Antique ART Garden

VINTAGE Bible Verse Glass Plaques & Vintage COTTAGE Garden Prints in my Kitchen

2012-02-17T16:19:00.001-05:00

I have collected, or just sort of found here and there, antique and vintage Scripture verse/ Bible verse glass plaques. For some reason I have always had them in my kitchen, alongside my vintage cottage garden prints. The one above is probably my favorite, and the oldest. It is late 1800's to very early 1900's.

Be Ye Holy for I am Holy. 1Peter 1:16

They are all tucked up under the cabinets, I have moved them around the kitchen before, various small nail holes appear here and there because of that. My husband hates to hear the sound of a hammer when it is coming from wherever I am.

Can't imagine why.

An art lover is entitled to move her art around when she needs to right ? He says our walls look like a drive-by shooting behind most of the artwork...he is correct.

All of these are glass, most are handpainted on the glass. This one is a blue Art deco glass one, 1920-30's time frame. The glass is typically edged in metal wire.

Side by side, right where I wash my dishes. I like to place them so I can look up and remember God speaks to us, even through glass plaques.

Here is a cut glass mirror, with blue art glass and foil used behind the glass for the lettering. This one is above my toaster and breadbox, so when I am waiting for something to pop up from the toaster, I glance up at this and consider," Did I "?

A really pretty larger one, handpainted, 1930-40's time frame.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct they paths." Prov. 3:6

Smack-dab above the breadbox, probably the one I notice the most between making my peanut-butter sandwich every day, and unloading the dishwasher.

I took some pictures of these without a flash, to show you how they reflect light in area. I believe I will show you the rest of them without a flash, as this is how they look normally.

A very nice small one, right above the stove, my husband has gotten fussed at by me for not covering the bacon on Sunday mornings, as it likes to pop all over this plaque. Thank goodness you cannot see the kitchen sink area very well, somebody hasn't washed the dishes yet.

A larger one to the far left above the phone and below my blue willow fancy dishes above. I use them only on Holidays or when company comes. I believe there is also a old stash of chocolate Easter eggs in that cabinet too, on top of some blue willow plate.

Beside all my old plaques are vintage art Deco cottage garden prints, like the one above.

I know it may seem odd to put old garden prints in a kitchen, but I don't care. I really like them . I want my garden to look like them.

This one is at a corner of my kitchen. 1920's time frame.

This is one , very small, 1930's, above the stove, and it constantly gets dirty from cooking, but I just clean it when I notice it has gotten ' cooked upon'. I believe bacon grease, birthday cake batter, and all my soup cooking has gotten it the most.

Smaller version of another I have, this one is above my paper towels. I don't care if it is the same as another, they are about 5 feet apart, and one is twice the size of the other. Tricks most people, including me , into thinking they are two different prints( I had to go in the kitchen and look back and forth between the two for a good 2-3 minutes to realize they are the same--what a doofus).

These two I have put up , not using them now. Top one is 1950's, bottom 1930's.

This is one above my coffee maker.1930's time frame. They are all take-offs of Ann Hathaway's cottage prints, one is one of her prints.

Another small one near my stove in original deco frame. 1930-40's time period.

A new watercolor of Charleston by Tom Cox, that I framed in an antique frame. Right near my coffee maker area. So every morning, I look up and see Charleston, his version, but I like it.

Another small one, similar to the one on the wall behind it. 1920-30's time frame, these are more common than the larger ones. I figure many of the larger ones have gotten broken over the years in many people's homes.

A little plate I found that made me think of Sarah I put in my kitchen window.

I also have old vintage chalkware in my kitchen, but I am digressing like crazy here,it is fun and unique to use vintage and antique items in your kitchen.

Let me leave by showing you my favorite new refrigerator magnet that sums me up to a T in just a few words...here it is...

Exactly to a T.

Everyone take care, I appreciate each of you,

Gina

Happy LATE Valentine's Day~Norah JONES

2012-02-15T19:12:00.002-05:00

Sorry I am late posting a romantic song for you guys, I think I listened to this about 15 times in my car today. I have about 2 posts soon I am going to write, don't give up on Miss Slack-Blogger...enjoy......., Gina

When YOU Are NOT What You Were- Who Are You ?

2012-02-08T11:11:00.001-05:00

Almost hard to write the title of this post, was going to write ' Getting Old and Not Liking It', or some such wording. I am just dealing with all sorts of issues, issues that affect me working in my garden, my exercise routine, even long antique hunts ( which I was at the end of last week when I had this picture taken above), etc. When our health and vitality is not the same, when our energy level has changed, when everyone around us is young and hoppin' and poppin' ( American slang for being active and happy). When we are unable to keep up with our younger, more familiar version of ourselves, who happens to be us but older.

I mean, if you can't keep pace with who you were...then who the heck are you !?

When you look in the mirror and you look so different . The clock is ticking, what you see in the mirror today, will be different 10 years from now, and the image 25 years earlier, is what we all hope to see.

Feel free to comment, advice is welcome, insights encouraged.

I do know that all of us, will never be younger than we are right at this moment. We need to realize and enjoy THIS time.

Knowing and believing , and acting on those beliefs, are two different things entirely.

take good care all of you,

Gina

Lose My Soul~ Toby Mac

2012-01-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

I have always enjoyed this song, I don't like hardly any rap, but this one has such a compelling message. What will you do here, or have done on this earth, that jeopardizes your very soul ? Enjoy, Gina

^"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8 :36

A PINK Christmas Tree For SARAH~

2011-12-05T20:37:00.003-05:00

I have been considering, since last Christmas, to have a special Christmas tree to honor my precious Sarah at the holiday time. Sarah liked the color pink, just as her big sister does, and so we went for a pink Christmas trees search today. We found this one at Walmart, a complete, artifical pre-lit tree, all PINK. I had a hard time finding pink, a few other stores did not have that color. I had to have pink.

The ornament in the front, was made in 1994, my mother had that made for our tree. The one behind it, I found on eBay. I keep trying to find more Sarah ornaments, sometimes when you want something very badly, it is harder to get. Just out of reach.

This one is my favorite, she loved that her name meant Princess in Hebrew.

A glittery-silver dance shoe. She loved to dance, and boy she was a awesome dancer.

I am going to add to this tree every year, I am going to try to find a Britney Spears ornament, as when she was a teenager she idolized( to my chagrin), Britney. I am also going to put some pictures of her on some homemade ornaments . Looking at pictures of her, is very hard for me lately. It is almost as if I am stabbed in the heart when I see her image.

I have also been rounding up some vintage Chalkware and plastic angels to place under the tree.

Plus disco-ball ornaments. Trying to add all the elements that make up my daughter, and cover a small pink tree...is difficult, yet comforting.

The S from her door as a child, that my young son found.

A snow baby.

A blue butterfly like I saw in Edisto Beach , the morning of July 12th, 2010, on my walk that Sarah and I always took.

A bracelet with her name, one of the items I search for often.

Here is a picture under the tree, of Sarah to the far left, my mother Sarah, me, and my oldest daughter in 2007 ( or 2006, can't remember exactly), at a birthday celebration for me. My mother died the following April 2008. Our Sarah in July 2010. She and Sarah are buried next to each other.

Here is one of my very favorite pictures of my children, minus our youngest son born 12 years later, on our old front porch steps. Sarah is in the middle, she was the baby of the family. They all are so precious.

Sparkily pink star.

More pictures beneath the tree. Sarah to the far left bottom picture. This picture was taken two weeks after my mother's unexpected death. A few days before my oldest's daughter's wedding. Life can knock us around can't it ? The good with the bad, we have to take it as it comes. How God tries a human soul.

More vintage angels among the memories.

I added this post, to possibly help someone else who is grieving during the holiday time, to make themselves a tree, to remember and include their lost loved one in their holiday still. Whatever color tree...they make them in all colors, whatever style you choose, that represents their spirit. Include their name and hobbies, and likes. I plan to add to this every year. Being without my beautiful daughter in my life, it will be a year and a half since her death next month, is still a daily struggle. There is not incapacitating grief, it has changed to a deep, painful hurt, that is part of my soul. I know it is seen in my eyes, as I have had people tell me so. I also know, I have to find and show joy, to help my other family members still enjoy their lives.

Maybe you want to remember someone special, irreplaceable to you ,over the holidays. You can go buy yourself a little tree and decorate it with things they loved during their lifetime. This small action has helped me a little. I walk pass this little pink tree in my home, and I smile thinking Sarah would have loved it.

Many blessings to you all, hug your loved ones, be thrilled and grateful to be able to gaze upon them, tell them you love them...every chance you get,

Gina

Tim TEBOW's Courageous Stand~

2011-11-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

This was posted on my daughter's facebook page. A man not afarid to express his faith, his love for Jesus. Very rare for a man who is not in the ministry to do so.

Bless someone today, Gina

STAND~ by Rascal Flatts

2011-11-29T09:03:00.000-05:00

Here is a song to help anyone today who is having a hard time with life. With work, at home, with your health, with inner struggles, with wanting to give up and quit. Remember to not give up on anyone, especially on people you love, and even yourself. Remember to Stand today.

Turn up the volume and enjoy.

My VINTAGE Thanksgiving Centerpiece~

2011-11-23T19:23:00.002-05:00

I'm going to be busy , like many of you tomorrow, preparing a large Thanksgiving feast for my family. I wanted to stop tonight, and show you my very neat vintage,Thanksgiving centerpiece I will use on my table tomorrow.

I'm not setting my table tonight, but I did make a flower arrangement from some flowers my husband and young son bought me today. Plus my vintage chalkware pilgrims and turkey.

I have been around antiques for decades, and have not seen any chalkware pilgrim statues before. I was thrilled to find these, and was drawn to them because of the Bibles in their hands.

Hers is small.

His looks like the large family Bible.

They are both 1940-50's time frame. Leaning towards late 40's.

