be wintering over well. winter daphne.....looking good girl!

a piece of rosemary that i stuck in a pot smelled heavenly when i brushed up against her.

these hens and chicks give a nice bit of color.

these two appeared to be enjoying the sunshine as much as i did.

what a beautiful end to a beautiful weekend. this sunset took my breath away........

now..............get thee behind me satan.......cause i'm gonna have a cup of joe and look at seed catalogs...........look out pocketbook!