Poppy's

This AJ page was inspired from one of Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday pages.  I really like her page but didn't have the same stamps.  So this is my version of her inspired page.  It was created using gelatos and some of her poppy stamps.

Februrary - The month of love

 

Art is too serious to be taken seriously.

Joy

sleepyhead

Red -bellied Woodpecker Kaleidoscope

Playing with a photo of a Cardinal

Quote

Know in your heart that Art Chooses You. It chose you at birth when you got that extra special way of looking at the world, when a need for being creative was programmed into your DNA. Whatever your goals or dreams are for yourself creatively are separate from who you are, which is already an artist. 
                                            Jen Cushman

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

 

I am enjoying watching the Cardinals and Woodpeckers feed from the suet feeder in my backyard. 

Interesting facts:

• Red-bellied Woodpeckers are attracted to noises that resonate. The male will tap loudly on metal gutters, aluminum roofs and even vehicles to attract a mate.
• The European Starling will often evict the Red-bellied Woodpecker from its nest.
• The male has a wider tongue tip and longer bill than the female, allowing him to reach deeper into crevices to find prey. Studies have shown the male forages on the tree trunk, while the female forages mostly on limbs.
• A group of woodpeckers has many collective nouns, including a "descent", "drumming", and "gatling" of woodpeckers.

Cardinals

 

I am enjoying watching these beautiful Cardinals.

Interesting Facts:

• The Northern Cardinal can live up to 15 years in the wild.
• It is the state bird of seven states-Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. No other bird holds this distinction.
• Males that have a brighter red color appear to feed at higher rates and have greater reproductive success than males that are duller in color.
• A group of cardinals has many collective nouns, including a "college", "conclave", "deck", "radiance", and "Vatican" of cardinals.

            

                        
“Only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present.”

~Storm Jackson

21 secrets workshop

http://www.dirtyfootprints-studio.com/2011/12/announcing-21-secrets-workshops-for.html

Image from Pinterest

Baby it's cold outside

Winter has arrived for a brief visit this week.  We've had unseasonably warm weather so far this winter, most days in the 60's and even into the 70's.  However this week it's been in the 30's and 40's during the day and down to the 20's at night.  Since this can be gloomy, I thought I'd post this orchid photo to brighten our day.

Happy New Year

Biltmore House

Hubby and I went to Biltmore House in Asheville the day after Christmas.  We had a wonderful trip and the House was gorgeous.  I've wanted to go there at Christmas for years so this trip was very special to me.  Here are a couple of pictures of this American castle.  If you love everything decorated for Christmas, I'd highly recommend taking a trip to see the House all decorated for the holidays.  It is beautiful and very festive.

Here's the forty foot tree in the Banquet Hall. The tree was cut from a tree farm in Newland in Avery County.  The ornaments on this tree are huge.  Now that's what I call a Christmas tree and by far the largest I've ever seen.

Angel Shell Ornament

I made this ornament from shells collected on the beach this summer.  This one went to the winner of a metals lottery challenge I was in.  Think I'll have to make one for myself.  She's so cute!

12 Tags displayed

                                These are the 12 tags I posted earlier this week, all displayed together. 

My Christmas Angel

                    Merry Christmas!  

Quote on the canvas: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".

My version of Tim Holtz tag #10

My version of Tim Holtz tag #9

My version of Tim Holtz tag #8

My version of Tim Holtz tag #7