Author: Timelesslady
Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.
People – Block Island Heart Rocks Part I/Robin Langsdorf
Wednesday mornings are a pleasure for us while on Block Island. We never miss the Farmer’s Market in the Manisses Parking lot. This year I found this lovely card by photographer Robin Langsdorf. I really enjoyed taking a look at her many works of art framed and in greeting card format. I purchased the one above and asked if I could include it on one of my blog posts and she kindly agreed. Please take a look at her gorgeous site: Robin B. Langsdorf
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Place, Peculiarities & Phun- Block Island Mud on Clayhead Beach
One of our very favorite beaches on Block Island, Rhode Island, is Clayhead Beach. The bluffs on this beach are one of the first sights you see when you approach on the Point Judith Ferry. Within these bluffs is a clay that gives the beach its name. Those who pass by often take a handful of the clay and spread it on their bodies. Clay packs draw out toxins and are beneficial to your body. These girls were so sweet and allowed me to photograph them as they applied the clay. 
Here are the girls again before their walk back up the shoreline to Mansion Beach. Cute!
Here is a bit of information about Clayhead Beach and Preserve: Clayhead Beach and Preserve
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Photographs and Place – Block Island Getaway
My husband and I have just returned from our yearly vacation to Block Island. Block Island is a gorgeous island off the coast of Rhode Island. This beautiful butterfly was photographed outside of the cottage we rented on the island. You can find more information on “The Cottage” and “The Upstairs,” at this link: The Upstairs at Block Island. We love this spot on the island, secluded, yet the center of town is only an easy walk or bike ride away.
This butterfly bush on the property kept me fascinated. Each time I passed by I found a beautiful winged creature to admire and photograph.
This gorgeous hummingbird moth visited the butterfly bush every day. What an amazing sight, imagine my delight when I spied two of these beauties on the same bush. Here’s a bit of information about Hummingbird Moths: Hummingbird Moths
Sweet little skipper butterflies also stopped by the bush.
Although their season is almost over, the wild roses are still putting on quite a show. This one was photographed beside “The Cottage” where we stayed the week.
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Project – Photographing Spider Webs
Spider webs photograph well in the subtle light of morning sunshine. A good way to highlight the silken strands even more is to douse the surface of the web with a fine spray of water. A cleaned out hairspray bottle works great. Larger spray bottles will have droplets that are too large, and their size and the force with which they are propelled will tear the web.
Spider web with sprayed-on dewdrops. Lovely!
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Peculiarities – In Love with Bugs/Dragonflies, Hoverflies and Bumblebees
Dragonfly on Stick
I’ll admit I’ve always been in love with bugs. They are fascinating. Many of the ones I’ve included in this post are beneficial to have in your yard. Dragonflies, beyond their amazing beauty, are voracious mosquito-eaters. Hoverflies, besides sipping nectar from flowers, are a predator of aphids. Bumblebees, in their velvety jackets, are amazing pollinators.
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Photograph – Wordless Wednesday/Camouflage
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Place – National Park, New Jersey
National Park, New Jersey, Red Bank Battlefield
“The Red Bank Battlefield is located along the Delaware River in National Park, New Jersey. It was the location of the Battle of Red Bank in the American Revolutionary War on October 22, 1777.”-Wikipedia
Red Bank Battlefield is an interesting piece of history located along the Delaware River across from the City of Philadelphia.
The park has a long stretch of walkways along the Delaware giving those strolling beside the riverbank a good view of passing ships, tugboats and barges.
The piers also provide a perfect view of airplanes taking off from the Philadelphia International Airport.
Red Bank Battlefield Park has a great picnic area with pavilions and playgrounds for children. For more information and directions to the park check out these links:
Red Bank Battlefield Park
Red Bank, National Park, New Jersey
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Pleasures – Chickenfoot Dominoes
I love playing Chickenfoot Dominoes. It’s similar to the dominoes you know and love, but it has a fun twist. Below is a game of Chickenfoot dominoes with a chickenfoot in the works. Until one of the players completes the third toe of the foot the game is locked. It is so much fun, and a great game for all ages 6 and up.
Here’s a link to the rules: How to play Chickenfoot Dominoes
Having specialty racks for dominoes makes the play much easier.
I fill up small dessert cups with jelly beans, goldfish crackers, grasshopper cookies, cashews, candy, etc. It’s adds to the fun to have something to nibble on.
This is a great game to play with your family and friends. We have a notebook that we keep with the date and everyone’s score. It’s fun to page through it and remember the good times we had playing. Also, a calculator makes counting up a bit easier for those who lose with a full rack of dominoes.
Games.com has an free online version of Chickenfoot. Give it a try! Play Chickenfoot Online Too!
