“Trees are poems….”

I’ve spent some time at Sholom Park this week.

Not all of the trees have leaves right now but many of our trees are live oaks that keep their leaves all year round.

A peek at the trees from my bedroom window shows the sunshine we’ve enjoyed this week. (these are in my backyard not at the park!)

I’m joining Sunlit Sunday

and Beautiful Sunday,

 Sunny Simple Sunday,

 Gratitude Sunday,

and Mary for Mosaic Monday!

And a new one, Sundays in my City!

 

Art in the Park?

I had such a nice walk at Sholom Park this week. I tried to walk for 30 minutes before taking photos! It’s hard not to stop. There are so many beautiful scenes along the way.

I asked to take photos of this precious family and this budding artist!

Isn’t she sweet?

So much of the country is having crazy winter weather but it has been warm here this week!

I don’t usually sit down, but isn’t this inviting?

Did you love to draw and paint when you were a child? I think we were all artists when we were younger. Some of us are just out of practice…like me!

Flashback Friday “A Before pic”

This is a photo of my Mama and Dad just before I was born!

My Mama looks so happy and beautiful!

She is still a beautiful woman and I’m thankful for her. I sure do miss my Dad.

I’m joining Seaside Simplicity for Flashback Friday!

It’s fun to have old photos scanned to enjoy on your computer! I still need to scan some more, do you?

I’ll have another Flashback photo to share on Monday if you want to stop back by then!

Take a closer look!

Did you ever walk by something of beauty….deep in thought?

I almost did when I was at the park this week.

The Tulip tree, or Japanese Magnolia is in full bloom here in Florida right now.

I tried a couple of settings and liked this shot best.

Here’s the Tulip tree I almost missed!

I’m joining my girlfriend,

Danielle for Cool Clicks Thursday.

Have you taken a photo this week that you would like to share?

January Note Card Party

I always love to join in with photos I’ve posted in the past that might make good note cards.

I know…I just had to sneak in a Christmas card or two but I love these sweet angels!

I’m joining Vee for this FUN party HERE !

I hope you’ll join us, too!

Let’s learn to Read!

I was so excited to find some old readers at a Thrift store this weekend.

It was the very first time I had shopped at Crossroads Thrift store!

I found two of the readers right away but the Dick and Jane book, “We Come and Go” was in a different spot and I almost missed it!

I collect children’s books and readers are my favorite finds. (I forgot to put these on my list!)

I’m joining Mary for Mosaic Monday

and Diane for Beautiful Sunday

and Sunny Simple Sunday !

And of course my girlfriend,

Linda for Gratitude Sunday!

I was in the second grade when I really learned to LOVE reading! My teacher, Mrs. Jean would take each of us aside and listen to us read aloud. It was the highlight of the week!

Do you remember when you learned to read?

‘Flashback Friday’

I was wild and crazy way back when! lol

We lived in Houston, TX for just a few short months when I was 2 years old. I must have LOVED having a sidewalk to ride on!

I’m joining Seaside Simplicity for Flashback Friday!

Kick up your heels!

Have some FUN today!

Mark it off the list!

Or better yet, put a neat little check mark next to it!

I decided to make a ‘wish list’

but not just any wish list!

Everyone knows now that I’m addicted to ‘thrifting’ so I decided to make a list of things I would like to find this year. And today I actually found something on my list!

I hurried home and wrote to my girlfriend, Sherry from Back 2 Vintage to see what she thought. Here’s part of what she wrote me back,

“Yay, Diane!!!! You did great!

CONGRATS ON A VERY THRIFTY FIND!!!

Isn't "the hunt" a thrill????!!!”

YES IT IS!!!

 

I now have a beautiful set of Christmas dishes.

Staffordshire Engraving Yuletide pattern.

Enough for 4 people…PERFECT!

So what else is on my list?

A vintage dollhouse, dollhouse furniture, a big old painting of a ship, an antique wooden dough bowl and pixies (they stay on the list year round! heehee)

What do you think I should add to the ‘wish list’?

I’m joining Jann for Share your cup Thursday!

Sneaky…sneaky…sneaky!

What a morning I’ve had

and it just keeps getting better!

I made a new banner last night and worked on ‘tweaking’ it this morning.

Did you ever work on something until it finally was worse than when you started?

Pat at Back Porch Musings gave a tutorial but since I didn’t have Typepad, I was winging it from the start. But it was fun and a learning experience! And I think I’ll leave it alone…for now at least!

Sandy at Hob Nobbers has the first post up for the “Live your dream life now workshop”. So I have a new journal to start that today!

And last but not least….Laura has featured me on her blog, I’m So Vintage this morning! She didn’t even tell me what she was going to write so it was a total surprise! I am so honored and humbled by her sweet post! Thank you Laura for making me feel so special!

I love Mondays!

So what was sneaky? This post is my sneaky way to get you to visit Laura and say some more sweet things about me! heeheehee! (if you have any ‘dirt’ on me…just skip her blog today! lol)

I’ll sneak in something vintage and cute, too!

HAVE FUN!!!

Exciting NEWS! Downton Abbey ALERT!

For those who love the PBS series,

Downton Abbey,

season 3 begins tonight on Masterpiece Theatre!

Check your TV guide to see when it airs at your house! We will be watching at 9 pm.

