They're Still Blooming

My potted Camellias are still blooming,

and I'm finding it hard not to clip

the blooms and bring them inside.

They do look mighty  pretty in the garden.

However, while  listening on radio

to the Florida Garden Show,

I've learned a new way  to display

 the beautiful Camellia blooms.

Place bloom

floating in a shallow crystal

bowl of water....

I have just the bowl in mind.

Inherited from my Grandmother, it is

pink in color, and made of  depression glass,

I'm thinking worthy of another post soon.

Have a real nice day everyone........Dee Dee

The Civil War Historian

I knew when I walked away from the

Civil War Reenactment this past

weekend, I had a camera full of

inspiration. 

I took quite a few face photos

 of the cast of characters,

finding the  Historian most fascinating.

 This old fella, with the magnificent full white beard

 and  shock of white and black curly hair,

 was in his element.

He really knew how to work a crowd,

and kept us informed of battle expectations.

I got the impression that  even in his

personal life,

our Historian  likely stayed in character.

He seemed a gentle soul

and I tried to

capture that impression  in

 my humble painting/illustration.

Have a sweet ole day......Dee Dee

Civil War Reenactment

This weekend we drove out to Fort Desota

for a Civil War Reenactment.

The Civil War broke out in l86l,

and although this area along the beach played

only a minor role during the war, it is

rich in other military history.

Located on the

Gulf Of Mexico, near St Petersburg Florida,

we were in a perfect setting for the

 reenactment.

Dressed for the part,

in all his costumed splendor,

was a Civil War Historian,  who

acted as our guide.

A few hundred folks turned out

for the occasion, boy scout troops and all,

 and the weather

with overcast skies played in our favor.

I took over a hundred photos and have

found it difficult

 to post with just a few.

Marching along side the Union army was

a small  band complete with drums and fifes.

I was especially fond of this role....

the cast member depicting  a Confederate

soldier kneeling to pray before battle.

....firing and reloading....

I was impressed with the Union Army uniforms..........

And then,

I listened as my son-in-law explained

to our granddaughter, the

rag-tag appearance of the Confederate soldiers.

No uniforms .....and the young fought along side the old.

As I watched this reenactment, I couldn't

help but think of all these men....both sides,

the North and the South, and how

each thought they were on the side of right.

And then.....

I could almost hear the words of  Abraham Lincoln,

from his second Inaugural Address.

".......that this nation, under God, shall have a

new birth of freedom.

.....with malice toward none; with charity for all,

with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see

the right, let us strive on to the finish the work

we are in; to bind up the nations wounds, to

care for him who shall have borne the battle, and

for his widow and his orphan. To do all which may

achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among

ourselves, and with all nations."

The "War Between The States" as the Civil War

was known, pitted neighbor against neighbor

and in some cases brother against brother.

By the time it ended in 1865, 625,000

had died. This is part of America's story. This

is part of us.

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

The Wisdom Of Louis L'Armour

"We are, finally,

 all wanderers

 in search

 of

knowledge.

Most of us hold

 the dream of

becoming something better

 than we are,

something larger, richer,

 in some way

 more

important to the world

 and ourselves. 

Too often,

the way taken

 is the wrong way,

 with

too much emphasis

 on what

 we want to have,

rather than what

we wish to become."

~Louis L'Armour

This writer of western stories....

this Mr. L'Armour was truly

a man of wisdom.

May our Lord bless you this day.....Dee Dee

Eat Your Green Leafy Vegetables

Not necessarily a fragrance you'd be  fond of,

the cottage was filled with the aroma of  Kale

simmering on the stove.

Freshly picked organic greens,

I thought them  beautifully made

as the water splashed over

 the ruffled leaves.

A little research produced a few

interesting facts about Kale. Going

back to ancient Greece and Rome, it

is low in fat, has no cholesterol and is

beneficial with anti-oxidant properties.

Kale is at it's best during winter

months....November through  March...

at your grocer now.

My favorite method of preparation is to

season with salt, butter and small

amount of sugar....simmer until tender.

Splashed with a little

apple cider vineger and

taste-tested by the Mister,

they were  given a

two thumbs up rating.

