Love deeply. Laugh. Cry. Talk to God. Be realistic about the to-do list. Stay in touch. Hug. Dream. Smile. Break Bread often with Family. Spend Time with your Girlfriends. Shop til you Drop! Extend Grace. Be Quick to Forgive and Slow to Anger. Walk. Breathe. Sing. Dance. Read. Eat Chocolate. Savor a Good Glass of Wine. Wiggle your Toes. Sleep well. Life is Good!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

It's Z-Day!

It's Z-Day!
Finally!!



I was gonna be obviously lazy and post some expected quirky  zebra print items that caught my eye on Pinterest.   You know the first thing most people think of associated with the letter Z is zebra!  But we had a pleasant surprise this morning and I thought I'd share that with you instead.  Don't be disappointed!  I have a Z word to go along with it!!  


ZOOM!!!  ZOOM!!!  ZOOM!!!  
(photography lingo!)


My youngest daughter a/k/a "Small Child" is a shutterbug!  Both our daughters are!  Read about Jennifer here and Lindsay here! Anywho!  Small Child entered several pieces of her photography in a couple of local events.  She was called this morning by the Mobile SPCA and advised her entry was in the final ten!  It will be featured along with the other semi-finalists in the May issue of Mobile Bay.  There will be an opportunity for the public to vote!  Stay tuned!!


Photo by Lindsay Keller (Virtuous Photography)



Go Z-Z, Go!!!
Appropriately, "Z-Z" is what our 
granbaby girl calls her Aunt Lindsay!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Y ...



Yes, It has been a rainy, dreary, chilly couple of weeks in the deep south.  It'll take awhile for things to dry out enough to get the garden started.  I've been slowly, but surely tackling the (before spring) to-do list.  This week, I'm determined to finish my 2011 biz paperwork and a detailed watercolor.  





Our Granbaby girl, Keller, 
may be spending the weekend with us!
Yes!




We expect our second granbaby
in October!
Yes!





Garden Season is almost within my grasp!
Yes!



I'm gearing up for "canning season" 
with new pantry shelving!!!
Yes!
600# load limit per shelf!  Lots of room for canning jars!!


I've got to focus on strengthening my ankles 
after being in a boot and on crutches.
{moan} Yes!



I need to focus on another round of juicing 
- inflammation has returned.
Perhaps it's more a permanent 
change of diet I should focus on.
{another moan}  Yes!



But today, I must focus on the issue of procrastination.
Something I was determined to complete 
before the end of  February.
It's the end of February.  Ugh.  Already.
Can I get one more Yes?   
I'll report back at the end of the day. 
We'll see!




I'm nearing the end of the alphabet!  Aren't you glad?
Yes!




I have a new personal challenge coming up for March!  
Stay tuned!


Monday, February 27, 2012

X ...

Do you remember that jingle ...
da, da, da, da, you need the X that Axion's got?
I know!!!  Corny, right?!   
Grasping at straws, you ask?  Yeah.


I'm not gonna try to impress anyone by tossing around words like Xyris, Xylobalsamum, Xiphioid, Xanthocarpous and Xyridaceious just to blog about the letter X.  Nope.  The only impressive thing is that each of those words are, or are relative to, plant life!  Odd things.  Unlike the plants in my garden, which are more common.  X-tra large cucumbers!  X-tremely delicious tomatoes!  X-cellent collard greens!  I could go on about being very X-cited about the upcoming gardening season and installing more X-travagant raised beds so we can raise an X-cess of produce!  But you've all heard that already!  I'm already planning how to X-tend the growing season past the summer months!  Okay!  I'll stop! 




Sunday, February 26, 2012

W . . .


Who? What? Where? When? Why?

What do Greeks say when they don't understand something?

Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know the batteries are dead?

Why are the little styrofoam pieces called peanuts?

Why does a pizza arrive faster than an ambulance?

Why did Ginger have so many outfits when they were only going on a three hour tour?

What's another word for "thesaurus"?

Why order a double cheeseburger, a large fry, and then a diet coke?

What if we had lost WWII?

Why is it that before 9/11 they always did the emergency broadcast system test, and on 9/11 they never used it?

Why aren't there any father-in-law jokes?

