Vintage Easter Biddie

....deserving of a closer look, this

"vintage biddie" has quite a few

years of age on it. For a while

I had a little antique business, and

did a fair amount of "wheeling and

dealing." This little guy won my

heart and agreed to stick around

our place. Another sweet addition to

my Easter decor, he sits

along side a fine basket of green ivy this year.

I know your all doing the same

thing I am, bringing your boxes of

treasures out of storage,

examining them one at a time,

while reflecting back on

Easters gone by.

Enjoying the moments.....Dee Dee

.......because they will look for them

As Christians,we celebrate.....

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

His purpose on earth,

His death and resurrection.

This is taught in our home

and in our churches.

THIS is why we have EASTER

-

....childhood customs are still celebrated at

Easter, in our home.

"Oh, I remember these"

are sweet words to my ears.

They are Easter treasures

carefully brought out each year,

because they will look for them.

Oh...

"here comes Peter Cotton tail...."

I'm enjoying this time of year

and hope you are too.

Dee Dee

A Whistling Day

Happy Birdie

I once read that birds don't eat first thing

in the morning.

Having nothing else to do

they sing

using all the different sounds they know,

quite enjoying listening to themselves.

This is their carefree time of the day.

Some mornings, when I awaken,

I kinda feel the same way...

When the sun is shining, I'm feeling good,

and have lovely things planned for the day,
well....

I've been know to whistle a bit myself.

I hope your having one of those

"feel like whistling days"

Dee Dee

On My Desk To Read

"His warmth, grace, humor, generosity,

and immovable conviction:

Ronald Reagan derived them all from

his faith. God and Ronald Reagan

describes how the fortieth president

remained true all his life to the simple

Christian beliefs he learned from his

mother and how those beliefs enabled

him to change the world."

~Peter Robinson

-

He waged an openly spiritual campaign against

communism, insisting that religious freedom was

the bedrock of personal liberty. "The source of

our strength in the quest for human freedom is

not material, but spiritual."

-

"I believe that God in shedding His grace on this

country has always in this divine scheme of

things kept an eye on our land and guided it as

promised land." ~Ronald Reagan

-

Reagan borrowed words from John Winthrop

"If we deal falsely with our God in this work

we have undertaken and cause Him to withdraw

His present help from us, we shall be made a story

and a byword throughout the world."

-

......concerned...Dee Dee

Think On This......

Never has the world had a greater need for love

than in our day.

People are hungry for love.

We don't have

time to stop and smile at each other.

We are all in such a hurry!

Pray.

Ask for the necessary grace.

Pray

to be able to understand

how much Jesus loved us,

so that

you can love others.

~Mother Teresa

"On A Garden Table"

He is so dear and special to me....

calls his grandfather and

me often. "Will you paint

something for my home?"

He is interested in my art...

it is something we have

in common.

He explained that his home

is decorated in Tuscany style

using warm rich colors.

He and his wife shared ideas

with me, and we agreed on the subject.

I think they will be pleased.

......feeling honored

Dee Dee

......Pooh hears a noise

Before he had gone very far, he heard a noise. So

he stopped and listened. This was the noise.

-

Noise, By Pooh

Oh, the butterflies are flying,

Now the winter days are dying,

And the primroses are trying

To be seen.

And the turtle-doves are cooing,

And the woods are up and doing,

For the violets are blue-ing

In the green.

Oh, the honey-bees are gumming

On their little wings, and humming

That the summer, which is coming,

Will be fun..........

For the spring is really springing;

You can see a skylark singing,

And the blue-bells, which are ringing,

Can be heard.......

-

Ah....to hear the noises of spring

like Pooh and make up songs as

I walk along....

Rum-tum-tiddle -um-tum...

Dee Dee

.......something to ponder

My mood determines

what my art eventually becomes.

Last evening, while drawing faces,

I could hear the television in

the background.

An emotional drama, I

was moved by the

dialogue from

the movie "The Pianist."

"The Holocaust"

..... I believe

what I was seeing and hearing

is somehow reflected in the faces

shown here.

The blonde.....saddened with disbelief.

The brunette....compassion.

......I find this interesting and

something to ponder.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

.....it was that kind of day

.....camera in hand, I set about on an

adventure of discovery in the garden.

