master naturalist in training

RAY ARMSTRONG~ bird photographer and my fathersome fun photos to enjoyCLICK TO ENLARGE so you can read them

2012-02-15T13:30:00.001-05:00

today's nature walk~praying mantis egg casemy very first egg case find!

2012-02-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

Privet berries

Black locust thorns~ I think

Praying mantis egg case

more berries

waiting to find out!

NATURE INTERPRETATION~a course in teaching

2012-02-12T13:35:00.001-05:00

THROUGH the glass at Oglebay Zoo...

It was a fun day, learning how to stimulate interest and excitement in people about nature and their surroundings.
I ended up at the window bird feeder snapping close ups of cardinals, the titmouse,juncos, sparrows, and chickadees...all worth the trip to Oglebay Zoo!
Here are some of my captures...

the oh so gorgeous female cardinal

her mate, waiting patiently for a chance

at the feeder

the favored nuthatch

they are so entertaining...

CLASS HAS BEGUN!this is my second week of classes for the MN program so fantastic!

2012-02-04T23:49:00.003-05:00

today's class offered us a picture perfect view of the lovely soft snowfall...

the train tracks that go around Good Zoo....

you can ride the train in season

Dr. Loughman introducing us to his show and tell

a tiny sweet hedgehog who clearly wanted to be

anywhere else but in our class...

quite a prickly hog

a sweet ferret

blue tongued skink~now that is a cool dude

check out his blue tongue!

click photo to enlarge so you can see the blue!

nature's candy~ the bunny ( so happy this one ended up

zoo show and tell and not a coyote's dinner)

one of my personal favorites ( and oh how I hate to shoot these, but they must go

they are not welcome in my horse barn)

the opossum...our only marsupial

she was happy to share herself with us today

many more photos and information to follow,

today was a day of intense learning and so many new things to share

I will continue to share information I gather, as I learn, remember and feel you may be interested ..

thanks for stopping by.

Good morning~

2012-01-05T08:54:00.000-05:00

To begin, I received the schedule for the MN program yesterday. It appears I will be in Atlanta, Ga at an artist signing with Bethany Lowe that day, so I will miss the first class. I am somewhat deflated as I have been excitedly anticipating the start of the MN program. February continues more classes, so I will just have to enroll for those.

Not many photography opportunities this past month with nature, as the holidays absorb most of my attention along with my business ( dollmaking) which has picked up tremendously, and thankfully.

On occasion I see the proverbial house spider, stink bug and asian lady bug, but don't have the gumption to cease creating to grab a photo of already overly photographed creatures. I am hardily looking forward to new subjects and instruction in technique.

So,have a wonderful day... be productive but HAVE FUN doing it!

I am honored to be included in this websiteMississippi University's Entomological Museum's websiteMoth Photographer's groupclick to go there

2011-12-24T17:47:00.003-05:00

9314 – Alypia octomaculata

Eight-spotted Forester Moth

9781 – Basilodes pepita

Gold Moth

Dandelions have to be one of my favorite flowers~ nothing stops them, and they are nutritious to boot!

2011-12-20T13:45:00.000-05:00

December 15~ and no wildlife photos! the winter is heavily upon us....

2011-12-15T23:44:00.001-05:00

I did however, find this tiny little sprite the other day, and asked her if I could photograph her for my nature blog, she was happy to oblige.
Her name is Olivia, she is one of Santa's helpers, she helps in the candy dept. She is cute no? just love the little hair ribbon...

Unfortunately she had to rush off, so the chat came to a hault. I hope to see her again one day... she was very sweet...

Good December 8 th morning~click to view

2011-12-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

No new wild life photos, but was able to capture a sunset that took my breath away~ not a touch of photoshop anywhere on this photo! It is presently in the running on Birds and Blooms website hoping for many views and reviews...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING~I am thankful for God, and all He has created for us, and that on occasion I can capture it.CECROPIA or ROBIN MOTH

2011-11-24T11:30:00.001-05:00

CLICK On photos to enlarge

DAD getting in the act...can you see the moth on the tree?

THE WHEEL BUG~Investigating the Assassins

2011-11-22T18:49:00.003-05:00

INSECTS~

insects have 6 jointed legs, two antennae, and an exoskeleton made of chitin the same thing our hair and nails are made up of. They have a three-part body consisting of a head (with the mouthparts, eyes, and antennae), thorax (where the legs and wings attach), and the abdomen (with the reproductive, and most digestive organs).

The wheel bugs belong to the Assassin family, and were seen by me for the first time this past summer, are very beneficial for our gardens and yards as they keep the pesty insect population at bay.

Their bite can be very severe so don't play around with them! It can take up to six months for the

painful bite to heal.

