Winter Scape Wanderings~ Keeping the Wonder

I hope that your

new year is off to a good start.

I'm sitting here by a crackling fire, 

(that needs a log ;)

drinking tea with my feet up. 

My day started very early today for 

which I'm happy. 

That allowed me to get my work done early

and have creative time.

What a lovely "wintry" winter it's been so far.

Most days, when it's cold and snowy outside,

I can hardly wait to lay footprints

in the brand new blanket of white.

I have such wonderful memories 

of roaming the hills of our farm in Ohio.

That was way back when I was a girl and teenager.

Now the mountain you see invites me to

 wander and roam it's canyons, slides,

draws and ridges. 

If you've visited before, you know that we live

 at the base of a mountain. We call it ours,

but it really belongs to the 

National Forest Service ;)

Some mornings, we are 

awakened by the beautiful

creatures that live alongside of us.

Their antlers scrape the house as they bite off the

grass that grows there.

Last winter, it was so dry, they were drinking from

a hose that was draped in a tree.

They heard the water as it 

trickled down to the ground.

So we are very grateful that the mountains

have several feet of snow.

Aren't they such magnificent creatures?

we never tire of seeing them

but we do have to chase them off at

times because they make a snack

of the things we work hard to grow!

They roam the mountain among the trees. 

I saw them this morning skirting 

across the meadow at the tree line.

The deep snows have driven them to the

lower country to forage.

Here is a Yucca plant.  

Pronounced yoo-ka in Spanish. 

They grow wild here. 

They produce tall spikes of beautiful,

creamy white flowers during the rains!

My son and his wife lived in Ecuador for

 a year and they learned how to

cook the root. He baked us some

 Yucca root fries when we visited 

at Thanksgiving. They were delicious! 

Crispy and chewy.

Being the first snow of the season, makes it extra special. 

 I was blessed with a window that day to take a

luxurious amount of time. All I wanted really. To hike around

and take in the sparkles that wink at you when the sun hits 

each tiny little flake. To breathe in that 
cold, fresh mountain air...
Oh my.

I always want to keep the wonder

that creates excitement over these

tiny miracles that pile up and spread the

beauty of winter over mountains and valleys.

Don't you truly believe that there are those 

special little miracles and wonder in every day?

Something that touches you down deep.

I thought this little dried plant 

was so pretty even in it's simplicity.

Maybe especially because of it.

Simple pleasures.

It looked so frail but yet has held up 

through all the rainstorms and wind

and now it stands through 

the snowstorms, too.

Are we like that sometimes?

We will experience times of feeling fragile 

but we are stronger than we know.

Isn't it so lovely in all it's slenderness 

just holding up that snow 

that's reflecting the light of the sun.

(Some of my pictures are sunny and some cloudy
 because the skies cleared up while I was out.)

Thank you for coming by and sharing in

 my wanderings around the mountain.

I hope I haven't bored you.

I get so caught up in nature and life and can

obsess over the smallest thing!

I'd love to hear about something

 that you have found 

that causes you to stop and wonder.

That makes me think of Mary Poppins!

Enjoying the wonder of the simple

things in life seemed to be part of her very being.

Have a wonderful rest of your week.

Tamara xo

decorative, altered book... a dream is a wish that your heart makes

It's Thursday and the morning is quiet.

I'm listening to the soothing music of Eva Cassidy.

She has a voice like a songbird and 

the songs are very soulful.

It fits my mood this morning. 

I'm always tired after our evening of music.

It's so fun but you know that fun is usually work, too!

I've done my watering which takes

 about an hour and half.

The morning is beautiful and being out 

is one of my first loves. 

Just listening to the birds,

collecting squash from my garden and 

watching the butterflies flit about.

Liberty follows me around like my personal body guard.

Oh, how I love that sweet dog!

*****

Today, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from 

this altered book.

It's just an old book that I picked up from the Thrift Store.

I have made these to sell and they are gone 

so I'm making some more.

This time, I tried tone on tone and I love the way it turned out.

I'm sorry that my photos are not very clear. I even checked them in my

editing program and zoomed in.. They were clear. I wonder if it's blogger.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Here, I'm trying to sort out my layout. I used several different

mediums. Which is my favorite way to create. Colored texture paste,

gesso and rubber stamps.

I used an old library card to create the lines. 

I am very fond of the grunge look. 

The ragged edges with smudging and distressing.

I have learned to use a splattering technique 

and try it whenever

it fits a project.

Here is the finished book.

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

What wish is your heart making, friend?

Life should be filled with dreams and wishes

and of course, seeing them come true.

And we know that takes sacrifice, hard work and holding on 

like your life depends on it! 

And in some ways it does..

Isn't there SO much more to life than just breathing?