Enjoying the moments......

wishing

for you and yours

 a blessed weekend....Dee Dee

The Stork Is Coming

The stork is coming and

this time more

great-grand babies.

Our family is growing,

and the mere fact that

two little ones are on the way,

has given

me reason not only to paint,

but to bring out the sewing

machine and the baby yarns.

Times have changed when

it comes to making baby things.

This generation no longer adheres

to old traditions of pink for girls

and blue for boys.  I for one am

happy with the changes, loving

the colorful contemporary fabrics. 

It is time once again for

Simple Sewing For Baby.

..... 24 easy projects for

newborns to toddlers.

The  packet of easy to make

patterns tucked inside the book will make

for easier sewing. 

Such good ideas....

Tag blankets, changing pads, burp cloths,

 and sweet soft rattles.

I've learned that one little baby

is a boy....so I can get started now and

will post soon on my progress.

Have a blessed week-end

sweet family and friends.......Dee Dee

Forever And Unconditional Love

 GRAN'S LITTLE MAN

  I began this little drawing

 of  a  young boy child,

sitting all alone.

As it developed, 

I realized more should be added

 to complete the composition.

A Grandmother's arm caressing

her grandson,

 completed my thoughts.

As I applied the paints, 

a certain

 expression developed on the

woman's  face.

 Her love for this

child spills out of her heart,

and trickles  from the corners of her eyes.

 Grandmothers know these

feelings for grandchildren,

and at any given moment loving

emotions can and will erupt.

From birth, the child feels secure with these

feelings from her, never doubting

that they will always be there.  

He knows  

her love can be  relied upon,

 and that it is

 forever unconditional.

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

Lovin' "Downton Abbey"

Masterpiece Theater's

Downton Abbey, Season 2,

ended  this past Sunday evening.

I let out a sigh....and maybe even

a little whimper.

From the beginning of Downton Abbey,

Season l,  I've been a big  fan of  Downton's

aristocrats and servants.

I'm  excited there will be a  Season 3, 

and  thrilled to hear that Shirley Maclaine

will join the cast.  Perhaps  misguided

spiritually, she is a good character

actress. 

It will be fun to see her interact

with Maggie Smith,

as Shirley plays Lady Grantham's mother.

If you've missed Season 2, you can

see it here for thirteen more days.....

http://www.pbs.org/

also......

Netflix is showing Downton Abbey

Season l,  in it's entirety.

Enjoy sweet friends and family.....Dee Dee

A Slightly Altered Appearance

I'm having a bit of fun with Photoshop

this evening. Having retrieved a little

painting from my archives,

I've set about trying a few

enhancements. 

The drawing/painting came into

existence

back in 20l0.  As you can see,

I was in the beginning stages of drawing,

and knew very little of a

graphics editing programs.

Through trial and error

I can now add a few

  embellishments

and color changes

to my paintings.

Here,  I've added

"butterflies" to my subject

matter, altering her

appearance only slightly

and placing her in a lovely

imaginative garden setting.

Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance

to love and to work and to play and to look

up at the stars; to be satisfied with your

possessions...to think seldom of your enemies,

often of your friends and every day of Christ.

~Henry Van Dyke

Have a glad day......Dee Dee

Tiny Beginnings

Tiny little buds in large

clusters are all over the

Nandina shrubs.

Barely visible are the beginnings

of a lovely  pink Knockout Rose.

Upon closer examination you can

see a tiny Rose bud.

Once planted, the Ruellia

(Mexican Petunia) will grow

in just about any soil

in tropical climates. As you

can see, they are already

reaching for the sunlight.

Before long, this large pot

will be spilling over with small

purple flowers.

I see

sweet tiny beginnings......signs

of early spring here on the

Gulf Coast of Florida.

Treasure this day and

enjoy every minute of it.......Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

We had a little rain......

.......resulting in an abundance of Camellia blooms.....

So now they are  placed all over the house....again.

I placed a few on a

bedroom chest,

beside an antique dresser mirror.

I'm lovin' 

the color combination.

You can see that

  one stem

produced

quite a few blooms,

reminding me of a

Floribunda Rose......

Did you know.....

that Camellias have no fragrance?

I give bunches of these pretty things  to friends

and the first thing they do is bury their

noses in the bloom.

