Chronicles of Whimsy

February equals Valentines

2012-02-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

~~***~~

I couldn't resist the temptation to create some Valentines this year!

~ Wishing everyone a very lovely February! ~

Nordic Forest in Frost

2012-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

~ Nordic Forest in Frost ~

~*~

With the addition of a few twinkling stars, a frosted winter window can become a whole new world!

~ Wishing you an amazingly wonderful day, and the happiest and healthiest of New Years! ~
~~~*~~~

The Best Gift

2011-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

~ Catch A Star ~

THE BEST GIFT

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! ~

~ 'THE CHRISTMAS ARAB' ~

2011-11-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

~ '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 ! *~

Morning Has Broken ~

2011-08-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

~ 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!

New ACEO Print

2011-08-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

~ 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)

Need Some Ice?

2011-08-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

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! ~

If Tree Toads Could Talk

2011-08-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

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!

Spring, Spring...

2011-02-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

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! ~

And the Winner Is...

2011-02-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

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! ~

One World One Heart 2011 Blog Tour ~

2011-01-31T00:44:00.000-08:00

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! ~

January Thaw?

2011-01-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

~ 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! ~

Christmas Poems and Wishes ~

2010-12-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

~ Christmas Star ~

~ Christmas Trees ~

~ The Joy You Give ~

John Greenleaf Whittier

"Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Gift of Wonder ~

Alfred McBride

...As children we had a sense of wonder. Our eyes were wide open and drinking in the fascinating gifts we beheld…Our thirsty souls could not have enough of the wonders of creation.

Then somehow, we grew too old to dream. We tired of the abundance of the world, or at least grew weary of keeping up with the feast of life, and stepped away from the banquet of life.

The natural gift of wonder God gave us as children was meant to be kept alive...Instead we let wonder go to sleep. We entered the typical dream state of most humans.

...Stay awake!...Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Some Special Gifts ~

author unknown

~ a firm handshake to a shaky soul,

~ a kind word to a lonely person,

~ a warm smile to the disheartened,

~ a sincere concern for someone troubled,

~ a feeling of compassion for the neglected,

~ a comforting thought for the bereaved,

~ a respect for the dignity of others,

~ a defense of the rights of individuals,

~ a word of witness to help a seeking soul,

~ a Merry Christmas to all

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Merry Christmas to all, and to all a beautiful New Year! ~

One World One Heart 2011

2010-12-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

The fifth and final blogging event One World One Heart (created by Lisa of "A Whimsical Bohemian") is coming soon. It is hoped that the Chronicles of Whimsy will once again be able to take part in this amazing adventure!

~ Please stay tuned! ~

For more information or if you would like to participate, please click on the little One World One Heart logo on the left of your screen.

Cyber Monday?

2010-11-28T21:28:00.000-08:00

For any who may wish to begin or add to their collection of De La Renaissance art ~

Through the end of Monday, November 29th I am offering one free ACEO print, buyer's choice, for each 4" x 6" or larger print purchased from my DeLaRenaissance shop. Below is a sample of the prints available in the special.

~ First Nap ~ ~ Bunny Ears ~

~ Puss and Sir Moon ~ ~ The Watcher ~

~ Pegasus and the Unicorn ~

Happy cyber shopping everyone! :0)

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

~ Morning Cloud Rays ~

To all who celebrate Thanksgiving ~ I wish you a most happy and delicious Thanksgiving Day.

And to everyone ~ Thank you ever so much for following the 'Chronicles of Whimsy'! I wish you a gloriously wonderful weekend!

:0)

Early Winter Sunrise

2010-11-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

~ Early Winter Sunrise ~

Trees still heavily laden with snow from an early winter storm six days previous paired with a beautiful pink sunrise created a stunning view to begin the day!

~ Wishing you all a very beautiful weekend! ~

Owls in Golden

2010-11-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

Last February I received a set of Golden Fluid Acrylics as a gift. Unfortunately I had been so busy with life, these beautiful paints were never touched. Then one day last week while searching through art supplies my eyes settled on the pristine black box filled with liquid jewels. Forgetting all else, including what I had been searching for, I quickly gathered the box of Goldens, a few paint brushes, plus a little container of water and settled into the art chair to experiment.

It has been quite some time since I've painted in oils, even longer with acrylics. But, as I played with the Goldens memory returned, and one little creation appeared after another. What fun these beautiful paints are! Below are two little pieces that are now available in my Etsy shop. ~ Great Horned Owl Pendant ~ Snowy Owl Pendant ~ sold

~ Great Horned Owl Pendant ~

~ Snowy Owl Pendant ~

(sold)

The Six Foals

2010-11-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

~ The Six Foals ~

The newest bookmark design that has joined the collection available in my Etsy shoppe.

'The Six Foals' contain some of the wee babys that have appeared in my 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals).

Hot out of the Forge

2010-10-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

~ Raven Hook ~

It's been some time since I've designed any new items for my husband's shop "Blacksmiths III". So yesterday was the day we decided it was time to pull something new from the forge. What appeared?...the Raven Hook, designed after my Prismacolor pencil painting "The Watcher".

This was not our usual Medieval or Renaissance design...but we had fun. :0)

Dragonfly and I

2010-10-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

~ The Rose in the Ivy ~

~ The Smiling Dragonfly ~

~ Blue Dragonfly ~

As I walked the grounds of Garden's Keep to capture images of the final beauties of Fall, a small but vibrating noise reached my ears. Curious to find its source, I decided to follow the faint sound. Rounding the corner of Dragonfly Cottage, I approached the sunbathed greenroom, its west wall still neatly rolled back from summer to allow the heat of the sun to escape. Here the vibrating sound became quite clear though steadily lessening.

Stepping onto the greenroom floor I paused to listen. One minute, then two, and the sound came again, this time quite near. A quick t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t, as if a cellophane bag was beating against the walls of the greenroom. My gaze went directly to its source, and there against the transparent wall I beheld a very beautiful, blue and teal dragonfly, who was quickly tiring in his unsuccessful attemps to fly free of the strange room he had ventured into. As he settled on to the last remaining rose to rest, I carefully approached, camera poised, ready to collect images I had desired for quite some time.

