Watercolors and Pencils

Our road trip found us

driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It

was memorable in more ways than one.

We were privileged in

seeing a flock of wild turkeys.....a

beautiful sight.  I see them as wonderful

creatures to paint or photograph. These

are last years use of watercolors and pencils.  

 .....image of young turkey.

Might just do a little drawing soon......I have

some sweet ideas for greeting cards and

the holidays are coming closer. 

 Just want to

pack as much goodness and fun into

the season, don't you?

Hmmm.....Over the meadow and through

the woods......

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Fireplace For Heat

We've concern for those in harms way

this evening .  Fireplaces and 

pellet stoves are being used tonight in

upstate New York where we have

family and friends without power.

May God keep you all safe.....Dee Dee

Renewing Our Marriage Vows

The Mister and I had good reason

to vacation in Cooperstown.

We renewed our marriage vows

in the small church where our 

son-in-law is pastor.

Our children planned a lovely

ceremony and we were "swept

from our feet" by the preparation 

and all the love  shown to us.

As a wedding/anniversary gift they gave

us this beautiful place to spend sweet time

together.

In Cooperstown, New York.....

it is called The Cooper Inn.

It rained early in the day,

but did little to dampen our spirits.

We went for a walk before the

ceremony and I took lots of photos.

Here is the entrance to the Inn.

There is no place more beautiful for fall

than Cooperstown.

The Cooper Inn was built in l812.

From our window, the

view of the grounds was breathtaking.

We will never ever forget all

who made our 

wedding/ anniversary perfect

in every way.

Enjoying His blessings..... Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

Bittersweet

We always do a walk-about

the church property.  Our 

son-in-law pastors a small

Baptist Church in Cooperstown.

The parsonage is next door

to the church and the grounds are

covered in lovely green grass

year round. 

We saw the remains of the 

vegetable garden that had produced

at high capacity all summer long. 

One single night of below freezing temps had

 left skeletons of tomatoes and brown

leather like stems draped on trellises.  The

kale was the only living thing 

left in the garden,

thriving and promising good

healthy greens to accompany 

the black eyed peas and cornbread

winter meals. Our daughter 

mentioned "kale chips" as an

interesting healthy snack idea.

Bordering a section of the 

property was an old wooden 

fence somewhat  hidden by vines

 covered with bright orange

and yellow berries.  We

reached up high to gather

some of the nicest stems of

the "Bittersweet."

Have a blessed

 Lord's day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Demise Of Black Eyed Susans

They looked a little sad,

but they still got my attention.

The rest area had been

beautifully landscaped.

Now, the time of year had

brought cooler weather and

seasonal change in nature.

The Black Eyed Susan's 

were dying.

One of my favorite things to do

is take photos of flowers that are in

the final stages of life....

I liken the Susans  to people in the 

autumn of their life...... the

declining years when beauty

begins to fade, 

but still exist, just a little, 

untill the end

when all the petals eventually

fall to the ground.

Thankfully, I was there

to see their demise.

Your seeing my humble efforts

in giving  them eternal life images

through art.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

click on images to enlarge

Fenimore Art Museum/Tasha Tudor

I was excited as we pulled into

the driveway of the Fenimore Art Museum.

For weeks now, Tasha Tudor's

"Around the Year" exhibit  had been on my mind

as one of the first things to do on our vacation

in Cooperstown New York.

The last visit to the museum, was to see

Grandma Moses's primitive art.

The museum is the former home

of  James Fenimore Cooper, a popular

American writer of the l9th century.

I was politely warned not to take

photos after taking this....

painting of Tasha's daughter.

Tasha's Around the Year illustrated  the

changing seasons and special annual celebrations

with examples of Tasha Tudor's original art

for greeting cards, children's books, and holidays.

Let me just say, to be there, and see her work

up close and personal, warmed my heart.

Our hostess shared  sweet stories with us

 and other information that completed our visit.

Taken without flash, I managed

a photo of an upstairs window .......

and a beautiful museum chandelier.

The following photos were taken as we

walked the grounds of the museum......

absolutely gorgeous! 

beautiful fall leaves.......

A pathway leads to lovely white gazebo

overlooking the Otsego Lake.

Some of the larger trees had

dropped their leaves......smaller

trees were at their peak, displaying

gorgeous colors. 

I'm glad you stopped by.....

have a sweet ole' day.  Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

Fall Images In Cooperstown

Our road trip took us

cross country to

Cooperstown, New York.

All along the way we were 

blessed with seeing God's amazing  handy work.

The fall spectacular, beginning

in South Carolina grew with intensity

the further north we drove.

I took hundreds of photos, many

I will post over the next few days.....

beginning here, in downtown Cooperstown.

Our first day was glorious, having perfect

fall weather for our walk downtown.

A traditional breakfast at the 

ever popular Doubleday restaurant,

met with our expectations.....great social

place and the food is great!

If you've been to this beautiful city,

you know of the Baseball Hall of Fame.....

and  indications of this favorite sport

is everywhere.