Why do they call it "getting your dog fixed" if afterwards it doesn't work anymore?

What happens when you get scared half-to-death twice?

Why does Bugs Bunny walk around the cartoon naked, 
but put a bathing suit on when he goes swimming?

Why does lemonade mix have artificial flavoring but dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons?

Who was Sadie Hawkins anyway?

What if the chicken didn't cross the road?

Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

Why are you in a movie, but you're on TV?

Why is it when two planes almost hit each other, it's called a "near miss"?

Why do we say "it's colder than hell outside"?

Saturday, February 25, 2012

V is for . . .

VACATION or OWN!
Dauphin Island, Alabama
(I have no shame!)

We have two condo rentals available
and both, plus one more (three), for sale!

UNIT 3D

Pass Chateau Townhome - Condo Unit 3D
Dauphin Island, Alabama

Tastefully furnished.  Ready to move in! 
3 Bedrooms/3.5 baths
Fully equipped kitchen w/walk-in pantry.
All linens and towels furnished.
Washer/Dryer.  Tile/carpet.
Central Heat/Air.  Ceiling fans.  Fireplace
TVs/DVD Player.  Balconies each level.  
Ample storage and large closets each level.
2nd Floor - 2 bedrooms w/full private bathrooms.
3rd floor Master Suite with jetted tub.
Ample parking and outside storage.
Grill.  Private boat lift.
Three pools (one right outside the door)! 
Marina next door. Bike trail adjacent to property.
Restaurants/Rodeo Site/Shopping are walking distance.
Half hour from Mobile.  Ferry to Gulf Shores.
Gated Community.
No pets.  No smoking.

For Rent:  $1,650/weekly (Sat-Sat)
Off-Season rates available!
Damage deposit and cleaning fee separate.
OR
For Sale:  $339,000

~

Unit 6D

Pass Chateau Townhome - Condo Unit 6D
Dauphin Island, Alabama

Tastefully furnished.  Ready to move in! 
2 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths
Fully equipped kitchen w/walk-in pantry.
All linens and towels furnished.
Washer/Dryer.  Tile/carpet.
Central Heat/Air.  Ceiling fans.  Fireplace
TVs/DVD Player.  Balconies each level.  
Large closets each level.
2 bedrooms w/full private bathrooms.
Queen-size sofa sleeper.
Elevator!
Ample parking and outside storage.
Grill.  Private boat lift. 
Three pools (one right outside the door)! 
Marina next door. Bike trail adjacent to property.
Restaurants/Rodeo Site/Shopping are walking distance.
Half hour from Mobile.  Ferry to Gulf Shores.
Gated Community.
No pets.  No smoking.

For Rent: $1,350/weekly (Sat to Sat)
Off-Season Rates Available!
Damage deposit and cleaning fee separate.
OR
For Sale:  $325,000



Beautiful Views!


Beautiful Sunsets!



Reserve NOW for Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo!


Leave message if interested in renting or buying!
"Ready" to unload these units and move on!
Email @ kell7872@bellsouth.net
Reference: condo or it'll be spam filed!
or call 251-510-8022 - Leave message re: "condo"
or call will be dismissed as Spam!


You Know you NEED a Vacation!


NO SOLICITORS/REALTORS PLEASE!

Friday, February 24, 2012

U . . .




'nuff said . . .

Thursday, February 23, 2012

T is for .....

Togetherness!

"Togetherness" is a phrase coined by my sister, Tammy.




Anytime she gathers with someone to spend time, 
it's "togetherness" and a means for celebration!  
To meet someone with open arms and joy 
(no matter if you saw them only yesterday) 
is a "good thing" and it has become 
more than just a Tammy thing!

Embrace someone today!!
It's good for both souls!  


The other Ts in the family!
~ Toni, Terri, Tammy and Traci ~

(don't laugh!  We had cousins named
Vicki, Valerie, Vance and Vondale!)

To this day I don't know who Mom and Dad got to play Santa.
I vividly remember getting out of bed and looking around the corner 
into the living room to see Santa Claus putting gifts under the tree!
Wait! Who am I kidding?!  There is a Santa Claus!  Right?!!

