tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337716612998203852024-02-25T13:13:37.070-08:00BarnBugStudioMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-16146986368487105082018-08-07T11:14:00.000-07:002018-08-07T12:07:14.019-07:00MT. GRETNA ART SHOW<div style="height: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hello friends. It has been awhile. If you are a new friend and were directed here by the Mount Gretna Art Show, please visit me at the new website <a href="http://www.marycottingham.com/">www.marycottingham.com</a>. Hope some old friends will stop by as well. </span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-31948708894635901322015-12-04T19:38:00.000-08:002015-12-05T05:05:04.316-08:00THE QUALITY OF LIGHT<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a quality of light on these late fall afternoons that is like no other. It slants in from the river and casts a golden glow on everything it touches. The last fall leaves are lit from within. Furry winter coats and whiskered muzzles wear a halo of light. I am cherishing the magic in these waning days and remembering them with my camera.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrKFhynmImZN64G3Y9_vz3ZEb4KHhoWPb7Ywk3eW-JdMXrlYRJ0U3CbkepVGa1yUYqOZysGCISm2N47ZgATJDRJOaCem1hEmyj-38D_20auZe31lCGc7RS39uyEx0GD6OtJZkAqy9RNs/s1600/DSC_0014_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrKFhynmImZN64G3Y9_vz3ZEb4KHhoWPb7Ywk3eW-JdMXrlYRJ0U3CbkepVGa1yUYqOZysGCISm2N47ZgATJDRJOaCem1hEmyj-38D_20auZe31lCGc7RS39uyEx0GD6OtJZkAqy9RNs/s640/DSC_0014_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fitz.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKEzpa9e4o5oRxh_ijUpHBkTADKLIU6kdX4Vqsaww4bSypymhtiTKR1RkFyvjvsKSaF1bws13IakJJH4l38eeauEBDy5rw_nTP6ugPu4JxCv17C27dbLis5mOUWRSNzUTHmSK32xNWew/s1600/DSC_0037_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKEzpa9e4o5oRxh_ijUpHBkTADKLIU6kdX4Vqsaww4bSypymhtiTKR1RkFyvjvsKSaF1bws13IakJJH4l38eeauEBDy5rw_nTP6ugPu4JxCv17C27dbLis5mOUWRSNzUTHmSK32xNWew/s640/DSC_0037_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mathilda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abby.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyifJ_8BbM4oG93GefV772nYpKASsDNWGsRMx2rFtNfcs-kbho65G4vXiocXjj9zYKdLTZa99yDbYpNMnp3bBr3nxdtnk1oqLZ5vaXHr-_lRbvmsjeYffEVwwvt3Fjh_UT2e3s9nKJz0/s1600/DSC_0101_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyifJ_8BbM4oG93GefV772nYpKASsDNWGsRMx2rFtNfcs-kbho65G4vXiocXjj9zYKdLTZa99yDbYpNMnp3bBr3nxdtnk1oqLZ5vaXHr-_lRbvmsjeYffEVwwvt3Fjh_UT2e3s9nKJz0/s640/DSC_0101_pe.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwvanC9M4IQiPoyd7mx5J3H6wEWUM0UVoAHVM40rxGqnl0GR_tSZHtHTKoZeevTYBJKVfH2bq3-YhkOJNGcVJA2gPnfJcrabTQeUt3dN0btOsuVmMJUxiqQr3aJaS6lS0Oz49hAUS0Hk/s1600/DSC_0093_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwvanC9M4IQiPoyd7mx5J3H6wEWUM0UVoAHVM40rxGqnl0GR_tSZHtHTKoZeevTYBJKVfH2bq3-YhkOJNGcVJA2gPnfJcrabTQeUt3dN0btOsuVmMJUxiqQr3aJaS6lS0Oz49hAUS0Hk/s640/DSC_0093_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little love note from Mother Nature.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am at home with my camera, instead of finishing my errands in town, because my 89 year old father called, while I was shopping. "I thought I might drive up your way," he said. "I want to bring your Christmas present, it won't work until after dark." Having seen those "Star Shower" Christmas lights on TV, he bought a set for himself and two for me. Mike could have picked them up next week, but he was excited. And he is lonely, so he drove up and I came home and gathered pine cones and took pictures, while I waited for him to arrive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we plugged in the lights and waited for the magic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS-R4O8out7o46tyw8Tvf8YnVue2BYYhBNk3Pq6-Kx9mhxdTDSzWPgMJoh4qVQ0QnACvReDXZmgz0WeoOhU7EORSDtO4s4ZqxM3oMfAC964eogs8h3AUp3TKLq-3HWyLqztRQ__Z-t4c/s1600/DSC_0071_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS-R4O8out7o46tyw8Tvf8YnVue2BYYhBNk3Pq6-Kx9mhxdTDSzWPgMJoh4qVQ0QnACvReDXZmgz0WeoOhU7EORSDtO4s4ZqxM3oMfAC964eogs8h3AUp3TKLq-3HWyLqztRQ__Z-t4c/s640/DSC_0071_pe.jpg" width="626" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am so grateful that my dad has found the strength to stay positive after the loss of my mother, to find joy in small things, to reach out when he is feeling lonely, and to focus on the light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wishing you golden fall days wherever you are...XO.</span><br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-61669049322107011202015-11-16T10:16:00.000-08:002015-11-16T12:07:48.151-08:00COMEDY AND TRAGEDY<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lately, I have been feeling scattered and disorganized, and now it seems the world at large has gone a bit wobbly too. Last week started with comedy...a tempest in a <strike>tea </strike>coffee cup...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And ended in tragedy...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you've been lucky enough to go to Paris, you know that it is everything you dream it will be and more. I have only been once. I would go again in a heartbeat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was Friday. On Saturday, we lost a dear friend to pancreatic cancer. He was a sweet, funny, gentle, talented man. Our hearts are broken for his loving family. RIP Tom Hopkins. You will be missed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfOIrDsvbGk0-OOBu4WFFlZu7EoYNj0pJgYwg807R_LL4IM0KH1y3nKPZJLlsO_Cr1pXd2t8h_7kKIJQljKLHrJplfArSPKEH02i-zLwEVVLze9ApIpf3PreLdoF0UM6QDXOFwMs1bnI/s1600/horse+homecoming+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfOIrDsvbGk0-OOBu4WFFlZu7EoYNj0pJgYwg807R_LL4IM0KH1y3nKPZJLlsO_Cr1pXd2t8h_7kKIJQljKLHrJplfArSPKEH02i-zLwEVVLze9ApIpf3PreLdoF0UM6QDXOFwMs1bnI/s320/horse+homecoming+036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~John Burroughs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A ride out through the marshes to the back of beyond with my camera, is always good for what ails me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n7now-a-umbFwDozNDPz8Lo8o180PP0j2xrldie41PybzQbrOF3rufpLEkdfrxL3jH0f0rV9xK2-NgM4WMszKf6m9oAukKJLySc_YBFIyCYtw9oEOV9zrRHyPnae3sOE3oLM-aKLRQ4/s1600/DSC_0230_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n7now-a-umbFwDozNDPz8Lo8o180PP0j2xrldie41PybzQbrOF3rufpLEkdfrxL3jH0f0rV9xK2-NgM4WMszKf6m9oAukKJLySc_YBFIyCYtw9oEOV9zrRHyPnae3sOE3oLM-aKLRQ4/s640/DSC_0230_pe.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That, and some pup time. My Scoutie is becoming almost as enthusiastic about modeling as Nigel. For the first couple of years or so, she had no tolerance for head gear. I didn't try to force the issue, and patience has finally paid off. We watch a lot of old movies here...this look was inspired by Norma Shearer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stopped by my mother-in-law's last week, and she was about to throw out this sweet little pink number. It was her wedding hat, "something borrowed." 1952.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_315842646"></span><span id="goog_315842647"></span>Nigel cries if he doesn't get to play, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wishing you and indeed, the whole world, a more peaceful week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">XO,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mary</span></div>
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-31165151154113349122015-11-04T09:58:00.000-08:002015-11-04T09:58:52.039-08:00GATHERING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent this morning gathering dried things from my gardens. I've been doing a lot of gathering in this month since my mother died. Gathering old photos and memories, gathering friends and family for the memorial service last week. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqCRLtAe34J-iT4pE9LPv0OR6Ae6f9AXiRqKNw620l_afL_Ngh_jn9h34H4eSb3BMToGbJDksiAM4_i03P6SLSElxKBlFDPnPGe4h_yEW9lSt5SRRjKQBT8uMIsNWHwZ6H4t60C1a0XI/s1600/DSC_0006_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqCRLtAe34J-iT4pE9LPv0OR6Ae6f9AXiRqKNw620l_afL_Ngh_jn9h34H4eSb3BMToGbJDksiAM4_i03P6SLSElxKBlFDPnPGe4h_yEW9lSt5SRRjKQBT8uMIsNWHwZ6H4t60C1a0XI/s640/DSC_0006_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always loved this gathering time of year, but it very nearly slipped away while I was busy with other things. Fortunately Mother Nature has been accommodating, and has given us some gorgeous warm weather to prolong the season. So while I am cutting dried stalks and flowers to bring inside for future decorating projects...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the bees are still buzzing around the last of the mums...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the roses are enjoying a late bloom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A soaking rain last week brought on the new grass Mike planted. That, combined with the relentless onion weed, makes the lawn sparkle in the mornings, in the heavy dew that is not quite frost.