My camera, however, was more

focused on pumpkins and the potted mums.

I loved this little composition, wanting to

scoop up lasting memories of walking in

pretty leaves that matched the orange 

pumpkins placed all along the sidewalk.

Took my breath away.....

Glad you stopped by today.....Dee Dee

My Bird Art

You might say that I'm a

"bird watcher."

 Florida's Gulf Coast is

sanctuary to many different 

kinds of birds. I'm drawn to

these beautiful Great White Egrets and

Gorgeous Blue Herons....

so it is not surprising to my family

and friends that I photograph,

paint and draw them.

They are such remarkable creatures.

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

Crotons

The Crotons are so beautiful

in our garden.....and we've got

quite the variety.

These particular ones are

growing beneath our large

white Bird of Paradise plants,

almost hidden from our view.

It took quite the effort for

a few photos and I love the

morning sun barely nipping

the leaves......

Finger Crotons growing in our front yard.

We've noticed these beautiful plants

all over our area......  thriving

 in so many gardens and landscaping.

 As is usual this time of year, they remind me

of the colors of  fall.

Have a blessed week, everyone!  Dee Dee

Bright Moments

Trust that any unclear moments

will bring you to that moment of

clarity and action when you are

known by God and know Him.

These are better and brighter

moments of His blessing.

~Whispers Of Blessings

Have a wonderful Lord's Day!  Dee Dee

Autumn

It will stay on my front door 

from now through Thanksgiving.....

 

 

Living in Florida, where the trees

are mostly Palms and Live Oaks...

we don't have the "change of season"

spectacular leaf colors in the fall. 

So, we over compensate, I suppose,

in other ways.

 

I'm liking this

sweet ole' sunflower door

ornament.

"Autumn Greetings!"

 

Have a blessed day....  Dee Dee

Ancient Dragon Or Tiny Dinosaur

On close examination,

I find lurking in our cottage

 garden shrubs,

 

 reptilians that are somewhat like

 "ancient dragons" or "small dinosaurs."

 

In actuality, they're just 

lizards.....

 

that laze around in the

Florida sunshine.

I find them fascinating creatures.....

and interesting subjects to photograph.

 

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Blue Bunny

Blue Bunny happily rolled around

the locker basket

on his well-worn wheels. 

"I hear the most wonderful sound

in the whole wide world!" he squealed.

Through the years he had been

 well loved by

four small children.

He had been on the toy shelf

for three years now, tossed

aside by the young boy,

for trains and cars

that had fancy whistles

and bells.

Today, his bunny ears were twitching,

and his little blue wooden heart was

remembering an all familar sound.....

New baby cries

 were once

again coming from the nursery.

 

Have a beautiful day!  Dee Dee

 

October Interlude

 

Fall's handiwork is showing.

 

Bless the Lord, my soul; do not

forget all the gifts of God. Psalm l03:2

 

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone. Dee Dee

Goudge

 

She realized with deep respect that

this woman had always done what

she had to do and faced what she had

to face.  If many of her fears and

burdens would have seemed unreal to

another woman, there was nothing

unreal about her courage.

~Elizabeth Goudge, The Scent of Water

 

A writer and her work,

greatly admired by me.

 

Sweet blessings today....Dee Dee

It's That Time Of Year!

 

Have you had one of these yet?

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

was the talk of the nail solon....

Chrissie, on a strict diet, suggested

they were allowed.

"Ask for the lite" .....and so I did.

"Delicious, my mind screamed,"

as I took my first sip.

 

Have a sweet ole' fall day.....Dee Dee

photo borrowed  from Google images

 

Think On This

 

Satisfaction and joy must be found

in our Creator and His purpose for

our lives.  Every man, woman and

child is unique, for we come from

one magnificent source.

 

May the good Lord bless and

keep you......Dee Dee

 

Ocean Life

Walking in the surf is a

fun thing to do and with little

effort treasures can be found.

 

 

One never knows what sort

of ocean life they 

might see or even step on.

On this day, the ocean was

more active than ever

producing high waves,  while

dumping all sorts of

interesting items on the shore.

 

I'm hoping for sunshine this

weekend.  I just might watch

the Mister do a little

saltwater fishing in the Gulf waters.

 

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone!  Dee Dee

 

Fading Flowers

Just a week ago I brought

fall colored Mums home with me.....

 

 

I had "fall fever" I suppose,

and just maybe I rushed the

season a little.

 

But the flower nurseries all over

the area had tables ladened with

beautiful fall flowers.....

 

I took photos and proudly

displayed them on my blog.

You might recall....

 

Hovering over them like an

"old mother hen" I've tried

 to keep the Mums alive.

 

Seems  the natural forces are

working against me.  Temps here

on Florida's Gulf Coast still

remain in the high 80s and low 90s.

 

 

"Hang in there sweet Mums, cooler

weather is surely on the way."

 

Have a beautiful day, everyone!  Dee Dee