Monday, May 24, 2021

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


35 comments:

  1. So glad that you had fun on vacation and were able to travel and visit your favorite spots. The crab cakes look and sound delicious! I can imagine the water temperatures were chilly with the inconsistent temperatures we have been having. but if you are anything like me, I go to the beach to enjoy the scenery and I rarely get in the water. I am not of fan of having sand in all my crevices.
    Your journal pages are fabulous but that last one is lovely. My eye loves the contrasting colors and the circles.
    Cute little finches. I am not a fan of birds nesting in my plants and I remove the nest as soon as possible but once the eggs are laid I don't have the heart to take it out. How fun that you were able to follow the process from eggs to "flying the coop."
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  2. So glad to read you were able to get away to your favorite spot on the ocean. It's been since the early '70s that I was on the ocean but I loved the sound of the waves-I lived in Wrightsville Beach NC great memories there.
    Your meal sounds really delicious-and I always enjoy seeing your art. Happy T wishes Kathy

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  3. I bet it was wonderful to get away, especially back to your favorite place to go. And you got lucky with some summery weather too. It looks really beautiful. And your food looks really delicious too. I had a light supper tonight so it is making me hungry. Loving your journal pages too. Thanks so much for sharing them with us at AJJ. I hope you have a wonderful week and T day. And if you have more Cape May photos, please share. A friend and I are looking for a place to escape for a few days, and my husband and I are trying to figure out where to go in the fall. Cape May would be a nice distance for us. Hugs-Erika

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  4. It sounds like you had a very nice time. What a bonus to see the American Oystercatchers. That is something. Nice dinner and drinks and I love all of the art. The birds are healthy and will be flying soon. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.

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  5. Nice that you had such a wonderful holiday with your husband and the oyster fishermen are always there in droves on the North Sea coast, I love them! The food looked so delicious too.
    How cute to see the finches in the nest and have now grown up.
    You have made a great card and your journal pages are beautiful on the subject.
    I wish you a happy week, hug Elke

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  6. Glad you were able to get away for a nice break and enjoy a few days vacation. Your food and drinks sound wonderful! Beautiful art, too, as always. Thanks for joining us at AJJ, much appreciated. Happy T Day, Linda, take care of yourself! Hugs, Valerie

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  7. Linda what a great place to enjoy a holiday, love the Oystercatchers too.
    How cute are those baby birds and great that you got to see them hatch and grow.
    Crab cakes sound delicious, I do love crab.
    I enjoyed seeing your card and artwork,
    Happy T Day
    Jan s

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  8. How wonderful that you two were able to get away for a few days, Linda. I know how you love Cape May. That was one really unique bird (or birds?). Nice photos, too.

    You created two amazing and wonderful journal pages. I was truly impressed with both and was so glad to see they fit so well with Elle's theme at Art Journal Journey, too.

    Enjoyed the meal you had at Hemingway's. I also enjoyed perusing the menu. Thanks for sharing the crab cakes and wine with us, along with your art and your mother's card for T this Tuesday, dear Linda.

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  9. BTW, are you doing ICADs this year? I know Cindy and I are.

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    1. sorry for a late reply- yes, I plan on participating again:)

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  10. Ohhh, that sounds like great fun (fickin' cold and grey here still)-
    Cutie pies to watch growing up, how nice!
    Love your art works.
    Happy T-Day and to the friendships we luckily ha<ve somewhere ("Corinna" / Covid!)

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  11. Awesome to get back to your happy place at the beach. Looks like you had a wonderful time and great weather. How fun to see the baby finches when you got home. Lovely artwork. I like the flowers quote. Happy T Day

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  12. Oh what a beautiful seashore vacation you had ~ gorgeous photos and lovely meal ~ yummy ~ glad to see you gorgeous artwork again too ~ So glad the birdies survived flew the nest ~ Xo ~ Happy Week to you. ^_^

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. Thanks for the 100th Happy Birthday for my son, Sean's grandmother ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. Welcome home. Enjoyed this post and Wow for that oystercatcher!

