tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7392795131290243142024-03-12T19:24:28.807-07:00mary ellen mckenziemary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-41809734882560567792014-10-06T16:00:00.001-07:002014-10-06T16:00:25.194-07:00Hans Christian Andersen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FaszNt9uDg/VDMdJrVhZdI/AAAAAAAAAic/NLZwoVc1JWI/s1600/Edit%2Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FaszNt9uDg/VDMdJrVhZdI/AAAAAAAAAic/NLZwoVc1JWI/s1600/Edit%2Bone.jpg" height="343" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-36648629892373448482014-05-21T16:49:00.001-07:002014-10-06T16:04:41.851-07:00Morning with Winston Churchill!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKeyeBZLbJA/U304nJi7S8I/AAAAAAAAAiM/Rupicki-QmY/s1600/DSCN0088+edit+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKeyeBZLbJA/U304nJi7S8I/AAAAAAAAAiM/Rupicki-QmY/s1600/DSCN0088+edit+4.jpg" height="383" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Winston Churchill</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1874-1965 </span></div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-80065436618892383812013-11-20T13:53:00.002-08:002013-11-25T14:30:28.035-08:00Public Exhibits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOVWEZuYS30/Uo0pXJ7-4XI/AAAAAAAAAhY/tnOubb8So5I/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOVWEZuYS30/Uo0pXJ7-4XI/AAAAAAAAAhY/tnOubb8So5I/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Over the years I have enjoyed holding public exhibits ... mostly in small cafes. For me, it is a lovely feeling to know that my paintings are hanging in the background silently cheering people on as they go about their day. This month my paintings are hanging at Cafe Lago in Lakeway, Texas ... a longtime favorite spot! All month long I have found myself wondering ... is anyone smiling today ... hope so! mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-58877383118297147962013-06-19T07:40:00.000-07:002013-08-12T18:30:14.944-07:00Friendship<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7vXtRmQ030/UcDkoTisLPI/AAAAAAAAAfI/AgGefVJi3BA/s1600/HPIM4184_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7vXtRmQ030/UcDkoTisLPI/AAAAAAAAAfI/AgGefVJi3BA/s320/HPIM4184_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This little sketch is on its way to Sweden to surprise a dear old friend ... it is a celebration of the 25 years of friendship we have enjoyed in the Texas Hill Country ... happy, happy summer Anne Marie! mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-68578884328936061632013-04-21T17:18:00.000-07:002013-06-26T21:14:40.578-07:00Time to Wake Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mMcycYWPts/UXR9B2oN03I/AAAAAAAAAeo/evj1a2VDzVw/s1600/HPIM3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mMcycYWPts/UXR9B2oN03I/AAAAAAAAAeo/evj1a2VDzVw/s400/HPIM3875.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tzDeQ16jWa8/UXR9J5QmcdI/AAAAAAAAAew/1zRN7AeKA2g/s1600/HPIM3916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tzDeQ16jWa8/UXR9J5QmcdI/AAAAAAAAAew/1zRN7AeKA2g/s400/HPIM3916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Enjoyed three sweet days this week at a bed and breakfast near Fredericksburg ... lovely!! One of the many highlights of our visit was this charming rooster ... who not only sang us awake each morning with his "cock-a-doodle-doo" ... but kept us in stitches climbing the porch steps to our front door! Waking up to an alarm clock ... will just seem plain boring now!mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-14414200140431983772013-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:002013-08-12T16:06:14.929-07:00Children Copy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cv8nmds82U/UWXgeDAlHXI/AAAAAAAAAeY/-OSXAMGgExE/s1600/HPIM3800-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cv8nmds82U/UWXgeDAlHXI/AAAAAAAAAeY/-OSXAMGgExE/s320/HPIM3800-edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Children copy ... always do your best."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jacques d'Amboise</span></div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-49979260047575998782013-03-07T13:22:00.001-08:002013-08-12T16:06:40.069-07:00What comes from the heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZUydjCVkN4/UgljHj70wFI/AAAAAAAAAgY/IBTL6gRJ72M/s1600/HPIM3721+pshop+edit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZUydjCVkN4/UgljHj70wFI/AAAAAAAAAgY/IBTL6gRJ72M/s320/HPIM3721+pshop+edit+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"What comes from the heart</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">goes to the heart."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Samuel Taylor Coledridge</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(1772 -1834) </span></div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-43837026477307748402012-11-16T10:36:00.002-08:002013-08-12T16:06:59.517-07:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KETmqIJhKHc/UglkpbEWZXI/AAAAAAAAAgo/RBmhG0TOyxI/s1600/HPIM3660+psedit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KETmqIJhKHc/UglkpbEWZXI/AAAAAAAAAgo/RBmhG0TOyxI/s320/HPIM3660+psedit+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"To sit with a dog</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on a hillside on a </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
