Can't Even Imagine...Send Prayers...

Can you imagine if this was your home? This is the scene all up and down North Carolina. Raleigh - my old hometown - was viciously struck yesterday by a tornado. 62 tornado's hit North Carolina yesterday leaving as many as 23 dead. My heart is crying.[photo by j bounds]

Trees and debris are everywhere. I found myself texting and calling friends and family most of the evening. Luckily they are all okay. However, so many people have just had their lives turned upside down in the matter of minutes. Can you imagine getting this tree off your truck or car and you yard?

Please pray for the family and friends who have lost loved ones. They not only have to deal with no power, no homes, but the loss of those that meant everything to them. Things can always be cleaned up, fixed or replaced. Nothing can ever fill the void when we lose someone we love.

This was a Lowe's Home store. You can imagine on a Spring afternoon how busy they were. The manager saved everyone - the customers and the employees. He gathered everyone to the back of the store. Angels all around us. The roof was blown off and much of the store collapsed. Many of the cars in the parking lot were overturned and thrown around. Everyone made it out alive!

Thousands are without power. It will take days to clear the trees, debris, and restring the power lines. We went through this when Hurricane Fran hit the city. It was several weeks till we had power. School's will be closed, people will be hurt cleaning up the mess. Yet neighbors will bond, random acts of kindness will come. Life will go on.

All through the South the same scenario is being played out. The devastation is everywhere. Here in Virginia yesterday was a day of bad weather, tornado's and three dead. These huge weather events are extremely scary. Please send out prayers for all of those dealing with the aftermath. They are much needed. Thank you!

Digital Photograph - The Rose Colored Handle

I found this beautiful door handle down in the historic section of Petersburg Virginia. At a desserted building. I loved the rose color of the glass knob. I used the crackle texture in today's texture selection. Enjoy the possibilities of today!

Saturday Textures #7

Some lovely crackle texture from an old door.

Metal grate along a historical building

A rusty mailbox

A painted wall

A plaster column

This week I chose some textures from my little adventure in Petersburg. What a lovely city. I really like all the rehabs of the old buildings and warehouses. They had some nice shops and I found some really nice resturants. If you are ever near, stop off for a visual treat. You will not be disappointed.

Digital Photograph - Justice

I spent last weekend in Petersburg Virginia. I took this photograph on Saturday of the courthouse. On Wednesday as I watched the Ken Burns Civil War epic I spotted this same courthouse. The path up to it was all dirt. The buildings on either side had seen some damage, an of course there were no trees. Yet,it was the same proud building. Justice the figure on top was added after the war.

Mom's Easy Chicken Pot Pie

My Mom and I have been cooking again. My Dad is in heaven. We enjoy trying old and new recipes out. We look for things that taste good, easy to fix, and make a good meal. Comfort food keeps rearing it's head. We made this the other night. I thought I would share it with ya'll.

This recipe is very easy. After you make it you will be inspired to substitute all sort of different things you have on hand. Once we had put our pie in the oven both Mom and I came up with several variations. I think you will really enjoy this. Kids could help with this. I think fresh tomatoes would be yummy with this pie.

Mom's Easy Chicken Pot Pie

1 2/3 cups frozen and thawed mixed vegetables

1 cup of cooked cup up chicken - bite size bites

1 can [10 3/4 ounce] condensed Cream of Chicen soup

1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper

1 cup Bisquick

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl mix the vegetables, chicken, soup, salt and pepper.

Pour into a deep sided glass pie plate or a square casserole dish the vegetable mixture. [Anything around 9" round pie plate or a 8" square casserole.]

In a smaller bowl mix the egg, milk and bisquick. Mix well. Pour mixture on top of vegetable mixture. Spread over entire top.

Place in oven, bake till golden brown.

About 30 minutes. Serves 6.

The Civil War Week

On April 12th of this week the United States had the 150 year anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. All over the South there have been remembrances. Here in Washington DC there are no less than 12 different exhibits in the Smithsonian. A lot to see and take in.

I have been watching Ken Burns epic on the Civil War with my parents every night. It is one of the best series I have ever seen. It is so real you can almost smell the gunpowder and hear the men's cries. Such a moving experience. These simple men, farmers, grocers, carpenters wrote home so eloquently. It brought tears to my eyes.

So. that is where I have been all week. Immersing myself in a lot of history. I have visited most of the Civil War battlefields. My parents would take my brother and I when we were kids. When my boys were old enough I began to take them. Some are breathe taking. Others just small little memorials of another time. The writer, Shelby Foote brings them alve in his books.

In my travels lately I have been visiting some of the battlefields and many of the cities that these battles took place in. They look so much different when you see them from an adult point of view. In many you can not see hardly a trace. In others they bare their scars well. I have enjoyed myself so much...yet have this deep sadness when I see the photographs of some of these soldiers. A war we should never forget. A war to learn somthing from.

Freebies ...Civil War Soldiers

Two young Confederate soldiers. They barely look like they can shave to me. Oh I am so glad my boys missed this war.

Father's and sons, brothers and brothers, cousins, all fighting in the same war. Sometimes on opposite sides. Many families lost all their menfolk. Some towns all their young men. A world of sadness.

