Merrry Christmas!

Christmas Collage Sheet #2 for You!

Here is the second collage sheet. Have fun with it! Have a great Christmas Eve!

A Christmas Collage Sheet for You!

Today and tomorrow I am posting a collage sheet for all of you. I am printing these on card stock and cutting them out and using them as place cards at my table this year. I hope you find something creative to do with them!

A Christmas Thought - Card

Just two more days till Christmas. Can you believe it? I made it to the mountains yesterday. Saw a couple of the boys last night for dinner. It was so good to see them.

It is wet with some snow on the ground. Today I move into the cabin I have rented for a week. I am so excited. After I unpack my car it is off to the grocery store. Then once my new nest is set up I am going to be lost to the outside world for the next week or so. I have brought lots of art supplies and plan on using them. Hope you are all finishing up your last minute preparations.

Merry Christmas Postcard #7

Sunset on the Island - Digital Photograph

A good sunset is worth a million words. I walked out from dinner night before last and this is what awaited me. It was one of those total jaw droppers. I love the reds and pinks. I used the new fish eye app frome my iphone for this one. Hope you are all enjoying wonderful sunsets!

Happy Christmas Postcard #6

Holiday Madness

This is the Christmas tree when you first get to the island where I have been staying. I am so sorry for not posting since I got here. The house where I am staying has internet it just does not have enough juice to let me upload photographs or publish a post.

I am a little leary of going to Starbucks or McDonalds to upload. I am not sure what information they retain on those public sites. I am posting a bunch of beach things tonight. I hope you enjoy them. I have been walking on the beach everyday it hasn't been raining, eating great food, visiting with wonderful friends and their family, shopping with girlfriends for our families, and reading lots of books. I had to put off reading while packing, sorting, and moving.

Journaling is about the only art I have done the past few weeks. Of course, I have been taking pictures like a mad woman. My five year old phone died and I replaced it with the new iphone and every camera app I could find. A new world...

I am hoping everyone is shopped and wrapped, decorated and starting their cooking. I am off to the mountains for a week or so to see my boys. A good time and good food is planned by all. Snow is expected!

ps the tree was photographed with my iphone

Merry Christmas Postcard #5

Beach Food - Lunch

Thought I would share one of my favorite lunches here at the beach with you. This is fresh Tuna with roasted vegetables and a fresh salad. Love the blue cheese crumbles. One of the perks of living here is not just the Pelicans get to eat fresh fish!

Good Wishes Christmas Postcard #4

Pelicans

"Sitting on the dock in the bay."

This fellow and some of his friends are not very shy and tolerate me taking pictures of them. Pelicans are such big odd looking birds. Of course this time of year without all the tourists and the migration of so many types of birds, you really notice the Pelican.


This is a group of Brown Pelicans and King Pelicans hanging out behind my new favorite fish shop. I like to come watch them during low tide. The pelican on the lower right has just caught some large squidy looking thing.

Pelicans are something you just sort of take for granted here at the beach. They cruise by in groups of five to nine flying low over the water looking for food. Then all of a sudden one will dive into the water and come up with a fish. Swallow it down with a gulp or two and then fly off to join his friends. They are quiet birds for being so big. They are also protected birds under the wildlife act.

Here at the beach where I am staying someone has been killing them in large numbers. As many as 20 to 60 have been discovered in the past few weeks. It is so sickening. I will never understand the mentality of these people. Harming such magnificent creatures. I am hoping they find these people, quickly. Meanwhile, I am enjoying watching them and learning more about them.

Merry Christmas Postcard #3

Walking on the Beach

The view every morning as I get to the beach. The moment I hit the dune I start to relax.

Most mornings and afternoons it is just me and the birds. The first few weeks I shared the stroll with a couple of pods of dolphins. They made lots of noise and would fight the birds for fish.

