Thank you my loyal readers !

Today my "blog view" count went over 20,000 reads!  How humbling it is to me that so many of you come by regularly to see what's going on.  I appreciate all of you and plan to continue to post things that hopefully interest and amuse you. Thanks again!

"Bingo the Bear is Back! ....

Yes, the berries are ripe and he is back to fill his tummy.  He came down out of the woods, up onto the porch, walked the length of the porch looking in all the doors, back across the porch and then toddled off into the woods to continue eating.  Beautiful, but  so big! 
 The only unsettling part of all this is that Saturday, about this time, we were hosting a picnic on this very porch with 30 + people (including many children).  The older ones were out in the yard and up in the woods!  Oh my.........

My Love Affair.......With Birkenstock Sandals ...

Many years ago ( more than 15!),  a wonderful person gifted me my first pair of Birkenstock sandals.  We were living in New Mexico at the time and it was the perfect footwear for there.  I have worn them most of my days during all these years.  And they are worn out.  Of course, I did paint the straps and added some glue-on bling around the front of the soles. 

It was time:  I mailed them off (gasp!) to a place that restores your beloved Birks, and today I received them back in the mail. They have new soles and new foot beds.  Basically only the straps are original.  But, these straps have taken me everywhere, and now they are presentable and can take me all over Italy this fall.   Oh joy!  Below are the before and after photographs of my most prized possession in my closet.  I am supremely happy!

 

 

" Passage" ....

" Passage"

12" X 24" on gallery wrapped canvas