After what seemed like many moments of blissful camera clicking, I realized this delicate creature may never find his way out. Ever so slowly, I extended a hand until my fingers touched his thin black legs. Cautiously he hoisted his exhausted little body up to clutch my hand, then very carefully we went together into the open air. Many moments more we stood together, he slowly vibrating his slightly tattered wings, I mesmerized by his beauty, as the golden sun slowly set. It was time for him to be free, and as night was approaching I carefully placed him high onto a secure branch at the edge of the wood, hoping he would be safe and well until morning light gave him warmth to fly off into the autumn sky.

Forest Ablaze...With Color!

2010-09-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

~ Forest Ablaze ~

~ Majestic Maple ~

~ Forest Ablaze II ~

Realizing that many of the area trees were nearing their peak of Fall color, we decided to spend this past Saturday traveling the northern Minnesota countryside in search of Nature's most spectacular colors. Here and there we found reds and some golds...but late Sunday afternoon, as our family was preparing our Faire site for winter, we discovered a small hillside ablaze with an amazing display of orange, peach, yellows, gold, and reds. The beautiful deep blue sky that peeked between the stunning leaves of maple, birch, and aspen allowed rays of golden sunshine to set the hillside on fire with color. This hillside was beautiful, bright, and truly glowing!

~ And...such a short distance from home. ~

:0)

Late Summer in Two Harbors

2010-09-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

~ Two Harbors Lighthouse and the Crusader II ~

~ Two Harbors Breakwater ~

~ Moon Rising at Lake Superior's Agate Bay ~

Late summer images from an evening of fond memories in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

~ I hope everyone had a beautiful summer. ~

Early Morning Walks

2010-09-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

~ And When the Door Opens ~

~ Bumble's Morning ~ ~ Deep Enchanted Forest ~

~ Prince, Early Morning Lookout ~

Morning strolls never are lonely at Garden's Keep. With hardly an effort from our clan, they can even become quite amusing!? For as soon as the heavy wooden cottage door opens, our eager troupe of loving cats quickly gather, usually in quite predictable fashion.

With Carbon, the stout, golden eyed jet black short hair, strolls are taken very seriously, and feels his duty is to stay close (very, very close) to his human's feet, ready to sound the alert if anything is alarming, staying with one until he feels he has delivered his human safely back through the cottage door (unless of course something shakes his courage, such as the neighbor's dog)...Dutiful Carbon.

Fuzzy, a solid grey, green eyed long hair with feet the size of half dollars and a face containing an ever present cheshire smile, is the silliest of cats. For him a walk is a slow meandering saunter with an occasional sit down. His amazing attention too is focused on his human's feet, so when they stop to enable his human to view a newly opened flower, check for a potential agate in the gravel, or listen to beautiful morning bird songs, he absolutely must bound to and stand on them, front feet on top of one, back feet on the other, smiling up with his cheshire smile and purring all the while...Silly Fuzzy.

Bert, with long silky black hair and gold eyes, is adopted grandfather cat to all. Older and wise, the only disturbance he may receive from the cat clan as he strolls calmly along is an occasional lick on his cheek, rub and cat tail hug on his neck, or a shadow walk as they plaster their body next to his (no space between) walking in step with his...Wise old Bert.

Bumble, the beautiful blue eyed, seal point shorthair earned his name when very young. Sleeping very soundly as a kitten, his brother and sisters would rambunctiously play around and over him. Only slowly awakening when bit on the ear by little kitten teeth, his creamy, fat, fuzzy body looked like a Bumble from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Now mature, Bumble is the well rounded easy going cat, calm yet playful, gentle, and respectful, who loves to find the perfect spot to pose for a good portrait. Strolls for him are family/clan time, with an occasional investigation into dark holes in long grasses or short grasshopper chases...Beautiful gentle Bumble.

Tigger, green eyed, grey tabby striped shorthair prefers to spend her time watching strolls from the perfect vantage perch indoors. She loves her humans, but on her time, and without the cat clan near...Queen Tigger.

And Prince, ah yes...Prince. The golden green eyed, light grey, tabby striped youngster who is still finding himself. Proud kitty is he, quickly striding up to any and all, then dashing off to chase a little leaf, an animated bug, and up a tree to sprightly leap off in the joy of life...Energizer kitty is Prince.

Such is a well attended, always entertaining morning walk with the Garden's Keep cat clan...a stroll through the pasture is a tale for another time.

Welcoming Wildlife

2010-08-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

~ Little Sandpiper ~

~ Friendly Spitting Mallard ~

~ Golden Evening Whitetail ~

This past Sunday we took a leisurely family trip to Two Harbors, a small town on the Lake Superior shore north of Duluth, to view the area where my great great grandfather's homestead once stood, and to gather images of a fishing vessel the Crusader II, built in 1939 by my great uncles and christened by the Crown Prince Olav of Norway during a visit.

On our pebbled beach stroll we were immediately received by a most pleasant little Sandpiper who nimbly strided beside us. When she finally decided to depart, a friendly Mallard hen quietly glided up within arms length to say hello, as if greeting us back home.

The sun was setting as we gathered back into our vehicles to head for Agate Bay, and as we rounded the corner, two Whitetail deer calmly gazed up through the golden glow of the evening sun, then slowly and silently glided from view.

The Beauty of Lake Superior

2010-08-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

~ Beach Swirls ~

~ Moss Scape ~

~ Gentle Evening Waves ~

~ Future Beach Rocks ~

Lake Superior holds such an amazing and beautiful variety of color and shapes in vegetation, rock, and water.

These early evening images were taken all no farther than a 25 foot radius after I gazed out at the lake to view beautiful gentle waves in teals and greens lightly capped in white. A slight turn to the right revealed swirls of dark blue and black as the water lapped onto a large shadowed shore of stone. At my feet were pebbles large and small in nearly every shape and color dappled in rainbows and slightly distorted from the water's ripples, pebbles waiting for the next Lake Superior gale to create giant waves that would carry them onto the clean washed beach. A final twist to the right found massive grey stone shelves carved and shaped by the water, wind, and ice of time, softly decorated by hardy miniature grasses and ferns, golden lichen, and gorgeous green mosses that thrive next to little reflective pools of water left by rain and waves.

