whoops - M.I.A.

Yesterday got away from me (apparently).  I go along for 28 straight days and blog without fail every single day.  Then yesterday, I was able to spend the day with my husband for the first time in literally months, and although I wrote a blog for our other site, I just neglected to get one written here.  Holidays!

So, this is the 30th day of a 30 day "stint" and I get to take a little bloggy break!  It'll be a good thing, as I am looking forward to the next couple of days being unplugged, rest filled and regenerated!  As you can probably detect, I am tired.

This is our wonderful photography class!  We are learning GOBS of information and I so hope I can remember even 1/4 of it to apply it and figure out how to take good pictures!

These are great people and it has been such a pleasure to attend this class!  We're in session until the 19th.  And we are in the midst of giving presentations now (ouch - school!).  I am loving this!

Before I close out the November postings, I want to list things I am thankful for right here and now:

my life, my faith, my spirit, my heart, my soul, and my passion!

my sweet and awesome, incredibly and charming husband, Paul.

my amazing, healthy, intelligent, happy, precious adult children, Jenn and Jon, Nina, Victor and Melissa.

my adorable, unbelievable grandchildren, Austin, Cade and Christian.

my sweet grandparents, and wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins (and the adventures therein!),

my perfect and loving childhood, my wonderful parents and siblings (Wayne and Cyndie), although only my sister and I are still on earth out of the original 5.

my past and present sister-in-laws,  and my brother-in-law, Paul,

my wonderful, amazingly loving and forgiving friends! I have soooo many wonderful friends and consider that amongst the most treasured part of my treasure trove.  Girlfriends! So awesome.

All of the adventures I have been blessed with in my life, all the places I have been to and lived in, and all the people I have met.  All the angels who have had to do "Cheri duty", and all the blessings I have received unexpectedly!

This list is certainly NOT complete, but you get the idea of things that are on it!

How incredible it is to have such a wonderfully HUGE gratitude list!  

I so very much hope you have a long Blessing list!!!!

And as a side note, my little buddy Ryan has had some elevated good numbers, please keep those prayers coming!!!

This is the difference

This is what I want to share with you today ... the difference between someone who thinks as an artist, and someone who does not.  Which one represents your brain?  Interesting, huh?

I began loading photoshop on my computer at an inopportune time (about 10 minutes ago).  Please forgive the abbreviated post ... but I must tend to this thing!  And I get to do a presentation on art basics next Monday for photo school.  I must get some things in order!

And check out Jenni Horne's blog!  She's inviting us ( all of us, you included!) to her house for an open house!  Whoohoo!  Go here!!   I CANNOT wait!  ROAD TRIP!!

On a completely new topic, my sweet husband doesn't have to get up in the morning to go and drive a tractor filled with Christmas trees, or mow greens on the golf course for the first time in weeks/months.  He is ready for a day off!  Seven days a week for 12 or 14 weeks has been a LONG time straight.  I am so excited for him!  Sweet dreams, honey!

Blessings to you all!!!

Sunday Inspiration

In this very economically depressed area of the mountains, there are a HUGE amount of donors and "do gooders" that always help the sick, the weary, the abandoned, the elderly, and the folks who just need a hand.  Let me be clear when I say, these mountain folks are a proud bunch and they don't really go around looking for a hand out!  But on the other hand, when someone hears word that there might be a need, the "do gooders" are on it, and there is a huge bunch of help.  It's inspiring and a reminder do help when you can.  I mean, really, you never know when it really is the one thing that will make some one's day!

A year ago last fall we had a newcomer to the area.  She is the epitome of a ball of enthusiastic energy!  And she moved here from Houston/Charlotte looking for a slower, more pure way of life, just like the rest of us transplants did.  Victoria ended up renting a space from Tammy to create her wonderful hair salon ... From Beauty to Ashes, the name coming straight from the Bible to her head.  If you need a verse to get you through, Victoria has it!  She has been a delightful addition to our community and has repeatedly shown me humility, and reminded me to be humble and gracious, just by her own belief and convictions.  In September Victoria married her darling Billy, and they are just such a wonderful fairy tale story together, finally finding each other.  Billy has been in the circle of silent "do gooders" for years,  ... along with a lot of our friends and acquaintances.  It's always such a wonderful reminder of how humans should act, loving one another without judgment or expectations.

