pictures from the side porch & back yard

Here's what our house guest has been up to....


Pretty peony...my neighbor (my mom) takes such good care of the flowers!


Some roses....


Some more....


Another peony...


The basement door...

what I've been working on & a house guest

Have I mentioned that I've been staying up tooo late lately? Way too late. But I have been doing fun stuff late at night. Last week, I signed up for Secrets of the Encased Hearts class with the talented Tejae Floyde. I am having a very large amount of fun with it all and have happily finished two encased hearts with more under construction!! Below is a heart for a very special person and I can't wait for her to see it, all finished and ready for her. The other will be posted in a day or so as it is on it's way to another special someone who I want to surprise and since she occasionally reads this blog, I am waiting until USPS declares her present deliverd... =)

Here's a shot of our most recent house guest, Mama Bird. She's made her home above the door on our side porch and I'm so glad she's gotten used to me walking by, and that I'm remembering she's there. I think it helps that I bow my head (really, really low) as I go by--a couple of times with her flying wildly out of the nest and right over my head has helped me to remember that she's there. Isn't she sweet? And for Mother's Day, Lisa Vollrath is celebrating with a free image a day until then. You can download them at her site . HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

new journal pages

Here are a couple of new journal pages that I finished this evening. My scanner is acting funky and I had to resort to using the old one (thank goodness for pack rattedness). I'd love to see what you've been making--got something to show me??

Spring has sprung!

I can't believe a whole ten days has ticked by w/o an update...but here I am, albeit a little late! Last week, we went to eat at Cajun's Wharf with Will, Bryan and my mom. The food was good but not the awesomeness I had anticipated. Gotta love this fish though! It's right on the banks of the river.
The flowers are blooming around the house, and my favorites are the irises especially the purple ones.
This weekend was BEAUTIFUL here...and the kids got in some good fun outside. Scads of bubbles were blown and many grains of sand tracked in from the sand box.

Here's another one of my favorites from the yard...one of the little ferns that pop up here and there. Stay tuned for some art tomorrow, my sweeties!!

And ONE MORE THING....for all you AI watchers out there (and I KNOW you're out there!), have you noticed how much Jason favors ol' John Travolta?? Check it out!! They even sing alike! I wonder if Jason is actually his long, lost son...hmmmm?

lottapics

Here are some more of my pictures from my adventures in the great Northwest. I had such a blast but was wiped out when I got home....I've been sleeping a lot since I've returned but I'm thinking I'm about back in the routine of all things home. I can't say enough about my wonderful teachers. All four were a total hoot and I loved every minute of my time with them, starting with Laurie Mika. What a great lady...she kind of reminded me of my mother in law--in the best of ways, of course! And check out her work in the second picture!
Here's the lovely Linda O'Brien. She and Opie were true characters. I loved what I was able to accomplish during their class, thanks mostly to them but also to the fact that I skipped lunch and then snacked on chocolate covered espresso beans a la Lani. She left me with the phrase of the trip....when asked about what to do here or how to do something there, she'd say, very matter of factly, "It's your party." I loved it!!

One of the beautiful O'Brien bracelets

Susan Lenart-Kazmer is like some crazy art-cheerleader. She was so supportive and enthusiastic about everyone's stuff!
For those of you who are familiar with our beloved Razorbacks, doesn't she look as though she just might be calling the Hogs with my projects in each hand?!
Cyndy, a friend and one of my roomies from last year brought a newbie, Maya to ArtFest with her this year. Maya picked some great classes--I was in two with her!! Haha!
My sweet home away from home in Port Townsend. We shall definitely stay here again!! It was perfect!
And apparantly I was not the only happy student at ArtFest. Look at the grins on all the faces!
Here's Lani's supper, a beautiful flower of salmon from the Galatea on Washington in Port Townsend. They had just the yummiest (and potent) margaritas too!
Peace out, BFFs!
Another friend from last year, Kim Carney, who turned me on to my new favorite store, Bryn Walker. Luckily, I've discovered their stuff is offered here in LR in two boutiques!

What a good sport this one was. She doesn't like heights but went up to the top of the Space Needle and she doesn't like water but got out of the car for a couple of shots on the ferry. Luckily, our popparatzo was there to catch all the important moments!
Just had to post this one as I said I'd get you, my pretty....can you say "And I ran, I ran so far away, I just ran, I ran both night and day-a-a, I had to get away?" Heh heh!
These three definitely made the trip for me!
And I can't say enough about our driver/barista/popparatzo/
chica with the best smile.

When I got home, I was so excited to have my in-laws visiting from Florida. They were here most of the time I was away but we managed to get in a nice little visit and lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, the Starving Artist Cafe.


And although they were past their peak, the dogwoods were in bloom when I returned. This beautiful bloom is from the tree in my courtyard where I have loved it since I was a kid.

Day 3 & 4 (looking forward to my home-twenty)

Yesterday was day three of ArtFest classes and it didn't disappoint. Susan Lenart-Kazmer was great and the class was a winner. The prayer boxes or containers we made are beautiful and unusual and I love them. Show and tell was a hoot, thanks to the tasty Galatea margaritas and all the great art on display at the fort. Although we had to say goodbye to Port Townsend, it was time to get back home...by way of Seattle, of course! Tomorrow will be a long day but hopefully a better trip than on the way out. Can't wait to see all!!

Kim, Cyndy and me in SL-K's class.
The fountain at PT.
Chocolate shake lovers.

A quick hello...day two

Had another terrific day yesterday, on day two of AF '08. Linda and Opie O'Brien did a most fantastical job teaching Flat to Stacked. I managed to finish my project in class this time but only b/c I worked through lunch and ate chocolate coated espresso beans--but it was totally worth it!! They were awesome--totally patient and what a funny couple--and so is my bracelet (awesome but not patient and funny). Vendor night was hairy as always but o-so-kind Teesha opened this year a little early for the students so it didn't seem as bad on the body count....until seven and then it felt like the room shrunk by about three sizes! I was fortunate enough to purchase a Laurie Mika Shrine and a Nina pendant/charm thingy and a few other bobbles. After that we came back to our humble abode, ordered pizza and arted out. I managed to finish my shrine and the rest of my trades, and had a very good night! Missing you all! Enjoy the photos!!

My Flat to Stacked bracelet!
My Shadow Box Shrine!
One of a pair of sweeties that were outside the Art Asylum. I got my camera and just keep taking steps closer and closer. I was able to get to within about 25 feet of them....then I started thinking of that show "When Animals Attack" and decided I had plenty of deer pics!
Peace out, y'all!!