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76eGDe_EisB9rCZmGKj19Oc9tGOKQTK1Zhc0x8yJ_LW-ubADp9w2b2A5c9Q8jy6bU2tFPOoDz10PjcnU1uUH59SZ-Jvf-e74UoCCZlZ0e4agge2YOlxo_2TiaQveak-VWH5XcnbLSbQk/s1600/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76eGDe_EisB9rCZmGKj19Oc9tGOKQTK1Zhc0x8yJ_LW-ubADp9w2b2A5c9Q8jy6bU2tFPOoDz10PjcnU1uUH59SZ-Jvf-e74UoCCZlZ0e4agge2YOlxo_2TiaQveak-VWH5XcnbLSbQk/s640/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my critters are fit and well. Abby is sporting quite a heavy winter coat already, Bates is parked with a western trainer for the moment. The cats are plumping up for winter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCRb6d8kvRBsrjFBr6MWqeFI-2v93Hh4EbSRBh_-Pu3mmKvYS7BorC0SsKQG1Z21wkmTpfniqLQxbTjVHG7THEeLwEeXyBJe_gG9ubbaIUMxUwf5-l2dTxwGbWgURXRyJtQQ29-CSocI/s1600/DSC_0254_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCRb6d8kvRBsrjFBr6MWqeFI-2v93Hh4EbSRBh_-Pu3mmKvYS7BorC0SsKQG1Z21wkmTpfniqLQxbTjVHG7THEeLwEeXyBJe_gG9ubbaIUMxUwf5-l2dTxwGbWgURXRyJtQQ29-CSocI/s640/DSC_0254_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poor Nigel had to suffer some last minute Halloween costume changes. I had thought he might make a good Claude Rains from 1933's Invisible Man, but while the Nige happily indulges my costume whims most of the time, he draws the line at being wrapped in strips of fabric. I did just manage to get his head and neck messily wrapped...but we were both unhappy with the result.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissbsK6vcipawplcZzlW9x7C6g5x8FucKXdZmkc2vYhR_eiGmRz9bbyTtP8hG1Ot7ZFO7LTteEOqmIr2wiZaCHQliYtp0NrRCXq5zEimmn9CJcbmRS_bmqeVWIhRSNXC-7LokZmukvIio/s1600/DSC_0222_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissbsK6vcipawplcZzlW9x7C6g5x8FucKXdZmkc2vYhR_eiGmRz9bbyTtP8hG1Ot7ZFO7LTteEOqmIr2wiZaCHQliYtp0NrRCXq5zEimmn9CJcbmRS_bmqeVWIhRSNXC-7LokZmukvIio/s640/DSC_0222_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went with scarecrow instead, though he is way too handsome to look scary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I spent a little time playing with props for spooky Halloween shots.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT80hWqPuBLBHK-aUgWtPl6_qmMu8OdSVLWFlaW_wF_5poIxy6cPwmHT4GKWghudf3uef-uGHEPOYMkiJbLTIRSxmx94eHR6VStnjPVMKXIqY4LVVSu1VAvLGjmB3ctwOekzFqcn5FVIg/s1600/DSC_0004_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT80hWqPuBLBHK-aUgWtPl6_qmMu8OdSVLWFlaW_wF_5poIxy6cPwmHT4GKWghudf3uef-uGHEPOYMkiJbLTIRSxmx94eHR6VStnjPVMKXIqY4LVVSu1VAvLGjmB3ctwOekzFqcn5FVIg/s640/DSC_0004_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find old dolls almost as creepy as clowns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope this finds you happy and well and I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who expressed condolences on the loss of my mother. It is so good to be back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XO,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary</span></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-79011658044240792472015-10-09T17:00:00.000-07:002015-10-09T17:00:23.032-07:00BEST LAID PLANS<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the Alpaca Festival, I had great plans for regular blogging and dog fostering and such. The dog fostering happened. The collie pup, Prince Charming was a delight. I loved having him here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXQfOfh9gmJ1KiGi_yxkNZMzh5sVbEuHbu-f85h5O50B0rf7enN0O_FCFHhLFcgaNVTPhT5MR6Y9fDyoDrhBTKx1yOxqU5s9WrIlVMql1cVgwT-ENVvBVgc2kQtQN6-V476n-zrTsVMs/s1600/DSC_0247_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXQfOfh9gmJ1KiGi_yxkNZMzh5sVbEuHbu-f85h5O50B0rf7enN0O_FCFHhLFcgaNVTPhT5MR6Y9fDyoDrhBTKx1yOxqU5s9WrIlVMql1cVgwT-ENVvBVgc2kQtQN6-V476n-zrTsVMs/s640/DSC_0247_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking with Gus at Mt. Gretna.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56B5FB0YPgcuKVpBzhSvkxanm6kiQwN2E7rEj8_zrJhJQUyoMjYc8o04RlqBIIVpl8gUSsg16NjYJGagPLT9o9z-216N3c3Kbb84RKkxS-FnzWjWb-WEFOC9SJn7MCyinSXo58BF1Ct8/s1600/DSC_0268_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56B5FB0YPgcuKVpBzhSvkxanm6kiQwN2E7rEj8_zrJhJQUyoMjYc8o04RlqBIIVpl8gUSsg16NjYJGagPLT9o9z-216N3c3Kbb84RKkxS-FnzWjWb-WEFOC9SJn7MCyinSXo58BF1Ct8/s640/DSC_0268_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did a weekend road trip to PA to visit our daughter. Prince was a great little traveler.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then this happened. My mother, who has battled various cancers for the past ten years, entered hospice. Life stopped while we supported Dad. We hugged, we told stories, we teased each other, we slept bolt upright in chairs,and yes, we laughed and cried, always with one ear listening for the last labored breath, which came at 4pm on Saturday. So grateful to Coastal Hospice at the Lake, for the kindness and care they showed to all of us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rest in peace, Mina Gunter. October 29, 1933- October 3, 2015.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gWw8Pu0lY8XzK_sPBVO4OqDqHDYdpLOAhrEn-XQ7fLPYNgxAThJUzl3-p1f0jvUKA54atOH7BUdXTVnAc2Xd1zspjTEIPkPIK6iIdkf80leG7-e3-Hh9I9O375OZHrL7dyanrndqNOE/s1600/Mina%252C+portrait%252C+1950ish+001_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gWw8Pu0lY8XzK_sPBVO4OqDqHDYdpLOAhrEn-XQ7fLPYNgxAThJUzl3-p1f0jvUKA54atOH7BUdXTVnAc2Xd1zspjTEIPkPIK6iIdkf80leG7-e3-Hh9I9O375OZHrL7dyanrndqNOE/s640/Mina%252C+portrait%252C+1950ish+001_pe.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love to all. XO.</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-79997758384526973612015-09-20T06:49:00.000-07:002015-09-22T09:47:40.171-07:00I ACCIDENTALLY TOOK THE SUMMER OFF<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am back with apologies for being so long away. The winter was long and stressful, and I could feel my creative mojo winding down. Then spring came, and along with it my new horse, Bates. One month of training board turned into two, before I finally brought him home at the beginning of July. A lot of my time was spent, driving back and forth to Caroline county to work with him. I finally brought him home at the beginning of July. After two more months of work and worry with him, we finally accepted, that while he is a very nice horse, he is just not the horse for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In art biz news, I am showing my work for the first time at the Alpaca Festival at Outstanding Dreams Farm. So while I was fretting about my new horse, I was working feverishly to get ready for this weekend. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwaiJtyKMB869vUHFhddYUO_kFUskIk2Er4q12Ij_qmQy9N7zILxCuDhjIv0CWWN9zfZr3S5I0D7mZ5ZS1uUZuJ3OPjbEIzcqeVVwL8SYc42owBDAMI81DDsz6DHL_msHdP6MVoZgia0/s1600/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwaiJtyKMB869vUHFhddYUO_kFUskIk2Er4q12Ij_qmQy9N7zILxCuDhjIv0CWWN9zfZr3S5I0D7mZ5ZS1uUZuJ3OPjbEIzcqeVVwL8SYc42owBDAMI81DDsz6DHL_msHdP6MVoZgia0/s640/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hot and muggy, with occasional gusts of wind that at one point lifted up my tent. Fortunately, my show savvy neighbor had extra stakes. We'll be a little better prepared today, and it is supposed to be a bit cooler. I sold a few pieces yesterday, but more importantly, got tons of great feedback, and was given some really good leads on galleries, and asked if I'd be interested in teaching a class. Fun stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another benefit of committing to this show, is that I finally got my mixed-media pieces properly framed. I also dug into my stash of small vintage frames, and had a good time finding photos to do them justice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of this show prepping has left my house in a state I'm not particularly proud of. This is my dining room table this morning...don't judge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow is another day. I have all morning to unpack and put my house in order. In the afternoon I am going to Queenstown to pick up a foster puppy. I am not even kidding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know there will be tons of pics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, it feels to great to be pack. Catch you later with more show news.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XO!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-42166386613244665032015-07-04T17:54:00.000-07:002015-07-04T17:54:13.687-07:00HAPPY 4TH OF JULY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy 4th of July! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lhnDxCrtgkR8DRxULi81_ZANbeCvjw1hpAIMyiDGNUr1Bvy-9WjIMC2PischN3XbFnCJNr4nO0j2lrHgLnnK0sIM9NQeNxVJCQRjqf2iuNnlp0AiHPB1B8sp9ELI6_kSlxWvanvQrug/s1600/DSC_0008_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lhnDxCrtgkR8DRxULi81_ZANbeCvjw1hpAIMyiDGNUr1Bvy-9WjIMC2PischN3XbFnCJNr4nO0j2lrHgLnnK0sIM9NQeNxVJCQRjqf2iuNnlp0AiHPB1B8sp9ELI6_kSlxWvanvQrug/s640/DSC_0008_pe.jpg" width="604" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the idea that Nigel and Scout would look adorable in patriotic tank tops. I didn't factor in their lack of shoulders. There were lots of out-takes.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's actually a yawn and not her Shark Week audition.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the weather is very iffy, we decided to do a little road trip today. Drove over to Greenwood, Delaware for barbecued chicken at the fire house...truly some of the best on the shore. We were planning a trip to Chick's in Harrington to buy horsey things after, but had not reckoned they'd be closed for the 4th, so we wandered home through country roads. Stopped for fresh produce, browsed an antique mall, running into an old friend and neighbor and wandered home to play with the horses before the rain set in. Again.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always been curious about this little no-name church.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This small windmill is on the way to Timber Grove Farm. I've wanted to stop and take a pic for weeks. The farmhouse burned down a few years ago, but it is still a working farm. The next time I see someone there, I will stop and ask if the windmill is for sale.