glorious afternoon </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
... doing nothing ...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was peace."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Milan Kundera</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1921 -</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-36333760324513797012012-11-06T13:16:00.001-08:002013-08-12T15:51:12.111-07:00Anatole France on Animals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A0yyt3Ksar0/UglmyDj6IKI/AAAAAAAAAg4/oPVBXhjM3Io/s1600/HPIM3622+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A0yyt3Ksar0/UglmyDj6IKI/AAAAAAAAAg4/oPVBXhjM3Io/s400/HPIM3622+edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Until one has loved</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an animal, a part of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one's soul remains</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
unawakened."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anatole France</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">1844 - 1924</span> </div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-30936001817506210692012-11-01T20:48:00.001-07:002013-08-12T16:07:19.815-07:00Robert Louis Stevenson on Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ds-ejbsqeqQ/Uglpzzz0heI/AAAAAAAAAhI/Adobuo32sI0/s1600/HPIM3601+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ds-ejbsqeqQ/Uglpzzz0heI/AAAAAAAAAhI/Adobuo32sI0/s320/HPIM3601+edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"You think dogs </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
will not be in heaven?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I tell you, they will be </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
there long before</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
any of us."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Robert Louis Stevenson</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1850 - 1894 </div>
<br />
<br />mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-42616930962252048242012-10-01T17:19:00.000-07:002012-10-01T20:38:08.397-07:00Good bye Sweet Lizzie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhPKb_nACJE/UGoxTnBn2KI/AAAAAAAAAco/FHHfaV7RRxc/s1600/Lizzie%2Bin%2BUvalde.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhPKb_nACJE/UGoxTnBn2KI/AAAAAAAAAco/FHHfaV7RRxc/s400/Lizzie%2Bin%2BUvalde.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for a lifetime of happy memories ... our time together was pure joy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
April 8, 1998 to August 1, 2012</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Photo courtesy: Sandy Hurwitzmary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-14121935645176097882012-09-29T16:35:00.000-07:002012-11-06T13:17:32.172-08:00Edith Wharton on Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsv5Px2tTpI/UGeFWFV_U6I/AAAAAAAAAcU/CbUi5ZvAJq0/s1600/HPIM3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wsv5Px2tTpI/UGeFWFV_U6I/AAAAAAAAAcU/CbUi5ZvAJq0/s400/HPIM3537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"My little dog</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
... a heartbeat at my feet."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Edith Wharton</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1862 - 1937</div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-5018518953896096032012-09-22T16:52:00.000-07:002012-11-06T13:26:07.543-08:00Max Eastman on Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aOdXBZgdb4o/UF5OsAKrE8I/AAAAAAAAAbM/7zxd1i4Q6YU/s1600/HPIM3508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aOdXBZgdb4o/UF5OsAKrE8I/AAAAAAAAAbM/7zxd1i4Q6YU/s320/HPIM3508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Dogs laugh, but </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they laugh with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
