Blogging Break Ahead....

Just a little advance warning here that I am going to be taking a blogging break these next few weeks. I will be posting sporadically in the coming days, and I just wanted you all to know that this is a deliberate, premeditated break. Everyone needs a vacation... right? This is not permanent, but it is necessary to maintain decorum and sanity right now. I am sure you all understand. I hope to have a little time to visit all my blogging friends, but please don't think I have deserted you if I don't comment over these next few weeks. I just don't know if I will have computer access or not for a portion of this break, so I wanted you all to know that I haven't fallen off the end of the earth. And I did want to take this opportunity to tell all of you who stop by here, read, and/or comment, that I am really honored that you would take the time to do that.


I have posted every day since this blog began at the end of May, so it really is time for a break.

:-) Christi

Blue flower day!

An award from a kindred southern belle...

Bebe from the beautiful and uplifting Peaches~And~Dreams blog has given me the I Love Your Blog award.





I am thrilled and honored to receive this award from Bebe because I truly love her blog. I have missed her this summer as her posts have been few and far between, (we all understand about how busy the summer can get) and I am so glad to see her posting again. She posts on all kinds of beautiful things, oftentimes giving us a history lesson (but it's so much fun it doesn't feel like studying!) If you haven't visited her, you must!

~~~~~

Here are the rules of this award.
1. The receiver can put the logo on his or her blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you mentioned.
~~~~~

This is a tough one because there are so many. So, in no particular order...

Vee at A Haven for Vee
Cheryl at Cherdecor
Lorrie at Fabric, Paper, Thread
Barbara from Ramblings from an English Garden
Dutchess at The Dutchess
Barb at Stamplicity
Ruth at Artful Creations

Along the Garden Path...

Some macro garden shots...

Encouraging Mondays...

Prepare to laugh... thanks to Cheryl at Cherdecor for directing me to Yearbook Yourself. I laughed and laughed. Here are my glamourous photos (I mean yearbook mugshots) that were generated by Yearbook Yourself. (I am offering my apology right now to my mother and any other family members this may totally freak out!)

And now for the big reveal of me through the years.... drumroll, please!!


1950


1966


1974


1976


1988


1990


1992

Grace for the Journey...

An award from a cherished friend...

Cheryl at Cherdecor, has a beautiful blog and shares her heart so generously. She is a breast cancer survivor, as is my mother-in-law, and partly because of that I feel a special connection to her. She also shares a strong faith, and that is so encouraging to me. I feel very honored that she has presented me with the Friendship Award.



I would like to pass it on to a new blogging friend and very kindred spirit in many ways... including being a homeschooling mom of teens (yikes, did I really say that?), a woman of faith, and a fellow southerner... Mrs. Trixie at Making It Our Home. I really enjoy her stories about their life on the farm, homeschooling, and all the adventures that go along with that. Be sure and say a prayer for her and others along the coastal areas, as Hurricane Gustav looms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Stop, Look, & Listen...

Fruitful Fridays...

More Disney sketching...



More Victoria Magazine inspired artwork... How could any artist not be inspired by the Children's Corner features in these vintage Victorias?
(May 1990 issue.)



White Flowers Series:
Each of these pictures is from a flower featured in Victoria Magazine and has the issue and page number written on the back.

(These are Prismacolor pencil on black matboard.)





(Hollyhock - March 97, p. 85; Rose - March 94, p. 79; Camellia - June 96, p. 44; White Jasmine - January 90, p. 37; Queen Anne's Lace - July 92, p. 45)


Another painting inspired by a photo from Victoria magazine... this is one I worked on a while back.
(March 1990 issue.)

The Letter...

I just thought some of you might actually like to see this treasure... see, it isn't fiction but rather a treasured piece of beautiful literature!



And I must tell you that today is the birthday of the most special man in my life, my hubby! In many ways he reminds me of my grandfather, but especially for his sense of humor. He cracks me up... often. We have been married for almost 22 years, and I don't think we've ever been happier together than we are now.