I just love these bugs, they are slow moving, great posers for my nikon and great color as they change from brilliant orange/red, to a deep gun metal gray.

here a wheel bug nymph in spring RED

adult wheel bug~check out that beak!

adult wheel bug, see the wheel on top of it's back (looks

more like a gear to me)

Wheel bugs mating... summer love!

they are around 1 1/2 in to 2 in in length, not a

bug that you can miss!

NOVEMBER 22~two days before Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T09:14:00.001-05:00

and I am happy to share I am thankful most every day...

Lately I have been uninspired to create dolls, though I do have a mermaid

in my brain who is halfway out and flapping her fin to be completed.

I will work on her full time today as the family is awaiting her appearance for the upcoming

Christmas holiday.

Here are some of my favorite flower photos, and yes weeds, living and dead...

Some of the most interesting and prettiest flowers are found on weeds. So I will share;

FANTASTIC? maybe not, but cool looking to me...

white cleome, or spider flower, they are interesting, attract hummers, butterflies and miriads of bees and bugs

they just grow taller and taller all summer long

cleome in purple

not sure yet, will hope to learn it over the next year

not sure but I think iron weed? maybe not

stem of grass.. with dew

lady fingers?

wild sunflower

jewel weed

crab apple berries

poke berries

forget me nots~ yep remembered THESE

white clover

dried up burdock~I understand the roots are great eating

snap dragon

wild sunflower

such pretty tiny flowers, another weed

teasel

white clover also

SPIDERS~ are by far my most favorite thing to observe, photograph and learn about, so far at least

2011-11-21T19:30:00.001-05:00

http://bugguide.net/node/view/526464

Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Eustala

the first of my 'really good' photos of a spider

all the whilst I was learning how to take photos.

Then there are the Argiopes, a large

group of orb weavers within themselves...high on my list

of favorite arachnids.

Black and Yellow Argiope with cicada

so you can see how large and spectacular these

arachnids are.

also called the banana spider

The Banded Argiope are also wonderful

there appear to be two species, I still need to learn

how to tell the difference...

check out his EYES, all of them

spinners at work

and weaving her web to catch a meal.. so meticulous

and careful...like a slow dance ...

~WOLF SPIDER~

amazing, freaky and oh so large, here seen

with her egg sac in the weeds...

in the beginning~ GOD, yes He did, He did indeed...

2011-11-21T18:40:00.005-05:00

It has taken me 49 yrs (5yrs ago now) to discover that the person I was is not the person I am...if that makes any sense at all.
My life has so far been allowing others to live through me, and I went along with it. Not such a bad thing as I am who I am today because of my past...but always remember; never look back you arent' going that way.
I am an artist and a licensed folk artist with the Bethany Lowe Design company, a fabulous place; http://bethanylowe.com/, a naturalist ( untrained at this point) but preparing to be trained beginning in Jan 2012. My mother taught me all I know about nature, as she was MOTHER NATURE at summer camp, beside the things I learned on my own as she taught me always to stop and smell the roses, and look at the weeds too, and the grass, and creek, sky and trees. This will be my story, my journey of becoming a more complete person within myself.

LOok what lives amongst the "weeds" we so abhor ( well I don't, but most do) the tiny, steampunk of bugs, THE ROBBER FLY.

here he is having a bath, cleaning his legs

and wings and eyes.

and here he awaits a bug unaware to

rob the bodily fluids from.

just check out those goggles, only

steampunk freaks could envy them...

ahh lunch...

sunning himself on a weed,

yes eventually I will be hopefully able to tell

you what weed!

Just one of the pleasures of stopping, looking,

seeing, listening ( well not really, they don't speak)

and snapping your nikon 55mm lens at!

I will be back with more, this blog is now DEDICATED to my mother

VIRGINIA CLARKE PAYNE ARMSTRONG

(photo to follow)

for all her time, efforts,patience, love and knowledge to raise me

the best she knew how and teach me all she knew to share

with my family and friends and anyone who would be interested

in what is Out There...

on a closing note for today...

STOP smell the roses, look at the weeds and appreciate what

GOD, yes GOD has created for us...whether to enjoy or annoy

to remind us of WHO HE is...

Elderberry Borer (Desmocerus palliatus)

http://bugguide.net/node/view/528108

by far one of the prettiest and best beetles I have encountered

thus far. I am anticipating and excited about observing many

many more....

have a nice night..don't kill the spiders you find

crawling around, their wanderings are not aimless!

they keep your house pest free!

