Tuesday, February 28, 2012

morning light

the sky is definitely getting lighter earlier and earlier
I took these at about 6:40 this morning


it's turning out to be a very busy week
so I didn't get to my tea post until this morning
... but hey, it is tuesday after all ...


I feel like a bit of a faker when I'm writing my tea posts on monday
... but I do that for all of you who are east of me ...
that's just about everyone!


yesterday:
Paul Gauguin at the Seattle Art Museum (o!m!g!)

today:
child's field trip

tomorrow:
science fair

thursday:
quilting

friday:
breathe

how is your week shaping up?
take time to breathe ... and a nice hot cuppa
:)

Friday, February 24, 2012

birth of an idea

... a children's book idea ...

"at night"

(page 1) night surfing & (page 2) night laundry


just getting started

what do you think?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

thinking today ...

... that it could be worse


and thankful it is not


crazy weather here the last few days
you may have heard about our avalanche tragedy over the weekend
major pacific storms have been blowing through here
the weatherman calls it "an atmospheric river"
lots of rain, lots of snow and warming temperatures
avalanches in the mountains
and
cresting rivers in the lowlands
I live on a high ground
but took these pictures while on a walk this morning
I thought the swings floating on the current were eerie

sorry ...

... For the word verification woes ... I am going to try blogging without them entirely ... But I have disallowed "anonymous" comments .... Sorry for the inconvenience

Monday, February 20, 2012

double comfort

... tea and a good book ...
double comfort


my book is The Double Comfort Safari Club
- eleventh in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series -
and the second to the last book




I have been putting off coming to the end of these wonderful books
but today is a perfect day to escape to Botswana




african redbush (rooibos) tea figures prominently in the stories
and the health benefits are becoming well known
(here's an interesting article about it)


*

another healthy thing: going for a long walk
while I was out walking today, I found this skeleton blossom
it's from a hydrangea bush
... amazing ...


I hope you are fitting healthy things into your day today
sometimes we get so busy ... and we have to give each other a nudge

nudge nudge
:)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

under glass

I don't keep cheese under this old cheese plate dome


no brie, cheddar or camembert


for now I keep this lacy leaf


but a seashell, bird nest or piece of coral would be pretty too


*
... and here's today's sky ...
under glass


Thursday, February 16, 2012

the daily


the daily watercolor sketch
(it's my routine since early january)
and some days
(like today)
it's the only "productive" thing I do all day
(but regular life is productive too - we all know that)
so, I should say: sometimes, it's the only "fun" thing I do all day


I wish I had added that far right tree that is standing aloof from the others (in the photo)
... I think I'll go do that ...


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

grounded


I made this piece using a trader joe's brown paper bag ...
which I
collaged
inked
tore
and just thoroughly messed with

... then I applied a patch of Watercolor Ground right in the middle of it


I waited the 48 hours or so that is recommended
and then I took it with me for my daily watercolor sketch from the car today


a winter hayfield nestled up against a forested hillside

here's a close-up so you can see the amazing texture of it all:


f u n !

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

valentine

I have a small collection of antique valentines that I've been adding to each year
... it all started with this one from my Great Grandad to my Memaw ...


my darling proposed to me on valentines day
... ahhhh ...


these are my addition for this year
... courtesy of the superlative and quintessential eclectic Ruby Floy ...


and these are modern valentines suitable for any 12 year old
... 3-D and store bought ...


today's tea?
... rosehip and cherry from Ahmad ...
today's sky?
... robin's egg blue fading into mother of pearl pink ...


*
I wish you a love and affection filled day - today and always!


Thursday, February 9, 2012

dish garden


I made this easy dish garden using a big glass serving plate and a cake cover
the soil is cactus mix with a layer of sand on the top


I give it a little drizzle of water about every 10 days
the glass dome makes it quite humid
I originally had just succulents in it, but I've recently added mosses and lichens


they seem to be very happy
living up here in the Northwest, moss and lichen are abundant
... all of these pieces I found while out walking ...

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

a different sort of frame


I did these little watercolor studies of mosses from our garden
and wasn't sure how to frame them
you see - they are just so - L I T T L E
(only about 2 and half inches)


and I had these little tart pans on my desk
an "aha" moment
born out of not putting things away and just leaving them out


I punched little holes and threaded a wire for a hanger
... framing problem solved!


Monday, February 6, 2012

not just tea ...

... but a taste of spring tea ...

like this light and delicate shortbread cookie ... all it might need is a sprinkling of pink sugar




 and this perfectly blue sky with the buzzing sound of a small plane



and a chance meeting at the park with some parachutes



spring feels like it's just around the corner on a day like this!


how are you this fine tuesday?


Thursday, February 2, 2012

a dream?

this morning's sky was brilliant and beautiful
it set everything aglow


(above) a painting from the car
and (below) a valentine matchbox



in yesterday's post I said I was "living the dream"
and I'm feeling like that was a braggy thing to say
honestly - it's a day to day thing
most days are actually really very complicated with the stuff of life

like today:
a child with a sore throat
another one with a skinned knee
late to pick up another one after school
the dog dragging me down the street 
(even saying my favorite swear word in combination with my dog's name)
a broken plate that was an heirloom
gross leftovers for dinner
dusty dirty house
unfolded laundry
and on and on
you know what I mean
:)

and the living the dream part is:
hugs
kisses
sweet text messages
being asked "how was your day?"
and replying
"I am living the dream"

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

completed matchbox

either 
I'm crazy 
or
I'm living a dream


because this is what I do


I make weird stuff


just hope I never have to knock on walmart's door for a job!



and speaking of living a dream
this was my sky today as I was gabbing on the phone around lunch time

( w o w )