Now Mr. Turkey is 1960's. I have some fragrant pine cones to put inside him tomorrow. My son has been sniffing the little pine cone bag many times. Smells like ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and holiday time.

I love the colors in the older vintage turkey planters.

Aren't they lovely flowers? I had enough leftover to do a small roses vase in the bath. It was my husband's idea to buy the flowers, while my young son picked them out. Good team.

I only arranged them.

These pilgrims look good from the front side and back. So perfect to have pilgrims at my table for Thanksgiving. I may use them for Christmas too.

I wish so much, for everyone to enjoy their families tomorrow. Know that you are blessed to have their very presence in front of you. Look in their eyes, listen to their stories, ask them about their hopes and dreams. Watch how the light shines on their hair, show interest in their life, respect their opinions, hug them with deep love. No one is perfect, but your loved ones are oftentimes doing their best, right at this moment in time. Be a blessing to them tomorrow, especially when you don't feel like it.

Love strong,

Gina

Laying a Charming Brick NON-Perfect Accent in Your GARDEN--DIY guide

2011-11-20T19:46:00.006-05:00

Well here we are now, me and my Hercules, extending my small brick accent center in my garden further out. I want to eventually have a brick pathway leading out of the garden center, but I have to have enough old clay bricks to do that. Which I don't.

My son helped dig up the monkey grass and lambs ears that I transplanted, and then collected the brick from around the house and brought it over. While Maxine did this...

Fought with an old plastic plant container, she took it around the yard, threw it up in the air, watched it drop and caught it and ran herself dizzy.

You can see here we are extending the brick I already have, you will need to shovel the dirt as level as you can.Use a flat-head shovel to prep your area. If you are like my husband, you would get a level out, have sand ready, do it EXACTLY perfect. Or you can do it like me. I believe it is called eye-balling how level something is, or as my husband would say half-as++##!!** not-perfect, if you get my drift. NO CURSING on my blog though!! I call it charming, just like they did in the 1800's in Charleston, South Carolina. That is where I see so many im-perfect brick garden accents.

What I do is dig up, with a trowel or my husband's spackling tool,( a straight edge mortar trowel,) the dirt to a level just above where the other brick is to meet. Bricks, rocks, pavers, etc., sink with time, so it needs to be a bit raised, maybe 1/2 ins. where it meets the other bricks. Smooth it straight to lay the brick.

Usually you have a pattern going, I started with this straight line of bricks, until I layed them all out and found out I had a basket-weave pattern, straight line in front of that,so I then wanted another basket-weave going behind me. Straight, basket-weave, straight, basket-weave ( about 2 feet each time). Dumb-bunny had to rip them up and start again. All the dirt in front of me has to be smoothed out, and then used to cover up the bricks as we go.

I like to tap( tap fairly hard) my bricks together , to tighten them up. I hit them at the top and sides.Everytime you lay one, you may have to add or take away dirt from the ground to level it. Keep tapping them to settle them.

And I have to deal with Maxine trying to kiss me while I am down here. The original center of this brick area, I laid out about 7 years ago.

I love the old clay bricks. The different colors are beautiful to me.

Here we are laying them out straight, my husband showed up and got to take some pictures of us. The bricks that I am holding,the one up top is concrete, the lower clay. Clay bricks are almost always larger than concrete. Lowes, Home Depot only sell concrete bricks that are supposed to resemble clay bricks. I discard the concrete, sometimes only use them where they cannot be seen in parts of my garden. Clay bricks are infinitely more charming.

I loved my son helping me.

We took the straight design out and the laid then in the basket-weave pattern, two side by side, and then two on top. The cracks here we will fill with sand and dirt.

I started this garden with a basketweave pattern, then plain straight lines, now basketweave again . I like to see mixed patterns, only two usually, in a brick pattern layout. Over and over, going about 3 feet apart with each pattern.

It is coming along, once you do this, get up and stretch and stomp on the bricks to settle them. I ran out of plain clay bricks, did not use the ones with the holes in them. I then bordered the brick with more brick on their sides. One day I want to keep them going to make a path out of my garden.

Now normally, I would get sand and swish it down with my hands into the cracks. I have no sand, I was not getting in the car to go get sand, and I only had my Hercules son for another 30 minutes. So we made do with leftover dirt from the yard. Always make do in life.

Just spill it, sprinkle it , as heavy as you like, all over the bricks.

Then you just rub it all over the bricks, and it falls into the cracks.

You can do this as many times as you like, 2-6 times. The dirt just keeps settling into the cracks . Doing this over a period of weeks is good.

Then brush it off. Next step...

Then you water down all the excess dirt with your hose. You can do this as many times as you like. I only have done it once. Each time you add dirt and, and then water it down.It compacts your bricks into the ground.

Miss Spaz -kisser was lounging and looking regal watching us.

The fountain isn't centeered here, but I did move it later to center it. Still looking for new fountain.

So here we are, an uneven, but very charming brick center area. I suggest using only old bricks, no concrete ones, only clay ones. Oh, and hopefully you have a Hercules somewhere you can hire to help you...

Go make a brick accent for yourself. Go find you a Hercules/muscle-guy somewhere around. I was so very sore after that day, I had not worked in my garden for months. Wishing for a time when I was younger...enjoy your days folks.

Bless someone tonight,

Gina

Ps. I have been unable to leave comments on many blogs I read. I am unsure if something is wrong with Blogger, but wanted the writers of the blogs I read to know.

Me and HERCULES in My GARDEN

2011-11-15T09:08:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I finally got my Hercules, my oldest son, to help me in my garden. What I needed doing was moving two large pittosporum bushes, which grow to the size of large houses, I wanted them transplanted to my front yard.

What idiot( me), planted such cute bushes which kept growing and growing and growing, wait...there she is above posing with Hercules and Maxine, whose nozzola is peeking up at the bottom.

Maxine's main job was getting love every second we were out here. From Mom...

And from Mom's baby who turned into Hercules, my son can lift some heavy weights , so I wanted to harness some of that brawn in my garden. Okay, let me show you my problem...

Two large pittosporum bushes to the far left, that I prune and prune, and they happily keep getting larger while I sleep.

Look at my large wheelbarrow next to these crazy errant bushes ! It was time for action, and since my muscles/body has decided enough is enough with the heavy duty anything out here, I called in my big guns. I know he bench presses 300-350 lbs., so my shovel is in excellent, super-strong hands.

He looks real thrilled doesn't he ? We had a time trying to take a few pictures of ourselves before we started. Don't worry about him, I was going to throw some casholla his way afterwards. Ok, here we go, or here he goes as I was mainly directing.

Trying to transplant large buses is always an iffy project as you gardeners know. The larger they are, the bigger they fall so to speak. Deeper roots, more to damage. But, it was Fall, Fall is the best time and Winter too, to transplant, I think it was about 50 degrees, and yes, he is wearing shorts. Tough guys wear shorts when they are young. So he has to go all around the bush, go deep, and keep listening while Mom tells him to not dig up the plants around the bush.

Plus Maxine insisted on giving kisses while he was working.

Thank goodness he loves Maxine as she was as annoying as can be while he was working. She's a kisser. Ok, first bush out. My son is about 6 foot tall, so you can see this bush is large.

Here I have him out front, digging up a oleander that decided not to bloom this Summer. Charleston is full of oleanders, so of course I wanted some. This will be relegated to the back garden.

Always watch out for water pipes, shown above, and electrical lines, when you dig deep.One cut with your shovel and the plumber gets to come by and take a few hundred dollars to fix your wet mess. Just be cautious, especially men, as women don't strike the ground as hard when they dig ( to me),and work around the pipe. You can plant the bush here still.

This bush is large and heavy. I would have been a pancake underneath it if I tried to lift it. Which I did not.

I was helping some, and mainly trying to make sure all the roots were in the ground, and patting down the soil around it to eliminate air-pockets.

Then we stuck the hose in, turned it on low to water this large bush for an hour. I am still very aware that this may not work. But it's worth a shot , to try.

Then later, I stuck the hose, deeper into the ground, to saturate in further at a lower setting. I know all the experts say add compost or potting soil , to help. But I just stuck these big babies, or my son did, into the ground, and watered them silly.

Big guy digging large hole for second bush to come up front.

Maxine watching, looking for opportunity to kiss him.

Now he's back in my garden, going after the second mammoth bush.

This one he got more irritated with, as so much of my other plants had grown up and into the bush area. He had to dig up plants, and dig very deep around this one. Then he had to get his body on the ground and rock to rip/pull it out.

It was getting warmer, about 60 degrees , and he then got into the hole he was digging. He was starting to sweat,

which meant something inevitable would happen...

Maxine's kiss-alarm went off in her little brain, and she came in for the attack. Let me tell you, I do not like lots of dog kisses personally, but my son just laughed.

It is best to try not to ' rip' the bushes, of any plant, as it injuries the roots, but it was getting too difficult for him with the shovel. So I just watched him rock back and forth, get mad at the roots, and yank it out of the ground finally. Wait, I do remember coming in a few times to cut some large roots with the shovel tip to help.

He's got it out. Bush weighed 70+ pounds per my expert on weights who was carting it.

Now this one to the side front yard. Again, I am well aware this may not work,but many things in life are worth a shot that may not work. Plus..I got to spend time with my son.

Big plus for me.

This entry is way too long, so I will show you in the next one, about extending my brick center-piece in the garden area that we did the same day. Enjoy your own day, go find someone big to help you in your garden,

Gina

P.S. Two weeks almost since transplanting , and the bushes are doing fine, lots of watering, in the front~keep your fingers crossed !

I Will SURVIVE~Gloria Gaynor

2011-11-11T19:24:00.000-05:00

I have a couple of new posts I plan on doing, but one of my daughter's friends had a man problem- a big man problem today~and I sent her this song. It helped me back in the 1970's, maybe it will help someone today.

Enjoy..

Bless everyone,

Gina

Inspiration for your Life Link

2011-10-28T11:50:00.002-04:00

Someone on my facebook page ( thanks John ), posted this link about being authentic in life. I have read variations of this before , this one is equally inspiring. Please read it and be blessed.

