William Bouguereau - Freebies

One of is most recognized paintings.

One of his favorite models.

My favorite little one.

Love the flowers around her head. Stunning contrast to her clothes.

Sisters

Thought I would start out the week with some William Bouguereau paintings. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. He was a French painter. His family owned olives and wine. It was thought he would follow but his passion was painting. He was thought to be the best in his lifetime. He married an English girl and had five children. He showed his work in the Academy. He loved to paint his children and their friends. He was sought after and had an extremely lucrative painting business. He was quite prolific, painting over 800 known paintings. I can see the joy in his paintings. He was quoted as saying that he loved to wake up and know he was going to spend the day in his studio. He went to bed happy knowing he would be in his studio the next day. To me, that is happiness. I am off to the Paul Gauguin exhibit in D.C., weather permitting.

Digital Photographs...Doors, Windows, oh my...

Dr. Pepper Building

Dr. Pepper Door

Dr. Pepper Window

Thought I would share a few photographs I took of this cool Dr Pepper bottling and storage building I found in the mountains of North Carolina.

I love the first picture. Please enlarge it and check out the top two windows.

The second photograph of the door makes me wonder how many workers came in and out. Getting Dr. Pepper to all the little mountain stores must have been a real mission.

The last photo of all the left over bottles piled high in the window. Just a memory of what once must have been a bustling place. I love these places. So rich in history, yet just sitting there waiting...

Digital Photograph - The River

The River

I am rambling through the North Carolina mountains on my way to Virginia. I am on my way home to see my Mother and Father. I ran across this river on my way yesterday. It was so quiet and peaceful. How nice it would be to live along a river...

George Washington Images...

As a great statesman

Crossing the Delaware

Before the battle of Trenton

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Portrait by Gilbert Stuart

George resigning his commission

A young George

George Washington did not have the luxury of being photographed like Presidents do today. Our Presidents are recorded by film, digital photographs, cameras everywhere. George Washington was recorded with paint and canvas. Here are some of those portraits. Many are portraits at various ages, the others tell of the things he accomplished in his life.

I have always admired George Washington. Seeing the Washington monument, visiting his home - Mount Vernon, spending so much time in Washington DC definitely gives you insight into the man. I plan on celebrating with a piece of cherry pie or maybe some Cherry Dump Cake.

Cherry Dump Cake

A little cake that is so easy you could probably do it in your sleep. I think this is a great dessert to make with kids. The best part is it is delicious. So, in honor of George Washington - here it is Cherry Dump Cake....

Cherry Dump Cake

2 cans of Cherry Pie filling

1 yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Take a 13"by 9" rectangle baking pan.

Open the two cans of cherries and pour them in the bottom of the pan.

Make sure you smooth them out to cover the entire pan.

Open the cake mix and pour on top of cherries.

Smooth out the lumps and spread over the cherries.

Melt the stick of butter and pour over the top.

Cook for 1 hour.

Serve warm.

Variations - you can use a can of crushed pineapple and a can of cherries. Top with nuts of your choice. I have heard of people who use two sticks of butter. Use what you think is best. I also love this recipe with apples or peaches instead of cherries. I serve this with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

George Washington Collage Sheet

Here is a little collage sheet filled with postal images of George Washington, enjoy!

[The money image is from Wikipedia.]

Happy President's Day

George Washington

The third Monday in February in the United States is designated President's Day. We celebrate our first President - George Washington. His legacy is our wonderful nation, our constitution, the foundation of the country. I am going to enjoy the day, my freedom, and head to Washington DC today. Hope you all have a great day.

Wall Textures for You

Here are a few textures from that lovely wall I found. I am thinking they wil be fun to play with.

Digital Photograph...The Wall

Spring Flowers on the Way...

Guess what I found this morning on my walk? Yes, these bulbs coming up. I could hardly believe my eyes! background by dj pettitt, thank you.

Road Maps...Freebies

Alabama and Georgia

North and South Dakota

California

New York Area

Montana,Idaho and Wyoming

I thought these vintage road maps might be fun for freebies this week. I use to buy them for ten cents to a quarter. I am now seeing them in antique stores for $5.00 and more. They are beautifully rendered. I especially like the covers. Keep an eye out for them. They are great to use as backgrounds. Hope you enjoy.

On the Road....Again...

I am on the road again. I spent several days in Charlotte North Carolina visiting family this past week. No internet. One of my boys had to have some oral surgery. He needed his Mom to take care of him. Why is it no matter how old we get it is great to have our Mom there nursing us back to normal? Let's just say I doled out a lot of medicine, made ice packs, moist heat compresses, and cooked "soft" food and gave out "clear" liquids. All is well now.

I left yesterday for the Mountains of North Carolina to see a couple of my other boys. The weather has been so spring like. Last time I was in the mountains there was lots of snow.

A Southern Building...

A Mercantile building I ran across,located in the center of a small mill town.

The side of the same building. It has several different styles of handmade bricks. The deep orangey-red is the clay you find all over North Carolina. They were all handmade with wooden forms. I find it to be quite amazing. You can sort of see the growth of the town through the brick. Once again it is being remodeled.

Last Sunday as I meandered down to the beach I stopped in this little mill town outside of Greensboro North Carolina for gas. I took a moment to enjoy the nice weather, blue skies, and decided to explore the Historical section. Lots of renovations being done. Definitely a good sign and good for the local economy. Here is one of the buildings I found quite fascinating. Hope you will also.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A little Valentine's Card for everyone. Hope ya'll have a wonderful day filled with love, friends, family, and a little sweetness.

Flowers for You....Happy Valentine's Day

A couple of roses for you.

This would make a lovely card or nameplate.

These remind me of mountain roses.

These are beautiful red roses!

Everyone needs a little purple in their life.

Digital Photograph - Worn and Forgotten

I want to stop and take pictures of every building, home, and barn I see. It could take days to get where I need to be. This is the Mill Office of what use to be one of the largest manufacturer of socks in the United States.

On the Road....again

The Tower

I am off this weekend on another trip through Northern Alabama,Tennessee and Georgia. I am making my way back to North Carolina to see my boys, friends, and family. Here is one of the sights! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. [Picture taken with my iphone.]

Digital Photograph using Texture Freebie - The Bridge

The Bridge

Some Textures for You...

Here are three textures for you. They are from this fabulous electric box I spotted driving down the backroads of Northern Alabama. Hope you can find a use for these in your art work. I love the color combinations with the rust. Be still my heart!

Friends Freebies

Friendship can start where you work or go to school.

Friendship can start over common interests.

Friendship can start with common beliefs.

Friendship can be shared with other friends.

Good friends should be cherished. Friendships nourished.



After reading Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral I thought my freebies this week should celebrate Friends. I hope you all will enjoy these. Do not forget to take a moment and call, write a note or just celebrate a friend this weekend.

Book Recommendation....

I happened to pick this book up at one of the many Thrift shops here in the Huntsville Alabama area. [I can not believe how many they have.] It is called Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. I could not book the book down. It made me laugh, cry, nod my head in agreement.

The story line is a death of a close friend. She asks her four closest friends and her hospice nurse to take two weeks off and scatter her ashes around the country in places that are meaningful to her.

The friends learn alot about their friend, each other and the journey of their lives. It makes you take a second look at your own life, your family, and friendships. I wanted to start planning my fabulous traveling funeral.

It is a story that will change your life. It is a great read. I came away with a better idea of self, a great appreciation for my family and friends. I hope you will enjoy it.