On my Front Porch

     On my front porch I have a wonderful Iron table with a glass top. My Husband and I love sitting out here. We had dinner and wine the other evening. It is so peaceful. We also play cards sometimes in the evening. So I wanted to try something different to add to the decor of my front porch. I found a wonderful turquoise bowl and a pretty Victorian candy dish with purple flowers painted on it at a little Thrift shop. I think I paid a quarter for the bowl and 2.50 for the little candy dish. Now, it's those little things  that make me happy. So as you saw in the picture I planted succulents in them and have them sitting on my table.  On my other table in front of my family room window I have a little wicker bird house. YES, there is a nest in it. I have been watching the little bird build it and she laid her eggs. I have really been checking on her a lot because last year a snake got my baby birds out of my hanging fern baskets. Yesterday I went to check on her and there were little tiny newborn babies in the nest. I can sit on my sofa in the family room by the window and watch the mother come and go. She is very careful not to fly right to the nest. She takes her time to scope things out so no one is watching. I am glad she is enjoying my front porch as much as I am.

Changing my Garden!

    This year my front yard is going to have a theme of the color PURPLE. My favorite color ever. We had to have our shrub's removed because they had gotten way to big after 15 years. The front of my house looks so naked now. I decided that instead of just adding  shrubs I was going to make it  have a Shabby Chic garden look. It will take so time to get it full and just the way I like it but I am having lots of fun creating it. I can't just add plants as you have seen. Do you like the bike? I will be adding something else soon that I want to surprise you with. Hopefully within the next week or so. Any suggestions on other perennials in purple I can plant? 

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary

  My Husband Wes and I were married April 26th, 25 years ago. We were meant to be. Of course, like every marriage there are the ups and downs. We seem to be able to handle the worst together so I believe that's why we were meant for each other. When times are tough that's when you need to believe in one another. There has got to be that trust, the love, and most of all, respect. It's funny when I think back to when we decided to start having children, we never really talked about how we were going to raise them except that they would be brought up Catholic. Everything just kind of came in place without even talking about it. Now 25 years later we have 2 beautiful, kind , loving, and respectful  daughter who are the world to us. We both love animals as our daughters Hilary and Hannah do. So that being said, we have a Great Dane, and 4 Shih Tzus, and a cat. Yes, the house gets crazy but it's our home and we love it.
  So, my two daughters surprised us with a wonderful 25th anniversary party.  It was truly a surprise. A friend of mine took me to an art festival and my husbands friend took him golfing. Never had a clue. When we got back to the house I walked in and saw my mom and didn't understand why she was there. Well it didn't take long before I saw how beautiful Hilary and Hannah put this party together. They had food set up and a bar in the screened porch, flowers everywhere. I couldn't have done it better. I was so shocked at what they had done. Well finally friends and relatives started to arrive. There was about 40 people in my house. It was a wonderful gift that we will cherish forever. I am so proud of them and so happy with my life.

We had a visitor Easter Sunday afternoon

   Not my favorite kind of visitor.I looked it up and I think it's an Eastern Kingsnake. He was trying to get between the boards on my back deck. I think we scared him when we went back there to sit and  relax after Easter dinner at my brother house.We have a  pitcher that was turned over and a little bird made a nest in it. I think he was after the babies.  Last year on my front porch I had 2 beautiful hanging ferns and the birds made a nest in them. I went out there everyday to check on the eggs and later the baby birds. The one nest had 4 babies in it. Then one day one was missing and the next day all were missing I don't know why I looked up in the corner of my porch where the ric rac was but there he was... The snake that ate my baby birds.So this Easter  Day when I saw this snake I was glad we scared him and my baby birds are safe at least one more day.

