Laundry...and such.

Hello, friends!

I have just returned back home after another weekend road trip and event!

My nephew graduated from high school and of course, we wanted to be there, in my home town, to cheer him on as he walked across the stage and accepted his diploma.

It was a busy, busy weekend with several graduation parties, picture snapping and cake eating. (Oops).

Yes, I am now back on my routine of "clean eating"...

And the treadmill.

Honestly, I still have not found much time for art but I am enjoying playing "miss photographer" and being outdoors...

Along with laundry and such.

It is oh, so lovely on the prairie right now and I do not want to miss out on a single bloom!

I even picked some wild daisies yesterday morning and placed them in the old bottles that my dad gave to my while I was back home. As a child, I remember him often digging the earth to find such treasures...

And now they have become my treasures.

I will cherish them!

Enjoy the photos!

See you soon!

XO

 

A Dusting of Snow on the Prairie...

We have our first dusting of snow for the season!

The weather man spoke of it a couple of days ago and it was to be a grand snow, arriving yesterday...

so I waited anxiously, peeking from the big arched window in my studio, as I painted.

We have just returned back home after a wonderful Christmas shared with my family, back in our home town. I am enjoying this time brushing up on my ever-so-loved watercolors. Just playing. No art commitments or deadlines at this moment. It feels fabulous to just savor Winter and silence for awhile.

The snow did arrive...

Just enough to add a splash of white to the ground!

This morning I grabbed my camera and made my way outside to capture the beauty. (It will have to do until that BIG snow arrives)!

The orange...

With all of this Winter grey is so lovely.

Back inside.

Cold hands and toes.

It was certainly time for tea!

Hey! Did you have a nice holiday? I do hope that yours was filled with much goodness.

I must show you a package that arrived by mail. It was an art exchange in which I participated in. Just look at this hand painted wrap! (Artist, Peggy Hood).

I must remember to paint some of my gift wrapping next year!

Enjoy your day, my friend!

I shall meet up with you again very soon!

XO

 

The Mushroom Mystery...

Hello!

I haven't much news today, my apologies.

It was a pretty relaxed day. A trip to the grocery store. An afternoon nap. A tiny mushroom painting.

Nothing really blog worthy...

But I wanted to be the first to wish you a wonderful August!!!!!

Now, back to the mushroom.

I painted the red mushroom using Gouache paints. Have you ever tried Gouache?

I like!

They are more opaque than watercolors, yet you use them with water. The colors are bright, rich. I really enjoy them with my watercolors. Please, tell me what you know about Gouache! I want to play with them more!

Ok.

Mushrooms.

You either love them or hate them.

I've always loved mushrooms until I moved to Eastern Kansas and tried a Morel mushroom.

The folks around here hunt for them in wooded, wet areas...

After a good rain.

If they find Morels...

They feel as if they just struck oil!

Seriously, it's a big thing around here and you can even sell your Morel mushrooms for a very nice sum of cash!

My husband found a few when I first moved here.

He dipped them into an egg batter and fried them.

Politely, I tried my first Morel mushroom...

And nicely said to him, "you can have them all, love. They are not what I expected".

(I couldn't help wondering just what the big hype was)????

I have googled Morel mushrooms and read all about them. Many chefs prefer using the Morels in their dishes.

I had never even heard of them until moving here.

 

Hubby found his Morels behind our house...

Deep in the woods, by a creek.

Me- I only found a black snake and vowed never to go into the woods again! Ever!

Although I love living out in the country, by a pond...

I rarely go where tall grass grows due to my fear of snakes!

I go only with the husband or the dogs.

We strolled down to the pond last night to hunt something else...

A critter!

We saw it...

Swimming in the water, but never did see it again.

I allow my imagination to run with this.

Was it the Loch Ness Monster?

(A fun game that I play... Out here in the boonies)!

Possibly it was a visitor from another planet.???

It seemed very large.

So, now we wait. We watch...

In hopes for its return.

Happy August, friends!!!!!

XO

 

Wish & Fish...

Well, a new week has begun! I must say that Summer school seems to be going by quickly! Only 6 more days to go! It was so hard to leave our patio this morning...

So you can bet that once work ended today, I resumed my patio position! A nice, cool breeze and some art journaling!

I did a quick "Weston, Missouri" page.

 

It's always fun to explore. I get so many ideas from shops and boutiques. In one of the Weston shops I saw a pretty floral arrangement with Mason jars. I took the idea and put my own spin on it.

I placed 6 mason jars (large & small), into an old enamel wash bowl. I added water to each jar. Now when I cut roses from our rosé bushes, I can place them into the jars. I now have a delightful arrangement that sits on our patio table! When the roses are done...

I simply remove the sad looking ones and cut fresh roses to bring life back into the arrangement!

 

We so love playing right here at home! We make and build things for our home and yard.

My sweetheart built this little troll bridge, down by the pond.

 

Some evenings we walk down and across the troll bridge.

Under the weeping willow tree...

And a few more steps.

We are here-

 

Do you see the dock?

He also made that.

We have a picnic table for dining or sketching....

Or for sitting and feet dangling.

 

The boys fish and swim!

I snap many pictures...

And mostly just enjoy the view.

We can see our house up on the hill.

 

I'm so glad that I took that risk and leap from Maryland to come here almost 2 years ago.

I am so blessed to now have this tranquil piece of country to call my HOME.

Did you ever see the movie, "On Golden Pond"? If not, please do!!!!!

I always wished for a home such as the one in the movie, shared by Norman Thayer and his wife. A place where one may go pick berries from the bushes, fish on a pond, and gaze at the stars in the sky...

From a porch out in the middle of nowhere.

Not a soul in sight.

Now in my life...

I can tell you...

That wishes CAN come true!

BELIEVE.

XO

 

Friday Love!

 

Up at 5:00 am this morning, excited to greet the day! NO Summer school on Fridays... Hip, hip, hooray!

I savored the morning java, even had some time with Paul before he headed out to work! I baked a batch of cookies...

 

And once out of the oven and slightly cool, I arranged them onto a plate and took a nice little stroll.

Down the long gravel driveway.

You see, my sweetheart is self employed and has his business, right here on the property. I rarely go down there because he is at work.

But! Today is Friday and Fridays are special around here!

Usually, he closes down shop early, around noon...

And we go play!

Today will be one of those days! We are also going to get our marriage license today!

He was hard at work when I popped in with the chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies. He did stop for a teensie break...

And a big smile.

This makes me smile.

I did start on a journal entry today (top photo)...

Do you see the ugly bandaid on my toe?

Well, I stepped on a mechanical lead pencil that was sitting upright in my supplies box! Of all things! The lead is quite thin and apparently sharp enough to go into skin!

 

Oh, how I do love Fridays in the Summer!

I now must go and enjoy the afternoon with him!!!!

Happy Friday to you!