Included a few pic of me and Macy. This was taken the day after she was born. I do not see her very much, as her sweet mom lives with her parents about an hour from here. But I did get to see her the other evening, and she is precious as babies are. She smells wonderful, new baby smell.

Enjoy the link below....

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/10/23/say-before-you-die/

Bless someone close today,

Gina

Guess What ?

2011-10-13T12:57:00.001-04:00

I'm officially a grandmom. My son's girlfriend had a baby last night, and they have named her Macy. Here they are above, right after the birth. I always am re-affirmed there is a Creator, God Almighty when I see a new baby.

Wrapped up like a little pumpkin here. New life. A blessing from God, as all children are. More pictures to come.

Enjoy your families, enjoy your day,

Gina

More 1950's Vintage PORTRAIT Paintings & Antique Landscapes & What-Nots

2011-09-24T16:50:00.002-04:00

Here is a gorgeous 1800's oil on canvas, romantic landscape of a woman in the woods, remembering love, that I have listed on Ebay.

Rich colors, expertly painted, highly detailed. It can be found here.

A pair of English Victorian landscapes, oil on canvas, late 1800's. They can be found here, when you find one, go through my store and you can find the other.

Unusual, rare large size Art Deco 1930's wedding portrait. She can be found here.

Let me show you some more vintage portraits...

1950's blonde beauty-SOLD.

1930's oil on artist board, actress Constance Bennett , this can be found here.

I bought all these together, I have sold the two on the sides already. Movie starlets from the 1930's.

1940-50's large Original oil on canvas Still life with Violin, books, masterfully painted. Look at how even the lace/crochet is painted with intricate detail.

It can be found here.

Vintage 1950's oil on artist board of woman with cup of tea. This is on auction now.

Another 1950's oil of woman, Society lady with mink. She can be found here.

Small French tapestry done in the Art Nouveau style with Mary and Jesus, and angels. It can be found here.

Antique French gilt over bronze candle mirrored sconces. Great condition. They can be found here.

1940's oil on canvas of attractive brunette , signed. She can be found here.

1950's oil of brunette, SOLD.

1960-70's original oil Impressionist style woman. She can be found here.

Super fun 1950's oil of woman in pink. SOLD. More portraits that ARE for sale still can be found here.

Antique, early 1900's Waterbury late metal clock with decorative woman and peacock. It can be found here.

Thanks again for letting me show you a few paintings, portraits, and what-nots I have found.
have a nice, peaceful evening,
Gina

The Most Popular Per-DOG-son on my Blog

2011-09-20T09:01:00.000-04:00

I know full well that Maxine is the most popular element of my blog, so I decided to do a little entry about her today. A few weeks ago, I actually ventured out into my garden,and she as usual came with me.

My young son put this under his treehouse/fort, as she sleeps under here alot. Everytime I tried to sneak up on her and take her picture here though, this is what she would do...

Leave her post and come get love. She lives to get loved up, and to eat, and to go for her walks.

Perfect life.

Garden needs tons of work, I weeded, I looked around while I was down in my weeding/sitting pose and thought about different things to do in my little garden. I have not done that very much in the last year, between the intense heat, humidity and mosquitos. Plus my heart has not been out here either. Your heart really has to be in your garden with you to do any good out here.

Evidence after the fact of my weeding and carting off of weeds, Maxine always comes out with me to cart off my weeds.

Cleaner from weeds all in my bricks and my garden. I have decided that I want to extend the bricks, but it will mean lots of heavy digging, carting of bricks, etc. I have asked my son, my big son to help me soon. He works out all the time, and can lift me, the wheelbarrow and Maxine with one arm.

Going to extend the front here, about two or three more feet.

Fountain has been broken, but my husband fixed it the other day. The birds are now not so annoyed with us.

For Pete's sake, this is supposed to be about Maxine. Maxine has had her 3250.00 dollars ( yes, you read that right ), surgery on her ACL, and it was a long recuperation but she is back prancing around.

Or lounging.

Look at her shiny coat, she always gets compliments on her coat.

Sweet dog, I wish I was as sweet as she is.

Futile wish, she was made that way.

She's also pretty much a gimp. Now on that we are alike. She is a very pretty gimpy dog. For my transatlantic followers, that means she is a overly -sensitive wuss.

That is also why she is so sweet.

Lots of work to do. But Maxine is ready to get inside again...

This is my cue.

So in we go. Hope your day goes well, enjoy your families, enjoy your pets, take your heart out in your garden with you this week,

Gina

The JOY of Watching my Son play BASEBALL

2011-08-26T16:13:00.004-04:00

I think in life, we all have activities, especially activities watching someone we love , be young, energetic....

and cool. That bring us joy. Our son is on some travel teams, not so much fun as it has been 100 degrees and 90 % humidity at these games, but I never, ever , tire of seeing him and his cute buddies in their uniforms go out there and play a game of baseball.

As anyone who goes to see these late Summer HOT as blazes games knows...we get to see our little loves bat...

Hit and run hopefully--strike outs are no fun to watch. I can barely follow the game anyway, I am not one of those professional crazed baseball moms who know every detail about baseball rules and such, , who get a bit vicious and dogged out there as well. I am one of those mildly ditzy ( about baseball plus the heat makes me worse ), moms who just loves to see how cute my son is when he plays. I think I am few and far between as so many of the moms know what in the heck is going on all of the time out there. I just look out and see youth, wonderful youth...all over these baseball fields.

I am old enough to know this time in their lives is fleeting, precious.

I like to watch him play first base best, plus he pitches well. Here is playing third base, not his favorite position to play and I usually can't see him as well here either.His buddy beside him has the same first name, so the coaches scream out their name and they always both turn around.

Still cute as a pickle. A 10 year old joy.

Serious.

He has a whippy side arm pitch, I couldn't capture it to save my life that day.

My husband on the other hand, is a pacing, anxious, irritated or happy--depending on the game status---dad who when he looks out there, he sees an extension of himself. Most of the dads are like that . Their boys are themselves, but much younger,full of athletic promise and hope.

I have to calm him down, whenever he happens to get near me during these games, which is not much as he is a member of the pacing-anxious-dad's club.

This is where being a ditz at baseball pays off, I can relax more.
I am the water girl for my son, and my husband seems to be the ball boy for the team. He always gets balls that stray from other fields or our own game.

I felt that way with my daughters ( about being anxious during plays, pageants, some sports they were in), but not my sons. I just think they're cute, and have enjoyed my oldest son's soccer games when he was young through high school, as much as my youngest son's baseball games now.

Of course I like when he does something great, a big hit, a great catch, striking out batters...but I like this best of all....

A smile for his mom, lucky me.

Of course there always seems it be an injury, scraped leg, torn pants, scraped up arms...but in the end, when you get the team together for a picture...

You get a bunch of happy faces, lots of dirt and sweaty kids combined. My cutie patootie is back by one of the coaches near the tree.

I hope you all enjoy your children, whatever age they are. I hope you remember being young today.

Blessings,

Gina

More PORTRAITS & Antiques To Show You~

2011-08-14T18:42:00.001-04:00

Me and my youngest outside of Charleston SC

We went to Charleston last month, it was hot , humid and still nice. Most days were averaging 100 degrees, humidity made it feel like 135+( to me ). I think I have graduated from a Summer girl to a Fall woman, heat and I are not friends like we used to be. We did some walking about, I went ( by myself), to the Gibbes Art Museum for about 1 1/2 hours, and it was very enjoyable. They have changed alot around, and added beautiful additional antique paintings for viewing. I wanted to fall into the paintings, I think I did on a few. Antique artwork still feeds my soul and heart. I walked the neighborhoods, and took some pictures of gardens and homes, but it is still not in my heart to do it yet like I used to. My old followers know that I am a Charleston, South Carolina lover, but it brings back many memories of Sarah going there with me. So it is bittersweet now, many steps I take, we took together.

That may change inside me, I am not sure.

Anyway, let me show you a few pieces of art I bought there, and then some at the Charlotte, NC Metrolina Expo a few weeks ago as well.

A very pretty old, 1930-40's plaster plaque of two Victorian women with a dove. Very French.

It is cast in high relief ( which means a 3-D effect , with raised areas).

A vintage Italian chalkware/plaster lamp base , that is now simply a statue, with a woman holding a basket of roses, leaning towards a fountain. The fountain sold me.

A beautiful aquatint ( hand-colored etching ), of Paris in the Spring, signed, 1950-60's time frame. Somewhere I have always wanted to go--BAD.

Vintage seascape /marine oil on board, siged 1940-50's time frame.

Another vintage portrait, 1940's oil on board.

A killer large ( 3 ft. x 4 ft. )oil on canvas 1940's woman in red portrait, listed artist.

A stunningly beautiful oil on board of a Atkinson Fox style garden artwork, signed , 1920-30's time frame.

Mrs. Can't recall anything lately, cannot recall the name of this famous painting. Please comment if you know it. This is a small oil on board, done in 1906. Very nice.

Romantic.

Brass early 1900's Victorian metal statue of woman.

Late 1800's oil on academy board of Robin birds and daisies, SOLD.

Two beautiful brass Victorian picture frames, the one to the right is SOLD.

Beautiful patel from a listed artist of pink and white roses, 1930-40's time frame.
All can be found here.

This entry is getting too long, so I will close it up. Sleep well everyone...or if you're onthe other side of the world...good morning !
Gina

Sarah's Dream

2011-07-31T18:15:00.001-04:00

I am a big dreamer, I dream all the time. Quite disconcerting and disruptive for quality of sleep time I can tell you.

But this post is about a dream that Sarah told me she had, about a month after her grandmother, my mother...whom Sarah was named after, died. The two Sarahs in our family. It was another tragic part of our lives, my Mother had just turned 65, was planning on a big to-do Bridal shower for my oldest daughter, worked too hard in her garden areas...and died of a heart attack on a Saturday afternoon. 3 weeks before my oldest daughter's wedding, and right after her 49th wedding anniversary, she had just retired to spend more time with my Dad. She missed many big events of her life. We were all in shock, and Sarah was as devastated as us all, if not more.

