Holiday Gift Offer

I am pleased to announce a print giveaway at My Etsy Shop.

No Special Codes or Coupons Required.

Get A Free Print With Every Purchase!

++++++++++++++++++++

There are so many things happening here in Sandy Land right now. I hope to find the time to post some of my news here in more details soon. It's all good, from animal adventures, an online lettering course, watercolor commissions, photography excursions, holiday preparations, birthday celebrations and a new horseback trail riding friend!

Until next time, I hope your days are busy, bright and filled with joy!

Thanks for reading and especially for commenting if you do.

X♥O

Wishing You a Grateful Heart on Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving Day, my goal is simply to be a kinder person and to express my sincere gratitude more often. I will start here with all of you that have come into my life or have reconnected through the internet. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who read my posts. Whether you visit regularly or occasionally, you and your feedback have helped shape my path. Just knowing you are out there, keeps me from feeling so alone and isolated. It really is inspiring and energizing being connected to a global sisterhood / brotherhood of like minded beings!

I am so grateful for each and every one of you! You who have offered me your friendship in good times and in bad; have celebrated, sympathized, advised and supported me. In truth, your kindness has made a lasting mark. Connected by fate, in one way or another, big or small, I carry a little bit of each of you with me always.

Thank you all, thank you very very much!

Here's a few quotes by people who say it so much better than I can.:

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."  ~ G.B. Stern

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."

~ Meister Eckhart

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart".  ~ Jean Baptiste Massieu

"It is not what we say about our blessings,

but how we use them,  that is the true measure of our thanksgiving." 

~ W.T. Purkiser

Wishing You Many Blessings Always

and a Very Grateful Heart,

X♥O

Thanksgiving is a word of Action

"He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart."
~J.A. Shedd

"The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies;

but let the thankful heart sweep through the day

and just as the magnet finds the iron,

so it will find, in every hour, some divine blessings!"

~Henry Ward Beecher

"We can only be said to be truly alive

in those moments when

our hearts are conscious of our treasures." 

~ Thornton Wilder

I am truly thankful for so many things, including you.

Thank you so much for your friendship!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and a very thankful heart.

X ♥ O

 

Wordless Wednesday

♥

Talk Like A Pirate Today, Or Else!!

Ahoy!! I be Cap'n Happy here

remindin' all ye landlubbin' scallywags

that today be 

International

Talk Like A Pirate Day! 

ARRRRRRR, AYE!!

Th' 19th day of September every year

be one of me favrit 'olidays!

Cap'n Happy says, "Speak the lingo or walk the plank!"

All ye scurvy buccaneers better be

crawling out of yer bung hole today

and ye better be talkin' like a pirate

l o u d  and c l e a r !

Don't be a yella bellied bilge rat!

Speak th' lingo or walk the plank!

Frightfully Fun Friday

"Spirits roam the neighborhoods at night,
Let loose upon the Earth till it be light."
~ Nicholas Gordon

"The Headless Horseman Rides Again" ~ 16" x 20" Watercolor

This image was just accepted into my iStock portfolio.

It's available for download here.

Experts say that everyone needs to have a little fun in their life, 

because without it, we become dull, boring and depressed. 

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."

~ Dale Carnegie

"Where there is no imagination there is no horror."

~ Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.

"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with

"scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "frightful" in the title."

~  From Scooby-Doo

Have a Fun Friday and a Great Weekend!

Eat, Drink and be Scary,

☻

Ah, Ha! Checks with Sunflowers on Them . . .

Although, I've had over 3,200 of my images downloaded from iStockphoto, I know where less than a dozen of them were used. I just came across these cool checks online with my sunflowers printed on them. Are you getting ready to order new ones?

Too bad I just ordered new checks last month!

They are not nearly as pretty as these

and they were much more expensive!

Darn, I would have really liked to have these

as my personal checks.

They also offer matching check book covers

and mailing labels.

I even think paying bills with these sunny flowers would make me smile!

You can order your very own sunflower checks here.

My original sunflower painting that these were taken from.

Yahoo, my parents are visiting us from Florida this week!
I will be very busy doing art projects with my mom
and going on day trips with mom, dad and sister, Denise.


Have a great week!
♥

Getting Back Into Riding . . . If Only in My Dreams

The past few nights, I've been having vivid dreams about riding and caring for the horses. It is probably due to me getting more upright, flexible and mobile, while taking advantage of the boot, physical therapy and exercising. I even walked out to the barn once with help from Jerry and a walker. Yesterday my farrier came and I stayed out there for almost two hours. I also gave Rita a good grooming. We both really enjoyed it!

