today!

Sonya and Dan's garden grounds are so beautiful, it is hard to decide where to sit and fix my attention. I decided on the High Bush Cranberry.

The granny smith apple greens, the reds and the russets were luscious.

A perfect spot for me.

Sonya had wonderful areas of interest set up all around for inspiration.

Sunflowers and Queen Anne's Lace. Then we had a wonderful pot luck lunch and...

it was time for the critique. We were honored to have Ruth McGinnis in our presence, taking notes. A place in her column maybe?

A lovely day with lovely friends.

Thursday again!

Today is summer art class and I have not worked on last week's drawing and the week before's and...! Thought I'd have so much time this summer and it's blowing past me. Okay, I'm packing my art supplies with anticipation of a good day.

Summer Fun!

Today, after cooling off in the little pool, we painted in the fairy shed.

We need lace curtains on those windows!

Time for lunch! Many choices: watermelon, cheese, tuna salad, cheese-filled celery and turkey sandwiches.

Needing a few more flowers and some tomatoes, we visited the local farmer.

Then back home to bake "G-Force" cookies with Aunt Julie! Awww.

Yesterday

A good day yesterday. Haircut! Then an attempt to go to the early summer movie but it wasn't happening. Weekends only. So, off to get the flagpole we've been wanting. "Uncommon USA Inc." on St. Charles Road in Lombard. Nice people! http://www.uncommonusa.com/ . Lunch at Maggiano's in Oak Brook. A glass of Chardonnay, and I don't usually care for Chardonnay but this was a good one! "Sterling" Chardonnay. A celebration of the day!

Good Morning ... Glories!

Another week

Mornings are darker longer. I wake up knowing it's morning but it's still dark. Sunrise this morning was at 5:31, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. I didn't even hear the birds. It's now 5:48 and I hear a few peeps. And the mouse is still trying to make a home in our barbeque.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
William Arthur Ward

Sunday

The nights are cold and the mornings chilly, but Danielle still paints the summer flowers. I don't know about that yellow diamond. When I asked, she replied "it's just a diamond in the sky". I think that's a good thing.

I am glad I have her flowers to look at. My garden is not so orderly this year. The birds transplanted my hollyhocks so they are right in the front of everything and lemon balm took over the rest. I must think about rearranging in the Fall.

Saturday Fun!

It was off to the Pet Parade today!

A beautiful morning on the grounds of New Lenox Library.

With beautiful flowers swaying in the cool morning breeze.

Gathering for line-up time.

Sound effects for the entire program; courtesy of this little beagle.

A sweet Welsh Corgie, "Chloe".

Chloe meets darling chocolate lab puppy.

The beach scene!

A lovely Golden ballerina.

Here we have another ballerina and a hot dog!

And a beautiful poodle in her poodle skirt.

Among the winners were a Hawaiian surfer and "Gone Fishing".

Is it time to go home now?

Friday

Today, it was off to see a movie! Me, Dan, Danielle and Aunt Julie went to see "G-Force". It was adorable! We were laughing so hard with tears in our eyes. A little crying tears too. But you have to have an attachment for hamsters and gerbils and mice. Julie used to have a gerbil named "Spike" and he looked so much like the gerbil in the movie. Those parts were quite touching.

Lurie Garden at Millennium Park

It was a most beautiful day yesterday for our plein air art session. We packed up and met at the Lurie Garden. What an interesting place! One of our artists, Ann, is also a tour guide there and so we had our own personal gift of information. The sight of "Purpurlanze", with the city as a backdrop, is truly awesome.

More than half of the plants in the Lurie Garden are native.

"City in a Garden. A unique combination of spatial structure, plantings and lighting design, the garden celebrates Chicago and its landscape." Lurie Garden Guide

"The interior of the Lurie Garden is composed of two adjacent plates that appear to rise from the surface of the plaza. The two plates are divided by a wooden boardwalk called the Seam, which is suspended over water." Lurie Garden Guide

The beautiful Day Lily. This one is called "Gentle Shepherd". A perfect name.

This is the view I decided to draw. I love the little handmade twig corner fences and the lovely garden against the buildings of the city.

The Anemone hupehensis "Splendens" is an old friend of mine. I first saw it in Door County and I think it's one of most graceful and beautiful flowers ever.

The time for drawing and painting was up and it was time for lunch and the critique. Lois helps us with ideas and encouragement to finish our artwork.

We found a great little shady spot where we could all sit around and listen.

We were anxious to see what everyone else had done.

It was a wonderfully peaceful place and the sounds of the traffic in the distance seemed far, far away.

A good time was had and a full day for us artists...

The Workshop!

It was a lovely afternoon and a lovely little group! Everyone had a little idea in mind and thought these little books were great fun. Ideas sprouted for different occasions and for fun journaling!

Three hours went by quickly with material searching and gluing!

I had even found "giraffe" ribbon for our little miss, to tie her book together. An enjoyable time it was!

When it was over, and on my way out, I even had one more butterfly/flower picture to bid me farewell.

Lunch Bag Workshop

Today is my second workshop of the summer. We will be making lunch bag scrapbooks. This one is an ode to Spring.

Thoughts of green, new flowers and birds nesting.

This one will hold the seeds that I save and sometimes never seem to plant, but I want to know where they are just in case.

Maybe their colors on paper will inspire me.

And this one is for all my little "good for you" recipes. We have been talking about favorites in our "The Writer's Diet" group and thought it would be a good idea to put them into this book where I can be reminded of them and where I can find them easily.

Mmmmmmmmm... Steak Tacos and Stuffed Peppers!