Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Best Gift

~ Catch A Star ~


THE BEST GIFT
by
 Betty Werth

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes
Looked deep into Santa’s, to Santa’s surprise
And said as he sat on Santa’s broad knee,
"I want your secret. Tell it to me."

He leaned up and whispered in Santa’s good ear
"How do you do it, year after year?"
"I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world’s girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,
From nation to nation, reaching them all?"

And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don’t ask me hard questions. Don’t you want a toy?"
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see
That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"

He told that small boy with the light in his eyes,
"My secret will make you sadder and wise.
"The truth is that my sack is magic inside
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.

But although I do visit each girl and each boy
I don’t always leave them a gaily wrapped toy.
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.

Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?
"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives toys aren’t enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And I pray with them that they’ll be given the joy
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

"If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.

It’s a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each person’s need.

"That’s part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could ever give away.

The sack never empties of love, or of joys
`Cause inside it are prayers, and hope. Not just toys.
The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

"And do you know something? You’ve got a sack, too.
It’s as magic as mine, and it’s inside of you.
It never gets empty, it’s full from the start.
It’s the center of light, and love. It’s your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don’t be so concerned with the gifts `neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care."

The light in the small boy’s eyes was glowing.
"Thanks for your secret. I’ve got to be going."
"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don’t go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?"

And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered, "I will."


~ Winter Fantasy ~

~ Wishing you all the love and joy of the Christmas Season, and a most wondrous New Year! ~


