Friends I have Made Along the Way...

Enjoying the view

I ran across this gorgeous fellow one afternoon while out taking pictures. He seemed so content to just gaze out at the mountains. He never wavered. Never made a sound. Just watched me while I took my pictures. Made me remember to stop and look, enjoy what is all around me.

Early Morning Walk

Out for a walk at the Biltmore Estate 
and I discovered 
this little lady walking about. 
I think she was distracting me from her 
nest that was several yards away. 
I see these wild turkeys everywhere 
here in the mountains. 
They are so fun to watch. 
Their feathers are beautiful.

A Little Foal

He is just the cutest. Mom watches him like a hawk. He is so curious. I found him in the Spring on one of my rides. Every time I am in the area I drive by. He is now a teenager, and is quite funny to see him leaping
around the field.

Guarding the garden

I ran into this handsome dude one late afternoon with my girlfriend. She had taken me over to Black Mountain to show me some sights and take some pictures. We found this beautiful community garden. This young guy was their guardian. At first he was a little shy, by the time I was done taking pictures he was braying away at us not to leave. I think he was a bit lonely. 

Digital Photograph - Coneflower

Coneflower

Some Botanical Prints for You...

Digitalis - Foxglove

Iris

Carnation

Digitalis

Lily

Digital Photograph - Zinnia

Zinnia

This is what I have been eating lately...Watermelon & Feta Salad

Watermelon & Feta Salad with a few black olives thrown in

Nothing says summer to me than Watermelon.It is one of my favorite things. How cool is it that you can eat something then spit the seeds without anybody looking at you like you have no manners. As a kid my brother and I had big seed spitting contests off the stone wall of out patio. I am sure our neighbors were somewhat repulsed if they looked out their bathroom or bedroom windows.

Now as an adult I don't spit seeds as much. The boys thought it was great fun when they were growing up.(Thank goodness none ended up in their ears or nose. Yes that did happen with other objects, but that is for another time.)Now they make those cute little baby watermelon with no seeds. Those are perfect for this salad.

I usually get one small watermelon stick in my refrigerator for an evening to get nice and cold. Meanwhile you will need a few other things to put in your salad. I do not use any lettuce or Arugula. One new thing about me you might not know is - I do not like greens. I do not eat Arugula or any dark green lettuce type thing. Kale, oh no.I will eat Iceberg Lettuce but honestly,why? I like all the things that go in a salad, so why waste the space in the bowl and in my stomach with lettuce, or any of that bitter tasting stuff? Again, this is personal taste. My beautiful sister adores all of the above. I love to watch her eat it with great gusto. I just can't.

Some ingredients for this salad:

at least 4 ounces of Feta cheese - crumbled
2 ounces of crumbled bleu cheese
a cucumber - peeled and thinly sliced
black olives or Kalamata olives
tomatoes - cherry or regular cut into chunks
dried cranberries
fresh blueberries
sunflower seeds
mint optional


I cut the whole watermelon up at one time. I cut into about 1 1/2 inch pieces or as big as 2 inch pieces.I usually use about half for one salad.I mix 4 ounces of feta cheese, 2 ounces of bleu cheese, some olives, thinly sliced cucumbers and depending on my mood tomatoes. Sometimes a little extra fruit is in order. I really like dried cranberries with this salad. Gently spoon the mixture to mix.

For the dressing you can do several things. A good Italian with fresh black pepper, olive oil and red wine vinegar is good also. However, my go to dressing is almost a cup of a good Balsamic Vinegar with a spoonful or two of sugar. I heat this in the microwave at 20 second increments till the sugar is melted. It does not take long. Stir. Pour on your salad. Eat. Enjoy!

p.s. you do not have to use a dressing with this salad. Eat plain if you want.

What I did on my summer vacation...and the past year...

A summer afternoon

I have been traveling all around the mountains. Exploring all the riches that surround me. I am surprised on a daily basis how the mountains change from minute to minute. On one side of a mountain it can be sunny and peaceful , then you get to another side and it is dark and stormy. It is constantly changing. Every view is more breath taking than the last. There is a lot to learn and even more to see. 

Mountain Lake

The last year has really been a learning experience. I have been discovering all sorts of new things. Things about where I live and more important about myself. I have finally made a home for myself. After moving, the tragic loss of my father, the beautiful gifts of Gage, Avery, Fitz, Aubrey and Austin (we have another baby due in February), setting up my household and various family things I can honestly say Whew! What a ride it has been. That is my only explanation for dropping out of the blogosphere.

Taking care of yourself is not something that comes natural for most women. We start off taking care of our baby dolls, babysitting our neighbors and siblings. Then, we become mother's and take care of our children and husbands. Always putting their needs first. It is a hard thing to do to learn to take care of yourself, to put you first. In the last year that is something I have been learning to do. Old habits are hard to break. It is a journey, not a race. All these expressions come in to play. I am stuck on the point that everyday I learn something new about my world, myself, and the ones I care about. That these things fill me up with joy. I catch myself humming or just laughing out loud. 

