Monday, May 28

Memorial Day... Everyday...


~Thank you for your service to our country~

When I kiss my children goodnight...
When I drive to the store...
When I'm sitting in church...
When I work in my studio...
When I walk through a National Park...
When I fly across the country...
When I lay my head on my pillow...
...and a million more blessings...

I remember you~
I remember your families~
With love and a grateful heart...

Sunday, May 27

Buttercups...


She's 18 years old~
Alaina still brings me flowers!

They had a fire drill in school Friday afternoon...
My little artist~
I can picture her smile and gratefulness to be
out-of-doors... walking in the warm grass~
Leaving her books and classroom with a hop in  her step!
This little Buttercup came home!
Yellow and blue.
A perfect pair!

Alaina has requested a painting of her little Buttercup~
Perhaps I'll paint a few so she can list them in her
Etsy store for you!

Hope your day is as bright as this little blossom~

Saturday, May 26

In my garden...


My grandmother had hens and chickens...
My mom had hens and chickens...
Now I have hens and chickens...


I didn't work in my flower gardens for almost four years.
My perennials did their best to survive while I was 
spending time visiting & helping my mom...


When Alaina and I returned from Arizona~
It looked like a jungle here!
From the desert to Upstate New York!!
My gardens welcomed me home and I promised some time~


Our local farm and garden center had all of the goodies...
I've taken a lot of breaks... I mean PHOTOGRAPHS~
To paint!


I'm going to paint a collection of twins...


Everywhere I look...
Two beautiful blossoms peering up at me!


These are ornamental strawberries...
They are beautiful~ no fruit.
They misbehave.
Refusing to stay in one place~ they grow where the shoots take'm!
I've plucked them out and put them in a bowl of water...
Trying to find the perfect home for them~

In my heart~
Many thanks to all who have fought & sacrificed for
our freedom to live in this AMAZING country.
Never forgotten~ Always appreciated!

Sunday, May 20

Arizona Landscape...


Be sure to drink a lot of water...


Nearing Sedona~


We named this "Eagle Rock" ~ can you see the Eagle head?


This beautiful color... everywhere you look~


View from Chapel Rock~


On the road again~


Montezuma's Well
The only thing that lives in the pretty teal-blue water?
Leaches!
I didn't dip my toe in...


Cliff houses, Montezuma's Well...


Montezuma's Castle~
They used levels of ladders!


Desert landscape...
We were higher in elevation~ the Saguaro's are missing!



Oak Creek Canyon...


America's Grand Canyon!
Majestic!


My photographs do not give any character description
to this breathtakingly beautiful place...


I loved when it was quiet and we could take it all in...


Alaina and I are silent in nature...
We let it share it's own story~


Sweet blossoms living in the harshest of environments~


Beauty I could have never imagined or read about.
No photograph can capture the hand of God when it is this majestic~

Hope your weekend has been wonderful!

Friday, May 18

Arizona Journey...


Sweet Friends!
I have missed you!!
The desert is in bloom and we took photographs to share!
After spending two fantastic weeks in Arizona~
I am in awe of our beautiful America!


Morning grapefruit from the tree in the backyard...
Yum!


Pick a lemon... in the backyard...
Fresh lemonade! Best I have ever had!


Alaina and I love to take road trips...
Jaunts around New York~
Our longest trip was to sunny, warm and bright Florida...
Until now!
Arizona was our home for the past two weeks...
The desert Southwest.
It was hot, hot, hot! 104 degrees the day we left.


Beautiful flowers~
My oh my... with the most brilliant blue sky!
I would see gorgeous blossoms as we drove around the state...
The only thing stopping me from another 1,400 photographs....
Diamondbacks, Rattlers, Scorpions, Spiders and Ants!
That's all!


I'll share our journey in several posts...
This one shares a few of the cactus and citrus!


The landscape is threatened by several dangerous fires.
As our plane headed toward home~
The very hills we drove through were burning...
Heartbreaking.


I met several new feathered friends...
Oodles of pretty & fragrant flowers...


Stayed on paths...
Kept a watchful eye...


Shared another exciting journey with Sweet Alaina!!
Memories and joy to last a lifetime~

Hope your weekend is perfect!
Thank you for visiting my little corner~