Rose

Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.

Katharine Lee Bates

Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 5 painting, "antique rose"

Holiday decorating

After unpacking all the boxes, I finally got around to some decorating. I'm not finished yet, sometimes I find myself decorating up until the week of Christmas! It sure has put me in the holiday spirit though, and I'm even listening to the non stop Christmas music on the radio! Enjoy!

Small painting

Painting again! Rooster on wood, 3-1/2" x 4-1/2".

The holidays

Why is it that this time of year I get myself in a state of panic and everything gets crazy! That over-whelming feeling of so much to do and not enough time to get it done.

My daughter would tell me, "breathe deeply".

And so I will try.

One thing at a time!

Today I will be dragging decorations down from the attic and decorating. Shopping can wait till tomorrow, or maybe next week ~ I haven't even made my lists yet! And of course, there's art and craft projects, hair appointment this week, grocery shopping and Christmas cards! Maybe cutting back on my coffee intake would help!

Ok, breathe deeply.

Thanksgiving Day

This Thanksgiving day our family gathered at my sister's home in Chapel Hill for a wonderful turkey
dinner. When we arrived the table was set beautifully, as usual.




Spending time with family is a blessing in itself and one realizes how much there is to be thankful for. After filling ourselves to the brim with delicious turkey and all the fixins, we played games and caught up on all the latest news and enjoyed each others company.

Later in the day we took a walk; the weather was warm and the leaves were falling, and we got a chance to walk off some of that big yummy dinner!

A good Thanksgiving Day filled with many blessings!

Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a good week and a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Weekend photos

This weekend was spent catching up on some of my holiday magazines,

watching a movie,

reading,

baking a pumpkin pie;

and enjoying the outdoors.

Otis and Riley found a nice warm spot in the sun.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.

Melody Beattie

Painting

Doing some painting today with Christmas on my mind.

Window washing

I'm one of those people that likes clean windows. I usually wash them in the spring or in the fall. My mother would always wash the windows every spring and fall; spring house cleaning and fall house cleaning. She would say she needs to get the house ready for summer and put the screens in the windows, but of course, the windows had to be cleaned first; or she has to get the house ready for winter but the windows had to be washed before the storm windows go on.

Well, I took advantage of the warm weather today and washed the windows. Not only did I enjoy the warm sunshine, but I also got the house "ready for winter". I'm sure Mom would be pleased.

Outside

Well, I went a bit overboard yesterday taking pictures, but I couldn't help myself because it was such a beautiful, warm, sunny day and Otis and Riley and I spent it in the garden.

First I planted some azalea plants that were in pots and needed to be put in the ground.

Otis and Riley were there to help.

The old tomato plant is still producing tomatoes!

The strawberry patch will have to be covered soon.

The rosemary looks wonderful,

as does the anise plant my neighbor gave me.

Then some time to relax and soak up the sun (get that vitamin D),

and read a book.

Even the birds are happy.

Riley's lovin' it!

Whimsytwo

I've been working on my etsy shop! It's pretty much fun to have a shop to sell things!

The shop is called "whimsytwo" (for hubby and me) since we both have a hand in all of the projects that go in it. We had items left over from the whirligig festival, so they are now in the shop!

So feel free to take a peek inside if you like! I'm going to be working on some holiday items next.

Enjoy your day!

Finch Pottery Day

Every year on the second Sunday in November Finch Pottery in Bailey, NC, has an open house where more than 60 Finch Studio Potters show and sell their work. There's usually a large crowd and this year was no different.It was a beautiful fall day and a nice afternoon for a drive.

The potters set up their wares in old buildings and tents behind the main house.

Beautiful pottery! And this is the large kiln where they fire their work.

What an enjoyable day! And I just couldn't pass up this great piece of frog pottery that can be used for a bird bath or bird feeder. Perfect for the back yard!