Week 10 of Donna Downey's 48 Weeks Journal Workshop ~Dream with your Heart~

          Hello everyone I have been on a roll lately. Living in the fast lane.....working hard and with living on a farm in the summer I sworny LIFE couldn't be busier. What happened to free easy going summers of childhood.....stay up late catch fireflies or "lighting bugs" as I called them to sleeping in late having your friends waiting on your grandmas couch for me to get up so we could play outside all day....drink in the water-hose and wait for the ice cream man or the "fruit man" to come by in their trucks??? Yeah that was the carefree summers.....and of course making papier mache animals. Yep and listening to my aunt say "you are going to clean this mess up" well those days may be over for me....but those vivid memories still scream SUMMER. Although I work hard I also play hard....and still make my walks everyday (or at least we try). We have been up to our eyeballs in blueberries, blackberries, some peaches, and I have had a few figs here and there, they are coming soon tons of green ones this year. TOMATOES GALORE..........No joke its been a great year. Also I have had so many customers who bought my plants come back and tell me that these plants have been the "BEST" most prolific and "tallest" plants they have ever had. You know I'm doing the happy dance inside to know my little plant babies went on to live good lives and produce so well for others.....I have had the biggest thrill this year of hearing that over and over from folks who bought my plants!! #happydance
            So on to the painting,,,,,,,,uh? isn't that what the post is supposed to be about anyway???? Well I am actually multitasking as I type this from bouncing back in forth outside to laundry to folding laundry and adding a video on YouTube and cleaning up the bathroom off of my room. So yep its multitasking. All I can say is "WOW" not only do I go from one process to another "OMG" just amazing process! I can hardly believe how one painting is like my so called favorite and then you do another workshop and bam now its this one is the favorite. This class actually started in 2014 and here it is 2019 and I am just getting back to it. I am sorry I missed the time frame but not all of us can work on our art when we want to, but here I am now getting it done and the class is still available for purchase so its all GOOD!!!! Go to Donna Downey's Website 48 weeks so you can join in on the fun....and see which one of the painting becomes your favorite in your own process.

Here I have tried to show you the gold paint 

again the gold paint in more detail and I just love the "dream with your heart" stamp from Unity Stamps 

 Dreaming of her new adventures and what the future holds for her as she goes forward in search of the new beginnings......what lies ahead can be dreamed with your heart~ Dawn Gallop

the girl really made the whole final touch to the process 

 like I said many times over "Donna Downey" really makes you feel like your in her studio and you are painting with her....

note the layers 

the textures 

again in my happy little place on my porch 

This is that happy little place if you haven't seen it before 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REST OF THE WEEKS 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9

Well let me tell you about this little story....I ordered my first prescription Costa sunglasses when Dusty got his glasses which was a really big deal....first off I don't usually a so called name brand. I had justifications for this commitment one we work outside almost all day off and on....so the polarized glasses make them better for your eyes and much clearer. I did get the glass frames as I tried on a bunch and those were the best for me. You need to really protect your eyes well while in the sun. Two white with blue are the same glasses I had when I met Bruce and really never have seen glasses like that before much or ones for me....as Cathi said at the eye doctor (we have known Cathi since the girls were little) she used to live in Gates County and her daughter goes to school with Colten now. She has been working at the eye doctor as long as I can remember and Alexis, Amanda, and Crystal (now Dusty) have worn glasses forever. SO these COSTA prescription sunglasses are a pretty big deal....well it had been six weeks from the time I ordered as they are only made in the Costa lab and then shipped to the eye doctor with my prescription. So its been a right good wait well you know it is summer time.....

Yesterday morning while I was in the chicken coop she called and said UPS had just came and guess what was in the box....with a gift.....MY GLASSES on my birthday too! Yep yesterday I celebrated my 51st birthday.....wtf I always say I ask myself "how did I get here" (a lyric from the Talking Heads song) how did this happen, well it did and now I am 51! 

Bruce taking pics and me posing by the Costa Sunglass Case 

Snapchat 

The morning of my 51st Birthday 

NOW I HAVE SAVED THE BEST for LAST............

<<<<<<<<DRUMROLL PLEASE>>>>>>>

On Bruce's birthday and my brothers birthday Josh WE HAVE A NEW BABY GRANDSON

Levi Sebastian 

Congratulations to our son Bruce Jr. and daughter in law Kimberly for the birth of the fourth child

WOOOOHOOO 

Grandma again!!! 

He is so adorable of course I see my Jr. all over again....so tiny and precious.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Look at his tiny precious face and hands oh my goodness heart flutters 

BEAUTIFUL 

On Sunday I made a big dinner and they came over to visit, my aunt came too I made two cakes a pineapple upside down cake per Bruce's request and a German Chocolate Cake per Colby's request. 

I didn't take a pic of the pineapple one I cooked it in the cast iron skillet as Bruce likes the best. Everyone loved the pineapple cake the most they said. So I think perhaps Colby may request that one again. 

I had made Bruce his own tiny smash cake (extra cake batter) hehehe

This is the German Chocolate Cake and behind it is the Pineapple Upside Down Cake 

Always so much to talk about right.....well I better  close its now time to go collect eggs, make some  goat milk yogurt and finish up things outside.

