How has your day been??

Here it is 5pm, and I'm thinking what in the world will I fix for dinner...ehehhe!! By evening with all the high temps we've been experiencing I don't have the energy to do much cooking...but I do have a hubby who's been working all day and deserves something good for him, right? He called a little while ago to say not to cook anything...we'd just have a salad with all our veggies from the garden...I'm thinking I'll cut up some Swiss Chard, and 2 kinds of lettuce I've grown on the front deck...cucs, onions and tomatoes all from our raised beds then I'll add nuts, dried cranberries and make a lovely vinagarette dressing Top it off with grilled chicken and call it a meal...what'cha think??? Come on over I can make enough for an army!!! hhehehe
Ok, I was up at 5am got my hubby off to work then settled down at the dining room table creating some more little ACEOs & ATCs...I put two in my etsy shop the day before yesterday...they are featured in the last post here, and the sold!!! Wow that was quick, and the first two I've ever sold...yep...guess I've been creating the wrong kind..hehhehe!!

Here are a couple I did today one of which is for my precious little sister, Mary...if you haven't checked out her blog please do. http://asplendidadventure.blogspot.com

This is a painted I'd started when visiting her in GA last year...she finally finished it, and it's awesome...once you visit you will be following her I"m sure cuz she has much to share!!!








Here's a couple journal pages prepped and ready to create on!!!

A lovely weekend!

We took our usual Sunday drive through the countryside enjoying all the old farm houses along the way. This time we stopped by one that had been empty for probably years. As we walked around we could almost feel the life that filled it long ago. We could imagine children running all over the grounds playing hid and seek, Mom coming out to let them know dinner was ready. I could almost see what I was imagining! Leaving there we drove down to The National Park where people were setting up for lunch at the camp sites, and we could hear children screaming with delight as they cooled off in the creek! As we reached the edge of the water I kicked my shoes off and waded in too...awe, that felt so good after days of temps that reached up into the 100s.

As we traveled on I tried to capture some of the buildings, and landscapes we were seeing, but as usual we were traveling too fast for me to capture much. We enjoyed a nice meal at a Chinese Restaurant then headed back home only to see hugh dark clouds appearing as we got closer. Rain was coming down in buckets as we reached Rt 522! There were times we had to slow to a creep when we couldn't see a foot infront of us. (We later discovered the winds were up to 60 miles an hr.) Cars were pulled off to the side of the road traffic going the other direction was at a stand still because of several huge trees the wind blew across the road. Luckily only tree limbs scattered our road...as we reached home the rains had slowed some keeping us from get drenched.
It's amazing how just one good rainfall can reverse all the damage done by weeks of little or no rain. I can actually see new growth this morning!!! Yey!!!












Have a wonderful week creating!!!

I thank my Lord for the gift of creating!!

I"m sure so many of us who find pleasure in created art thank our Lord for that awesome gift...For myself I know it's not only been a very rewarding experience, but has also been a healing one...I believe God puts things in our heart to help us grow as a person, and to help us heal...yes the Bible is the most important book in our lives as a Christian, all the answers for living can be found there! I am so thankful for all that my FATHER has given me over the years...Joy comes in so many ways! When I share my painting here I'm sharing my love for God as well...for He gave me this talent. The human side of us wants to think we can accomplish anything in our own strengths, but the Bible says we must pray about it and wait for God's reply. Throughout my life I've had difficulty waiting...how much easier is my life today after believing in Faith that God wants the very best for me. He loves me and you so much!!!!
Now to share some of my little paintings...Blessings for all to have a wonderful God filled week!!! I pray for your safety if you are traveling.

Recognizing a Stroke

*RECOGNIZING A STROKE*
*Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

*S** **Ask the individual to SMILE.

*T** **Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today.)

*R* *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number *immediately *and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke:

Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

These are very simple steps to take when you suspect someone is having a stroke..it could be that a person stumbles, falls and when helped up says he/she is just fine...hrs later only to find that person was rushed to the emergency room and later died....Drs say if they can reach a person having a stroke in the first 3 HOURS they can totally reverse the effects of a stroke.

Hope everyone is having a great day...Bevie

I love painting because

Isn't it kewl that you can actually start a painting, but if you aren't happy with it you can just gesso over it and start anew!! This 12x16 inch painting on canvasboard was the "working on" one I'd started a few days ago..the one with the big tree...not only does gesso prep our canvases, but it can create a brand new palate to work with...here it is looking totally different..not sure it's completely finished...sometimes I tend to over work a painting..do you do that??

A painting just finished last night..

Hello, I have been working on a little seascape, and have another painting just about finished which I will share with you all tomorrow!!! Blessings for a wonderful, creative day tomorrow..."Smile"

Good morning!

