Orange Illuminated Letter

I know, another one?  The rain and snow has kept me in this holiday weekend.  You can only read so long.

Unexpected

SNOW!  It has laid down the tulips, poppies and mother's day planters of petunias.  The trees are bent under its weight.  SNOW!

Invader of the garden kind

However unusual it is to find a dandelion in my mother's garden, yesterday we had more unusual invaders.  Oh alright it was the gardens along the roadway, but it was still unusual.  Two twenty something adults where picking her flowers, creating a huge bouquet.  We surprised them as we drove up returning from a grocery shopping trip.

Now, while I have had this happen in the gardens at the art center where I work.  At the art center it is usually children walking home from school.  In my mother's garden it is unusual.  And the excuse?  "We thought they where wildflowers."

My recommendation - plant, grow and pick your own flowers, or leave the flowers in garden for everyone to enjoy.  They will last longer in the garden than in a vase.

On this morning's walk

A light rain is falling.  Raindrops glisten in the diffused light on dutch iris petals and maple leaves.  The lilacs are beginning to open.  Their fragrance struggles to overcome the scent of rain.  Looking up, through the mountain mist; I see a new dusting of snow on the peaks.  Then, while looking down, I see the turquoise-blue fragility of a robin's egg. Spring!

Garden Views

Let's Go on a Picnic

I taught a Science & Art workshop entitled "Let's Go for a Picnic" for children this afternoon.    We discussed why ants are insects, how they live their life cycle in ant hills with tunnels underground, (Riley preferred to cover her ant's tunnels in brightly colored wallpaper.), and the different types of ants and their jobs.  We created a fun foam ant  with pipe cleaner legs, and on a poster board sheet created a checkered table cloth for a picnic and to use as a game of tic tac toe - ants verses picnic food.  I sent the students home with their own observation jar.

A fun class!

As twilight deepens, 
A lone bird sings - chirps and trills;
Tonight's evening song.

The Honesty is in bloom

Sunny Morning

We woke to the sun shining in.  Mollie and I enjoyed our morning walk in the golden sunshine and shadows.  It has been a great break from the rain, which is forecast to return Sunday afternoon.

Illuminated Letters for friends

I had such a fun time illuminating letters at the Mountain West Arts Conference.  Tonight, I thought that I would illuminate a couple of letters for friends.  I think that I will tuck them in to the next letter I write to them.  Or maybe just send them the letter.

Tulips

My Damsel and Dragonfly class

Morning Observation

Mist and rain obscure the sunrise.  Birds still sing a morning song.  Robins are busily collecting the worms that have come up due to the rain.  Oak trees are just starting to leaf.  Beautiful little, perfectly formed leaves burst from the tree's buds.  The maples are distressed by all the rain, their leaves are beginning to curl with a fungus that happens with too much spring wet.  All around is green!

Preparing

Tomorrow, I am going to teach a Science and Art workshop for children called Damsel and Dragonflies.  Tonight, I am tracking down my support material and art supplies.

Evening with my friend's briards

Over in the pine tree a squirrel or two is chattering.  The day has been warm, finally.  I am sitting in the backyard with Tosca and Cini.  The sun is shining through the leaves of the neighbor's quaking aspen.  Fluffs of dandelion float aimlessly on a light breeze.  Pink pom-poms of almond blossoms glow in the evening light.  A lovely evening.

Window Views

The Grosebeaks are back for the summer.

These lovely flowers grow in a window box in the complex at which I work.

Happy Mother's Day

Moms you mean so much to us.  We should let you know more often.  We love you everyday!

On the mountainside

Maple trees burst in spring green-
Lacy blooms and leaves.

Interiors & exteriors

Illuminated Letters

I attended The Mountain West Arts Conference on May 5th.  I participated in an Illuminated Letters workshop with artist Mary Wells.

Spring Carpet of primroses and flowers

A bright tapestry 

Colorful primrose blossoms

My mother's garden.

John Flynn by Miss Bumbles

John Flynn came to in the mail to live with me.  Isn't he handsome.  http://www.etsy.com/people/MissBumbles