their tails." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Max Eastman</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1883-1969</div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-37245996382488611212012-09-19T11:09:00.001-07:002012-11-06T13:21:56.379-08:00P. S. Cicero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P3ChYmIKvmE/UFoJTWDnrlI/AAAAAAAAAao/t6CBzcac8p8/s1600/HPIM3492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P3ChYmIKvmE/UFoJTWDnrlI/AAAAAAAAAao/t6CBzcac8p8/s320/HPIM3492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"If you have a garden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and a library, you </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
have everything</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you need." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cicero </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
106 BC - 43 BC</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
P.S. and a dog ... you must have, at least, one dog.</div>
mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-15569620875806793452012-07-12T02:10:00.000-07:002012-07-14T18:50:23.645-07:00Fredericksburg, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN7RbH_Z8Xc/T_6IixGW1UI/AAAAAAAAAaY/xBennDBrvfM/s1600/HPIM3288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN7RbH_Z8Xc/T_6IixGW1UI/AAAAAAAAAaY/xBennDBrvfM/s320/HPIM3288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Lizzie and I have returned to the Hill Country ... we are sooooo happy! <br />
Our first night home was spent at Settler's Crossing, a charming "bed and breakfast" right outside of Fredericksburg. As we drove down the lane to our little cottage, there were two adorable donkeys grazing by the road ... throughout our visit ... we could hear the music of their braying across the pasture. As evening fell, a gentle rain soaked the night air while we slept peacefully in our beds. When morning came, a rooster crowed, chickens scratched about in the yard and a flock of curious sheep peered out at us from under a tree! We both stared back in absolute awe! After everyone wandered away, Lizzie stepped down from the porch to roll in the grass while I sat on the porch, in a white wicker chair, soaking it all into my heart!! How perfect was that for our first night back in the Hill Country? Pretty darn perfect! <br />
<br />mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-29622623462569114242012-06-08T22:30:00.000-07:002012-06-08T22:30:00.638-07:00Thank you, Gabrielle Vincent!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rhy-JnmWiw/T9KqKEZ5cBI/AAAAAAAAAaM/E9as7D1Siy0/s1600/HPIM3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rhy-JnmWiw/T9KqKEZ5cBI/AAAAAAAAAaM/E9as7D1Siy0/s320/HPIM3235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
While packing up for our move to the Hill Country, I stumbled across an old friend... <i>Merry Christmas Ernest and Celestine. </i>Thirty years after discovering this lovely story with the amazing drawings ... it remains one of my all time favorites! There are more than a dozen picture books in the Ernest and Celestine series ... and each one is a delightful celebration of friendship! Thank you, Gabrielle Vincent!mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-68921624436649980472012-04-15T06:35:00.003-07:002012-04-15T06:38:43.973-07:00Meister Eckhart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9fCYJzBJnA/T4rPQXqenAI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/Wtvr-IlGXxY/s1600/HPIM3054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9fCYJzBJnA/T4rPQXqenAI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/Wtvr-IlGXxY/s400/HPIM3054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731621355919416322" /></a><br />"if the only prayer<br />you say<br />in your whole life<br />is 'Thank You',<br />that would suffice."<br /><br />Meister Eckhart<br />(1260 - 1327)mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-38188499219316755582012-04-08T18:14:00.014-07:002012-04-16T20:49:00.273-07:00Happy Birthday Lizzie!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG288S4sHxQ/T4I6ecC1rCI/AAAAAAAAAZs/LL1s7goo-4M/s1600/HPIM3037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jG288S4sHxQ/T4I6ecC1rCI/AAAAAAAAAZs/LL1s7goo-4M/s400/HPIM3037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729205970567277602" /></a><br />Today, Lizzie is 14 years old ... unbelievable ... where did the time go?? To celebrate, we have just returned from a walk around the duck pond ... one of our favorites! While there ... we met Isabella, a four year old charmer who treated Lizzie to a BIG birthday hug ... before skipping off to visit the ducks! It was a truly sweet moment on this very special day! How lucky were we?mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-56375310726367237592012-01-01T05:20:00.000-08:002012-01-01T05:35:16.873-08:00Good year ... good health!