~hopeless nature lover and photography freak

Robin

links to my photos published on bugguide.net;

http://bugguide.net/user/view/58380

gotta love MAXINE

2011-11-15T12:20:00.000-05:00

We've been published online~ how funcheck out the bright orange Question Mark butterfly

2011-11-14T18:48:00.002-05:00

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF 2011~ more hobby shots

2011-11-13T21:02:00.002-05:00

common Buckeye

common buckeye wings closed

Io Moth - Hodges#7746 (Automeris io)

orange sulfur

fritillary

monarch on wild sunflower

Question Mark front view

Question Mark butterfly

Sulfur

Skipper

don't remember.. LOL

Cecropia or Robin Moth, just came out of it's cocoon and was drying

don't remember

Hummingbird moth?

ARGIOPE OF 2011~hobby shots

2011-11-13T20:49:00.001-05:00

or also known as the Banana Spider~ here seen with a full sized cicada

yes very large spiders! this is a female argiope

awaiting lunch, check out the zigzag center of the web, so creative

black and yellow argiope on dried queen anne's lace

banded argiope weaving his web~ see the silk coming from the spinner

and the rear leg hooking it to the pattern

banded argiope

good shot of the eyes of a female banded argiope

black and yellow argiope

banded argiope weaving web

NATURE AT THE FARM~ been enjoying taking bug photos around the farm, here are a few to share

2011-06-19T21:48:00.001-04:00

forget me not flowers

locust tree flowers

awesome little beetle

little beetle in rye grass

spider hatchlings

pretty grass

hover fly on gallium

wheel bug nymph, great for the garden, but the bite is worse than a bee sting and takes months to heal..so beware

Tachinid fly~looks like a lady bug fly to me!

hover fly on forget me nots

yellow and black ladybug

red and black ladybug

dandelion spreading seeds~blowin in the wind

pretty weeds

hydrangeas

straw flower

gotta get back to you on this one

silhouette

blackberry flowers

Elderberry borer

hover fly, ready for take off

hover fly up close for take off

clover

huge bumble bee on wild phlox

eight spotted forester moth

orb weaver spider

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly - Limenitis arthemis

not sure yet!

humming bird moth

awesome fly at a distance

nother close up of THE fly

tachinid fly

FATHER'S DAY 2011~me and my daddy-o

2011-06-19T21:04:00.002-04:00

MAMA and Jocelyn Rain

2011-03-19T09:53:00.002-04:00

JOCELYN RAIN GOLDBACH

2011-03-19T00:03:00.001-04:00

BORN MARCH 18, 7lbs 9oz, 19 3/4 in .. cute as a button..

JUST SHARING a couple of old favorite dolls I came across~ I am getting a hankerin to make a large witch doll!

2011-03-14T00:09:00.000-04:00

NEW HEALTHY EATING BLOG~click to view

2011-03-06T22:24:00.000-05:00

JACK RAYMOND ARMSTRONG~singing at 21months old

2010-12-18T20:31:00.000-05:00

MY BODY has finally kicked me in the butt...so I have changed my lifestyle and am fully vegan...

2010-12-04T12:36:00.001-05:00

It has taken me years to finally work myself in to becoming a diabetic...and I sure worked hard at it! My father is ( was now) and my grandmother died from it, and so now it's my turn. I knew it was coming, I could feel it in my body...

My mother always worked at feeding us the 'right' foods. My father got acutely ill with rheumatoid arthritis, and my mom, an avid reader, found a cook book, Dr. chong's arthritics cook book. She put my father on it immediately and within just weeks he was up and around again like nothing had happened. It ended up he was allergic to red meat. Today he is a vegan by his own choice. So really my mom was the one who started all this! God rest her precious soul..

The McDougall health plan for life, puts diabetes right out of your body... literally...so instead of weight loss being my motivation, which it should have been, but that has been a losing battle for years...health has been my motivation. Having been a registered nurse for 20 yrs, I saw the complications and devastation it has on one's body, and personally I am not interested in being put in the grave piece by piece. If you could just DIE from eating bad, that would be ok, but it doesn't really work that way most of the time... ultimately you suffer horrid complications, huge medical bills and pharmacy bills and overall have no good quality of life...

Dr. McDougall's specialty is diabetes... his success with putting it in remission is so amazing and my father proves it.. he has no problem with it anymore. So I began on my new healthy eating plan on tuesday, Nov 30..my blood sugars have already stabilized and I am no longer blurry eyed, tired, hungry, thirsty, or shaky... it is amazing what the right fuel for one's body can do for ya... I have so much energy, and it feels so good...ALL without medication I might add.

Though I am a zealot for this health plan, it will stay with me unless someone asks me about it. People don't want to change, especially the fuel they take into their bodies. It's all up to the individual what diseases they choose to work towards or if they prefer premature death over a healthy long life. I for one am not interested in cardiac bypass surgery...I have seen this health plan work miracles in several of my family members...it only took a huge kick in my pants to get me going...

Thanks for listening... here is his website in case anyone has been inspired to be healthy..

http://www.drmcdougall.com/index.html

have a great day and a fabulous life!!