Tiny little buds are everywhere, now

that March winds are blowing and

the spring sun has warmed the soil.
How sweet is the delicate

budding of the Nandina bush.

.....yes, they are pink!

-

It was one of those March days when

the sun shines hot and wind blows cold:

When it is summer in the light, and winter

in the shade.~Charles Dickens

......and so it was that kind of day

Blessings.....Dee Dee

click on photo

.....look who's hopping around on my desk!

Resting on my desk,

is this little bird

Now and then, I wind him up

and he hops all around.

-

He came to his position,

in my home,

by way of Michael's Craft Store.

-

It was not my intention

to buy a hopping bird today.

My story....

Have you noticed the dollar

bins by the check-out lines,

of stores where mostly

women frequent?

The greatest marketing idea

of the century, I believe.

It has been my observation, that

most women find these products

irresistible, and are compelled to

pick up and handle almost every

single item in these bins. Nine times

out of ten, she will buy at least one thing.

My one thing today, was a hopping

wind-up plastic green bird.

I am not ashamed.....

Dee Dee

......roses are the most obvious

"Good morning Mr Sunshine

you brighten up my day.......

-

Remember that song?

-

They're

pretty pale pink roses

reaching for the sun.

I'm realizing, as I survey

this wonderful world,

almost

everything in nature

is beautiful to look at.

-

Roses are the most obvious.

-

This week I am taking

photos of the unexpected

things

that grow in my garden.

In the spring....even weeds

are producing lovely tiny

delicate blooms.

swoon...

Blessings today.....Dee Dee

........new treasures on my desk

I placed my order with Amazon, and in

four seemingly short days, the books

I had ordered were on my doorstep.

It was like Christmas to me, as

I hurriedly opened the packages.

-

"Beatrix Potter A Journal"

and

"At Home With Beatrix Potter."

-

The Journal is chocked full of

reproductions of Beatrix's own journal,

containing her writings, drawings

and family photos.

A treasure indeed....is a small copy

of Beatrix's

own private printed addition of

"The Tale Of Peter Rabbit."

-

"At Home With Beatrix Potter" is

an absolutely lovely book,

about her life.

I will take my time reading every single

word she has written and,

I will be studying each and every

one of her drawings.

Long a fan of Ms Potter, I am more than

curious about her world.

I might say, these books now claim the

position of most cherished of books on

my shelves.

-

Journal.....page one begins......"I was sixteen when I

decided to start this diary. I was beginning to feel the

peaceful time of childhood was ending and

I foresaw changes in my life."

........I continue to read

Dee Dee

.....having fun with mixed media

Maybe we all have the same thing on our minds....

spring is here, and this is cause for celebration.

No one is in a more celebratory mood

than the birds I've seen in the garden.

They're of all varieties and all sizes.

Thus, my inspiration for the little

collage, shown above.

I'll have to admit, I've not seen a

bird nest made with

flowers, and my creativity is

somewhat

realistically doubtful.....

However

were I a bird, perhaps this is how I would

build my nest.....I might even have pink

thrown into the mixture.

......having fun with mixed media

Dee Dee

click on collage for closer details

......Bible Study

If you've ever doubted God's love for you,

even, for a single moment

read

from the

Holy Bible

in the book of

John

This afternoon I've been

completing my worksheet questions

taken from John 17....finding a

place to linger and ponder

in verse 13

Joy is a common theme in Christ's

teachings...He wants us to be joyful.

The key to immeasurable joy is living

in intimate contact with Christ

the source of all joy.

When we do, we will experience God's

special care and protection.

I hope you'll be encouraged today....

Dee Dee

Signs of Spring in the Garden.....

.......the neighbors grapefruit tree is a large old tree,

having great limbs that drape over the fence into our garden.

This has been so, for many years,

allowing for an ample supply of grapefruit for us

during season.

The tree begins blooming in the spring,

which is now

and by November the fruit will be ready to harvest.

Unlike grapefruit varieties of more recent times,

these great yellow citrus fruits, have

massive amounts of seeds.

Never mind, we say, for

the flavor is worth the effort in preparation.

When taking photos of the

blossoms today, and there are many,

I realized the tree will produce a

"bumper crop"

this year.

I got up close with my camera and used the macro

setting, so as to see the tiny delicate features...

Can you see the tiny little dots?

