Coming out of seclusion...

Hello friends. I want to take a moment to thank everyone, from the bottom of my heart, for the lovely, heartfelt words of support at my dad's passing. I thought I would get back into the swing of things much sooner, but it has taken more time than I expected.

I have thrown myself into work, trying to keep busy and stay focused. If I'm busy, I don't have time to think. Blogging makes me think. I have to think about things to write about, usually what is going in in my small little life. Dad is always in my thoughts it seems, and it's just been too hard to put into words what I've been feeling.

I want to apologize about the "Bad Case of Blogger's Block" post that showed up in November on my blog. Can you believe that that was a post I actually started over a year ago when I couldn't think of anything to blog about? I grabbed some photos from my computer, intending to eventually making it a coherent post and I scheduled it to go live the following year. I then forgot all about it and because I haven't blogged since August, I didn't realize it had gone live in its rough, non-verbal state.

So what have I been doing? Dealing with guilt of my dad having been in a nursing home/rehab facility, a place he did not want to be. Wishing I had done many things differently. Revisiting so many things and wishing I could go back in time and do some things differently which (in my mind) may have changed the outcome. Stress eating. God, have I been stress eating. I will be getting rid of my Weight Loss log on the sidebar because I've regained all the weight I'd worked so hard to lose. If I ever feel up to starting the weight loss journey again, I'll start a new log on my sidebar.

I'm still wearing dad's blue shirt. The one everyone said was "his" color. They were right. It's a beautiful shade of pale blue. The rhinestone brooch was my addition. I can say without any hesitation that my dad never sported the brooch when he wore this shirt.

When I take a break from transcribing, the shops, and/or trying to paint, I sometimes see these beauties in our neighborhood.

A friend called me last week to let me know they were in her yard, so you know I had to grab my camera and head down for a visit.

After having no tree at all last year, we decided to take a chance this year even though Baby is as crazy as ever. We didn't put any of our breakable ornaments on the tree which was a smart move because she's constantly batting at everything and trying to climb up or through the tree.

She's a very mischievous little cat and I'm certain she thinks the tree was solely put up for her amusement.

I have a feeling she will miss it come January.

Sweet Jarrett is also enjoying the tree. I think all the critters are excited that Santa will be bringing them some treats. They've been very, very good this year (yes, even Baby).

Our little Tiger, now 18, spends most of her time on Amanda's bed, laying next to the heating vent in my office/studio, or watching the world go by outside her window... Santa knows her favorite treats are Temptations and I'm sure he'll be leaving her a few different flavors.

(Baby watching for Santa)

I doubt I will be back before the holidays so I want to take this time to once again thank you ALL for your kindness and to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Donna

Finally!

After many, many months...

of looking this way...

...and looking that way...

... of always sleeping...

... with one eye open...

of waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

...until you have no more "wait" left in you...

... of looking through...

... every window, for the smallest sign ...

...until you feel like climbing the walls ...

... or the windows ...

... because all you see is this.

 F . I  . N . A . L . L .Y

... beautiful, glorious ....

... S P R I N G ....

... has arrived in New England...

HAPPY SPRING, EVERYONE!!!!

Donna

Midnight in the garden of ....

good wood gone bad...


Okay, I may have exaggerated slightly about the midnight part (it was actually closer to dusk)...


... but the pictures don't lie. Just look at the condition of this wood.


Now don't get me wrong. I love old wood... and I love rustic...


... but this might be a little too rustic and worn...


Want a bird's eye view of the garden? (literally)... Let me show you what it looks like from the inside looking out...


Here is my beautiful vintage garden statue of Mary, always watching over the little creatures who visit our yard...


And over here is the front gate, the garden angel, and one of my (many) birdbaths...

Through this window is a glimpse of one of the bistro chairs....

...and through the arched door you can see the swingset deck/garden project we just finished, Mr. Garden Bunny, our vintage birdhouse planter, and the honeysuckle vine... So that is what birds would see if they built a nest inside. On a few occasions they've started nests, but stopped when they realized there is "predator" access from just about every side of the house. They do, however, love to perch on top of the house!


And speaking of weathered wood, sitting over here on a well worn wood bench is an old window...

...but I have to say that I think the window is a case of good wood gone better (although the bench could use a good cleaning!)... So there you have it...


And in case anyone is wondering, I have pulled up one of our blue Adirondack chairs in front of the bee balm... I am determined to get a photo of one of the hummers who visit it.... And I'll stay out here until I get a good shot, or until the mosquitos get the best of me!!!

In case I don't post again before the holiday, HAPPY 4th of July everyone!! And now be sure to stop by to see Cindy, My Romantic Home, and all the other Show & Tell Friday participants!!!... Donna

Prisms - the rainbow connection...

Several years ago I stumbled upon some heavily discounted ornaments at TJ Maxx in an after-Christmas sale. I'm so glad I purchased several boxes of them.


(click any photos to enlarge)
They never have been used for their intended purpose (Christmas tree ornaments). Instead, I've hung them in front of the living room, dining room, and family room windows, resulting in a never-ending array of rainbows throughout the year.


Tomorrow, I'll share photos of some of the rainbows I've captured inside the house, but today I wanted to share how beautiful the prisms are in their simplicity...


"We're after the same rainbow's end waitin' round the bend, my Huckleberry friend. " (Johnny Mercer, Moon River)


Spotty, on his favorite pillow in the living room window last summer, under the three prisms....

A little different style prism/ornament hangs in the dining room windows...

The three prisms in this window throw the most incredible rainbows across the kitchen cabinets. I'm so glad I painted the cabinets white because the rainbows are so much more visible than when the cabinets were dark brown.

The three prisms that hang in the dining room window...

"Climb every mountain, ford every stream Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream!" (Oscar Hammerstein II - The Sound of Music)

The prisms that hang in the family room slider match the living room prisms.

"Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby." (Yip Harburg - from The Wizard of Oz)

So today was the Rainbow Connection - the prisms... Tomorrow will be the incredible rainbows these little prisms create! (Or click here to see the rainbows)...

Donna

COMMENT UPDATE: Cadillactaste, I found these prisms at TJ Maxx... They were ornaments that I found after Christmas. I've seen similar ornaments in other stores since then, so check out the Christmas decor sections of stores and I'll bet you find some! They really are awesome!