Change Is Good.

After many years of looking at the same color of beige on my craft room walls, it was time for a change!
 Off came over 10 years of photos , momentos and reminder notes. Funny...I don't remember what the
notes were supposed to remind me to do?

  It was very hard for me to remove the first piece. I really got choked up!  So, my hubby came in and yanked down one and said "There....now take down all the rest!"  Easy for him to say....he isn't emotionally attached to my wall 'art', so to speak! 

  So, through the tears, I removed the items one by one. Family photos that always made me smile.

All my nieces and nephews were so little back then. Fun family gatherings of the past. Some folks in the photos are no longer part of the family....some new ones have been added. Pictures of my hubby and I when we first met, our first vacation, cards that say 'I Love you'...just because. Pictures of my Mom...we sure miss her alot. xo A funny card that my sister Terry sent to me years ago...still makes me laugh! Our First Anniversary card, my dads dogtags from the navy,  a picture of my hubby and his buddies at one of our parties when they were all still' invinsible'...so they thought, a shelf filled with foreign coins, one of my dogs puppy teeth, old dog licenses, sea shells from the many beaches we visited and dried roses from special occasions. Yes, every item was a memory.  I balled my eyes out for 30 minutes while I removed every last item from the room. I think I even pulled a few heart strings of my husband as I called him in to read old cards and look at old pictures.

I felt like I was moving away or something? But, I am not going anywhere....I just don't like to pack up memories.
I wanted to paint the walls a color that would motivate me. The winter blahs have caused me to do nothing creative this season. It was time for a change!  I picked a shade of  'green apple'. As I was painting, I should of been wearing sunglasses. Lordy, was it bright. I kept thinking, someone should really of stopped me from choosing this color! I kept going and completed the room.

  The following morning, I awoke to a soft apple green shade on the walls. It dried down to something I could actually live with. Thank Goodness. The green really does'nt show up in the picture, but it is bright when the sun shines in!
I need to shop for a new lamp. I put the old torchier lamp out by the road with I sign on it 'Free' and it was soon on it's way to a new home.
Maybe now I will pick up a paint brush. I came across an old Victoria Magazine from the 90's filled with pages torn from magazines through the years that I had every intention of watercoloring someday. Now's the time I guess? Time to pull out all my ancestry paperwork and finish unanswered correspondence to relatives in England and frame some updated photos for the walls.
 A new fresh start for the Spring! ....change is good.

'GLASS HALF FULL'

I have nothing to post at the moment so I thought I would share this wonderful video! You will need to click my 'ipod' music off to the right first.
We all have to learn a little something from this couple! ...And there are a few more to view of them on youtube also. Enjoy!

Second Blossom Has Bloomed!

ONE FLOWER~SO MANY VIEWS

 I do not have a green thumb as far as houseplants go. This is a 'Slipper Orchid' that I acquired from a Waterfowl Show I was at this past October. I nursed it under a antique glass closhe until it began growing another flower. And look what I got out it! A stunning flower that I just can't stop photographing!

 There is another blossom that will be blooming soon too!

One beautiful plant with endless angles to shoot!

Temperature: Paphiopedilum are divided into two temperature groups: warm and cool growers. The attractive mottled-leaf types come from the temperate zones and do best with a night temperature not below 60 degrees F. (preferably 65 degrees F.), and a day temperature of 75-85 degrees F. The solid green-leafed types come from the higher, cooler altitudes. They require a night temperature of 50-60 degrees F. and a day temperature of 70-80 degrees F.

Water: Paphiopedilum must be kept constantly moist or damp, but not soggy. Check frequently below the surface to determine the need for water. Normal watering intervals are between seven and ten days.

Light: Place in any bright window but protect from mid-day sun. Leaves should be a medium-green color. If they are too pale or yellowish, the plant could be getting too much light. (Approximately the same light intensity as African Violets is preferred.
Feeding: Good results may be obtained by using a high nitrogen fertilizer (25-9-9) all year round. Feed once a month at one-third of a teaspoon or less to a gallon of water. Paphiopedilum are sensitive to fertilizer burn.
Repot: Paphiopedilum should be repotted every two to three years with a fresh, well draining potting medium, such as fine-grade orchid bark or Orchid Mix. It is important that the base of the growth be potted no deeper than 1/2" in the medium

Running like the wind!

With orders from the Vet, We have been taking the girls running daily in a field by our house. Our older Golden, Iris, needs to shed a few pounds. Willow, my 2 year old English Golden, eats like a horse and never gains a pound! And she never stops running either! Willow really does wear me down.
The weather has been terrific around here lately! They run for about 15 minutes, running like the wind from one end to the other. With tongues hanging, they are exhausted and in turn rest for the remainder of the evening...much to our delight!