Jerry continues to lunge my 32 year old, Rudy, at least every other day

and they both seem to be benefiting from it.

Sometimes he takes me out in the car so I can watch.

Over the past two months, some individuals have been sending healing thoughts, get well wishes and asking how I'm doing. It's really nice to know that people care. Thanks especially to those of you that have reached out to me during this trying time. Your friendship and kindness really means so much!


"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."  ~ Henri Nouwen

"We are the captains of our own ships sailing the sea of life, but in times of a stormy weather, you will discover true friends when they don't hesitate to be a lighthouse."  ~ Dodinsky

Still spending part of my days in the chair; here's my current studio setup.

Jerry shot my leg last Thursday at my first physical therapy appointment. Only a week later, it looks much better. Still lots of swelling after exercise, but everything is going really well. I've been meditating nightly which is helping me heal more quickly, both physically and spiritually.

Although the time did go slow for me during my convalescence, I can't believe it is almost June! Now that I'm feeling better, things are really speeding up! This shot of Rita was taken by my friend, Jen, last August. She will have a collection of her photos at The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair at the Caracol Jewelry  booth. If you are local and you go to the show, be sure to stop by and have a look.  Her art is awesome.

Memorial Day weekend unofficially starts tomorrow. It kicks off the summer here in the states. I just started working on some of my stock photography again. I think this one of my folks, is appropriate for the holiday weekend and summer season ahead. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! YAY!"


No matter what your plans are, have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Take some time to reflect and be grateful for all those who have lost their lives so that we may enjoy the many freedoms we hold dear.


Wishing You Many Blessings, Sandy

Fruity Artist / Photographer M.I.A.

My friend and college classmate, Carmella Messina, has just started a a blog called Persona. 

She said she came up with the name because of the many hats she wears. Believe me, I can relate. These days, I find I am a house keeper, nurse, wife, photographer, artist and equestrian; not necessarily in that order.

For the past two weeks, in addition to my nursing duties, I have been shooting fruits and vegetables to upload to iStockPhoto. When I get going on a project, I tend to get obsessed, that I will admit.

I think I've spent over $250. on produce so far. Thank goodness for my walk-in, screened-in porch fridge

This is one of the images that has already been accepted and added to my iStockPhoto Online Portfolio.  I just had a piece of one and it was delicious!

These days, my studio looks more like a farm market and smells like citrus and garlic.

The deer and horses here aren't complaining either. Nothing is going to waste. As I shoot and discard, I think the critters here at The Sandarosa are truly enjoying the abundant treats and vast variety of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. . . They just don't realize how spoiled they really are.

My Art Used For Another Book Cover (and Back)

Last March, I was first contacted by Michelle Waggoner, the  production chief / art director for the New Plains Review, a literary journal that that is published twice a year by the Department of English at the University of Central Oklahoma. They used one of my spirit art images for the cover of their Spring '11 Publication.  On Thursday, I heard from Michelle again. She wrote; "I’d like to thank you for contributing such nice artwork to iStock. Also, we’ve used another one of your pieces as the cover art for our latest issue and would like to send you two copies." 

What a wonderful gesture

and a great way to do business.  

When first viewing the online version of the front cover on Thursday, I thought; now why did they use the image that way? Then today, I remembered Michelle saying something about the back cover. I clicked on the book preview and found the back cover.  Zing, some pretty powerful poetry accompanies my little golden hummingbird there! 

Follow this link to see the Fall '11 New Plains Review,

then click on PREVIEW directly under the front cover

 then at top right  -  --  - click through the pages >,  or write in - -  pg. 12  - -
It's a bit of a trek, but if you like inspiring words, it's well worth the journey.


I really miss my hummingbird honeys, 

especially around Christmas.

What a pleasant surprise visit on this cold and dreary wintery day.

Happy Thanksgiving Today and Everyday

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words, but to live by them."  ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."  ~ W.J. Cameron

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day."  ~ Robert Caspar Lintner

Keeping My Old Buddy Going

I've been searching for young timothy hay for my 31 year old Paint horse, Rembrandt. It is VERY hard to find, especially with the crazy summer drought and later the extremely wet monsoon season here. I ran out of the hay he liked a few weeks ago and he has been going downhill ever since. I think he gets depressed when he can't chew his hay. It needs to be short and tender. I've got a dozen different varieties of grass and alfalfa hay filling my barn that he just can't or won't eat.