Monday, November 21, 2011

~ 'THE CHRISTMAS ARAB' ~

~ 'THE CHRISTMAS ARAB II' ~
"Children's Wishes"

~~~~~***~~~~~

With Christmas not far away, I thought it would be wonderful to add a Christmas card to my shop for those who dreamt, still dream, or know someone who's wishing to find that special pony/or horse with a beautiful red bow in it's mane waiting for them on Christmas morning.

The illustration for 'THE CHRISTMAS ARAB II' created in 1991 is of a little snow white Arabian, carefully clinging onto a pajama topped teddy bear, for someone who's dreams are filled with wishes.


Each beautiful card was professionally printed with my black and white illustration on creamy white textured medium weight card stock. I then hand color and remark, enhance with 18kt. gold, edge with punched flourishes, add beautiful light blue parchment to the inside, and embelish each card with a small crystal.

Each creamy white 5"x7" hand colored and embelished card is accompanied with a medium weight, snowy white, gold foil lined envelope. Merry Christmas is printed on the front of the card, and blank on the inside for you to write your own special holiday message.

~* Wishing you a safe and magically wonderful Holiday season ! *~




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Morning Has Broken ~

~ Morning Has Broken ~

Beautiful rays of yesterday's morning sun stream through storm clouds. This was one of the most breathtaking sunrises I have yet seen!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

New ACEO Print

~ Baby Kisses ~

What Man in the Moon could resist a tickly whiskered goodnight kiss from little baby Pegasus!


This new little print is now available here in my shop!

Wishing everyone a beautiful day! :0) 

 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Need Some Ice?

With all of the scorching heat many are experiencing here in the US, I thought it might be a bit refreshing to post a few pictures of Lake Superior in its frozen form. Thankfully this is not what the great lake looks like today...these images were taken at the beginning of March (2011).

~ Frozen Lake Superior in March ~

~ Hubby and the Ice Pack ~

~ Beached Ice Slabs ~


~ Wishing all who need it much cooler and more comfortable temperatures soon! ~


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

If Tree Toads Could Talk

Oh my goodness...how time does fly! It has been quite some time since my last post of roses at Gardens Keep...and I had promised to post next on the irises!

This year the gardens have been bursting with blooms, keeping me quite busy capturing their images. Nearly ever day something catches my eye, sending me dashing for the Canon camera.




A few mornings ago an unusually heavy fog blanketed the earth, creating a beautiful site with shimmering dew drops hanging heavy on spider webs and rays of sun cast through the moist air as it broke between pine branches.

In between the camera clicking I would stop to pull a few weeds here, and a few weeds there. Something prompted me to look up from one such weed pulling session...and there I spied a wonderful green tree toad clinging to a brown tree branch inches above my head.  


Ah hah! Another perfect subject! Out came the camera once again...click...click...click...

74 clicks later this patient little toad finally leaped to the nearby weathered fence, then slowly turned to look at me with it's shiny black eyes as if to say "Could you please find something else to do. I really must catch some breakfast." :0)


~ Iris images will be coming! Truly! And how about some baby goats, a new bunny, Duluth's premier garden, and... ~

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer!


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Spring, Spring...

I love all of the four seasons,
but when Spring comes it means not long after, summer blooms return to...

~ my roses ~

~ Therese Bugnet ~


~ John Cabot / Explorer Series ~

~ This rose was labeled as -
Blanc Double De Coubert,
but, I believe it is not ~


~ The Scotch Rose / Double Blush Burnet ~
Thank you Connie of Hartwood Roses for your wonderful help in identifying this heirloom rose!

and
I hope to catch bloom images of my Charles De Mills and Apothecary Rose this summer.
All of these roses are fairly easy to maintain and burst with an abundance of delicious aromas one expects from the beautiful rose.

...Coming up...Gardens Keep Iris...

~ Wishing everyone a beautiful day! ~



Thursday, February 17, 2011

And the Winner Is...

The 2011 One World One Heart blogging event has now come to a close. What an amazing blogging trip around the world this has been, and I wish to give Lisa of  "A Whimsical Bohemian" a huge thank you for all of the time she has contributed to creating and hosting this wonderful event! This was the fifth and final year for One World One Heart...but...Lisa has announced that a new event is to be born. Coming in 2012...the first annual OUR WORLD OUR ART ! How exciting!

And just as exciting as a new event is the announcement of the winner of this year's One World One Heart CHRONICLES OF WHIMSY blog giveaway!!!



The winner of the Forget-Me-Not Pendant Necklace is....

~...~

Kathy...with her wonderful blog
~ Shawkl ~

Congratulations to you Kathy!


And thank you ever so much to each and every one of you who took the time to pop in and visit the CHRONICLES OF WHIMSY! I do hope you stop in again for a visit or a stay!

~ Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend ahead! ~


Monday, January 31, 2011

One World One Heart 2011 Blog Tour ~


Welcome to the CHRONICLES OF WHIMSY!

As an artist, a gardener, animal lover, and photographer living in the northern region of beautiful Minnesota, USA, I have created this little space to share with you the beauty and whimsy of the world around me.

Hello everyone!

It is time for one last and final One World One Heart tour around the world!

In 2007 Lisa, author of the blog A Whimsical Bohemian, created a wonderful international blog event, One World One Heart, to allow bloggers from around the world a chance to meet and connect with one another, and to help create friendships that span the globe.


 Now from January 30th through February 17th, 2011 bloggers around the world are invited to participate. A stop at each blog will find one or more wonderful items to be given away plus an opportunity to discover amazing places and kindred spirits. I am very happy the CHRONICLES OF WHIMSY once again joins others in this fantastic event!

 In celebration I have created the beautiful Forget-Me-Not Pendant Necklace below which will be given away to one lucky winner.
~ Necklace Description ~
My hand painted blue Forget-Me-Not flower has been painted with Golden Acrylics on a hard wood pendant, which is then sealed in coats of non yellowing varnish. A sterling silver plated pinch bail allows it to hang perfectly from the smooth black leather cord. To add a little extra charm a small chain with blue natural stone, a round lapis lazuli bead crowned with a silvertone metal cap, and two iridescent glass seed beads hang lightly down the back.

~ This necklace is very light. ~

~ Forget-Me-Not Pendant Necklace ~
~ Closeup of Pendant ~

To be eligible to win this beautiful pendant necklace, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post including a link or email address so that I may contact you for your mailing address should you be the lucky winner. I will be drawing for the winner on February 17th, when the Chronicles of Whimsy clock strikes 12:00 PM noon. (winner must respond to me with their mailing address no later than February 20th, 2011. If I receive no response I will then draw a new winner.)
Anyone worldwide may enter!
So come, find a friendly feathered bird, a colorful balloon, or a comfortable flying carpet, and take a trip around the world to meet new people, see exciting places, and possibly win treasures along the way!

~ Thank you so much for stopping in at the CHRONICLES OF WHIMSY! I hope you are having a wonderful time, and please do stop back anytime! ~

Friday, January 14, 2011

January Thaw?

~ Beautiful Summer Lakeshore ~

~ Gulls in a Duluth Harbor Sunset ~

~ The Babbling Brook of Spring ~


Well, not really a January thaw,

but...

just as food is stored away for Winter, I too stored away images of last Spring and Summer for all to enjoy during our cold and snowy months. Here the land and lakes lay now frozen under ice and snow, but as I gaze into the photos of water lapping against a row boat's side, gulls flying above the clear waters of the Duluth Harbor, or the bubbling water of a little Spring brook, all thoughts of ice and snow melt away and are replaced with memories of warm summer days and the Spring soon to come.

~ I hope you are well and warm, and wish you the happiest of New Years! ~