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

 

The More Owls... The Merrier!

Ever have one of those days? You know... A day when nothing really sounds fun and your body is simply sluggish. It's very frustrating. Today was one of those days for me. I did get out this morning to plant flowers in yet ANOTHER little garden, in the front of the house. I rushed through the process because it was a bit chilly outside. Back into the house I went!

I got commission art pieces packaged properly and ready to ship tomorrow!

I completed this one early, early this morning...

 

It's for a baby's nursery. A baby shower gift. 9" x 12" watercolor, ink, and pan pastels. I enjoy doing name art! For me, it feels like doodling. A no-brainer!

Owls seem to be the rage!

I painted many owls last Summer! Bright, cheery owls! Oh, what fun!

The commission piece inspired me to do more owl art. Because I am experimenting...

Here is only a sneak peek...

 

I have always been captivated by 3-D art, and have made, but this is a little different.

Summer school (with the students), begins tomorrow and then an afternoon of running errands. Argh!

At times, I do regret saying, "yes" to working Summer school. It's now June. Wedding month and I have much yet to do for our special day! I'm feeling overwhelmed, yet excited! Our immediate families will come and we will all sleep over at the beautiful Circle S Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn. Once we check out, we will all come to our home for a BBQ!

Paul and I love to cook and entertain so we are also planning a special menu! Any suggestions? Side dishes that can be prepared in advance and refrigerated. Pretty, unique? Comments welcome!

We should have plenty of flowers!

Loooooookie!

I am cutting roses from our rose bushes!

 

Until next time...

 

Pink...

Hello, out there!

I type to you from my patio paradise! Oh, don't you just love, love, love Summer?!!!

I find much inspiration, right here.

 

Paul and I have been working in our gardens. One particular garden has been named, "The Rock Garden". It's on a slope, along a side of the house. We went shopping for the perfect plants and bushes...

But then something fabulous captured my full attention! PINK.....

Oh, yes!!!! I had to have a pair of those retro plastic, pink flamingos!

I couldn't wait to add them to a page in my Molskine art journal!

Of course, I like to color coordinate. Can't have a pair of pink flamingos without PINK flowers, don't you agree?

The rose bush that we planted, my very first Summer here, is also blooming pink! Yay!

We both really enjoy our patio.

Inspiration does come when we travel too. I quickly did another page in my journal...

Arkansas trip, Memorial Day weekend 2013.

Enjoy your day!

 

All of This White...

Guess who has been inside for the past two days... In her loungewear... sipping java with macchiato creamer and being creative?

It's been pure bliss!

Thursday morning the big, fluffy white flakes began to fall. As predicted, this continued throughout the entire day! I must confess, I spent that day resting and catching up on house chores. Today I spent some time updating my art journal. (I never did finish my Valentine's Day entry)!

I sketch with Micron archival pens. I prefer the smallest tip- 01. This ink does not bleed when wet. I have tried other brands, but always end up returning to my Microns!

I am totally in love with my MaimeriBlu watercolors... And Paul! He smiles as he picks up my art journal and sees this Valentine entry.

We played today...

Out in the deep snow!

Even the dogs joined in! This is Mindy Lou.

I think that we got a total of 12 inches of snow here. Our pond has a pretty sheet of ice on it. I plan on photographing it more tomorrow.

It really is a pretty sight... All of the white. I put on my boots and dashed out the back door to capture the sun setting.

We are now back inside, quite cozy and warm.

Having night coffee.

Winter Blessings!

 

Valentine's Day...

