Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wishcast Wednesday

Wishcast Wednesday!!

Jamie asked us What treat do you wish for????

I wish to see my sons and their children a trip to a Theme Park with my grandchildren. My family is so scattered out the only time we all get together is Christmas and because of some inlaw problems my sons have not been seeing each other at all. So if I could have anything in the world I wanted, it would be one glorious day to
share with my sons and their children and everyone had a really good time!! I would especially like to go to the Dolly Pardon Theme Park in the Smokey Mountains because I love mountains and theme parks! Fun for the kids and for Grandma.




Toot, Toot, All Aboard!!!!


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Deborah Award


this one was created by Ces was given to me by Sarah. This is what Ces says about the award:

"So today I am planting another tree. The Quercus shumardii or Shumard Oak. It is a handsome large tree with straight axis and broad, rounded open crown. It withstands strong hurricane winds, extreme heat, is tall and straight and just plain beautiful. It fits it's honoree, my dearest sister friend Deborah, poet, friend, not just a mother but a soldier's mother too. Oh, the sleepless nights, the anxiety and worries, yet she is perpetually pleasant and cheerful, kind and gentle, diplomatic and tactful. She exudes courage, hope and faith. To her son Pfc. Ryan and his fellow soldiers: I am grateful to you for making it possible for me to blog freely, sleep soundly and speak openly. Thank you! I stand by your mother and hold her hand as she awaits your safe return home.

Deborah, the honor is mine. You have enriched my life in such a short period of time. You inspire me and encourage me. Thank you very much!

I have more trees to plant but rest assured those who have virtual trees and acorns planted and distributed in their honor have one common virtue, they are loyal friends regardless of race, creed, political affiliations and geography. Here, I honor womanhood and friendship and there is nothing more wondrous a blessing for anyone than for a friend who came and never left your side. Someone like Deborah."

I have those kind of friends, as different as all the trees in my yard, oaks, redbuds, dogwoods, a sycamore. All beautiful and strong that grace my property with their different shapes and sizes, just like my friends who add to my life in different ways, but whom all touch my heart and give me Hope, Courage and Faith.

Back to you Sarah!! Everyday you are there to greet me, faithful you are. A Ray of sunshine when I am down. Your love of life is inspiring.

Heather
you know me so well (and love me anyway) and you have such aspecial place in my heart. You have Hope, Courage and Faith! You are stronger then you know!

Jennifer
for two years now you have inspired me to grow and learn new things and think outside the box with your amazing courage and faith and your endless creativity.

There are many more ladies I have met online that inspire me but I just don't have time to list them all.


Friday, October 23, 2009

The Trick or Treaters Are Coming!!!!

Byrum Art "Spooky Lane" Painting on Ebay now!!!


Also on Ebay is our first Christmas/Yule offering!

We will be selling many designs this year, original paintings, cards, and ornaments!!!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Welcome to our Party! Where witches abound!



Welcome, Welcome to our Witchy Place!!!


Where witches abound in the night
spinning spells and conjuring potions
to our delight
Some say they are ugly, some believe they are scary,
We think they are magical
beautiful and sparkle
as they fly through the night
no our witches aren't ugly at all
You'll see they are beautiful under a full moon!



If you prefer a mixture of fright then visit our friend Sarah
and A Fanciful Twist before you say Goodnight!!!



Friday, October 16, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wish Cast Wednesday

Wishcast Wednesday

Dear Jamie has offered us a challenge again today.. "What do we wish to let go of?"

I always go to Sarah's blog first to see what she has written. We always seem somehow to be on the same page and she has become such a dear friend. I guess because we have so much in common. So as usual I could relate to her answer. Both Ron and I push ourselves too hard. So I think I would answer that question with the answer "I would like to let go of the need to work all the time." It runs in my family, this endless need to be doing something. Whether it is job related or cleaning house, it seems there are never enough hours in the day to accomplish all I want to do. A counselor once told me that I create my own stress because I expect so much from myself. Tis true, tis true! Most of the things I do are such a joy to me I don't think of them as work but my family does. :) So I have to let go of this driving need to be doing something and find time to relax and smell the roses (oh yes I do have some) LOL.