THANKSGIVING 2010

2010-11-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

TWO LOVELY PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET~Trish Stover , and Terry Albright

2010-11-10T13:10:00.001-05:00

This box of teensy glass icicles was given to me by Terry Albright a new friend discovered on here through Marty Thompson.

she makes these!

http://www.myglassgarden.com/

THis amazing clay pin was hand crafted by Trish Stover, an amazing Canadian artist,

she sent this to me!! I adored it on her page...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000544634722&v=wall

It is amazing how things are so different in person..

so much better.. even though photos are pretty good!

VISIT to TN to meet Will Patrick Brawner~and play gramma for a week!

2010-10-11T09:31:00.000-04:00

Macey Pumpkinprototype for Bethany Lowe Designs, just sharing

2010-09-17T10:16:00.000-04:00

STOVERprimitive pumpkin man created by TRISH STOVER of Canada

2010-09-15T11:55:00.003-04:00

SNEAK PEEK FOR SPOOKY TIME JINGLES ~UPDATES TONIGHT 12AM SHARP click here

2010-09-12T10:31:00.003-04:00

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE SNEAK PEEKS ON THE HOME PAGE FOR NOW.. photo service is down on blogger

HALLOWEEN DOLL TREE~a customer sent this to me,how fun!

2010-09-09T09:17:00.000-04:00

WEST ALEXANDER, PA TOWN FAIRwonderful perfect day...here are some photos

2010-09-07T03:15:00.003-04:00

MORE TOMORROW, flash player crashed

JACK ARMSTRONG 1992-2010~MAY HE rest in peace

2010-08-28T09:13:00.001-04:00

FUN TIMES at the fair!

2010-08-17T00:32:00.001-04:00

ON EBAY, ENDS MONDAY

2010-07-30T20:14:00.002-04:00

SLIDE SHOW UPDATE~ 7 2010

2010-07-30T01:56:00.001-04:00

ENDS TONIGHT 10PM

2010-07-25T10:53:00.001-04:00

ATLANTA HERE I COMEdolls debut in Atlanta Georgia July 12th-19th, 2010

2010-07-05T23:33:00.001-04:00

HOPE YOU HAVE A MOMENT TO TAKE A PEEK~when the photos come in for the catalog, they will be posted so you can see how the doll will really look, and may order one at that time.
I will be selling limited signed editions of the reproductions.

BUY BP~if they go bankrupt, guess who foots the bill?

2010-07-01T09:09:00.002-04:00

After much thinking, exploring and decision making...I decided as a small business owner, it is my responsibility to BUY BP gas. The small business owners who bought the BP franchises did not cause the explosion, encourage the negligence by the company, and BP only requires you to buy BP gas for 10yrs, then you can get it from wherever you want.

If BP goes bankrupt we will have to foot the bill for this travesty.

There is nothing this present govt wants more than to see small business fail.. so I feel it is my duty, desire and decision to help them stay afloat and keep their businesses..

I ONLY BUY BP GAS! they also kept their prices reasonable while EXXOn the big man on the block, was always $.15-.25 cents more per gallon.. laughing all the way to the bank because they can.

JUNE! already

2010-06-15T20:05:00.004-04:00

Amazing how quickly time passes as you get older. It was just APril!

My duck, who is about 7yrs old at least...found a friend. His friend is quite friendly and comes up to you to be fed his cat food. Yes cat food. I bought cracked corn for years, but my duck insisted on feeding with the barn cats. It's pretty cute actually, and how he has brought his friend.
We call them Laurel and Hardy. I assume when they disappear in the creek, they are over Laurel's house for a while..

i love ducks

Butterfly on my horse's mane

2010-05-15T19:56:00.003-04:00

CAn you see the tiny spot of black on the horse's mane?

I was grooming one of my horses today, when i came across a dark spot. It was a butterfly...he sat the whole time I was there. He was a beautiful black and purple. When I went to get my camera, there was a new butterfly there! orange and multi colors.

NATIONAL HALLOWEEN CONVENTION~Philly fun fun fun

2010-05-02T00:11:00.004-04:00

Our Fearless leader~DAni

adorable Kristen

fabulous Marie

Joanne Harper ( Kip ) and me

ma outback and me (gotta get her a new name) she has my eyes and crooked nose!

Lisa Nelson and her gorgeous art!

me, Brandi, Dani, Marie, LIsa and Kristen was busy at the register

COME visit the Bethany Lowe page to see the latest photos of the reproductions!

2010-03-24T10:13:00.003-04:00

What a sad day for our precious country~ the battle continues!!!there ain't nothing money can't buy

2010-03-21T23:07:00.002-04:00

SNOWMAN ORNIES~These are four ornies finished by one of my favorite customers! aren't they adorable?

