Thankful For Great Neighbors

I should have paid more attention to the news and weather reports but there I was in my own little world completely obvlious to just how bad the blizzard was going to be here in Virginia. 

I knew we were going to have snow, I just had no idea there would be 2ft of the stuff.

As we live down a 3/4 of a mile private dirt road that doesn't get plowed my husband decided to try and lay down some tracks while the snow was still coming down.  It took a bit of navigating but he was able to go to the end of the road and back three times before the storm got so bad that he had to call it day.  Just as he was pulling back into our driveway his truck lost all traction and he slid sideways stopping just inches away from our neighbors brick pillars. 

It was stuck pretty good so he had to abandon it for the night and then we had the not so fun task of trying to dig it out the following morning.  Nothing seemed to be working, the tires kept spinning and despite putting down gravel, aluminium tracks and wood we just couldn't get the tires to bite.

Then came the back breaking task of trying to shovel some tracks in the snow so that I could get my Ford Escape down the driveway in an attempt to pull him out.

After several hours of shovelling and barely even making it halfway down the driveway one of our neighbors came to our rescue and was able to pull the truck out and back onto our driveway.  He also had a truck stuck in a ditch so we were able to return the favor and pull him out too.

It really does make you thankful for your neighbors at times like these.

I'd wished for a White Christmas, but next time I'm going to make sure I wish for a specific amount say like 4 inches not 22!

Stay Warm & Safe Everyone

Scratchboard Art - Amazing Work By Judy Blake

I just had to share with you the wonderful work created by Judy Blake, a scratchboard artist on Etsy.

Gorilla

This beautiful print is a personal favorite of mine and is prominently displayed in my home.  Judy's attention to detail is simply stunning and her work is even more incredible in person than online.

Moose

Other favorites of mine include the moose and wolf prints.

Wolf

Until I came across Judy's work I had no idea what scratchboard even meant.  I learnt that it is an etching process where a board is covered in layer of white clay, sprayed with black in and then scratched with different tools to create the thousands of scratches required to create her subject matter.

If you've not experienced scratchboard art before, be sure to check it out.  It's truly an art form.

Judy's work can also be found on her own website at http://www.judyblakeart.com/.

Fly Me To The Moon

I had such a lovely response to my bird ornaments that I was inspired to create a few more to add to the selection.

Red Bird

Turquoise Bird

Orange Bird

Birds represent so many things.  For me it's freedom and taking flight.

I hope they make you smile.