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No words. Only the large print is visible from the road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guineas on a country road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So tempted by this. It works!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glad that Mike is home from the father-son, road trip to LA. Our first born is happily moved into his LA apartment and anxious to start work at USC. Mike was away for eight nights, our longest separation in thirty-five years. Happy to spend this holiday weekend puttering with him. Tomorrow is our best chance for decent weather, so we plan to get the kayaks out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news, now that Mike is home, I've brought my new horse, Bates home. I had planned to leave him at Timber Grove Farm for a month of training but that turned into two months and has eaten up an enormous amount of time. Abby has fallen instantly in love with him. It doesn't help that she is in season, and kicks and hollers when I take him out of the barn.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley Hopkins of Timber Grove Farm, delivering our new guy home.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the task is to let him adjust to his new surroundings, and start riding him here at home. Without all the travel time to and from the other farm, life should get back to normal and I can get back on schedule with BarnBugStudio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are trying to decide whether to hop on our bikes and ride down to the river to watch the fireworks (it just stopped raining) or nestle in here at home. The thought of soggy ground and epic numbers of mosquitoes has us leaning toward the former.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy 4th of July, blog friends!! XO</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-48891252769295895582015-06-07T18:34:00.000-07:002015-06-07T18:39:16.594-07:00CREATIVE SURGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel a creative surge coming on, which is inconvenient, as I'm super busy just now. I wake in the night with ideas. Still have my handsome new man, Bates, at Timber Grove Farm for training. Visiting him takes a big chunk out of most days. I made the decision last week to give him a couple more weeks of training there. We are still figuring each other out, and last week's rain kept me from riding as much as I had planned. Also, in just two weeks, my guys are embarking on their father-son road trip to LA. I am calling it Mike and Patrick's Excellent Adventure. I am hoping to have Bates home and settled before they leave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took advantage of the wet days last week to fling some paint around and stitch. Painted a few background canvasses, and made a new version of one I've used before. This time, I printed it on flax linen, which gave it a lovely sepia tone and inspired my choice of additional fabrics.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint and collaged paper on art board.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed-media art quilt with vintage fabric, hand and machine stitching, etc...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, we mowed, and I spring cleaned the barn, then went to the farm and rode Bates. When I woke up this morning, I could hardly move, but two ibuprofen and a hot bath later, I was on my bike. We did thirteen miles around Cambridge, before ending up at Stoked, our Sunday place for lunch. I always pedal more cheerfully when there's a nice meal dangled in front of me. It was a glorious day to be outdoors on the Eastern Shore.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild roses on the roadside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fishing bridge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambridge light house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh dear.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you had a wonderful weekend and got to spend some time outside. It was 79 degrees here...a day to be relished. Too soon, it will be stinkin' hot. XO.</span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-58340780531931084272015-05-28T11:36:00.000-07:002015-05-28T11:36:20.981-07:00CONTAINER GARDENING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a relief to have a weekend with lovely weather and no big plans. Finally got around to some gardening. My big galvanized water trough had sprung a leak, and as I had already patched it a time or two, I decided to re-purpose it as a container garden. I don't really have the back for bending over and pulling weeds. Like most simple projects, it took on a life of its own. Mike decided we should add pavers underneath, and we would move the washtub from the shed and plant it, as well. We quickly realized that we needed more space and ordered three more tubs, found that cute blown glass solar light, added a hook for the hummingbird feeder and a hanging plant. Ordered another hook for symmetry's sake, and voila!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can see from this pic that fence painting needs to be the next chore.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The strawberry plants were given to me by a dear friend, and are already producing, though I'm afraid the birds have discovered them, and the trough has become a convenient fast food stop for the tenants in the martin house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I had my hands in the dirt, I did a few more potting chores. My flower beds are filled with perennials, so the few annuals that I plant are in containers. The perennials have expanded rapidly in the nine years we have lived here and choked out most of the weeds. It helps to have an at-home manure machine. That stuff is magic when composted with stall bedding.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abby. Manure machine.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're planting a really large container such as a trough, you might want to add a false bottom to limit the amount of potting soil you'll need. In all the planters, we started with a layer of compost and added potting soil on top. It's working. These radish seeds sprouted in two days!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green pepper, mint, and rosemary.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geraniums on the front steps.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it is stinking hot and humid, and watering begins to seem like drudgery, I will think of friends on the west coast and remember to feel grateful for the privilege. For today, I am holding off, because it looks as though Mother Nature is going to take care of that chore herself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy gardening, blog friends! XO</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-39335841953352776392015-05-19T07:36:00.001-07:002015-05-19T07:36:37.262-07:00WEEK OF GOOD THINGS<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past week has been so packed with good things...I've been too busy enjoying them to stop and write.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took the grandmothers out for a late lunch to celebrate Mother's Day last Saturday, leaving us free on Sunday to drive up to Baltimore and meet our kids for a whopping breakfast at <a href="http://www.goldenwestcafe.com/">Golden West Cafe</a> in Hampden. From there, we drove to Monkton to visit the <a href="http://www.ladewtopiarygardens.com/">Ladew Topiary Gardens</a>. Love hanging out with these grown up children of mine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hot and steamy but the tulips were gorgeous, and my girl and I had a great time with our cameras.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Monday, I had the first riding lesson on my new horse. He is settling in nicely at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Timber-Grove-Farm/204981980767">Timber Grove Farm</a>, and finally has a name...Bates. You Downton Abbey fans will get that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The very best thing about last week? On Thursday, Mike, my MIL, and I went back up to Baltimore to hear our son defend his thesis at Johns Hopkins University. He now has a PhD in physical chemistry and is officially Dr. Cottingham. Hurray!! Such a proud and happy day!! After champagne and cake with his department, we were off to The Thai Restaurant for a celebratory lunch. Love that place!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guy, loaded down with graduation swag.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both kids were home for the weekend and we continued the celebration with family, on the Boardwalk in Ocean City and at <a href="http://www.evolutioncraftbrewing.com/PublicHouse.aspx">EVO Public House</a> in Salisbury.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carousel at Trimper's on the boardwalk.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was a lot of celebrating for one week, so although Sunday was our 35th wedding anniversary, we decided to postpone those festivities until next weekend when we can give the occasion the attention it deserves. We had a nice leisurely day with our girl, lunching at Stoked because it was Sunday, and they might think we'd died if we didn't show up, eating strawberry shortcake, and walking the dogs down to the river for a swim. Nigel and Scout are teaching Gus to swim. So far, he's just a wader, but he will be spending a week with us in June and I expect that will be enough time for him to learn.