2010-03-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

HOW FUN!one of my students sent me a photo of her finished snowman from the class I just taught on joggles.com

2010-02-20T22:40:00.002-05:00

GETTING HAY for the horses~what a wonderland

2010-02-08T14:00:00.002-05:00

WINTER STORM~FEB 6TH 2010~26+INCHES

2010-02-06T19:41:00.005-05:00

aww.. ALL tucked in snuggly.. a true igloo!
this snow sure keeps that dog house warm!

before pic...

right after the snow filled cypress fell on roger!
just on his head no biggie!
scroll down... and see!
amazing he was ok..

more pics later.. i am needing a shower, power is on!!! yeah, means heat!!

Just heard!ALL 13 doll submissions are presently in the Philippines being reproduced. Visit my new Bethany Lowe repro page!

2010-02-02T12:14:00.002-05:00

Spoke with Bethany Lowe today4 dolls went out to be reproduced for July 2010!

2010-01-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

She loved them all and wants more!

Cupid couldn't be used due to the complicated hair, so he is available on the blog as a BIN. If you adopt Manny, he will be sent to you from the Bethany Lowe company since he resides there at this time.

Will keep you posted as things happen!

~WINTER AT THE FARM~the day after the big snow, look at that gorgeous sky!

2009-12-20T11:53:00.003-05:00

WOW PHOTOmy father took this photo while he was flying to see my daughter, check out the halo around the shadow!

2009-12-03T11:41:00.001-05:00

this is way too funny and very true!

2009-11-19T17:55:00.003-05:00

CREATE AND DECORATE TODAY!I just spoke with the editor and our Gardening Angel pattern will definitely be in the APRIL 2010 ISSUE, so excited!

2009-11-18T11:37:00.001-05:00

HOW FUN! one of my customers sent me this pic of her Battley doll sitting in his Halloween Tree

2009-10-29T16:05:00.005-04:00

here is his story that she wrote;

Battley is hiding high in his Halloween tree. He has cast a spell over the children's candy corn in their "trick or treat" sacks using his new jingle bat wand. He is the master of all things candy corn!! With a wave of his wand the candy corn become gigantic and scary. When the trick or treaters see this they look up in amazement to see what has caused this magnificent transformation. They can hardly believe their eyes when they spy Battley perched high in his Halloween tree.

see how fun the tiny dolls can be up in a tree!

THANKS GEORGINA!!
used by permission

JUST GOT WORD!we will be on the back cover of Celebrate365, fall issue

2009-09-17T18:04:00.004-04:00

it's sorta tiny in the pic, so I put a larger one up of her...I assume she will be inside as well, as she is for sale!
Anyone interested let me know and when the issue arrives and she becomes available, I will notify you!
Thanks for all your interest and support!

We will be on the back cover of CELEBRATE365, with our Lyticia Foxglove! excited and anxious to see her in print.

YEAH that's way cool !

2009-09-16T16:50:00.002-04:00

OH MY~HOW CUTE ARE THEY?

2009-09-05T17:13:00.004-04:00

JACK RAYMOND BRAWNER

DYLAN MICHAEL GOLDBACH

MY little grandbaby boys!! getting so big!

FAMILY TIMES!

2009-08-13T19:42:00.017-04:00

Uncle Jon and Aunt Telcia Muretisch

Great Great Uncle Don Payne meets Jack Brawner

Daddy Brawner and Jack

the fam, armstrong, seeber, payne, muretisch, brawner...what a bunch!

Uncle Ethan meets Jack~

Jack doin raspberries for Uncle Jon

Jack meets Sanders, with Aunt Telcia

Aunt Telcia and Jack makin funny faces

Great Grampa Raymond Armstrong

Diggin poatoes

Mommy and Jack with a potato

Grampa Seeber meets Jack

Auntie Katie meets Jack

HALLOWEEN BUG? FLOWERS AND BLACK BERRIESI love bugs, so I had a fun time tonight taking their photos!

2009-07-07T19:18:00.006-04:00

I WATCHED THIS SPIDER SPIN IT'S WEB.. SO AWESOME

BLACK BERRIES, NOT QUITE READY!!

around the farm today

2009-07-06T12:26:00.005-04:00

tiny currant tomatoes

and the currant tomato flower, i love yellow

pretty purple petunias

a very favorite~hens and chicks

FUZZ BUGG FOR REALI finally got a photo of one of thesethey are called wooly aphids, discovered back in the 90's

2009-07-06T10:34:00.003-04:00

THOMAS ALVA EDISON~PAUL DONALD PAYNE

2009-06-19T22:55:00.004-04:00

My grandfather, Paul Payne, worked side by side with Thomas Edison for 13yrs. He was his right hand man and has many patents to his credit.
I thought it would be fun to put some of the photos of my grandfather at his desk in the Edison laboratory back in 1930.
If you click on the photo, I believe it will enlarge for you.