Dragonfly Cottage

2010-08-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

~ Orange Ruffled Daylilies ~

~ Marshmallow Blossoms ~

~ Dragonfly Cottage at Garden's Keep, home of De La Renaissance creations ~

Whoa Sketchbook Project Now On Auction

2010-08-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

The wonderful Whoa Sketchbook Project began its life by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor of Gypsy Mare Studios and has traveled across the ocean and back to include amazing sketches and full color original art and prints from over 13 artists of the Whoa Horse Artists Group which began on Ebay and has now included Etsy (Whoa Horse Artists Group).

The sketchbook project was created to raise money to help a horse charity chosen by the artists. To view the auction which began August 10th and runs until August 20th, click here.

I would love to include in this post many of the images of the gorgeous art available in this one of a kind book, however I am not the best at grabbing outside images. You can however view most of them by clicking here (please be sure to click 'older posts' at the bottom of the page to view more art). I have included an image of the print 'Golden Pegasus, Winged Horse of Love and Hope' I have donated to be included in this sketchbook auction. This is the first time this print has been released larger than ACEO 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" size.

~ Golden Pegasus, Winged Horse of Love and Hope ~

For any who love the equine, this beautiful one of a kind sketchbook containing over 50 pieces of art would be a treasure to own!

Ships from the Past

2010-08-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

~ Sails in the Harbor ~

~ HMS Bounty ~

~ Barque Europa ~

Like many others, I am in love with sailing ships of the past!

The above ships, along with 5 others, entered the Duluth harbor this past Thursday, and departed again 6 days later. In honor of their arrival, a great celebration was planned with days full of music, delicious food, plays, an amazing collection of treasure recovered from around the world to view, touch, and (purchase!), a treasure hunt, merchants of all kinds, and of course...pirates and Jack Sparrow flying the skull and cross bones everywhere.

I, along with a large part of my family and friends, spent 4 full days participating in celebration dressed as sea faring folk, some of us pirates, greeting and entertaining visitors, were captured in photos, and revelled in amazing sea shanties from Michael Beans and more, plus treasure hunting tales from the fantastic Captains Carl Fismer and Scott Mitchen .

With such an event, it is hard to pick one best moment, but for me there was something that stood out as very special. A crew of garbed pirates were chosen to board a beautiful refurbished solid wood yacht to greet the tall ships before they entered the harbor and to wave hello to the thousands who thronged the waters edge to view the masted vessels. I was thrilled when I was chosen as one of the crew, having not been on the great lake since late childhood, and had longed for it many times as an adult. I failed to grab the camera in my excited haste to board ship, and later so wished I had, because what a site I viewed as we approached the tall masted beauties in full sail far out on the lake, all 9 of them. Amazing...absolutley amazing... they took my breath away!

~ Even now without a photo, I know I will have a memory of them together that will last a lifetime. ~

Curls of Nature

2010-07-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

~ Soapwort Blossoms ~

~ Campanula ~

~ Hosta Blossoms ~

Nature's beautiful designs are abundant in whimsy.

I absolutely love whimsical curls...in my art, in nature, in life. One curl in a whisker, a flower, or cloud reminds me to smile and remember the happiness in life.

~ I wish you a wonderful, whimsical weekend! ~

Lilies of the Morning

2010-07-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

~ Elegant Lilies of the Morning ~

Beautiful pink Daylilies greet the morning sun in one of my many gardens.

After the Storm

2010-07-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

~ Pink Daylily ~

~ Mammatus Clouds ~

~ Orange Daylily After the Storm ~

It is not uncommon for Minnesota to see turbulent storms in any of its seasons, from blizzards and heavy snows in winter, to tornados, large hail, and torrential rains in warmer weather. Wednesday began as one such day, with severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings covering nearly the entire state. By late morning we had received significant rainfall, and ancient trees were toppled just blocks from our daughter's house. These storms kept us all on our toes for quite a few hours.

When the heavy weather began to lift I took a venture outside to view the amazing beauty left in its wake. The sky was filled with incredible Mammatus clouds that seemed as if they would drip to earth with an enormous splash. And every petal on every flower and every leaf was covered with silver drops of rain, each reflecting a tiny version of the world around it.

Today the sun shines and a gentle breeze blows, giving not a hint of the raging storms nature produced for its Minnesota inhabitants two days ago. I wonder what beauty awaits for me to discover today.

The Frog and the Toad

2010-07-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

~ Frog on the Window ~

~ The Tree Toad ~

A few little friends that live in our yard.

~ I Have A Little Frog ~

(author unknown)

I have a little frog,

His name is Tiny Tim,

I put him in the bathtub,

To see if he could swim,

He drank up all the water,

And gobbled up the soap!

And when he tried to talk,

He had a bUBble in his throat!

Minnesota Sunset

2010-07-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

~ Bayfront Sunset ~

Some of the most beautiful sunsets appear after a storm. I was able to capture this image at the waterfront in Duluth.

The Littlest Rose

2010-06-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

~ Miniature Heirloom Rose and Friend ~

When trying to capture images of blossoms on the heirloom rose bushes I was gifted many years ago from my grandmother's old gardens, I was surprised when I discovered this little bee taking shelter from the rain under the petals. I do not know the name of these very hardy, extremely thorny bushes, but despite the pain they inflict when weeding around them, I still love them. Their roses are adorable, measuring just a wee bit over 1 inch when fully opened, and their scent is heavenly! Being so small, twas not much shelter for the bee!

Nature Glows

2010-06-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Under the Forest Canopy

Glowing Rose Bud

I love how leaves and flower petals seem to glow when illuminated from the sun's rays!

~ Wishing you a beautiful weekend. ~

Buffalo Herd Babies

2010-06-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

~ Buffalo herd with their new calves ~

The herd is very protective of their little ones and keep at a distance. When I first appeared with the camera, 6 adults immediately came forward to form a barrier between the herd and myself. When they saw I posed no threat, they slowly rejoined their herd mates.

Olde World Bubble

2010-06-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Olde World Bubble

Garden Colors of Home and Faire

2010-06-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Chive Blossoms

Waiting to go to the Faire

Siberian Iris in Wine

Olde World Flowers

In the home gardens beautiful flowers begin to emerge and the Green Room bursts into color with baskets for the Faire.