And what is life without that hope of our dreams in our hearts?

It's NEVER too late to reach for the stars. 

So we keep it ever in our sights.

Here's a link to Eva Cassidy singing

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

What a bunch of lovelies I'm with here. We were out for a movie.

We have a s historical theatre here in our town.

It was built in the early 1900s and we try to

 support them  as much as possible.

And of course our family is a little movie crazy!

It has a tiny concession area and the bathrooms 

can barely fit two people.

But aren't those places special?

They have history and character.

I'm so happy that the new owners didn't

do too drastic of an update when they bought it.

Just think of the lovely people that have 

gone on first dates there and

taken their kids for their birthdays.

Oh... What a magical thought! 

Brutus would like you 

to think that he's always working in the gardens but 

here is proof that he does nap sometimes. 

Haha!

What a cutie..

Do you love this brilliant color of Blue Flax?

I have always loved these in the wild and 

was thrilled to find them for sale in

a local nursery last year.

Celebrating life's special moments.

 Jeff surprised me for our

anniversary and made us both appointments for pedicures.

What a thoughtful and unique gift! 

Hello Beauties! 

I just love seeing these majestic elk. 

We see quite a few when

we drive to Alpine every Wednesday to play music.

Not a great picture; I took it on my phone.

Life is so full. 

I'm learning to navigate it without carrying guilt for the 

things or people that I can't get to.

I hope it's that way for you, too.

We do our best don't we?

And, knowing that, we have to let the rest go.

That's so healthy for you and I.

Clink.. clink..

HERE'S TO YOU!

Here's to HAPPY~

AND...

 here's to a lovely day, a wonderful weekend and

doing whatever is in your heart to do.

Enjoy

Relish

Celebrate

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all that life is.

Thank you for coming by and s special thank you to those who take

the time to say hello!

Peace and blessings~

Tamara xo

There's A Lot To Be Said For Normal

Here it is Wednesday.

While so many are scrambling in the midst of chaos,

so many more of us are carrying on with

normalcy and everyday things.

(Most of us are thinking of and praying 

for the people whose 

lives have been devastated by

the floods and then there are the others

 that we know that have been visited by other

tragedies.)

What a blessing everyday life can be.

Just to watch some little ones delight in the wonder

of their day. Finding many exciting adventures around every corner.

I remember this day. 

We were out collecting eggs and Anayah

really wanted to hold a chicken.

Isn't it funny how kids don't think about what they can or can't do!

They just go after what they want.

My summer has been very busy...

It's been so fun to spend time with friends and family.

Outings and meals and even making new friends.

But it's been hectic at times 

and not without heartaches.

And I find that within all of that,

I enjoy and find rest and contentment in

the quietness of keeping house, watering plants,

tending to my family and taking care of myself.

There are so many things

that I can think of that go in my

basket of gratitude.

Even very basic things.

Food

Shelter

Transportation

Then there's

Family

Friends

Love 

Health

Finances

so much beauty... 

music

flowers

art

I know you're grateful, too.

What it is about little people and chickens?

They just go together like

PBand J!

And ham and eggs...

Haha! 

Thank you, Red, for your contribution to that :)

That chicken is so sweet to allow herself to be 

well...

sort of squeezed. 

I have a huge trip coming up and I'm a little

panicky about it.

We're moving my daughter across the country to Ohio.

We are very close and I'm going to miss her ....

I'm not sure how that will be for me besides hard.

LOL

How is life treating you these days?

I hope that your summer has been wonderful and magical.

As well as productive and meaningful.

I've been working on few art projects.

I will share them.

I have figured out a little system

to my overwhelming photo gallery and so I 

hope to be posting more.

I take WAY TOO MANY photos!!

My days are filled with music.

I'm working on new songs almost every day.

My gardens are doing pretty well. 

Except our rains have stopped too soon and 

I find myself wandering about with the hose.

And look who has been coming out with me?

Do you remember Sunny? 

My bearded dragon.

I think I told you about him...

He's a foot long.

He has grown 8 inches since he came to be mine.

He's very sweet.

Well.. quiet and friendly. 

Haha.

He rides on my arm or shoulder, 

eats out of my hand and 

knows my voice. 

He also runs around in the yard while I water.

I sometimes spray him with the hose.

He just closes his eyes and enjoys!

Life is beautiful 

and fragile 

and terrible.

Full of magic 

and sadness

and glory 

and love.

We live one minute at a time

 and often times with a choice of how to look at 

all that's going on in our hearts and beyond.

Wishing you peace and beauty in your days as lovely 

fall or spring approaches! 

Depending on where you live.

Thank you ever so much for coming by.

You are appreciated so much.

Show yourself lots of loving care and believe in

your dreams. There's only one you and 

as Mr Magorium once said....

