I have been pretty busy finishing up some well overdue paintings that I had to put aside to work on other projects. I don't like putting this off but sometimes it can't be helped. So for those of you out there that I promised gifts too, please hang in there they will be coming before summer's end. Please accept my sincere apologies, I'm working on doing better.

We are gearing up for our retirement in a little over a year and half. I have a lot of downsizing to do and sorting out of the many items we've accumulated over the years (this will be no easy task). Some of our plans include moving to a little warmer area, opening up an art gallery to include artists in the community we move to, as well as my own work and some of my hubby's beautiful hand made furniture. We are really excited about this and plan on having fun doing it. My ideal building choices would be an old abandoned school house or church, maybe an empty old store front. Something along those lines would lend an outstanding atmosphere to art. I would also like to incorporate a comfortable sitting area where visitors and friends can relax, enjoy a great cup of coffee or tea, read a little or just chat away the time.

Area choices we are looking at are Wilmington, New Bern and a few other coastal towns of North Carolina, Greenville South Carolina, and some areas of Virginia. Nothing has really caught my fancy yet.

I'm sad today. A dear friend who my hubby and I have come know and love, has been a part of our Bible study group for close to two years, became seriously ill and now taken a turn down hill. We have been praying for him for heeling, wether that heeling is growing well out of it or heeling by going home to be with the Lord. We don't know which that will be, only God knows. But I have come to learn that the Lord heels in three ways: all at once through miraculous heeling, a heeling through whatever medical process is used, or heeling by bringing the person home to be with Him. Whatever God's will is for our brother and friend I will praise Him because I know the suffering will be gone either way. It is so hard to let go of someone you love and care for but our treasured memories of them over time heel the wounds in our hearts.

Death is inevitable for all of us, but the hearts we touch along our journey home also touches ours, leaving a priceless gift that lasts a lifetime.

Please cherish the love ones and friends you have today for they may be gone tomorrow, the time you give away can never be retrieved.

I leave you with this Scripture: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Blessings to you my dear friends

Good blustery winter morning to you!
We are getting hammered this morning with a winter storm with high winds and freezing temperatures here in Western Pennsylvania. Good day to stay inside cozied up with a book and hot cup of tea. I just
couldn't resist taking this picture of a tufted titmouse on our peanut butter feeder getting some food fuel to keep warm in this nasty weather.

Have a blessed day all!

It has been pretty chaotic in this household since August and it is just now letting up or at least I thought it was until I received an unwanted letter in the mail yesterday. We had one more incident here that has just about put me over the edge and yanking every last hair out of my head. If I didn't have the Lord in my life, it probably would have pushed me off the cliff and I'll leave it at that.

I decided in November that I would do my Bible reading in 2014 out of my "Change Your Life Daily Bible" and do my devotions from "Sacred Obsession" by Becky Tirabassi. I had used these together two years ago and really enjoyed it, not to mention the impact it had on me. The other devotional I love to spend time in is "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers—very power, very life changing!

I don't often share my very personal preferences here but I really feel that it is the time to do just that. So over the course of this year I will attempt to share myself, my insights, the powerful changes that take place in me. After all, this is why I paint.

The Bible is my life's survival manual, it has all I need in it to live each day. It answers all of life's questions. As a matter of fact this verse says it perfectly: "There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." 2 timothy 3:15-17 The Message

Friends are another very important part of my life. I can count my treasured friends on both hands, each one brings a special gift to my soul and well being. I would love to name each here individually but I won't embarrass them—you each know who you are and I thank you for the blessings you bring to my life.

With each post I will include a photograph I've taken or one of my watercolors with hopes of brightening your day, to encourage and uplift you. May God's blessings wrap around you today!

I have a new painting to share with you that was commissioned by a friend as a Christmas gift for another friend. It was such a fun painting to do. It took several enjoyable hours to complete. I say enjoyable because of the challenge in painting something I have never attempted.

God is so good to me I could not do these paintings without Him. It is He who has given me the talents and gifts and I want to honor Him with them.

It is a beautiful Saturday morning! Just wanted to share more of the fall flowers from Phipps Conservatory with you. Enjoy!

There was also electric trains and village scenery set up, it was fantastic. I will do a post with photos of those also as well as some other fall flowers.

We have lots of work to do around the house today. We are getting ready to have some painting done and will be scraping old paint off that has started to peal. I also have a painting I need to get started on today as well. Busy, busy, busy. It seems that's how our weeks are these days; all work no play. But that's okay it has to be done and I always feel good when its finished.

A dear friend surprised me with a wonderful birthday adventure today. She arrived at 7:50 a.m. to take me out for breakfast at another friends home, it was delightful! She had the table all decorated with fall colors and special treats. In the center of the table was a beautiful yellow mum with deep red stripes in the petals dressed in pretty fall wrappings, there were tiny (real) pumpkins all decked out in hodge podge, and a tiny camera necklace. We had tea, almond biscotti, quiche and hot homemade applesauce, it was sooooo yummy! We left from there and headed to Pittsburgh for the fall flower show at Phipps Conservatory. I got some beautiful photos to share with you below. So enjoy! It was a fantastic day!