Tuesday's Tip

Unlike most other tips I have posted on Tuesdays, this one isn't really about saving money. Well, maybe it is depending on how you look at it. I recently took a trip to Gatlinburg, Tn to meet some family and I had a great time while I was there. Everything was decorated for the fall season and as I was shopping in the "Village" for some cinnamon bread from the Donut Friar, I couldn't help thinking how creative some people are. I know that decorators are paid to design displays and it is a year round job, but I never would have thought to make scare crows like these...

I guess the tip I had in mind is to look around and see what can be used in place of something else ( in this case silly "store bought" scare crows.)

 This is definitely a tip I need to practice. 

I can't decide which scare crow I like best. Can you?

Monday's Motivation

OK, it is Monday, I have taken off almost 2 full weeks, having a blast, going on road trips, meeting family etc, but now, it is time to get some new projects going. The weather has turned cooler and there is nothing in the world like October at the beach, ( unless maybe it is April at the beach). I have been picking up shells,

rescuing star fish,

watching pelicans and sandpipers dive and play.

I have even used my entire memory card to make a video of the beach for my sister only to discover that I have no clue how to compress a file, and the video was too large to send via email and or you tube!

I am trying to get started making a few things for the  Christmas Season, and I need to get much busier. Hopefully the rest of this week it will rain and I can get creative.

I am your Fan Friday!

Congratulations Campbell Jane! 

I have talked many times before about my Favorite Artist, Campbell Jane . Well, tonight she is having a gallery opening at the City of Fremont Olive Hyde Gallery in Fremont. I absolutely have to be her biggest fan and I just love the paintings and art work that she does.  Here are a  few of my favorite pieces that she has done. I hope you enjoy them too.

To be honest, I could probably list everything ( almost) she paints, but what would be the fun in that. If you would like to see more though, Her blog is Folk Art by Campbell Jane and her work is for sale in her Etsy shop. Sometimes I go see what she is painting or making just to get myself motivated to renounce laziness. Not really, but I do wonder sometimes if I could keep up with her if given a chance.
Stop by her blog and shop whenever you can, you are sure to find something that sparks your interest, or just slams your funny bone.
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Thursdays Thoughts

Wednesday's Word

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me

beside still waters and restores my soul

Psalm 23:1-3a

Life's a Beach!

I just had to share these pics and say wish you were here. Life's a beach and I love it.

All of these photos and more like them would make great greeting cards or photo gifts and are available in my redbubble shop too.

If only computers had "Smell-O- Vision"...

If computers just had "smell-o-vision, I could share this wonderful fragrance with you. My queen of the night ( epiphyllum oxypetalum ) bloomed the other night with 2 blooms and was so fragrant, you could smell its jasmine like perfume wafting through the night air long before you could detect its source. Once you found its source, you found yourself mesmerized by the beauty of its flower, not wanting to look away. These cacti only bloom at night and only when rootbound. In their native habitat they grow in trees using the trees for support often climbing as tall as 20 feet. Here they are much smaller and even in my mild climate, they must be protected for the winters. The flowers only last for 1 night and they don't bloom until after dark, so I stayed up as late as I could to get a succession of pictures for you. I hope you like it.