The flesh or the peeling

of the grapefruit has similar composition

to the blossom.

I find that fascinating.....

.....are you having a good weekend? I hope so.

Blessings.....Dee Dee ....click on photos

........ever wonder?

......collage by dee dee

....you can't doubt it for long my friend.

.....all over this big ole beautiful world,

is evidence of a mighty Creator.

Ever wonder?

I'm thinking awesome is one word

to describe Him....can't hardly get

my mind around all that's going

on here in my part of the world.

Spring!

God

did some pretty incredible things here

with the plants, the skies,

the blue ocean waters

and some incredibly beautiful

and interesting

wildlife.

......I'm thanking Him for that today

Dee Dee

Altered

They

have been placed

in

a small

crystal

vase.

.....still beautiful,

in

an

altered-rose

kind of way....

I continue

to enjoy

the

life

remaining in them.

Blessings....Dee Dee

....freckles and "pop beads"

I find it more of a challenge,

this drawing and painting

of family members.

This was my effort today....

-

The painting has similarities

to her.

I'm pleased,

but then

I continue on with my lessons....

One day

I will meet with my

own expectations.

-

She has freckles, this

daughter of mine

and

I think their cute....

I gave her a strand of

"pop beads."

Remember them?

Good blessings.....Dee Dee

......on my desk

Robert Ingpen, one of Australia's

most successful illustrators makes

me forget I'm an adult, when

looking at his amazing book illustrations.

Within moments, I am catapulted back

to childhood, completely absorbed

into the fantasy world he has so

beautifullly created.

This happened today, while

looking at his artistic contributions

to Lewis Carroll's

"Alice's Adventures In Wonderland."

A trip to B&N today netted me

delightful learning

fodder, some pertaining to my

fascination with Alice.

Pictured are some of my

purchases, all adding

to the conglomerated collection

of children's books

stacked on my desk.

Not to worry.... I feel comfortable

surrounded by stories of fantasy

Some of them are

about Cheshire cats, bears that

love honey and boys who never grow old,

just to name a few.

Having the best of the best

in book illustrators, is like having

text books to study, all,

right at my painted finger tips.

hmmm....sipping tea from my

new Alice mug....and planning my

next project...

....hope your having a good week...Dee Dee

.....drawing Alice....addictive

A Mad Hatter Tea PotA Hatter Tea Party Guest

The Mad Hatter "You mean you can't take less,'

said the Hatter, it's very easy

to take more than nothing."

-

All is readied for the

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

-

Alice will be arriving soon...

-

I continue to draw and paint

with such passion, mostly

in fulfillment of my dream

of one day writing children's

books and doing my own

illustrations.....for

future generations in my

family.

My delight is sharing my

creativity with friends,

family and bloggy friends.

I am so enjoying it all and

hope your quite entertained....

Dee Dee

Poetry Inspired

Hill Dweller

There's little here for you brown hare there's little here to eat

There's little here save withered gorse and bitter mountain heath

So why not move to inland fields where grass grow green and sweet

And leave this wild and rugged hill your mountainy retreat?

I hid behind a bunch of gorse and watched the mountain hare

As he nibbled at a tuft of heath of my presence unaware

He nibbled at a tuft of heath and fed his appetite

And filled his little belly with bitter mountain bite.

'Tis a quiet life he live up here he live a recluse life

Up here on lonely Clara hill where gorse and het grow rife

But then he is a mountain hare a loner and alone

A lover of the rugged hill the mountain is his home.

Then I showed myself it started him and he scurried up the height

He kept on racing up the hill til he was out of sight

He raced on up the steep incline as if chased by greyhound

He could not have run faster had he been on level ground.

The breath of Winter still about and winds of March blow chill

Across the bleak unsheltered face of the desolate hill

On this Unspring like eve in March the wind sing, lonesome ode

Above the slopes of Clara hill the mountain hare's abode.

~Francis Duggan

Appropriately befitting a painting by Dee Dee

visitors.....

Imagine my surprise

when greeting the morning.

Through the blinds

I could see

visitors to our front yard

-

A

flock

of

White Ibis

-

hmmm... kind of nice how we

share our little parcel of

land with so many of

God's beautifully made creatures.

They are mightily welcomed

here any time.