Victoria bid on this beautiful tree that was donated to the Canon Hospital by some wonderful people.  She kept telling us it was her tree and she was going to win it! She was right, by golly. 

A couple of wonderful ladies (who Victoria called her elves!) delivered it to her shop yesterday, put it up, and decorated right on the spot!  A cardinal tree.  And it is beautiful and glorious, just like Victoria.  Thanks for showing up, Victoria.  And for being such an inspiration to me and a bunch of others, and reminding me just through being who you are, how wonderful humanity really is.

I hope you all have a Victoria in your life!  Blessings to you all,

Great Day!

It was a great day! Spectacular, Spectacular (yes, I am watching Moulin Rouge!)

We had a wonderful open house and we met many wonderful new friends!  And now, I'm going to rest!

I am so very grateful for all that has come my way.  There are so many times when I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  Like today.

Blessings to you all,

What's your favorite?

 Paul's favorite - trifle

My favorite - pumpkin pie served on my grandmother's plates with freshly whipped heavy whipping cream.  No wonder I only have this once a year!

Of course, we had the normal Thanksgiving feast too ... but dessert (and wine) is our favorite part!

sweet potato souffle, smoked turkey, steamed green beans, stir fried brussel sprouts with orange and toasted almonds, yeast rolls, gravy and cranberry sauces of several varieties!  Lots of mom's and grandmother's crystal and dishes.  It makes it feel like they're here too.  It's comforting.

 Our sweet friend Janine, and Paul attending the feast!

Janine's Mark had to work at the hospital, but we toasted him a lot!  And all of our friends and family who were not sitting with us physically were felt in spirit. 

We had a wonderful, fun, filling, calm, and loving evening.  I think we might do it again on Sunday and add some more wonderful friends! 

But tomorrow ... tomorrow is our Rusted Periwinkle open house!  So while you are out supporting Small Business in your area, stop by if we're in your orbit! We'd love to see you and visit for a while!

And goodness knows, if you braved the whole black Friday thing today, kudos!  I worked behind one of the counters.  So ... I'm tired but it was wonderful to see everyone who stopped by! 

  I am grateful for miracles and magic.  'Tis the season for them both!

And I am very grateful for leftovers tonight!  Mostly for the dessert and the wine (still!) ;-)

Blessings to you all,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving tradition in my life has always meant family.  When I was VERY young, our family would travel from where ever it was we were living to Front Royal, VA to be with my grandparents.  My mom's mom was my favorite person on the entire planet. (I am quite sure she is my personal angel and guardian, and keeps me out of real trouble!)  It was worth the trip, even though it meant I had to ride for hours and days in the backseat with my older and mischievous brother!    My mom's parents had beautiful thoroughbred race horses, chickens and rabbits, home grown veggies and a piano!  We always ate Thanksgiving dinner at their house.  It was always the best food EVAH!!!  And there was plenty of sweet tea, which I'm sure was syrup in disguise!  My dad's parents owned a small motel, and their house was equally as intriguing because there were always rooms to rent out and a HUGE rock in their backyard that served as a stage.  My cousin Georga and I did plenty of shows on that rock!  They had a HUMONGOUS kitchen but I only remember eating dinner there once.  That is probably not an accurate account, but my dad's mother was the victim of a stroke at a very young age and later developed Parkinson's, so her ability to really fix dinner was extremely altered by her physical complications.  I was also scared to death of the woman because her voice had a vibrato in it and it was shrill.  She yelled a lot to be heard and I was just sure she was the lady from Hansel and Gretel!  So funny what your child brain comes up with, isn't it?

There were lots of times when a trip to VA wasn't possibly because of my dad's work schedule, so we would go at Christmas instead.  On those Thanksgivings my mom and dad would cook and we would have a family dinner at our own homes.  There were 5 of us to begin with, and then with additions of spouses and children, it became quite an ordeal!  And even though most of us were in the Atlanta area in those years, we all had to travel through city traffic.  Sometimes that was crazy all in itself.  By the time I was a young adult, my grandparents had all passed away.  We were on our own then.  It was always wonderful and filled with love, great feasting, and plenty of celebrating.  We were lucky, as I don't remember any crazy family fighting that I hear about from some of my friends.