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's super quiet here today. Even the dogs are exhausted. Weekends with our grand-dog, Gus, wear them out. This week, I plan to focus on Bates, trying to make the most of this month of training board, refreshing the blog, and getting back to my workroom. The folks at Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm have invited me to sell my photos and artwork at their Alpaca Festival in September. I want to see how much I can get done in the next few weeks...lots of almost finished projects laying around and new ideas banging around in my brain.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you a week stuffed with good things. XO</span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-32751517917934337622015-05-07T18:17:00.000-07:002015-05-08T17:46:03.784-07:00MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An amazing thing has happened, blog friends. That dream I have had since I was two years old and toddling around with a plastic horse, falling on it and cutting my upper lip so badly I needed stitches. That thing. I have a horse of my own. Not my daughter's horse, not my friend's horse, my horse. I can scarcely believe it. I first looked at him a couple of weeks ago. The girls came home and rode him. They approved. I had him vetted on Monday. Dr. Callahan approved. I wrote a check, with a shaking hand. He is mine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always loved horses and have been around them for most of the last twenty-five years. I was blessed with a horse-crazy daughter and fortunate enough to understand and indulge that passion. I took lessons along with my daughter. I've been a horse show mom, a barn mom,a therapeutic riding volunteer, and finally a barn owner. It was enough, and I was beginning to believe that it was all that would be...but I am married to a wonderful man, who, while not horse-crazy himself, gets it. If you're a regular reader, you know that Mike gave me a horse for Christmas, but fortunately, I took him on trial and in the end decided he was not the one.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEpdlb83OB4E24FA6lsu8kybiBMDucPxBxq4hCCS7AOtl0hPLTk4xYG3th15FV6W4GL4Loog6jKz0cDU15lvDeHdmwynLinjLuZxux7AGzjbxRc2n2Y-eWW6iCWD8ivs_3vQhyX7utZc/s1600/DSC_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEpdlb83OB4E24FA6lsu8kybiBMDucPxBxq4hCCS7AOtl0hPLTk4xYG3th15FV6W4GL4Loog6jKz0cDU15lvDeHdmwynLinjLuZxux7AGzjbxRc2n2Y-eWW6iCWD8ivs_3vQhyX7utZc/s1600/DSC_0225.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
This is the one.</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were calling him Charley, but there are a lot of Charley horses about, so I would like to think of something different. I am open to suggestion, but you should know that I generally name my animals after authors or literary characters.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJhcwey548W9zcSbFhfBcxmrK-6PHUHZEQHjR5QLWWkArV87LrFks3cctgoA7sXTCDDuAVNqAXxQLxL-wqKIasj1a_1_dbR6BGm6yTDqjDvyx2qLavhTQ0sv_yEYWK-tOXwYzElB9CoY/s1600/DSC_0020_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJhcwey548W9zcSbFhfBcxmrK-6PHUHZEQHjR5QLWWkArV87LrFks3cctgoA7sXTCDDuAVNqAXxQLxL-wqKIasj1a_1_dbR6BGm6yTDqjDvyx2qLavhTQ0sv_yEYWK-tOXwYzElB9CoY/s1600/DSC_0020_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not brought him home, opting instead to board him for a month at Timber Grove Farm, where they will whip us both into shape first.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ar24g8Dk3_-h8jP4EI77B30vVclDcGQmfAdPpUem4wH7lrRQk4PFCEtVO1RFE4kd5sByyI-3hm_5IAnYIeq1LrTnA5T-k6t9FBBkX4wAouHuAxUCoHYjfXpxXuEs4731H0n6YE2LYzY/s1600/DSC_0019_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ar24g8Dk3_-h8jP4EI77B30vVclDcGQmfAdPpUem4wH7lrRQk4PFCEtVO1RFE4kd5sByyI-3hm_5IAnYIeq1LrTnA5T-k6t9FBBkX4wAouHuAxUCoHYjfXpxXuEs4731H0n6YE2LYzY/s640/DSC_0019_pe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With two horses, I'll need more of everything, so I picked up a big bag of carrots and found this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5QkV_23BI8Z5fHMkyeb_IV82S4Fr0FOvFKNU9Uv-RpUUXoGujtzNU-zTk-smaSdfmZ82IJuguhttGWfdyt2Jeevm4CMaJidr5Qy9rGU0ack75ZSaJgYZoaqaRMP80P1M_n2-PLjibEc/s1600/DSC_0223_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5QkV_23BI8Z5fHMkyeb_IV82S4Fr0FOvFKNU9Uv-RpUUXoGujtzNU-zTk-smaSdfmZ82IJuguhttGWfdyt2Jeevm4CMaJidr5Qy9rGU0ack75ZSaJgYZoaqaRMP80P1M_n2-PLjibEc/s640/DSC_0223_pe.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it just me, or does this carrot look as if it desperately needs the ladies room?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you are following your bliss, blog friends, wherever you are. XO.</span><br />
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-47137273055384826122015-05-01T11:49:00.000-07:002015-05-01T11:54:52.235-07:00MAY BASKETS<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy May Day! It's chilly and grey here, so I cheered myself up with these super simple May baskets. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW8IZJBSvgsJjy3xBQfIuyPNnoQuk2zY5vnSUTq6jcnailF4SMmqvdZvVcZjg99jQQRMfzh2d169Q8Zu4411b3fSg_LkpWrGXGhpy3AS9s5ZzCK-Y5_o63kPyyYO3YxGtycmL22kESrQ/s1600/DSC_0002_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW8IZJBSvgsJjy3xBQfIuyPNnoQuk2zY5vnSUTq6jcnailF4SMmqvdZvVcZjg99jQQRMfzh2d169Q8Zu4411b3fSg_LkpWrGXGhpy3AS9s5ZzCK-Y5_o63kPyyYO3YxGtycmL22kESrQ/s1600/DSC_0002_pe.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rolled pages from an old poetry book into cones, punched a hole through opposite sides (reinforced the hole with a piece of tape), knotted a length of ribbon through the holes for hanging. Attached a bit of vintage bling, then stuffed each cone with a small plastic baggie and added the flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add a carrot, if you're making one for your pony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great weekend, blog friends. It's supposed to be 80 degrees here by Sunday. Time to break out the bikes, or kayaks, or both. XO!</span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-34790118363569233412015-04-29T19:25:00.000-07:002015-05-02T06:53:18.257-07:00EARTH DAY. I KNOW, THAT WAS SO LAST WEEK!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's catch up. I bought a tree and started a new mixed-media piece to celebrate Earth Day. The weather was too dismal to plant the tree on Wednesday, but It is safely tucked in the ground now and our whole property is bursting with new growth. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Maple.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Layered paint, paper, charcoal, and ink on canvas, then printed the piece on fabric and added more layers of fabric and stitching.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghponebXogJbFT6OIsAUJ2eFlh6XU6VzjfS8FtWyV_-fZxp7Npl8FLMls7dsms7kp1ho2ewJFQoPM9dkX2QlWPLvmgm9h_5UTD6kfLYgQ91NVj6Fof6y3ws4v9-R12CJSq9U0KrrJzkW8/s1600/DSC_0010_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghponebXogJbFT6OIsAUJ2eFlh6XU6VzjfS8FtWyV_-fZxp7Npl8FLMls7dsms7kp1ho2ewJFQoPM9dkX2QlWPLvmgm9h_5UTD6kfLYgQ91NVj6Fof6y3ws4v9-R12CJSq9U0KrrJzkW8/s1600/DSC_0010_pe.jpg" height="636" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we're just back from the East Coast Paddlesports Festival, I added a kayak and paddleboard. Don't laugh at my little stitchy stick figures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The apple blossoms have peaked, but are still lovely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of color, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the wild things are stirring as well. On Sunday morning a fox chased Fitz through our woods and he shot straight up a loblolly pine to escape. Fortunately, Mike heard the commotion and chased the fox away. Abby is shedding like crazy and I am tossing all the hair from grooming out for the nesting birds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The martin house is a beehive of activity. I'm thinking there may be no vacancies this year. The bluebird house is also occupied, though I'm not sure the occupants are bluebirds</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Down by the river, the osprey are nesting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was good to be home on the weekend for a change and even better because our daughter was home as was her best friend, our almost daughter. Did a little pony shopping on Saturday afternoon with the girls. Took this guy for a test drive. Hmmm....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More on this next week. Hopefully. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay positive, blog friends. XO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-7023551031407377502015-04-21T07:21:00.001-07:002015-04-22T04:55:23.798-07:00LOW COUNTRY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were traveling again last weekend. Mike had some business in Charleston and I had never been, so I tagged along. It rained...cold and rainy when we arrived on Thursday, warm and rainy when we left. The weather didn't keep us from enjoying the sights though, and the food was amazing...fried green tomatoes, pimiento cheese, shrimp and grits. It is possible to have fried green tomatoes at every meal, and I did the first day, hoping that 20,000 steps on my Fitbit would keep them off my hips.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The business...East Coast Paddlesports Festival.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did a lot of walking, some bike riding, and were graciously hauled around the city in a carriage by this handsome guy, oddly named, Facebook.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUUKPsozxkZf2LJVBdGHDYuFdhaCxEL_DuEHASueYlBPGSWAamuIn9-BXD2IEnPBH6QyUr7ndl_BvhHbK9CY9aHPVZzh_hXhsIBJWRct3Cnho3fSltm2MGr7PRpK7hNNTbcCOJJz-6a4/s1600/DSC_0306_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUUKPsozxkZf2LJVBdGHDYuFdhaCxEL_DuEHASueYlBPGSWAamuIn9-BXD2IEnPBH6QyUr7ndl_BvhHbK9CY9aHPVZzh_hXhsIBJWRct3Cnho3fSltm2MGr7PRpK7hNNTbcCOJJz-6a4/s1600/DSC_0306_pe.