a DC thanksgiving

we took a little 

trip to

Washington last weekend...

for the holiday

and I brought my camera

to share some moments 

with you...

we went to do a little shopping...

get away from it all...

and just relax a bit..

and to take in

the 

Van Gogh

exhibit

Repetitions

at the 

Phillips Collection

but I was not allowed to take

photos

so you have the outside of the museum

and some surrounding shots...

 

I was impressed 

with the fact that Van Gogh taught himself to draw..

he used a view finder 

and he painted the same portrait or scene

several times...

therefore, all of his paintings are duplicates 

there are

Several

of his 

friend the postman 

in almost the identical pose...

and he made drawings from 

his paintings...

these portraits below are all in different museums...

there were at least 14 different portraits that I saw on line...

of the postman..

it was

crowded and difficult to spend any real time with the art

but it was a fascinating show...

the weather was grey and chilly...

and the city was just beginning to decorate...

the frigid hand of winter

was evident

everywhere..

but it is still the south and there is a lot of green...

something that I have been celebrating...

I hope your holiday was wonderful...

I will be back with my

November pages...

and out to visit you...

ciao, ciao!!

a portrait and a holiday

this is crunch time...

deadlines..

presents...

holidays..

you know all about it don't you?

enhanced light.. she is a beauty..

I decided this year to make something

special for someone

who is very dear to me

natural light

a little gift...

shshshhhhhh..

don't tell... 

LOL

but I think it looks better in person

than photographed...

it is a combination of NuPastels and Prismacolors..

and quite delicate...

she has chameleon eyes...

those darling Irish eyes that 

sparkle mischeviously...

I hope she likes it...

but now I want to do another portrait of her, but in acrylics...

and maybe I will put a bird on it...

I worked from a standard size black and white photo copy and made a 5 x7 on watercolor paper...

and

with the holiday

upon us,

it is time to take a blogging break

I will be away for at least a week...

and I am giving thanks for all of you...

gentle readers... silent lurkers...

great friends, kind cheerleaders...

for your presence in my life and encouraging

me to work and write...

from my heart...

May you have a blessed and safe

holiday...

xo

part two

there is a point in life..

sometimes..

usually fairly early... 

when we begin to believe that 

bee skeps waiting for new owners

there is nothing perfect..

across from the market

that perfection simply 

looking through the fence to the pasture

doesn't exist...

the tiny white picket fence on the other side

we become a bit jaded..

framed in wood

expectations get in the way...

the gourds for sale in Williamsburg at the farm market

but somewhere along the way..

tragedy or circumstances 

hit us and

we crack open..

a line of cloches keep the winter veggies warm

and suddenly the light of perfection

illuminates everything...

do you ever enjoy a garden more than when you know it is about to go to sleep?

we live simply

and 

expect nothing...

the market store at the garden in Williamsburg.. Bruton Parish is across the street

and realize...

or see with real eyes..

gathering baskets for sale

that all along..

hand crafted fences..

everything was really beautiful

potting tables

all was well..

grape arbors..

and was absolutely 

a perfect fall day...

perfect!

have a perfect weekend gentle readers..

xo

part one

with so many photos of

Williamsburg 

I needed to divide it up in two posts...

and I don't know about you...

but

ranking right up there high on the list...

for me anyway,

 dear readers...

is a sun drenched autumn day...

such yumminess... 

and the color

mixed with the slanted light is such gorgeosity

that it makes you grateful to be alive...

the name of the store below...

said it all...

Bella!!

we had a lovely stroll...

enjoying a few shops...

and walking along the museums...

the chapel boneyard and side garden

at Bruton Parish Church

in the next few photos...

bee skep...

sun kissed statue...

a perfect spot for reflection and rest...

well worn benches...

and yes that woman is dressed in period costume...

below

walking into one of the museums ...

so charming..

sigh...

I hope you enjoyed part one

and I will be back soon with part two..

this Christmas we plan on visiting again

and touring the museums...

looking forward to that...

and taking you with us of course!

thanks for stopping by...

xo

yorktown

we are just now

getting out and exploring our

new world..

come on in...

we should do a little shopping and enjoy the

you can smell autumn in the air...

gorgeous autumn day...

we journeyed to 

Yorktown

down by the waterside...

there is a scent that is all it's own...

we arrived fairly early...
it was chilly but oh so brilliantly sunny...

of chilled dried leaves 

autumn brings...

so fun to see the bridge in the background..

me a combined feeling of joy and melancholy...

we strolled around..

the sense of prosperity and gratitude...

enjoying the sun..

the water...

and a connection with all that is...

and a little farmers market...

before we headed to 

Williamsburg...

a time of death and renewal..

not polar opposites, but a circle of love..

just a little scouting expedition...

we will be going back

and I will have lots more photos for you

soon...

C4N!

I am a winner..

you already knew that right?

but what you did not know...

dear readers... or some of you didn't...

is that I won a giveaway ...

this beautiful piece of art 

that my blog friend,

Valeriana

made

if you don't know about

her, go visit her blog

Ravenswood Forest

she wrote me a note on another piece of her

work 

and I will have to 

incorporate that with the large piece when I have them framed..

such beautiful atmospheric work...

proudly displayed

for now...

in my studio on my shelf...

Thank you Valeriana..

I shall treasure it!

xo

looking down

everyone knows

gentle reader...

that artists are different...

we have a unique way of looking at things...

we are

collectors...

dreamers..

visionaries...

we are reimagineers...

upcyclers...

crafters...

documentors...

arrangers..

merchandisers...

sightseers..

and story tellers...

we are magical...

because we make stuff from nothing

 really..

and we see things..

that others just step upon...

oh... the stories these ceramic tile pieces tell

if one is just listening...

have a most magical weekend ...

xo