It's raining, it's pouring

We've been getting some much needed rain these past few days. Not being able to be out in the garden, I am doing some "much needed to get done" work inside.

Hope you're all having a good Monday!

Spring has arrived...

and with it, lots of flowers!

This is the Lady Banks rose that drapes over our pergola.

The azaleas are so colorful.

And, the garden that soon needs to be planted. Hopefully Otis and Riley will play somewhere else.

Busy day today.

I was cleaning out more closets again after realizing some of my summer clothes didn't fit anymore; then cleaned out some things in the attic (more clothes) and got a big pile ready for Goodwill.

I took Otis and Riley for their morning walk and it was a beautiful day, high 70's (tomorrow near 80, yeah!). When we got back from our walk I started messing around with paintings and photos, and rearranging pictures on the walls in the study.

Finally it was off to run some errands, stop by Goodwill and then to the grocery store.

And a few pictures of Otis and Riley.

They look like yin and yang.

Riley playing with his new toy...

Otis playing with the toy. See his tail wagging.

Perched on the sofa in the afternoon.

Art

I guess you could say art runs in our family...my father was a commercial artist, I like to dabble in art, both my brothers are good in art, and both of my daughters are excellent in art and have a natural talent and the one daughter pursued a career in art.

Our one artist daughter, Amy, in New York just sent me an email telling me of her next showing. Amy has her art at the Monya Rowe Gallery.

The email read:

If you're in the neighborhood..

Monya Rowe is pleased to participate in PULSE New York.


Featuring new works by:
Larissa BatesAngela, DufresneVera Iliatova, Amy Longenecker-Brown, Mark Schubert

Booth G-9PULSE New YorkPier 40West Side Highway @ West Houston, New York City Fair

Hours Thursday, March 27: 12 Noon- 8 PM Friday, March 28: 12 Noon- 8 PMSaturday, March 29: 12 Noon- 8 PM Sunday, March 30: 12 Noon- 5 PM www.pulse-art.com

We are very proud of Amy and are excited for her next showing. Good luck Amy!

What is a garden?

There's nothing like being in the garden to make things right again. With the sun shining, a cup of coffee in hand...out to the garden I go to do some puttering. A little bit of digging, watering, weeding and smelling the flowers and I feel much better. Otis and Riley are happy too.

It reminds me of a card that I framed years ago about paradise in the garden.

"What was Paradise?

but a garden,

an orchard of trees

and herbs, full of

pleasure, and nothing

there but delights."

William Lawson

And that's what my garden is to me ~ nothing there but pleasure and delights!

Mondays

These beautiful flowers were given to me for Easter and they sure are helping me get through this blah Monday. Aren't they pretty? Why is it that after a holiday it's so hard to get back to the regular grind?

All I need now is a little bit of sunshine. That, I think, would do the trick!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you a Joyful Easter!

Dogwood

I cut some dogwood branches yesterday and brought them in and put them in water. I'm hoping they open for Easter.

I thought they'd look nice on the sideboard. They're pretty even if they don't open. It adds a nice spring touch to the dining room.

Spring time and ferns

It's a beautiful day today ~ warm and sunny!

I bought my "yearly ferns" for the back porch and hung them, and now the porch seems to be saying "come and sit and enjoy".

I'm looking forward to spending lots more days on the back porch.

I've also painted some cute little rocks to put in plastic easter eggs for an egg hunt which we have every year for our granddaughter. Little keepsakes.

Easter treats

I love these...

and these...

and these...

and this!

My sweet tooth got the best of me today!

The Fairy

A fairy flies over the skies,

Over the seas’whispering breeze,

Winged flight flowing, up and then down,

Bubbling dreams drifting, dancing around,

The softness of flight lost in delight,

By softened cloud castles and lemon scented night,

Create quiet whispers, quieter than these

Orange blossomed blessings kissing the trees,

So listen, my child, though lateness and starlight

Illuminate the magic

of a star crossed night,

Lovers may wander while night’s face pales on,

Yet the fairy always hovers over the breath of a song.
S.K. Lindeman

My most recent painted rock.

Naughty Otis and Riley

This is what Otis and Riley do if they are left alone too long outside by themselves. I came inside for a cup of coffee and to download a few pictures on the computer and in comes Riley with dirt on his nose. Uh oh, a sure sign they were digging. So out we go to see the damage ~ and it was a pretty big hole, roots and all!

I filled it up again, pressed it down, and covered it with mulch. Then I decided to mow the grass while I was out. The yard looks much better now. And...it's beginning to look and feel alot like spring!

Here's a short video of Otis chewing a toy and spreading the stuffing all over the floor. I caught him in the act! Naughty, naughty.

A day in the garden ~ with Otis and Riley

Teacup

A teacup painting.

Watercolor ~ 3-1/2 x 3-1/2

Blue Butterfly

Another painted rock. This one is the brightest of blues!

The blue butterfly!

Pink Pearls!

While shopping the other day, I happened to glance over and see some pink pearls. What a delight! It immediately reminded me of when my sister and I were young and we both had pink pearl bracelets and necklaces. I LOVED my pink pearl bracelet and necklace and wore them everywhere.

Well, this cute little bracelet and earrings were tempting me and I couldn't resist. Pink pearls just make me happy!