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook, the carriage horse.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were fortunate to get a cottage at James Island County Park where the paddle festival was held. It's a short drive from the city and there's a shuttle if you don't care to drive. If you're going to Charleston in the springtime, book a room well in advance. We were told weekends from mid-April on are extremely busy.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cottage. No, we're not drinking Boone's Farm! That's wine we bought at Boone Hall Plantation.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hair disturbed me. Twenty minutes outdoors in the mist and humidity, and it began to look like this...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish moss.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hair only looks like this at home when we're having a hurricane. Mike's hair was undisturbed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wandered through the Unitarian churchyard with my camera. It was lovely, despite the drizzle, but wildly overgrown. The Unitarians need to pull some weeds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5LpWwLz3RUqq7ze011hWeCLMn2ldZL8cGQGtkFqbI6ASxuWXOlTgrcdgqBqwOTEIOLaaINJn7IVjTxyWWdHGgj5Q5tbksaA9xdVkMsEHoMZxDE5Caiz_mFC3o0kyNJserAk2c9eYfZQ/s1600/DSC_0253_pe_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5LpWwLz3RUqq7ze011hWeCLMn2ldZL8cGQGtkFqbI6ASxuWXOlTgrcdgqBqwOTEIOLaaINJn7IVjTxyWWdHGgj5Q5tbksaA9xdVkMsEHoMZxDE5Caiz_mFC3o0kyNJserAk2c9eYfZQ/s1600/DSC_0253_pe_pe.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have window box envy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUAmgHNjyidtu4AhMtKEk5TpqrT5-g081597AiTUjsLinJQtJjMXuf2sd8WoE3dAFXY7EhjK-lO2y679vE-HWSu4kEbdCNhPavYBBtHXM34GeGCSHtD6NB_M-W1rRVnKcDxqVakz_tSM/s1600/DSC_0274_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUAmgHNjyidtu4AhMtKEk5TpqrT5-g081597AiTUjsLinJQtJjMXuf2sd8WoE3dAFXY7EhjK-lO2y679vE-HWSu4kEbdCNhPavYBBtHXM34GeGCSHtD6NB_M-W1rRVnKcDxqVakz_tSM/s1600/DSC_0274_pe.jpg" height="518" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was sorry to learn that this creeping fig won't thrive in our area.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-bWLjig-tVuzt7FTeNny52c4QEN3X5DW6H9qfKpuxGHC0gnJuy47H19pHs8CEtVRmL2vgl-F9nRJEEUBBGmClmZOKpV6kZ1B2z2SGeiuWvuin01JAsR7qNmi3K33TL6Css_V1ccPje8/s1600/DSC_0270_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-bWLjig-tVuzt7FTeNny52c4QEN3X5DW6H9qfKpuxGHC0gnJuy47H19pHs8CEtVRmL2vgl-F9nRJEEUBBGmClmZOKpV6kZ1B2z2SGeiuWvuin01JAsR7qNmi3K33TL6Css_V1ccPje8/s1600/DSC_0270_pe.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD90pYFSlLrYBzPukCNpa6AAzHIRMwGnmqcpgdEKGvTL5JPNhnzDwW78L_sY8hbujujeq75nnjHmRgJsvqO7CCBounlqVFnf_RzYFFhVHlQVlUdRQgzXeucb1IFeKFiiQ-Qs-jKKSlRRs/s1600/DSC_0268_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD90pYFSlLrYBzPukCNpa6AAzHIRMwGnmqcpgdEKGvTL5JPNhnzDwW78L_sY8hbujujeq75nnjHmRgJsvqO7CCBounlqVFnf_RzYFFhVHlQVlUdRQgzXeucb1IFeKFiiQ-Qs-jKKSlRRs/s1600/DSC_0268_pe.jpg" height="490" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were so many flowers in bloom. Our carriage driver said that there is a new bloom for every month of the year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbCuCGqpWLUwifIYF1g5xWPEfuo7Hu1AB_k4AfviRkOTiDQhfZC2wq-zktnbTqYC2kwYgiyA1CZxb-Gywc7yBzY_dDipOjCc6ajFvJrG10u640jW2rs9w4hqTlWCOKKIwvaW6xBo81J0/s1600/DSC_0292_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbCuCGqpWLUwifIYF1g5xWPEfuo7Hu1AB_k4AfviRkOTiDQhfZC2wq-zktnbTqYC2kwYgiyA1CZxb-Gywc7yBzY_dDipOjCc6ajFvJrG10u640jW2rs9w4hqTlWCOKKIwvaW6xBo81J0/s1600/DSC_0292_pe.jpg" height="568" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNRkeKIMaMYMK7Czx85HXdGFiIppMkVp-wmzI33cHAYroOPMR3ELbEaW4uweftrcucX0bWzPROSTgJznCZSCmCuaRiWRl1Hj2oolYR5vOunsDQKL6H6bwYu4flLckuzX3HveZ3bEkIkY/s1600/DSC_0299_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNRkeKIMaMYMK7Czx85HXdGFiIppMkVp-wmzI33cHAYroOPMR3ELbEaW4uweftrcucX0bWzPROSTgJznCZSCmCuaRiWRl1Hj2oolYR5vOunsDQKL6H6bwYu4flLckuzX3HveZ3bEkIkY/s1600/DSC_0299_pe.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Left the city for a tour of Boone Hall Plantation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi-R6Of_GRxoQ1UwegZWwt0E005FuKt8tQvXNK19Br1Yl3eY5zNlFdF6UQV__gbcLeD4NMG5LJL-0x3VVOeNhMHosmwxpzroZMie8VfMYb-Yqz7-nZrGBWYz5IXCK-Qh2ypitWicSeGA/s1600/DSC_0291_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi-R6Of_GRxoQ1UwegZWwt0E005FuKt8tQvXNK19Br1Yl3eY5zNlFdF6UQV__gbcLeD4NMG5LJL-0x3VVOeNhMHosmwxpzroZMie8VfMYb-Yqz7-nZrGBWYz5IXCK-Qh2ypitWicSeGA/s1600/DSC_0291_pe.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU2jVHUcU-Ew3QV6lSsrgvxmU0NNTczga9vsKvlgInrkzLo90IXod1uef7Z7DTei1l8saH3Dc_30Cr1r9qFXRy7L9I5AJ0kn7V133X3Ni7HNsogbZJhm81xw3CjyGBr4ae5Oh5GcCdRs/s1600/DSC_0282_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU2jVHUcU-Ew3QV6lSsrgvxmU0NNTczga9vsKvlgInrkzLo90IXod1uef7Z7DTei1l8saH3Dc_30Cr1r9qFXRy7L9I5AJ0kn7V133X3Ni7HNsogbZJhm81xw3CjyGBr4ae5Oh5GcCdRs/s1600/DSC_0282_pe.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slave cabin. The bricks were made at Boone Hall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP9TAXQ_Pqtjr1-qpNMooQCUAdaeC_vFuISlYnBfF-o9QPt6SvAOPmO-xP1u2si6ImPfCHLp-z_QM9yGfpNasdgzdsvr0eWZ3ZPIs3F1P3ziaK6gwjmtBHRf5s0wYo4HHuM_cFB0DNAc/s1600/DSC_0309_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP9TAXQ_Pqtjr1-qpNMooQCUAdaeC_vFuISlYnBfF-o9QPt6SvAOPmO-xP1u2si6ImPfCHLp-z_QM9yGfpNasdgzdsvr0eWZ3ZPIs3F1P3ziaK6gwjmtBHRf5s0wYo4HHuM_cFB0DNAc/s1600/DSC_0309_pe.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cotton gin awaits restoration.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday evening, we took advantage of a break in the rain and made the short drive to Folly Beach to dip our toes in the ocean. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPhcnj3gnnjNcgtZBevg67rCQiH2_T4c7ENPhRW8uFw8T8FsYT2XjWvWZEgkjKAArJ7C5iV4v3pFtcOVKg0srhzfW5rJe9bV0Wmu4aZDrZJXKF8oGZF2uEOFjOqZIZ9xku7bTTlAFVEw/s1600/DSC_0330_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPhcnj3gnnjNcgtZBevg67rCQiH2_T4c7ENPhRW8uFw8T8FsYT2XjWvWZEgkjKAArJ7C5iV4v3pFtcOVKg0srhzfW5rJe9bV0Wmu4aZDrZJXKF8oGZF2uEOFjOqZIZ9xku7bTTlAFVEw/s1600/DSC_0330_pe.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Sunday, we were anxious to get home to our animals. We have an excellent house sitter, Rebecca Addy of <a href="http://www.happilyhomeservices.com/">Happily Home Services</a>, but poor Nigel thinks we just bring this nice lady in occasionally for him to babysit. He takes his job seriously and follows her everywhere. Exhausting! He spent most of yesterday like this.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Aky5OR1XHuJ-mQoR0-mxlrUTIXMHWoipGlyoBai1Jn5K9nAlFR8LMMW6ADFOGNqYjpvtFVmHoAKvXvhGPgNMMvTg6_awiTkwNDL3iXi987hdBlbBzLRaaD6zUrYjKGrp45JCx4Fm9-8/s1600/DSC_0219_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Aky5OR1XHuJ-mQoR0-mxlrUTIXMHWoipGlyoBai1Jn5K9nAlFR8LMMW6ADFOGNqYjpvtFVmHoAKvXvhGPgNMMvTg6_awiTkwNDL3iXi987hdBlbBzLRaaD6zUrYjKGrp45JCx4Fm9-8/s1600/DSC_0219_pe.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next weekend, we are staying home and turning our attention to our own property...weeds to pull, fence rails to replace, grass to cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget tomorrow is Earth Day. You only get one Mother. Go here for more info. <a href="http://www.earthday.org/2015">www.earthday.org/2015</a></span></div>
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XO.</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-4444353666804207222015-04-14T16:24:00.002-07:002015-04-14T16:24:35.703-07:00SPRING WEEKEND<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, I took a little walk in our woods, looking for signs of spring. Of course there were cats and of course, there was disagreement over who got to walk between Mama's feet, hence the ears on Mathilda.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAmpQe0vBlESEE8Zm2vsWh6r05WmG3_qRM-AqHFjlpiHuFZ2qkujF4NQ3gg81mR9OO6UDSQSFCduRRN7gPX0RjWCNkiUjTB9mSDAa6WncLd4I405L9mEpEBAuwV9tLTTVTZT0wUd3Sag/s1600/DSC_0087_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAmpQe0vBlESEE8Zm2vsWh6r05WmG3_qRM-AqHFjlpiHuFZ2qkujF4NQ3gg81mR9OO6UDSQSFCduRRN7gPX0RjWCNkiUjTB9mSDAa6WncLd4I405L9mEpEBAuwV9tLTTVTZT0wUd3Sag/s1600/DSC_0087_pe.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbSWCgu8Otfm5DCuGGj66Y7fkj27yPB0W0v9bExGqq6dXGJXjnIs5ME63ZOCCNSUKfyYAbeV8I0p5I-tSGj2acL2RNw5eps1kI4oKNznanefdBkL2Qnf7N2pZESgLomOT-Sy6NYxp3o0/s1600/DSC_0071_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbSWCgu8Otfm5DCuGGj66Y7fkj27yPB0W0v9bExGqq6dXGJXjnIs5ME63ZOCCNSUKfyYAbeV8I0p5I-tSGj2acL2RNw5eps1kI4oKNznanefdBkL2Qnf7N2pZESgLomOT-Sy6NYxp3o0/s1600/DSC_0071_pe.jpg" height="640" width="548" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After last winter, I am hungry for every little bit of green.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRUJkQ3joNf4T1YXwzqFvZeDHpmwIVBIIln6nbpuOlGz8_j8aFtgLB5SJvTGHJYa6zrf1DNujvKwHTafY4VDaTVvft4E-V-qGfed6Wvk11aNk8-pUkZFnSRRBYgJk59D2uabX7wG3WJY/s1600/DSC_0110_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRUJkQ3joNf4T1YXwzqFvZeDHpmwIVBIIln6nbpuOlGz8_j8aFtgLB5SJvTGHJYa6zrf1DNujvKwHTafY4VDaTVvft4E-V-qGfed6Wvk11aNk8-pUkZFnSRRBYgJk59D2uabX7wG3WJY/s1600/DSC_0110_pe.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_FLqQsET0vhncqhByC7xfNvT33kHyQoPT4nuxN2z1U-OZVYugFa2DaSDW9jbRIxIFreyTILrwL9zOzLS1ThyXulq3iEu4OBGdONz-xJDJs8rmQD4Lg0O-zsS9VTPlnVyldkNLAa56no/s1600/DSC_0059_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_FLqQsET0vhncqhByC7xfNvT33kHyQoPT4nuxN2z1U-OZVYugFa2DaSDW9jbRIxIFreyTILrwL9zOzLS1ThyXulq3iEu4OBGdONz-xJDJs8rmQD4Lg0O-zsS9VTPlnVyldkNLAa56no/s1600/DSC_0059_pe.