I also wish to let go of my need to know what is going to happen in the future. I have to constantly remind myself that all we have is today, that tomorrow is not here yet and if I knew the future it would probably SCARE me to death anyway. My Dad tells me I have always been that way, wanted to know where we were going and why we were going and I drove him crazy with all my questions. He said my favorite word was "Why". So I'm trying to learn how to let go of needing to know "what is going to happen" and "why". Such a small word that causes me a lot of stress. Most of the time I never do find out the answer so I have to just trust the Universe is "unfolding as it should", even my little universe!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Give Away Haunted Swamp Designs


Lynda of Haunted Swamp Designs is having a Halloween Give Away!!!

I love her gourds! and her haunted swamp!! Be sure to visit for a chance to win!!!

Be sure and enter our Give Away below!!!!

A Triple Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I snagged this happy rabbit from Sarah, isn't it adorable????

I have been given this wonderful award by Becca of Magickal Season!! Her blog is Magickal so be sure you go take a peek! Thank you Becca, I am honored. Here's
what to do:
Post the award to your blog.

Nominate 10 blogs you love. ( It's hard to pick just 10 and I know not all of
you have the time to do this)
Link them to your blog include the person who gave you the award.
Let them know they got the award.
Sharing the love here is my 10:


Sarah of Cottage Garden Studio
Ron of Ron Byrum's Place
Jennifer of Barefoot in the Sand
Renee of Circling my Head
Cat of Electic Seasons Primitives
Carol of Handmade Artisan Bath Soaps and
Fantasy, Fairy, Mermaid, & Witch Art

Lynda of Haunted Swamp Designs
Linda of Linda G Jones (If your sad her art will make you smile!!!
Chris of Prim Country Farms
Jeanne of The Candy Corn Chronicles





Sunday, October 11, 2009

This Journey Called Life

Life's Journey. This is an unusual entry for me in our blog. I've been thinking a lot of life and all the places I've been, the roads I've traveled, the changes that I've been through in my life. How I arrived here where I am now. I'm 54 years old, I have two grown sons in their early 30's and five grandchildren from ages 1 to 11. I've had a hard life, it has not been easy. I guess I've always escaped my reality by dreaming and living in fantasies I create in my mind. At the age of 35 I went through a profound spiritual experience. I won't go into all the details of how that came about or I'd need to write a book. Let's just say I arrived at a crossroad and had to decide if I was going to continue down the hard road alone or accept some help from something greater then me.

Out of sheer desperation I made the decision to accept help. So I began a new way of life and developed a spiritual belief system that I believe will help me get through any other obstacles I may have to face as I continue my journey in life. First let me say I believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I am human with all my faults and vulnerabilities just like everyone else. I shudder to think what my life would have turned out like
if I had refused the help that was placed in front of me. All I had to do was bend over and pick up the bag of spiritual tools and start. All I had to do was be willing, just willing. Since then I have realized some of my dreams I had never accomplished, I have learned that all that really matters is love and that we are here to enjoy life. For me art and gardening is how I enjoy life!

I feel a profound need to write this entry and I am going to quote from a book called "A Return To Love" written by Marrianne Williamson. Because she says it better then I can.

I've changed a couple of words so that it will fit anyone's spiritual belief system, rather they are Christian, Pagan, Jewish or any other faith.

"You will never lose your way for something greater then you leads you."

"When we surrender to something bigger than ourselves - to a universe that knows what it's doing. When we stop trying to control events, they fall into a natural order, an order that works. We're at rest while a power much greater than our own takes over, and it does a much better job than we could have done. We learn to trust that the power that holds galaxies together can handle the circumstances of our relatively little lives.

Surrender means, by definition, giving up attachment to results. When we surrender, we let go of our attachment to how things happen on the outside and we become more concerned with what happens on the inside.

The experience of love is a choice we make, a mental decision to see love as the only real purpose and value in any situation. Until we make that choice, we keep striving for results that we think would make us happy. But we've all gotten things that we thought would make us happy, only to find that they didn't. This external searching - looking to anything other than love to complete us and to be the source of our happiness - is the meaning of idolatry.