I have TONS of paperwork from Paul's desk, Edison signatures and drawings of designs they worked on. It is quite fun to read through all this stuff!

I LOVE BATS!this year's colony sleeping peacefully inbetween the barn rafters

2009-06-02T14:07:00.004-04:00

They are brown bats, excellent to have around since they eat at least their weight in bugs every night. We are surrounded by a large creek, so they are quite at home here. They are really adorable, these are babies, learning how to live and survive.
I will try to get some better pics and post them later...

how fun!

NOW THERE ARE TWO CUTE KIDS!

2009-06-02T12:29:00.004-04:00

FLYING J

JACK~the result of an incredible merger...

LEGGO MY EGGO! little Dylan

AND HE DOWNS IT!!

MY BABY DAUGHTER'S WEB SITEclick here

2009-05-17T00:20:00.006-04:00

she is taking a sabbatical to start her family...I went to her site tonight to listen to her sing...
wow...inspiring!

Her sister Mandy is also an amazing vocal artist. Will be working on getting some of her songs up here too!!

then there is the SON, Jonathan...wow, amazing as well...but I know he has nothing recorded for me to share with you... maybe I will pursue him!!

a pretty farm near us I love this view

2009-05-10T14:36:00.000-04:00

more 'round the farm pics may 09

2009-05-09T14:06:00.004-04:00

The Hydrangeas are about to bloom!

Finally got a pic of Eve~ our wonderful white farm cat (indoor/outdoor).
She took on quite a few orphaned kittens and raised them as her own.
She is of course now spayed, she likes being free of responsibility now!

Brandy spankin new evergreen

Dr. Tomatoes tomatoes

around the farm

2009-05-03T16:15:00.009-04:00

Sanders the palomino~and dirt mixture, and Chief~paint, note the black heart, and mud mixture

Dr. Seeber doing what he loves best!

yummy beets and turnips~coming up!

I just love teensy pine cones

I just LOVE dandelions!!

STRUGGLING THROUGHguess I didn't think there was anything that could keep me down so long!!

2009-05-02T14:59:00.003-04:00

Had surgery on April 14th, but good news, no cancer!!

Then I guess I didn't have enough already, so I did it again on April 21.
WOW, THAT ONE GOT ME...I guess I thought I would be up and running again by now
but as the doc said " 3 months".
I am trying hard to get back to normal...but the doc knows best.

Got quite a few doll bodies sewn up for the hospital stay of a week, soI could turn and stuff them, and am busily making them into creatures. Thank God for things to do that we love to do.

It's been quiet, daily messages from Shanna and phone calls from hubby, dogs barking, and FOX NEWS, mixed with old reruns of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Beverly Hillbillies fill my lonely and painful days.

Hubby has been wonderful, picking up jello, broth and things I can eat from the store.
Still can't really eat yet...guess that is all part of the recovery process, the parts that they don't warn you about.

Well nuff droning on...back to painting and keeping busy, 3 months is a longgggggggg time.

THANKS TO SHANNA FOR MY LITTLE RECOVERY GIFT!! I LOVE YOU BABY GIRL...thanks for thinking of me...it means the world.

JACK IN SEPIA~DYLAN IN GIGGLES

2009-04-15T20:06:00.001-04:00

A FEW OF OUR BARN CATSthey are almost all polydactil

2009-04-11T20:03:00.007-04:00

THIS IS NOSE~bet you can guess why

TWO OF OUR STYGIAN WITCHES~friendly in a mean sort of way

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST~one of the barn tabbies

OUR faithful and fearless K-9 copsprotectors of the farm and familySKEET, GINGER, STAR AND WICKET in that order

2009-04-06T00:48:00.005-04:00

some of our kitties~Lacey, Chat, Tom, Leo, and Bear in that order

2009-03-27T15:40:00.007-04:00

WELCOME JACK RAYMOND BRAWNERMarch 9,20096lbs, 13 oz, 20 in., to Shanna and KeithMY daughter and her hubby

2009-03-09T07:43:00.005-04:00

WE DID IT AGAIN!and were excited to see the SD&A article in the May 09 issue!, what a great job they did for us!

2009-02-27T10:16:00.005-05:00

Stop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy of this fun, creative and informative magazine!
Thanks for all your support and interest in our work.

OUR 4TH ANNIVERSARY!FEB 11, 2005Dr. Roger and Robin Seeber

2009-02-12T01:29:00.002-05:00

PHOTO FROM OUR WEDDING PICNIC~MAY 21,2005

MR. AND MRS. JONATHAN and TELCIA MURETISCHJAN 31, 2009

2009-02-12T00:53:00.009-05:00

THE MURETISCHES

MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS

MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER'S HANDSOME HUSBANDS

AND OF COURSE LITTLE DYLAN GOLDBACH

PITTSBURGH STEELERSSUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!AGAIN!!!!!

