Last week

Still going backwards here, but I think the decision has finally been made on a new computer, so it shouldn't be long till I am organized again. I just had to post some "goings-on" at Julie's house. This robin had built her beautiful nest on top of Julie's pool filter so she had to wait until the babies were born to start up the pool opening process. Such a perfect little nest!

Meanwhile "Missy" studies the yard for the bunny.

"Abby" continues to howl for food.

And these little babies are starting to grow on the apple tree.

Much more to journal, with Danielle's first T-ball practice, painting plein air on Daddy's deck, calligraphy class yesterday,collaged ledger pages, and finishing up my calendar page for the calligraphy study group's calendar for 2011. And today is Mark's birthday!

Still catching up...

Last week, a lunch out with my dear club girls (of 55 years) for a "treat" at the new Gibson's in Oak Brook. It was very very yummy! Above are our appetizers of very large shrimp, lobster chunks with avocado "something" and crabmeat on top of the tomato. They have their fish flown in fresh daily. They hadn't opened yet, and I think the opening day was June 1st. They are right near the mall on Spring Street. Go for lunch!

We ordered off the menu and I had grilled salmon on top of fresh spinach, fresh asparagus and artichoke with a wine reduction and fingerling potatoes. Oh my gosh!

I'm watching you!

Who's watching?

I like this nice shiny thing for my nest.

But I think I see something in that water instead.

Am I alone?

I think so.

Oh no! There you are in there watching me!

thursday

Getting this piece ready to go to the MCS exhibit in St. Charles this weekend. It's the one that I did having Brent's photograph from Wales for my inspiration. The scene is the churchyard at Laughame where Dylan Thomas is buried. The text is a villanelle that he wrote for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night".

The Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center

1040 Dunham Road

St. Charles, IL

www.norrisculturalarts.com

Monday, June 7 through Friday, July 30

Exhibit theme: Paper, Process and Perception

The Creative Spirits

This past Sunday, we had a meeting of the Creative Spirits at The Center. We decorated wooden house shapes that Mary was so kind to donate to all of us. I chose the theme of birds and this was the tall one I started and completed yesterday.

I had spent most of the morning there, sanding and applying gesso to a little board book to attach to the house and then after putting my background paper on, decided on something else.

A twig, an egg and the bird is my drawing.

Back view. The background paper was actually some washes that I had applied a while back. They were pale and I wasn't fond of them, so later when I layered some bleeding tissue, I used that paper to lay them on, and this was the result.

I chose this "Frenchhouse" wine cork for the chimney.

This is the second shorter wider one. Used the same paper for the background, as I had enough.

Added a little crochet circle. I have a box of little odds and ends, quilting scraps, etc. that my grandmother did and so thought it was a special addition to this little house.

Some dried stuff and oh, the flowers are from a little gift bag that my daughter had given me on Mother's Day. I thought the colors were perfect.

Back view and my bird again.

And a sweet yellow clay bead from my favorite potter, Renee.

Here are the busy creative spirits. Nancy, Gai and Carolyn.

Gai also chose a lovely nature theme. Isn't it pretty?

Mary looks over an old antique book to find something special.

Here is one of Mary's. Love the twigs!

And here she works on another one, using house plans as her background with packing tape transfers over all. So clever!

Nancy is collaging strips of papers on her house.

Love those strips!

Marge has made some lovely ones and here she is thinking about her design for a new one.

Here is one of Marge's finished ones with rolled paper beads for the roof. What a wonderful idea!

And here, her finished one for the day with another one of those wonderful little altered books. This was a very fun project!

Charlotte's web

Yesterday morning, this beautiful amazing web was attached to my hanging planter stand. "Charlotte" was here!

the rest of the dove story...

Well... I left off where "Emily" flew the coop by herself. "Eddy" was left alone and he looked so lonesome and I didn't see Mommy for a while and I was worried. I wondered if there was something wrong and that he wouldn't make it. But she finally did come back to give him a "pep talk".

Then she returned with "lunch" and, oh my goodness, such commotion.

Eddy was hungry!

He felt stronger and just look at his beautiful wing span. The next morning, he was gone and off on his own. Good job, Mommy!