The picture above is my two beautiful daughters at a Mother's day lunch for me a few months before her car crash. Bliss for me, I love to just look at my children, and enjoy their presence. Sarah is to the right.

Let me tell you the dream she had. She called me about a month after my Mother's death, and said she had a dream last night about Sazie. The grandkids all called her Sazie, a nickname her grandfather gave her as a child. Again, my mother's name was Sarah too.

I eagerly, yet also nervously , asked Sarah, what was her dream about ? I was feeling both emotions, as I was pretty tender inside over my mother's death, and did not want some weird/freaky dream about her to be related to me by my daughter.

Instead...this is what she told me..

She said that she was walking near a very large gate, with a large garden on the other side. She looked through the gate, or the gate door was open, I can't recall exactly...and she saw my mother , kneeling and tending a garden there. Sarah then said, Sazie jumped up, put her hands on her hips ( a family trait we share ), and said to Sarah , " Now what are you doing here ?"

I then interrupted Sarah and asked, " What did she look like ?"

Sarah told me she looked younger, she had her hair up, my mother did not wear her hair up hardly ever ( except working outside in the Summer ), that she did not have her glasses on, and that she had a flowered shirt on and shorts. My mother never, ever wore shorts.

Sarah then said, " Oh, and she looked really happy."

I remember crying hearing this, and then I asked Sarah, " Anything else ?"

And Sarah told me she walked into the garden, through the gate, towards her grandmother.

And that was it.

After Sarah died last July, and after a few months of my mind in complete numbness...I recalled that conversation. I now view it as prophetic , and I believe where Sarah entered through the large gate, was Heaven. I dream and envision my Sarah running, like the wind up there. No sore feet from working long shifts as a waitress and running here on Earth with her friends for miles.

Running barefoot , running for miles, very happy on soft dirt roads.

I see her in my mind, running..and also holding babies and laughing and smiling at them. Those are the two activities I see her doing the most, in Heaven.

She was a bright, bright light in my life, and I miss her always, and continually.

Here is a song I heard in church today, one of my favorites.

Enjoy, and dream...

Gina

NEAT Ideas for Antique STAINED Glass Windows

2011-07-26T14:41:00.001-04:00

We have always had antique stained glass windows in our homes. I am usually the pick-it-out and tell-him-where -I- want- it window person...while my husband is the do-all-the-work window person. He usally claims all the credit once it is placed somewhere. I figure he deserves about 75-85 % of the credit for all the work . The window above is an antique sunburst window, that he placed in an upstairs bath. I am missing my regular window here, so am trying to talk him in to putting this one somewhere else. I would like to have a regular window to see out into my garden below.

This is how it looks in the early morning, or later at night. Antique windows are a wonderful accent in any room.

Here is one where he busted through a wall, and simply added more light into a bedroom by installing an antique window. He says you have to make sure the electrical is not in the way, working without load-bearing beams or studs in the way is also helpful. But he can work around those and reframe the area before he puts in the window. All the windows he cleans up and builds a frame around, and then makes a support frame in the wall...and there you have my bright idea.

Oh...and all his hard work.

The view at night.

Here is one of my favorites. I wanted some more light in the upstairs bedroom, and of course , there was no where to put a regular window...but I saw a nice spot in a wall...and my husband put this here for me. I like to have mirrors to reflect views, and views of stained glass windows in walls are unique.

Plus...

You get a view coming and going...from both sides.

We almost always buy the dimpled stained glass windows for the inside walls, to afford privacy still.

We have a very large one downstairs, about 4+ feet tall that was used to replace a very ugly view into a brick wall that used to be here. These old houses had garages built directly to the side, and so when you look out you just saw brick.

Not anymore.

Lots more light. Really like this one. Mr. Do- all -the work , worked hard to replace the other windows with this. Often, if you are replacing outside windows, you will need a brick mason to come repair your wall from the outside afterwards, if your home is brick.

My small stained glass window I move up and down ( there is a hook at center too ), to be able to see my garden outside. If you look to the far right you can see my windows on my outside brick wall.

You can hang windows on brick walls too.

You have to use a masonry bit to drill through the brick or mortar though. You can't just nail a big nail into a brick. Learned that the hard way. I think my hand vibrated for two hours after bending 4 or 5 nails a few times.

A large one for a back picture window , that is out towards the back garden. He hangs all these with eye hooks and chain or just one eyehook into another hook.

I also like to mix and match the windows , instead of draperies or blinds. Make a tier of stained glass windows. I'm not a perfect matchy-matchy woman anyway in decorating.

This one has the eyehook and hook holding it up. The one below has the eyehook and chain.

One we bought to put in a downstairs bath to replace regular window. Now what do I spy in the window ?

A snake and animal sponges courtesy of my 10 year old. I left them there, one day I will have a house without any rubber snakes to surprise me...I need to enjoy them while I can.

This was one he fussed and told me would never work, I didn't want to know how he was going to do it, just thought it would look cool up in the brick instead of the unattractive wood slat vent that was there. I think he fussed for about 3-4 months before he made it work.

Now he claims the idea was his . He put a light in the attic to show it off at night but I always forget to turn it on. I'm more the one walking around turning off any extra lights anywhere.

That's my excuse.

Beautiful one in my eBay room . It is not totally finished , mainly because my husband can no longer reach it with all my stuff in here. I will not show you a wide shot of the surroundings or you would never read my blog again.

It is a great light giver to the room, and furthermore ' gives ' light to the adjoining room.

That is what is so special about adding stained glass to your walls, or your windows.

Brighter ...lighter.

I am working on my husband to put another one in a wall upstairs. Typically takes me 4-7 months of asking before he does it.

I have to have lots of natural light in my surroundings, a must for my psyche.

Have a good one ,

Gina

Latest VINTAGE & Antique paintings I have for SALE:

2011-07-16T10:34:00.002-04:00

Going to show you a few of the antique and vintage paitings I have for sale, with a few thrown in that are sold--but I really like them so much I want to show them to you anyway. The one above is a antique early 1800's oil on wood panel, European , Dante and Beatrice-and I believe it is a Italian painting. Look at her eyes below...

She is listed in eBay now, you can find here here.

I found her in Charleston, SC a few weeks ago...and I also found this unusual, interesting- looking gentleman

below...

He caught my attention right away, plus his frame, in a fancy-schmancey antique mall in Charleston...and I made an offer , and after some haggling it was accepted. It is a large very old, early 1800's or before, Old Master's style oil on canvas in a killer Renaissance style HEAVY antique frame. Here's a close-up..

Isn't he something ? Long hair ,intelligent gaze , a true find for antique portrait collectors. He can be found here.

This 1940-50's geisha portrait is SOLD.

This was a really neat find, a view of Charleston , SC , a vintage painting circa 1960's...a view from St. John's Island, right outside of Charleston. Any vintage paintings of famous or historic cities are valuable. Snap them up if you find them. You can find this one here.

An absolutely killer deco portrait, 1940's , very large , that I sold to a nice lady in a 5 day auction. For ebay sellers, I recommend 10 day auctions for very unusual items. I was leaving town , and could only do a 5 day auction--as I believe she would have sold for much more if I had listed her longer. Too, too cool. SOLD.

Another gorgeous original oil portrait that is SOLD. 1940's big-band era beauty.

Here is a 1970's oil of a Spanish dancer , more naively painted , but has that ' look' that certain retro homes like. She is listed here.

Here is a fun, French avante-garde, mod 1960's oil on canvas of a red-haired woman done in a Expressionist style. If you have checked out my auctions ever, I have a penchant for redhead portraits--buy them whenever I can.

She is listed here.

Wanted to show you I also sell very traditional antique and vintage artwork as well as all the portraits I list. This one is a pastel painting of a man fishing in a secluded river. Colors are beautiful, late 1800's -early 1900's time frame. It is listed here.

A lovely antique seascape, appears to be sunrise to me,painted in oils on black academy board. Late 1800's to very early 1900's time frame. You can find it here.

Beautiful pair of oval frames, circa 1920-40's time frame. In very good condition, I always try to find vintage and antique frames in good condition when I can. People now use antique and vintage picture frames for all sorts of decorating ideas, not just to frame their art. They put mirrors on them, they hang then on the wall in groups, they lean them up on apiece of furniture...all kinds of fun ideas with old frames. You can find this pair here.

A 1950's abstract/impressionist/modernist portrait of a woman with an attitude, check out her raised eyebrow. You can find here here.

Another very fun vintage, circa 1950's oil, done in a slight Illustrator style. She is SOLD.

Here's one that is for sale. A 1940-50's oil of a woman with a curly mop of blonde hair. You can find her here.

Here's a sweet soda-shop girl, 1940's oil on canvas. For sale here.

I see this entry is already too long, wanted to show you some French romantic engravings, but will do so in another entry.

Hope each and every one of you is having a really good day,

Gina

A Picture can say a THOUSAND Words

2011-07-09T12:09:00.000-04:00

I have not written in awhile, as the last few months leading up to the anniversary of my youngest daughter Sarah's death , has been wrought with much emotion. None productive , all draining in every way. I have had some nice bloggers write me and tell me they miss my posts, and so I decided to write a fairly simple one.

Simple, but infinitely deep to me.

Let me tell you what the picture above is. It is me, leaning back on a railing about 14 or 15 years ago , in Cherokee , North Carolina...somewhere on the Blue Ridge parkway. That is Sarah, about 6 or 7 years old, showing the scenery. I remember taking this picture, the wind was blowing , the air was crisp the mountains were beautiful ...and it was June. I also vaguely recall feeling nervous leaning on that railing, as there was a huge drop below.

