Railroading adventures and family history.....

I never got to share about my road trip

to Asheville 

to visit my Bestie Esta

during December.

I'm glad I waited because this has perfect timing

since a series of my photos

were focused on a cabin full of family heirlooms.

E's Uncle is having a newspaper series written about his life in a

local newspaper!

I love her family because they

take such care to preserve their family history

photos,

personal items

and 

definitely storytelling.

We spent an evening looking through boxes of family photos dating back to the late

1800's I think to current day.

E thought I might be bored by this at one point

but I LOVED it.

Seeing resemblances through the generations is

wonderful.

Plus seeing pics of when we were kids is always fun.

It rained A LOT

so I really didn't get to take many photos 

until the day we went to the Cabin.

The cabin was made from lumber from

 older buildings on the family properties.

Uncle Forrest had it built right in his own backyard....

which is an impressive number of acres!

A one room cabin to house lots of memories.

Love the age on this saddle...

Lots of crocks, lanterns, butter churns, farming implements.

Seems so peaceful,

except for the story E told me about waking up in this bed to see

a black snake on the top of the window frame!

There is a wonderful pond down the hill

from the cabin where there is a fire pit and shelter built for family gatherings.

I hope to get back this summer and take some more photos.

I would absolutely love to and be honored to get to

come when they make apple butter in the fall here at the fire pit!

(Hint, Hint)

If you would like an interesting read...

here is the first installment of the series about Uncle Forrest in the link below...

Via... 

The Citizen Times

Hope you enjoyed a bit of my trip

and keep up with the series

I already think his life would make a great movie!

Love and hugs to Esta!

App Crazy....

Love this new App I found

"Percolator"

Before

After

Before

After

Lots of fun to play with...

you can choose shades, size of the "grind", and textures,

reminds me of Klimt or Chuck Close style in a way ...

Lots of fun  ,

and a little different than the other Photography Apps.

I like to call this Artography.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Lets Catch Up!

Whew!

What a week....

Now that my technical difficulties have been solved 

I feel like I have so much to catch up on.

I never got to share the details of the Stocking Stuffer Gifting

from December....

I had a few nice donations from various 

sources..

Dentists

Blog Friends

Family

and

complete strangers!

Here are some of the items we donated....

A total of 40 purses / gift bags for women

 Lots of goodies in them...

from perfume, to jewelry, socks, new toothbrushes, to lotion
and much more.

 I managed to add ten bags for men...

Playing cards, toiletries, socks, cologne, and a few other goodies as well.

50 bags of candy for adults..

Lots of Chocolate!

  50 bags of goodies for boys and girls....

Lots of fun stuff!

Mini Playdough, Hotwheels, action figures, activity books and crayons,

new toothbrushes and floss and several other items for boys.

 Jewelry and hairclips, lipgloss, activity books, all kinds of Lisa Frank

and Hello Kitty items, and of course new toothbrushes as well  for the girls!

50 bags of sugary goodness

for the kids

(Hey it's a Holiday!)

On an inspired note I decided to add some journals....

I ended up with about a dozen.

This beautiful one above was made by

Laurie 

from

IndulgeYourShelf 

It was absolutely beautiful and I am so glad

she contributed a couple for me.

I'm going to show you the inside in another post....

With each journal I attached this card in the inside.

I asked that they be given to anyone who expressed an interest
in writing or art...
I wish I knew where they ended up...

If at least one person found their journal to be as
wonderful a release or relaxing activity as I do
it was worth it.

I learned a few things this year...
I need to start putting the bags together in November!
I need help assembling them.
If the journals continue I need to start
them early as well
or maybe I will do them as a separate donation during the summer!


Thank you to all who donated...
I know the items found thankful recipients
and you helped spread a little extra cheer at Christmas.


Can you believe it is the end of January already!
Happy Weekend!

Back in action

Hi everyone!

So my computer is back up and running!

Here is what you missed

Computer Virus,

Sinusitis,

lots of work ,

Sinus infection,

new directions,

BIG trip in the future!

SOOOO

Excited!

 Ready to get back in action!

Seize the day!

Hang in there!

Just wanted to let everyone know I am still here. Just having some issues I hope to have fixed soon! Hope you are having a great week!

Things to come....

I wanted to do this great

re-cap of 2011...

Life got in the way!

One thing I am proud and excited about is that

my little blog will be a whole 1 year old in a few days.

I'm happy that I finished one of my projects for a change!

I have made a few amazing friends in the process

not something I was really expecting.

Wouldn't you just love to take all your blogging buddies and put them up in a

beach house for a week?

Very different some of them

but all inspiring to me.

Photographers, artists, mothers,thrifters, musicians,fashion lovers.

Kindred spirits from all over the world.

Now this year I have one or two new projects

and I am also hoping to get a bit more into the technical side

of the blog world.

Anyone have any suggestions for places to go to learn more

about design, code, etc.

I like my blogger layout,

but really want to customize it more.

Here is to the finish of the first week of the New Year.

2012 is going to be a year of great accomplishments for the soul!

Love you all,

Thanks for being here!

Christmas everyday?

With the Holidays over

I spent a lot of the day

trying to re-organize, get rid-of, and put away

all the decorations and gift wrap.

