The Art of … Peacocks

McRomagueraArt

I have a childhood memory of a family trip to the Philadelphia Zoo,

when I was allowed to pick out a souvenir.
An easy choice for me: a regal, iridescent peacock feather.

It became my most prized possession!

We're all familiar with the phrase "as proud as a peacock."

How proud I was to own just one of his feathers!

Enjoy these artistic renditions of the gorgeous peacock,

selected from the shops of Etsy!

Stuffyouwantandmore

leftcoastlovers

Sascalia

JonShawPaintings

MarciCheary

LottieDraws

Batikbydesign

ValerieLorimer

methanestudios

dianaswonderworks

handmadeandie

"A peacock has too little in its head, too much in its tail."

-Swedish Proverb

Retro Still Life Paintings by Holly Farrell

Dolls

Canadian artist Holly Farrell attracted my attention with her nostalgic still life paintings.

Very retro in style, done with oil and acrylic on masonite.

Don't they evoke a happy, melancholy mood? 

I love the soft-spoken shades. 

Even her wallpaper backgrounds add charm.

 A relaxed aura of a simpler life in simpler times.

Washstand

Satin Pumps

Butterick Patterns

Tammy

Seeds

Fire King Mugs

Children's Books

Barbie & Ken

Bowties



Here are Holly's website & Facebook page.



Images used with direct permission from Holly Farrell.

Cherish the Love - The Katinas

faithcenter

Five brothers - Sam, Joe, James, John & Jesse Katina - 

from American Samoa in the South Pacific,

make up the contemporary Christian group, The Katinas.

With phenomenal harmonies, and lyrics from the heart,

The Katinas are an absolute favorite of mine!

TheKatinas

Love Chapter is their latest album.

In recognition of Valentine's Day,

and as a reminder to truly cherish those we love,

I'd like to share a YouTube video

of The Katinas singing

"Cherish the Love."

Check out The Katinas' website and Facebook page.

TheKatinas

Steve - I'll cherish our love for as long as we both shall live, and beyond.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of my husband.

The People’s Store Antiques - Lambertville, NJ

A centerpiece of Lambertville, New Jersey is The People's Store.

With over 40 antique dealers spread throughout 4 stories 

of this 1839 building, there's plenty to discover.

Art and memorabilia.

Furniture and home decor.

Vintage clothing and jewelry.
Collectibles and curiosities.

What a great place to explore! The perfect NJ destination for a treasure hunt!

You can find The People's Store at this address:

28 North Union Street

Lambertville, NJ 08530

Here's their website and Facebook page.

Obstacle Course No Match for Hungry Squirrel!

TreeHollowDesigns

February is National Birdfeeding Month.
Now, I guess I could write about what kinds of seeds various birds prefer,
or feature really cool birdfeeders and where to buy them
or even do a DIY and make my own feeder.

However, I'm in an ornery mood, and I mean to stick up for the poor squirrels
who have gotten such bad reputations for stealing food intended only for the backyard birdies.
Hey, squirrels have to eat too!

Don't you admire the tenacity of squirrels? To applaud their determination,
I give you this YouTube video called "Mission Impossible Squirrel."
It shows a cleverly designed obstacle course and
the squirrel who didn't let it stand between him and his lunch!

Southwest Baked Eggrolls

I came across this recipe online at Taste of Home.

Made a few minor tweaks and put it together in no time.

It took a while to figure out the rolling of the wrappers,

but don't worry; by the time I was on the last one, I finally got the hang of it!

Vegetarian deliciousness! The whole family was impressed.

Southwest Baked Eggrolls

1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thaw & squeeze dry
1 1/2 C shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 can chopped green chilies, drained
4 green onions, chopped
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
1 t cumin
1/2 t chili powder
1/4 t cayenne
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 pkg egg roll wrappers

In a large bowl, combine everything but the egg roll wrappers.
Place 1/4 C mixture in center of a wrapper.
Follow package directions on how to fold it closed.
Dip your finger in water to moisten wrapper and seal.

Place seam-side down on baking sheet generously coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 10-15 minutes,
turning halfway through baking, until light golden brown.