Mountain creek

Simple pleasures have become my Mantra. Getting up early to watch the mist swirl around the mountain peaks. Watching the stars before I go to bed each night. Reading a book under the covers during a mountain rain storm with the windows wide open. Going to Walmart and sitting in the parking lot admiring the million dollar view. Taking a late night drive up on the Blue Ridge Parkway with the windows down listening to the night sounds while discovering a mother bear and her cub crossing the road. Simple food, simple days & nights. A slow healing of my soul. That is where I have been. That is where I am. This is where I want to be.

The sun setting on the mountains

Little Boy Freebies...

What a cutie! Makes me ready for the State Fair.

Love the hat and boots.

Ruffles and a puppy!

Love the Trike!

He looks like a little man.

I have been spending a lot of time
with my boys this Summer. It has
been lots of good times. They have
grown up to be such incredible
people. I really enjoy them. So...
for all of you I am putting these
freebies out there for you.
Compliment a young man this week
end. Tell a young boy how super
he is. Give some confidence to some
one today. It might make their life.

Quotes - Soar

Digital Photograph - Daisies - He loves me...

Daisies

Four Letter Words - Soar

Road Trip Freebies...

They look ready to conquer the world!

Remember to enjoy the simple things along the way.

Traveling alone can open up lots of opportunities.

Traveling with a friend is fun!

A family trip is always enlightening

One of the pleasure of summer is being

able to take a road trip.

The destination is not as important as the

journey.

I thought I would start anew with some road

trip freebies.

I hope each one of you finds the time to 

take a road trip, even if it is just for

a day.

Hope you enjoy!

Digital Photograph - Mountain Farm

Mountain Farm

Digital Photograph - Along the Watauga River

Along the Watuaga River

This week I was lucky enough to spend the morning with my youngest son. He took me to a couple of his favorite places near where he lives. We had so much fun. Such a beautiful day. I will share some more pictures soon.

Fitz at the Beach,,

Tolerating the world!

Wondering what this new place is and do these stripes make me look fat?

The world is new place with Fitz in it. He has filled our family with love and amazement. We are so lucky to have him. My heart is over flowing with gratitude.

Digital Photograph - Coneflowers

Coneflowers

Four Letter Words - Want

Morning in the Mountains...

Morning in the Mountains

I have been getting up very early all summer long. It is 

so cool and fresh in the morning. The views have been breath taking. I feel like someone has reached out with a huge eraser and wiped off yesterday. It is as if today is the only day there is. Such a strange feeling.

The Mountains in the morning are so incredible. They have mists and fog. Moments of sunshine streaking through and this beautiful blue aura everywhere. Very mystical.

I love to get up, grab a tea and my camera and take off. Sometimes to the river or the parkway, other times 

wherever the mist leads me. Then home for a bite to eat 

and work outside before the heat sets in. My yard is beginning to take shape. Much to do to get it where I want it. Like everything, it is a slow process.

This year is the first year I have been home for any 

amount of time. I have missed my birds and wild animal friends from the beach house. Having bird feeders here is virtually impossible with the bears that haunt my neighborhood. I have put up thistle feeders as the bears 

do not like thistle. Most of all, I have missed my owl. After almost ten years leaving her was the hardest.

Wednesday morning I woke up very early, before dawn. I prepared my tea, took a quick shower and as I was getting dressed I heard a familiar cry. A hawk. I moved to my 

front window. There on my yard were several hawks. Lots of keening. I grabbed my camera, keys and tea and went to the driveway.

Flying from the large oak tree in my front yard across the street to my neighbors large maple were a family of hawks. Mom and Dad teaching their youngsters to fly. What a sight. As I looked up into my Oak tree I realized their nest was there. The universe has given me a family of hawks. 

I am so clueless sometimes. The rabbit leg left on my sidewalk, the entrails in my flower bed, the dead rabbit parts in my grass. I thought we must have coyotes, instead a family of hawks feeding their young. I forgot a basic rule, look up! As I listen to the hawks call each other, watch them fly from tree to tree in my yard. I thank the universe for this gift.

Quote #3 - Want

The New Guy in My Life...

We welcomed Fitz into the world in March, So much love.

James Fitzgerald Is growing like a weed!

Fitz is the sweetest child!

I am so sorry for the long delay in 

posting to my blog. It has been

months! Life has gotten very full.

The winter and spring was full of snow, 
the spring full of rain, ice, and new

beginnings. Mr. Fitz is one of those

new beginnings. We are blessed. 

Fill Your Life with Flowers - Digital Photograph

A new addition to the flower bed

It has been a long time.....

Jagged Edge

It has been a long long time. 

I hope every one has been okay. 

Life has been full of snow, ice, 

storms, flowers, new places and people. 

The list could go on and on.

I have been very good. 

Just not enough time in the day 

to do everything on my "list of things to do". 

I think I needed a break from several things, people, 

life... 

I am not sure but it feels right to be back blogging. 

So, I am here. 

I plan on being here for awhile. 

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you. 

Update me on your life, your dreams, your art. 

You.