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  15. How wonderful that you have been able to go to your favorite spot on the coast. It has been a long time.
    Not just cute to have a nest in your plants, but interesting too to see how the eggs/chicks/birds develop.
    Your meal looks yummy. I am a fan of caesar salad done well. (the Spanish haven't got a clue!)
    Great journal pages.
    Happy T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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  16. So glad that you enjoyed your stay at the beach, I loved seeing your photos! The baby birds are so precious and a joy to see 😁. Such beautiful art too. Happy T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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  17. Sorry I haven't called in for a while, it sounds like you had a good few days away and enjoyed the walks, the photos looked lovely.
    Thank you for sharing your pretty flower journal page with us at AJJ, flowers may be silent but the speak to us in many other ways.
    Stay safe.
    Yvonne xx

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  18. Daily walks on the beach sounds divine! Love your page, and the colour on that purple/blue flower and the asemic writing too! Thanks for joining me for the Language theme at Art Journal Journey this month Elle xx

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  19. Lovely vacation photos. That Caesar salad looked so good...love me a good Caesar.
    LOVE the last piece on the kraft paper. I admired it on Instagram too! :)
    Happy T day!

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  20. Sound like your vacation was lovely. Great pictures! Yummy looking food.

    The baby bird pictures are fun. Super card and art journal pages - love the dolls with your bright colors and kraft paper. Super cool stenciling and techniques too.

    Happy T-Day late.

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  21. Your creative birthday card is awesome ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. Your art journal page is dazzling and wonderful mixed media art work ~

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  23. I want a Kraft Journal more than ever now. I do love Kraft paper. The page with the circles on - would you mind awfully if I did something similar on a journal page (it won't be Kraft sadly)? You have given me so much inspiration with that piece.
    I also like the other page you did, love that tulip on it, the asemic writing nestles perfectly there, and I love the way you finish the pages off - with the blue pattern and the dotted sections.
    Thanks for the holiday photos, particularly the food you ate - I remember the huge salads we used to get when we visited my friend in America and that one of yours sounds delish with the warm bread.
    Thanks too for the photos of the finch babies - we have lots of bluetits nesting in our boxes but sadly no video cam. I did - just once - see the babies learning to fly. So tentatively taking their way from one bush to another in our garden. It was funny and endearing to watch.
    Hugs, Neet xx

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    Replies
    1. You can do anything you like Neet - we all somehow get inspiration from others' art. Will LOVE to see what you create!

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  24. Beautiful art and photos. Hope the baby birds are still doing well! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

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  25. Beautiful art this week glad you got to the beach!

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  26. Love your two journal pages, beautifully done. So good you had a great break, it looks like a lovely place. I just love crab cakes, but you don't find them very often over here. Have a great weekend.

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  27. what a wonderful trip you were on. Beautiful views and birds. We have one of the Oystercatchers up in Sweden. And I have seen some of the others when I traveled. Great shots!

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  28. We managed to get away for a few days this week, the first time for over a year. It was great, it made a nice change. Those oyster catchers look interesting birds and it must be lovely watching the bird family grow.

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  29. What a treat you had - sea views, the park the birds and then to find that the birds at home were safe too - what a mystery! I love the journal pages - so perfect for Elle's theme at AJJ! Your Mom's card is lovely too! Very belated Happy T Day wishes, Chrisxx

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  30. Beach - what's that? hahah...Our weather is still 'spring cool' but next week will be warmer but no beach break yet :)
    Have a good week ahead!

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  31. So glad to hear that you had such a great time outside. That is a lovely card you made for Mother's day and beautiful journal pages. Love the colours on the tan background and the quote is wonderful.

    -Soma

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  32. Hope you had a good Memorial Day weekend ~ thanks for 'visiting and commenting ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A Shutterbug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  33. Great to have you 'visit' and comment ~ looking forward to your new art coming ~ Xo

    Living moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!