Skateboarding Rocks!

My grandson and some of his friends like to practice their skateboard manuevers and have me take pictures, so I can 'record' their progress. I took this last batch back in August. I promised them some copies so I made this cool montage for them.

A Wacky Halloween

This is an original piece of artwork that I created for my 10 year old grandson for Halloween. He loves it and had fun finding all the different creatures and ghosts in it, etc.
Have a Wacky Fun Halloween, if you have kids or grandkids to share it with, that makes it even better!

Finding Beauty Anywhere

I found this growing outside the back door. It could have been the front door or the side door or anyone's else's door.
It could have been on the side of the road, in a field, in the woods or down by the river. The point is, you can find beauty anywhere, you just have to see it!

Common chicory, which is also called succory is a wild herb with lavender and occasional white flowers. Chicory is also known by a few other names as - blue sailors, endive, blue dandelion and coffee weed. This perennial herb is native to England, but is now naturalized throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Chicory is mainly cultivated for the chicory leaves and chicory roots. Despite the chicory root side effects, their usage is immensely popular as a substitute for coffee for ages, especially in England and Mediterranean countries.

Chicory Root Uses
Both chicory roots and leaves are predominantly used for culinary purposes. Chicory leaves are used as vegetables for salads and various other food recipes. Chicory roots are first roasted, then ground and then brewed to use as a substitute for coffee beans. While cultivation, chicory roots are specially treated during fall and winter , in order to produce two different types of chicory leaves, namely 'Barbe de capucin' and 'French endive' (witloof). Boiled chicory roots are consumed with butter while roasted chicory roots are used for increasing bitterness of tea and coffee. Chicory roots and seeds are also used as a sedative and it is said to be a probiotic. They also provide relief from a few medical conditions like constipation, cancer, diarrhea, cardiovascular diseases, loss of appetite, etc. There are not too many proven chicory root extract side effects, that are irreversible.
Above info from link below.
Buzzle.com

Natural Graffiti

What the heck is natural graffiti? It is a term I coined for natural objects used and applied as graffiti. I am working on a series of these right now. These are done in a style known as trompe l'oeil (tromp' low-ee), or "tricking the eye" because they appear to be applied on a given surface. I will eventually spray paint one on a similar brick wall, because I want some natural graffiti around. It would add a nice touch to a patio or garden.

The marvels of nature.

Mother Nature always has something 'marvelous' for us to experience with one or more of our senses. All we have to do is be there to receive her gifts and enjoy!
This sunset shot was taken while on a visit to Catawba Island a few years ago.

Summer

Tomorrow is The Summer Solstice so summer is upon us. Now is as good a time as any to update my blog. I have been so busy doing other internet stuff that my blog needed some attention. Here is a good summery photo that I 'painted' in photoshop.
"Getting Ready For The Race" was taken at an Art Festival in 2007 on Whiskey Island.

Trilogy: Three Yellowish Orange Petaled Flowers

I'm looking at these pretty blooms and wishing it was already spring.....
I'm absolutely tired of being cold, shoveling snow and cleaning it off of my car.
Snow is pretty when it's newly fallen.....then it gets dirty and yucky......it's fun to ski on but if you have no time to go skiing then it's no good either.....therefore....winter be gone!

Pet Portraits

If you are an animal lover, celebrate this new year by having a photo taken of them.
We love our pets, so it stands to reason that we would probably love to have a portrait of our furry friend(s). After all they become part of our family! I love animals and I love taking pictures of them, so if you are looking for a photo of your dog, cat, bird, hamster, horse, lizard, etc. give me a call. Here is a recent portrait I took of a Papillon named Tessa, she is the cutest little thing!