it's a family thing

isn't it strange how certain talents can run in families? we've been blessed with the "artist" gene. my mother's father, her sister, myself, my youngest daughter.......and now.........my oldest granddaughter .....it seems......is following in our footsteps. shelby is six years old and has shown an interest in art for the last couple of years. i'd rather have a piece of original art from one of my children or grandchildren than any gift they could buy.

this is shelby's monet inspired picture...........
this one she calls "wild things"...............

and "numbers".........(i love the color combinations here)

my hope is that shelby will continue to grow as an artist and live an artful life. you go girl!

my sleeping garden

it's been cold and rainy again today. it seems we've had no sunshine in ages. looking out at my sleeping garden i wonder........if i listen closely will i hear the sounds of soft snoring as they sleep nestled snugly in their leaf covered beds.............do they dream of warm summer days full of brilliant colors and sunshine.........are they as anxious for spring as i am? rest peacefully my flower children.....spring is just around the corner.....blue skies, white puffy clouds, bird chatter, the hum of bees......hurry spring!

time for my yearly eye exam

it's that time of the year for my annual eye exam. i've noticed a marked decline in my vision over this last year. seems time to give up the over the counter glasses (i have a pair in every room and vehicle!) and get some of the real ones. i got this cartoon via email.............i'm getting there!

one awesome artist

i really like unusual planters around my garden. when i happened across this fungi covered log i knew it was a planter in the making.


how great is the pattern and the colors on these? that mother nature is one awesome artist!

i'm going to hollow out the top of this log and plant something inside this spring.................hmmmmmmmmmmm.......maybe i need to go ahead and get it done and plant some grass seed to have a little color now. yep.........sounds like a plan.

my indoor fairy garden

this is the small fairy garden that's in a glassed bookcase beside my fireplace. it's mostly a collection of bird nests that have fallen out of the trees around my home. i love that most of the nests have goat hair in them..... all nice and soft for their babies. the little reindeer is a miniature i did of the larger ones that grace my yard during the holiday season.

i like to think these biti foki are happy in this little woodsy setting.....snug by the crackling fire. i try to stay on their good side so i'm not the victim of their mischievousness.

paul g. busse

i have chosen to live most of my life plum nearly off the map. every so often i think of moving to the big city but i don't really think my spirit would survive with so much concrete. the major drawback of country living for me is cultural events. they are non existant in the town i call home and it's a pretty good drive to the nearest city. i do make trips when i can and i sure wish i'd been able to go to the united states botanic garden to see the "windows to wonderland" exibit by paul g. busse and his crew of applied imagination. it was featured this past november 27th thru january 4. can't you just imagine this "old woman in the shoe" in your own fairy garden?



and this gpysy camp...........LOVE it!

paul busse and his crew are the ones who do all those amazing train exhibits in the gardens around the states. there's even a dvd that you can order on his site of the pbs documentary of his work. be sure to check out the schedule on his site to see if they will be coming to a garden near you. i'd sure love to see one up close and personal.

garbage

OMG! i absolutely LOVE this lamp. i came across this site via ulla norup milbraths' blog. how cool is this vintage phone and tophat lamp! want! want! want! and the camera lamp.........i can see this in my studio!

for the kitchen.............

the company responsible for these lamps is garbage. check out their site here. i gotta warn ya....it's in french...something i took in school..... back in the horse and buggy days.....so i don't remember enough to know what's being said but i sure did enjoy the pictures.

the toy society

how cool is this (i want one!):

"The Toy Society is a small project spreading the love throughout the streets. Nothing to it really just a bunch of handmade toys looking for a nice home.What started as a small street art project in Australia is slowly spreading around the world.Should you come across a member of The Toy Society on your travels collect them up and take them home with you!" - the toy society. check out their blog here.

blogtations

ya really have to be careful what ya put in your blog......it could end up here at blogtations. i love reading these.....they're even listed by category on the right.

"if you're going to walk on thin ice then you might as well dance." - unk

getting the fever while running a fever

it sure seems like a lot of folks are getting the fever to get out and start gardening. i keep hearing from others......like myself......that are drooling over the new seed catalogs. there's a giveawy on art by naomi who says she's craving a little green and wanting some spring. I hear ya girl.

i'm still VERY crippled with this broken foot. it's really been a hurtful thing. the break is in the joint between the big toe and the bone behind it. i'm having photo shooting withdrawal symptoms......can't go junkin..........by the time i get home from work (thankfully i'm on desk duty!) my foot's hurting so bad i'm in a fog and can't even enjoy reading everyone's blogs. i know......want a little cheese with that whine? sorry.

i hope i'll be able to work in my woodworking shop this weekend. i've got some great ideas for some crucifixs made with found objects that i can't wait to get started on. i've also ordered susan tuttle's new book....exhibition 36 mixed media demonstrations and explorations....and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will arrive tomorrow. i am soooooo book and magazine poor....but i wouldn't have it any other way. for those of us who don't have a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and you beside me.......a good read and a great cuppa joe is a pretty good tradeoff.

