SPRING IS GETTING CLOSER

It is another wonderful Blooming Tuesday over at Jean's place,you should take a little trip over to Jean's and stroll through some of the wonderful gardens that are starting to come alive with buds and blooms.I am quite sure you will enjoy your trip and have a smile on your face when you leave just thinking about how close it is to SPRING. My Jasmine coming into bloom,This jasmine does not have the sweet wonderful smell like Caroline Jasmine,but it is still just as beautiful.

This is a new plant in my garden it is called Leopards Bane (Doronicum 'Leonardo Compact'

Purple Hyacinthia,they do not last long but they are a very beautiful flower for late Autumn and early Spring.

White Hyacinthia


These are a few flowers that have started to come to life in my gardens,now I hope you will make that short trip over to Jean's @ MsGreen"thumb"Jean

and take that stroll into the other wonderful ladies gardens.

IT IS TIME FOR BLUE MONDAY

It is Blue Monday over at Sally's today,hope to see you all there.Thank you Sally for hosting Blue Monday so we get to see lots of wonderful Blue from our blogger friends.

Here is my blue binder,I bet you are thinking not much of a Blue Monday to be looking at.Well I would like to show you what is inside of the binder,and the binder is my blue.You might see a little blue on what is inside.
Blue Binder,now to what is inside of the binder,Sorry a few pics have a glare on them.

Here they are these are called ATC Cards,Artist Trading Cards for trading with other artist that make ATC's.These are 3 1/2"x2 1/2" cards that you do art of any media that you want to try.

I have been trading for awhile now,I have cards from all over the U.S.,and Canada.It is fun to see what others like to do with their cards.Some are painted,some are hand drawn,stickers,collage,just what ever is your thing.

The cards are for trade only not to be sold,it is to share a little piece of art with others around the country.My collection is almost at 100 now and I trade two to three cards a week.

A SHORT HISTORY OF ARTIST TRADING CARDS-Artist Trading Cards have been around for less than a decade. Yet, their historical roots can be traced back to the Mail Art and Fluxus movements of the 1960s, and even earlier to the Dadaist movement of the 1920s.
Swiss artist M. Vänci Stirnemann first developed the concept of Artist Trading Cards in 1996, when he decided to document his activities with other artists by producing a catalogue of 1,200 cards he created by hand. He exhibited the cards at his bookstore gallery in Zürich in May 1997. On the last day of the exhibit, Stirnemann invited anyone who wanted a card to create their own ATC to trade during the closing reception.

Canadian artist Chuck Stake (aka Don Mable) attended Stirnemann’s exhibition that May and also participated in a Trading Session while in Zürich. Stake became very enthusiastic about ATCs and collaborated with Stirnemann to stage “The First International Biennial of Artist Trading Cards” at The New Gallery in Calgary, Canada that included 80 artists from 10 different countries. Since then, with the help of the Internet, interest in ATCs has spread around the globe.
Many artists who make ATCs use the Internet to display their cards and to locate others willing to trade cards by mail or to share ideas. However, organized face-to-face ATC sessions are, by far, the preferred means of meeting other artists and trading cards. Today, you will find ATC swap sessions happening in most major cities around the world.

Have a terrific Blue Monday and go by and visit Sally @Smiling Sally for more wonderful Blue Monday post and you will see some wonderful blue post.Everyone have a Happy Blue Monday.

WITHOUT A WORD

I received this in an email from my brother and sister in law this morning,thought I would share it with you all.I enjoyed reading it and it has so much truth in it.It gives you and understanding of what the Lord's Prayer is all about.That the Lord is always by your side no matter what and watching over you in your daily life.

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending Services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher Decided to visit him.It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, Sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers Visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the Fireplace and waited.The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the graveSilence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning Logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, Carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one Side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, stillSilent.The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone Ember's' flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow And then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher Glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly Stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the Middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the Light and warmth of the burning coals around it.As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tearRunning down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and Especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church nextSunday.'We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too Little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are The ones left unspoken.The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!I shall not want ----- that's Supply!He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that'sTesting!I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine Enemies------that's Hope!Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life----that's Blessing!And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!Forever ----- that's Eternity!