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As is Abby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKRIWJuXaO8oqsB-n7wY7od2Mp4QlAUyIsX4_gAovD3TZ4jB9PSKol7QYAook0j1T-SEyqrJ8AxMja8aqFCky7v3G6O_Z0VSulk0X_6lDFtH0OYVyJstlGqyPGO3TgrG32urYq8FmbE/s1600/DSC_0131_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKRIWJuXaO8oqsB-n7wY7od2Mp4QlAUyIsX4_gAovD3TZ4jB9PSKol7QYAook0j1T-SEyqrJ8AxMja8aqFCky7v3G6O_Z0VSulk0X_6lDFtH0OYVyJstlGqyPGO3TgrG32urYq8FmbE/s1600/DSC_0131_pe.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the weekend, we took a road trip to PA, to help our girl move into her first house. Wallpaper was scraped, a fence was built, and the world's ugliest paneling was pulled from the walls. Seriously, the 70's was not our finest decorating hour. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way home we stopped to take photos of this beautiful old farm. Always makes me sad to see a wonderful barn in ruins. This one was obviously brought down by fire.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFRq0Dej7d_Zrz3ivQW2vg0CXH6iTUNodITUht4oKMhudAroXyqrQ1Hhq75o5nw1guBhbINtuCKWCqh0QoQkiHuWQUIATeIS0v808nCuzwSLXY0QVyOK8Ozwpxuf1rwNbbkU4lg_U9JY/s1600/DSC_0030_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFRq0Dej7d_Zrz3ivQW2vg0CXH6iTUNodITUht4oKMhudAroXyqrQ1Hhq75o5nw1guBhbINtuCKWCqh0QoQkiHuWQUIATeIS0v808nCuzwSLXY0QVyOK8Ozwpxuf1rwNbbkU4lg_U9JY/s1600/DSC_0030_pe.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The house must have been lovely in its day, but vandals have done their dirty work. Still, it has "po" and it is for sale. I don't think it's beyond repair, but then I rarely do. I'm a rehab optimist.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little paint, a few throw pillows?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got my first tick of the season, tramping through the weeds to take these pics. You're welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrived home to find that spring had exploded in our absence. I have the puffy eyes to prove it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more trip coming up this weekend. Heading to Charleston, which Mike thinks I will love, so I expect to have loads of pics for you. Then I am going to hunker down and do some long overdue blog refurbishment to celebrate my impending 500,000 views milestone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy spring, blog friends. Hope you're not too sneezy. XO.</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-31614368207000643562015-04-02T16:42:00.000-07:002015-04-02T16:42:01.030-07:00CELEBRATING SPRING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dreaming of spring and working on some things.Temps today were forecasted to be in the 70's and while that happened in some spots on the western shore, we had a stiff wind off the river which kept temps in the low sixties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reworked this background canvas to add some color and charcoal, then scrutinized it to see who was in there, printed it and gave it the fabric treatment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easter is early this year, and Scout and Nigel are anxious to show off their Easter bonnets. Nigel thinks I overdid it with the paper flowers, but I do love those dollar bins at Target. He's a tad grumpy. He has strained a neck muscle, romping with Scout, so I wasn't planning to shoot him today. He kept inserting himself in my photos anyway. He has a strong work ethic, our Nigel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scout was okay with the hat, but I think they both agreed the paper flowers were too much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My laptop was down with a virus yesterday, so I dropped it off at the computer hospital and headed down to Blackwater. The turtles were out and sunning themselves on every available log, and I saw three groundhogs, who were not camera shy at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still working with some pics from the Las Vegas trip...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not sure where I'm going with this, but it will come to me. Eventually.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you have lovely Spring/Easter plans with friends and family this weekend. I am going to the Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm to take some pictures of fleece before the shearers come. After that, I'll be enjoying the company of our boy, who is coming home and is a whisper away from finishing school and moving to the west coast. Time flies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Spring, blog friends. XO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-87714122023883273532015-03-20T15:41:00.000-07:002015-03-22T06:26:16.156-07:00POSTCARDS FROM VEGAS<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Las Vegas is not a vacation destination we would normally choose, Mike had to go on business and I tagged along because I had reached the absolute end of my tolerance for MUD. It was sunny and warm, and in four days I did not see a single snow flurry or bit of slush. Lovely! Excellent meals, some Cirque de Soleil, a Faberge exhibit at the Bellagio, and miles of walking with my camera. My Fitbit is proud and sending me encouraging messages. Thirty thousand blister inducing steps in one day! A personal best to ease the guilt of those excellent meals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived home in the wee hours this morning, caught some sleep and woke to snow, which turned to rain and now more MUD. I am grateful for the getaway and the first day of spring. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took some doing, but I managed to find some wildlife that looked like this, in Vegas...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical gardens at the Flamingo.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than this...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wynn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellagio</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wynn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caesar's Palace. The Forum Shoppes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pansy parasols at the Wynn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellagio</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy first day of spring, blog friends! Wish you were there! XO</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Hey, you people with selfie sticks, be careful. You're gonna put somebody's eye out!</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-40398805068646576992015-03-06T12:58:00.003-08:002015-03-06T12:58:49.337-08:00DRIVEN TO ABSTRACTION<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've had another week of frigid temps with alternating snow and ice storms, in this winter that will never end. Hopefully, having more daylight at the end of the day will make it seem more like spring. I hear we should reach the 50's every day next week. Hurray!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the upside, rotten weather means more time indoors and a jump start for my creative mojo. Earlier in the week, I was seized by the urge to fling some paint around, followed quickly by a desire to play with fabric. Here's how that turned out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd043XTwYF9auPn0QPxDye7eL-bT0EZtR07tmCnhoojjuyg364PeyQmhDcsGObSCqUtVpDeRfpR6YDkhPeMkK21mmingu7ShiguGIXk85fDD0N2lCJqyhMzBhGQ95ewBjAz2xUoKw0hQ/s1600/DSC_0004_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd043XTwYF9auPn0QPxDye7eL-bT0EZtR07tmCnhoojjuyg364PeyQmhDcsGObSCqUtVpDeRfpR6YDkhPeMkK21mmingu7ShiguGIXk85fDD0N2lCJqyhMzBhGQ95ewBjAz2xUoKw0hQ/s1600/DSC_0004_pe.jpg" height="640" width="558" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collaged paper and acrylic, with charcoal on canvas board.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Printed this on white cotton, and then gave it the fabric treatment. You might say, I was driven to "abstraction." </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5JpG91JLvcjopS6PKt5YuInGItTKQzUP1034P5OkQ9rv4CIsPCQVvpyOL3tIxb8mNBZIuOHwLZqXjxug8FzHuI1iDFk1E8X5Ct14ssu_W1FVG5HOpdhL67a6khN49wdkRxNeWSPCMR4/s1600/DSC_0003_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5JpG91JLvcjopS6PKt5YuInGItTKQzUP1034P5OkQ9rv4CIsPCQVvpyOL3tIxb8mNBZIuOHwLZqXjxug8FzHuI1iDFk1E8X5Ct14ssu_W1FVG5HOpdhL67a6khN49wdkRxNeWSPCMR4/s1600/DSC_0003_pe.jpg" height="640" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostly fabric and a bit of paper on linen. Nearly all the fabric is from a very old quilt I bought at auction. I'll be really sad when this one is used up. It had the most interesting bits of fabric and almost no repeats. I don't mind that it's in really rough shape. I love every little faded, stained scrap of it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven't decided whether to add text. I am open to suggestion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also made some time for dog pics. My little Scout is growing up and was very cooperative with the props. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After last night's snowfall, Abby was convinced that horse-eating snow goblins were waiting for her outside the barn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She made very sure it was safe before going out and making snow angels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mother Nature apologized for yesterday's excess and offered this. The Full Worm or Sap Moon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend, blog friends. Don't forget to spring forward. XO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-44251647453423079592015-02-26T14:37:00.000-08:002015-02-26T14:37:15.906-08:00OLD MAN WINTER<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old Man Winter was rather late to the party this year, and now we can't get him to leave. I don't mind the snow so much, but my old eastern shore bones are not accustomed to this level of cold. I have had some fun with my camera though, and renewed last year's fascination with frozen bridges. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choptank River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvBl9nlRSUTeKjPoP401cNLYGMXwkB4Mh8sqQmxVJFVGefD0g6dm0E_DpdVx-mOlxXd_VeBTVtseuUz53jO_4uLOtNQsIhxtkXo2rzgwSbrAW6DsyYLcga0-bJJahxTg10N-Klcfu2bU/s1600/DSC_0021_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvBl9nlRSUTeKjPoP401cNLYGMXwkB4Mh8sqQmxVJFVGefD0g6dm0E_DpdVx-mOlxXd_VeBTVtseuUz53jO_4uLOtNQsIhxtkXo2rzgwSbrAW6DsyYLcga0-bJJahxTg10N-Klcfu2bU/s1600/DSC_0021_pe.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choptank River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi419hFX3uuYwMdjCiRUcVCQF9WmWxjkjqmXSiUgdYNnQK7X5g9ATOO0tdxRyBYPdrm026NzSQTvXW1-PnXwU7p86Lv1tHCLnk-pigzCY_w40Jkyn8dqFEng8kfzfFwo9cP5MkR6Hjael0/s1600/DSC_0007_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi419hFX3uuYwMdjCiRUcVCQF9WmWxjkjqmXSiUgdYNnQK7X5g9ATOO0tdxRyBYPdrm026NzSQTvXW1-PnXwU7p86Lv1tHCLnk-pigzCY_w40Jkyn8dqFEng8kfzfFwo9cP5MkR6Hjael0/s1600/DSC_0007_pe.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dorchester County. We actually kayaked here a few months ago.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also managed a couple of quick trips to <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater/">Blackwater</a> where not a lot of creatures are stirring, besides eagles, who are not only stirring but nesting, a few heron, and this disgruntled penguin.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv0COpZKaRS3icc3gVdB_TXv65PSI3jtu2iNntdYN4mo76KQ1Wwg9qpEkM5yQxYBAYpsQRDas0RwnR2KktzP1gy1-t2JdnnsM5f-orubZfsj-JfypmU0-NZ_sTd9s3ZlHjHTTVhcynig/s1600/DSC_0068_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv0COpZKaRS3icc3gVdB_TXv65PSI3jtu2iNntdYN4mo76KQ1Wwg9qpEkM5yQxYBAYpsQRDas0RwnR2KktzP1gy1-t2JdnnsM5f-orubZfsj-JfypmU0-NZ_sTd9s3ZlHjHTTVhcynig/s1600/DSC_0068_pe.jpg" height="640" width="570" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7BVma6-clHeV2CiVd5DqvaOOvM8QcZGSIqzQdioREyEmQqmgsQiU-0v-Y1whcjGs2t2YFcYBEm5AV64HrEZkzpdpnECnr9TZXsb_XxEdndeEVXRg5leD_kEVH8OF7GLovtLKpOslXqE/s1600/DSC_0058_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7BVma6-clHeV2CiVd5DqvaOOvM8QcZGSIqzQdioREyEmQqmgsQiU-0v-Y1whcjGs2t2YFcYBEm5AV64HrEZkzpdpnECnr9TZXsb_XxEdndeEVXRg5leD_kEVH8OF7GLovtLKpOslXqE/s1600/DSC_0058_pe.jpg" height="624" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exercise caution when landing in icy conditions.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've had frozen pipes in the house and barn, but were able to get the water flowing with no ruptures. Lots of folks on the shore were not so lucky. I think by now even Scout and Nigel are tired of playing in the snow. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi-nIlvvJkSdk39QLFUOAkU88hNq_n3CMWEh-NS7DRjlJsGzFMQX1zL9AufdvNpAfkGVPn2HLXRJQZwHiBK3VBPlVyndsuJIXFUq7a31Xjm0youBQykyvnyMfiIQQRsCwR_zOiXdH1P8/s1600/DSC_0014_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi-nIlvvJkSdk39QLFUOAkU88hNq_n3CMWEh-NS7DRjlJsGzFMQX1zL9AufdvNpAfkGVPn2HLXRJQZwHiBK3VBPlVyndsuJIXFUq7a31Xjm0youBQykyvnyMfiIQQRsCwR_zOiXdH1P8/s1600/DSC_0014_pe.jpg" height="558" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by the frozen marshes in and around Blackwater, I am working on this...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImGdRbelp1q-oRCwex4EdqgTY63br0gzSsA0cHSQe6WM-b0ixBnqoUOlCgkmCro6akhiaxtJhKLMqgGkhN9jZXnvbopY0Ve57K-JjXpnm3oo21jxM7lrSMNWdjufsokeX_LWTrbQ9iGQ/s1600/DSC_0222_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImGdRbelp1q-oRCwex4EdqgTY63br0gzSsA0cHSQe6WM-b0ixBnqoUOlCgkmCro6akhiaxtJhKLMqgGkhN9jZXnvbopY0Ve57K-JjXpnm3oo21jxM7lrSMNWdjufsokeX_LWTrbQ9iGQ/s1600/DSC_0222_pe.jpg" height="572" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage fabrics and papers, hand and machine stitched on a cotton print of my hand-painted background. It's a process!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One last thing. While we've been having all this wretched weather, we have had the most spectacular sunsets. This one in particular, had a peculiar beam of light shooting upward from the horizon. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmiJdrlPYjV2Ij7Nxf8p-SS5kURNyBM-gkh2e_LgdNSPNlb2FY18hgRO6fntfnhu9rd-qgAcFQv8EjbsHQD3Ai5skdZqj8QK5VZDpuUuZlSsf74iNd_Hq4e8XtLEJHYIGtjyyliK823Q/s1600/DSC_0005_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmiJdrlPYjV2Ij7Nxf8p-SS5kURNyBM-gkh2e_LgdNSPNlb2FY18hgRO6fntfnhu9rd-qgAcFQv8EjbsHQD3Ai5skdZqj8QK5VZDpuUuZlSsf74iNd_Hq4e8XtLEJHYIGtjyyliK823Q/s1600/DSC_0005_pe.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think Mother Earth is dangling these little treats in front of us at the end of the day as compensation for what we've endured, such as the icicle bending wind that has accompanied the deep freeze.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DJgqu9t8RYvqs16lg8HrQY2U-hFwNJZma3A-zghPiV_llV1mnJ5OWPKg0l-4LH5gOZIdrcJbpFu77WpTMF8rh-jaAM2AXcjew0eWzhj_thfKpA6for7LerN_uhoJ_153khUJFL55-6U/s1600/DSC_0008_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DJgqu9t8RYvqs16lg8HrQY2U-hFwNJZma3A-zghPiV_llV1mnJ5OWPKg0l-4LH5gOZIdrcJbpFu77WpTMF8rh-jaAM2AXcjew0eWzhj_thfKpA6for7LerN_uhoJ_153khUJFL55-6U/s1600/DSC_0008_pe.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay warm blog friends! XO</span><br />
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-28112594238961390032015-02-14T17:27:00.001-08:002015-02-14T17:27:48.118-08:00VALENTINE'S DAY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day, blog friends!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcev7sxkg3nXWHDN-S462v3zYDgYqODw2h2QCKFtL1D-Gjs0XMAxnMAC_fHc5Jj17tCG37zFgXg90BMLkeAcT4ed-fnJcUoMY2v8uGN02FeqoFA2Q6vCE2iRnTaOMnQrLlAjdmbQjXSQ/s1600/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcev7sxkg3nXWHDN-S462v3zYDgYqODw2h2QCKFtL1D-Gjs0XMAxnMAC_fHc5Jj17tCG37zFgXg90BMLkeAcT4ed-fnJcUoMY2v8uGN02FeqoFA2Q6vCE2iRnTaOMnQrLlAjdmbQjXSQ/s1600/DSC_0009_pe.jpg" height="554" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed-media art quilt. Vintage and photo-printed fabric/paper.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you love, chocolate, roses...and a cuddle buddy. Stay warm. Looks like Old Man Winter is about to get a little crazy around here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGYV0hyphenhyphenkyG0bavghXpvrH8d4Qx3WhAePkHPhwmkU6KcHWQzUt9yk1RdBnLR6qG3c-iSIzerCivcc09VP3axQWzsPK7x1a0xS3C9B0K_EnP2FtD8a3Sz0CO_iBXMjdnUIFW_6esHAcldE/s1600/DSC_0015_pe_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGYV0hyphenhyphenkyG0bavghXpvrH8d4Qx3WhAePkHPhwmkU6KcHWQzUt9yk1RdBnLR6qG3c-iSIzerCivcc09VP3axQWzsPK7x1a0xS3C9B0K_EnP2FtD8a3Sz0CO_iBXMjdnUIFW_6esHAcldE/s1600/DSC_0015_pe_pe.jpg" height="538" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scout and Nigel</td></tr>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-84389960508637508422015-02-10T08:08:00.001-08:002015-02-10T08:08:20.064-08:00HELLO FEBRUARY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first days of February were bitter cold with howling winds, but ending in glorious sunsets. Mother Nature, doling out a little treat for bearing up bravely. Reflections in the ice on the river made these sunsets especially beautiful.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iFnwKsmBd7_Zh3khBceZXyanytgAXhum21DoVCVZ1jTQ6HlPE7TRFhsBAmkR59ZnUIKgGUgqJ9p31zTLWY6Pn6kB3XebEW5OfE1t60B9ydVSPDWDvpvvGuJEa35jZk7eNPPT3aF5zJ8/s1600/DSC_0049_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iFnwKsmBd7_Zh3khBceZXyanytgAXhum21DoVCVZ1jTQ6HlPE7TRFhsBAmkR59ZnUIKgGUgqJ9p31zTLWY6Pn6kB3XebEW5OfE1t60B9ydVSPDWDvpvvGuJEa35jZk7eNPPT3aF5zJ8/s1600/DSC_0049_pe.jpg" height="387" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The groundhog may have had bad news for us, but the weekend was a taste of spring. Stayed busy on Sunday with outdoor chores. It was warm enough to take Abby's blanket off, so of course she had a good roll (or three) in the mud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nigel supervised, in the manner of the country gentleman he is. Leaving the dirty work to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went into our little woods, I with my camera and Mike with his bush ax, to look for fallen branches. A number of wasp's nests had been shaken from their perches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now, this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Has become this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are in the midst of an ice storm today, and as I have already had one near miss today, clinging to the handle of the back door with one hand and my camera with the other as my legs went out from under, I am planning to hibernate and cuddle with my dogs, shuffling very carefully out to the barn when need be. All this cold and ice, and we still haven't had one good snow storm. There's still time, if the groundhog was accurate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay warm, blog friends. And upright, if you happen to be out on the ice. XO</span></div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-38690219842115312172015-01-29T13:32:00.000-08:002015-01-29T13:37:51.823-08:00WHERE I'VE BEEN<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past few weeks have felt a lot like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At times like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And even this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My parents, in their mid and late eighties are experiencing serious health issues. They live an hour away and since Christmas I have discovered there is not enough of me to go around. I am so grateful for the support of my husband and children, cousins, my dear MIL, and others who are too far away for hands-on assistance but keep in close contact by email and phone. So important to have a sympathetic ear at the end of a long day, particularly last week, when they were both in hospital at the same time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the upside, my Fitbit is very happy with me. That hospital parking garage allowed me to rack up some serious stair step points.