Spring Blossoms

2010-05-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Apple Blossoms

Springtime White

Dandelion Sunshine

Pin Cherry Blossoms

The Humble Bumble Bee

THE GLADNESS OF NATURE

John Greenleaf Whittier

(1807-1892)

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad,

When our Mother Nature laughs around,

When even the deep blue heavens look glad,

And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?

There are notes of joy from the hangbird and wren,

And the gossip of swallows through all the sky,

The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den,

And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

The clouds are at play in the azure space,

And their shadows at play on the bright green vale,

And here they stretch to the frolic chase,

And there they role on the easy gale.

There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower,

There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree,

There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower,

And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea.

And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles,

On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray,

On the leaping waters and gay young isles,

Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.

~ Wishing you a very delightful day! ~

Where the Buffalo Roam

2010-05-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Herd

The Yearling

These wonderful creatures live not more than a mile from our home. Within a few short weeks brand new light red fuzzy calves will be seen trotting by their mother's side, tussling in mock battles, or curled up for a baby slumber.

Of Noble Knights and Sailing Ships

2010-04-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Noble Knights

and Sailing Ships

As director of a renaissance faire my husband and I founded in the late 1990's, my days are now filled with visions of brave knights tilting on armoured war horses, nobles bejeweled in pearls, gold, and silver with clothing made of fine velvets and woven tapestries, musicians gaily playing melodies heard by ancients over 400 years past on bagpipes, lute, drums, and recorder, and children laughing merrily as they dance around the Maypole, ride a royal's pony, or play medieval games, all under the green canopy of beautiful trees festively decorated with coloful flowing banners.

Preparations for this annual festival, blessed with hundreds of dragonflies, began many months ago. But now 6 weeks away, nearly every waking hour contain thoughts, planning, sewing, sawing, painting, cleaning, constructing, mowing, hauling, placing, and greeting, until the massive gates of the Olde World Renaissance Faire finally open once again to reveal a beautiful re-creation of a land long ago and far away. This will be my life until...

I awake from my renaissance world, but only for a short time, as I look to the east and watch for 8 amazing tall masted sailing ships to arrive in the harbor of Duluth. In celebration of their arrival, a festival is to be held. In preparation, I begin again, with thoughts, and planning, sewing, and cleaning, hauling, placing, and greeting to produce a slice of Olde World for the wonderful creators of the 'Treasure Adventure', an amazing treasure hunting experience during the Tall Ships Duluth! Time to be a pirate? Hmmmm, "Arrrrr!" :0)

Reflection of Youth

2010-04-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

~ Reflection of Youth ~

A new bookmark design has been added to those available in my Etsy shoppe DeLaRenaissance.

'Reflection of Youth', created in December of 2006, was inspired by my photo of a beautiful tiny Arab foal born with us many years ago. Her innocence and curiousity in the world around her were woven into the image of a baby Pegasus viewing herself for the very first time in a clear blue pool rimmed in flowers.

Even though the little chestnut Arab foal grew up and became a beautiful mare, she still lives in my art as an inquisitive little white foal with wings.

~ Wishing you a beautiful Day! ~

Crocus In Stripes

2010-04-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

The first of our Spring flowers have finally arrived! Crocus in blue, purple, and white, striped, and solid with blazing yellow orange centers add color and cheer wherever they appear!

The Hypnotized Gull

2010-04-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

~ Wave Spout ~

Not even a flinch did this gull make as splashes and spouts of Lake Superior water rose above him.

Spring River and Forest

2010-03-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis River

Setting Sun in the Forest

Minnesota is blessed with thousands of fresh water lakes, streams, and rivers. This past Sunday we took a 20 minute drive to view the beautiful St. Louis River as the Spring run-off swirled and churned through its solid rock banks where gorgeous trees of pine and cedar thrive, creating a scene of fantasy in the glow of the setting sun.

Spring, Beautiful Spring

2010-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Campanula in the Greenroom

Beautiful Sweet Smelling Primula

~ A Busy Day ~

author unknown

The bluff March wind set out from home

Before the peep of day,

But nobody seemed to be glad he had come,

And nobody asked him to stay.

Yet he dried up the snow-banks far and near,

And made the snow-clouds roll,

Huddled up in a heap, like driven sheep,

Way off to the cold North Pole.

He broke the ice on the river's back

And floated it down the tide,

And the wild ducks came with a loud "Quack, quack,"

To play in the waters wide.

He snatched the hat off Johnny's head

And rolled it on and on,

And oh, what a merry chase it led

Little laughing and scampering John!

He swung the tree where the squirrel lay

Too late in its winter bed,

And he seemed to say in his jolly way,

"Wake up, little sleepy head!"

He dried the yard so that Rob and Ted

Could play at marbles there,

And he painted their cheeks a carmine red

With the greatest skill and care.

He shook all the clothes-lines, one by one,

What a busy time he had!

But nobody thanked him for all he had done;

Now wasn't that just too bad?

A Beautiful Piece of Sunshine

2010-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

~ For the beauty of this world. For the beauty of life. For the beauty of friends found in blogs across lands near and far. ~

I am honored to have received the Sunshine Award from a most talented artist, Rose of b.b flocking, creator of amazing fairies and more. Thank you ever so much! To enter her beautiful blog world is a magical experience that lifts the spirit.

In return I pass on this uplifting award to the blogs listed below as a thank you for sharing the beauty and sunshine they create with others.

~And now, the Sunshine rules ~

1) Please thank the person who gave the award to you.

2) Copy the logo and place it in your blog.

3) Link the person who nominated you.

4) Name 6 things that no one would really know.

5) Nominate 6 bloggers. ( I just couldn't help myself, I had to add one more!)

6) Post links to the six blogs you nominate.

7) Leave a comment on each of the 6 blogs letting them know you have nominated them for the Sunshine award.

To those I nominate, please accept this award with my sincere admiration.

~ Moon Gazing Hare Illustration ~

~ Moonlight and Hares ~

~ Nature Nutz ~

~ Notes From the Rookery ~

~ Salone Di Patros ~

~ The Briar Rose Gate ~

~ Gypsy Mare Studios ~

The 6 things you may not know about me? Hmmmmm...