Isn't she cute as a button ? I have always liked this picture, we were all happy taking a family vacation up there...and I always liked it how when Sarah was young she would be such a ham-bone for the camera.

I was exactly like that when I was young too.

Since her accident, I have had this picture up on the bulletin board behind me where I work on my eBay site. I can see it reflected in the mirror back at me, if I scoot over to a certain degree , and it has been ' saying ' something, if pictures could talk..everytime I look at it.

What I feel it says it says to me is , well actually what I feel Sarah is saying to me is, " Look ! Look at your future , see how big it is. Look how beautiful it is . Look ! "

She is full of joy in her young eyes and her smile. Her young arm stretched out, showing the vast majestic mountains to the future, to encourage me.

I am smiling , I look happy here.

The process of grief has been very, very slow for me. I believe I am part snail as I am hanging on to the past with her tight. I feel like I have hardly gotten out of the intense stage of grief , but I do have days that are better than others. I still, continually, always miss her and long to hold her in my arms.

The lesson here, in my picture, the message I have not grasped or remotely attained so far is this:

Every day ,each one of us, has the choice to look more in the past or more into the future. Since I am a melancholy , romantic fool most of the time...I tend to always keep looking back. Not to discount the value of our lives memories , but I am aware that looking back so much leaves less room for looking at the present day or future.

This post was to encourage anyone , that feels hopeless, depressed , anxious and deep in their own pit,

to look at what my Sarah is showing you,

you have a future,

it is beautiful,

Look !

Blessings,

Gina

Black-RUDE-Berrys & Too Much CLEAVAGE

2011-05-11T09:06:00.002-04:00

I'll begin this entry with a familar scene we are all encountering daily.

Let me take you with me to the post office last week. I go in with a giant box ( inside a beautiful antique still life), heading to Malta ( the box, not me ), and I go stand in the obligatory long line at the main post office. I lean my box against the railing, smile in the direction of the man in front of me, and park myself there until I have to scoot up.

Above is what I see. He is engrossed in his device. Then a young woman walks up behind me, I say , hello...she acknowledges me, but quickly whips out her I-RUDE-phone and starts pressing buttons.

Pretty soon the line is about 20 + people long, and about 1/2 or more are dabbling with these devices.

Black-RUDE-berrys

I-am-RUDE-phone

I-am-a RUDE-pod

I-am-a-RUDE-Smart-phone

etc.

Our entire society is consumed by displaying either how busy they are, how popular they are by the messages they receive, or how much money they have by the price of their electronic devices. I am not Miss Chatty-Kathy out in public, but it has gotten almost rare to have somone acknowledge with a simple hello , or even a nod of the head , when we stand in lines, go out shopping, even walking the neighborhood I see people ,even mothers with strollers...checking their phones and texting !What about talking to your baby about the birds and the trees and the trash truck roaring by? I also am amazed how many parenst have these at the kid's baseball games. Checking whatever the heck is more important than their little Junior playing ball. Conversing with whomever is more important than the real flesh and blood person on both sides of them on the bleachers.

I used to have a Blackberry , I now just have a little regular phone. I do not chat on it in lines anywhere , I do not chat on it while a store clerk rings up something for me. I have considered getting another one for when I go out of town to be able to check my eBay site, but am considering the downside of the cost, and the temptation to spend too much time checking online.

I believe no one has a clue how much of a blessing they can be to someone standing in line next to them, not blah-blah on and on, but for Pete's sake people--we can at least put down, or leave in our purse or pocket, or holster, or car, our personal phones, blackberrys, smart phones, etc., and acknowledge someone's presence in this world !!

Ok...now on to too much cleavage. I bet you thought I was going to tell you a story about a woman with too much cleavage talking on a blackberry.

Wrong, but it has definitely been sighted by someone before I can wager that.

Real Housewifes of LA ' stars', all of these women are 40's-50's

Instead I want to rant a bit about another pervasive social sighting I keep encountering.

Women, young and old, showing WAYYYYY too much cleavage out in public. I am more upset with the older woman than the younger, but both sets need to stop allowing their 'assets' to take center stage in public. I am using the term assets very loosely here, but I have been seeing women in their late 30's-50's crowd , showing enough of their breasts that they look like hookers. I know that is harsh and mean to say, but seriously, there used to be a difference in the way women dressed. Prostitutes were known for wearing very low-cut,very short dresses and very high heels attire. Unfortunately, that is how many young women ( and older women ), dress today to go on a regular date or to a special occasion and sometimes church . A group of beautiful women, heading out the door dressed to be very

hot-sexy ', and not really revealing how beautiful they are at all.

I used to fuss , many times, at my youngest daughter to dress showing less cleavage, not such super short skirts. She used to say that is what is in style.

I tried to explain to her that revealing what she and her friends like to reveal so much only attracts men who want one thing.

And you men know that...but it is now accepted by men that their daughter's , daughter's friends, or wives, dress like this and it appears to amuse and even tittilate many of you.

Protectors of women are few and far between these days.You need to put your foot down and say ' Hold on , what are you wearing, or not wearing , out the door today ?" Parents need to express their disapproval , but I find many parents just accept this. I know it is very hard to do this, all the girls want to be so darned sexy all the time.

Almost through with this rant, so bear with me.

Getting to the older woman that reveal too much, I also don't want to hear the excuse that you are just big-busted and you can't find clothes that cover you up completely.

Malarkey.

Double-malarky.

I saw a beautiful woman, early 40's the other day at the the UPS shipping store, push-up bra, low -cut camisole shirt, leaning over filling out forms...showing any and all men , and women around her everything she wanted to show. I think most of us know that if a woman dresses like this, she wants tons of attention.

And men gladly give it to her, which in turn makes her do it more. I wanted to walk up to her and say, " Do you know you are so gorgeous, but revealing 3/4ths of your bust to all of us , and the entire world, makes you less attractive ? "

Women, mothers , need to set an example and not dress like you are 25 out looking for a man in a bar ( if you are reading this and your are 25 and about to go out to a bar dressed like that, since I am Mom I would love to stop you ). Gee-whiz women , we need to show some difference in what the world is displaying as beautiful, the porn-star/LA -too-much-cleavage-wives/streetwalker look , and dress with a semblence of class. We need to treasure ourselves.

I always told my daughter Sarah, if you are big-busted, you can tell in anything you wear, like a man who is well-built and muscular. You can tell it in anything he wears usually. You don't need to hike it up ( I say that as my 25 year old son heard me ranting about this one day and he told me ALL young women wear padded-push-up bras these days to try to look as busty as possible), and put them out for the world to see all the time.

Whew, I'm exhausted from all this fussing at cleavage.

I think what is so attractive is a man that is NOT carrying a blackberry everywhere and a woman who is dressed with some modesty , not frumpy/fuddy-duddy...just leaving parts of her body covered to show she respects herself , and respects people around her.

Be blessing out there , with your presence ( and put down your electronic device and get a higher cut blouse ) ,
Gina

More VINTAGE Portrait Paintings I Found

2011-03-30T08:17:00.001-04:00

For SALE, 1950's Young Lady Portrait

I have found more vintage original oil paintings/portraits for sale lately. They are one of my very favorite types of art to find and sell. I will show you some I have for sale, and some that are sold , and all of the ones that are FOR SALE, can be found HERE.

I'll just let the pictures do most of the talking . You can imagine who these people were, what they did, who they were important to.

For SALE, 1950's oil of woman in Blue Dress & Pearls in Original Frame

Close-ups, a very soft woman portrait

For SALE, late 1940-50's oil of woman

Prim and proper

For SALE, 1940's oil on canvas of woman in Red Dress, Great art Deco look to this one.

For SALE, 1970-80's oil on board of woman in purple

For SALE, 1960's Woman in Red Dress

( I want to wear this dress somewhere ! )

Close-up

For SALE, 1937 Oil on cardboard of Woman

She looks spunky , doesn't she ?

For SALE, a handsome man portrait , 1940-50's

For SALE, soon, 1952 pastel of Woman

For SALE, soon, 1960's oil on canvas, woman reading

For SALE, soon, , 1950-60's oil on cardboard Impressionist of woman

Possibly for SALE soon, large 1940's Spanish woman, in as is condition.

This large oil has numerous repairs, and craquelure to paint, but she is stunning. She is on my wall right now, unsure if I will try to sell her. That happens to me every now and then with a piece of art. This one has a ' feeling ' about it that matches my heart right now.

It is an advantage with art, I can hang on my walls, what is not selling at the moment.

SOLD, a 1960's iconic beautiful blond woman

I hope you enjoyed looking at these. I will have some garden pictures again here on my blog. Spring is happening fast and furious now. New growth, beauty, it is showing up all over the place. I really am not ready for it at all inside.

Hope your day is good, tell your children , of all ages, that you love them today, smile at them with your eyes,
Gina

VINTAGE Portraits For SALE or SOLD 1930-70's Time Frame

2011-03-12T14:30:00.004-05:00

I have always enjoyed finding vintage portraits to sell , and sometimes to keep. I am going to show you a few I have sold , and mix them with some that I have for sale on my eBay site here.

Here we go...

This guy , 1940's redheaded man was one of the very best art deco portraits I have sold. Yep, he is already SOLD.

Retro , circa 1970's Impressionist oil of woman. On sale now, she does have a bid though. Oil on masonite panel.

1970's geisha , Oriental portrait. SOLD.

1940's Icy cool blonde oil on canvas portrait..SOLD.

Spicy , Impressionist style late 1950's Latino woman portrait...SOLD.

Gorgeous , large 1960's oil on velvet nude portrait...SOLD.

Awesome large oil on canvas by listed French artist, SOLD to collector in France. My favorite painting.

Close-up.

1950's pastel portrait woman for sale.

1940-50's oil on canvas board of blue-eyed man. For sale.

Pouty 1930's oil on Masonite vintage woman portrait, for sale.

1940's oil on canvas , portrait of redheaded woman,by listed artist Lorenz Griffith..for sale.

