Taking a short break...

from blogging........but not too long.

I'm busy working on a special Art project for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

I'll show you when I'm finished.

Be back soon.

Rain

Heavy rains fell last night, and the garden is beautiful this morning.

A surprise

Look what I found this morning while trimming the jasmine over the front door. Two little white dove eggs. What a surprise!

And momma wasn't far from the nest. I trimmed the jasmine very carefully so as not to disturb.

She waited very patiently until I was finished.

More baby dove will be taking up residence here at Mourning Dove Cottage.

A good movie

The Cats of Mirikitani. Filmmaker Linda Hattendorf becomes an integral part of the action in this heartfelt documentary about her efforts to help aging Japanese-American artist Jimmy Mirikitani get off the streets of New York City and make peace with his complicated past. As she and Jimmy sift for long-lost relatives and even revisit the internment camp where he was forced to spend several years during World War II, Hattendorf hauls her camera along to capture every moment.

We enjoyed this movie ~ Galen and I watched it last evening. Thanks, Amy, for recommending it.

I love his artwork.

Sometimes it's good to just sit and reflect. Today would be one of those days ~ it's a gray day with rain on the way.

After returning from PA, there seems to be a lot to catch up on. I felt like I was out of commission yesterday and didn't get much done. So today, laundry, cleaning, groceries and other errands, and of course yard work (which will have to wait).

I'll be around to visit soon. Thank you for all your wishes and kind words.

Enjoy the day!

A tribute to a very sweet lady

Anna M. Stauffer

August 1, 1907 - July 16, 2009

Galen's grandmother passed away last Thursday. She was 101 years old, just a few weeks short of her next birthday. A beautiful lady and the sweetest person you would ever want to know. She was the mother of 4 children, 17 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren. Amazing.

Her faith was deep, she had an unconditional love for her family, had many many friends, was kind and uplifting and always had a story to tell, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

We will miss her.

~ She will forever be in our hearts.

Crape Myrtle

There's not a prettier summer bloom here in the south than the crape myrtle. This year they seem to be exceptional!





Bigger, brighter and fuller! The colors remind me of lipstick.

Otis enjoying my lap this morning while I read.....

Riley enjoying the arm of the sofa.

Summer reading

What would summer be without a good book. I'm caught up in the pages of Dorothea Benton Frank's "Plantation", a story that takes place in the Low Country of South Carolina.

Nothing like a good cup of coffee and a good book to read on a warm summer day.

Simple pleasures

fresh flowers

fresh tomatoes picked from the garden

Mourning Dove Cottage

I'd like to share with you something very special that Mourning Dove Cottage received in the mail yesterday.

My sweet blogging friend, Deb, from posted from home, sent me a beautiful handmade card with the letters MDC, for Mourning Dove Cottage, and a photo of a baby dove on the front ~ this dove, by the way, is one of her dove babies. How cute!

Enclosed in the card was an article she clipped from a Mary Engelbreit magazine about a beautiful home and garden called Dove Cottage. The article is filled with lovely garden pictures of an enchanting naturescape, herb and flower gardens, and a charming farmhouse built in the 1850's.

Thank you, Deb, for thinking of Mourning Dove Cottage! I've already found some wonderful ideas in the article that I'd like to incorporate in my garden.

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!

~George Elliston

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to mention that the 4th of July event at Brier Creek was loads of fun and a very successful day. The fireworks were fantastic!

Geraniums

Don't you just love geraniums? They're one of my favorite summertime flowers.

I painted a small watercolor painting of some red geraniums.

And.......I printed some cute geranium note cards ~

Find them on my etsy shop!

Painting

"The Mourning Dove", 4x6, acrylic

My latest painting, The Mourning Dove, inspired by all the dove that live here at Mourning Dove Cottage.

And......the beginning of a new painting of my old garden table in the back yard. Here is a photo (to the right) ~

Here is the start.

Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July!

We will be spending Saturday at the Earth Fare Brier Creek 4th of July Festival in Raleigh. We'll be setting up as one of the venders for arts and crafts. It should be a big event starting at 2:00 pm with activities, food, and music, and ending with **FIREWORKS** at 9:15 pm.

This marble chaser on the right, is the latest wooden toy Galen made and we will be taking along with us ~ and all of our other fun toys, signs and art!

We're looking forward to a fun and relaxing day!


Wishing everyone a great weekend!

Morning breeze

Early morning is the best time to enjoy a cool breeze here at Mourning Dove Cottage. The rest of the day is almost too hot to be outside with temps in the high 90's. It's really been hot lately!

I like to open all the doors and windows to let in the fresh cool air.

And while I was enjoying a porch morning, look who stopped by for a visit.

Enjoy your day.