the end of the rainbow

We've had several foggy mornings. Here is another. They tend to burn off in the morning sun and the days heat up with the extra humidity. It's been a bit much and keeps me housebound. But lately the nights are cooler. Here are some pictures from August 22 that I meant to post.

Oh well, as usual, better late than never....

Muji looking out at the foggy backyard

 

Babu is too sleepy to rouse himself but knows I'm there

 

 the strange light and morning bird calls

catch his attention

a little groggy still

 

but ready to invite some love in a little rollover

(if you find this an invitation, then you know cats)

 

Then, the possible movement of wings

passes through his amazing cat's eyes

to that reptilian brain, the one that catches movement instinctively

The Mighty Hunter

 

Later, we find Muji engaged in

kitty mind control

Flexing his toes shows how desirous he is

of the love he craves, my little Love Monster

 

All this while I try to get a good exposure of another monster,

one I did in coloured ballpoint pens at hand, a kind of meditation,

that I call "Guardian"

 

Fascinated with the fog, I continue to take pictures, now through the trellis that holds the ranging hollyhocks, as I look towards the bowed Hydrangea

My favourite fan of trees, over the hedge and across the hayfield in the dying light

and then the peachy sky before dusk

and what's this!

Forget-Me-Not Cabin at the end of the rainbow!

A glorious gift

 

Let us always be the vessel for these chance "pots of gold"

 

a quiet foggy morning



 

It's a lovely Friday evening, and while August the 19th hardly seems relevant anymore, I thought I'd share some shots of the foggy morning I woke up to that day.

 



opening the curtains to this

 

Forget-me-not Cabin in the fog

 

This sprawling hollyhock stalk holding the last remnants

Beyond the cabin, the ravine is beginning to appear

I try to zoom in closer to make out the blue layers of trees beyond the ravine

 

I've been remiss in posting. I will have more to share soon.

It's promising to be a lovely weekend. I hope for you too.

sweetness in your life

 

 

runaway day to Bear River

Whisked away to Bear River last week on a warm summer day

This stream of clouds ran down to the south

 

Follow that cloud!

 

Coming into Bear River, we find many old houses that indicate the history of this remote town,

now established as an artists' retreat.

 

The Bear River is much larger than I imagined and its namesake was once a shipbuilding town.

You can see the draw of the ocean tide on such a big river that flows down to the sea, pulling it faster than it can flow.

 

This same house that sits by the bridge on piers.

 

We park in front of our hosts' funky garage by the road

 

and proceed up the driveway

 

to their darling house on the hill

 

where our lovely host (of 2) received us on the porch

 

The ivied chimney to the left

 

The entrance from the inside

 

The stairs to the right

 

One of our hosts had recently come into a stash of burl, too punky for bowl turning, so he sliced it into these matching pieces

 

another matching set, so beautifully spalted, for box making perhaps

 

These are highly creative people. Our next event was a tour of their beloved garden,

English Country style

 

In a trance of beauty, I don't remember the name of this gorgeous spire

 

though lilies are certainly recognizable.  Aren't they heavenly?

 

These babies towered well over 6 feet

 

and some more pretties of a similar hue

 

It's hard to capture the colour of a garden and its nuances on a bright afternoon with its sharp shadows, so these vignettes will have to do. Here, a Tiger Lily with its Leopard spots.

 

We continued to appreciate the garden from indoors where w ere served a lunch made just for us. The art work all around rivalled the gardens for beauty. The paintings and turned bowls and do you see the little orange paper cranes that our host made and hung from a branch? Charming!

 

After lunch we headed down to town,

 past the great old shed that will be torn down for a new studio

 

a very short walk indeed, over a little bridge and

 

you're there

Actually this little gem stood beside the amazing gallery of spectacular high end craft and art distinctly curated by Rob Buckland-Nicks, who directed me toward some fascinating 3D computer jewellery, then set me on my mini adventure around his gallery.

 

And now we had to leave this magical day out.

Our hosts' home sits on its perch over-looking town.

We say our good-byes.

 

Thank you for joining me on this little mini holiday. I hope you are enjoying these last days of August. Til next time...

 

peace in our hearts

 

progress of the flowers

A little late, but I think they're worth showing: pictures from last week.

Five days ago. That would make it Friday morning.

 

Babu looking at Muji looking at me.

 

I knew it was time to document the progress of the flowers.

Here some clematis, like periwinkle stars, bloom beside the almost black hollyhocks that are almost done on one side of the composter.

 

a little closer

On the other side of the composter, the Echinacea are very happy

 

a little closer

Cherry tomato flower in a pot on the back deck

 

a delicate cherry tomato blossom

Mint in flower by the far fence

The adolescent maple growing beyond the flower-spent honeysuckle

The clouds over the hayfield

My favourite fan of trees under a threatening sky

 

a green Zinnia

a little closer

 

Another green Zinnia

a little closer

 

This is just a little snippet of what's been going on.

 

 A week of dreadful heat has kept me indoors. I treat this kind of weather as seriously as if it were a hurricane. I'd rather be out in a wintery blizzard than this kind of deadly heat. As long as it rains every now and then, the plants don't seem to mind.

 

Keeping our cool, keeping centred, honouring our blossoming nature's expression,

living in grace.

 

Blessings all around

 

 

summer of 1,ooo dreams

Sometimes I just can't pull the rabbit out of my hat. Creativity can be so elusive as life demands so much attention to other things. Ultimately it is the sweet space between "reality" and the Infinite in which a painting takes place. That is where it's almost like channelling cosmic energy.  Talent is a mixed blessing and too much or too little technique can render a picture lifeless.

And I wrestle with the gift. The gift of time and materials, quiet and space,  not to mention support and talent. It is a precious thing to be given so much in this life, but it is something altogether different to run with it.

To sit down with the intention of play within a structured format is a safe and happy place. Too much freedom and one flies off altogether. A big element for me is support. Thank you to those of you who give that to me. You cannot know how much it means to me....

Summer of 1,000 Dreams (graphite pencil and watercolour)

 

Babu being seductive. He so wanted to play this morning.

 

 

A grateful time. Hold the moment.

 

peace

 



rainy afternoon

Greetings from a rainy afternoon.  It's been threatening rain for a week now with barely a drizzle so I thought I'd hang some laundry to dry, and of course, it rains! Wasn't I the sight running out to gather two pairs of jeans. I left the socks and underwear on the line as it was raining so hard, hoping to come out later to rehang the jeans, but still it rains.  I wonder if the rainwater will have any softening effect on the laundry out there.

In the meantime, what better way to amuse oneself than with watercolour painting. I only just finished this, the better of two:

 "Talking on the phone with Leona"

because that's what I was doing with my dear friend in Toronto

 

A sweet last Tuesday of July to you.  Remembering to find the gift in each moment.