2013

Happy New Year!!!

May Peace and Joy Reign in 2013!

 

With Love and Purrs for a Pawsome New Year from

Sam, Buster, Rudy and Mom Cindy

 

 



Snow Pictures and Billy Jacobs Art

Hello Everyone,
After several days of snow, ice and grey skies, the sun made an appearance this afternoon!  So, even though it was cold with a biting wind, I put on my coat, hat and gloves and took these photos around my neighborhood. The cute little barn and fence is at a church just down the road from me. Winter isn't my favorite season, I admit, but I do try to see the beauty of it all, and the snow certainly is beautiful on the evergreens and tree branches and everything.

 

I also want to share a few winter-themed paintings by one of my favorite artists, American Folk Artist, Billy Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs is a self-taught artist from Navarre, Ohio, where he has an art gallery/antiques shop. His paintings can also be found in galleries and specialty shops all over the country, as well as online. I think he captures the look and feeling of the midwest countryside better than any artist I've seen. He doesn't just paint winter scenes...but all seasons of the year! You can see more of his paintings at Summer Snow Gallery HERE or by visiting Billy Jacobs Art Gallery on facebook HERE. Enjoy! 

 

 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year's Eve and best wishes for a healthy, prosperous 2013 filled with joy!

 

Until next time,

Cindy

 

 This weekend over on How Sweet the Sound, Beverly is hosting her weekly Pink Saturday with posts featuring snow and snowmen. So, even though I'm late posting, I want to share these on her blog and also at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.

 

 

 



 







Happy Christmas to All!

Hello everyone,
Winter has arrived in Northwest Ohio - not only officially on the calendar, but it's cold and blowing and snowing...it was even snowing sideways for a while! I have a few photos to share with you. Last Saturday was our annual "Girls Christmas Party," hosted by my niece, Lola. (Except this year, we "allowed" the husbands to come also, if they wanted :)  Had a great time...enjoyed so much yummy food and lots of laughs over our White Elephant gifts! My sister, Paula, and I made this cupcake wreath for the party - a collaborative effort! The hardest part ended up being transporting it there, as my niece lives about an hour away. We learned something - next time we need to come up with something to stick to the bottoms of the cupcake "cups" to hold them in place!

 

Lola's home is always decorated so beautifully for the holidays! Her theme colors were blue and silver this year. Here's a photo of her tree.

 

 

I loved her use of these old canning jars for decorating. Notice the frame behind them filled with old black and white family photos. Such a great idea! I want to do this, too.

 

 

The next day, I helped Paula decorate her Christmas tree. It was done in traditional gold and red, which I think are my all time favorite colors for a tree.

 

 

I confess, I haven't done a lot of decorating in my own home. My only tree this year is a vintage ceramic one I recently found at Goodwill for $5.00! I'd been wanting one for a while and couldn't belive when I walked in and there it stood - in perfect condition, except for a few missing lights. My Mom had one of these back in the 70s when they were so popular. I did a little research on ebay and Etsy after I bought it, and some of them are going for between $70 and $100!! I had no idea! So, I got quite a deal on it!

 

 

However you may celebrate, I hope you have happy holidays! From my heart to yours, I truly wish you all the peace and love that this season represents.

Until next time,

Cindy

Buster, Rudy and Sam, too!

 

I'm linking to the following blog parties:

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 

 

In Memoriam

Sandy Hook Elementary

Newtown, Connecticut

December 14, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The only way to end a culture of violence is to proactively create a culture of peace."

Marianne Williamson



All Aboard the Birthday Cake!

I've been neglecting my blog lately. I have no good excuse, other than being busy with work and family, and the holiday season, of course. But, we're all busy this time of year, and, honestly, I don't have it nearly as bad as some. So, I promise to try to do better in the future, and I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all your blogs and seeing what you've been up to lately!