These were pretty scary stairs to go up and down to the beach. However this flock of northern Blackbirds hung out here for almost two weeks. They would get all excited as I approached. I think they were hoping I had food for them. Instead I just took there picture.

Here is one of the curious souls. He followed me, flew around me, would light on the stairs, and ended up almost letting me touch him. He is the one in the previous picture on top of the stairs.

This is the beach as the sun starts to go down. It is so early now for sunset. I miss the long summer afternoons.

The group of Northern Blackbirds waiting for my return.

Merry Christmas Postcard #2

Digital Photograph - The Loner

This is a most beautiful tree from the Wildlife Refuge. As I drove through the refuge I saw this tree with a large bird sitting in it. I stopped...took a picture...drove closer...stopped...took a picture this went on for some time till I arrived at the tree. I got out and started to take pictures of the tree and the bird. As I zoomed in on the bird I realized the rather large bird was not a Vulture but a large male Bald Eagle who was keeping an eye on me. He graciously allowed me to take several pictures before he flew off - screeching - to wow me with catching a fish.

I have submitted one of the photos to a photo contest or else I would share. Keep your fingers crossed that I get atleast a honorable mention. The background for this photograph I gleaned from DJ Pettitte. Thank you DJ.

Merry Christmas Postcard #1

A Look Through My Camera Lens...

swan refuge

Thought I would share a look through my camera with you. I took over 900 photographs yesterday. It was a day filled with Eastern North Carolina. I can not wait to go through them all and edit them so I can share them with you. It was an amazing day...

Digital Photograph - Afternoon Drive

Thought I would share a photograph of the sun starting to go down yesterday. As I headed for the coast and Pocosin Lake I noticed the beautiful sky through my windshield. What a magnificent sky!

On the Road Again...

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Mine was very relaxing and full of fabulous food. It is always so nice to come home to Mom and Dad and so sad to leave. Monday meant it was time to get on the road again. Time to head East for the ocean. Along the way I am going to try and stop at the Pocosin Lake Wildlife Refuge and see the migrating swans and geese. I have a couple of cards for my camera, fully charged batteries, and a full tank of gas.

Can't wait to get there. You might have experienced part of it yourself - the movie - The Notebook with James Gardner has a scene where young Jim Gardner takes his love out in a row boat to see the geese. There are hundreds of them. Well, that is where I am heading. I will check in later with pictures!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to pop in today to wish every one a Happy Thanksgiving. I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family, loved ones and good food. I hope your hearts are brimming over with happiness and things to be thankful for. I know mine is. Have a joyful day!
p.s. some turkeys for all of you!

Digital Photograph - I am Thankful for.....

We have a tradition in our family that as we sit down to feast at Thanksgiving we must say what we are thankful for. This year I have so many things to be thankful for. I have started early making my list. Talk about bringing your spirits up, try making a list of all you are thankful for. I think it will amaze you. One of the things on my list is the ability to go an enjoy all the beauty this state and country have to offer. We truly live in a wondrous place. I thought this morning I would share a picture of the Blue Ridge Mountains taken at Saddle Ridge. Enjoy!

Bird Watcher - Freebies

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I was able to spend some quality time with family. Makes for a relaxing time. Last night it got me thinking about how doing simply things with those you love can have such a lasting impact on those lives.

For example, my father has all of these bird feeders. They have been in the same spot for over thirty years. As some got older we would replace them or add another along with bird watcher books, binoculars, etc. A bird bath was added to the delight of all. We sit at the table or stand at the kitchen sink and watch the birds antics. We have seen generations of cardinals, finches, and chick a dee's. Hours of pleasure have been shared watching the birds.

This love and care of birds has been passed on. When I moved, I filled my feeders for the last time. Leaving the new owners some bird food in the garage and a note on the counter. My fingers crossed that they will continue feeding my birds. Yesterday, as I sat at my parent's kitchen table eating chocolate chip cookies with my nephews, one looked out the window and admired the extremely red cardinal eating at one of the feeders. Simple things shared and passed on...

