Sunday, May 5, 2019

How Does Your Garden Grow?


The bunny came to visit.


Mama Cardinal left the nest. I think her babies have hatched though because of the position of the nest, I can't see into it. Papa Cardinal comes to the nest several times a day. He's too quick to catch with a camera, but I did see him feeding Mama some seeds.


Some tulips add a pop of color to the daffodils


A few leaves have sprouted on the hydrangea. If it ever stops raining, I can trim back the dead stalks.


Another daffodil. We have lots because the bunnies and chipmunks don't like daffodil bulbs. The do love  tulip bulbs which is why there are only a couple of tulips in the garden.


Grape hyacinths peeking through some day lilies. The hyacinths must have grown wild or had help from animal friends as I never planted them in this area.


The leaves on the Japanese maple popped.


A daffodil with an orange center.


Some purple and white violets


On the backside of Ink's garden, the lily of the valley make an appearance. I thought these didn't survive transplanting from Red's garden or the Winter as last week, not a single shoot was poking up through the ground.


Trees in the woods starting to leaf


Two little dandelions. In years past, the backyard would be carpeted with dandelions. It's been wet and cold most of the Spring. We've only had 7 days of complete sunshine. Maybe wet and cold has put some plants behind schedule.

How does your garden grow?

Saturday, May 4, 2019

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:


The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) Robert 😻 Redford

If you haven't seen this movie, is available to rent at Amazon and YouTube.

Friday, May 3, 2019

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Himself and I went to see Captain Marvel. Everyone was at the opening of Avenger's Endgame so there were very few people in the theater. And just like Divers and Sundry told me, I really loved the cat in the movie. After the movie we went out to dinner.

2. I started the morning glory seeds from the Reggie morning glories from last year.

3. Misplaced my journal, but after a hunt found it with some help. Still looking for an Altoid tin of sewing needles.

4. Had fun experimenting with making paste paper with laundry starch

5. Found another 42 in my blog Labels widget. Went out to dinner with a friend and attended a meeting.

How was your week?

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Throwback Thursday and Second on the Second

While trying to look for a Throwback Thursday and Second on the Second topic. I found this post from August 2015


From 1997, a fun piece I submitted to the Fall issue of the Masscribes newsletter.

It's your turn to play. From Elizabeth: Now it's time to share your Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable.  Join hosts Bleubeard and Elizabeth to see what else is being served up the Second Time Around.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

T Stands Robbins Farm Park

After lunch, we needed to walk off the pizza. Teague thought she would like to visit her uncle's house and the field she used to play in when she visited. The house was in Arlington, Massachusetts


The field was now a huge park and was filled with robins. So even though I saw my first robin, I lamented there were no robins in my own backyard.


This area of the town is called "The Heights" From the top of the hill you have a magnificent view of the city of Boston. You can see a much better picture of the Boston skyline from The Friends of the Robbins Farm Park webpage

Teague's uncle's house is the yellow house in the lower, right corner. She remembers rolling down the enormous hill when she was a kid.


At one time, the park had been a farm. The granite blocks mark the foundation of the farmhouse



This dog sculpture is a replica of a statue that stood guard over the Robbins farmhouse.

The park was a popular place. Across the street from a school, even on this cold, dreary, Friday afternoon, the park was filled with kids playing on the swings, enormous slides, and other equipment.

Teague said when she played there as a child, there were a couple of swings and a teeter totter, but not much else. Teague, her brother, and cousin just liked to run around wild and roll down the hill. Her parents liked the fact that the kids could burn off energy, not whine about being bored while visiting the uncle, and probably slept on the ride home.


My beverage ticket for this week is my tea cup as I edit photographs.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monday, April 29, 2019

Commission Piece

Sumi ink, gouache, 23 karat gold, framed a little larger than 8 in x 10 in.
I was asked to do a short quote to be given as a gift.

It doesn't matter where you go in life...
what you do...
or how much you have...
It's who you have beside you.

There was also a dedication to add to the little poem

I was unsure the best way to handle the dedication, but a friend said she makes the dedication part of the artwork so I included it as part of the vine.

The hardest thing about working on this piece was I was asked to have it framed. Usually, I don't get involved with that aspect, but I have done several pieces for this client before. Her instructions to me were they were an old-fashioned couple so they don't like the modern, black museum frames. A wooden frame, but nothing gaudy that would take away from the poem. Cost wasn't going to be an issue so I added non-glare glass. And the hardest part of the instruction, she trusts my judgement and taste.

This is what I chose at the framer's. What do you think?