 Now, I want to share this awesome train cake, made by my sister, Paula, for her grandson Jaxson's 2nd birthday. I've shared some of her cakes in the past...and I think this is one of her best! Everyone loved it, especially Jaxson!

And here is the birthday boy himself, my great-nephew, Jaxson Lee! He is absolutely adorable!!

 

I bought an early Christmas present for myself - a new sketch pad, colored pencils and oil pastels. I've been in the mood to sketch and draw, rather than paint. As many of you know, drawing is entirely different from painting, and I haven't done a lot of it...not since I was a teenager, so we'll see where this takes me.

 



 

I truly hope you've all been well and enjoying your December so far.

Until next time,

Cindy


Linking to the following blog parties:
Passion Parade at Petites Passions

Daydreamer

Hello everyone,
Today I'm sharing an oil painting I did several years ago called "Daydreamer." This is not a self-portrait, but I DO enjoy daydreaming. I always have since I was a young girl. I can sit for hours looking out the window at the sky, clouds, trees and birds

This image is available on mugs and note cards in my Zazzle store, and today only,  all mugs are 40 percent off! Everything else on Zazzle.com is 15 percent off. My recent snowmen paintings are also available on mugs, as are several of my other paintings.

 

http://www.zazzle.com/daydreamer_mug-168731588814646421

 

 

 

It's bright and sunny...but chilly, here in northwest Ohio. I've put out a few Christmas decorations, but am not "fully" in the holiday mood yet. How are your decorations and plans coming along? Or, do you wait until later in the month to decorate? For me, I don't do as much as I used to, but usually get more in the mood the closer it gets. For now, it's time to get back to work...although I'd rather just sit and look out the window and daydream. :)

 

 

Until next time,

Cindy

 

 

 Linking to the following blogs:

 

Paint Party Friday

 

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

 

 

A Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving...and the Winner Is!

Hello everyone,
I've chosen the winner of my snowman painting the old-fashioned, random way - by writing everyone's name who entered on a piece of paper and drawing one out of a bowl. The winner is...drum roll please...

LV of "Thoughts From Meme's Corner!"

 

 

 

Congratulations, LV! Thanks to all who entered and for the sweet and kind comments about my painting...and thanks to those newbies who signed up to follow my blog. I really do appreciate it and hope you'll enjoy your visits here.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American followers. I'm spending the holiday with one of my nieces's and her family (at her home) this year and I'm really looking forward to it.  I sometimes hear people say "life isn't a Norman Rockwell painting," and of course, that's true. Life can be very difficult sometimes. I don't think anyone would argue with that. But, I believe when Thanksgiving rolls around, it's the ideals of family, faith, community and love...sharing a meal and the simple things of life that Mr. Rockwell's paintings depict that everyone holds so dear. These are the very things that keep us going during those rough times. So, enjoy these Norman Rockwell paintings, and as we count our blessings, everyone have a safe and happy weekend.

 

Thanksgiving, The Saturday Evening Post, 1935

 

Freedom From Want, 1943

Thanksgiving, Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes, 1945

 

 

 Until next time,

Cindy

 



I'm Having a Giveaway!

Hello faithful followers,
I've decided to host a giveaway...just because I feel like it and because I love you all! So, to kick off the holiday season, I'm giving away my "Jolly, Happy Soul" painting:

 

This miniature painting meaures approximately 5 1/2" by 4 1/2" and is painted with acrylics on a wood plaque, ready to hang or sit on a decorative easel. It's signed and dated on the back. To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. If you aren't already a follower of my blog, I'd really appreciate it if you'd also sign up to follow me. I'll announce the winner next Wednesday - the day before Thanksgiving.

 

 

Speaking of giveaways, I also want to share a couple of things I won recently! First, this wonderful painting by Tracey Fletcher King. You all know how much I love my tea, so this was perfect for me! I'm going to frame and hang it in my kitchen. To see more of Tracey's artwork, visit her blog HERE.

