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| Flora |
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| Rachel |
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| Georgianna |
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| Elizabeth |
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| Eliza Jane Thought I would do something frivolous this week for my freebies. I have a fondness for Currier & Ives prints. All of these were done before 1847. They give you the idea of what was in fashion and what was considered beautiful then. I am so glad we do not have to wear our hair like that any more. However, I do enjoy putting my hair up in a bun. I also would not mind some of the jewelry they wore back then. Just saying... |
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| new pup I would like to introduce you to the new pup - Stella Rose. She is a 10 week old Australian Shephard. My son and his girlfriend got her about two weeks ago. I went up last weekend bearing gifts - dog crate, honey, and apple butter - to meet her. She is adorable. So smart. She can sit and shake all ready.We took her to the park to swim and run off some energy. |
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| fearless swimmer This is her fifth or sixth time swimming. She is very good. There were several larger dogs there fetching and swimming Stella caught on real quick. |
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| taking a break with my friend Austin Sometimes it is nice to just sit and watch. Soak up a few rays and enjoy the perfect day. In a few months we will be wishing for days like this. |
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| great day at Trout Lake |
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| Trees dying from acid rain Last weekend I spent some time up around the Eastern Continental divide. It is beautiful up there in the mountains. I was fairly upset though when I started to see all of the effects of acid rain on our forests. Big huge trees dying or dead. This is a direct gift from our neighbors from the North. Power plants and factories spewing forth their wastes. This year I have noticed it more than others. It makes me weep. |
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| Trees starting to turn I spotted these trees starting to turn colors along a pond up in the mountains this weekend. Look at all the dead trees along the shore. Most of this is caused by acid rain. Out forests here in North Carolina are really taking a beating. I think we need international standards for monitoring power stations, factories, mines and refineries. We need to protect our planet. Clean air and water are essential. We need these trees to help cool the planet. They provide food, shelter and homes for many birds an animals. |
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| Red Barn In North Carolina Spotted this barn not too far from my house. It was a dreadfully hot day. You could feel the heat when you moved. One of those days that takes your breath away when you walk outside. It reminded me of barns I use to draw when I was a kid. The windows all different sizes... |
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| A Furry Watchguard |
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| This is happy Grafitti |
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| Love the bike and bright colors |
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| Like the bike
I am trying to get out and take some
pictures every week. I like to get up
really early before everyone starts
their day. The mountains have this
mist over them moving about. It
makes everything feel mysterious
and clean in a strange way. I
found these on the West side of
town near a bridge and railway
tressel. I like the happy colors
and the bike them they have going
for them. It looks like a place kids
would hang out on hot summer nights.
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| Joy |
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| My favorites |
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| They look so much alike. |
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| They are so sweet! |
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| Gorgeous! |
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| A Tennessee Red Barn
Spotted this scene outside of Nashville
on the way home from my sisters. I love
how they paint their barn doors white.
Just fell in love with the whole scene.
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| A Tennessee Creek Tennessee is such a pretty state. All sorts of things to see and do. I have spent most of August helping people move stuff - two of my boys and my sister. I have also been getting rid of a lot of my extra "stuff". The little break to my sisters was just what I needed. I miss the road. Although it feels so good to be nesting. |
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| Birds on a Wire
Stopping at a light in a small town in
Tennessee at the end of the day. I
looked up and low and behold saw
this flock of Starlings coming in to
roost at the four corners of this
intersection. What a sight!
I immediately pulled in to the corner
gas station and began to take pictures.
It was amazing. Of course everyone at
the light wondered what I was doing.
They began to honk their horns. The
birds would take off and fly back.
It was like a mini ballet.
Truly amazing. I then realized that
this was a sign that fall was about to
begin. Summer was ending. Beginnings
are nice...
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| Curing Tobacco
Thought I would share one of the sights you see all around the South. Curing tobacco in the barn. The barns are tall and narrow.
The tobacco leaves are wrapped on sticks
so that the leaf hangs down. There are
several leaves on a stick. The sticks
are then places in slots along the
inside of the barn or on a contraption
that looks like scaffolding.
This farmer is fire curing his crop.
The barn is wrapped in plastic to keep
the heat in and cure the tobacco. There
is a fire box or stove in the barn. It
can take from three days to several
weeks to cure the crop. You can see the
smoke and steam coming out of the top
of the barn. This method of curing
gives you low sugar and high nicotine.
This tobacco is used mainly for pipe
smoking, chewing tobacco and snuff.
These barns and the ritual of curing
your own are slowly falling away. I
find it all rather sad.
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A trio of birdhouse surrounded by ornamental grasses.
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Absolutely love this mailbox stand. The old cobbler's piece holding the mail box and then the three blue transformer pieces.
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Spotted this lovely along a winding road. I love that they painted the mail box with their house and barn, then stenciled the post with flowers.
Thought I would share some of the things I have been seeing along the road. Unfortunately, I have not been traveling very much this month/July. I have been unpacking, going through things, hanging pictures, making shelving, etc. I do try to get out some every couple of days, just because I need to clear my head. Soon I can think about some trips.
I do try to see my boys every week or so and a trip down to the river calms my soul. I hope you enjoy these pictures. I love the birdhouse one. The way they painted each house a different color. Very clever. The mailboxes are sweet. Now that I have a house I am hanging bird feeders, repainting my birdhouses and should probably think about personalizing my mailbox. Hmmm it might have to wait awhile.
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| Two beautiful sisters. Friends for life. |
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Wow I love the little dress. I think this is a baby boy because he has such a dark dress. I love the curlies in this chair.
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What darling twins! The blanket is great.
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I just want to squeeze them they look so cute.
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Her lace dress is exquisite and the chair is wonderful.
I have not blogged in a few weeks. I have been way busy with house, family, and friends. I have gotten through almost half of my boxes, hung some pictures, 3 out of 4 storage units emptied, dealt with various crisis, life keeps moving on.
I really have needed a break. A break from anything. So, blogging was the one thing I knew everyone would understand if I took a break from. I have really missed everyone. I have missed your comments and checking in on your blogs. Hope all are well, having a great summer, traveling and vacationing in cool places, re nourishing yourselves.
Here are some freebies for you. I just love these children. The love and care their mother's have given them is everywhere. From their beautiful clothes, to the way they have styled their hair, to the look in their eyes. Hope you can use them in your art or just enjoy them.
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| the gray barn
I ran across this beauty on the way to
have dinner up in the mountains with
my boys. I like to take the back roads.
They are so much more interesting.
I saw this sitting down in the back
of a little meadow. I headed right
for it. It was a big ole girl.
I love the yellow cross in the window.
I wonder what they are going to do with
it. Maybe it is something different and
just this view of it makes it a cross?
Hmmmm the "wonderings" never cease.
The other thing that I have noticed
about some of the barns up here is the
way they have the wood going in certain
ways. This barn is a good example of this.
Lot's more barn pictures to share in the
future. Hope you are all having a great
summer.
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| The River
The river calms my mind and heart. When
the outside world gets rather crazy
or my everyday world a little over
whelming. I find myself heading
for the river.
The past few weeks it has been full of
rain and mud. It is almost a chestnut
brown in places. It is running fast
and dangerous. It is impossible to see
the rocks and boulders that lie beneath
it.
There are days my thoughts and feelings
run like the river. Fast and quick.
Flowing as if they will never stop.
Yet,as I watch the water everything
that was bothering me flows away,
my focus comes back and a part of
me begins to sing.
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