Valentine's Day. Oh, how I dreaded it... Every year... For many years. Seriously, it just never was a great event for me. I observed friends and co-workers being lavished with love, roses, and chocolate, discussing their plans for Valentine's eve with great excitement. Just another reminder to me that I was unvalued in my "situation", and would be spending Valentine's Day alone. Even during good times in my relationships, it never happened. Valentine's Day was sabotaged by unexpected chaos. Initially, I accepted the first few Valentine's Day disappointments, telling myself that the next one would be better... But let's face it. After 10 bad February 14ths in a row... Well, lets just say that I became wise and realistic. This day was simply not a day for ME to celebrate, in fact, prior to Paul, I feared the last few V-days and prepared for them as if they were a severe storm moving in my direction. I would go do some shopping ( for myself, of course), the day before. A frozen pizza, a few horror movie rentals... and maybe even a little chocolate. Once my workday was done on Valentine's Day, I would scurry home, put on my jammies, and shut myself into my safe, cozy bedroom for the night with all of my goods...

and ride the storm out!

Those days are behind me now.

Yesterday I came home from work to a dozen of beautiful roses in a vase, balloons, candy, and the sweetest card that read, " I will love you always and forever... Paul".

He truly is amazing and I feel so blessed to have him in my life!

My heart goes out to all of those, who do struggle with Valentine's Day because not everyone does have the experience of being appreciated and pampered this one day out of the year, yet cannot avoid it. I do hope that those people WILL do as I did...

and take care of themselves with a special treat and some love. It will pass. For some it will take years.

 

Don't these little guys just make you smile? Sugar bears! Oh, how cute! Too cute to eat really... but I gobbled them up!

It was a quiet evening at home. We like that during the work week. No extra events. We even had dinner at home- enchiladas.

Sending some love your way!

XOXO

 

We Love Holidays!

Why is it that the weekends seem to end so quickly? I wore my pouty face last night because I knew that I had to get to bed. Back to work. But I had more painting to do... and another fabulous book to read, by author, Mary Kay Andrews. (My fourth)! If I knew how to use the link function in this new blogging app, I would link you to her website... (Another task that I could have completed last night: learn to link, if only I could have stayed up late)! Just type her name into your browser and enjoy! I love her style!

It was, however, a wonderful weekend, as always. For a gal who has never looked forward to Valentine's Day...

Well, let's just say that the holiday of love may not be so dreadful after all, in fact, this year I am actually participating in all of the hoopla!

I'm painting little love notes.

My sweetie surprised me with all sorts of Valentine decorations.... glittery hearts in pink and red. Big ones, little ones... "Baby, look what I got for you", he said!

Hmmm. My eyes widened and my mind began wandering. Oh, what would I do with all of these lovely sparkling hearts?

Uh oh, I thought. I did have a bit of a problem, you see. I refuse to take down the Christmas tree. I like seeing the lights glow every morning and night. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to our tree, but how then, can I decorate for two holidays at the same time?

Compromise.

We do have a smaller tree. So, I removed all of the Christmas ornaments from the small, woodland tree that stands in the dining room...

And gave it a new look!

We now have a Valentine tree... (With a congrats card from Laura.... Thank you, my friend over at "where the gold bees dream" blog)!

And, a Christmas tree!

Maybe it's not "proper" to have both, but we don't care. Truly, there are no rules in this home! My sweetheart and I are both free spirits! Perfect together.

We love holidays!!!!




 

A Glorious Mess...

Buzzzzzzzzzzz. 4:00 am.

I need coffee. I allow myself one hour to enjoy it and to wake up. Yes, it's worth sacrificing sleep to have that extra time to myself each morning. I've been doing it for years... Can't even imagine not having that hour to mentally prepare for the work day ahead. I read my email, some blogs... And of course, Facebook!

I am out the door at 6:45 am.

Today, I leave behind my glorious mess!

 

 

So many unfinished projects and paintings!

Ok. A tiny sneak peek at those Valentine projects won't hurt. There are oodles of them for up & coming shows. Each one of these sweethearts has her own personality..... We just don't see it yet, but you will get to know them all at a later date.

I must get on my way now...

Down this Wintery, country road.

The day will fly by and soon, I'll be right back in the midst of that oh, so lovely MESS!

Until next time...