That's me third from the right.
Those were my first Easter shoes with 1" heels.
Daddy told me I'd break my neck in those!

 Another Easter ... at Petie's
Double knit was fashionable!
Note: Tammy has on her play clothes under her Easter pants slacks!


 Boots were high stylin!
Notice my knee socks over the knee above the boots?!!!
Rebellious child!



 Love those expressions!!
Toni:  Really?
Tammy:  Huh?
Traci:  I see the light!
Me:  Just get this over with.


 I've lost count of how many different shots 
of this sitting there are floating around!


TOGETHERNESS!!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

S is for . . .



Snoopy Dance!
for many reasons!



Seeds . . . Gardening season is right around the corner!

Oh boy! Oh boy!
Can't wait to get out there and start planting my garden!!
I tried starting a lot of things from seed this year.
Not a total success ... had to buy a few transplants.




Seasonings and Spices
Yes! This is an extension of my pantry.  
Relocated most of the dry goods (pictured along with baking items, etc)
to a wall in my studio because my canning projects 
took over the heavier shelves of the pantry.




Smith and Wesson
safety instruction and practice!

Didn't do too bad for a girl!
Loaded and shot the 38, the 45 and the shotgun!!
Not as scared of the guns as I was the day before!







Oh! And, in case you missed "R" yesterday!
Surprise!




The family went to dinner Saturday evening in the downpour.
We ordered ice-cream with hot fudge sauce to share.  
This is what one of the waitresses put on the table. 
It took me a couple of seconds!
We're having another granbaby!!!





Tuesday, February 21, 2012

R . . . is for


REPRODUCING!!!


(another granbaby on the way!!)

Sunday, February 19, 2012





The Queen Mother
is gonna be awol from 
blogging the next few days!
I'll be back in time to kick-off Lent!

Saturday, February 18, 2012




Thy Will be done.

The Prayer that never fails.



Friday, February 17, 2012

Oh Lawd!!

Oh Lawd!!
LOL!











Read out loud!





















Thursday, February 16, 2012

99 Bottles of ..... oops!


N is for the



Ninety-Nine Places I frequent online
 (and in real life too!)
There aren't in any particular order ... 
just playing beat-the-clock to get them up!


