A Dream Come True 10 Years in The Making

After falling in love with Beaufort, SC 10 years ago and trying to get here for that long, and at times,wondering if I should just give up my obsession....
We made it!!!!!!!
We are still unpacking, and still catching our breath, it all came about very suddenly. We are so thankful and happy to be here.
Now we just have to get Matthew home from Iraq and Michael in college locally, and all will be perfect.
Glenda so happy that you wanted to take on our venture again:)
I have many pictures to share, and take and paint, but for now here is the Hunting Island Lighthouse at our favorite beach. We put our blanket down right in front of this view on Sunday. ahhhhhhhh

It's been awhile...

My goodness! It's been awhile since I've blogged (is that a word?)! Helena-are you shocked? I've been wanting to get on here and "get a whim on"...school is starting soon-so maybe once a routine starts again things will fall into place. Helena has just moved to a new home-I'm sure she'll have lovely photos to share. I've been super-busy freezing and canning veggies. We got lots of squash for this winter. Anyhow...no photo today-I'm charging my camera. I mostly wanted to make an appearance.

Carved Little Birds

Finally, my new line of carved birds called,"Carolina Wren".
Little basswood birds in all shapes and colors with handmade wire feet.
I love making them!!
They can be found in my carving section at my site,
http://www.snowpondprimitives.com/carvings5.html (why can't I add a link??)
I think you need some to add to your bird collection.
xoxoxo

Happy Birthday Michael

Oh the drama that February has brought to our home....
It leaves me speechless so at times like these I can't even begin to blog.
I will use this as my couchless therapy, hopefully not boring anyone.
I have been working hard and taking lots of nature photos, so promise to share and will get back on blogging track.....
So, to wish my now 19 year old baby boy Happy Birthday ...and as much as my poor heart is broken yet again, to congratulate him on his dream of serving his country, our country.
Michael enlisted in the Navy the day before his birthday. He will be a Corpsman, who will take care of the Marines medically, just like Matthew.
He has ALWAYS wanted to be a Marine like his dad, but after taking EMT and becoming certified through highschool has found his calling.
He will ship to boot camp in May, it's so hard for me to think about, so for now I will enjoy each day that he's home.
I still have little Hope who talks my ear off and keeps my mind thinking of other things, thankfully..
xoxo

This Guy......

This guy is my oldest son Matthew.
This guy is the main reason for my loss of words lately~
This guy has left me feeling like my heart is being torn from my chest at any given moment~
This guy is home on his predeployment leave before he goes to Iraq~
This guy could not make us more proud to be his parents~

A Bit Of Winter Cheer

We are in the midst of our first winter in South Carolina and I have to say compared to Buffalo it has been a breeze.

The skies have been quite gray the past couple of weeks but when the sun shines I can't get over how beautiful everything is.

My tulip tree is in bloom and the neighbor's yard is full of Camelias. I am making a long list of flowers I would like in our yard and can't wait to get planting.

I would love to own my own nursery, and think of the money we would save. That is my sales pitch to Matt.... maybe someday~

xoxo

Happy Birthday Hope

My sweet girl turned 8 on Groundhog's Day.

It's funny when you're a child the count down to your birthday starts months before. What excitement that day brings.

When you're older it's another story ha ha

Hope's day was full of fun, making cupcakes the night before and adding sprinkles the morning before we left for school. Her teacher is so sweet and makes each child feel so special.

Michael came in to surprise Hope. Big brothers are always such a hit with the kids and he is a whiz at pouring juice~thanks Michael!

Sadly after the festivities that night, Hope came down with the flu and is just getting beck to her chatty self. She hasn't even been able to play with her new toys.

This morning when she asked for her paper and pencils because she wanted to draw I breathed a thankful sigh of relief.

