A Girl and Her Cat

I have been traveling far from home over the past two weeks.  I spent time with my family--my sweet sis Wendy--in Spokane and my dear ones in Idaho.  What a wonderful time we had!  I'm SO grateful for my precious family. A loving family is a true blessing.

Now I'm home.  I was sure my little friend,  Toez the Polydactyl Cat, would be upset with me when I got back.  However, this time around something has changed.

She hasn't left my side since I arrived home, and was sleeping all over me last night.There hasn't been one hiss, nor has she given me her typical Judge Judy glare.  LOL 

I have a feeling she missed me a LOT this time and perhaps she decided, instead of hissing and getting mad, that smothering her human with love and kindness might be the better idea.

LOL  It is SO good to be back home...and I am happy to see my girl.  Toez is a great little friend and companion.

Have a great weekend, sweet Friends!  :D

Summer is Leaving -Postcard Friendship Friday #327

One of my greatest inspirations is the art of Alphonse Mucha, one of the artists who ushered in the age of Art Nouveau.  I have based a few pieces of my own artwork on his wonderful pieces.  I love the patterns he used in his borders, the graceful placement of subject, draperies, flowers and landscape.  He is one of the greatest artists of all time.  You can read more about this extraordinary man at The Artist, Alphonse Mucha.

I will be going in for surgery mid-week.  I am so grateful to friends and family, as they have chosen to gather around me to keep the house safe while I'm in the hospital, providing transportation, cooking, and watching over me as I recover.  I have been so touched by so many people. 

I know there are those of you out there who have been praying for me. I am SO grateful to God for you.  May our Mighty Creator bless you, dear ones.  Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

  * BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!
*THEMES:  You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday.  Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them! 

*  A REMINDER:  Links which do not have to do with Postcard Friendship  Friday will be removed.  Links which advertise various products will share that same fate.  Any and all suspicious links will be reported to Blogspot then deleted.

Autumn is Here -Postcard Friendship Friday #239

I love this postcard--this girl is magnificent in her Autumn array.  She's just perfect for today's Postcard Friendship Friday.  It is hard to believe only a week and a half ago, it was over 90 degrees outside!  On the official first day of Fall, an Autumn storm swept through, and it has been storming off and on ever since.

It has been a hard week for a number of reasons--May the remainder of this week be pleasant and sweet for all of you, dear ones.

Enjoy the crisp Fall air, and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

Heart of Art -Guest Heart Thursday

I found this postcard online and fell in love with it.  I would like to paint something like this.  Of course, you can see the palette is heart shaped--just perfect for Guest Heart Thursday

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Burst of Poincettia

I love the colors of this time of year.  All the reds and greens.  I especially enjoy the Poinsettia plants which seem to decorate every home during the holidays.

The Poinsettia is actually from Central America.  The ancient Aztecs found it blooming in the tropical highlands during winter and named it Cuetlaxochitl. They would extract purple dye from it for cosmetics and also used the plant's milky white sap to treat fever.

In the 1800's, the plant was made famous by Joel Roberts Poinsett.  He was the son of a French physician who was appointed as the first US Ambassador to Mexico by President Madison.  Poinsett loved botany and whilst visiting in Mexico he fell in love with the brilliant red flower.  He immediately began growing them and sending the plants to friends and to botanical gardens.  They were sold as Euphorbia Pulcherrima, which means beautiful. 

Over the years the plant became known as the Christmas Poinsettia, named after Joel Poinsett, and because it can be found blooming naturally in its original habitat in Mexico only during Christmas.

I thought it charming to read that in Mexico where the Poinsettia was originally found, this plant grows to the size of a tree.  I would LOVE to see that.

I was just looking at this card again--and that young lady is NOT in a good mood.  LOL  Kind of cute, really.

Merry  Christmas dear Friends.

Happy Days be Thine -Postcard Friendship Friday #168

What a lovely postcard! I especially like the graceful lines behind the words, Happy Days Be Thine.  I posted this beauty today, because tomorrow is our darling Mumsie's birthday.

She has endured so much through the years and yet has such grace and beauty.  She's had a very hard time of it, since Daddy died last November.  I can only hope that I will be so youthful and fun when I reach her age.

So to Mumsie and all of you--Happy Days be Thine.  Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  PFF is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards, or the love of postcards, will be deleted. 

Pssst!!! Guess Who's Birthday is Tomorrow?!

Psssssst!  Everybody!!!  (whispers clandestinely) My darling Sissy Clytie's birthday is TOMORROW! 

I am SO happy Clytie is here in this world--she has so much yet to do.  How grateful I am for my sister--who fills the world with laughter, funny and thoughtful insights, not to mention a ton of beautiful found hearts.  Sissy is one of my greatest inspirations.

So, please visit Random Hearts tomorrow to wish Clytie a very happy Birthday!

Ah, 'Tis the Harpist!

I adore art Nouveau. This is an illustration I simply could not resist. I love this style--in fact, I yearn to draw this way. There is something so graceful, so lovely about the flowers, hair and women of this period, which fascinates me.

Art Nouveau features "organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly-stylized, flowing curvilinear forms." Ah, inspiration, indeed!