Here are a few bird freebies for you to start out the week. I hope you will share something simple with someone you love this week!

Digital Photograph - Shelter

Home. Funny what that four letter word can mean. I made it to my parent's house safe and sound. Somewhat tired of the road, yet wanting to keep on searching for just one more shot. It feels so good to be here, surrounded by my parents love and all the things that make this a home.

Catching up on some much needed sleep, family news, and great conversations. Thought I would share another Blue Ridge or Skyline Drive picture with you. I am caling this one Shelter. The shelter of a mother, a tree, a home...

Journal Winner[s]

Yesterday I had BFF pick two numbers from one to thirty three. She was a little hestitant till I explained she was picking the journal winners. She picked our favorite number nine and then seventeen. I decided to give two away as it seems so sinful to just let them sit in a bag waiting to be worked on. They need homes! That means Ellie and Joanie B you have 24 hours to send me and email with your addresses. I think you will both love these journals. Thank you everyone for joining in the fun. I wish I had a journal for everyone.

Digital Photograph - On the Way Home

Thought I would share just one of the amazing landscape scenes I experienced yesterday. I think I photographed every barn and tree along the Blue Ridge Parkway I could find. Needless to say, it made for a long day and my hip began to scream at me. I have slept in today, I needed the rest. I am hoping to make it to Mom and Dad's before dark. It is dark and dreary and raining here. I am going to have to hit an antique store or two on the way home. Don't forget today is the last day to leave comments on my Journal post to win a journal.

Digital Photograph - The Ridge Line

Today I am on the Blue Ridge Parkway through North Carolina into Virginia. I am heading to my parents house in D.C. to spend a week or two with Mom and Dad. I am photographing my way there. I am not sure how long it will take me but the scenery is magnificent. Thought I would share the last photograph I took last night.

Encaustic Workshop - The Book

This is Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch's book. It is to be my handbook the next few weeks. It is very complete and full of explanations and pictures. I love what I have read so far. She said everything in the workshops was in the book. How could I not get it?

Encaustics

I can not say enough good things about the products of R&F. If you are into encaustics then this is the company to get your supplies from. They have definitely put quality at the top of their check list.
.These are called paint cakes. These are from R & F. This company has the best products for encaustics. The paint cakes come in so many luscious colors. I wanted them all and did restrain myself somewhat. The colors are very true. I can see how you can paint with them just as if you were using acrylic or watercolors, etc. The difference is that you have to keep the wax warm. It cools quickly with out the right set up.

The set up is called the palette. This is really cool I love how the heating unit is under the palette yet you can move it with out getting burned. This is a new design from R & F. They sold out of the palettes the first hour they were open. I finally convinced them to sell me one of the demo palettes the second day. [there were only four of them] Again they were 50% off and because it was used the demo had an additional few dollars taken off. I was in heaven. They are very expensive and I had decided if I was going to do this I was going to do it right.

This is a shot looking down on the paletter. The larger pan has the granules of "medium" melting in it. Medium is naturally refined beeswaxed premixed with Damar resin. How cool is that? No more mixing and measuring to get it right. This way it is right every time. The granules are cool cause you can scoop them out of the bag according to how much you want, instead of heving a block of wax you have to chip away at.

Another top shot of all of the luscious melted cakes of color. You can dilute the cakes with medium to get a more translucent color if you like. I enjoyed working with the cakes undiluted, but I think a little color goes a long way here.

Encaustics - Classroom Examples

All of these are classroom samples that Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch made for us. Each one is so different and represents one or two techniques that she showed us. Trish was an excellent teacher. Even after three straight days of demo's all day and teaching three evening classes, the girl had a smile and a sense of humor.

Trish packed a lot into her three hour workshops. I was amazed at how much I learned. It was really nice to just immerse myself in to one art medium. It was so much easier to stay focused. I can't wait to experiment with all the stuff I bought.