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Phavorites & Praise – Feather on Moss
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
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Problem-Solving – Preventing Rust on Wire Ornamentals
I love wire fixtures and knick-knacks in my house. The above photograph shows one of my favorites. Since this wire fixture holds bottles that are filled with water, it was inevitable it would begin to rust.
A little rust is not a big deal, but it is growing, and beginning to transfer itself to the windowsill it sits on. (This was removed with a Mr. Clean Eraser)
Break out some of your clear nail polish for a quick, easy and economical solution.
Dab a bit of the clear polish on the bottom of the wire, make sure to cover all parts of the wire that will come in contact with a surface.
As you can see from the photograph you want to be careful to paint the protection only on areas that won’t be seen. The polish dries with a shine. To solve this problem you can purchase a matte sealer, but then the entire objective of quick, easy and inexpensive is defeated.
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Photographs – Summer Sizzlers in the Garden
Zinnia
These flowers are sizzling hot in the garden right now. Gorgeous!
Climbing Rose
Bee Balm
Mandevilla
Coleus and Pentis
Salvia
Hibiscus
Geranium
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Painting – Quick Computer Sketches for Reference Photos/Gimp Download
I love these pictures of crows my cousin recently sent to me. Check out the way the crow on the right seems to be supervising the one who is drinking. This photo would make a cute painting.
When I want to jump start a sketch from a reference photo I often begin the work in my Photo Explosion Image Editor. Even the most basic of computer programs will usually have some sort of photo editor. There are many photo workshop programs you can purchase, there are even some free downloads. Gimp is a great choice for a free program. I have a link to the website here: Free Gimp Download
Remove the color from your photo by taking the color saturation down to zero. This will leave you with a nice black and white image.
If you have a filter system with your program, find the edge command and highlight the edges either with “Find all edges, Glowing Edges or Trace Contour.” Resize the photo to your finished dimensions. Save it. If you cannot print it out at the size it is, crop it and print it, but don’t save at this point. Close, reopen, crop and print the other areas of the picture. You can tape these together and have a good head start on sketching your reference photograph. It’s good to be able to sketch freehand, but this process of sketching saves hours and hours of time.
Find Edges
Glowing Edges
Trace Contour
If you don’t want to print out the photo you can also put clear plastic sheets over computer screen and sketch that way. Not quite as easy, but it works.
Click Box Below to Follow me on Pinterest
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Perspective – Gone Fishing
Well, maybe not fishing, but it’s been a busy week, and it is only getting busier. Wonderful Wednesday to you all!
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Pleasure – Tiny Tadpoles/Absolutely the Final Edition
Yesterday, while watering my herb garden, a flash of movement caught my eye. Oh my! An adorable tiny toad, no bigger than a dime, was jumping away from the splashing droplets of the hose. I knew it had to be one of the toads I had raised from a tadpole. I ran for the house and my camera, praying the toad wouldn’t jump out of sight. He didn’t. I was able to get a good photo of him. His camouflage is amazing. He blends in perfectly with the ground beneath him.
Can you see him?
Here’s the same photograph with the toad outlined.
Here’s a close-focus portrait of the tiny little toad.
It was a lot of work raising the toad. I hope a few of his brothers and sisters are somewhere hopping around the garden too.
If you’d like to read the whole story here are the links to each post:
Tiny Tadpoles Part I
Tiny Tadpoles Part II
Tiny Tadpoles The Final Edition
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Planting – Front Garden Color Combo
I love this combination of wave petunias, angelonia, heliotrope, coleus and low-growing pink zinnias. I crowd my plants a bit in the front garden, but I am rarely disappointed by stunted plants, they all seem to thrive in their close quarters. Perhaps the tight lacing of foliage prevents quick dehydration of the ground below them.
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Promise and Purpose – Walkabout
When I need rest for my soul I often expend physical energy in walking. An unhurried stroll along a forest path, beside a bubbling stream, or on a sandy beach always gives me a mental boost. I look down at the treasures of nature at my feet, I look up at the beauty of the skies, I feel the breeze, wherever my senses alight there seems to be a sense of peace waiting for me. The Sabbath is a good day for a long, uplifting walk. Blessings to you on this day.
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Place – Butterfly Room @ Academy of Natural Sciences Part I
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is a nice outing for all ages. My favorite exhibit is the Butterfly Room. You can find more information here: Butterfly Room at Academy of Natural Sciences
I was fascinated by the cocoon hatching area.
The butterflies are attracted to the yellow walls of the room.
Maybe the butterfly in me is why I am attracted to yellow walls. SMILE!
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Plant Tips – Vacationing on the Porch
Alocasia x amazonica
I enjoy giving my houseplants a vacation outdoors on the back porch in the summertime. The reason is self-evident in the photograph above. Look at the size of that new leaf growing in the small pot. I think I need to repot today!
There are many varieties of Elephant Ears. The smaller types make good houseplants. Here is a bit of information: Growing Elephant Ears as Houseplants