1940's oil on artist board, flashy cowboy..SOLD.

1950's brunette woman portrait in large straw hat oil on canvas..for SALE.

1940's Spanish women oil on canvas..SOLD.

Young island woman circa 1958 ...for SALE.

Two vintage portraits, island women...the half-nude is very large oil on board 1940's time frame. For SALE.

Awesome 1940's gray-haired lovely woman, oil on canvas...SOLD.

1950's oil on canvas, nude , SOLD.

1960-70's oil on canvas, Italian woman half-nude with very long brown hair..For SALE.

Handsome art Deco 1950's man, SOLD.

1940-50's Expressionism, Impressionist oil on board man portrait..for SALE.

1960-70's woman portrait, oil on canvas..For SALE soon.

1940's oil on heavy Masonite vintage woman's portrait for sale.

Italian Gypsy 1950-60's large woman's portrait for sale.

I used to have an entire wall in my house with portraits of red-haired, really auburn haired , women. From the late 1800's to the 1950's time frame. Since I like them so much personally, vintage portraits, they are fun to buy and sell. If they don't sell, I get to enjoy them on my walls. If your house is decorated in a certain time frame, 1930's-40's , 50's , 60's, etc. Then you can buy portraits from that time frame and decorate with them. Most portrait collectors either collect men's or women's portraits. A few collect both.
Victorian, Art Deco, Retro, Modern...all look really cool with original art from their time periods.

If you have any original vintage or antique paintings ( NOT PRINTS ), that are portraits, and would like to sell them possibly, email me here. I am not really wanting to give appraisals for your artwork, as I am not an art appraiser, so please no emails like that. I would consider if you may want to sell a vintage portrait. Remember, I cannot give you what I sell it for, as I am looking to resale it.

All of my art that is for sale can be found here.

I hope you enjoyed some of these paintings, and I hope your Spring is bright,
Gina

Such BEAUTY---My Oldest Daughter Rachel

2011-02-24T13:31:00.006-05:00

Seconds after the preacher announced they were man and wife--Bliss on her face !

I wanted to write a little something about my firstborn, my oldest daughter Rachel. This is hard, because there is SO much to say about her. I cannot possibly do her justice and write about all of her qualities.
But I will give it a shot.
She is one of the most remarkable people I have ever met, and many people say that about her. She is not just strikingly beautiful, like her little sister was...she is full of deep beauty inside. She is a strong Christian , a very hard working new attorney, graduated at the top of her class in college and in law school. Many awards, much community service, volunteering at school, church and all over the place. Heart of gold, and quick as a whip. This little girl ( she will always be my little girl ), can verbally win just about any argument with anybody, anytime...and equally bless you with acts and gifts and words of encouragement and love.
She is also quite funny, she can snap back at something dumb I just remarked about or something dumb or rude someone else said, and make me smile and laugh almost everytime.

On her wedding day, that is Sarah, to the right on the stairs. Sarah was Rachel's maid-of-honor.
My oldest daughter was married 2 1/2 weeks after her grandmother's ( my mother's), funeral...and her little sister Sarah was killed in the middle of an afternoon in a car accident while we were hours away, and her husband was in Afghanistan....and she was devastated.
She has had some horrible news, in her young life, always at very bad times.
She was away at law school taking exams when I had to call her about my mother's sudden heart attack , and she was at her office when she got the news of her little sister. Again, Rachel's
husband at that time was in Afghanistan, he tried so hard to get back for the funeral---but it took the US Army 4 days to get him here and he missed it.
He did come home and help , and he helped comfort his wife for a few weeks. He is now back in the States safe and sound.

True love

When we got home that evening, the evening of Sarah's death---driving 2 1/2 hours in raging thunderstorms the whole way back--- I was in such bad shape over Sarah--- my husband had to rush me to the emergency room. Everyone thought, including me, that I was having a heart attack. They did all kinds of tests, I was having some bad reactions---and they kept me there until my vital signs looked better. While we watched the clock tick by , and so from 10 PM to 5 AM--the night of Sarah's accident...my husband and I and stayed and mourned in that emergency room. While Rachel, took her little brother home with her, and in her terrible grief and shock---took care of him for us that night.
That is the kind of person she is, helpful, sacrificial, loving.
Responsible.
The next day, with two hours of sleep, we had to be at the funeral home to make the arrangements. Rachel came to be with us and help, as well as my sister and dad. When I was there for many days , because there are lots of arrangements to make, unbelievable stress---Rachel was at our home cleaning, taking in all the gift baskets, flowers, fielding phone calls, being her usual ultra-responsible-loving self.
I appreciate her so , so much.

My last baby and my first baby here.

When she was young--she has always worked, babysat when young, worked in high school part-time, and college part-time, and she worked very hard and always went above and beyond what her employers asked for ( still does ). She was her sorority President, and their chaplain , she is always taking on responsibility.
With all this, she always, and I mean ALWAYS graduated on the honor roll, top of the class, straight A's.
She always said, when I told her how smart she was, between high school and law school---she would say , " I'm not smarter than anyone else, lots of students are smarter than I am, I just work very hard, harder than most. "

Growing up, she was a huge help to me raising the others, as my husband was working constantly---two jobs and not home very much.
She was an awesome big sister.
Tough, fair and loving.

They were my little posse, my first three...as I had my first three within 4 years time.
I loved all of my children very, very much, and of course still do. Probably even more than ever.

Since she is grown, she also enjoys being a marvelous hostess, making meals, baking sweets and desserts, planning gatherings. She decorates her home beautifully and makes everyone feel welcome. She definitely has the gift of hospitality.

Thanksgiving

I am truly amazed, that I gave birth to such a young woman. I often feel she is everything that I always wanted to be.
She is an inspiration to me , every year she is even more.
She is so much more giving than me, more un-selfish than me, more tactful than I am , her plate is always full...yet she will remember to do something special for someone, with her very limited time now ( she works about 50-70+ hours every week ).
She never forgets to hand-write thank you notes for every gift she receives.

I look at her, and my heart fills with joy.
I am so very proud of her, and feel unworthy to have had a part in her creation. That may sound nutty, but I feel that in part for all my children---how blessed can a woman be to bring such life into this world ?
Such beauty she has !

I did write on My daughter/My Mirror about me and Sarah http://antique-art-garden.blogspot.com/p/my-daughter-my-mirror.html---how we were alike and different. I know that about me and Rachel as well, as she is the first '
' daughter -mirror' I had, and I guess one of the most notable qualities that we share---is our tenacity and our assertiveness. Secondly would be our observant nature , thirdly our desire to give gifts to those we love, and overall our Christian faith.
Her faith, by the way, has always been stronger than mine. A fact I am also very proud of.

So , just a short, entry about my firstborn , I hope you enjoyed my words about her. I do not get to see her as much as I would like, but that is how it should be. She is married, has her job, and when she can ---then we see each other.

She is one of my loves.

Hope your day is good, productive and touched with love and caring,

Gina

WASTING Your Days

2011-02-16T23:08:00.000-05:00

Photo of Sarah taken by Ash Little Photography 2009

My days are going by slowly and quickly,all at once. Before I know it. I have had many things happen, most of what I won't go into. I would say this process of a mother's grief is unrelenting, not abating much, and draining. I see many young women, my Sarah's age, since I live in a University town,everywhere. All alive, all running about, all oblivious of the fragile nature of their lives.

I see Spring starting to arrive, lots of birds everywhere, all over the ground, all in the trees. Chirping, flying about. My brain still cannot comprehend how beautiful Spring is allowed to arrive.

How God keeps everything moving, growing...when some people's hearts are still hibernating. In self-protected mode. I am not the only grieving parent in this world, everyday you can read about children, young and older children...dying. When I read an obituary of a young person, my heart and soul know exactly what that parent is feeling. The shock, the pain, the mind-numbing , the anger, the confusion. The weight of heavy grief.

Another photo of Sarah by Ash Little Photography

The photos I show of Sarah above, are some that she had taken while she was posing for some sunglasses ad locally. A moment of my beautiful daughter's life, a few seconds, caught on film. The concept of time , and how it is our most precious commodity for productivity in life...ALL of our most precious resource, and most of us waste it , is again a topic I want to write about. Wasting time.

I know I have, I know I do.

I can waste it online, I can waste time when I am talking to someone I love and care about by rushing them through a story or conversation. I can waste it on reminiscing on past regrets , past mistakes, lost opportunities to show love.

That last one really gets to me.

I have been working again( and not 100 % yet ) on making a daily list, setting some goals, not allowing my hours to disappear as in thin air.

Time is one thing , that you can never , EVER ,get back. Once it is used, for productive pursuits, or mind-numbing, simply trite , superficial or crass pursuits---either way, it is gone forever.

Sarah again, by Ash Little Photography

How do you waste time ?

Internet overuse

TV Addiction

Facebook, Twitter, My Space

Blogs

Sleeping too much

Rushing from place to place

Being irritable

eBay surfing

Excessive shopping

Excessive alcohol usuage

Excessive eating

Smoking

Working too much

I could keep naming activities and pastimes that devour our time. After our tragedy with Sarah , time...and how I use it, and mis-used it, and still misuse it , haunts my mind. Makes me pause and consider more ,

every hour of my day.

I know that I need to use it to show love, in more unselfish , non-rushing ways. To give my full attention, not half of it, to those that I care about.

To have more patience with everyone , especially if they really bug me.

Many times, we only get one chance---in time---to demonstrate kindness , caring and love.

If anyone out there has the opportunity to get more than one chance, take it.

Make sure the person that you care about knows how much you care. How valuable they are to you.

Step away from what you waste time and energy on, and we all know what those are for each of us,

and spend it on something, somebody that you truly care about.

Consider the hours of your days and nights.

be a blessing,

Gina

SMART Tips to HELP You Sell on eBay---Beginner & Advanced

2011-02-02T15:48:00.010-05:00

I have had more than a few people ask me how to sell on eBay...so I thought it may help a few of you to know some basic tips and pointers I have learned over the years. I will have a small disclaimer, that I am not some big mega-producing seller that makes gobs of money selling items I bought for nothing somewhere, online.