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I'm not telling you this to whine, just wanted to explain my absence. I've missed you and this blogging thing terribly, and hope you will bear with me while I sort things out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did manage to start working on this, before things got crazy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I am feeling so stretched at the moment, I was delighted when this happened. I intended to make a early start yesterday, but...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpyDpOczvc6sN7fWMUT-JuCAyb-Ca4gxkCKhwt3f-bbzeL7X7WYIM28S_zjHIYacZoynrVoC1vqtW6ifs_ycpa5Q-6mk-YkbTjb4VR72bVxuEXW7pEnnR1IcV9e-iDa8aD1G-QYCWPRs/s1600/DSC_0050_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpyDpOczvc6sN7fWMUT-JuCAyb-Ca4gxkCKhwt3f-bbzeL7X7WYIM28S_zjHIYacZoynrVoC1vqtW6ifs_ycpa5Q-6mk-YkbTjb4VR72bVxuEXW7pEnnR1IcV9e-iDa8aD1G-QYCWPRs/s1600/DSC_0050_pe.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A neighbor, of the "not a horse person" variety called at 7:30, to say he'd spotted a horse in his backyard. "Quite large, with tan and white spots, and a braided tail." My first thought was whew, not ours, and then...what to do? After some calls and texts around the neighborhood, we established who it belonged to, but couldn't reach them, and so I set off with a bucket of grain and carrots, and a lead. It's quite a hike to the neighbor from here, but I made pretty good time (pleasing my Fitbit again), and shook my bucket of grain in the direction of the last sighting. This adorable little face peeked around from behind the garage, and made me laugh out loud. The stray horse was a mini, which had looked much larger to the neighbor who hadn't yet had his first cup of coffee. I brought her home and stashed her in a stall, leaving a message for the owners to pick her up at their convenience. I was secretly hoping she'd still be here when I returned from visiting my folks, but she was gone. Still, it put a little button on my day. In the past few months, we have found a kitten, two beagle pups, and now a miniature horse. What next?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't you just want to squeeze it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm off now, and I promise to be back before long. Nigel misses you, too. XO</span><br />
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-87885429586509182962015-01-06T07:26:00.000-08:002015-01-06T08:05:01.243-08:00THUMP: THE POST-CHRISTMAS SLUMP<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That thump you hear is me coming back down to earth after drifting along in a cookie fueled, largely unscheduled, haze for the past ten days. The last child left on Sunday, extra cat and dog in tow. It is incredibly quiet. Eight extra paws creates a lot of extra noise and activity. I miss it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was hoping to have something really exciting to tell you. Mike surprised me with the news that I was getting a horse for Christmas. So in that frantic week before Christmas I made the time to drive up to Church Hill with a friend and take a look at Jack. I brought him home for a ten day trial and vetting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, I decided he was not what I was looking for and sent him back, but still, how lucky am I, to be married to a man who after thirty-four years is still trying to make my dreams come true? This isn't the end of the story, I am now seriously looking for the right horse. Abby is anxious to have a new barn buddy and I am hoping that come spring, I will be hitting the trails on my own horse, because some dreams never die and horse crazy little girls grow up to be horse crazy middle-aged ladies. It's a fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santa also brought the fever/aching/coughing flu, and I spent the day after Christmas in bed, and the next day running around disinfecting doorknobs and light switches, hoping no one else would catch it. They didn't. The weather was mostly dismal throughout the holiday but we did manage a couple of quick trips to <a href="http://www.fws.gov/blackwater/">Blackwater</a>. The bald eagles were out in abundance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday, despite the miserable weather, my daughter and I grabbed our cameras and headed to <a href="http://www.oldtrinity.net/">Old Trinity</a>, hoping to take some photos of that lovely old graveyard in the mist. We left Mike and Kelly's boyfriend holding down the fort. We were barely out of the car, when they called to say there were three stray horses in the yard, and what should they do. We determined pretty quickly where they belonged and told them to call a horse savvy neighbor for help. The trio had managed to break a hinge and knock down a pasture gate while their owners were away. By the time we got back they were rounded up and restored to their pasture, though not before leading Mike and Sean on a merry chase around the neighborhood. Luckily they ran toward the river and not the highway. Really sorry not to have gotten pictures of that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was even more four-legged excitement the next day when a neighbor from across the highway knocked on our door. "Are you missing a pair of beagles?" he asked. I wish. I told him they didn't belong to us or anyone in our neighborhood. He asked if I wanted to hold on to them, as he was taking them to the humane society the next day. They had been chasing deer on his property for three days, before he caught them. Well no, I didn't want to hold on to them, but I certainly wanted to take a peek. Mistake. I peered into the back of his truck. I picked one up. I was lost. Husband and daughter came out. They were lost. Long story short, I would keep them in my barn, and take them to Talbot Humane on Monday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K5qezT4UFLj1CXdvv2axX0QOhBWlGjCD8G1br7f2O1Ua2TCmu0Dz5IzodMGqlIclKR1_GUiSoeC-LcAJ1zms3J5m3fE0hWhvRvBW2cAkCIjl-1563-XVDicmENOF5PZJbH5lGQJqnWo/s1600/DSC_0057_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K5qezT4UFLj1CXdvv2axX0QOhBWlGjCD8G1br7f2O1Ua2TCmu0Dz5IzodMGqlIclKR1_GUiSoeC-LcAJ1zms3J5m3fE0hWhvRvBW2cAkCIjl-1563-XVDicmENOF5PZJbH5lGQJqnWo/s1600/DSC_0057_pe.jpg" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no words to describe how sweet and wiggly and adorable they were. Each time I went into the barn, they were a little less timid and more delighted to see me. It was hound dog heaven. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqN_FIaDbcxhxmLe2qSoXqQ7vllEaUqoYly_x-rjgrNXZVDdUs3cXnJPNvshnXDHJJgxDViyMAnn2mx8wco-OFcoyAd56e7YjWTo5utGKlJzLEw_B1FRlOowp8keKyp_0fVJDQLjLxY/s1600/DSC_0104_pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqN_FIaDbcxhxmLe2qSoXqQ7vllEaUqoYly_x-rjgrNXZVDdUs3cXnJPNvshnXDHJJgxDViyMAnn2mx8wco-OFcoyAd56e7YjWTo5utGKlJzLEw_B1FRlOowp8keKyp_0fVJDQLjLxY/s1600/DSC_0104_pe.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first married dog was a beagle, also a Christmas present from my sweet husband. The man knows the way to my heart involves four legs and fur. We both have a soft spot for hound dog eyes and silky ears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We fed them, bedded them down in an empty stall, and took lots of pics, some of which I posted on Facebook and within a couple of hours had over a hundred shares. After four hours, I was on the phone with the owners, and by nine pm they were on their way home. They had escaped from their kennel and their owners had been driving the back roads on the other side of Trappe for three days, never dreaming they would make it down this far. A happy ending and a fun distraction to ease the end of holiday blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night we had a gorgeous sunset sky and today we are having our first light snowfall. It has given me the urge to make soup and crochet. I am not very skilled at crochet, but I have some gorgeous alpaca wool from <a href="http://www.outstandingdreamsfarm.com/">Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm</a>, which has inspired me to improve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope your New Year is off to a cozy start. I will keep you posted on the horse search. I've already received a couple of tips this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XO,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-15715649469794529802014-12-31T14:56:00.001-08:002014-12-31T14:56:50.349-08:00HAPPY NEW YEAR<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From me and all the four-legged helpers here at BarnBugStudio, wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933771661299820385.post-86952879037901332962014-12-24T18:23:00.000-08:002014-12-24T18:23:23.238-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798403531760348267noreply@blogger.com0