Have a great week....

btw I am doing better from my sickness I was not feeling good for about two weeks....kept on going but it was hard. 

from my garden

Cyber hugs, 

Dawn Gallop 

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A Beautiful Day at the Smithfield Farmers Market

Hello lovelies!! I know (head hung low) I have been mia again....but short term not too long. I tell you sooo much to do and no time it seems, I know most DIYers know the whole scenario. So many ideas running thru your head and so little time. Well on Saturday April 18, 2015 it was another wonderful day at the Smithfield Farmers Market in Smithfield Virginia. It had been a very busy week the week leading up to the market day. The boys had their school science night on Tuesday the 14th, which of course meant science projects......finishing them up and getting them to school. I will share the science projects later. Oh yeah back to the farmers market, I made my pecan pies like always, and the maple cinnamon buns.  We had our wonderful Leaf Love Soaps, our It's All About #9 Farms eggs from our beautiful very much loved hens. We have even had many customers who have come back to us and told us "we have been looking all over the market for you guys" which makes us happy!! We only go every other week so we don't have a permanent site, we move around to accommodate the other vendors who also are not there every week. It all works out very well. We also had some of my handmade jewelry too. I am still working on a complete set up, since I rotate back and forth with art and craft shows and the farmers markets. 

One of the yummy pecan pies. I had sold several before the market.

I even used my pie slicer to make some of my customers wishes come true. They had asked for smaller pies and/or slices. Well you got your wish!

Here are the maple cinnamon buns which are absolutely out of this world amazing!! More pics of the pecan pies too.

Here is the whole set up. The art bags hanging up which the customers really enjoyed them, I got lots of great compliments on them.

I had some of my mixed media art jewelry too. The cuffs have been published in Cloth Paper Scissors Art Magazine. On my side bar you can see the actual cover of the magazine it was in.

Here are our wonderful Leaf Love Soaps. I had repeat customers and many who came back and told me how much they loved the soap......HAPPY MOMENT!!!

More pics of the our amazing Leaf Love Soaps.

We also have our african black soap which is totally exfoliating and has tremendous powers for the skin.

We also had our farm sign to represent all we have at the market, from the eggs, to baked goods, to soaps, home canned goods, and many fruits and vegetables. I have been working everyday in our huge gardens to make sure I am able to bring amazing goodness to the market as well as feed my own family. 

I also had all the adorable art bags to give as gifts for the soaps. I hand paint each and everyone of the 100% canvas bags using high grade art paints like Golden Paints, Liquitex Paints, and many more.

Another art bag I love the crab.....happy!

This has been one of my favorites so far. Love this art bag... Again HAPPY!

Fairy Lights who sells beautiful designs and who is a beautiful soul. I enjoyed talking to her and of course have my eye on a pair of earrings. You can find a list of the vendors HERE.

Doves Under the Son. Stunning works of hand crafted wood and walking sticks! You can find a list of some of the vendors HERE

Oh do we love springtime when planting is so precious and how all the farmers are here with the most gorgeous plants and trees. DK Arbor Nursery.

Look under the table! How PRESH!!!! (Kisses) DK Arbor Nursery

Sweets Enshante has yummy treats for your sweet tooth. She had her adorable little helpers too.

Windsor Castle Park

Handcrafted with Wood who I absolutely love and YES I did get the rolling pin I wanted!!! Score! ***note now all my art buddies we will even more rolling pins*** (for our pizza parties) CAN I HEAR A YAY! You can find a list of vendors HERE

Yep it's the third one from the left!! #love oh my they are stunning and not to mention the sweetest man you will ever meet and he is very knowledgable with chickens so of course we talked and talked!! My next purchase is going to be one of those beautiful wooded spoons! #happycook

See............ amazing #happycook ( this is my next purchase from HandCrafted with Wood)

See what I mean just GORGEOUS!

Fashionably Graphic who has works of art jewelry! Stunning dichroic glass, polymer clay pendants!  #swoon they even gave me a calendar. Thank you!!! The refrigerator magnet is perfect! ;o)

 See here is the info, stunning work! Fashionably Graphic

Another new so very sweet artist Marsh Landing she had home grown mushrooms.... Amazing! She sold out fast!! #soldout what every artist wants! WTG!!! (Extreme happy clapping here) See list of vendors HERE

The sweet yummy jams from Fresh Batch Jams. I bought the Aloha jam and oh my sweet yumminess at its BEST! #yum I loved her sample set up too, see below.

See the Aloha Jam oh my it is amazing! Fresh Batch Jams

Rainbow Gardens has lovely green goodness of plants! #iloveplants You can find a list of vendors HERE

I love my customers!!! Thank you for all your support we are so very THANKFUL!

Here I hung up the curtains for my girls who like privacy while laying their eggs.

They are very happy with nesting boxes. Here are some of my Rhode Island Reds. Each one has a unique personality.

Meet Petunia I'm really thinking she is saying Are you Serious? What do you think?

Baby Daisy says hello (technically she is saying pick me up mommy) 

They all love to use the same nesting box #communitynestingbox

Of course here are a few of my already 97 tomato plants. With these cooler night I added fresh compost around the bottoms to add heat, nitrogen, and protection. We dropped down to 37 degrees and 39 degrees. Tomatoes don't like their leaves wet nor do they like temperatures below 50 degrees.

As far as the eye can see plants. I have straight neck squash planted too, many seeds started carrots, peas ( which already have blooms on them), Swiss chard, gourds, radishes, onions, oh my so many! I love love love gardening.

Picture taken by Cheryl at the Smithfield Farmers Market. Thank you Cheryl!

Hope to see you at the market! 

Bye until next time! 

Eat healthy and be happy....

Cyber Hugs, 

Dawn Gallop

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