What have I missed? Mosaics?

 

I took a week off from blogging. I would like to say that I stayed off my computer for a week but my hubby would say I did NOT go 'cold turkey' no pun intended! I did limit my time online but it didn't seem to help my headaches. And I missed everyone SO much! I look forward to doing some visitin' but I will still have to be prudent. So let me know what I've missed on your blog in your comment. 

We did a LOT of hiking this past week and that always makes me feel better. 

The grasses in the fields look so beautiful. 

We spent one afternoon hiking the Ross Prairie State Forest loop.

I received a fun gift box from my friend Kathy from Looking at Life through my Bifocals HERE. I won her blog giveaway and she filled a box with nice things for me to enjoy! Thank you Kathy!

And my blog buddy, Tom the Backroads Traveller HERE sent me a wreath again this year. I am getting spoiled having a fresh wreath from NY to enjoy all Christmas season. It hangs on my front door but we keep our big door open most of the time during the day so it puts the fresh evergreen scent into our house all day. Thank you Tom! 

I baked yeast rolls using King Arthur Flour for Thanksgiving dinner. I love their catalog and wish I could afford to order things from it. But I'll be happy with the flour! It really is the best.

Have you had a good week? I know it's been difficult for many so let's continue to keep each other in our prayers. My friend Barbara from Sweet Tea and Sandals lost her precious Beloved husband a few days ago. Please keep her in your prayers. And let me know if you have someone that needs my prayers. Let's encourage and hold each other up in these hard times. God bless you. 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio,

AND my Monday post HERE.

for the love of hiking.....

I love hiking! 

 Oh, I've mentioned this before? teehee!

Every time I go, I see something amazing!

Have you ever seen a mushroom as beautiful as this one?

The photo is 'straight out of the camera'! It really WAS this color! And right along the trail where I could see it up close! It was about the size of a saucer too!

And when we went on a 'Mother's Day Hike, we saw a Yucca in full bloom!

That was an beautiful sight!

Someone on a bicycle told us to look for it on the trail ahead! I see a lot of the same people since I hike the Florida Trails so often.

I'm not sure they will recognize me the next time I hike though!

I got a new cap from one of my sons. He said it would match my shirt! (I have 2 Columbia hiking shirts, one is more green and one more blue...I think I need a PINK one, don't you?)

 Look who it came to...Hiker Mom!

Have you had a chance to get outside and walk this week?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

Beautiful flowers!

'Someone' had some fun with me on Mother's Day! They sent me beautiful roses with a sweet note to have a wonderful Mother's day. And then they signed it, 'YOUR SON'! Tricky....with all the boys I have!

I've enjoyed them and every day they open wider and look more beautiful!

I also have bouquets from the knock out roses in my flower beds! 

 I haven't counted how many roses I have in vases but they are everywhere!

 I've never had so many at one time!!!

 I wanted to show a little of my 'art' today too. 

 I'm still painting and sketching some every day.

 I arranged them in little 'mosaics'!

 

I bought a sketchbook at the big store that starts with a W. And the paper is so much nicer to draw on.

I'm trying to branch out and do some scenes and quotes so I'll share them soon.

 (a sketch in progress)

Art is something I'm enjoying, more than I could have imagined. All the years I've 'created' things, this seems to come natural to me. And I keep everything ready on my desk so I can sit down at any time and draw or paint. Easy peasy! I've been inspired by so many of my blog friends. I won't try to mention them all here because I would be sure to forget someone. But I appreciate you ALL so much!

Hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day! I am blessed with sweet 'kids' and grandkids and love them all very much.

 Thanks to everyone that made my day special...including my sweet hubby! 💓

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Amaze me Monday HERE. 

Can Money buy Happiness?

My 'obsession' with hiking is saving me money! REALLY! 

When given the choice of going shopping or hiking, I ALWAYS choose hiking!

So I've been shopping less. I had already cut back on thrift store shopping because I have a house 'FULL' of stuff. And even though there are treasures to be had, I don't have any place to put them.

But on one cold morning, I had other errands to run so I made a quick stop at the old thrift store and found something I really 'needed'! heehee!

For $3 I got this plastic 11 inch by 14 inch Sterlite container filled with new colored pencils and drawing pencils. There are even cards to color and envelopes to go with them. I got the 2 packs of playing cards for another project. 

So for $3 I found 'Happiness'! 

I got a few more birthday gifts and cards in the mail too and wanted to share. Thanks to friends and family for everything!

 So far, as cute as this tee shirt is....I don't think it works.

 

Not a single person has offered to give me directions!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

Plan B...I took a Hike!

I took a hike on my birthday? Shocking I know! lol But we tried to make plans for something else but nothing seemed to work. So even though it was a cool 61 degrees, we took a hike at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve!

 

To make it special, we went on a different trail! HTP is over 8,000 acres of Preserve so it's not hard to go to an area we haven't been before! And it's constantly changing. This watering hole wasn't nearly this full the last time we ventured down this trail!

 

 
And the sky was so clear and blue that it made a beautiful reflection in the water. 

 

 
It was 60 degrees! I had to put on long sleeves and long pants! lol
We saw lots of animal tracks and some pretty little birds.
Hubby took this photo of a Phoebe 

 

  

and some of the watering hole pics! 

 

 

OH the things we do for a good photo!
 I had a good day and appreciate the sweet birthday comments. They made me feel special! 
I also got a couple of gifts from my penpals.

 

 
Danice from Homespun Hannah's sent me all kinds of pretty things and made the poncho and little hat for my doll. (she sent me a pattern to make more too!) Thank you my friend!

 

 

 And Ariadne from Greece sent me a birthday package with 'January' that she had cross stitched, patterns and postcards! Thank you SO much girlfriend!

 

 
I dressed a doll in the poncho and put my gifts and cards around her to enjoy this week.
Hubby gave me a cute card too.

 

 
And inside...

 

 
We don't use the h word very often so it made it even funnier!
Thanks again for being such sweet blog friends and for taking a birthday hike with me!

One more birthday bird!

 

 

The American Kestrel!
Are you ready to go again?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Surprises keep coming!

Two of the sweetest people I know gave me gifts this past week

….just because!

Aren’t they the BEST kind!

My sweet cousin Cindy sent me a package filled with craft supplies!

AND a beautiful quilted pouch she made just for me. My small IPAD fits inside perfectly. But I might use it to carry craft supplies. Lots of possibilities!

Then lo and behold! My husband came back from the store with a new set of pots and pans.

Mine were awful and I think I might have complained about them just the tiniest bit. I might have mentioned it just one or two times! heehee!

Plus he cooks as much as I do so he was tired of them too! (I know I’m spoiled! My hubby COOKS and SHOPS! I’m SOOOO spoiled!)

It sure made me feel special this week….and very very thankful!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

A Tag Journal!

When my sweet cousin Cindy came to visit, she brought me lots of ‘pressies’! She filled a huge bag with crafting supplies from her stash and oh what fun I had playing with everything!

She also made a few pockets with tags. And that gave me an idea. I’ve seen the tag journals so I decided to make a couple of them.

I sent this one off to her. It was great fun to make and nicer that a thank you note, don’t you think?

(one without the silk ribbon so that you can read it)

The tiny photos are selfies she took with her phone and then printed out on her handy dandy printer!

Have you made anything like this?

I enjoy small projects more and more! And it’s nice when you have lots of new supplies to play with!

The one I made for myself!

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE

and Cooking and Crafting with J & J.