The poor guy doesn't have good teeth, so it's hard to find hay that he likes and that he can chew.

On Friday, I picked up a couple of bales of tender timothy/orchard grass mix. I'm cutting it into bite sized pieces with a paper cutter and keeping my fingers crossed that he continues eating it, because fortunately, there is more of it to be had.

I am also trying a new puffed "Blue Seal Senior" feed that is like "Cocoa Puffs". It is softer and easier for horses with tooth problems to chew. He really likes it and learned the words "Cocoa Puffs" immediately. He is so enthusiastic about it, you could even say he's "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs". I am glad and Rudy is fortunate that there are more and more products on the market for senior equines these days.

After lunch yesterday, I decided to ride my big mare, Miss Rita. I usually lunge her first to get the bucks out. When I did, she seemed off, so I took her for a hand walk in the woods instead. I have been riding Rudy the past few days, as it helps to regulate his digestion, keeps him supple and really perks him up. Rita always carries on, screams and tears around when I ride him, so that could be the reason for her lameness. 

Rudy was really feeling his oats (and probably jealousy) yesterday. The whole time I was walking Rita in the woods, Jerry said the old guy was whinnying, trotting, cantering and bucking all around his pen. I caught a few glimpses of him and it was good to see him moving about so soundly and feeling so well. My efforts have not been in vain. Now I just hope he didn't over do it.

As always, any comments or suggestions you may have are appreciated. All images are from my "Horse Stuff" lightbox on iStock.

International Talk Like A Pirate Day ~ September 19th Every Year

Ahoy Matey, Blow me down! International Talk Like A Pirate Day has come and gone without havin' me sorry keester utter a single pirate word!

Meself and th' captian back in th' good ole' days , ARRRRR!

ERRRR, , Hey Ho, sure could fancy meself lettin' off some steam by makin' some scurvy scallywag walk th'plank, early in the morning!

Me swashbucklin' crew ready to set sail.

Way Hey, it all started by two blokes back in the good 'ole days of 1995. In 2002, humorist, Dave Barry, started promotin' th'holiday, ARRRR! See th'history of how it started here. Aye, if yer feelin' rusty or a little lily-livered, ye can just start by growlin' at store clerks and answerin' the phone with "Ahoy matey"!  Or ye can be like this drunkin' sea wench and brush up on Pirattitude lingo with th' Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy. Aye, with October 31st on the horizon, avast, me hearty, all ye drunkin scallywag buccaneers be gettin' a second chance to talk like a pirate for the day, ERRRR!

Ahoy, view the international Talk Like A Pirate Day map and see what Wikipedia has to say about International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Learn how to be speakin' like a pirate here.

Aye, just one of me new pirate pictures available for a mere booty of a few shiny doubloons to all ye scallywags and sea hags. With me Jolly Roger flyin' high, Yo-ho-ho, shiver me timbers, I bet ye'll not be wonderin' what this salty landlubber lass be up to around Halloween time, ARRRRGAH!!

Red Neck Fly Spray For Horses

The summer is over.

But the flies and mosquitos are still going strong.

My friend from the mid-West gave me this recipe for homemade horse spray.

She said it came from Tennessee and is known as "Red- Neck Fly Spray".

It's simple to make, inexpensive and IT WORKS!!

I made up a batch and it seems to work as well or better than many of the others

I currently have in my arsenal. And believe me people, living out here in bug country, 

I've got quite a collection.  I think we have pretty much tried them all

from the cheapest to the most expensive brands.

Here's the recipe. I mixed it up in a 1/2 gallon milk jug,

gave it a good shake and then poured it into my sprayers.

If you want to make a gallon at a time, 

just increase the ingredients to 1 cup instead of 1/2.

RED NECK FLY SPRAY

1/2 cup PineSol

1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol

Fill the jug with water ands shake each time before use.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BTW, these new photos of my babies are now available for licensing.

See my iStock portfolio here.

The Basic Ingredients of Time & Love

See my snowman images available from iStock here.

Giving Thanks

See more fall images here.

Horse Treats!

I got a cool email from my Stud Muffin supplier today! They just changed their name to: HorseTreats.com and have a new and expanded website that I was very impressed with. You horse lovers out there ought to check it out! I'm thinking of putting a few items from their site on my holiday list. Here's the link and their fresh new logo.


I'm really into horse treats these days! I've been busy the past few months shooting and adding horse stuff to my iStock portfolio. This is one of my royalty free stock images available for licensing.