More Bald Eagles!

Yesterday was in the 60's here and a good day to get caught up on some outside work. As I was doing the paddocks, I spotted a bald eagle flying overhead. I followed it's flight for a while. It sailed so effortlessly, in and out of the clouds,  always circling my field of vision. I knew it was there to catch my attention, to guide me and offer reassurance that I'm on the right path. Pretty soon the magnificent animal was joined by another. So it happened to me again, just as it had on several other occasions recently. Eagles are rare here, as they are in the other locations where I have seen their glistening heads and identifiable tails gliding through my skies this fall.

Original Eagle Watercolors 8" x 10"
$95. ea. double matted w/ backing
Email me for selection at:
sandy@sandysandy.com

"The eagle symbolizes the warrior being well prepared to seize and make excellent use of opportunity. They represent a connection to the Great Spirit and in many ancient cultures have been personifications of visionary strength and messengers of divine power. Their aerial displays are dramatic and awe inspiring. These birds can soar higher than any other living creature and with binocular vision can observe life in its entirety. Hawks, falcons and eagles often show up when it is time to connect to creativity, spirituality and tune into your life's calling. It symbolizes dramatic new occurrences. When hawk or eagle chooses to guide you, it may become a life long mentor, often appearing to you when a divine spark is most needed to inspire your courage, stamina and creative fire."

~ Excerpt from my Animal Spirits book.

Here is a shot I took of one of two I saw up in Lancaster County, PA last month.


I probably won't be posting again this week because I am getting ready for my client appreciation Open Studio Party and Art Show! 

Out with the fall and in with The Holidays!! YAY!!! I'll be posting more snowman paintings soon. Check out all my snowmen available for download through iStock here!

And let me be one of the very first to Wish You A Happy Holiday Season!

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

The Symbolism of Trees II

"The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. 

The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky."  ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The fall always has a way of getting me really looking at trees. As they put on their autumn show, (or not), their individual characteristics become so much more evident. I went back to The Symbolism of Trees and followed this link to the tree test.  Mine has changed significantly from the first time I took it.

"The oaks and the pines, and their brethren of the wood, have seen so many suns rise and set, so many seasons come and go, and so many generations pass into silence, that we may well wonder what "the story of the trees" would be to us if they had tongues to tell it, or we ears fine enough to understand."  ~ Author Unknown

Check out  The Unfading Tree by Big Green Oak if you are into this kind of thing. It was fun. What kind of tree, or trees are you? 

This iStock image has really changed and "grown" as I have become more comfortable with the Wacom Tablet. Now, I actually ENJOY using it. I remember in the beginning, I was tearing my hair out. As usual, I'm glad I stuck it out.  Many thanks to my good friend and mentor, Nanolou for always cheering me on.

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground."  ~Author Unknown

Fall Colors in the Pine Barrens

Most of the leaves are down. The brown and grey colors of winter now preside.

Fall has come and gone here in Sandy Land, but this

year I was able to get a few shots of its' fleeting glory.

I love the spots and patterns of mold or fungus on the dying leaves. 

The orangish brown oak leaves take on a richness against dense fog.

Notice the spots of white here on the red maple leaves.

The fleeting season offered me a grand finale in my own backyard.

I am glad I took some time to record the show.

"The Art Spirit" Solo Show

"Art,  when inspired with  love, leads to higher realms.

Love  art, and that art  will  open  for you the inner life." ~ Meher Baba

19 OF MY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS

~ Now On Exhibition and For Sale ~

SAMARITAN INPATIENT HOSPICE GALLERY

at VIRTUA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, 175 MADISON AVE., MT. HOLLY, NJ 08060

Come By the Main Hospital Entrance desk Any Time

SEE MY DISPLAY from November 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012 

After hanging last Tuesday, I went back and tweaked "The Art Spirit" show.

I am now satisfied and pleased with the layout. 

The paintings really brighten the already awesome, Samaritan Inpatient Hospice Center.

Many thanks to the Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice for 

providing such a nice space and hanging system.

It is an honor to be a small part in brightening the walls of this great institution.

Hopefully, they will help to cheer those in need of it too.

I am donating 30% of all sales to the Hospice.

When you purchase a painting, you support the Arts

and the great work of the Samaritan Hospice.

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.

Day Of The Dead Greetings

Senorita Catrina dances in the Day Of The Dead celebration.

Here two Catrinas offer gifts and homage to the dead.

ARREBA!!  ARREBA!!

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

Ahoy all ye wenches and buccaneers with piratude!

I be shovin' off fer distant lands now, me hearties! 

It's been a scallywaggin' swash bucklin' Countdown ta Halloween mates!

'Til nextime buccos, wishin' ya smooth sailin'

an th' mudder load o' treasures!!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Day Of The Dead

Day Of The Dead is a Latin American celebration which takes place on November 1st - (honoring children and infants - Day of Little Angles) and November 2nd - (honoring deceased adults - Day Of The Dead).

Friends and family gather to remember and honor those that have passed on. It is a national holiday in Mexico and is widely celebrated around the world. People visit cemeteries, build alters, decorate graves, make offering to the dead, eat special holiday foods, light candles, say prayers, recite poems, tell funny stories and in general have a darn good time.

As with many modern holidays, Day Of The Dead gets it's roots from indigenous pagan cultures dating back as far as 2,500 - 3,000 years ago. The festivities were then dedicated to the goddess, "Lady of the Dead" or the modern day Catrina, which has now become one of the most popular symbols for the celebration.