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP8zb1PAbpI/TwBem8KLLTI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Xmbi3aR9XGA/s1600/HPIM2981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP8zb1PAbpI/TwBem8KLLTI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Xmbi3aR9XGA/s400/HPIM2981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692653952073149746" /></a><br />Happy New Year everyone! <br /><br />Hope <span style="font-style:italic;">2012<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> will be a very good year at your house!mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-68845425054895662542011-12-21T16:54:00.000-08:002011-12-21T17:04:07.341-08:00A lovely thing about Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnAVkkuy1TQ/TvKB5fw9E9I/AAAAAAAAAZI/uYXqDyplxI8/s1600/HPIM2969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnAVkkuy1TQ/TvKB5fw9E9I/AAAAAAAAAZI/uYXqDyplxI8/s400/HPIM2969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688752104101712850" /></a><br />"A lovely thing about Christmas<br />is that it's compulsory, like a<br />thunderstorm, and we all go through <br />it together."<br /><br />Garrison Keillormary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-69742753494427566682011-12-20T19:10:00.000-08:002011-12-20T19:22:42.903-08:00Mary Ellen Chase<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVHm7yJZpnw/TvFPyojlvvI/AAAAAAAAAYw/c43DM0m6pVc/s1600/HPIM2966.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVHm7yJZpnw/TvFPyojlvvI/AAAAAAAAAYw/c43DM0m6pVc/s400/HPIM2966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688415535644393202" /></a><br />"Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind."<br /><br />Mary Ellen Chase<br />(1887-1973)mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-48459051686788753822011-12-14T20:07:00.000-08:002011-12-14T20:12:42.158-08:00I will honor Christmas in my heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3t5jHhQTUyI/Tulzjwonk-I/AAAAAAAAAYk/lUkn-e5p6BU/s1600/HPIM2923.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3t5jHhQTUyI/Tulzjwonk-I/AAAAAAAAAYk/lUkn-e5p6BU/s400/HPIM2923.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686203062719845346" /></a><br />"I will honor Christmas in my heart, <br />and try to keep it all year."<br /><br />Charles Dickens<br /><br />9" x 12"<br />Strathmore Bristol Papermary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-53672327191371133712011-11-29T09:58:00.000-08:002011-11-29T15:58:52.977-08:00Pineapple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gnhGb-wTzKc/TtUePfZmpmI/AAAAAAAAAYY/HJox4oPWnR8/s1600/HPIM2878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gnhGb-wTzKc/TtUePfZmpmI/AAAAAAAAAYY/HJox4oPWnR8/s400/HPIM2878.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680479756473509474" /></a><br />9" x 12"<br />Strathmore Bristol Papermary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-16177280945063645322011-11-28T09:35:00.001-08:002011-11-28T09:38:59.186-08:00Tangerines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lj_z8PeNVIA/TtPG5Z0c4pI/AAAAAAAAAYM/vuEk0Zfp0nU/s1600/HPIM2738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lj_z8PeNVIA/TtPG5Z0c4pI/AAAAAAAAAYM/vuEk0Zfp0nU/s400/HPIM2738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680102244530053778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBleJHRxDuk/TtPGrxnk3tI/AAAAAAAAAYA/_j7kNGP-doI/s1600/HPIM2739.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBleJHRxDuk/TtPGrxnk3tI/AAAAAAAAAYA/_j7kNGP-doI/s400/HPIM2739.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680102010400333522" /></a><br />9"x12"<br />Strathmore Bristol Papermary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-739279513129024314.post-35820241652214058032011-11-27T19:01:00.000-08:002011-12-20T19:30:23.212-08:00Cherries and Cantaloupe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QARY-pDpCBs/TtL78fZhKeI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/XwHepq3SZV4/s1600/HPIM2824.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QARY-pDpCBs/TtL78fZhKeI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/XwHepq3SZV4/s400/HPIM2824.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679879096706869730" /></a><br />Other than pasta and chocolate ... I believe I could happily live on nothing but fruit! Cherries, cantaloupe, pineapple, kiwi, peaches, blueberries, bananas, grapes, oranges, mangoes, papayas, figs, apples, tangerines and watermelon ... no wonder fruit keeps popping up in my sketchbook!<br /><br />Oops ... spell check just "got me" ... seems I misspelled cantaloupe on my sketch! Ssssssssssh!mary ellen mckenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285967338321495208noreply@blogger.com0