Mimi and Ben

On July 4, we had a cookout with family. I love the time I get to spend with my grandson, Ben. I have enjoyed watching him grow and develop. It's been a long time since we had a new baby in the family...and now we have two...Ben and Mary. We plan to make our July 4th celebration an annual event. Since my son, Tony, and his wife, Ginger, live right on the inland waterway, we get to watch and enjoy lots of fireworks celebrations from the beaches.

OMG...where have I been?

What a cutie!!!

Oops...looks like I've totally neglected my blog for the past three months. I definitely need to get busy.

Just got back from a nice weekend at the river with some of our family that came visiting. See the photos of Mary, my dh's new grandbaby.

STRANGE PLACE FOR A BIRD NEST!

About a month ago, we were doing some spring cleaning...and we were setting things outside on a little stoop, that we needed to take to storage building. Well...in the midst of our work and before we moved these items, a pair of wrens began building a nest inside this "foot spa". Since they started their nest, we haven't touched those items. She laid her eggs and they hatched. So far, we haven't been able to tell how many babies are in there, because the nest goes so far back in the container and it's so dark.

Last year, we had the wrens build two nests, but one was close to our bird feeders and we think the blue jays got the babies before they were ready to leave the nest. They built the next one on another deck, but too close to the ground and we think a snake got them. We saw the snake crawl right straight up the wall close by. So, this year's nest is in a more secluded area from the other birds...and hopefully, wild animals. We're hoping they make it this year.

Wrens are such busy little birds and their song is SO beautiful! We've enjoyed watching them feed the babies...in fact, we once almost had a "collision". I was going out and one was flying in. This is an entrance that I have to use. They don't seem to mind our sharing of this little porch.

MY TULIPS!

I thought "Spring had sprung"...but for the past few nights, it has been below freezing here in North Carolina. I brought in some of my plants, covered some of them, and took a chance with the rest of my flowers.

I'm not sure whether the freezing weather will hurt tulips or not...my husband says "no", but I have a friend who said "yes" and told me to cover them...so I did. I have the most beautiful red tulips this year. This is the first year I've had tulips do so well. In the photo, you can see the dew still on the flowers.

CLEANING MY STUDIO!

I have a beautiful studio that I had remodeled about three years ago right before I retired from teaching high school art.

Here is my old studio before it was remodeled.

"Before Photos"

I pulled everything out of the room and had new upper and lower cabinets installed on three walls...with white tile on the floor...but beautiful brightly colored purple counter tops.

"After Photos"

This is my painting corner!

NURSERY FOR A BABY GIRL!

My latest project has been painting a couple of murals in a nursery for a baby girl due in March.

A BEAUTIFUL WINTER MORNING!

What a beautiful sight to wake up to...the sky in all it's majestic wonder on the North Carolina coast!

MY HEARTS OFF TO YOU!!!!

My valentine to you is a recipe of delicious Mexican soup!

Just throw in a can of Mexican corn,

a jar of Salsa,

a can of diced tomatoes,

a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies,

a can creamed corn,

1 or 2 cans of black beans,

a box of Zatarain's Yellow Rice,

and approximately 2 - 3 quarts of chicken broth.

Do NOT drain cans. Put into a large stock pot and bring to a boil.

Simmer until the rice is done...about 30 to 45 minutes. Serve in bowls with finely grated cheese on top. YUMMY!

Back in the Groove!!!

Well...I think I'm finally back in the groove...working on my jewelry. Back in November, I got busy on Christmas gifts and my "jewelry making days" went by the wayside...and after Christmas, I was busy planning for and going on vacation. So...maybe now, I'll keep on working.

Copper and Silver Earrings

Well...today, I worked with some copper discs on silver earwires. I made a couple pair...and tried to antique one pair but I think my liver of sulphur's a bit too old.