1) I have never flown in a plane.

2) But I have been on a boat, large and small, many, many times.

3) Sometimes I love smoked salmon more than chocolate.

4) I am not an alcohol lover, but on occassion I do enjoy fine wine or a bit of good stout.

5) Both of my grandmothers were excellent gardeners.

6) And, I used to play the clarinet. I really love the violin, lute, and piano, but alas, never played them.

~ I wish you all a bit of beautiful sunshine! ~

Nature's Paintings in the Sky

2010-03-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Dragon

Spring Sunset

Clouds in their many forms and color create beautiful ever changing paintings in the sky.

~ Sleeping Dragon ~ Laying on his back, feet in the air, this magnificent glowing golden dragon slumbers as he slowly drifts on Spring air currents, spewing a waft of cloud steam from his nostrils with a gentle smile on his lips.

~ Spring Sunset ~ Infused with rich pinks and peach from the setting Spring sun, these puffy clouds set against the gorgeous blues of sky create a stunning image at the close of day.

If I Were A ...

2010-03-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

In the Fairy Garden

Art by Dale Ann Widen

~ A combination of my artwork and photography of my garden ~

What Would You Be?

The wonderful artist Carolee of King of Mice Studios found this piece below to include in her blog and added her 'I'd be' answers. I thought this looked like so much fun, so here are my 'I'd be's.

If I were a month I would be May

If I were a day I would be Wednesday

If I were a time of day I would be morning

If I were a planet I would be Earth

If I were a sea animal I would be a dolphin

If I were a direction I would be north

If I were a piece of furniture I would be a large dining table

If I were a liquid I would be mint tea

If I were a gem stone I would be a lapis lazuli

If I were a tree I would be an oak

If I were a tool I would be a hammer

If I were a flower I would be an iris, a rose, or maybe a freesia

If I were an element of weather I would be sunshine

If I were a musical instrument I would be a harp

If I were a color I would be teal

If I were an emotion I would be joy

If I were a fruit I would be an apple

If I were a sound I would be gentle waves

If I were an element I would be water

If I were a car I would be a Mercedes

If I were a food I would be chocolate

If I were a place I would be Scandinavia

If I were a material I would be soft wool

If I were a taste I would be sweet

If I were a scent I would be the ocean breeze

If I were a body part I would be eyes

If I were a facial expression I would be a smile

If I were a song I would be magical

If I were a bird I would be a Bluebird

If I were a gift I would be a book

If I were a street I would be cobblestoned

If I were a city I would be Camelot

If I were a door I would be of carved oak

If I were a pair of shoes I would be comfortable

and a few I have added...

If I were an insect I would be a blue dragonfly

If I were an emotion I would be love

If I were an animal I would be a white horse

If I were a vehicle I would be a sailing ship

What would you be?

Birthday giveaway winner is...

2010-02-28T22:48:00.000-08:00

Wow, it is amazing how quickly birthdays do fly by! I have had many over the years, some memorable and some not. This year was exceptionally wonderful because I was able to celebrate it with you!

I felt your presence and could hear your kind birthday wishes throughout the weekend, and am so happy to have you drop by! Thank you ever so much!

What did I do for my birthday you ask? The weather was beautiful, with clear blue skies, warm 38 degrees (for February, in northern Minnesota), the snow melting, and the first of new Spring calls were beginning from the crows and a local Pileated woodpecker.:0) After being treated to a light hearted movie and delicious lunch, my husband, daughter, grandchildren and I spent time in a store surounded by books. Upon leaving, I was happily clutching a much needed dictionary to replace the well worn book that had separated from years of use into 5 pieces, and a new herbal addition for my bulging library. Ending with a little more family time, it was proclaimed a very good day!

And now it is time for me to present one of you with a gift. So, please feel free to help yourself to a heavenly piece of double chocolate cake with chocolate chips hidden inside, and a warm cup of (fresh picked) mint tea as I drop blue slips containing the number for each entry into an antique copper bowl. Stirring and folding with tightly shut eyes, I draw the winning number! Number...10!

:0)

The gift

...choice of one ACEO print in my shop goes to...

Annette F Tait ~ creator and author of the wonderful blogs ~ Hare Preservation Trust ~ and the Dragon House of Yuen

Congratulations Annette!

And thank you all for spending time in the Chronicles of Whimsy, and your ever so kind comments and wishes!

~ I wish each one of you to have your birthday filled with joy and beauty and you have an amazing week ahead! ~

Birthday Giveaway!

2010-02-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

My birthday looms very, very near, and as promised I am having a birthday giveaway!

From now through Sunday, February 28th, when the Whimsy clock strikes 9 P.M. you can leave a comment below this post to state which one of the ACEO prints in my Etsy shop you would choose if your name is drawn.

Will you choose ~ 'Romeow, Oh Romeow' The romantic kitty calling for her Romeo? ~ 'Flight of the Pegasus' A little foal hoping the feather found will help him fly with the Pegasus tonight? ~ 'Luna Kitten' The young winged kitten gazing in wonder as he watches old Man in the Moon rise from his slumber? ~ 'Summer Magic' A snow white Pegasus foal watching a beautiful dragonfly settle on his wing in a bed of summer flowers? ~ 'Crow Amore' An ebony pair under a romantic moon with fine wine and a shiny gold ring? ~ 'The Great Pumpkin Race' A costumed kitty, a carved pumpkin, and his swift steed racing through the mist in a hilarious Halloween race?

~ Or maybe your favorite is another. ~

So feel free to browse the DeLaRenaisance shoppe, then drop back here with the title of the ACEO print you would choose. Please be sure to provide an email address or link to contact you by should you be the lucky winner! This giveaway is open to anyone near or far!

~ Good luck to all, and I wish everyone a wonderful weekend! ~

One World One Heart winners

2010-02-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

The amazing 2010 blog event One World One Heart has finally come to a close. The magic carpets that criss crossed the skies are slowly gliding back to earth. Many have returned with treasures, memories, and new friendships from near and far.

I am so happy to have obtained a ticket for 'Chronicles of Whimsy' to join in this event, and enjoyed my carpet ride which ended just in time to hear the Whimsy clock strike noon, signaling time to draw the 'Chronicles of Whimsy' winners!