.....enjoying the moment.....Dee Dee

click on photos

Daisies Adorning the Cottage

and .....putting a smile in my heart!
Blessings.....Dee Dee

Lewis Carroll Would Be Pleased.....

"Oh, my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting."

-

I suppose all this talk about Alice,

has conjured up a

spark in my imagination....

almost childlike.

I want to bring that same

curiosity I had from yesteryear

to my world today.

I'm bursting with ideas,

and hope to place some of them in

art form.

It seems, that anyone

with fond memories

of Alice, wants to

to be a part of

the new

"Alice In Wonderland."

I believe Mr. Carroll

would

be pleased with Alice's

new popularity.

-

With a little help from

my pencils and watercolors

I've ...released

my very amateurish skills...

as a beginning.

Here,

Alice is very surprised,

by one

extremely worried

"White Rabbit"

-

Just getting started......

I continue to be inspired by

artist in this month's issue of

Somerset Studio....a must buy.

Words of Christen Olivarez, Editor

of the magazine....

"Each time I pick up a paintbrush or ink a stamp,

I let myself tumble down that rabbit hole into a world of

my own."

It is in this spirit.....my journey into Alice's world

continues. Blessings....Dee Dee

.......an amazingly beautiful world we live in

collage by Dee Dee

Be blessed this Lord's Day.....click on image

.......ragged tulips

My potted Tulips

have withered and

drooped and

become somewhat

ragged.

I'm finding it hard

to discard them,

for even in this state,

they are still

lovely to look at.

I'm having a really nice weekend

and hoping the same for you.

Keep looking for signs of God's

goodness.....Dee Dee

.....all this talk about Alice

What is the use of a book', thought Alice,

'without pictures or conversations?'

~Lewis Carroll Note: Arthur Rackham's illustration from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

-

What is going on with

Alice?

-

"Humpty Dumpty

sat on the moon...

singing to Alice her

favorite tune?

-

My new Somerset Studio's... MarApr issue,

is chocked full

of new and exciting

art, crafts, stamps and even

paper dolls....

all to do with

Alice!

An old Alice fan

from way back,

I've been inspired....

finding I'm partial to

the vintage Alice

unlike the odd and most

peculiar version now in theaters.

"Have you seen a white rabbit?"

Perhaps he's run down into the rabbit hole....

Dee Dee

.......awakening to rain

The rain began

last evening and was

mightily welcomed by me....

I have two small areas of the

garden that have been prepared

with a labor of love.....

There lies

beneath rich black soil,

tiny "sweet pea" seeds

....maybe now a few

less than I planted,

for I have seen

frisky squirrels, and most

curious they are....

"digging...digging...digging"

The rain has continued

all day long

and
I've dared to venture outside,

even running in the rain.....

"glorious rain"

It was worth the

effort,

for my rainy day

has been brightened

by

sweet pink daisies

that

adorn my

dining table.....swoon

Feeling blessed today,

....Dee Dee

......I know what it's like

A Farm In Pennsylvania.....by Dee DeeApple Tree by Dee Dee

I've heard it said about writers

that they should write what they know.

Now....if that applies to them,

then why not

draw and paint

what one knows?

I know what it's like to

live in the country

on a farm.

I know what it's like

to smell fresh cut hay,

and I know how a barn smells

at milking time.

.....Well

those drawings can be for

another time.

-

I know what it feels like to be

sixteen years old,

to help with the chores

and then

have time alone

with my thoughts....

to lie

under an apple tree on a

warm summer day.....

-

To sit in the shade on a fine day,

and look upon verdure is the most

perfect refreshment.~Jane Austen

-

Blessings..... Dee Dee

.....pure soft spoken beauty

One of the first things

we hear of a morning,

are the sweet

mourning

sounds of

a Mourning Dove.

All through the many years we've

lived in our home, here in Florida,

they've made themselves right

at home in our garden.

Year in and year out they've

nested in our Palm trees,

bathed in the birdbath,

had little babies

and claimed our garden as their own.

They are lovely to look at,

and I believe beautifully made by God.

This afternoon, we watched

as a very young

Dove

enjoyed wild bird seed

on one of the feeders.

The sweet simplicity of

that single moment

with nature,

provided for us pure

soft-spoken beauty.
Blessings.....Dee Dee

Photo...Google images