...To Work or Not to Work...

I have been trying very hard to stay on track and actually complete things...It's such a hard thing to do this time of the year. The birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming and it's so easy to look out the window and get lost in thought...I have a mountain of doll bodies in my living room waiting to be assembled and dressed...They have been waiting for a couple of weeks now. I promise myself I will get to them and I will soon... I did manage to list a primitive rabbit doll on my website today...If you get a chance, please check her out...

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I've been outside snapping pictures of the flora and fauna...and birdsa. Here's a shot of my foxglove blooming. I bought a few last week to put in our woods...They look like fairy plants to me and I have always wanted one but never had the right conditions until now...Hopefully when I'm daydreaming, I'll find a little fairy tending to one...

Thanks for visiting my humble blog...

Take Care,

Tina

...A Fresh Week...

Last week is now history and a new one has begun... My computer has hopefully been fixed and the "mother-thing" was under warranty so that is a silver lining. I'm always a little hesitant to say everything is great because I don't want to jinx myself...

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We had a wonderful Saturday. My husbands company had it's annual family picnic. They hold it in a park owned by the company and there's a wonderful view of the ocean. The food was great and we all hopped on a couple of carnival rides. I was sadly brought back to reality when I found out that a ride that was fun at 17 is painful at forty-something! I used to love the tilt-a-whirls but now I think I'll just watch my kids ride them...In the afternoon we went out on a boat ride with a friend for a few hours. He showed us the little coves and shorelines in the area...I was surprised to see so many old farmhouses along the water. North Carolina is such a mix between the old and the new, I'm seeing it everywhere...The grand finale to all this is we happened upon a group of dolpins. This was my first experience with wild dolphins and it was so thrilling! They were all around and would surface and blow air...It was an experience of a lifetime!!

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Finally, my geraniums are starting to bloom. Nothing is more beautiful in summer than these flowers. They are always a staple in my summer garden...Speaking of summer garden, we have already seen a couple of snakes so my garden is not very big... I am extremely afraid of snakes!!

Take Care,

Tina

....More Glitches...

It's been a few days since my last post... My computer is still giving me trouble so I'm on the old one now...I think my husband said something about the "motherpanel". I have my own "mother" word for this panel! Luckily, we are still under warranty and now I'm just waiting for Dell to send someone over to fix the"mother" thing and replace my computer screen. Adding to this is the unpredictability of my internet server. This morning they were repairing something and I could not get on the internet...I get too irritated over this stuff. I expect things to happen a certain way and when they don't, I get so frustrated...I am definitely a schedule person with a fixed routine, no doubt about that!!

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Since I'm on this computer temporarily, I have been checking out my old picture folders. Seeing my old work was a real eye-opener. I didn't think I had changed my style so much, but I have...It's funny how things can be so subtle and you don't really see how you are evolving and looking back into the past is a great way to see your progress...I even arrange my pictures differently!!!...It's the little things, I guess...

Take Care,

Tina

...Beaches and Tea Parties...

After a couple hectic days and my computer glitches, I am finally able to sit down and blog a little. On Wednesday April 15...dreaded tax day, we all went as a family to a tea party in Morehead City. It is about an hour from home but the drive is nice and we all love the beach, so we picked this location. It was such a patriotic event and we left it feeling even more proud and patriotic than when we arrived. We can't wait for the next one !!

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We drove over to the beach after. Let me tell you, Morehead City(The Crystal Coast) is one of the most beautiful beaches I've seen...the area is so picturesque and clean. I have been to quite a few beaches in my travels but I'm awestruck by this one...It is also loaded with history too, which I love! Blackbeard the Pirate has connections to the whole area...I'm just starting to get into pirate lore so I love this angle...I always like to imagine what it was like back then...I guess I daydream a little too much... To top off the whole day, we had a late dinner at Outback and came home...It was a very full day but it is one I'll remember fondly...

Take Care,

Tina

...I'm Screaming but You Can't Hear Me!...

There, I thought that would grab your attention! I guess I'm more of a techno-geek than I thought...I have been having computer problems these last couple of days and yesterday it "crashed" on me ...just shut down without a warning...hum... After screaming my head off I had to find my dear sweet husband somewhere in the house, he got busy and stayed on the phone all day with Dell trying to fix it for me...He had to delete everything...all the pictures and junk I have accumulated (like a packrat) over the past year was wiped out...Now, I'm lucky to have the computer back but it still has a few kinks that I am finding out as I go along...Every now and then, I'm reminded how much of a delicate flower this computer is right now...Please bear with me while I continue to straighten all of this mess out...
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Johnny Depp has nothing to do with this but I just thought he would be nice to gaze upon after reading this...I feel much better now...
Take Care,
Tina

...Happy Easter...

Our azaleas are blooming like crazy now.

Take Care,

Tina

~ Website Update ~

I just listed a few goodes on my website...I have some more coming so I'll just leave my "coming soon" up at the bottom...I have so many things to get done and it always seems like there is so little time!

Please check out my new listings when you get a chance...

Take Care,

Tina

p.s.-My daughter took this picture of a beautiful azalea in our backyard...

...Birds - in - Trees...

I had forgotten how peaceful it is to sit outside and soak up the sights and sounds...We have had a perfectly wonderful Saturday and Sunday here so I have been heading outside each morning with a nice big cup of coffee in my hands. The trees are beginning to bloom and the birds are beginning to sing and nothing is more relaxing. I love birds and have always been interested in what types come to my feeders. I have several bird books and use them constantly to look up the little feathered friends I don't recognize... Here's a very ironic story, I lived in Maryland for six years before moving down here and I was so anxious to see a Baltimore Oriole...I waited and looked all over trying to find one somewhere...but never did...We moved down here to NC and I have an Oriole at my feeder every Spring... I guess the name means nothing!!

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I really need a zoom lens but I hope you are able to see my birds in trees!

Take Care,

Tina

...Finally Finished...

Today would be "Raleigh day"...but it's not! We finished up on Tuesday. Now all we have left is final testing and a review that I'll have to schedule for next month...I cannot describe the weight that has been lifted from my shoulders. Jacob(my son) will be doing his senior project on this scientific method of rewiring the brain and increasing memory. He has had a struggle all his life with his learning skills and we have had him in every extra class we could find to make life a little easier for him. We always hoped that something would just click with him and he would correct his problems...but it never happened. This program has already shown results for him...he now looks us in the eyes when he talks...he never looked anybody in the eyes before! It's little things like this that make me feel so much better. They say that he will continue progressing even after these sessions are over...this takes a weight off my heart~

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Please check out The Primitive Gathering for new stuff and don't forget The Eclectic ArtisansWebshow on April 4!!

Thanks for visiting my humble blog...

Take Care,

Tina