Happy Birthday Hope, we love you so much ( and I'm still patiently waiting to play with your metal detector!)

xoxoxo

Destined to Be Curtains

This box of vintage linens arrived in the mail today.
I tore open the box with utter excitement and had big plans to lay them out nicely so I could share with all of you, but the kitten of the house (Ashes, who is actually 13, and very far from being a kitten but we call her that anyway) had other plans.
One of my goals for January was to make valances/curtains for all of the windows.
Seeing that we are nearing the end of the month and I have yet to hang a curtain rod
I will take the pressure off and make it a February goal.
Although come to think of it, Hope turns 8 on Groundhog's Day, the following weekend we will have a sleepover with 6, 7-9 yr olds, Matthew comes home from the Navy for 3 glorious weeks before he goes to Iraq (we won't think of the sad part), and last but not least, Michael turns 19 on February 29 (well, this year the 28th).
I am presently working out a huge wholesale deal and projects aren't getting finished and may just come to a screeching halt, such as my Whim collage....
Never a dull moment, but life wasn't meant to be sitting on a beach somewhere sipping a margarita....or so it seems for me (sounds good though)
Talk soon~xoxo

Weekend Adventures

The time is flying by and I have many unfinished projects and not enough blogging time, and I feel a tiny bit like a dog chasing it's tail.
This was supposed to be my weekend post about our weekend fun.... Let's pretend it's Sunday night shall we?
No, we didn't go on a cruise, and we didn't go sailing, but just as exciting (well, almost and to me anyway) we went into Charleston to the Old Marketplace to check out selling my carvings on Saturdays there. Matt is going to come with me which sadly enough is as close to a date as we seem to come. It will be fun surrounded by vendors of all sorts and happy shopping tourists, and laughing with my hubby.
Now I just have to get all of the licenses and be on a waiting list.
I didn't see any other wood carvers so hopefully I will be in right away.
Now to quickly build up my inventory, oh my, pass the paper bag please!!
We also wanted to see when the cruise ships come in and were told almost,if not daily. This one was in port and I snapped a picture as it was heading out to sea to places unknown to me.
Think of all of the carvings that could fit on the ship, it was HUGE!!!.
After our visit to the candy shop to get salt water taffy and praline samples, that they make in front of your wide eyes, we headed to the water front and I took this pic of the Egret and sail boat. I think I will get out my watercolors this weekend.
Ahhhhh the weekend, we already have this weekend's adventures planned.
Have a great night
xoxox

Oh The Land of Cloudless Days…

Anyone know this song?

I’ll sing a bit for you-

“Oh the Land of cloudless days,
Oh the Land of an uncloudy sky,
Oh they tell me of a Home where no storm clouds rise,
Oh they tell me of an uncloudy day”

On and on it goes. The version I’m hearing in my head is from the old Gospel group called “The Lewis Family”. Can’t remember right now where they are from (Georgia-I think), but the thought of them brings back fond memories of harmonizing together with my siblings and my sister-in-law (my brother Glenn’s wife). If there’s one thing we like to do together-it’s sing. I’m not sure, but the last time we may have sung a Lewis Family song together was at our Father’s funeral. We sang “Mansion All My Own”. My Mom said there wasn’t a dry eye in the place-and the parlor was packed. (I don’t know-I didn’t look because a professional singer I know told me not to look at anyone or I would freak out and cry.) Our Dad loved to hear us sing. So we sang it for him. Mom said she thinks God opened up the sky then to let him hear it. I hope so-it really was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done-stand with Dad in the casket right behind me and sing. But I was proud to do it. Morbid I know! It’s the gray, gray day. That, and reading about Alicia’s missing her Dad on her birthday. My Dad’s been gone for 8 years this coming June, and every weekend and every holiday and every time I cook something fancy or wonderful I miss him. Every time I do something he would be proud of, I miss him. On gray, weird, foggy, icy, cloudy, drizzly, boring, too-much-thinking, depressing days I miss him. Sometimes there’s too much missing. I’m glad the sun shines here more than it rains!

