Happy Memorial Day & Some Freebies...

Happy Memorial Day to all. This holiday started out as a day to put flags on the graves of those who fought in the Civil War. A day to remember those who so galantly lost their lives for what they believed in. A day to be thankful that we are reunited. After the World Wars, families began to include their loved ones graves with flags. In 1971 it became an official holiday to remember all that have given their lives for our freedom.

I would like to thank all of the families who have lost a loved one serving our country, fighting for our freedom. I also want to thank all of the families who have loved ones in the sevice, retired or active. Thank you for you and your families sacrifice. My family really appreciates it.

An Angel for You...Digital Photograph

This is Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward Angel. I like to go by this mountain cemetery and take pictures when I am close by. She had a rough winter. Her star and arm received some damage some how. I am hoping it is just a weather problem. I guess we are all having weather problems. No where to hide from all of these tornadoes.

I thought I would give everyone this photograph to use in their art work. Please try to remember all of those victims and their loved ones dealing with all of these tragedies and loss of their buisnesses and homes. Little prayers and blessings are definitely needed.

A Few Days in the Mountains...

A beautiful view is around every corner in the mountains.

I stopped here to eat lunch and stretch my legs.

A dam at one of the many lakes in the mountains of North Carolina.

This North Carolina waterfall is called Dry Falls.

The view from about half way down the waterfall.

The Mountains are where I like to go to renew my soul in the summer time. The light is so beautiful. The sounds of the birds and running water is everywhere. For me that is instant relaxation. It is definitely a place to realize just how small you are and what a vast place the world still is. I am always amazed that there are roads, train tracks, and bridges. Tunnels through mountains. Wow! The effort it must have taken. I hope you enjoy these. That they bring you peace when you see them. [I was so proud that I was able to hike all the way from the top to the bottom of the waterfall.]

Digital Photograph - The Grey Ghost

I spotted this beauty way back in a meadow. Luckily the owners were not far and they let me trek in to take a few pictures. The large dead pines to the right were huge. All over the mountains of North Carolina they are dying from the carbon emissions from factories in Canada. The enviroment is truly a global problem. Problems or not, I did enjoy discovering this beautiful barn. They make me happy!

Saturday Textures #13

Here are some new textures for you to use in your art courtesy of my iphone. I am getting them out a little late this week. I have left Tennessee and am in Alabama now. The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee were beautiful. I will have some cool photographs shortly. Hope everyone is having a safe, enjoyable weekend.

Beautiful Roses...French Postcards

My very favorite French Postcard model

An older version of the same girl

Isn't she just precious and the roses are beautiful!

Oh so elegant!

What a beautiful Rose!

Thought I would include these beautiful young ladies in today's post. Each and everyone is so beautiful. I love seeing the antique roses. There is just something about getting flowers that is so wonderful. I hope you all enjoy the day.

Wild Roses...Digital Photograph

Everything is Coming up Roses...Freebies

Some antique rose prints I found along the way. The quality is not great, but they are still beautiful to me. I love Roses. They are all so different, yet each and everyone so beautiful. I love the fragrance of roses. My Mother always cuts them and brings them inside, another friend has small bouquets around her house. They always make everything look so elegant.

One year for Mother's Day my boys each gave me a Rose bush and we planted them. They gave me so much pleasure.[both the boys and the roses] So today, as corny as it may sound, take a moment and stop to smell the roses. You might be surprised...

The Old Plough...Digital Photograph

Along the back roads yesterday I ran across this old shed with this old plough in it. I love the wheels on them. I would love to have a house with high ceilings that I could hang them on. A sculptural wall hanging of sorts. Then everyday I would walk by them and admire them and remember what work they use to do.

Old Grey...Digital Photograph

Beautiful day. As I came up over a hill there she was - the old grey house. Sitting empty, watching from the hill, a new more modern world.

Queen Anne's Lace...Digital Photograph

Thought I would share this photograph I took a couple of days ago of some Queen Anne's Lace. I used the screen texture from last week on top of one of this week's textures. I then added some French text and then laid the photograph on top. Hope this will inspire you to use some of the textures.

Saturday Textures #12

This week I am sharing some textures I took at a hotel I stayed at recently. I took these textures with my iphone. I used a camera with different filters. It is the TIV camera. I like this camera for textures. I hope you enjoy these and are able to use them in your art work.

On the Road ...Again...

I am on the road again after a lovely stay in and around Charlotte North Carolina. I am off to the mountains, then to Virginia, through Tennessee and to visit Alabama. I have several photo cards for my camera and some fresh batteries so I am all set. Can't wait to explore some... Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Digital Journal Page...It took me a long time...

This is one of the hardest things not to do to yourself. Look down deep inside and figure out who you are, who you want to be, and how to accomplish this. Life will be so much happier. I am still working on the who I want to be... I am happy trying to figure it all out...

#19 and the Red Doors...Digital Photograph

The red doors

These are my favorite doors from this weekend. This old building served many people in many ways. The past few years it was a church. A small church. The doors have seen a lot of things pass through it's threshhold. I love the red and the way they sag from all the memories.

The Rose...Digital Photograph

This antique climbing rose I found on a driveway on the way to an 1890's farmhouse. You often see them in cemeteries and along roadways. They are so small yet sweet and fragrant. These are one of the little things that make life wonderful when you stumble across them.

The Silo...Digital Photograph

This past weekend I went house hunting. I have been looking at farms on the side. I would like some chickens and maybe more. Trying to decide if I am up for the challenge. This was one of the places I visited. I have been fascinated with silos lately. The large bird followed me from building to building. I think she had a nest in the equipment barn.

Kodak Moments...Freebies

Isn't she simply wonderful? One of my favorites.

Simple and easy camera to use. I have several of these. They came in different sizes.

They really knew how to market. At one point they had cameras for only a dollar.

This camera reminds me of a pinhole camera. Same type of results. I have seen several purses made out of these cameras.

Darling ad. I love how they have set everything up. I only wish my boys would sit that still.

This is a fun camera to have on display. It is very cute.

Two friends off to have an adventure. Love their hats!

This week my freebies are a bit late. With blogger doing their maintenance it has been hard to post. Again I am sorry for any comments that were lost and any I did not respond to. I decided this week to give you some camera freebies. I have been taking lots of pictures lately. Also, I stumbled across a couple of old cameras to add to my camera collection Friday night.

I have had a thing for old cameras for years. My third son and I would look for them whenever we were out antiquing, yard saling, or flea marketing. We would pick them up for a dollar or less. Through the years we have probably accumulated close to 50 or 60 of them. When we moved to the beach we started on old movie cameras.

The leap to ad's and paper ephemera was not far behind. Kodak was a genius in advertising. I love how they targeted women to sell their cameras. Very smart. These are just a small smorgasboard of ad's for you. All of them are 1922 and before. Enjoy!

Saturday's Textures #11

All of these textures came from a Cones Mill Plant that use to make corduroy. It was the biggest plant to make corduroy in the United States. It is now shut down and developers are arguing over a price so they can convert it into condos, shops, and resturants. At least that is what their security guard told me.

As I was shooting photographs through the fence, I heard from behind me "Can I help you with something?" I turned and said "no I am just taking some pictures, I am an urban artist." He sort of shook his head. I said "here look at some of my photographs." He looked, then unlocked the ten foot high gate and gave me a tour. Sometimes it is that simple.