Your life is an occasion.

Rise to it.

Hugs and abundant blessings to you~

Tamara xo

Beauty in the Storm

 Hello friends~

I'm not going to say how long it's been since I last posted.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record.

All I can say is that I miss you all

and I am trying.

And it seems that I'm not the only one absent.

As you can see by most of my photos, I am a country girl.

So at least that explains WHERE I am and what I'm DOING

 much of the time. 

You'll often find me

wandering about in the beautiful outdoors working

or taking in as much beauty as I possibly can.

Is there anyone else out there that feels the draw of that

magical and wondrous place

outside your four walls?

The other day my daughter and I saw a T-I-N-Y

fawn hopping through the field with it's mother!

So sweet.

Makes hanging around outside so very worth it.

If someone told me that I was part gypsy,
I would nod my head and say,

"I knew it all along!"
;)

And then there are the storms...

 This photo made me think of the song

 Gentle on My Mind,

 sung by the amazingly talented guitarist and singer,

Mr. Glen Campbell.

He will be greatly missed.

"You're moving on the backroads by the rivers of my memory and 

for hours you're just gentle on my mind."

Such sad days when we lose one more of the great artists.

I had just learned that song in the last week and I'm so happy that I did.

It will be a honor to sing it and I will always think of him when I do.

 It's always nice to have a friend nearby during stormy times.

 The beauty of it all just calls my name.

It feeds my soul and brings me peace in times 

when chaos is looming and threatening.

While it's pouring rain,

 the lightning electrifies the air and the thunder 

is rolling through the mountains,

it's a good time to jot down what's been happening 

and send some letters off to friends and family

  in  far away places.

Do you like writing others and making handmade cards?

After the rain stops, it's fun to wander around outside.

There are usually some little surprises just waiting to be spotted!

Here, a Cicada has just some out of it's shell.

Hmmmm..

Kind of ugly...

But sort of miraculous.

How DO they do that?!

I have a time lapse video of the one above coming out. 

I had to watch it for twenty minutes. 

I got impatient toward the end and almost missed it!

Are those raindrops on my wings?

During my wanderings, I often find little treasures to create with.

What have you been doing?

I know everyone has such interesting lives and this time of year

is full to overflowing with work and play and 

special outings with family and friends!

I'd love to hear about some of your adventures!

I do hope that you are well and that 

life is treating you kind.

As always...

Thank you so very much for coming by and visiting my

little online world. 

Blessings and happy summer days to you!

Tamara xoxo

travel photos

Hello! 

And Happy Memorial Day Weekend

I hope this finds you all doing well.

I am still away from home and am roaming in the gorgeous 

rolling hills of southeastern Ohio.

I'm visiting family and some friends.

And we've been working on the details

of readying our little cottage for winter living

so our youngest daughter and my niece can 

rent it from us.

We were planning to sell which was a very sad thought.

It's a gorgeous spot which affords us much beauty and

 a place to stay when I get a chance to visit family and friends

and journey down the lane of girlhood memories.

I moved away technically but a big piece 

of my heart has remained here for many reasons.

Here are some photos of our trip that began on

May 11th. On the first day, 45 miles out of town, 

we blew a tire. I was driving. 

We were thankful that we were safe.

The steel belts were showing but as 

I stopped, the tire was slowly

deflating as I got out of the van.

It's still a mystery how that happened...

 We see it as God's protection.

What a beautiful view of New Mexico skies!

 Driving through The Narrows of New Mexico.

 This is Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo.

We've driven by for 30 years

and decided it was time to stop!

If you venture by here on eastbound

I-40, bring a can of spray paint and you can 

add your artistic grafitti to the cars.

 Here are Jeff and I with our OK grand babies.

We had a sweet visit and very special to be there on

Mother's Day.

This unique bridge spans the Ohio River 

between Kentucky and Ohio.

 We saw kids in Oklahoma, Mo, Indiana

 and my brother who resides in the 

Ohio Veteran's Home near Cincinnati.  

I was so happy to see him. He used to be 

near our cottage but has now 

re-located to the Veteran's home which is

four hours from here.

 Wild Irises

 Raspberry Vanilla swirl, waffle cone with...

S*p*R*i*N*k*L*e*S*! 

Very tasty :)

 Hearts...

I love to find them everywhere.

 one of my favorite things...

{WILDFLOWERS}

I will be remembering our veterans this 

weekend and those who are

currently serving. 

I wish you the best as you gather with

family and friends this weekend to be together

and to remember those who have died and 

those who live still

to protect our country and

to help others.

Wishing you 

magical, harmonious days

 filled with blessings.

Thank you so much

 for coming by to say hello.

I will be back home on the 3rd of June and

  back in touch~

Tamara 

XO