I’m also thinking of “Uncloudy Day” because it’s been a gray, rainy, cloudy, damp, drizzly, chilly day here in NY and I spent most of it in the kitchen. Dishes and cooking and more Dishes and Cooking. The reason I didn’t do my dishes last night is because when I went to do them, a mouse ran across the counter. Which compelled me to immediately run, jump and scream my way into the living room and I simply could not bring myself to go back into the kitchen to clean and perhaps meet Mr. Mousey on his return trip home with his tummyful of yummies. He may have been related to Miss Potter’s Hunca Munca but I didn’t ask him. I love little mousies…I think they are adorable and I hate it when my keke-Miss Bootsie eats them and then leaves them beheaded, dismembered and bloody in my yard or driveway, but when they come into my house-they appear larger-than-life. He may as well have been “King of the Forest”…it would have made no difference in my reaction…spiders do the same thing to me-but I am more merciful and if they behave I can catch them in a jar and toss them outside. Don’t even ask me about snakes. I will check to see if my Sister-in-Law has a Have-a-Heart so I can mercifully send the little fella to the outer world-if not I’m sorry to say he will eat his last bit of mozzarella tonight before he is received into Mousie Heaven!! The thought of him climbing all over my food and dishes makes me cringe. Ew.

I shall do my dishes tonight with fear and trepidation!

I cannot believe I am publicly admitting this but I am hooked on the show “24”. I never saw it until a couple of weeks ago. I bought Season One for Dave for Christmas. I’m not sure why. I knew there was action in it-guy stuff. But let me tell you, it’s easy to get sucked into that show…and sucked in I am. I don’t even care if I haven’t seen Seasons 2-4…I’ll catch up…I have to watch it tonight-the start of Season 5! I cannot imagine anyone on earth living through that much drama-it’s not reality-but the spins and twists in the plot of that show keep me on the edge of my seat. I think I like it more than my husband. I plan to sell Season One on ebay in order to buy Season Two on ebay. So much for that. For the record…my favorite show is Northern Exposure-I plan to own them all at some point. My dream day is to work in my studio all day without interruption while playing an NX marathon. I really love that show. If I could go into the TV and walk around any fictional place…it would definitely be Cicely, Alaska on Northern Exposure. Ahhh…I’d find my way into The Brick and have a seat and place an order and enjoy meeting the people there.

Well, I’ve got to work before I play and if I’m going to watch “24” I need to at least make my way into the kitchen and get some dishes soaking. I made a ton of chicken parmesan and spaghetti for Sunday eats and I have to go clean up. I hope if Mr. Mousey is nearby, he’ll only peek at me with his beady black eyes while twitching his whiskers. If he has an urge to be mean and come out of hiding I am gonna freak and my dishes will stay right where they are!

I’ve been having a crochet marathon lately. I’m making Lydia a hat and some little girly gifty, play house things for Helena’s daughter Hope. I sure hope she likes them. I’ll work on them while watching “24”.

BTW-my wonderfully computer literate sister Angie figured out how to make the comments work and she also figured out how to get the photos into text. I will practice this art form tomorrow when I have time. I am off to contend with a 6 oz. Mouse! Wish me luck!!!!

Trying New Things.....

It's funny how you can fall into a routine and the days go by and then weeks, and all of the things that you have wanted to try stay on a list or in a journal.
I am so excited for our latest whim challenge!!
I don't have the collage supplies that Glenda does, sniff sniff, and I really wish we lived closer so at the very least she would share..
But I do have these really cool antique stamps that I bought on eBay YEARS ago because I just had to have them. They came from an old printing shop and smell all antiquey and musty, love it!!
Now off I go to finish a painted porcelain pin order so I can get going with my whim!!
Have a great day everyone!
Helena

Let's Get A Whim On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since this blog is called “Whim of the Week”-isn’t it about time we started back on track? We can write anything we want here…but it’s more fun if we’re working toward a common goal. Even if we can’t Whim every week, we should have a Whim going on. There’s nothing saying our Whim can’t last two weeks if we need it to…you get what I’m trying to say!