Paws For a Cause Event

 Today, April 9th I had a booth in Decatur Ga. for the Animal Action Rescue Group Event. There were many vendors, adoption, pet supplies, homemade biscuits, micro chips, pet photography, vet clinic and animal daycare. My booth was my  Pet Portrait business.  I met so many nice people and their wonderful pets. There were all kinds of dogs. The adoption booth was one booth I tried to say away from. I would have wanted to take them all home. I did bring two of my Shih Tzu's along and they made many friends. My husband, Wes came along to help me set up my booth and he even spent the whole day with me there instead of playing golf. He's a good man. it was a very fun and beautiful day. If you would like to visit my Pet Portrait Blog go to.. petportraitsbybeckykidd.blogspot.com

Special Friends of mine .

  Some very special friends of mine came by for my last day of my Pet Portrait Event in Lilburn, at The Little Shop of Arts and Antiques. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shinning, there was a wonderful flow of customers and my special friends came. The two pups helped make my day. They were so cute and had such cute personalities. I have to thank Barbara the owner of The Little shop of Arts and Antiques for inviting me to show my art at her shop. It is a must to visit her shop. There are so many wonderful treasures there and the shop is so inviting and friendly.  You could spend hours just sitting on her yellow love seat and visiting with her.

The Pet Portrait Event in Lilburn

    Just a few pictures of my Pet Portrait Event that was Saturday 19th of Feb. We had a great turnout. I was a beautiful day. Met the Mayor of Lilburn and many other nice people. Next week in Lilburn will be a celebration for Arbor Day. I will be showing my work until then. Antiques in Old Town which is across the street from The Little Shop of Arts and Antiques is having a raffle for a tree to plant in your yard and my raffle will continue til then for a 11X 14 custom pet portrait. My raffle cost $2.00 and the money will go to Animal Action Rescue. Visit there site at http://www.animalactionrescue.org/ You can register for the portrait raffle on their site or come to the shop. The 26th is the last day of the raffle. Winner will be notified the 28th. Good Luck!

The Event

I am looking forward to an exciting Saturday this Feb. 19th. From 12 til 3 I will be showing my Pet Portraits at The Little Shop Of Arts and Antiques, in the Old Town of Lilburn. My art will be display through the following weekend Sat. the 26th. I will be donating a custom 11 X 14 Pet Portrait to help raise funds for Animal Action Rescuse. When you come for the event or visit the shop you can enter to win. It cost $2.00 for the raffle. You may also visit the rescue site. http://www.animalactionrescues.org/.   The winner will be emailed by Monday Feb. 28th. Good Luck

REMINDER: The Little Shop of Arts and Antiques Show

I am looking forward for you to come visit me at my Pet Portraits Event Saturday, February 19th  from 11 to 3. My work will be displayed the following week as well, Thursday through Saturday. The Little Shop of Arts and Antiques is located in Lilburn, Ga. You will also enjoy looking at all the treasures in the shop.

Getting ready to show my work.

Busy, Busy, Busy!       I am getting ready to have a showing of my work at a shop in Liburn, Ga this February. Keep in touch for the dates and time. I am so excited to be able to share with you some of my paintings and the love I have for our fuzzy friends. It's a wonderful gift to give someone who loves their pet. I paint from a picture you take of your pet. More information will come soon so watch for upcoming posts.

Playing around with my paints. Kind of a WHIMSICL look!!!!!!!

  I thought I'd try something a little different today. I painted with a whimsical touch. 

Everyone Needs Love

So sweet. I could take them all home. There are so many of our fuzzy friends out there looking for a loving home. It's hard to look at those sad scared faces .  Everyone and everything needs love. If you are looking for something sweet to love you back, you need to look up your local resuce or pound and share your love. Hey, what a great gift for Valentines Day coming up! OWNER SURRENDER AVAILABLE NOW!  "Robin" (#2011 0072) VACCINATED AND DEWORMED! Breed:  Lab/Border Collie mix Sex: female, not spayed Age: approx. 2 months Weight: approx. 10 lbs Meds: DA2PPv; pyrantal deworm Required hold ends:  1/19/10       1/20/11: NO PENDING APPLICATIONS