Escape to the beach...

I was getting tired of my old burg this week and felt the need to smell some sea air and jump in the ocean. On a whim we decided to pick up my husband's mom and head down to the shore in Delaware.
I hadn't been to Cape Henlopen in a few years so that's where we decided to go. It's a lovely little state park, cheap to get in and very family friendly.
I absolutely love the beach and if I won the lottery, I would buy a house at the shore immediately:)
Here are just a few photos (can you guess, I'm a big fan of sea gulls).





Whoa, that's a lot of pelicans. I don't remember seeing pelicans at the beach when I was a kid. Maybe I didn't know what they were. I see them all the time now.

I won't be blogging much in the next week. My sister is getting married tomorrow and we're going on a mini vacation to visit and old friend in Oneonta, NY. I think it will be the first time my daughter gets to see mountains, how fun!
Take care, Jen :^)

The Unicorn Tapestries

Some of my favorite medieval art images come from the famous Unicorn Tapestries.
It is thought that they were created in the southern area of The Netherlands between 1495 and 1505. They were owned by the La Rochefoucauld family of France for several centuries until they were purchased by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1922 for around a million dollars (what a bargain). For a few years now I have wanted to visit The Cloisters in Manhattan, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that houses their medieval art collection. The Unicorn Tapestries hang in The Cloisters so I really do need to get myself up there one of these day soon!

If you're a fan of the Harry Potter movies series, you've probably recognized several unicorn tapestries hanging in the Gryffindor common room. I felt inspired to create a welcome sign this week for anyone like me who enjoys things a bit magical and medieval! If you're interested, my original, hand painted plaque is currently for sale on Ebay.

Jenny Wren

After hearing the baby wrens for over a week now, I finally saw them peek their little heads out of the birdhouse. Aren't they just the sweetest things?



"I'm feeling a bit peckish! Where's my breakfast?"


"Hey, me too. Where's Mom with our grub?"


"Keep your feathers on, I'm right here!"


"Whoops, I dropped it. Why is this crazy lady standing so close to my house with that big black thing in her hands? She's making me nervous!"


"Open wide, breakfast is served!"


"Now that's service!"

Graven Images

I have a thing for cemeteries, the older the better. I've been wanting to visit this Lutheran graveyard in Manheim, PA for over a year now. I could see from the road that the graves looked old and may have some interesting artwork carved in them, but I never had the chance to stop until this week. When I'm in a cemetery I do not dwell on death as much as I do life. Most of the graves were for people with a German heritage, some were in German, many you couldn't read at all. I wonder what these people did in their life. Did they contract a disease or illness that we have eradicated? Did they have a good life? Arrive here on a boat from Germany? So many stories that will never be remembered. I thought that Manheim's founder Henry Stiegal would be here but I couldn't find him...


This angelic face looks pretty happy.


An interesting stone with a pinkish color to it belonging to Hier Ruhl. I liked the carved flowers. The two rosettes on the corners remind me of PA Dutch hex signs.


The gorgeous carving on this stone has stood the test of time. I like how the face has a body. I don't see this very often.


A man who was in the Revolutionary War. How neat is that?


Here is a man who died when they were 25 years old in the early 1800's. I find it odd that someone who lived so long ago, and for such a short time, still occupies valuable real estate.


You see a lot of these graves with a weeping willow. I like how a real tree is trying to grow in front of it.


I like this photo. A robin, symbol of hope and renewal, in an old graveyard.

Winterthur

Well, I took the day off from painting to go to Winterthur. Oh, who am I kidding, I haven't been painting much. Too nice outside and I love having my teacher/husband home for the summer. So much to do and see! I am working on a medieval unicorn tapestry inspired welcome sign I should have near completion tomorrow.

Okay, back to Winterthur! My Aunt has worked there for 31 years and I have just discovered this year what a great place it is. I would recommend a visit in the spring when the wildflowers or azaleas are blooming. Today was a wonderful day but very humid. My Aunt brought her daughters, my cousins, with her to work today so we had a very nice time.



I love this vista. I've probably posted a picture of this before but I would die to live right here! I want to make a painting of it someday.


Froggy went a-courtin'.


I think I met this guy on my last visit. Doesn't seem to mind a camera shoved in his face.


In the Enchanted Woods, a fairy tree!


Outside the fairy house.


Inside the main fairy house. I wish I could build this in my yard. The details are wonderful. Like the Snow White cottage. Hand carved kid size furniture with woodland creatures.



I have a photo of me on this seahorse as a child. I think he may inspire another painting!


A rock face tucked away in a secret spot in the Enchanted Woods.


A summer blooming azalea? I didn't know they exsisted. It was called a plum leaf azalea.

Fainting Goats & Minis

Sorry I have been missing from blogland lately. I've been hanging out at Goat Flower Farm taking photos of the goats for registration and their website. These goats are just so sweet, I had to share some photos. Most of them are fainting goats which you really have to see to believe.
Also wanted to mention that I was a featured artist over on The Equinest. Please stop by and check out the interview when you get a chance:^)










The Ellis family also raises miniature horses. I had to sneak in a few photos of their darling minis too!





Found this four leaf clover to wish all my blog friends good luck!

What have I been up to?

Sorry, haven't posted in a few days. Wondering were I've been?
Well, besides seeing the new Harry Potter movie, which was awesome if you must know, I made a new flower garden!
There is this wonderful greenhouse near my mom's, Groff's Plant Farm, that was having a one day customer appreciation sale. I got a flat of 18 perennials for $15.50 plus a free flat of annuals and that smoke bush I've been wanting for only $13.99! I LOVE this greenhouse! So I had to make a new garden to fit all these wonderful plants. Then my new flower bed needed a birdbath so I picked up this gorgeous wildflower and butterfly one at Roots Country Market. I think it fits in beautifully and birds were bathing in it within minutes.

Just some of the new plants I bought: Scabiosa, Bellflower, Leprechaun Gold Columbine, Pink Salvia, Cherry Blossum Delphinium, Devotion Blue Trachelium, St. John's Wort, Beard Tongue, Coreopsis Double Sunburst, Blanket Flower Burgundy, Red Fox Spiked Speedwell, Purple Volcano Lyre Leaved Sage, Angelonia, Pearly Everlasting, White Gold Lantana, Lemon Rose Scented Geranium, Mexican Heather, Cupid's Dart & Jacob's Ladder. I think some of the names sound so romantic:)
Okay, I really need to get some painting done now...

Evening Show

In previous posts I've mentioned the wonderful mom and daughter that live down the road and own Goat Flower Farm. Well, on Wednesday evening Zoe and I went to a horse show to watch the daughter, Kayley, ride her mare Pepsi in a few classes.
This was a big mistake on my part because now I really miss not having horses in my life. At one point Zoe grabbed my hand and said, "Thank you for bringing me here, I really love it.". Horses, kids and riders of all ages zooming around everywhere. Paints, Quarter Horses, ponies, we even saw our first Gypsy Vanner in Lancaster County (Sir William of Scotland from Feathered Gold Stables)! Now all I can think about is how much I would need to work at night in order to buy a horse someday... sigh...
Maybe when the house is paid off...