Hydrangeas in an old bucket

Having..........Folger's coffee in my Doc Martin mug.

Feeling.........relaxed and well rested after a good night's sleep. The cooler weather has been good for our electric bill since the AC has not run during the night at all.

Thinking.........About a new way of looking at illness and pain since my week-end retreat at The Abby of Gethsemani.

I received so many blessings as a result of being part of the nursing team for the retreat.
The retreatants received a special blessed cross, healing blankets made by members of St. Barnabas church, the anointing and blessing of the sick and on Sunday all the retreatants feet were washed by the staff in the way that Jesus taught us.
There were many smiles and some tears as the ill learned to accept the love of all those around.
There was much Joy evident that week-end.

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
-Mother Teresa

Completed Hydrangeas in an old bucket.

It took us 2 weeks to complete this 8x10 on canvas board with acrylics.

I love this painting because I love hydrangeas.

I gives me much joy to be able to be part of the world of painting. 

Pop over to Paint Page and take a look at some more hydrangeas in an old bucket. 

This is my painting teacher's blog.

Linking up, on this Thursday with

Ruth at Celebrate Friendship

Meri at Share the Joy.

Mosaic Monday Purple and yellow

The sun is finally beginning to allow all the flowers to bloom.

White and purple petunias
Yellow coreopsis

Had an opportunity to be out very early Sunday morning and got this shot of the haze over the lowlands.


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Memorial Day 2012

They fell, but o'er their glorious grave
Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.
~Francis Marion Crawford

With gratitude to all who served.

 Especially

James Richard Edelen

Joseph Polin Edelen

George Leonard Edelen, Jr.

WWII

 

On retreat, off computer

Humbly asking prayers for terminal and chronically ill patients and care givers at this week-end's 

Gennesaret Retreat at the

Abby of Gethsemani.

"And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret  and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard He was. And whenever he came, in villages, cities or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment and as many as touched it were made well."

Matt 6:53-56

Friday Shoot My Town.

May 25: Made by Hand in Your Town A dress maker to a bread maker to carving a marble statue - Start watching for raw talent in your town.

My first stop in town was at the co-op of

FABS

Fine Arts Bardstown Studios

I found this amazing artist at work rolling out her clay and filling up her supply tray for making

polymar clay jewelry. 

Her work is amazing.

You can find her beautiful work for sale her also.

www.laureltreestudio.etsy.com 

Another artist hanging some brand new paintings was

Susan Christensen

Her Etsy shop is not open as of yet. 

When it is I will let you know.

 Work by Donna Wilkerson

 I did not get the name of this fabric artist.

 

I did not manage to get the artist's name here either.

This co-op is so amazing.

Each day a different artist works in the gallery showroom and the artist will be there doing their own art and that way they do not have to spend their entire time in the gallery.

They can be making all the beautiful items that they are known for.

 Now a different kind of homemade.

This is the newest shop downtown and it is as cute as a bumble bee.

A reflection of the Pink Chandler Party Room.

It was late in the afternoon when I was in there and most of the daily goodies were gone and the baker was not there.

You can find this on Third Street in Bardstown.

All of my handmade items are made to be sold for Charity.

Go here for Friday Shoot Out

 QMM

For the man who has everything and Mother's Day cookout and swim.

I know I am a little behind the times but when I saw this I had a good laugh.

 A really big man's flip flop?

A really big man's beer bottle opener.

Love it and love him.
Dear SIL

Fruit and desert bar at our Mother's day cookout and swim.

 Cheese, dips and crackers bar.

When our daughter asked me what I would like for mother's day cookout I knew what I had been yearning for.

Brats with peppers and onions. 
We had to have something the men could cook since most of the ladies were mothers.
Our SIL's mom agreed on the Brats too.

And these are my favorites.

And just to top it off

 My favorite sour drink.

Hooking up with Share the Joy and Tea Talk with Ruth.

Our daughter and SIL hosted the Mother's Day celebration for both sides of their family.
All siblings and grands on both sides and both Moms and Dads were there.

It brings me great joy for our families to be friends.

It sprinkled rain for awhile but the pool water was warm and some of the daring grands hit the pool for swimming.
As long as there was no lightening it is permitted.

Tea Talk with Ruth


Having....Lemon Zinger in my favorite china cup. I like this tea it needs no sweetener and has the lemon zing.

Feeling........very good. Had an upper gastric upset earlier this week and it knocked me back for a few days. No it was not following the menu mentioned in this post but 2 weeks later.
I felt like I had food poison on Sunday but had eaten at home all week-end.
Just one of those things.

Thinking..........I am looking forward to the retreat I am involved in this week-end for the terminally and chronically ill patients. I miss nursing and this will give me a chance to use my favorite part of  nursing, TLC.

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."

Jane Howard

Go here for Share the Joy with Meri and friends

Go here for Tea Talk with Ruth and friends.

  
 

 

Who gets excited about tiny tomatoes. I Do.

Well who but me gets excited about tiny tomatoes.

We do.

There are two tomatoes on second vine now.

2 more tomatoes on another vine.

 There are 3 tomatoes on this vine.
 
In all there are tiny tomatoes on all three vines.
I can hardly wait.

HH's two large tomato plants in his barrels.

He had two in the other barrel also but probably a cat got to those and they were broken.

He put the wire cage around them and they are doing fine. 

Hooray for growing season.

Of course our son in Texas has red tomatoes already.

Mosaic Monday, Green tomato, pansies

Mosaic Monday

Can you see it. Out first cherry tomato.

When it gets really hot around here our pansies are usually gone.
I walked out yesterday morning and found this cute little pansy playing pantomime.

"Good Morning folks," she said.
"I am Miss Pretty Pansy."

"Looks like I am all alone but I will entertain you with my many looks and positions."



" I will clap my leaves like hands  and make music with my pretty face."

"QMM and I will share my beauty and her TLC as long as I last."


"QMM 's favorite colors are purple and green.
This is for her and to share with you"

"I can hang my head upside down and whistle a little tune."



"Heart's ease! one could look for half a day Upon this flower, and shape in fancy out Full twenty different tales of low and sorrow. That gave this gentle name."

Mary Howitt







Go here for more Mosaic Monday beauties.