What shall the first Whim of the year be? I really want to do some simple collage thingys for Valentines Day. I save everything (to the dismay of those around me-they just don’t “get it”). I have bins and drawers of rusty things, buttons, papers and the like…it’s found items heaven here! Wouldn’t it be nice to rid myself of some of my found items to make room for more?

I’ve also been thinking about doing a collage series on “Scriptural Jesus” (for my own whim). I know that sounds crazy…but I really want to…I’ll do one soon and you’ll see what I mean. I was at a funeral recently and something was said and it led me to believe that if people really understood His nature they wouldn’t say some of the things they do. I said ignorant things too before I started reading the Bible (with understanding)…but that’s a can of worms I’d rather not get into.

Another thing I’d like to do this year is start a woman’s fishing club. I love fishing. I used to fish with my Dad who was an avid sportsman. We fished all day and then ate what we caught. No waste…we even deep-fried the fish eggs from perch and ate them…a sort of “poor man’s” caviar! Ew! Don’t ask me to eat them now-please! And eels…we ate them by the dozens…but now the greasy, smoked-smelling, black-skinned things gross me out. And don’t even get me started on Spam…my Mom was the Spam Queen!!! I think she wrote Spam cookbooks on the sly and kitchen-tested them on us! So you can see we had the best of both worlds. My Dad not only caught and cooked like the gourmet chef he was (coming from a gourmet chef Father-my Grandfather) Pheasant and Rabbit and Venison and Squirrel…we also got to experience the other side of life: Spam, Hot Dogs and Friday night’s favorite…Breakfast for Supper!!! Ahhh…life was rich-except for the Spam.

Helena, I love your sweet white birdie tree!!! Don’t you just love mushroom birds???

I’d like to add that if anyone is having a hard time commenting here…just email at whimoftheweek@hotmail.com and we’ll see what we can do. I’m trying to figure it out in depth…but I can’t. Alas…I need time and more of it!

Don’t forget-we’re Whimming Valentines Collages!!!!!!!!! As soon as I get a flickr account going for us you can share! The above image is copyright free and you may use it as you wish!! This Whim starts today January 10th and we'll share our work on the 24th. Have fun and don't forget to share your Whim with us!!

Winter's Nap Over!!

Well, my friends, it has been a fierce long time since I last posted. So much water under the bridge that I think I'll just pick up from here.

First of all, Happy New Year...belated...and I hope for nothing but the best for you all year long!

I would like to share a couple of way, way late photos of my Christmas decor. I love decorating...I think more than anything else. The feeling of standing back to see how it's coming together.

I imagine God doing the same thing as He was bringing forth the creation of earth and the universe around us in Genesis. The Bible says He would create something and when He saw how it turned out for the day He saw that it was good. That's what creating something does for me-the satisfaction of the thing created, the standing back and critiquing and the feeling in my heart that I've created something "good".

Hence my feelings upon finishing my Dining Room decor this past Christmas. The girls who attended my cookie swap really liked it and asked lots of questions about where I got this or that. Which led me to believe that I might be on to something and, who knows, may lead to a lucrative undertaking in the future.

I spent Christmas Eve baking my brains out...which for me was very domestically satisfying. Even though I stuck to a couple of kinds of drop cookies, Russian Tea Cakes and Bird Nest Cookies...oh yes-there were two pumpkin breads...it made for a very long day.

We spent Christmas Day at my sister-in-law's in Jersey. It was a nice holiday, but a very full one and I know I am not alone when I say that although you're sad it's over-you're glad at the same time and can't wait for the New Year to begin so you can just get on with life as usual already!

I tried not to make resolutions...but I would like to sew more clothing this year. I have been crocheting almost every night for a few weeks now. Totally enjoying every stitch!