2009-02-02T03:00:00.000-05:00

THE STUDIO!Mr. Tom Thumb and his mischief!note his sneaky little ways

2009-01-20T12:38:00.008-05:00

Tom Thumb!~he is a handful, he can't stand to see anyone try to take a cat nap when there is playing to be done!
He will poke and prod and touch as much as he can reach just to see if he can wake Bear up.
It is quite hilarious, so I just sit back and watch.

THE DOOR~this is the door into the studio...
I love my door knockers and real snake skin that we found out by the driveway.
We have a resident black snake (very aggressive, will bite, but not poisonous)who comes around often.
You can just barely see my Taylor 12 string acoustic sitting behind the door!

THE CHAIR~the place where I actually spend 90% of my life!
My mother's chair~left to me after her passing, she would be happy to know it is so inspirational.

One of my studio walls~with Christy Meyers Ashton Drake ornies displayed, and you can just see Tansy Tormental up on the fabric shelf.

One of my favorite views~

THE DESK~and world map so I can see where all the dollies go to live.
And plenty of kitty beds since they follow me from room to room all day long!

Not a particularly "better homes and gardens" style, but it's home, it's me and it's AFFORDABLE...and I can see my horsies from my studio window!!

my little bugster~Skeet, he has a place under my desk.

AWWWWWWWKITTIESand little Skeet

2009-01-16T00:38:00.004-05:00

Tom, Leo and my 3lb. papillon pup Skeet.

Leo the lion kitty loves sleeping with his polydactils over his face.

Tom and Leo have been hanging around napping together a lot lately.

Skeet just watches from a distance.

BLOGGER UPDATE

2009-01-07T02:17:00.002-05:00

I just visited all the blogs I have listed. It was a fun journey and eye opening in some cases.

So many fun things to read and pictures to see, and art to appreciate. As I have mentioned in the past, I only advertise for those who return the favor, so as I check my blogs, I add or delete as necessary.

I would love to add anyone who wants to play!! It is amazing how many 'hits' you will get on your blog from others, especially popular well visited blogs.

Just drop me a note.. and thanks for the entertainment, I really love taking a moment apart from reality, and jumping into yours!!

robin

CHRISTMAS EVE~CHRISTMAS DAY

2009-01-02T11:12:00.007-05:00

THE COOK~and hubby, Roger

THE HAPPY COUPLE~Jonathan, my son and his fiance' Telcia

ALL THE DAUGHTERS~Mandy, Katie, Kasey, Shanna, Telcia

NOTHER HAPPY COUPLE~Keith and Shanna, my daughter and her hubby, and baby Jack Raymond, not yet born

Daughter Mandy, Dylan and her hubby Kevin

Step son Ethan hanging with Dylan

Mommy Mandy and Dylan 5 1/2 months

A FEW of Robin Seeber's favorite things!

2008-12-21T14:27:00.008-05:00

MY MOTHER'S PRECIOUS Catherine McCullough Soap Stone Sculptures

My prized porcelain horse collection in antique cabinet

I love BUTTONS!!! SPECIALLY metal ones.

Antique crazy quilt stockings I made about 12yrs ago.

One of my latest additions to my Santa collection~Ornies by JoanDougArt~awesome creations!!

THE LATEST ADDITION TO MY SANTA COLLECTION~sold to me by Candy, and made by The Smiling Goat Primitives~what a doll!

NEW PET PICSSKEET~my little papillon buddy

2008-12-13T03:08:00.004-05:00

SKEET~6yrs old, no vet visit but weighs 3.4lbs!! woo hooooo

TOM~my new kitty buddy and creative partner as he prefers to sit in my lap and on my chest while I try to paint...LOL
Tom's vet visit weighed him in at 3lbs! wow...

LEO~tiny lion... vet visit today, he weighed in at a whopping 2lbs!!

HOUSE FIREWhew!! all is okGod is good!!

2008-11-27T08:15:00.002-05:00

You can see how high the flames went, just at the height of the door. It was unreal looking out the door to see the house on fire!!

MEET LEOone of the barn kitties that has decided he prefers the in of doors!!

2008-11-22T18:59:00.006-05:00

an absolutely gorgeously exotic kitten about half the size of Tom, but the same age. So Leo gets to see the vet tomorrow for his check up and worming. I do believe we found a home for him, but no promises made yet. They wanted photos, well they will get them tomorrow...they will want him, how can you not, what a kitten!

He is about the cuddliest kitten I have ever known besides Tom.

Jonathan and Telcia~my son and his fiance'wedding date Jan 31busy busy busy, and fun!!

