Hi Everyone, I'm Back

It was so good to see my family and to spend some time back in the UK despite the rain.  The days seemed to fly by and last night my husband and I found ourselves on the plane back home.  Here are just a couple of images from the beginning of my trip while I play catch up . . . .

This statue of King Alfred The Great is a prominent figure in the small market town Wantage (Oxfordshire) where I grew up.  I know I'm home when I venture into the square and see him there.

The English countryside has a way of making me smile.

My mum and I had a stroll around some bluebell woods.  I haven't seen bluebells in years and it was a truly magical experience.

This is our local church.  My fathers funeral service was held here which always gives me cause to reflect.

It's crazy busy here right now, especially as we're suffering with jet lag.  Still there's no time for the wicked . . .  we're off to pick up Ravyn, our new black lab pup this morning.  It's going to be a little crazy here for a while but I'll be back soon with more photos and some exciting news to share with you.  Hope you're all doing great.

Texture Tuesday & Vacation

I had a hard time choosing between these two textured images this week, which do you prefer?

"As you believe, so you become"

Unknown

The week went by super fast and this evening I will be on a plane flying out to the UK.  I get super stressed and am a terrible traveller but I am excited to see my family. 

I'll have internet access while I'm away, so hope to check into blogland when I can, but it's unlikely that I will be posting anything until I return home.  Don't worry, I am taking my camera gear with me so I'll be back here in three weeks to bore you with my holiday snapshots.

Have fun while I'm gone, I'll miss you guys.

Linking up with Kim for this weeks' Texture Tuesday.

Meet Ravyn

This weekend my husband and I went to pick out our little girl, Ravyn. She's just 5 weeks old right now so we'll be picking her up in three weeks. She's the cutest thing ever and I didn't want to let her go. We're just hoping that our cats feel the same way about her as we do.

Think I'm just about there with packing for my trip to the UK. I'm taking all my camera equipment this time so I don't have the extra space that I usually do with a carry on suitcase. All I can say is thank goodness I'm staying with my mum and have access to a washing machine.

The Weight Of The World

Looking down at her hands she marvelled at the whole world resting there.  Her body just couldn't contain the joy she felt and she began to dance.  Moving across the floor with the weightlessness of a feather, her smile shone bright and the room echoed with her laughter.

She didn't see it, the obstacle lying just ahead.  As she tripped and stumbled she observed her movements like a film in slow motion.  Unable to right herself she felt the world slipping . . . slipping . . . slipping from her hands until suddenly the weight of it landed squarely upon her shoulders.

Her knees began to buckle and the weightlessness she'd experienced just moments earlier gave way to the most incredible pressure.  The world was lodged firmly and no matter how hard she tried she just didn't have the strength to move it.  Just when she thought the pressure would consume her she felt his arm slip around her waist . . . . . holding her, holding the world.  With the weight shared everything seemed bareable again.

Downy Woodpecker

The downy woodpeckers just LOVE the suet that I put outside.

They don't even mind sharing with their feathered friends.

This image fascinated me . . . have you ever seen their tongues before?  How incredible is that?

I love watching how they position themselves . . .

. . . really getting in there . . .

. . . until they break off a bite sized piece to snack on.

New Mixed Media Painting - Footprints

Footprints

14"x11" Textured Mixed Media Art Painting

Going Home

It's weird to think that in just one week I will be travelling to the UK.  I'm off to visit my family for three weeks and I can't wait.  Saying that I feel completely unprepared.  My vacation seemed a long way off and suddenly here I am with a week to go feeling completely stressed out.  I just have to tell myself that whatever doesn't get done just doesn't get done and be ok with that.

On a sad note, my uncle suffered a severe stroke and passed away last week.  My heart breaks for my aunt and cousins as, having lost my own father, I know just how hard this must be for them.  I'm glad that his funeral is the day after I arrive so that I can be there in person to give them all great big hugs.

It's been two years since I was last home.  It will be good to visit some of my favorite places and spend time with my family, I miss not being able to see them often.

I guess I should step away from the computer and dig out my suitcase.  I've heard it's cold and raining there right now so I need to figure out what clothes to pack.  Let the count down begin.

Texture Tuesday - Soft

How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon the bank.

Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night

Become the touches of sweet harmony.

William Shakespeare

Linking up with Kim for this weeks' Texture Tuesday.

Photo Heart Connection: March

 

Good things die all the time,
God bless your heart, vengeance is mine.
"Kiss me like you mean goodbye," said the spider to the fly.
When all those times you thought that you were wrong, you were right.

The Paper Chase

Linking up with Kat for this months' Photo Heart Connection.