I do think I will be creating some kind of new line of something...but it's in the works and I am in the thinking/finalization stage-picking the actual items before I begin working on anything. It WILL be fun though...and I'm looking forward to new ideas and avenues.

I also hope to get a handle on this terrible fibromyalgia-the ("no-clue-what-it-is") syndrome that stops life in its' tracks. I am so aggravated at how it has ruined years of my life and angry at the set-backs it has led to that I am determined to not let it get me down any longer. So much pain and no reason for it. No real discoveries that I can see. They just say exercise helps. So, if that's it, no matter how painful-I will exercise. It can't hurt anymore than it does. Right now it's my elbows, hips, neck, back and the bottoms of my feet (believe it or not!). Who knows where it will be tomorrow or next week. I don't care!! I am just tired as hell of it and just have to get up and keep on running! Enough said.

Today is my Mom's birthday. I called and talked to her for quite a while. She's in Illinois and I'm stuck here in New York, so we visit on the telly. She's my champion and I love her wisdom, encouragement and advice. She's a blessing and a gift from God. The Bible says in Proverbs 31 that the virtuous woman's children will rise up and call her blessed. My Mom is that woman. A blessed one! Happy Birthday Mommy!! Thanks for everything!

Ahhhh~Color

Since taking down all of my Christmas decorations and getting side tracked with my January organizing urges, my home has had empty shelves and missing touches of color.
Today while cleaning,I added my decoys and antique bottles of beachglass back to my mantle, my bird house and nest collection back to my shelf and rearranged some colorful antique bottles on my studio windowsill.
Next on my January list is to make some kind of window treatments for my bare windows, and add some color to these cream walls.
Any window treatment suggestions that let in maximum light would be much appreciated.
For some reason the comment section isn't working but we always love emails.
Off to carve some birds.
Have a great night~xo

Creating My Bird Tree

I got this cute white tree from The Dollar General that Glenda had told me about before Christmas.
It was supposed to be my beachy tree with all of my hand made beach themed ornaments hanging on it, but time didn't allow and I just can't bare to put it away.
I decided since I love birds so darn much and Glenda sent me these sweeties that it would be my bird tree.
Around Christmas time I found this beautiful ribbon at Michaels on the dollar rack. At the time I didn't know what I was going to do with it but here it is and I love it.
Ofcourse it is in my studio right next to my vintage tablecloth, another favorite of mine.
I will take more pix of the tree once I have finished it but for now look at how sweet these birds are.
Thanks buddy Glenda xo
Come back soon I miss reading your posts.

What I Did On My Vacation.....

Wow, it feels like forever since I have written.
My title popped into my head every time reminding me of going back to school after summer vacation and having to write about what we did:)

I tried many many times to hop on and jot a few lines, but somehow, someone always found me and wanted to know what I was doing or just sit and chat, so what the heck, I took another break and gave my family my all.

We had Matthew home from the Navy for Christmas. Every second we cherished, and with all of the laughing that we did, our stomachs hurt in such a good way.

Right after Christmas Michael had his hernia surgery and I have been taking good care of him, it's hard seeing your baby in pain no matter how old they are. Thankfully he is on the mend and doing well.

As for Hope, she just wanted me to play, so that's exactly what we did. (today I was a "coffee drinking principal" to a row of dressed up dolls) Next on her agenda is setting up her first sewing machine, a pink one at that!

I have been taking down all of the decorations and will be tackling my side of the garage, which is full of antiques, driftwood, gourds and too many wood supplies to mention. Matt is hoping I will sell or donate a large amount, but as I rearrange I find that it looks like I have lightened the load without having to get rid of anything. Should I call someone for this issue I have? Ha ha
Off I go to teach my baby girl to sew, and to find long lost Glenda, I really need to put out an APB!

The photos above are a few pretty things that Matt put in my stocking. Stockings are my favorite and I save mine until last on Christmas Day because I love the extra special thought out little gifts inside.xo