I am simply a woman who loves art and antiques, and enjoys ' sharing ' what I find in hopes that it sells.

There ya go---

Antique-ART-Nouveau-ROMANTIC-NYMPH-Lady-w-FLOWERS

I am already thinking this may have to be done in two parts,as I do have a lot to tell you...but let me try to do it in one entry.

Cross your fingers for me.

To begin with, you have to sign on to be a member of eBay. To sell or buy. Now to sell---you have to use a credit card to ' back-up ' your selling fees , so you will need one to sell on eBay. The link to sign up as a member ( which means nothing much unless you buy or sell...you can just peruse the site if you want ), click here.

Alright, now that you are signed up, then you have to go to SELL, at the top of the page or at the top of your MY eBay page, you will see Selling...click here .

That links you to a page that goes on and on, but is fairly simple, about how to sell, with various resources. What I will do here, is give you some seasoned tips and occasional mini-rants about what sellers should do or not do to sell their merchandise.

PICTURES

Probably No. 1 on my list, but wording would also be very close...is take some DECENT honest pictures of your merchandise. I am not a photography expert, but I try to take pictures that show my items from all angles, front and back, warts and all. Please do not list an item with only one or two pictures. It is a dis-service to your sales, and your future customers. as shown above, take front , back, and even side shots of your items, and any close-ups of tags or markings. Too many sellers list items with 1 picture , but that limits your buyers and puts you at a disadvantage with sellers who know the draw it is to add more photos. There are a few picture services, like INKFROG or Auctivia, that help you download your pictures AND list your items at the same time. You can also do this straight through eBay picture services. You will not pay extra( for over 12 or supersize ), on eBay for your pictures . I just have more options when I list with my server. So super-size, extra pictures ( up to 16 per listing ), all for one price a month. I believe I pay Inkfrog 9.95 a month for the basic service. eBay now has free pictures, up to 12 , and it is very easy to list straight from there. I just like how I can edit my pictures, supersize , and use hundreds of different templates on Inkfrog. After you download your pictures, always check out your listing on eBay to make sure they are not too dark and fuzzy.I see SO many listings with dark, tiny, fuzzy pictures. Go practice on a vase or something at home, in different lighting to try to train yourself , then look at your pictures and judge whether they portray the vase how it really looks.

WORDING

Here is another place sellers can be their own worst enemy , how they use words in their titles, descriptions, and in their seller policies ( returns, shipping, etc. )

Title

Subtitle ($0.50)

Condition

Your title, which has limited space to write...is your MOST important draw besides your pictures. So if you are selling a painting , do NOT write ' Old painting ', in the title by itself. Instead write what the painting or print has in it. Like :

Vintage Painting w/ Mountains & River Landscape

Mountains, river, and landscape, as well as painting, are all keywords/HTML tags that help buyers find your merchandise when you list. Buyers type in things like, painting of river, or just river...or they may type in Mountains...in that case your painting will show up in search results ( and usually about 1000 more or so ), but at least yours shows up too. The buyer has to narrow down their options to the left of a search by original, medium, date, signed, etc. So make sure you check if something is original ( if you do not know, there is an unknown category ), or oil or watercolor. When you leave it blank, it makes it look like you don't know what you are selling, are lazy and haven't filled it out , or you are forgetful. Every category has item specifics to check, so make sure you do so on each listing to the best of your knowledge.

Vintage ITALIAN Four Seasons Cupids or Putti SET

Item condition:

--Good

Time left:

5d 21h (Feb 08, 201109:57:59 PST)

Bid history:

Starting bid:

US $57.00

Your max bid:

US $

Place bidPlace bid

(Enter US $57.00 or more)

Shipping:

$14.12 Standard Shipping

Delivery:

Estimated between Thu. Feb. 10 and Wed. Feb. 16

Returns:

No Returns Accepted

Let's say you have a figurine/statue you want to sell, do not write white statue old in the title. If it is old, or new, you can write that..but look at it carefully for markings and decorations. Maybe it has flowers on it, or is made by the Hallmark company. Maybe it has a mark from the country, like the Italian cupid above. Write that in your title ( and of course in your description), as EACH word may be a keyword that someone types in to find a treasure or collectible.
Another thing you need to remember is to make your type larger and bold so your buyers can read you descriptions.

So not like this :

Victorian painting , very pretty, old and in as is condition.

Instead, do this :

Victorian painting on canvas. Pretty colors of pink and yellow with ewer and bird. It measures 20 x 26 ins. approx. I do not see a signature. There are a few scratches to surface and a tear at the bottom about 2 ins. long.Any questions, email me through ask a seller link.

Much easier to read, and more descriptive. If you have any history behind the item you want to sell, like it was your great-aunt's or your mother's..then write that in. If you know nothing about the item, write that in and simply describe it. make sure you write what color or colors it is, what size or the dimensions of your item, how old you think or know it may be. When you write in your titles and descriptions, I want to dissuade you, and this is a personal mini-rant so bear with me, to NOT use these words or abbreviations:

WOW

OMG

2Die4

The BEST

LOL

or any computer smiley's or even any computer :) or :(

Those end up making your listing look less professional and less authentic. What I mean by that is, not EVERY item you list can be 2Die4 or The BEST, also most online sales experts say to never use computer ' cuties' abbreviations in your descriptions or emails with your customers.

Also , I would suggest NOT writing your shipping , payment terms, handling procedures, return policy, etc. ad nauseum , too wordy, and on and on and on and on at the bottom of your listings. I think this is a big problem for sellers, like this one:

( I made this one up below, but I have seen MUCH worse on eBay, often three times this long )

No returns accepted. If there is a big problem with your item, I may accept a return but you pay return shipping and all my seller fees. I ship only on Mon. and Wednesdays as I have two small children and have to take care of them everyday. I will try to repsond to your questions once a week , if I am not taking my uncle to the doctor which is usually on Tuesday mornings.

I will ship your item USPS Priority mail or Parcel Post. Please leave me feedback as ebay has created a new policy that leaves us sellers up the creek without a paddle if you do not leave me feedback, and I need 5 stars to get my eBay discount.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I am just one person here, I do my best, but buyers have tried to rip-me off by not paying for items, or leaving me unwarranted negative feedback as the postal service was late with their package.

If you can't pay for this item, DO NOT BID !!!!!!!!!!

I will leave you negative feedback and putt you on my blocked bidder list and pass your bidder name to other dealers to not sell to you !!!!!!!!!!

I take this business very seriously, and do not have time for time-wasters or plain mean people. If you are crabby, do NOT bid on my item, if you have just lost your job, do NOT bid on my stuff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I strive for 5 star service and work hard to find this stuff and put it on eBay to try to make ends meet for my family.

Remember: I will NOT put up with rude buyers who ask DUMB, mean questions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, if you need an answer in 1 day about an item for sale, I ONLY answer emails ONCE a week, period !!!!!!!!!

I care for each and every one of my really good buyers and bend over backwards to accommodate them, please remember that when you leave me feedback and if your item is late because of the postal service.

I am an honest , sincere person just trying to bring money in for my family.

NO RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you

An aside...

I don't want anyone to think I am picking on someone selling from home with small children, that was me, IS me, but just try not to go on and on about your life and why it is so hard to sell, or ship, or respond to emails promptly in your listings. You want to instill confidence in your buyers about purchasing from you.

Just make it simple, either no returns or return in 5 day time , and make it on your ask a seller item page and remember to KISS. ( Keep it Simple Stupid). Also , please use spell-check, and even double-check your listings later for proper grammar and spelling.
If you open a small eBay store, you can make a page longer about why you sell or collect, but just watch it doesn't make you sound nutty, or goofy...unless you want that. I am amazed, and I mean amazed at the number of sellers who have the longest, goofiest, nuttiness, rudest selling policies on their listings. It looks like a " Hi, I am psycho, buy from me anyway, " advertisement.

Communication w/ buyers

I think this is another very important and overlooked necessity for selling online. I would say, if you are one of those people who only check your email ( or get online ) once or twice a week, then do NOT sell online. Successful selling online requires that you log on EVERY day, unless you are on vacation or have no items listed, you need to be able to answer questions in a day's time or less. I buy and sell on eBay, and I sometimes have a week or more go by before the seller responds. Not because they were out of town ( you can use your vacation hold in a store ), but because the seller was slack or lazy. I have never bought an item from a seller that took way too long to respond to a question or offer.

It is key, so remember to stay on top of your buyer's questions, and also if you sell to them, do this, EVERY TIME:

1. Send email thanking them for the purchase, and then one thanking them for the payment.

2. Send an email when you ship with tracking number, if you have one, or simply how you shipped. Thank them again for the purchase.

3. You may send a third email in a week or more, asking if they received their item, and you would appreciate exchanging feedback.

I would say only about 1/2 of sellers ever do this. Communication shows the buyer you care, appreciate them, and are a conscientious seller.

Antique FANCY Victorian Cherub & Cupids MIRROR

FEEDBACK

Feedback is a necessary part of eBay, and one we sellers are annoyed with in the past year+, as eBay will allow a dead-beat buyer to not receive negative feedback, but a seller to receive it for many reasons. eBay encourages sellers to leave feedback for buyers BEFORE they even receive their item. I do not do that, I wait until I know they have their item before I leave feedback. Buyers have also used negative feedback to ' bully ' or ' blackmail' sellers into discounts after the sale or fear of the negative feedback on their profile page. There are many sellers who deserve negative feedback , no communication and no shipping of the items, merchandise that is not the quality or brand they listed, etc.

But I have also seen good sellers wait over a month or more to leave buyers feedback all at once. That is a poor seller policy, as a good buyer appreciates feedback and it makes them want to buy more from you.

I would encourage you to leave feedback for your buyers the SAME day they leave it for you. If you don't, they feel like you never cared about the them, simply the money you received from them.

