Another Spanish Casa

Some friends of ours recently moved back to the States from Spain, and before they left, they asked me to do a watercolor of their home for the last three years... This was the result: 

I think they were pretty happy with it. I certainly enjoyed painting it! It was a relaxing break from the craziness that our life has been lately.... 

New Hymn Collage - Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

A little out of season, but it's my latest project nonetheless:

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

based on the hymn by Henry Alford and George J. Elvey

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;

Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;

Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;

From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,

Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;

But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;

Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

*************

I will have prints and greeting cards featuring this collage available later today in my shop. 

Thanks for visiting! 

Magically Delicious...

Back in December, Josh and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary (say what? Have we really been married that long?). Since it was a milestone, we decided to do something special... and for us, doing something special means traveling!

We tossed around ideas and decided to spend 8 days visiting a place we'd both always wanted to see - Ireland! It was the BEST. TRIP. EVER.

Here are a few highlights from my 2,000+ photos (you're welcome for sparing you!):

Dublin Doorway

Shepherd's Pie - Yum! 

St. Patrick's Cathedral

In the Trinity College Library, Dublin

Walking to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Giant's Causeway

The Dark Hedges

Glenveagh National Park

Gardens at Glenveagh National Park Castle

Glenveagh National Park Castle

Inis Mor (Aran Island) 

1. Dún Aonghasa

The Worm Hole, Inis Mor

The Seven Churches, Inis Mor

Kylemore Abbey

Ashford Castle

The Cliffs of Moher

Blarney Castle

Dingle

Beehive Hut, Dingle Peninsula

The High Kings' Concert

Dingle Peninsula 

Just in case you're wondering, no, that wasn't Middle Earth... Ireland really is this magical. We had an amazing time, and I can't think of a more wonderful way to have celebrated our first ten years together - it's certainly been an adventure. I'm looking forward to the next ten! Love you, Josh.