Union brothers

After almost two years of war, African Americans were allowed to officially fight. Many of these were free blacks from the North. All were proud. At the end of the war they were given equal pay and fought along with the Union soldiers as one.

Here are a small sampling of soldiers from both sides. There is a fantastic exhibit at the National Archives of the faces of the Civil War. Here are some of those faces. They all look so proud. I am always amazed at how many died. The appalling stories of their battles, their endurance and sense of right.

Freebies...Those left behind

Southern sisters

Northern Sisters

Young girl with portrait of her father

Young African American Family

There is always someone left behind in times of war. Young children, wives, now a days, husbands. Not just the soldier goes to war, but his family. So many casualties. I think about the men and women out their fighting right now in foreign lands. Thank you and thank you to your families.

A Good Read...

In keeping with my immersal with the Civil War this week, I borrowed The Union Quilters from my mother. It is a very quick read and very accurate with it's facts. I enjoyed the read immensely. Warning - all of her books make you want to quilt. It is one of Jennifer Chiaverini's most heart touching books. This series is best read in order to get the full impact of each book. Ms.Chiaverini's view point of the Civil War and it's impact on the North is right on target. The women of the North were able to form Sanitary Commissions to get food, clothes, blankets, medicine to their men. The South was too poor and devestated to be able to do this. Everyone suffered because of this. I have enjoyed reading this book. I love the central theme of women getting together, quilting, and working on local and national problems. Everyone and their opinions are respected. Their art and love is expressed through their quilt blocks. Many of the patterns we use today were made up during this time period. So if you want a good read pick up this book...

Two women reading letters from the front.

Postage Stamp Collage Sheet

A little collage sheet of postage stamps from Heroes of the Civil War.

Digital Photograph - Windblown Barn

Driving through Tennessee I spotted this barn sitting way up on a hill. I quickly got off the highway and found it. It has seen some weather. If this barn could talk I wonder what stories it could tell.

Signs along the way...

Yes! The Piggly Wiggley is alive and well in the South. For those of you in other parts of the country and world, it is a Southern grocery chain store. This is one of the older signs.

Saw this on the back of a public bus in Alabama. Love the stencil of James Bond for the bail bonding company!

This resturant sign pretty much says it all in three little letters. This was taken with my iphone.

All over the south, particularly South Carolina an Alabama you see these huge fireworks stores off the Interstates. They are almost blinding when the sun hits them with all their glitter and glam.

Thought ya'll might enjoy some of the signs I am seeing along the journey. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Saturday Textures #6

Some lovely textures for you. I found these earlier in the week at the Medical Park Garage near the local hospital here. I figured while my friend was in with the doctor I would make good use of my time. Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend!

Sibling Freebies

Love this picture. It has so much energy. Each of the kids personality just shines.

Everyone all dressed up and ready to roll. The two older girls look like twins. Love their velvet dresses.

These two little boys make me want to take them for an ice cream cone. They look so serious. I love that look they have on their faces. Can't decide to be serious or be cool.

Love the strange head gear on these two. They look like they could get into some serious trouble.

I think these two are my favorite. The Rabbit fur coat is so cute with the little matching bonnet. She looks so intent. The carriage and the little on in it is lovely.

Here are this weeks freebies. I have been thinking alot about brothers and sisters. Those relationships can mean different things to people. They can form who you are and how you see the world. I am so thankful for my brother and sister. I do not get to see them enough, but they are always in my heart.

Sometimes a brother or sister can be someone outside your biological family. I have several friends that I feel like are sisters. I certainly share myself with them as if they were. I think today we should remember all the good things about our siblings that we can and maybe let them know how thankful we are for the shared memories. Enjoy these sibling photographs!

Cotton Candy...woops I mean Cherry Blossoms

Blossoms everywhere

A single delicate blossom

Standing under the tree

It is quite a sight here. The Cherry trees are so full of blossoms. It is truly a wonderous event. The air is full of the aroma. These are pictures from my friends trees. Standing under them is amazing. It makes me all giddy and happy.

On the Road Again...

The terrible storms we had yesterday have passed here in the south. I leave today on another road trip. I am so looking forward to seeing my kids, family, and friends. I start seriously house hunting this month, also. I can not wait to see what lies ahead...

Saturday Textures #5

Here are a few textures from this week. It was a long week. The friend I am staying with has had some serious health issues this week. Unable to drive, I have been her chauffeur. These are from the eye doctors office. Seing someone else struggling with their health makes you value your own. It was a week of not taking anything for granted. Hope you can find a place for these in your art. Enjoy the day!

If You Are Ever in Georgia...

If you are ever in Georgia try to go to Athens. Besides being a great football town with a very nice University, nice restaurants, lots of southern ambiance there is a great Cowboy Boot outlet there. Everybody needs a pair or two of cowboy boots. Some days you just need the attitude that goes along with wearing a pair.

At Christmas I had treated myself to a couple of pairs - red flames and a cute inlaid butterfly pair - from a great shop in Western North Carolina. I was still looking for an everyday pair of black cowboy boots. As I drove into Athens to meet an old friend I remembered the outlet. Hundreds and hundreds of pairs of boots. Made a quick detour and found cowboy boot heaven. Thought these would go nicely with my new turqoise necklace from my mother.