Before I announce them, I wish to thank each and every one of you who flew in for a visit and left wonderful compliments and comments and / or became Whimsy followers! I hope to see you all back again soon!

And now congratulations to

...the winners of an ACEO limited edition print of my ACEO original 'Baby's Got Blue Eyes'...

~ Tina Wilson ~ blog Garden Goose

~ Prpldy ~ blog The Purple Lady's Art and Life

~ BunnyKissd ~ blog BunnyKissd , Diary of A Crazy rabbit Lady too!

~ Gail ~ blog Art by Gail H Ragsdale

Thank you, and I wish every one of you a beautiful day!

Moon Beams?

2010-02-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

Cloud Front

Moon Rainbow

Southern Light Beam

I love photographing the many variations of sky color and cloud patterns, and the eastern sky has produced many interesting subjects as of late. Yesterday the intense blue I viewed from my home office window beckoned to me. Answering the call, camera in hand, I stepped outside and was confronted with an awesome cloud front looming like a giant tornado. After capturing its image against the beautiful blue of the sky I settled the camera back in its place and continued with my work. As the daylight quickly faded, the blues that had lured me receded, and the massive cloud front I had captured all but faded with it.

The camera was then forgotten. Darkness of the northern winter evening signaled the close of another day, and the crisp air slowly chilled farther. Our only source of heat comes from the hot water that circulates though out the house, heated by a large wood burning stove outside. No less than twice a day in winter this stove must be fed. Mine is the noon shift, and my husband's is the evening. On this particular evening, only minutes after my husband had closed the door to take his turn at stove feeding, I was surprised to see him enter again, quickly grasping for the forgotten camera. "Northern lights." he said. "But very strange ones." I peered out of the door at the cold dark sky, but only spied one long straight streak overhead. Nothing as spectacular as some in previous years. I was disappointed, as we hadn't seen good northern lights for many, many months.

Later that evening, when my husband loaded the images into the computer he asked me what I thought. I was stunned. Never had I seen lights as these! What were they! These lights were not in the north, but in the east and south west. Many times we had seen beams of light from stores trying to attract customers from afar, but they were not like these. Those that appeared close to the rising moon were rainbow in color and seemed to be created from the moon's light. But the huge green beam far to the south west was strange indeed, and reminded me of the light a spaceship would create in a science fiction movie! These lights still have us questioning.

What are your thoughts. Have you ever encountered an evening sight like this?

The Grand Gitche Gumee

2010-01-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

Lake Superior Moon

Sunset Over Duluth

Duluth Lift Bridge

In anticipation of watching the largest and brightest full moon for 2010 rise with its companion Mars over one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world, my husband and I took a 45 minute drive to the shore yesterday afternoon. We missed the moon as it crested Lake Superior, but were still greeted by a beautiful sight as its golden glow reflected off the slowly forming ice and rippling dark water. Our gaze was then directed to the beautiful sunset silhouetting the city of Duluth in Minnesota, and Superior in Wisconsin.

~ What a beautiful end to the day. ~

Winter Beauty ~

2010-01-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

Snow Swept

Winter Parrish Style

One World One Heart

2010-01-24T23:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
Come ride the Magic Carpet around the world!

This blog post is about a wonderful event first created in 2007 by Lisa, author of the blog A Whimsical Bohemian, an international event created 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.

From January 25th through February 15th bloggers around the world are invited to participate, where each blog will have one or more wonderful items to give away. This year I wished my very young blog Chronicles of Whimsy to join others in this fantastic event.

In celebration of this event I will be giving away one Limited Edition ACEO print of my original 'Baby's Got Blue Eyes'.

To be eligible to win this Limited Edition print, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post including a link or email address so that I may contact you should you be the lucky winner. I will be drawing for the winner on February 15th, when the Chronicles of Whimsy clock strikes 12:00 PM noon. Anyone worldwide may enter!

~ Do to the wonderful response "Baby's Got Blue Eyes' has been receiving, I have decided to give away not one, but 2 Limited Edition ACEO prints. If the number of responses goes over 200, I will add a third to give everyone 3 chances to win one of these little prints! ~

So come, enjoy a ride on the Magic Carpet around the world to meet new people, see exciting places, and enter to win treasures along the way!

Thank you for stopping in, I hope you are having a wonderful time!

To the Zoo

2010-01-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

River of Swans

Seahorse Pair

Tree Sunning

Even though the days are slowly getting longer, it will be many, many weeks before the sites and smells of warming earth, fresh Spring rains, and lush green growth will appear here at the tip of Lake Superior. With a large ice storm threatening on the horizon, and tempting updates from cousins sun basking in Hawaii, I am longing for the golden sun, deep blue skies, clear flowing waters, and lush green growth.

My only hope for now is to immerse myself in images taken on a trip with children and grandchildren to the Minnesota Zoo a few summers ago. To think back now on the movement of delicate Seahorses and Seadragons, the rushing sound and salt smell of the indoor tidal pool where star fish live, white swans bathing in a river of green speckled by warm rain drops, and dolphins swimming in a pool of blue. Ahhhhh. I believe this is where I will linger a little. ~ You are wlecome to join me ~

A Bath Time Tale, by T i double ga err

2010-01-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Tigger, queen of the cat clan.

This is the perrrfect spot to take my evening baths. Soft bed, warm comforter...

Meowww! A little privacy please?

Oh dear, how embarrassing.....

Stars in the Sky

2010-01-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

Stars and Dragon Clouds

Amazing Cloud Patterns

Do you believe in wishing on stars? Star clouds!

Yesterday the weather pattern changed, the sun came out, and a warm wind blew in from the south. By chance, during one of my short breaks, I was stunned as I looked up to the sky and was met by a gorgeous yet very unusual cloud pattern. What instantly caught my eye was the distinct image of stars, appearing to be falling from the heavens above. Knowing clouds usually change patterns very quickly, I dashed for the camera, in hopes to capture the whispy stars before they melted away. There was nothing to fear, for these clouds remained perfect for nearly 10 minutes as they slowly drifted across the blue horizon. That evening the images were loaded into the computer, and lo, I found not only stars, but a dragon swishing down (top right of first photo), and a hidden animal head as well (look closely in the top left of the last photo)!