I've become accustomed to surprised

and disappointed  facial expressions. 

Here on the dining table

are Camellias

grouped with silver pieces.

You can see how

splashes of the morning sun

create a beautiful  floral vision.

I never tire of  Camellias

and once again

I share them with you.....

Have a blessed Lord's Day........Dee Dee

 

On My Desk To Read

Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines,

and the Secret Mission of l805.......has

it caught  your interest yet? 

This book

practically jumped off the shelf and into

my hands, as I browsed in our library

re-sale book store.

Amazon book reviews, yielded

good reviews and it appears I have

found "readable gold."

Some people like suspense novels,

some people like action adventure stories,

and some people are real history buffs.

This book will satisfy all three crowds,

as an engaging page turner.

  Dealing with how

America finally dealt with the Barbary pirates

and their leaders, readers are wondering

where the screen play is.

I'm finishing my book of  John Adams and then

l quickly move on to this more adventurous read.

Have a great weekend.....Dee Dee

Think On This

Day-Break

The morning which is the most memorable

season of the day,

 is the awakening hour....

Little is to be expected of that day,

if it can be called a day,

to which we are not awakened by our Genius....

All memorable events I should say,

 transpire in morning time

 and in morning atmosphere....

To him whose elastic and vigorous thought

keeps pace with the sun, the day is a

perpetual morning.....

Morning is when I am awake and there

is a dawn in me.....

~Thoreau....."Walden."

Yes!

.....Dee Dee

Painting...Kersting l8l4

Travel Sketching....Great Idea!

Now and then I just need a little retail

therapy....shopping or mostly just poking

around, gaining new and interesting

ideas. Place me in the artist supply section of

the store and there I will linger for a while,

and usually walk away with an arm-load

of good "art stuff."

The

Artist's Journal Workshop....

creating your life in words and pictures

is my new found treasure.

I'm really excited about this book and

will spend hours absorbing new concepts

and ideas for this kind of journaling........

beginning even with day to day life.

 Click on drawing to enlarge.....

I thought of a recent trip to Disney World.

The grandchildren were there,  celebrating two

birthdays. Young four year old and

two year old boys were

impressed by some rather large boots, while

everyone else was posing for the photo.

The boots belong to Woody,

a beloved Toy Story character. 

I am truly in love with this travel sketching idea,

and feel  it gives opportunity to play, practice and

develop as a artist.

Have fun today.....Dee Dee

Remind Me Of Summer's Wildflowers

I had my choice and I wanted wildflowers,

or at least something that looked like them.

These little purple "filler" flowers

 remind me of summer

road trips through North Carolina,

and the spectacular views

of the mountains.

Take a drive up through the

Smoky Mountains, and the sights

 will take your breath away.

FLOWERS!

Blooming in

 sporadic locations, spattered

along  the highway, as if  God took

a brush and began painting

flower beds.

Oh.....I might be thinking of summer's

wildflowers, but I am content to rest

in the coolness of winter

a while longer.

He hath made everything beautiful

in His time.......Ecclesiastes 3:ll

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

Signs Of the Time.....

Combinations, all together

exerting strong indications

of heartfelt love.....

Hearts

Flowers

Sweets

Happy Valentine's Day

beloved  family and sweet bloggy friends.....Dee Dee

A Pre-Read

For the past few years,

it's become a necessity

to pre-read books before

giving them to our

grandchildren.

What might be acceptable

to some, may not be to others.

Just as movies and television

programs have ratings,

so should books be

 under  scrutiny,  that

our children  read.

There...I have written my

explanation for reading a

most enjoyable children's book,

 from the Dear America series.

It is titled

Across The Wide And  Lonesome Prairie

the Oregon Trail Diary

of Hattie Campbell l847

January 20, l847, Wednesday

I hide this diary under my pillow,

but take it out often to look at.

I love the smell of its coarse paper

and have decided to use my new

hair ribbon as a bookmark. The

blue looks pretty lying across the page.

The book has passed the test and

I'm ready to place it in the hands

of one young lady....a very  eager-reader.

I think she'll find Hattie Campbell's

journey fascinating. 

Have a blessed week.....Dee Dee

Fun With Watercolors and Pencils...

