Today's Garden Bounty

Here is today's bounty from the garden! The peppers are medium hot and will taste great on my hamberger tonight along with the huge Black Russian tomatoes! All of these veggies are heirlooms varieties from Baker Seeds in Mansfield, MO. I am really looking forward to eating these! Yummy!

My New Roof!

The storms that hit here in May? did enough damage to warrant a new roof...thanks goodness for homeowner's insurance! The guys started this morning with no warning they woke me at 6:00 am!

I am happy!!!

That is shade cloth on my window. I have hung it on all my windows because it keeps the house cooler. I will be making awnings for the shade cloth after the roof is finished. I think I am going to use cattle panels?

Flora...

You should be able to tell that the Iris is one of my favorite flowers! Here is another pretty bloom from the flora at my back door! Isn't she beautiful?!

This is a Japanese Maple that I planted when it was just a stick. I actually bought it for $.50 at Walmart one last summer. I am taking cuttings for my watercolor buddies!

I love this white clematis that climbs a fence post around my old garden...

The Weigela is also one of my favorite bushes. It grows fast and flowers all summer with enough moisture. A great privacy bush!

I tried posting a picture of the Weigela and the weather is making it impossible to upload a photo at this time...later babeeeeeee!

Got it downloaded!

Iris in bloom!

My iris are starting to bloom and I normally don't cut them but...since I am painting now...they make great models!

My favorites are the old fashion lilacs...they smell of lick-a-maid! If you grew up in the 50's you know what I am talking about? Pixie Stix! The aroma just fills the entire room and is a very nice smell that takes me back to some great memories of my childhood.

Oh, we had a visitor that came inside with the flowers...wonder what type of spider this little guy is? He will have a home inside until the buds all die off...then out he will go to continue his life elsewhere!

Here are a couple of close-ups that I am going to attemp to paint...I will post them when I have completed...

Happy Spring!

It was a "bird watching" weekend!

With all the rain over the weekend I didn't get out much!

But the birds were happy I was home refilling the feeders!

Male and female Baltimore Orioles!

I did manage to get small watercolor painting done but I am not happy with the results. Oh well...try, try again...

I also baked a few loaves of bread this past week and mowed the always growing 2" overnight grass!

I need a new roof and so had a couple of young men come over and take a look and they will be calling me about the bid soon!

I am going on "holiday" on May 22nd and back on June 7th! I am visiting my nephey and his family in Los Carlos, CA; my cousin, Susan, in Sacremento and my son and his family along with long time friends in Denver, CO. Oh, did I say that I will be celebrating the big "60" birthday?! Yikes...can't believe I have been around that many years! I certainly hope everyone is going to spoil me while I am visiting...Ha!

Happy Day!

Update on Puppies!

The puppies left here for Colorado Fur Babies and are safe and sound! They have all received new names for some reason I don't understand. Hurts my feelings I tell ya!~ But...it is as it is!

Here are a few picture of them before they left and a link to the rescue!

http://www.coloradofurbabies.com/

Colored Pencils

Okay, new interest here! I just received my colored pencils and my new book by Alyona Nickelsen titled "Colored Pencil Painting Bible". So I am reading a lot and making my color wheel, etc. This is an excellent book and I can't wait to start paiting with my Prismacolor colored pencils. I am also waiting for more books! I will update you when they arrive!

Here is a link to Alyona's website: http://www.brushandpencil.com/

Happy Day!

Spring is in the air!

Finally the trees are budding and blooming. I am awaiting the arrival of the hummingbirds!

Someone dropped a female dog off here in November and I now have six puppies looking for homes. A rescue is coming on Saturday to pick them up! I will miss them but not the enourmous cost of feeding the little burgers!

I am also looking for homes for my two elderly miniature donkey girls! I am probably selling my two breedable girls, Sassie and Lil Anne. My boys? Well, I think I will hold on to them. I could finish Brumley out at driving and get Lindo into training.

I am taking watercolor lessons and working on my pen and ink drawings. Trying to stay busy and wanting to take a trip to CA in May. To Denver in June and who knows where else the rest of the year!

Happy Spring!