One thing I may leave out for a bit are these

great mercury glass beads I found on my trip to WVA

at Thanksgiving.

I used them in two Mason jars in my kitchen

 on the shelf above my stove.

I used battery operated candles that have a soft flicker inside

instead of real candles.

Easy and puts to good use some of those vintage

baubles I have in abundance!

Keep your eye out for Christmas items during the

spring and summer at thrift stores and yard sales.

The prices are way better and you will be amazed at some of the things you can put to use

with a little imagination.

Happy Wednesday all!

 

Fav things 2011

Oprah is no longer around to do

her Favorite Things

list...

So I thought I would do my own version

but one that is MUCH more affordable and some of it free!

Lets start with my Oilcloth Carry All from Cath Kidston.
I love it because it never gets dirty!
It is perfect for toting art supplies, you could pack a picnic lunch in it, use it as a last minute diaper bag,
it is such a perfect size to fit your own small purse in and then a lot of other items!
It is truly a Carry All!



I also purchased a couple of the cloth shopper bags
Very affordable at $10.
I used them for small grocery trips ,
at the beach to throw my keys,phone,camera and snacks
or placed my journal , books, in with my purse for days when I wanted just
a little extra space.

The Cath Kidston site has a great after Christmas sale going on now !

I bought these sandals at Target during the summer
they could coordinate with almost any summer outfit I had
and they were comfortable!
They are actually on clearance right now for like $5 and some change!
I may get another pair!

This Cynthia Rowley throw is the best!
I use it pretty much every night as a lap blanket.
So soft and plush and it is has the most beautiful ruffles!


Love me some BareMinerals lip gloss
such beautiful natural looking shades and is prefect for preventing those dry winter lips too!

The Love and Toast line...
wonderful company concept and scents that are not overpowering.
Another great designer line you can find at Target!

THERE
line of scents from World Market.
My favorites are the Balinese Jasmine and the Indian Champra
different and exotic
but again are not overpowering.
The scents remind me of summer
and
 I wore them a lot.
I love the perfume oil they have
it stays on your skin longer and you only have to put a dab.
They have candles and reed diffusers also.

Garlic Expressions

This vinaigrette is liquid gold in our house.
We use it to marinate, on pasta, and as salad dressing.
The most amazing taste but no that fake overpowering garlic taste like most major brands.
Highly recommended!

Sweet Frogs Yogurt!
The whole family loves this yummy goodness!
We love that you can get a little or a lot!
Don't have to spend a fortune
and it is fun to mix flavors and toppings!
Something for everyone!
Sugar free or all the sugar you want!
Love the strawberry and the mango!

Not a lot of funny left on T.V. for my humor.
So when I saw Zoe D. was starring in this new series
I had to watch. Her funny off kilter awkwardness makes it so much fun!
New Girl
On Tuesday night is a must!

Loved the craziness and the things created on this season of
 Work-Of-Art 
on Bravo.

Departures

is so beautifully filmed

and the music is awesome.

These two are like a couple of kids on the greatest adventure of their life.

Once you see it from the first season it amazing to see how much their journey

is causing them to "grow" as people.

If you want to see some places not normally featured on the typical

"Travel" shows but are equally as beautiful and unique

yet a little fun in between - you must see this!

Two things at once here...
Absolutely fell in love with the Beekman Boys reality series on Planet Green!
I can't say enough about all the great things these two are perpetuating on so MANY levels.
Not to mention they actually talk to just about anyone and everyone
on FB or in person.
Their new cookbook is Fabulous!
Loving trying all the new recipes!

I was introduced to this artist by
Happy Harris
love the voice and the fun , funky, updated retro vibe!
visit her site
here
**And sorry I can't believe I missed this the first day**
Maybe because I can't believe it has been that many years...
so - means I'm getting older...
also listening to the

Anniversary Album...
wonderful for a real fan!
Amazing how music from a particular time in your life can take you
right back...
Good and Bad
and also how it can make you see how you have grown...
This album has brought so many emotions up it is crazy and inspiring!
visit the
Pearl Jam
site for more info. 

A friend gave this to my grandmother from whom I then borrowed it.
Everyone in the U.S. should have to read this right now!
Especially because of our economy.
Such amazing stories of what people lived through during The Great Depression.
A lot of things you never learned in school.
Things that would make people think twice about a lot of situations right now
and how they view them.
This book has made me very thankful and a lot wiser.
Made by the company that publishes the magazine
Reminisce

Having this tiny journal in my purse has become a life saver.
When I have one of those artists brain storm moments that hits me
no matter where I am I always have something to jot that idea down in!

Technology!
My ICamera has become such a part of my daily life!
The Apps I love are as follows:
(above)
The vintage 8mm camera
amazing film footage abounds!

Instagram!
Filter fun!

Hipstamatic.
I have created some of my fav. photos with these three Apps!

Enough said?

So addictive but an amazing reference tool for me as an artist

and for some personal fun!

Lastly

as an artist maybe I was behind on this one

but

I love me some

Washi tape.

Introduced to me by Fred.

I think I could spend waay too much money on this stuff if I let myself.

This line by Tim Holtz has added that perfect accent for so many

things I have created this year!

I had a lot of fun making this list.

Hoping maybe I introduced you to a new favorite!