"Uh.....Uh....

Will you be my Valentine?"

Holding a box of chocolates behind

his back, so painfully shy, blushing

from ear to ear,

he somehow finds the courage needed.

Have a blessed Lord's day everyone.....Dee Dee

Think On This

Antonio Stradivari in his workshop

Painting by Edgar Bundy

both successful with their God given talents.....

The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures

sent from a distant friendly place, carrying gifts,

and if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry

them silently away. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 We have no time to waste, each day

brings new opportunities.

Words  to ponder.....Dee Dee

Repairs For "Ooooof"

Named "Ooooof"

when he couldn't

say elephant,

this little stuffed toy 

  belongs to my four year old grandson.

Terribly attached to

poor ole Ooooof, young grandson

 has nearly loved him to pieces.

This being the case, on

occasion he's developed  holes, lost stuffing

and has actually lost  body parts.

Yesterday I was asked  by a concerned little boy,

to bring Ooooof

home with me for a few repairs. This

is the third time this  has become necessary.

Believe me, the  little elephant  was all bedraggled.

He had three holes, was  missing his  tail

and had  a  leg torn completely off.

"Will you have him home by bedtime?"

.......he asked with a worried look on his little  face.

"I will, and Ooooof will be almost

good as new."

I'm thinking there's a story to tell  here,

and already I can see the illustrations....

Have a blessed day......Dee Dee 

Inspired By The Advanced Style

A while back, I came across

a fun Blog.....

http://www.advancedstyle.blogspot.com/

Now and then, I stop by and am

completely entertained and quite

impressed by what I see.

Now these ladies have it

 "goin' on."

Although advanced in years, they are

 beautifully adorned with

all that is "fashion."

They inspire me......

I love how they dare to

be bold in their choices of style in

clothing, hair, accessories, hats,

and shoes.

Some have stories to tell, and I

think you'll  enjoy them....so

treat yourself and stop by Advanced Style.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

I'm Seeing A Lot Of Pink

We cut these Snow Bushes

back in the fall of the year.

January or February.....mid-winter,

we begin to notice......

tiny pink leaves sprinkling

themselves all over the plant.

I call the colors  pink, but as you can see

the leaves  vary in color,  somewhat.  I

see shades of green, variegated

pink and green  leaves and

lovely salmon colors.......

My good fortune is that Snow Bushes propagate.

 I see evidence of new plants scattered about

 and, they all seem healthy.

Hmmm....looks like an early spring....Dee Dee

Nature Can Be A Challenge Sometimes

I haven't been out to

Honeymoon Island State Park

in a while, and do I ever miss it!

 Today was warm for February,

and I'm quite sure the island had lots of

northern visitors.  The shoreline has changed

a little and they'll  be sad to see the erosion

taking place there on the north beach.

I took these  photos  back in the summer.

Lying  there in the sand are the remains of

what was once a thriving and beautiful

Sea Grape plant.

I remember when the park rangers

planted the Sea Grapes along with

several palm trees.  I had thought

them mighty close to the shore line,

wondering if they would survive

the storms that bring in high and

powerful waves.

Most did not.

Come spring, they'll be out cleaning

up debris and planting again.

Working with nature is a challenge sometimes.

And so it goes......

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

On My Desk To Read

It is the month of "love" afterall.

None of that "fru fru"(word found

in Oxford's dictionary) stuff for me.

I'm after true....

"My Dearest Friend" 

Letters Of Abigail and John Adams

.....love to the core of your being,

kind of relationship.

Page 186

About an hour ago I received a Letter from you

beginning in this manner....

"My Dearest Friend"

That one single expression dwelt upon my mind

and played about my heart. (Abigail Adams)

Abigail and John were matched perfectly

as life partners, lovers, friends, and equals in

all areas of importance.

They were there for each other.  They

wanted new beginnings for a new nation

and were willing to die to make it a

reality for posterity.

Abigail kept the home-fires burning

all during the years John Adams was away.

Their pen was a weapon against

adversity, a way of finding comfort and

support for any situation.

(Srsc: Amazon.com review )

My kind of  love story......

Life is good....so much to read and

just not enough hours in the day.

In His care.....Dee Dee