Good morning to all those who happen by my blog. The first photo is of a little seascape done in acrylic paints I'm working on right now. The other is of a tree filled with lovely hearts...a little whimsy makes me smile does it do that to you too??

I guess I love doing Whimsical and folksy paintings the best..there's something about creating something that really makes you feel good inside, and the hopes it does the same to those who see it. I was notified just yesterday that one ov my 11x14 paints done on canvasboard sold on June 29th...couldn't believe I just found the message...I have it all ready to go out in the mail today!!! Thank you Jennifer....

This is the painting...




I pray that you all are well, and enjoying all the blessings God has given you!!!

Work sometimes never ends!

Dinner was over the dishes washed and we were settling down for a nice break out on the deck before going to bed, when I asked my hubby what all the water was on the bathroom carpet. He said he's dropped something and washed it up. I said it sure was lots of water. He promptly went in and discovered it was far more wet so started looking around. He leaned into the wall and it started to crumble. You have to remember we live in an older doublewide on a foundation so the walls aren't all that thick. Since the hot water heater is on the other side of that wall we thought it was leaking...Yep, after taking the washing machine out on the back deck we were able to get to it, and the floor was soaked. He cut it off, and headed back to our bathroom. Up came the carpet and down came the one long wall, what a mess..we'd planned on taking that carpet up and put down tile, but not till the bedroom walls were completed....the floors were already done! The bad think is we weren't expecting to have to purchase a new hot water heater since this one was installed just 3 yrs ago...it should last longer than that shouldn't it...especially since the company putting it in said it was one of the best...sure!!! Dewey got hold of that company and they said they would try to replace it today, but since it's a Holiday it may have to wait till Tuesday...good thing I did laundry yesterday, but I'm not too keen on taking a cold shower...even if it is rather hot out..hehhehe!!

Here's a couple photos of what the bathroom looks like today...with all the remodeling we've done over the past 4 yrs we would have been better off downing this little home, and putting up a modular at least everything would be new..ehehhe!!! This trailer was made back in 1978! I don't want to speculate what will go bad next..ehehhehe!!! Sure hope you 4th of July Holiday doesn't start out this way!!!
Blessings to all for a very safe and happy holiday!!!

Some sharing with my friends and family!!!

These photos aren't very clear, but wanted to show you I really did stop coloring my hair...cut it very very short the other day hoping the reddish color would be gone, but as you can see I need another 2 inches of growth to make it all disappear!!! hehehe!!! I did this when I turned 50 but couldn't stand the skunky look...now at least it's almost all white in the front so what do you think???



We were watching this young doe walk timidly to the line of corn we put out for the deer...this one has a little baby probably sleeping in the woods.

See project for Sister in the Bloggerette Sorority

Hello sisters!!! It's late I know, but hope you'll accept my little "some days are diamonds" project. Seeeeee there are little diamonds in each of the silver flowers!!! I'd say I'm rich more because of belonging to this awesome blogerette sorority than having those little diamonds..ehehehe!!! Blessings to all!!!
Bevie
You can see me and my project on http://dreamsofpurelove.blogspot.com

Taking photos of flowers in the garden..

I love getting up close and personal when taking macros of my flowers...sure the bushes are lovely, but theres something about seeing them as an individual beauty much like each of us...we are all different which makes us unique. Beauty can be found in everything if you take the time to look...seeing a weathered face of the man that's worked his whole live outside perhaps farming bring a smile to my face. He may look weathered, but there's a wonderful spark in his eyes as he looks over the land. Gee my mind went off somewhere didn't it..ehehhehe!!! Back to my flowers...Hubby came home yesterday with 30 8" pots of discarded perennial daisies...well I can just see them next year blooming beautifully all in their own little space in the front yard. Such a shame for any perennial plant to be discarded don't you think??? I read recently where people are actually planting their yards with eatable plants instead of grass...just imagine walking out your front door, and stopping to pick several different lettuces for dinner salad. I have 3 different kinds of lettuce in pots on the front deck.

For the past 3 nights it's been up in the 90's way too hot to cook so I've prepared some awesome salads using cucs, swiss chard, lettuce all from the garden...tomatoes and squash aren't ripe yet. Add some protein (chicken,nuts,chickpees),celery,carrots,tomatoes and even olives and banana peppers and an great lite dressing makes for a wonderful dinner. Here are some photos of the flowers I was talking about..hehehhe!!!

Here's where I do most of my creating!

