Play Ball!

Spending a sunny spring afternoon

in the Arizona desert

with

Scott...

my brother, Jack...and his wife, Sharon.

What fun!

The beer was icy cold, the sun was burning hot...

the company was terrific.

Add to that

the best hot dog I have had in a long time!

Yummy!

Cactus League spring training

really IS

all it is cracked up to be...

(sorry about the score, all you Sox fans out there.)

 

"A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." 

~Humphrey Bogart



Textures and Patterns...

decorating

 The Farm at South Mountain...

Phoenix Arizona.

Yes, this IS desert land...

ancient pecan groves...stone walls...

bricked courtyards...

soft feather like pines...

lush, thick flower beds...

earthy, sweet smelling root vegetables...

roosters...

cacti, succulents, palms and all!

Ahhh...spring!  :)

 

"Yes, Virginia...there is a Spring..."

~ Me

For Joyce...

 

"When you get to the end of all the light

you know,

and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown,

faith

is knowing that one of two things will happen:

Either you will be given something

solid to stand on,

or,

you will be taught how to fly."

~Edward Teller

Painting by Albrecht Durer
"Wing of a n European Roller" (modified)
1512
Watercolor and Gouache on vellum


ARTzona 2014...

 Some artistic love IN...

and...some artistic love OUT...:)

Aaah!

Directly above are the

ATC (Artist Trading Cards) cards I traded at our ARTzona

artist retreat held last weekend in Mesa, Arizona.

40 artists

from all over the USA as well one gal from the United Kingdom

participated.

The cards at the very top are called "signature cards"

and they are given out

by each artist

as a way to get to know one another.

Notice the selection of hearts here...

I think this might

soon become a new collecting obsession

of mine.

I will definitely post the four pages of cards I received

in trade for my ATCs 

a later blogpost...:)

What a gloriously fun weekend

spent with some wonderfully talented artistic Muses...:)

 

"Often

the Muse will not respond

to direct and logical requests.

She must be lured in with the playful and gentle."

~Jill Badonsky

Happy NewYear's Eve...

...to each and every one.

"An optimist

stays up until midnight to see the new year in.

 A pessimist stays up to make sure

 the old year leaves."

~Bill Vaughan

Happy "91st" Mom...!

Simple things...

a homemade luncheon...

carrot cake...a candle...some apple fritters...

a 73 degree sunny, bright December Arizona day...

quality time spent together

laughing...talking...remembering...sharing...

 the love of family...

What lovely birthday presents, indeed...;)

xoxoxo

"Your birthday

is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world."

~Author Unknown

A Bit of a Holiday Kick-Off...

...spent with my family

celebrating the beginning of the Christmas season

 Arizona desert style...;)

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"

 ~Albert Einstein

Oh! How Long My List...!



"Autumn is the perfect time

to take account of what we've done,

what we didn't do,

and

what we'd like to do next year."

~Author Unknown

The Flutter of an Angel's Wings...

Heaven holds one more angel tonight...my dearest aunt Gretchen.

Knowing her made one feel blessed.

Sending thoughts of peace and love to my uncle Skip

and

their beautiful family.

"May we live in peace without weeping.

May our joy outline the lives we touch without ceasing.

And may our love fill the world,

angel wings tenderly beating.”

~An Irish Blessing

Happy Father's Day...

...to the man I have been in love with

for over 65 years...:)

"I love my father
as the stars...he's a bright shining example
and
a happy twinkling in my heart."
~Terri Guillemets