 



 

If you visit her blog, you'll see why I adore her work! She paints lots of tea cups and tea related items. Here's another example of one of her watercolors...need I say more?

Her work is fabulous.  Again, Tracey Fletcher King's blog can be accessed HERE

 

 

I also won this necklace from a website called "Whatever Is Lovely". 

 

 

I discovered "Whatever Is Lovely" on facebook, where I entered the giveaway. If you love antique and vintage items, you'll really enjoy browsing this shop. They have very unique jewelry, handbags, hats, home decor and more. Their online shop can be found HERE. The following photo is from their website, and it gives you an idea of some of the lovely things you'll find there.

 

Photo courtesy of: Whatever Is Lovely

 

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win my snowman painting!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week!

Until next time,

Cindy

 

Linking to the following blogs:

The Artist's Play Room at Just Add Water, Silly

What's It Wednesday on Ivy and Elephants

Pink Saturday on How Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sundays on The Tablescaper

 



Snowmen Paintings

Hello everyone,
I have two new snowmen paintings to share with you that I just listed in my Etsy shop today. They're both miniature paintings that measure approximately 4 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I painted them on "recycled" wood plaques from the thrift store. Both images are also available on coffee mugs, which you can purchase from my Zazzle.com store HERE.

The first one I call "In the Meadow We Can Build a Snowman." It's a long title for a painting, I know, but that's what this trio of caroling snowmen is singing!

 

...and this one is titled "A Jolly, Happy Soul."

 

 

I'll be listing several new paintings and items in my Etsy shop in the next two weeks (the link is on my sidebar.) I really can hardly believe it's time to start thinking about snow and Christmas, but our trees are almost all bare and the color is gone. I usually don't think of decorating for the holidays until after Thanksgiving, but I must admit, I'm looking forward to the lights and pretty decorations to brighten up the grey days.

 

Speaking of brightening up my days...look who I found admiring himself in the mirror this morning!

 

Buster!



He does this most mornings and it just cracks me up! I think it's his morning ritual - to admire his handsomeness in the mirror before he starts his day!

 

I hope you're having a good week so far...

 

 

 

Until next time,

Cindy

 

Linking to:

Show and Tell Friday on My Romantic Home

Paint Party Friday

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 



Cats on Tuesday - Rudy's Turn

 

 

Hello friends,

Dis is Rudy. Time for me to write for our special blogging day, Cats on Tuesday. For those who like kitties, be sure to visit Gattina's blog at My Cats and Funny Stories for more furry funny cat stories.

 

First, I give you update on Buster after his horrible time at hospital. He is back to his normal self...doing he daily meditations and biting my ears and trying to be boss of me and Sam. Here you can see for yourself that he is good and well now.

 

 

Sam is good, too, and doing what Sam do best - sleeping and eating! MOL!

 

 

 

Now, I want to tell you a story about me. When I was tiny kitty, I lived in a garage with my real (cat)

Mom and brothers and sisters. My human pawrents at that time couldn't keep all of us, so they put an ad in paper that say FREE KITTENS TO GOOD HOME. This is when Mom Cindy come to get me. I was first (and only one) of my sisters and brothers she picked up and I snuggled under her chin on her shoulder. She fell in love with me and I fell in love with her and she become my new pawrent. Today I am a grown man-cat, but I still like to sit on her shoulder. Here is picture of us Mom take a couple weeks ago...she say I almost smother her. MOL!

 



 

What else I been doing is napping...

 

...and guess what? I finally talk Buster into teaching me how to do meditations. He say it help with stresses...I bet he had lots of stresses the day he got tooth pulled out of his head! MOL! How do you think I'm doing? 

 

Om...roast chicken...omm...ham...toona...fresh turkey...om



 

Well, friends, I hope you like my update. Everyone have a good week.

Until next time,

Rudy

 

Linking to Cats on Tuesday at My Cats and Funny Stories