My parents are gone now, as is that mischievous big brother.  (and goodness I DO miss them so!)  I have become quite nostalgic in recent years.  My own children have all become parents and are responsible for their own family dinners.  And although I am proud of the adults they have become, I REALLY miss the whole family gathering thing.  And I am always sad for folks when I hear the dread in their voices because they "have" to go to a family gathering at Thanksgiving.  I admit I was blessed with the family I was born in to.  My sister and I proudly hold up the family name as best we can!

Paul and I always have a Thanksgiving dinner here at the house now.  We invite every one and any one who doesn't have another place to be.  We LOVE hosting Thanksgiving.  It's such a loving, happy holiday.  It's about that for me.  What about for you? 

So, as I sit here and enjoy the Macy's parade, I am readying myself to get in the kitchen and play chief cook and bottle washer for a while.  Then we'll have dinner and enjoy the fellowship of our friends and adopted brothers and sisters.

I so hope you all have a wonderful, love filled, full on feast today (or what ever day works for you and yours).  And if I only had one wish today, it would be that my little friend Dylan will begin producing his own blood cells today, this wonderful day of Thanks.  Rock on, Dylan.  And hugs to all of your  family and families like yours who are spending this day in places other than where you would truly choose to be.

Count your blessings!

That's what today is for.

Peace.
Cheri

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

Today has been all about lighting!!  First our photography class went to Todd's studio and to begin the huge task of learning how to light photo shots properly.   It was both wonderful and overwhelming!  But we learned bunches, and then all dispersed to our little corners of Thanksgiving eve. 

As we are still preparing for our open house at the store, both in honor of the holidays and Small Business Saturday, Paul came and helped light up the store this evening.  It looks so warm and inviting.  Lighting is an amazing tool!

Having light in your life is always such a gift.  It allows you to emanate love always and all ways.  Which is what I so enjoy about the holiday season.  Everyone is in a warmer light, a lighter heart and filled with love.  It is wonderful and I hope you and yours enjoy every second of your Thanksgiving Day celebration, whatever day it might be happening on.

I intend to watch the Macy's Day parade while listing things I am grateful for.  Then ... I cook!

*Sneak preview of the store*

Blessings to you all,

I really want to blog ...

And I really want to be clever and filled with profound statements and ideas you've never heard of before.  I really do!  But today has not been one of those days that my super hero cape has worked.  Everything I have done today has required extra effort.  It sort of feels like I've been slogging through mud with every step I have taken.  And the truth is, my hips hurt so badly I cannot sit to type any longer than right now!  

So I will leave you with the above thought, which I've mentioned before ... and with the following darling painting that Tammy Brinkley has started for my sweet hubz who is very smitten with his Vespa.  She is so very talented.  Please come to the Open House on Saturday if you are local ... The Rusted Periwinkle, 137 Main Street, Elk Park.  You can see more of her art work, and the trip will be worth it for just that reason!  But there will be a lot more to see too!  And we'll have snacks!  Food is always such a great incentive. :-)

I so hope to be back with a worthy post tomorrow.  I have so many things roaming around in my busy head!

Blessings to you all!

What?

 

Do y'all know Thanksgiving is THIS week?  Holy cow!

How does time past so darn fast!?!

We are having a very small Thanksgiving gathering this year, but we will be having a feast, nonetheless.  A feast to celebrate ALL we are thankful for.

And the list is great, and the list is long.

I became an accepted member of Pinterest today.  I think that liast might be great and long as well.

My goodness, there is NO WAY  being able to list everything I am grateful for because: 1. it is late and 2. I am too tired for expression.  

But I am ALWAYS thankful and I am so very blessed.

I am working toward a gratitude post that will put it all in perspective.

Until then, keep counting!

And I so hope you and yours are BLESSED.

And I so hope you are ready for Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie and all!

Sunday Inspiration

 

Happy Birthday B!

My sweet and long time friend, Sabrina sent me this poem.  A friend of hers sent it to her with "Just Do It" as the message.  I will say to you and me, ditto!

A Psalm of Life by Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! --
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, however pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, -- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God overhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Blessings to you and yours,

Cheri

(lost my signature yet again ....)

Saturday Catch up

 What a photo class looks like!  Physics?  No, storage options!

What system do you use to store your photos?  Does anyone use a cloud system??