What wonders do you see in the cloud images above?

More of Grandmother's Art

2010-01-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

The Sled

Beautiful Shoes

Reading by Lamplight

In a preceding post I shared images of two oils my grandmother painted when I was very, very young. Today I thought I would share a few of the sketches she created for an art course she began in January of 1950 from the Washington School of Art. Nearly everything in her sketches and paintings were of items and images close to her, in her home or surrounding countryside, creating a wonderful record of style and history.

The Sled ~ I would love to be able to ask my grandmother who the model for this little toddler pulling the sled could be.

Beautiful Shoes ~ How wonderful to see this 1950's example. Could they be from her wardrobe?

Reading by Lamplight ~ Deep in my memory I recognize these rooms, but the reader. My uncle, my father?

~ What fun to look back in time

Snow, Snow, and more Snow

2010-01-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

Cedar In Snow

Narnia Winter

A Cats' Domain

Knoll of the Ancients

We have been blessed with sunshine and warmer weather these past few days, which has felt so wonderful after the cold, cold days that crept in after one of the largest snowfalls recorded during Christmas here. These images are just a few of our beautiful Christmas snow.

Cedar in Snow ~ Just the beginning of the storm. After the storm the cedar was not to be found, and is now completely buried, not to be seen until Spring or a warm early thaw. I love how the branches of the trees in the backround remind me of a spider's web.

Narnia Winter ~ Fresh, peaceful, and quiet.

A Cats' Domain ~ A walk through this deep snow will now require snowshoes. If you look closely to your left you will see a hummble Bummble watching over his kingdom.

Knoll of the Ancients ~ This very large knoll is quite unusual as it sits alone, no other hills around it, beautifully topped with massive ancient Birches who are slowly coming to the end of their life. In their peak years ago one could walk below them and feel as if you were in one of nature's cathedrals, giant white Birch branches arching solidly over and above you, with beautiful windows of clear blue sky!

The Art of Jack Frost

2010-01-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

Sunflower In Frost

Pane of Fine Frosted Down

Frosted Feathers

These past few days have been so very cold. The snow crunches and squeaks under feet, hooves, and tires. Lake ice pops and trees crack, while bird chirps, sounds, and voices can be heard crisp and clear. Steaming breath freeze on whiskers and create frosted lashes, and the art of Jack Frost cover cold winter windows.

A New Year's Blue Moon

2010-01-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

A Stunning Blue Moon

The Rising of a Gorgeous Blue Moon Illuminating a Fresh Minnesota Snowfall

What a beautiful image to begin the New Year! May the wondrous beauty of life surround you and all of your dreams come true!

I Wish a Happy New Year to All!

Holiday Memories

2009-12-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

Snow Dove

Christmas Cherub

Through the Window

Promise of Spring

The Nutcracker

Looking Up,Up,Up

Winter Nest

Trimmed for Christmas

Traditions are wonderful, but every now and then I find myself straying with curiosity or need from the familiar and my family's time worn traditions.

This year indeed I did stray. Decorations to deck the halls were taken from storage, the wreath and swag were hung to greet visitors, but when it was time for the traditional tree of Balsam or Spruce to be brought in to decorate, a grand winter storm appeared leaving a thick sticky blanket of new snow. We have donned snowshoes is years previous to search for the perfect tree, but this year I decided to leave the snowshoes hanging. For many years my father has wondered what a tree of Cedar fully decorated would look like at Christmas, and lo, that perfect Cedar was standing in our very yard. The scent of a fresh cut Balsam tree is wonderful at Christmas, but I think I may decide to permanently change this tradition! Cedar is beautiful as a decorated tree, with no sticky pitch!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Chronicles of Whimsy Winners!

2009-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

The Toad Prince

The first Chronicles of Whimsy giveaway is now officially closed. The Whimsy clock chimed noon, and with my Toad Prince overseeing, the Christmas vessel was reopened, given a very, very good stir, and with tightly closed eyes so as not to peek, the Chronicles of Whimsy winners were drawn. I wish to thank every one of you for popping in and leaving so many wonderful comments and compliments! It has been a true joy to see you here! I hope you will stop back often! Please be sure to look for Whimsy's next giveaway in February. I love giving things away around my birthday! :0)

And now, without further ado, the Toad Prince and I shall announce the Whimsy winners.....

For the two ACEO prints Pegasus and the Unicorn and Peek A Boo...the winner is...Phaedra96!

and

for the handforged hook by Blacksmiths III...the winner is...Lindax!

Congratulations to you both!

Please remember to look for the next Whimsy giveaway this coming February!

~ I wish you all a beautiful Christmas, and the best of New Years! ~

2009-12-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the Christmas cheer

The Christmas vessel

Forest in frost

Christmas is coming ever closer. The trimmings are out and the windows have been beautifully frosted by nature in amazing ice designs. Soon the house will be filled with the fresh aroma of forest pine and wonderful scented cedar bows.

If you haven't already entered the Chronicle of Whimsy's first giveaway, please look to the post below. Happy winter everyone!

Chronicles of Whimsy Blog Giveaway!

2009-12-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Pegasus and the Unicorn

Peek A Boo

Blacksmithed iron split top hook

Welcome to the Chronicles of Whimsy!

In celebration of the Chronicles of Whimsy's first holiday season I am having a giveaway! Two winners will be chosen. One winner will receive one each of the ACEO prints Pegasus and the Unicorn and Peek A Boo, the second winner will receive a beautiful blacksmithed hook created and graciously donated by my husband of Blacksmiths III. His shop can be viewed at http://www.blacksmiths3.etsy.com/.

To enter this giveaway, please leave a short comment at the bottom of this post saying what you love about this holiday season. This giveaway is open to anyone worldwide. Entries names will be stirred together in the Christmas vessel and winners will be drawn when the time strikes 12:00 noon on the Chronicle of Whimsy clock, December 16th, 2009. Please check back in to see if you are one of the lucky winners!

Good luck to all, and I wish every one of you a beautiful Holiday Season!

Cats and I

2009-12-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it snowed.