my life

and the winner is............

guess what lola..............you won the giveaway. i've sent you an email to get shipping directions. thanks to those who left comments and everyone who takes the time to read my blog.

i know you're probably getting tired of my talking about the jamie oliver cookbook but i just have to tell ya.......i made his italian ham and spinach tart (man quiche!) on new years day instead of our traditional fair. mine didn't look like this picture out of his book but if i were still of the child bearing age......i'd name my next child after him.........it was awesome!

and after a two week vacation from work i'm returning tomorrow....cane and all. i'm very glad and lucky to have a job .....but......i'm sure not wanting to go back to work. oh well.......the show is over and the monkey is dead, time to go home now and go to bed...............nah.....i'm having a cuppa joe...............

sleeping very badly

i was searching thru my junkin finds for some materials when i came across these journals. i'd forgotten about having them. i got them up in north carolina at an antique show/flea market and was surprised to find upon reading them that they were from someone in my own neck of the woods. he appeared to be a builder/landlord as he had hand drawn survey maps, building material lists, etc in these journals. he even had a hand written will on one of the pages. the entries started around 1929 and ended in 1960. just look at the prices of these building materials.

and check out the cost of furnishing the home.

in this journal he kept an accounting by year of everything that he spent.

and this was the most surprising of all......located in the depths of his building/surveying journal....the only such entry in either book.... a love poem.....entitled "young love". i can't figure out from the dates at what point in his life he wrote this....as a young man or reminiscing in his later years...... it almost feels too private to read.........

young love

with in my bed

the whole night through

i turn and turn

and think of you

and wonder when we met

to-day

if you said what you

meant to say

and what you thought

i thought you meant

and were you sorry

when i went

and did you get my

meaning when

and then. the whole thing

through again. i only hope

that somewhere you are

sleeping very badly too.

happy new year!

and it begins again........want! want! want! ......get thee behind me satan and dooooonnnnn't push! hope you all have a safe and happy new year! i'm ending 2008 and starting 2009 on crutches with a broke foot.......yea!.... way to go jody! here's hoping 2009 will be a better year................

speaking of giveaways.....

it's my 100th post....yea! in honor of this occasion i've made a little diddy from the "fly" collage i used on my christmas cards. it's a small plaque approximately 6 1/2" by 9 1/2".

i've placed it on one of the book covers i found on a junkin trip.

these angels are actually my aunts....both of whom have their heavenly wings now. i've always been told i'm just like the blond one.....some think that's good.....others.....not so much. i think it's a good thing! anywho.........if you'd like to throw your hat in for a chance at the giveaway just leave me a comment on this post. if you put a link to this post on your blog i'll give you two chances. for those of you who may not have a blog an email address or some form of contact will do....and of course if you do have a blog make sure i have a way of contacting you if you win. i'll draw the winner january 4th. good luck!

yesterday when i came home i caught a glimpse of color in my otherwise bland garden beside the porch. on closer inspection i found that one of my vinca plants has decided to share a little of her spirit with me.....thanks little friend! what a bit of cheer on a gloomy...rainy....winters' day.

i just finished a lunch of jamie olivers' crispy and sticky chicken thighs with squashed new potatoes and tomatoes from his jamie at home cookbook. i added a little onion and a few cloves of garlic before baking. as the folks in my family say.....it was so good it would make you slap yo momma (something NONE of us have ever done or would consider doing!) it WAS good. i'm gonna try his italian ham and spinach tart next.

well....'nuff ramblin.......off to the kitchen for a cup of joe.......................

there's a giveaway

jo james of cart before the horse is giving away one of her magical creations in honor of her 100th post. check out her site here and sign up for your chance to win.

merry christmas

i hope each and every one of you have a merry christmas and santa is very good to you (he ALWAYS brings me bills!). here is an excerpt expressing my wishes for you this christmas eve from a christmas poem written by fra giovanni. it is from one of tasha tudors books :



take joy



I salute you! There is nothing I can give you which you have not;
but there is much, that while I cannot give, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take Heaven.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take Peace.
The gloom of the world is but a shadow,
behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy.
Take Joy.
And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you,
with the prayer that for you,
now and forever, the day breaks
and the shadows flee away.

i'm dreaming of a pink christmas.....

i really was hoping to make this tree mine by adding collaged fairies and tags but between cooking for two days for our family gathering, having everyone in yesterday, TWO trips to the emergency room with a sick child, and trying to straighten up the mess today......well...it just isn't gonna happen! it's still pretty. i LOVE the pink tree (color! color! color!) and the vintage bulbs look great and bring back lots of memories. hope everyone has finished their christmas shopping!

at least i've got that much done!

carol of the chins

i had fun with this.......but then.....i'm easily amused!

a christmas card for you

i finally got my christmas cards made, printed, and mailed. this one is for you..................

jody