Lisa Vollrath gives it away...

Lisa is one of the internet's most generous artists. She routinely posts free clipart, tips, discounted products and more on her sites.

Beginning March 6th she is offering a countdown to St. Patrick's Day that reveals "a new paper crafting surprise" each day. Check it out yourself: Lisa's St. Patrick's Day Countdown.

Patrick must have suffered greatly being captured and taken from his family as a young man and made a slave. After escaping his captors six years later, he returned to Ireland to fulfill direction he heard in his prayers from God to bring Christianity to Ireland. He no doubt met with resistance from Druid Priests. As any a wise missionary will do, Patrick used many of the practices of the time and incorporated them in the religious Christian practices he was bringing to the natives of Ireland at the time. The most recognizable of these being the Sun symbol he took from Druid practice and placed at the center of the Christian cross...



















and the shamrock he used to "prove" the trinity.

If you think bringing Christianity to Ireland by an Englishman was a good thing, you will give thanks to Patrick.

If you thing bringing free stuff to you by an artist is a good thing, you will give thanks to Lisa!

Sitting inside on a sunny day

I wish this was me playing but it ain't. Anyway, it says what I'm feeling today...

Bonasa umbellus

Sitting on the couch, which is about all I do these days, some motion outside my window caught my eye. Upon inspection from my bedroom window I discovered I had four Ruffed Grouse eating buds on one of my apple trees. I was never able to get a shot of all four as they were scattered widely in the tree.















Bonasa umbellus, by the way, comes from the drumming sound this grouse makes, which was thought to sound like the bellowing of a bull bonasus or European bison.

Greyhounds

My friend and colleague LJL took me to a Greyhound Meet ’n’ Greet a while back.

I had the pleasure of going with her and her mother while they picked a dog several months ago. Star was the first one they brought out. A fairly young adoptee, by greyhound racing dog retiree standards. She wasn't a good race dog. To her advantage, because now she gets to live in a home and sleep on a couch instead of living crammed into a crate most of the time. Thank dog.

Here she is along with a few other shots.

Tell me, tell me, tell me true

What is the first beverage you drink in the morning?
	coffee
	tea
	cola
	water
	milk
	soy beverage
	other carbonated beverage
	other