Remember

 Today in the US it is Memorial Day. A holiday weekend that for many means a first trip to the shore for the season, picnics, and grilling. Yes, it's good to enjoy those things but I hope everyone has a place in their heart to say a special prayer of thanks and remember the most important reason for this day- to honor those who so selflessly gave their lives so that we may live in the land of the free.

 I made this tag for the Simon Monday Challenge (frame it); the Simon Wednesday Challenge (bright colors inspiration moodboard); and Tag Tuesday (gardening):

 Products: manila tag; various Distress inks; Tim Holtz/Sizzix Wildflowers dies; Tim Holtz Clippings stickers; wood frame (Studio Calico); fabric scrap; dark green cardstock; vintage image( ARTchix Studio collage sheet); Stickles glitter glue(Ranger).

 For T stands for Tuesday I guess I'll make most of you hungry again:)

 Once again, another breakfast in Cape May, NJ on our last visit. Of course, at the Oceanview Restaurant. And I must have this scrambled egg/ veggie wrap for one breakfast every time we're in town. SO yummy- and I get two meals out of it too:):)

 Journal page:

 a page from the Dylusions Creative Dyary journal. I kept it clean and simple using an old PSX bee stamp, a new Dina Wakley flower stamp, and a few Dina Wakley paints. Sharing my page with Art Journal Journey hosted this month by Erika with the theme of  "in the sky/in the air".

 And just for fun I'll share a few more of my circle art pieces from an Instagram challenge last month:

 Joining Paint Party Friday later this week too. Happy week to everyone!

" Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing."        Zhuangzi

Finding The Rhythm Again

 Hello Peeps! Back from a short vacation in Cape May, NJ with lots to share and catch up on- so, fair warning:)

 We mainly went because hubby wanted to run a special 5K race there for his 60th birthday. Friday was windy and cold, Sunday and Monday were cold, windy and almost all rain (UGH) but everyone lucked out on Saturday, the morning of the race.  It was gorgeous!

 There were close to 500 runners- a record! And Bill completed it- not to win, but just to say he could still do it at 60:)

 For T Stands For Tuesday:

 On Friday we arrived in time for a late lunch and went to a favorite spot  mostly for breakfast- the Ocean View. My chicken caesar wrap was excellent, and Bill enjoyed every bite of his turkey club, of course in addition to having my coleslaw and half my fries;)

 Not long after we got home from Cape May, the next morning we began dog sitting duties for our friends. Riley was having his vacation with us:

                                           he is such a love!

 Now to the art! First up- a card meant to celebrate Try It On Tuesday's 10th birthday. Happy birthday and thanks so much to all the hosts and guests for many years of artful inspirations!

 I have another card- this one for the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Stitches):

 Products: small white notecard; pink, white, blue card stock; patterned paper, image, die Simon Says Card Kit of Aug. 2018; Jet Black archival ink; rubber stamp sentiment (Just For Fun); dot scallop border die, wonky rectangles die (Simon Says Stamp); alcohol markers; Stickles glitter glue.

 Moo Mania and More's theme is "doors" so I'm joining in with this page from my Creative Dyary calendar journal:

Another journal page; this one meant for Art Journal Journey for the theme of "In the Sky/ In the Air" hosted by Erika this month:

 Assorted washi tapes; Dina Wakley Collage Collective (bird image); Circle Collage stamp (Stamper's Anonymous); Versafine Onyx Black ink; black Fude Ball pen; Posca pens; Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions stickers.

 For the Simon Monday Challenge ( Use Stencils):

 Dina Wakley Media Journal, Collage Collective, mini favorites stencil; Tim Holtz Snarky Small talk sticker, honeycomb stencil, mini stapler. Various acrylic paints, torn tissue paper, black embroidery floss, brass brad.

 Whew! Almost didn't make it here  as our internet was down all day until now as I type because of heavy storms during the night last night. Looking forward to catching up again!

Also sharing my post with Paint Party Friday.

 See you soon:)

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." 
                                                     Thornton Wilder

Celebrations

 How is everyone? Here we are feeling a bit water logged. Although it has warmed up nicely we are having so much rain- even had some minor flooding again yesterday. Today is nice but, yup, more rain tomorrow. The exciting news is that yesterday at dusk our first hummingbird of the season appeared!!! I'm hoping I'll be able to get a few pics or video but they are so difficult to capture.

 The circle above was painted with Twinkling H2Os. I used a Pitt pen to draw the leaves and petals, and the sentiment is a stamp.

 Anyone see the Kentucky Derby? or celebrate Cinco de Mayo? We did neither of those. Missed the Derby because we had made plans quite awhile ago to spend time with friends we don't get to see often enough. They surprised us by treating us to dinner at a wonderful place called Amici Pizzeria & Restaurant not far from them and just across the bridge from PA to NJ. Excellent service and food!!! It's a BYOB so we brought an Italian wine and a French wine:

 I didn't get pics of the appetizers and salads but I did get the main course- 3 of us had the scallops special and they were melt in your mouth delicious! And with so much food, and fresh bread and garlic olive oil hubby still had room for this:

 Hello T Stands for Tuesday gang! He couldn't decide so he got two desserts- mint chocolate chip gelato, and a slice of tiramisu cake-and he ate every bit! No worries for him though, he is a runner and biker:) Then our lovely friends picked up the tab as a birthday gift. We are blessed with beautiful, fun, kind friends.

 Here is a card I made for another birthday celebration- this one is for Simon Says Stamp who is celebrating 10 years!!! Joining the Simon Wednesday Challenge (birthday/anything goes) and the Simon Monday Challenge (add something metallic):

 Products: from Simon Says Stamp- Simon Says Stamp dies- Bixby Border, Mod leaf Oval; Simon Says Stamp Moonshine sequins; Neenah Classic solar white #110 card stock; Darice adhesive strips; Hero Arts acetate sheets; Versafine Onyx Black ink. Other products- sentiment- Papertrey Ink, assorted metallic sequins-Nicole crafts- AC Moore.

 Two more circle art pieces:

 The background is gift wrap that came with an order from Joggles. Sentiment is Tim Holtz stickers. Bird is a stencil. Linking this one to Try It On Tuesday (things with wings).

 and I will link this one to Moo Mania and More (theme is Just One Word). Background paper,chipboard flower and word are Tim Holtz. The bee is from a napkin. I used a scrap of recycled dryer sheet behind the flower.

 That's it for this week. I will be taking a short blogging break next week. Wishing everyone a very Happy Mother's Day on Sunday! (yes, if you have a pet of any kind you count as a mother;)

                   " We are born of love. Love is our mother.    Rumi