It's Been Awhile!

 

 How is everyone? Haven't posted in awhile because hubby and I finally got to the beach - Cape May, NJ for about a week😁 We stayed at our usual place and this was our view from the third floor. The weather was gorgeous- sunny and warm throughout our stay. We enjoyed daily walks on the beach and I'd sit and relax while hubby would go for a run. We also spent time poolside but only my feet dangled a few minutes in both the pool and ocean water because both were very cold yet!

 Hubby and I took time to drive across town to Cape May Point to see the lighthouse and walk through the lovely state park there:

 

 There were many "birders" along with families enjoying the beautiful grounds. I was happy to see an abundance of white swans in the lakes.

 Back on the beach near our motel we saw two birders with their expensive cameras quite fascinated by something near the water's edge so we went over to have a look ourselves once they moved on and this is what we saw:

We had never seen anything like it! There were two of them- both had their legs tagged, and we found out they are American Oystercatchers. Very cool!

 And for the peeps at T Stands For Tuesday I'll share the dinner we had our first evening in Cape May. We went to a favorite place - Hemingway's:

   We split a Caesar salad (truly one of THE best!) which came with fresh warm bread. Our drink choices were both water and J Lohr cabernet sauvignon. And we both also chose the same entrees:

 

 Perfectly prepared crab cakes (no fillers) with a red pepper sauce, green beans and risotto. Delicious.

Cheers to the T gang-I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone again!

 In my last post I shared pics of the growing nest of eggs in my geranium hanging plant. Before we left for vacation:

 I was half afraid to look when we got back, but there was nothing to worry about:

 Five baby finches! I don't know whatever happened to the sixth (cowbird egg). And then just the other day this was the last pic I got as they all had flown from the nest just hours later:

 What a joy to see.

Now for the art part! This is the card I made for my Mom for Mother's day and I will share it with the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (use dies and/or punches);

 White notecard, envie and cardstock (Recollections); Versafine Onyx Black ink; assorted alcohol markers; sentiment (Papertrey Ink); Mandy's Flowers stamp and die sets, enamel heart stickers (Simon Says Stamp shop); Stickles glitter glue (Ranger).

 While away I took a break from social media, my phone, and even art making but I did manage a few journal pages before I went and since I've returned. I will share these pages with Art Journal Journey (language), and Paint Party Friday:

 Aah, the language of flowers... Pages done in the Dina Wakley kraft journal. I used her paints, stencils, Gloss sprays, Collage Collective, chipboard flower, and stamps. Doodling and spatters done with Posca pens. Asemic writing done with a black Fude Ball pen.

And one more spread in the same journal:

 The language of friendship 😂

 Dina Wakley paints, collage words tissue paper; Tim Holtz Paper Dolls, Snarky Small Talk stickers, Chit Chat stickers; Fude Ball pen; Stabilo All pencil, white Posca pen.

Thanks for popping in. Happy to be visiting you all again!

"Stay Alert, and doors will open. You can never know when and where a magic door will open for you,
so pay attention, stay watchful, and never give up hope."    Jonathan Lockwood Huie