1.  Well, if you're reading this you know the most frequent place already!
2.  And  my Facebook Page!
3.  My Daughter's Blog at The White House!
4.  Soulshine Gallery (photography)  (Baby's Girl's)
5.  Virtuous Photography (Small Child's)
6.   Overflow International - a great local Christian group that works disasters!
7.   Ardith, one of my BFFs Blogs!
8.   Flip Flops and Pearls Blog!
9.   Carolynn at Organized Heart!
10. Lori at Tales from the Homestead!
11. I visit Nancy Asbell daily for Grace Notes!  There are also art tips and beautiful paintings there!
12. Visit Carissa at Lowercase Letters for a Miscellany Monday linky party!
13.  Follow me on Pinterest!
14. Inspirational Reading at Thy Hand Hath Provided
15. Canning Granny indulges my love for canning!!
16.  My Personal Art Page at tkellerart.com
17.  Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour!
18.  Rumer - her voice!
19.  Smitten Kitchen!
20.  ARTOLOGY! a local gallery!
21.  NOLA artist, Denise Bourgeois!
22.  A Holy Experience!
23.  Michael English Midnight Cry (you tube)
24.  Visit the Gallery at Metro Glass!  It's where my work is hanging!
25.  Read about the adventures of Found Baby!
26.  Simply Canning makes it seem so easy!
27.  The 5 Princesses on Etsy
28.  Harvest to Table
29.  Reboot Your Life with Juicing!
30.  Gardening!
31.  Local Weather Man on Facebook!
32.  Another Local Gallery:  Kangal Gallery at the Sail Loft
33.  Rachel at  Finding Joy!
34.  My Fave Clutterbusting Site!
35.  Ree Drummond ~ The Pioneer Woman!
36.  Follow another local on Facebook!  The Host Gallery
37.  Basil Momma - Foodie Blog!
38.  Check out some cute stuff on Etsy at Jewelry by Jenn!
39.  Savory Sweet Life ~ mmmmmmmmmm
40.  Lots and lots of gardening info at  Hobby Farms!
41.  Cold Creek Homestead on Facebook
42.  Bulk herb Store is where I order most of my dried herbs from!
43.  Azure Standard is where I order most of my spices from!
44.  Julia Street Farm - another little local farm in the big city!
45.  Visit Tom at Tall Clover Farm!
46.  Hooterville! (another friend's blog)
47.  Food Thoughts Of a Chef Wannabe on Facebook!
48.  Lots of good health advice from Craig Stellpflug!
49.  Daphne's Dandelions
50.  Beautiful photography by Michael Mastro!
51.  Just across the Bay!  ♥  Fairhope, Alabama
52.  The Ugly Gardener ~ Nobody said it would be pretty!
53.  Need motivating?  You'll find lots of it on Drexel's site!
54.  Gramma's in the Kitchen   
55.   I ♥ Lydia's work!
56.  The Kitchen ~ 'nuff said!
57.  Hard work can made for an easier life!  Find out at Easy Living the Hard Way
58.  Modern Alternatives Mama - There are other ways!
59.  Local artist, Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough
60   Lacking space?  Try Container Gardening!
61.  Check out what you can grow in the shade at the Organic Gardening site!
62.  Visit Val Webb at The Illustrated Garden!
63.  What's happening around the state?  Look here!
64.  If you run on "garden time" you'll like the Northwest Edible Life!
65.  A place to learn about autoimmune issues.
66.  Check out my brother-in-law's artwork!
67.  Tips!!!  Frugally Sustainable
68.  Check out the yummies at the Wednesday Chef!
69.  Another, somewhat, local gallery!  The Garage in Point Clear, Alabama!
70.  Ever wanted to know how to successfully grow a pineapple?  I have four plants!
71.  Heal Thyself with some advice from Natural Life Magazine
72.  Check out these beautiful door wreaths at Janet's Wreaths!
73.  The Health Hut  is one of my fave local health food stores!
74.  Virginia's is the other!!
75.  Go Organic!!!  Shop The Fresh Market!
76.  Hurricane Season is not far away .... log in to Wunderground !!
77.  Currently reading Mockingjay (Third book of The Hunger Games)! Movie coming!
78.  I love Square Foot Gardening!
79.  Home away from home at Dauphin Island!
80.  The Urban Spoon has a good review of one of our faves, The Big Time Diner!
81.  Need some crockpot recipes?  Check out A Year of Slow Cooking at Crockpot 365!
82.  NOLA online!
83.  Oodles and oodles of Recipes!
84.  Foodies!!!  Commence drooling!  Food!!! Food!!! and more Food!!!
85.  Blog Hungry is on my list of things to make!!
86.  How cute!!  Toys made from your child's drawings!
87.  Barefeet and Blue Jeans!
88.  Chocolate Recipes!
89.  Mother Earth News
90.  Be prepared for your tummy to growl at Sweet Caroline's Cooking!
91.  Need a condo?  Sale or Rent!
92.  Yum!!! The Big Red Kitchen
93.  Cute Blog! Little Farm in the Big City
94.  Peppermint Plum Yum!
95.  Four Sisters Farm - My mom had four daughters!  Dynamics!!
96.  Homemade Living Everyday at Small Measure
97.  Moo Said the Mama -  Tomato powder!  Yes!  I got mine from Azure (#43)!
98.  Shortcut cooking with Chef Tess Bakeresse! (dehydrated and freeze dried recipes)
99.  Lots of Gardening info at Proven Winners!





Wednesday, February 15, 2012

M is for . . .



1.  Mom(s) 

My Mom!  1940-2009

"Petie"  my 'nother mother!

My Stepmom!!




2.  The Gallery at Metro Glass!
yup!  There is a gallery at Metro!
See work by local artist, Terri Keller (me!)
and local photographer, Jennifer Keller White!
Check it out!

Original Artwork!

Prints!  Framed/unframed! 

Organic Bloom Frames in stock!!





3.  Mardi Gras!

Moonpies!

MASKS!
and 

MAYHEM!




4.  Monkeys!
Monkey holding a bowl in my studio!
Monkey lamp on my desk!
Dining Room Chandelier!
Silly Monkey from Bush Gardens!

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