Packing

This is basic common sense, but since I have bought for years on eBay and received many items very poorly packaged, I will tell you to go buy yourself some bubble-wrap, and find some sturdy boxes and extra cardboard to ship your items.
Also , if you ship cloth items, clothing, tapestries, linens, etc. Place them in plastic bags FIRST, tied tight, before you package, in case it is raining anywhere in transit and goes straight through your envelope or package. If it is an expensive linen item, DO NOT ship it in a large , simple---RIP-PABLE --envelope. Package it in a small box, wrapped in plastic first.
Also , if you are a heavy smoker, or live with a heavy smoker, you will need to keep your merchandise either in a separate home or business , as no one, even smokers themselves , want to receive items that smell like cigarettes or cigars. Especially cloth or linen items. Paintings can also pick up these odors, a big problem for buyers.
I don't smoke, and no one in my household does, so I am fortunate I don't have that dilemma.

SHIPPING

Once you sell your item ,ship it soon, like in 1 to 2 business days. Some dealers have 3-5 business days, especially some big sellers of new merchandise. But the average person, trying to sell some items, or a seller who sells 2-10 items a week, you need to get then shipped right away. No excuses, no forgetting, no putting it off. This will make a big impact on your customer if they get their item sooner than much later. I usually ship within 1 business day of the sale. If you have a full-time job, and you try to sell eBay on the side, you may not be successful if you ship only once a week, and answer emails late because of your job. I know some sellers do this , but it is difficult to stay on top of your transactions in a timely manner.

ITEMS to NOT TRY to SELL ONLINE

Here is a short list, of items that are not worth the time or effort or expense of selling on line:

Chipped china sets

Chipped glassware

torn or stained used clothing

any new item that someone could buy cheaper at a store

very inexpensive common items, like florist bud vases or planters

Any artwork or hand-made craft that is your own that is not quite good enough for resale ( checkout your competition on eBay to see )

Used cosmetics or toiletries

Chipped glassware and china is not worth very much, unless it is over a 100 years old, and only slightly chipped and you have the piece to repair it still to include in the sale.

The other selling tip is to create your ABOUT ME Page.

On that , it will be linked to with an icon next to your seller or buyer name ( and choose a good one before you start, or you can change it to a good one that is relevant to you or what you sell. )

Member id antique-art-garden ( Feedback Score Of 2007)

100% Positive feedback

Consistently receives highest buyers' ratings
Ships items quickly
Has earned a track record of excellent service

Save this seller

See other items from this seller

Visit store: Antique ART Garden

That way you can personalize yourself, and make customers know something about you and why you sell.

This guide was too long for my eBay guides ( per eBay's rules ), but I have other guides about artwork and Charleston, South Carolina here , if any are helpful to you, please vote YES , at the bottom of the guide. Thanks much,

Gina
AntiqueARTGarden

The HANDSOME Man in the Black TURTLENECK

2011-01-18T13:00:00.005-05:00

Here is one of those random blog entries, that I am unsure what my point will be...but the attractive man who I saw in a black turtleneck, now months ago...still stays with me. And no, not for the reason some of you may think...it was more than a interesting image. Let me start from the beginning. It was a cold , dark evening...I decided I wanted a little restaurant 's Greek chicken and Greek yummy potatoes and salad for dinner. I don't go to this neighborhood restaurant more than maybe once a month or so, if that...as each dinner costs almost 11.00, and I'm fairly thrifty about take-out . I could make a chicken and potato dinner for less than 22.00...BUT...I am in love with these little , chubby roasted potatoes they make. Plus , they also make the most delectable, mouth-watering hand-size chocolate-chip-pecan-oatmeal cookies every night. They look sort of like these...but bigger.

Super Yummy.

Anyway, I drove down in the dark, parked my car....got out and crossed over the small parking area in the front. I had on my workout clothes again ( track suit ). I am going to make another disclaimer here, in so many of my posts , I am wearing a tracksuit/workout clothes. I am fortunate , since I work out of my home, to be able to wear these...but I do wear dresses to church and jeans to go antique shopping. Just so you know I am capable of wearing something else. Stay with me, there is a reason for that info. I cross in front of a medium sized sport car or luxury car or some type of pricey car , pass through the headlights...and notice an attractive man and his date pulling up to eat.
Both are dressed nice, unlike me...and I scoot in and go to the small front counter to pick up my food...plus my cookie.

Bear in mind, this restaurant is very small, the little kitchen is the size of a small room 8 x 10 ft. at most. The owner is one of the cooks, he is always back there, usually fussing at the other cook he has hired. I walk up to the little front counter, and see my dinners ready to go, ask her to make sure she has my cookie ( 3rd disclaimer now, I refuse to buy my husband these cookies anymore as he does not appreciate them...they cost 1.75 each, he swallows them in two bites, and does not even taste them. He also ate mine and his cookie that I brought back, even before his dinner one time...so I have banned him from receiving these at all. Don't think I'm mean, I make him a batch of cookies for himself and our son on those nights I get my one cookie.)
That was way too long ,sorry. I know you are waiting for the entrance of the handsome man and his date. Well here they come...both come through the door, directly to my right, I turn and mildly smile...at them both. The woman, I do not know if it was his date, his wife or what. She is petite and blond, in her 50's, attractive. She looks me up and down, and tries to decide if I am any competition. Every woman knows that look, almost all women have given that look. I smile vaguely inside, as I am zippo competition , the way I am dressed. I glance away, and turn back to the squabbling cooks and waitresses. I hear another waitress seat them in a room out of my sight.

Then out of the blue, the man reappears in front of me again, really to the side of me, and let me describe him to you. This guy is big, broad shoulders , probably 6'3 or so. Dark hair, almost black, he has a black turtleneck on and expensive slacks...he is very well groomed , belt perfect, shoes shined. He appears well-off financially. I would say he was in his 50's...and so full of himself he almost busted down the walls of the small restaurant with his bravado.

No, he did not look like Paul Newman, just had to throw this picture in.

The handsome man walks up, gets the waitresses attention, points to the giant chocolate-chip- pecan-oatmeal cookies...waves his arm at them and says,
" They're ALL sold. ", with a smile.
The waitress looks at him, looks at the bakery case, sees about 10 or 15 GIANT cookies in there, and says, " All of them ? You want all of them ?"
He puffs up, loudly proclaims, " Every single one. " Smiles to himself, and walks back to his date.
I am sure he thought he impressed both of us standing there, she looks at me, I look at her...and I say, " He better be glad I already got mine in my to-go bag...because I would have taken him down ,( American slang for fought him ) for one of those if I just walked in and he said that. "
She looked at me and laughed , and I gathered my two dinners and one lone cookie...walked out ...I did not glance at the man in the black turtleneck sweater that I passed.
He thought we all thought he was cool, or funny or something. I'll tell you what I did think. I thought this man was greedy , greed personified. He took all those homemade , giant , luscious cookies for himself...and the other patrons that come in later that evening won't have a chance to get one.
I was thinking how our society has people like this, arrogant and greedy. People unconcerned about only taking their fair share of whatever.
Of course I'm greedy with my one cookie, he is with his fifteen.
Is there a sliding scale for greed ? Me on one end, him on the other end...wayyy on the other end. Or maybe we are closer than I think.

Enjoy your day , go eat a cookie somewhere,
Gina

SNOW Hats in my GARDEN in South Carolina

2011-01-10T16:27:00.001-05:00

We have had the absolute oddest weather in South Carolina this winter. This is our second snow fall in 3 weeks. You have to understand that most of South Carolina doesn't get snow for 10 years or more. I am not a big snow fan , but my little boy goes crazy with happiness and tried to get outside at 8 AM this morning. I held him off a short bit, but later we dressed and went outside to get some pictures.

It is sort of cloudy, and the only light is reflected off the snow. I looked around my garden, and noticed all the ' hats ' my statues had put on. Let me show you...

Here is my lady face on my tree, with her fluffy frou-frou hat on...

She looks very Celtic Northern to me here.

My little reading angel has a snow shawl on with her hat.

My two cherubs, my favorite statue , has the cutest hats on.

My chairs covered with snow upholstery.

I do not own snow boots, only rain boots, and my feet are already getting too cold after about 5 mins. out here. I have my husband's gigantic coat on that the hood keeps falling over my face and covering my eyes. Hard to take pictures , but I prevailed with a few.

That black large spot in the snow is Maxine ready for a walk.

My car with a new snow car cover.

Our sweet spaz Maxine has developed a torn ACL. Cost to fix, over 3000.00. The vet thinks she developed it from either her intense baseball antics ( she likes to play short-stop ), or spinning. We found out it is very prevalent with labs. My main goal with her right now is to not let her spin, very short walks, and no jumping in the truck .

She is my biggest baby.

There she goes. I keep telling her to stop, somebody get the leash form this cowgirl dog.

She's too happy most times.

My little boy and me . I can tell you that it is still difficult to smile for me. It will be 6 months since my daughter's death in a few days. I still expect to hear my phone buzz with a text from her, I still look for her in a car that looks like hers, I still look outside, hoping she will drive up. I still hope she will come to my front door. I do not feel that 6 months has passed, it feels like only a month has passed since the accident. I know that grief can be like this.

I ache to see her and hold her.

Little snow hat on my garden of good and evil girl statue.

My snow globe has a nice hat.

My two twin pups out front have snow hats, and are carrying snow in their baskets.

All those footprints are from our little boy going back and forth across the street to play and have snowball fights with his friend .

Mis-behaving and rowdy above.

Let me show you my beautiful oldest daughter and her husband who came by to see us. They moved about a block and a half from us , and we love to see them, though they are a busy young couple.

Look how happy they are, eyes shining.

Full of young love.

Okay, last picture, we finally got Maxine back inside, and settled her down with a rawhide dog bone.

Warm and cozy and calmer. True love here too , a dog and her bone.

Stay warm , sleep well,

Gina