My husband and I BOTH love these shows. We’ll have the big screen warmed up and the popcorn popped! Come on over…P J s will be the choice of attire! heehee!

And here’s a link to the Downton Abbey paper dolls to play with in your ‘spare time’!

Click HERE !

Are YOU a fan, too?

One shelf…in one corner…in one room…

Step right in to my doll room.

And let’s take a closer look at one shelf above the crib.

I’ve been collecting dolls for almost 20 years

and yes….they have their own room!

Looks like a couple are missing!

Wonder where they are!

(getting their clothes changed! It’s a hard job but someone has to do it! lol)

I’m joining Mary for Mosaic Monday

and Diane for Beautiful Sunday

and Sunny Simple Sunday !

Do you take time to play?

Gratitude and my ‘Word’ for 2013

I love my life and I’m grateful for every day of it. It’s important to be happy with each day you’re given and not wait for something special to be happy.

 

My girlfriend, Diane from Diane Writes posted this awhile back and I thought it was excellent.

So is my word Happy?

Not this year…for 2013 I’m choosing

BELIEVE !

It means a lot of different things to me and I think it will take on new definitions as the year goes by.

I BELIEVE I can be happy and grateful for the life I have. We all have good and bad in our lives. Last year was one of my best years ever…but it came with some sadness, too. Life is a challenge but we all have a choice as to how we handle things.

I’m joining my girlfriend,

Linda for Gratitude Sunday!

And if you would like to take part in a FREE workshop, beginning on January 7th Sandy from Hob Nobbers will be having a workshop series entitled, "Live Your Dream Life NOW!" Click on the link HERE to learn more about it!

We have an exciting year ahead of us,

don’t you believe?

 

That’s what friends are for!

I did a post for Becky yesterday. She needs help to reach her goal and get her book published! Look at the post below for more information on that!

And then I went to the Thrift Store and someone called my name! It was my blog buddy, Danielle from Unconventional Photography and I met her for the very first time….and got at least THREE hugs and had LOTS of fun talking!

Then later that afternoon, I called my girlfriend, Della from Del’s Shells and we talked about photo editing. Of course we talked about lots of things….like girlfriends do!

So that’s how my day went! It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Well unless you count the neat vintage things I found at the Thrift Store! And it was HALF price day! (the figurine at the top of the post was 50 cents!)

So I guess it DID get better!

I’m joining Dianne at The Thrifty Groove!

Aren’t blog buddies the BEST!

Let’s help a Blog Buddy!!!

My friend Becky at www.beckypovich.blogspot.com has been writing for about 12 years and has stories published in various books such as “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and also in newspapers.

She has just completed her memoir and needs a little help in the financing of its publishing.

Her project is listed on kickstarter.com  If you're not familiar with this site, it's a very unique way for creative people to obtain backers to help them achieve their dream(s). Besides information about her book, there is also a 5 minute video of Becky talking about her journey. She also has advance praise for her memoir from four best-selling authors!

Just type in Becky Povich when you get to the main page, then click on the photo of Becky. Then you will see what pledge amounts and rewards are available. And please help spread the news by telling your family and friends, posting it on your blogs, sending e-mails, word of mouth, etc. (but only if you REALLY want to!) ☺

If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s an all-or-nothing system. If Becky doesn’t reach her funding goal by the deadline of January 6th, the project won’t be financed and your account will not be charged for your pledge. (And Becky will not receive any money.)

* Pledges start at only $5.00 *

Please help Becky achieve her dream

by her 60^th Birthday! *

Thanks Chatty Crone for letting me use your text to get this message out! We’re behind you all the way, Becky!!!

The Colors or the Sea…blue and gray and green

Another favorite quote from a movie (and book), “Sarah, Plain and Tall”. “Sarah states that her favorite colors are blue, gray and green, the colors of the sea.”

I want to start the year with a thank you post for all of the thoughtful gifts and giveaway wins that I’ve been fortunate to receive the past month or so. I appreciate each one and will treasure my pretty gifts!

My cousin, Cindy made me a scarf….the colors of the sea. Thanks sweet Cindy! I LOVE it!

 

Shanti from Sunshine Bliss sent me a beautiful wintry blue necklace and then when I won her giveaway, I got to choose the dream bracelet. Her charm bracelets are my favorite bracelets to wear. (I wear a couple of them together and they look great!) Her shop is HERE !

I won a giveaway at the Rusty Thimble and couldn’t resist ordering one of her Prim Santas, too! Thanks Brenda! Everything she makes is just awesome!

I won a book from Books and Life. I’m reading it and really enjoying it! Thanks Joy!

And out of the goodness of her heart, Kim from Happy @ Home sent me some Pixies! She knows I collect them and wanted to send me one. Surprise surprise…when I opened the package THREE had come to Florida to live! Thank you SO much sweet Kim! They are happy here in the lanai!

Then one day I got a package all the way from Northern Ireland!

Isn’t this Prim doll adorable? And look at the stitching in these precious tucks! They all smell sweet, too! I won this from Preferably Prim ! Thank you SO much!

Yesterday I got the Christmas edition of FOLK magazine that I won from Funky Junk. Thanks Donna! I subscribed, too! They have a fabulous deal going on right now!

I had an amazing month!

And yes I am blessed… I know!

Happy New Year everyone!