This & That - December 2016

December had us out and about more than usual.  Here are a few of them, including a few animal encounters.  Our first outing was to attend a retirement party for a friend on a restaurant boat as it floated up and down the Potomac River.  You can see the lights of Washington, DC here when we took a short, brisk walk around the deck.  Because it was dark outside and we were moving slowly you could hardly tell you were on a boat from inside.  This was empasized when putting on our coats to make this little jaunt around the deck--our hostess asked us if we were leaving already 😊. . . .

This & That - November

November began with a show of colors, finally. . . .

This & That - September 2016

I'm very happy to report that Olivia's Poppi (our daughter-in-law's father) is doing quite well.  His tests after four chemotherapy treatments give us great hope that he may beat the dire prognosis after all.  Here is Olivia crossing the bridge to the Faerie Door in the Enchanted Woods on one of her visits. . . .

Out and About - March 2016

March 1st was the first of my 8 watercolor classes.  We spent it learning about the different ways to put the paint on the paper.  I was delighted to discover an old acquaintance I hadn't seen in 16 years was also attending. . .

Out and About - February 2016

Compared to February 2015 it doesn't look like I've done much this month!  But I started the month busily reading more about Beatrix Potter so I could draw this map and write a new post for this month's entry for A Year with Beatrix Potter & Friends. . . .

Out and About - January 2016

♫Dream of Flying♫

January started off with my catching my husband's New Year's cold but I used the stay-in-bed time to look through all my collection of artists' journals to see which one I wanted to use to guide me through the year in my drawing challenge.  It soon became clear that Beatrix Potter's characters would be just what I needed.  You can read about that here. . . .

Snowbound

Several of my readers have inquired of our situation here in Maryland after Winter Storm Jonas blew through on Friday night and into Saturday evening.  We are fine--no loss of power even--and are in the process of digging out.  I thought I'd share the experience with those who were not in its path and give those who were a chance to share their experience in the comments section.

Friday, 4:45 PM:  The snow started two hours ago--earlier than predicted.  Really looking forward to seeing some snow this winter. . . .

Out and About - December 2015

♫White Christmas♫

I didn't get my White Christmas but because December was unseasonably warm it was nice for our two evening outings.  The first outing was the Frederick Holiday House Tour.  It is held the First Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon in December.  I especially like going to the evening tour because of all the holiday lights. . . .

Out and About - November 2015

♫Thanksgiving♫

Another month for which there was much to be thankful!  I made Olivia a tent over the dining table. . . .

Out and About - October 2015

♫Loreena McKennitt♫

October was filled with family time.  Last month, as you will recall, ended with our mini-family reunion when Ken's older brother and his wife came for a visit.  Their RV camper needed a new engine which meant they'd need to stay an extra week.  Well, as things happen, there was a problem with the installation of the new engine which required an extra two weeks to repair.  Thankfully, they were wonderful to have around. ☺︎ The first week it rained a lot so we went to several used book sales.  Finally, we were able to do some more sightseeing.  We took them to the Rural Heritage Museum. . . .

Out and About - September 2015

♫Sail Away♫

September has just sailed away from me!  I'm very much a "routine" kind of person, but it seems that the Powers That Be are forcing me to be more flexible.  Here is what I've been doing. . . .As  you can see, our Spruce has not perked up at all this summer.  Behind it are the wild turkeys that have been visiting off and on for a few weeks now. . . .

Out and About - August 2015

♫For Everything There Is A Season♫

August has been all about getting ready for the Maryland Chapter of the Tasha Tudor Museum Society's Tasha Tudor 100th Birthday Celebration on the 28th.  Even my View Outside My Window post was about my plans for the upcoming celebration.  

We've been needing a new roof put on the house so we scheduled it on the 10th to get that out of the way. . . . 

Out and About - July 2015

♫Can't Help Falling In Love♫

We did a lot this month that I didn't photograph so I don't have much to show you.    But this is what I do have.....a visit to Brookside Gardens where we went in the Butterfly house. . . .

Raggedy Ann Runs Grandmommy Ragged

♫Children's Song♫

The Adventures of Raggedy Ann 

(aka Olivia June)

Out and About - June 2015

♫Animals♫

The weather this month has gone from being too hot and humid to downright cold to somewhere in between.  It has expressed my mood quite well......languid to exhilarated and somewhere in between.  I shared in the first post for the month how I was feeling about my life.  Poetry captures how I felt as she lies in the window trying to catch a breeze. . . .

Out and About - May 2015

♫New Day♫

Our son, who had been in the hospital for two weeks, was released on the first day of May and is doing very well.  I have an abundance of Olivia June pictures since besides babysitting every week this month, we saw her on Mothers Day.  Here she is playing with Gabriel's treat ball, then offering it to him. . . .

Out and About - April 2015

♡Healing and Relaxing Music For Meditation♡

April began quite normally, but you will soon learn why I chose this music this month.  We've started babysitting Olivia June every Wednesday.  Here is a collage of those visits. . . .

Out and About - March 2015

♫Across the Universe♫

The month of March has been a mixture of Out and About.  I finished the painting on the 1st and was ready for the floor to be installed on the 2nd, but it turned out they weren't planning to come until the 4th.  It only took them one day to do the dining room.  Poetry immediately claimed it as her space. . . .

Out and About - February 2015

♫Vivaldi's Winter♫

February is a short month, but I think it's been the longest month on record for me.  It's the month of our youngest's birthday, our anniversary, and Valentine's Day.  I needed to have some dental work done, but that was all that was on our agenda.  The month started off quietly enough as I finished preparations for my Tasha Tudor gathering on the 5th.  We made Sparrow Post boxes and Valentines. . . . .

Out and About - January 2015

♫Hallelujah♫

January's departure caught me unaware.  I woke up this morning and realized it's FEBRUARY.  I've back-dated this post so that it will show up in my January archives.....a girl has to stay organized!  And that is what I did a lot of this month--organized and decluttered my desk once I finished catching up on my photo albums for last year.  I started the month, though, going into town to look for marked-down Christmas items and found this bird's nest.  I decorated my Christmas tree this past Christmas with birds and things from nature and I had thought it would be nice to include a bird's nest, so when I found this at half-price, you can imagine my excitement.   I promptly added to my tree since we were leaving it up until after 12th Night. . . .