Simple Things

Looking back on yesterday, I realize the simple things gave me the most enjoyment.  

The simple bouquet of sweet pea blossoms that i picked on the walk with Mollie after we mowed the lawn at the cabin.  Today it brighten a spot of my desk.

Stopping to give a ride home to a friend, who was standing at a bus stop.  

Sitting with my niece near the river.  While she cooled her feet in the water, we enjoyed the activity around us and a conversation.  A small brown song sparrow belted out an impressive song.  Yellow canaries, waxwings, and dragonflies dart back & forth feeding on insects.  Fish jump creating concentric circles in the water while they feed.   Robins feed on the ripening berries on the dogwood bushes that line the river. A hummingbird and dragonfly are perched on branches in the same tree, observing, before the dart off on their next flight.  Just before we get up to finish our chores for the day, we watch the small brown song sparrow bathe in the shallows, jumping and splashing.

I hope that today you will take a moment to enjoy a simple thing.

Sunday Morning 6:30 a.m.

It rained overnight or earlier this morning.  Not a hard rain, as the path has dry shadows under overhanging branches.  The tree are a fresh green, washed. Leaves hold reflective water droplets, jeweled prisms that remind me of the cabochons of my moonstone bracelets.  Roadside dandelion seed heads have the  indignant look of a wet cat.  The dandelions are waiting for the sun to dry their whiskers so they can float on a spring breeze.

Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Our walk has been delayed

Tonight the rush and the roar of the Ogden river in runoff is a constant in the background.  The apple blossoms have flown away on the spring breeze like parade confetti.  Lilacs still scent the air, and now the tall spiked clusters of flowers on the horse chestnut tree are ready to burst.  The repetitive chirp of insects underscore the territorial bird songs.  White dandelion puffs dot the edges of our path.  The sky is a brilliant blue with bright white wisps of cirrus clouds.  Another lovely evening.

Monday, 7:30 p.m.

Apples, chokecherries and lilacs are in bloom.  Dwarf iris reminiscence of Van Gogh's masterpiece in shades of blue and royal purple cover a portion of the hill.  The evening has cooled from the warmth of the day.  The canyon is n shadow.  only the peaks are lit by the evening sun.  Lilacs scent the air- sweet.  The birds trill a territorial song.  A perfect evening walk.

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

I have always thought that Mourning Cloak butterflies are beautiful.  Their brown wings are like velvet with ivory lace edging and sapphire dots.

Mid Morning Sun

It is Saturday.  A wonderful day to explore the garden and the way the sun highlights the flowers.

More Teaching

Today, we had 60 students visit the Eccles Community Art Center from West Weber Elementary Schools.  I helped them paint watercolor landscapes.  They created some fun watercolor, and even though we all started out with the same concept, each painting was unique.  

Jill, the center's curator of education taught a packet using prints of paintings from the National Museum's "Pictures across America".

Cynthia took them on a tour of the Historic Home.

Leann lead them through an original Art Center packet.

We each did 4 presentations.  I had a good time with the students.

Teaching

This afternoon, I had 10 students from Dee Elementary school come to the Eccles Community Art Center to create art.  We did two watercolors that we used as the front and back of an accordion fold book.  (Thank you Adele - the book that you taught me worked well with the students).  We then had the students place the books into a bag with a pencil.  They were told that they could fill their books with art or writing.  The books turned out well.  I enjoyed the class, I hope the students had a great time, also.

Mother's Garden

My mother's garden is a lovely blanket of color and flowers.  This morning she is adding more plants and flowers for color later in the season.

Nature the master

Last night the moon washed the clouds in tones of pink, lavender and turquoise.  This morning, before sunrise the clouds blushed pink and coral.  Sunlight gilded the snow capped peaks.  Nature paints beauty that only artists, writers and photographers can hope to imitate.

Another Rainy Saturday

Errands, and chores are done and it is still raining, the perfect time to start reading one of the books I have piled near my bed.  Mollie is already snuggled in close, which book to read.

Signs of Spring

Mollie and I visited the cabin yesterday.  We took a walk looking for signs of Spring.  Here are just a few of our favorite signs.

Book Making Class

I had a fun time at the book making class with Adele.  I learned how to make accordion folded books, and sewn binding books.

Compare and Contrast

Last weekend, Mollie and I hiked dry creek canyon.  The yellow bells and dog tooth violets were in bloom.  This weekend rain is expected.

Mollie loves hiking.

Spring Flower Class

Yesterday, I taught an art/science class.  It was a low key class, only three students.  We looked at a variety of flowers: tulips, daffodils, catkins, and dandelions.  The students viewed a few of Georgia O'Keeffe's flowers, then created their own masterpieces.  They also made some flower nature/sun prints, and created tissue paper flower sculptures.

Spring again

We have had a number of days of snow and winter like weather.  Today it is finally another day of Spring.  I got out and planted spring flowers to brighten our patio.

The First Day of Spring

Friday, March 21, the first day of Spring, and a day off from work.  It is a warm sunny day.  A day perfect for a walk with Mollie.  

Mollie and I are escorted along the upper road by a myriad of butterflies.  The butterflies a drinking water and minerals.  The water is melting from near by snow banks.

We are accompanied by lovely brown mourning cloak butterflies, and orange butterflies.  The mourning cloaks are live swatches of brown velvet edged with old fashion ivory lace.  The orange butterflies (I need to research what type of butterflies they are) are orange with brown spots with wings that look like torn paper.  They are able to disappear on a tree trunk when the close they wings together, and then when wings open there is a flash of color.

We walk near the valley of snowdrops.  They are in bloom.  There scent fills the air with the perfume of spring.  It has drawn emerging honey bees to harvest the snowdrops pollen.  The snow drops are prettily dancing on a slight breeze.  The outershirts of three white petals open wide providing a glimpse of the green underskirts dotted and edged in white lace.

Near an old wall of blue limestone and cement, we find a few violets in bloom.  There scent reminds me of the violet perfume candies that my grandmother bought for us as children.  I pick a bouquet to take this touch of spring into the house.

Mollie and I complete our walk, still accompanied by butterflies.  

The weather forecast is for winter to return.

Nearing the end of Winter

The weather has started to warm.  The snow is starting to melt.  

Walking Mollie has become very interesting as the melting snow on the road has either turned to ice or has the consistency of sugar.  In both cases you slip and slide.

But this is a great indication that winter is nearing its end.  And then Spring!

Spring with the renewal of life, flowers blooming everywhere, and the bright green of newly leafing trees.

Mom's New Creations

Mom designed and created these fun lady bugs, bees and dragonflies. She will be showing them at the Carriage House on February 6th.

Charm Bracelets

I found charm bracelets at the craft shop, and have been able to attach my charms to them. I will be showing my bracelets at the Eccles Community Art Center.