Wilson's Woodpecker

Last week I went to see the closing exhibit at the newly renovated Nation Sporting Library.

The little gem of the show, in my humble opinion, was Mrs. Bunny Mellon's book of

North American Birds by the great ornithologist, Alexander Wilson. 

Published in 1802, the book was opened to the plate illustrating a willow oak and pileated woodpecker.

Now I know why they encase these precious works behind glass. It's much easier to clean up the drool. 

It would be a slice of heaven to be able to turn all of the pages.

hint. hint.

Heart Entwined

Two new lovelies in my shop this eve!

I'm a bit of a romantic as you might already know and Sundays can't come soon enough.

 Downton Abbey is on Masterpiece Theater tonight and I'm ever hopeful 

that Lady Mary will soon profess her love to Matthew Crawley.

Only time will tell.

Genesis

I just finished reading The Seven Daughters of Eve.

A genetic study which traces our lineage back thousands of years to seven women.

Needless to say it was a fascinating read and the book of Genesis and beginnings came to mind.
Hence the funny little illustration of Adam and Eve.

Mother sent me a baby fig tree for Christmas,
A cutting rooted from her own tree, which was from my Uncle's tree, 
which was from my Nana's tree. We sure do love figs in our family. 
I hope I can keep my ancestral tree alive.

I'm going to start adding this series of little musings my Etsy shop today.

Epiphany

Double doves top our tree on this evening of the Epiphany.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love said to me,

It's time to say goodbye to the tree.

***

It's hard to believe it's been three and a half years with Etsy 
and three years of Golly Bard's Drawing Room. The time has flown by so fast.

Hundreds of paintings made and hundreds sold. 
I am so very grateful and admittedly a little weary too.

So I took things very slowly this week and enjoyed each day of Christmas and the New Year,

(which involved quite a lot of buttery cookies 
and a champagne punch called the velvet hammer),

 I revisited my early blog posts which were quirky and fun and frivolous. 

A nod to one of my favorite illustrators, Maira Kalman.

This year I want to recapture the little muse in each day and bring back 

that adventurous spirit of the early days.

So, I hope you'll join me here for another great year!

Leap

Thank you dearest readers, friends, and collectors for another fantastic year!

I am so grateful for your support and patronage.
Your kind messages and encouragement mean the world to me.

I wish you all the happiest new year!

My resolution for this year is to LEAP!

What's yours?

Piedmont Foxhounds

Watching the hunt go off just up the road at Peace & Plenty Farm!

Eve of Christmas

Christmas tunes have been playing all week.

We've trimmed the tree,

baked tons of cookies,

spruced up our little cottage,

and exhausted dear Birdie - if that's possible.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!