Where we have an attachment to results, we tend to have a hard time giving up control. But how can we know what result to try to achieve in a situation when we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow? What do we ask for? We say "My desire, my priority is inner peace. I want the experience of love. I don't know what would bring that to me. I leave the results of this situation up to the Universe. I trust it's will.

To relax, to feel the love in your heart and keep to that as your focus in every situation - that's the meaning of spiritual surrender. It changes us."

So once again I am at a crossroads. I want to hold on to my idea of what will make me happy but I seem to be being led in another direction. So its time for surrender again as I continue my journey through this experience called Life.


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Byrum Art Halloween Give Away!!!

Byrum Art is having another Give Away to celebrate Halloween!

First Prize will be this Original Painting with a black frame with the corners washed in orange!


Second Prize will be a print from our most popular print "Autumn Dance", size 5" by 7" with the mirrored glass frame shown in the photo above.


All you have to do to enter to win is post a comment on this post, if you want a second chance, post our Give Away on your blog, for third chance get a friend to refer you!!


We will choose the winner on October 31 and since I know everyone will be busy we will notify the winners by email so they don't miss the announcement!!

Trick or Treat!!!!!



My Gourd from Haunted Swamp Designs

L@@K at my new Treat!!

I finally won one of Lynda's Halloween Gourds!

Lynda has a Haunted Swamp and grows her own gourds and her blog is so cool, be sure you visit and see her Swamp!!


Isn't he awesome?????


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Halloween Decorations




My Chrysanthemums turned out gorgeous this year! We created a Pumpkin Ghost in the center of our round flower bed with a Vintage Black Cat and Jack o'Lantern! Looks so awesome at night! The pictures just don't show how good it really looks!!





Chrysanthemums I planted last year is huge and the pretties orange color!!! Perfect for Halloween with the purple Verbena.




We have more ideas and will show some more of our decorations through out the month of October!!

Two New Awards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a Great Award!
I received this award from Chris of Prim Country Farms. I am so honored she gave us this award. She has asked me to pass this award on to six wonderful artists. Thank you Chris, you are a real sweetheart!! And I love your blog!!

Here are the rules for the Over the Top Award:

Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's quite tricky to use only one word answers! Once you have filled it out be sure to pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers. Alert them that they have been awarded! Have fun!

One word answers have got to be the hardest- but here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone? Table

2. Your hair? Long

3. Your mother? Heaven

4. Your father? Friend

5. Your favorite food? Italian

6. Your dream last night? Crazy

7.Your favorite drink? Tea

8. Your dream/goal? Gallery

9. What room are you in? Office

10. Your hobby? Gardening

11. Your fear? Snakes

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Eureka

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren't? Young

15. Muffins? Blueberry

16. Wish list item? Gallery

17. Where did you grow up? Tx

18. Last thing you did? Prints

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? Love

21. Your pets? Dogs

22. Friends? Loving

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Happy

25. Missing someone? Chey

26. Vehicle? Cadillac

27. Something you're not wearing? Robe

28. Your favorite store? Michaels

29. Your favorite color? Purple

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Recent

32. Your best friend? Hubby

33. One place that I go to over and over? Park

34. One person who emails me regularly? Heather

35. Favorite place to eat? Home


Ok- that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!! Here are the 6 Wonderful
Blogs I'mpassing this award to:
Witch Hollow Primitives
Cottage GardenStudios
Eclectic Seasons Primitives

Haunted Swamp Designs
SpookyHollowFolk Art
The Candy Corn Chronicles




I feel honored that Crafty Celtic Cutie gave me this wonderful award!!!

So, here are the rules once you've been awarded:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.
3. Link the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.
5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.


Okay ladies I am really stretched for time right now so I'm going to cheat a little and give this one to the six I gave the top one to and I'll add one more.

Tammy of Light and Shadow Studiois just one of the best Halloween blogs on blogland!!!!

Now 7 things about myself no one would know.
I love pepper, lots of pepper on my food.
I would love to go scuba diving.
I would love to ride in a hot air balloon.
I have five grandchildren.
I think this is hard.
Clint Eastwood was my hero growing up.
I hate winter.