2008-11-22T02:54:00.001-05:00

TOM AND HUSQVARNAhe is too cute

2008-11-18T11:20:00.005-05:00

LOOKIE WHAT I GOT!

2008-11-12T15:18:00.002-05:00

I am a santa collector. I haven't added to my collection in probably about 8yrs or more. An artist friend of mine made these. Joan Sturvant of joandougart on ebay. I can't say enough about these ornaments. The quality is amazing, the olde world feel is very emotional, and they are just such a wonderful addition to my collection.

THANKS JOAN!!! WAITING FOR MORE MORE MORE...

NEW FAMILY MEMBERTOMthe tiny kidden

2008-11-07T14:26:00.004-05:00

as many of you know, we "found" a litter of 3wk old kittens that had to be hand fed and bottle fed etc...
well three of them left today to their new homes... one left last week, and TOM, decided he was staying put, he knew he had a good thing going here at the ranch.
Tom follows me to every room, climbs my legs with his talons, sits up under my chin and purrs. He is either sleeping under my feet at the computer or under my chin in my work chair. He has won my heart and fulfills my HIGH MAINTENANCE ATTENTION needs that I have.
meet TINY TOM...my new kidden.

as you can see my papillon, Skeet is not convinced that Tom should become a Seeber.

PLEADING FOR HELP FROM NANCY

2008-11-07T12:17:00.004-05:00

hello, I decided since there is a bread line in Washington, I am gonna race and get in on it. My wonderful piece of American heritage is quickly crumbling due to inclement weather and age. It is an 1870's mail pouch barn, that is presently in use for my livestock, mostly horses. If it falls, it could kill or hurt them and then they would have no shelter. I actually put in a claim to my insurance company, and they rejected it. I emailed, called and spoke with many barn people who were not interested in helping. So I decided to plead to Nancy Pelosi, since she has quite a bit of loose and disposable cash, and this would only be around $50,000 to completely restore.
I AM KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSSED!!!!!! HELP ME BY CROSSING YOURS!!

Dear Nancy Pelosi, November 7, 2008
My name is Robin Armstrong Seeber. I reside on a small farm just west of Pittsburgh, PA, with my family. I moved here about 9yrs ago to finish raising my children by myself. It is an 1870 farm house and Mail Pouch barn, quite a piece of our American heritage. As time has slipped by, money was always reserved for other priorities and my barn has started to fall victim to age and weather conditions.
In researching ways to preserve this piece of history, I found that no one could help me. My last resort is pleading to our great nations govt to help me save this barn. It had some serious wind damage from the last hurricane winds. I had my insurance company out to assess the damage, but said because it is so old, they will not cover it. I cannot afford to lose this barn as I have livestock residing there, plus it would be an eye sore for passersby to see a fallen piece of history.
Can you help me? I found it will take only about $50,000 to completely restore it bringing it back to it’s original condition, and causing it to last another 135 yrs . I will never be able to afford this.
I had nowhere else to turn Nancy. You are my last resort. So I am pleading to you to help if you think you can, if you feel this is important to our Pennsylvania history, and great American heritage. My barn has had many by passers photograph it for a “mail pouch” barn since it has advertised that in the past.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration in this matter,
info removed for security purposes and to make my daughter happy!!
I love her!! thanks for caring mandy..

My children

2008-11-06T02:53:00.007-05:00

Shanna the bumble bee (and Jack),her hubby Keith the.... um....father of their child...LOL

The happy family, Mandy and her hubby Kevin and my grandbaby Dylan~yeah I can't believe I wrote kevin!! but you know how much trouble i have with my gray matter!!!

Dylan the arresting officer,and his jail birds!

JUST HEARD FROM SHANNA today, they just found out the sex of their baby...........IT'S A .............

2008-11-04T12:32:00.001-05:00

guess YOU WILL ALL HAVE TO WAIT TIL MARCH 09!!!

....... still kittening... is that a word

2008-10-30T03:16:00.002-04:00

yes.. we now have 4 kittens left.. no further deaths, but one adoption... they haven't brought MAUDE back yet, so I assume she worked out.

cats are easy?? WHO SAID THAT? oh yeah CATS ARE kittens are like newborns.. tons of work, rare fulfillment, and lots of sneezing.

we do hold hope that they will have a home in a week or so...one of hubby's students knows a place.. YAY...

weary mama cat

WHEW MOTHER KITTEN

2008-10-21T01:16:00.002-04:00

............IS EXHAUSTED....

any takers yet???
they are adorable, but lotsaaa work.. i can't get a doll done!!!

HALLOWEEN KITTIESorange, black and whiteUP FOR ADOPTION!!email me if you are interested!! they are almost 4wks old!

2008-10-15T01:43:00.007-04:00

sis and bro in law visit!!

2008-10-08T14:30:00.000-04:00