Now I say that because I have one of our spare rooms as my puter and studio...but I do create in other places too. I love going out on one of the 2 decks and paint in the sun. From the back yard I can see beyond the fence up thru all the trees...there are times I get to watch some deer coming down to visit. There's always many squirrels scurry around hunting for food. Yes, we spoil them by scattering corn. hehehe!!!
From the front porch I can see all the trees filled with many different birds all singing their awesome songs. It's amazing how some of the smallest birds have the loudest sound. We have at least 7 sets of Eastern Bluebirds nesting in verious birdhouses I've painted the placed in trees and on fence posts. I made the mistake of putting some finished birdhouses on the front deck rails...Not a good thing for my cat thought he's died and gone to heaven...even caused me to break a toe trying to keep him from getting the baby bird. No more....just have plants and hummer feeders now.. Well here are some photos of my messy space! I saw someone elses space this morning and thought it to be a grand idea...won't you share your's with us too? Blessings

What a beautiful day!

Good morning, hope your day is filled so many interesting things. Will you be creating a new painting today?? I haven't painted anything for about a week, but have some canvases primed and ready! As you all know I mentioned in my last post that there was a possibility I might have to have surgery on my back....WELL, I don't. One thing I didn't realize was if you have degenerative disc disease (DDD) the bulging discs continue to bulg...and if you are lucky they don't give you a whole lot of pain. Well I've had some bulging discs for years and now have another one...so that's been causing the Chronic Sciatica and severe pain when I try to get up. It seems I'm very lucky as the nerves are wide open and aren't being pinched. The only thing is I will have to have more therapy, and stronger pain meds...ugh!!

Now enough about me, what's up with you?? Do you have plans for a nice vacation this summer or have you already had one? We will do what we usually do...take a trip up to Goshen VA where we spent our Honeymoon 27 yrs ago. Boy time sure does fly when you are having fun doens't it? I find the older I get the faster it goes, I wonder why that is?

Now do have an awesome day doing what you love to do...I'm making a couple Zentangles for a Zen pif group in www.atcsforall.com come take a look around if you haven't been there before...it's a wonderful place to join in swaps and trades one on one or more.

Thanks for caring enough to visit my blog leaving such sweet and special comments. I hope you know it means so much..Blessings,

Things still on hold....

After waiting for a week to hear back from the Dr. about my MRI I started making calls to them...no one had gotten the report...so a week later I go to the Imaging Ctr and get a copy for myself. I did get a bit concerned when I read it, so called my dr for a referral to a Spine Specialist. I had to leave a msg cuz everyone was busy....a week later someone called to get all the info...then it was a week later before anyone called me back..by this time my back pain was increasing...walking because very difficult, and I couldn't drive at all. Then the shoulder became so painful I couldn't lift it up to blow dry my hair. It's the hand I use for painting so I'm freaking out..now the pain is down into my hand, and I'm thinking do I just go back to the ER and have them check the arm out? Finally I get a call from my Dr's nurse who tells me they don't have any info about the MRI cuz they didn't get the report furthermore the gal that took all the info didn't put it in my folder. Now I'm really getting mad...can you blame me??? I call the Imaging ctr yesterday requesting a copy of the report be sent to my Dr via fax...done!!! Now I will get the referral to see Dr. Chadduck however it will probably take a week before they call to schedule an appointment cuz he has to read the report and look at the MRI. I'm out here in limb, depressed that some much time has passed, and way too many have dropped the ball. I should have just gone back to the ER and had them schedule everything...you know I truly believe drs have lost some of their caring in that most often when you call with a problem they refer you to the ER...what's wrong with this picture??? Perhaps I should have done more to get the ball rolling...God know's I live with enough pain as it is...this has been debiliting for me. The reason I mentioned I might have to have surgery is because while at the Imaging ctr picking up my copy of the report I talked to the Radiologist who actually read the films...He said it looked like I would need surgery....too many bulgings, severe narrowing..(DDD) I continue to shrink in height...sure wish it were in width..eheheh!!! Now that I have shared the last 2 months with you I ask that you continue to keep my in your prayers...that things settle down and something is done (hopefully not surgery) to make it easier to live...
Love to all who take the time to come visit me...now I"m going to add a couple photos of plants I've got coming up in the flowerbed and the raised beds. That's much more interesting that all the talk about my back pain..ehehehhe~~ Have a great weekend..

Memorial Day~

This Memorial holiday has been one to remember, sunny here in VA with very hot temps...been in the 90 all three day! Wishing everyone a wonderful day celebrating all those who have in the past, and are now serving to keep our Country safe. My dad was in the Navy ,but the war ended just before he was to be deployed, and I think he was happy but sad at the same time...Mom was carrying me and my twin bro...so I guess he was happy to be in Washington DC for that event...Now deceased I salute him too~!!

Please forgive me for not post here often...don't know how long I'll be able to because I may have to have surgery not only on my back, but my left shoulder which is the hand I paint, eat and do just about everything with. Sooooo I'm here to tell ya I'm missing you all so very much but will try to visit your blogs as often as I can...Blessings and have a wonderful week.