So today the cats and I took a walk in the woods,
Bumble and Prince,

Carbon,

Bert,

no not the Cheshire Cat, but really close,
it's Fuzzy,

to look at the beautiful trees,

and visit the grand old Birch. This tree is special to me. I dreamt of it sitting on this hill when I was very young, and saw it for the first time ten years later growing on property we had just purchased.

Grandmother's Art

2009-12-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

Winter Creek, oil on stretched canvas

Winter Sunset, oil on canvas board

It may seem as if I have been creating with oils again but, not today. Instead I thought I would share a little of grandmother's art with you.

Here and there you may have come across writings of a gentle grandmother full of love and talent, lost to me in my early years, and an easel and art box brimming with paints, brushes, and memories. Recently the beloved art box was once again opened, spilling those wonderful memories and stirring a desire to share with you art she created before and during my youngest years.

Only a few of her many paintings are with me along with an old tattered box containing a treasure of sketches and illustrations from her 1950 Home Study Course by the Washington School of Art, some of which I will share with you in coming posts.

For now I hope you enjoy this little travel back in time with visions created when I was very, very young.

Nature's Beauty

2009-11-30T19:16:00.000-08:00

Portal to the Equine Soul

Autumnal Sunset

The gentle eye of the horse, where one can almost see into its very soul. The blazing colors of a gorgeous autumn sunset, skies painted for us as the world slumbers.

Nature's beauty surrounds us all.

Autumnal Sunset was the wonderful setting sun we viewed this evening. The image captured the colors perfectly with absolute no enhancement.

Beautiful November Day

2009-11-29T17:09:00.000-08:00

Baby Tomatoes

November Sun Halo

What amazing images my new camera captures, like the fine hairs on a baby tomato. After spending glorious time searching out nature's beautiful November details I turned to walk inside at the close of day. What my eyes beheld was the setting sun framed by a beautiful halo. This stunning halo was created by refraction of sunlight through 6 sided ice crystals in a thinly covered sky of cirrus clouds. Even at the close of seasons beauty can be found!

On the First Day of Christmas...

2009-11-28T13:59:00.000-08:00

Fountain of the Ancients

Prince of the Kitten Clan

Mossland, Realm of the Fairies

my true love gave to me...a Canon G11 camera. And what an amazing camera it is! The stunning detail it is able to pick up is fantastic! Far more than my naked eye can see! I have been eagerly working my way around inside and out photographing beautiful details of the many moss and lichen covered rocks, trees in varieties of Paper Birch, Pines, Balm of Gilead, & Cedars, late autumn plants & mosses, plus our variety of animals to build up a wonderful image library for future art projects. And when snow falls there will be snow laden trees, snow flakes, snow sparkles, crystal icicles, snowscapes!

The three images above are a small sample of the many captured today.

Fountain of the Ancients is a beloved fountain beautifully aging in the greenroom. Little birds have said it is the ultimate avian bath when placed into the side courtyard during summer.

Prince of the Kitten Clan is of Prince, one very brave and confident kitten who believes he truly is of royal blood, and thus should be treated so by his older cat and human subjects. Silly kitten!

And Mossland, Realm of the Fairies is a soft, tiny, 4 inch island of beautiful green moss covered in a forest of stunning orange red spikes. This beautiful miniature island is growing in the center of an enormous grey boulder forever resting on the pasture's edge.

Pumpkin Today, Pie Tomorrow

2009-11-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

For many years it has been a Thanksgiving tradition for me to create our homemade pumpkin pies. The word create was chosen because I would carefully select the perfect golden orange pumpkin harvested from our fall gardens, then clean, carve, cook, and puree it. Creamy white goat's milk from our Alpine does blended into the fresh puree, along with farm fresh eggs with rich golden yolks, sugar, and traditional spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. This delightfully smelling mixture was then poured into glass dishes carefully lined with handmade dough. After baking, beautiful rich colored, aromatic spiced pies were delivered from the oven with crusts that flaked and melted in your mouth.

Tomorrow the above pumpkin will begin this traditional journey. And even though the locally raised pumkin was not grown in our garden this year, I am positive it will yield the same deliciously flavored pies as the pumpkins before it.

November Gardening

2009-11-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Rose Fountain

November Jalapeno Peppers

What better way to start a wonderful day than to open a door to greet the warm sun, view the beauty of lush green plants, and inhale the blissful scents of a flowering rose. All this and more from the humble greenroom.

For us the greenroom is a wonderful thing. A Northern Minnesota growing season is very short, so planting too late in an outside garden may create beautiful plants right up to the first killing frost but nothing to harvest. Planting earlier is not often an option either as late frosts, very cold or frozen ground, and even possible snow prevent seeds from germinating and may kill or rot them before the ground warms well enough to promote growth. What the growing season will be is often a mystery (I'm sure our wild creatures could tell us).

Though it is best to grow most of the vegetables in outside gardens, planting a few of the less hardy, those that require more time to mature, and something we may enjoy fresh late in the season, in the greenroom is wonderful . This guarantees some harvest of fresh produce to pick and beautiful green plants to look at well into the cold winter months. Some of these are happily growing as permanent residents in the greenroom's warm earth floor, Moroccan Mint (for delicious teas), Egyptian Onions (a delicious little bulb), and a beautiful climbing Canadian series rose (for beauty, aroma, and wonderful rose petal water) are a few. Others are contentedly tucked into roomy growing pots, with Jalapeno Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Rosemary, Sage, and even Celery included.

How wonderful to have a little Secret Garden growing right in the heart of ice and snow.

Beauty in the Greenhouse

2009-11-16T15:18:00.001-08:00

Climbing roses still blooming in the greenhouse

The rose's greenhouse companion Rosemary

Long, long ago...well maybe not quite so long ago (12 years) we installed a wonderful greenroom on the south side of our home. An antique French door and four window panels in the medieval styled great room look directly into this growing area, and one turn of the knob to open the door sends heavenly wafts of moist garden air perfumed by blooming roses, green herbs, and fresh earth drifting through out the entire house. How refreshing during the long, cold winter months in Northern Minnesota.

Arab in Umber

2009-11-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

It was good to work at the art table again after finally coaxing myself out of many months of creative hibernation. The pencils were layed out, glass drawing surface was cleaned, art lights were switched on, and the piece that appeared was 'Arab in Umber', a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ACEO created with watercolor wash and Prismacolor Pencil.

This original is now available in my Etsy delarenaissance shop ~