Coral Earrings

I haven't been working on any jewelry since November...too many Christmas gifts to work on. My friend, Pat, came over yesterday and we started working on our jewelry again. Here's a pair of earrings I made from some coral that I bought while on vacation in Mexico.

WOW! Snow!

The weather man was certainly wrong this morning in our forecast for this morning. He said it would rain...but we've got snow and such a big flakes, that it covered the ground in thirty minutes. How beautiful...and what a surprise!

It's Cold Weather...

This is Ben...my 10 month old grandson...ready for cold weather in his winter duds! We're finally having some "winter weather" here in North Carolina...but no snow!

Family photos in Mexico!

C'est moi! with Ben at Tulum in Mexico!

We forgot to take toys. We bought some things for him to play with...but he had MORE fun playing on his stroller...climbing on it and taking the items in and out of the bottom...plus he found things in the room to play with. They had a large wall mirror...and he spent a lot of time looking at himself and us in the mirror...and laughing at us! He is such a happy baby...laughing all the time!

Lunch by the pool!!! Ben and Ginger...my grandson and daughter-in-law...who is like the daughter I never had! She is great!

My son, Tony, and Ben...overlooking the ocean from the top of the hill at Tulum!

Photos from Mexico!

One of the tiled floors in the market at Playa del Carmen across from our hotel!

This little elephant greeted me upon my arrival at the hotel!

A couple of Mexican craftmen painting some bowls.

We arrived in the middle of a rain storm...but I awoke to this beautiful sky the next morning.

We walked into the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen. I don't think they're planning on having any problems with downtown shoppers! Look closely at his weapon.

Pottery from Mexico

These are some of the pottery pieces I bought while on vacation in Mexico. I love the beautiful, bright colors. Now, I wish I had bought some of the plates to hang in my kitchen.

Vacation in Mexico

What a great vacation I had in Playa del Carmen, Mexico...which is about an hour south of Cancun. Our hotel was right across the street from the Market, which made shopping very convenient and lots of fun.

Here's another view of the Market with all the beautiful colors they use.

This is a picture of the mosaic on the floor of one of the shops. There were lots of mosaics everywhere, decorating the floors of a lot of the shops. Beautiful!

A neat looking fountain in the Market!

We spent one day visiting the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

We spent one afternoon at the Aviary enjoying the beautiful birds.

Ben enthralled with the birds!

A Beautiful Journal

Here's my beautiful journal...writing in it gives me a lot of pleasure. The front cover is covered with tiles over a silky red fabric...such a luxurious feeling!

Happy New Year!

A new beginning...I love the new year...it's like all the mistakes you've made are all gone...and you can begin all over.

I love to make New Year's resolutions...but I try to make ones that I know can keep...and then I try really hard to keep them...so that I accomplish more of my dreams and wishes.

I resolve to be more creative every day...whether it's physically or mentally...whether I'm actually working on something...or whether I'm thinking of new ideas.

I resolve to be more organized...LOL! Everytime I organize...I can never find where I moved anything. And right now...my studio is in desperate need of organization...or merely getting it back in order from all the work I was rushing to finish before Christmas.

I resolve to do my income taxes earlier this year...well, I usually do them the week before April 15. I have been known to run to the post office right before midnight...but I have been better about this for the past couple of years...I did them the FIRST week of April. So...this year...being retired all of last year...I'm hoping to have them done earlier...maybe in March. I MUST quit procrastinating on the things I dislike doing.

Last year...I vowed to write in a journal every day. I bought a ten year journal and I DID write every day...so I resolve to continue doing this again this year.

And of course...as always...I resolve to lose 15 pounds...now that shouldn't be too hard...and I plan to keep eating healthy and be more active...that sounds better than exercising. Maybe I should buy a pedometer and see how much I walk each day...then I could strive to increase the number of steps I take...sounds good to me!

And lastly...I plan to continue stopping to "smell the roses each and every day" and to keep my priorities in order. We need to live each day as if it is our last day!