Our assignment was shallow depth of field ... which is not really represented in this photo (I just like it)

 Here I am trying to be a photographer (it would help if I would hold the camera right! Geez!)  Thanks to my "field trip of the day" partner, Stephen for taking my photos!

 Here is an example of shallow depth of field ... portrait is up close, background is blurred. 

Here is an example of having a great time!  I am so glad we can all laugh at ourselves!  Makes life much less serious, doesn't it?!?

It was a big day at the Rusted Periwinkle getting ready for our Open House next Saturday.  I sure do hope some of you can come on out and visit!

Hubby rode his Vespa to work today ... and around the mountain "hood".  He's still smiling.

Today I am grateful for Alexander Graham Bell and the countless other engineers who have provided us with the invention, progression and improvements on the telephone.  Because of those men and women, I have spoken with all three of my grandchildren, and all three of my adult children this week.  They do not live close by.  It is so wonderful to get to hear their voices in spite of the fact that we are so far apart.  I know the telephone can be menacing and irritating, but it can also bring a big bunch of goodness.  And since texting has become so easy, it has even added a new dimension to communication that allows "mind at ease" to be readily available when need be.  So, thank you telephone gurus, for inventing a device that is a wonderfully comforting, gift giving tool.

Blessings to you all!

One woman's treasure

 Look at all of these colors!

 and all these different types of glass!

it's an entire treasure trove!

 

and look how many pattern options I have to look through now!

Thanks to Paul and Yvonne, I can stay busy for a LONG time!  How lucky can you get?!?!  Yvonne took the pottery class with Paul & I this past session.  Turns out she only lives 5 minutes from us.  I went to visit them this evening and came home with these amazing gifts!!!  I feel like it's Christmas for sure!  Yvonne and her husband Paul have been mosaic artists for some time now.  Paul does very linear, beautiful patterns on tables and things ... BIG things.  It was just wonderful to see all of the beautiful things they have made!  And both of them have work that is extraordinary.  Such a wonderful discovery.  I love the way things work in this life.  And I can't WAIT to begin a new glass quilt tomorrow!  (I hope)

Outside of being SUPER grateful for the gifts from Yvonne and Paul, I have an amazing and endless grateful streak for the person who invented fire.  And then the person who understood the need for heat and converted all the thoughts from fire to where we are today with heat in our homes, via all the different avenues ... propane, oil, kerosene, wood, natural gas, electricity, etc., etc.  I am SO grateful for heat!  Today was C.O.L.D.  Really COLD.  The wind is blowing, the air is crisp, the temp is very low.  So, to whomever the geniuses are, I salute you!  THANK YOU!!!

Hope all of you have ample heat for the winter.  

Blessings to you all,

here we go!

Here comes the rime ice ... right down the mountain.  At one point today the snow was blowing like crazy.  It was fun ... and cold.

This car came down from the back side of beach.  It's certainly winter today!  'Tis the season!

And to that end, we are going to be having a holiday type open house at the Rusted Periwinkle on Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We have some very cool stuff to share and sell ... and there will be artwork involved, as well as the normal great stuff.  Please come out!  Everyone is welcome!

 we've got great smelling Shea butter soaps ... and chalk paint

 chalk painted furniture and great vintage/retro pieces

 even china cabinets!

 as well as antique china, vintage luggage, unique and one-of-a-kind items.

There is something for everyone!  And we are anxious to make room for new things.  AND, there will be food and drink! Cheers! 

This is what my last photo lesson looked like.  Yikes! Very physics-esque ... and this part was about storage of files and etc.  It's a great adventure, this going back to school thing ... and I'm hoping it will really help with some photographic skills someday.  I'm enjoying the process.  That has to be a good thing, right?

The Thanksgiving menu is coming along.  What is your favorite part of the meal?  When I really thought about that question, my answer came up as The Wine.  Oh gosh!

Today I am grateful for all the lovely and wonderful comments I have received about the glass quilt!  I appreciate every one's support and enthusiasm, encouragement and kind words.  I am blown away by how sweet everyone is.  Thank you.

And please send good thoughts to all the tornado victims from yesterday's storms in NC.  The media footage of the damage and devastation is just horrific.  Entire homes were airborne! And then smashed to bits when they hit the ground.  Many people are injured and some perished.  Please send good thoughts.

Blessings to you all!