Go Fly Your Banner

In our town we have streetlamps....hanging from them...up and down..Main St. are banners that local artists have designed and painted. I took some photos while hanging out the car window last Saturday morning......the banners look so nice ...they are so creative...and look really colorful flying in the breeze...I want to do one! So.....I signed up ! I hope to do one for Fall.....or Christmas.....I'm already starting to formulate a plan in my head....can't keep them wheels from turning......I LOVE things like this!

A MUST GET new book.....

Hi Everyone....I just got this new book put out by Somerset Studio....it's fun! and fabulous and I think all of you would LOVE it.....it's called "Artful Blogging".........

Getting Ready for the "Affaire"......

Good Monday Morning my blogging buds! I have missed all of you! I've just been so terribly busy that I haven't even looked at this computer for days!!!! BUT...I can't stand it any longer! I wrote a really long post this morning....somehow I messed up...and it got deleted.....Grrrrrrr! I hate when that happens! The flowers and veggies are growing like mad.....we've had some squash already....in another day or so we will have tomatoes....eggplant...bell peppers...hot peppers...and cucumbers....along with lots of fresh herbs...I love the fresh bounty of Summer.
I have some errands to run this morning...... will be busy most of the week with getting ready for the Art Affaire this coming weekend. It starts Thursday, Aug. 2nd... and lasts until Sunday the 4th.....Thursday night is the "kick-off" dinner at Tomei's on Main St. in downtown Placerville...Saturday is the trade show (lots of cool vendors)...and the largest exhibition of atc's (artist trading cards)...(my camera will be glued to me).....Sunday I am taking an ancestor's book class from 9am until 2pm.....and Sunday evening close the event with the wine and cheese party at the courtyard cafe.....The photo above is one I clipped out of our local newspaper..."The Mountain Democrat".....some of us got together last Thursday and "posed" making atc's for the article in the newpaper.....it's been a whirlwind of activity ever since...but I'm going to squeeze in some reading time for my fav blogs.....Stay tuned for a cool post that was a photo challenge from Maryellen....I did the challenge last friday but I'm still working on the photos....the concept turned out to be a very interesting one! XXXXXXXOOOOOOOOO
WELCOME HOME to my buds......Sheila...Blue.....from Cuba.....and Catherine from Italy! :-)

Columbine and Lambs Ear....dragonfly....gigantic Cosmo...and Lobelia....

another succulent...basil...oregano...dill.. thyme....and sage...candle bush...and very sharp cactus........

A New Chair

I LOVE to rescue old wooden chairs...then give them a light sanding and a new paint job..I've had this one for quite some time....

Awesome Sunset

A beautiful summer sunset from up here on top of the hill..........

Birthday Celebration Continues.......

My friend Sheila...and her daughter Blue said I should celebrate my birthday for as long as I can....sounds good to me! Here is a celebration I found in my mail-box the other day...the wonderful sun-catcher with the spinning colorful moon and stars that is hanging from the house by the front door....it throws little rainbows of colors everywhere ...especially when the sun hits it first thing in the morning.....along with the sun-catcher was a lovely necklace that makes me think of Summer every time I look at it...I had been looking for the perfect necklace to go with this Summer dress....as you can see...it looks like it was made just for it......a perfect match....A BIG HUGE thank-you to my friend Sheila who sent me these birthday goodies all the way from Canada...HUGS and lots of XXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOO to you my FRIEND !!!!!!!!!

Fabric ATCS

I finally finished the fabric atcs for lenna's swap.....Here they are in the plastic sleeve. I took photographs of some of the flowers in my garden....copied them onto a fabric sheet......I then created the fabric backgrounds...and sewed fibers on for embellishment. The theme is "Summer Garden".....

Birthday Morning Walk

My birthday walk........picked some berries along the way.....(they are almost ready)......along the trail... Andy and Toby walking out of the tunnel...(which use to be on old railroad tunnel)...and Toby saying "Lookout...here comes a BIG dog"........
I had a lovely relaxing birthday weekend !!!!!!! Did all the things I love to do...with the people I LOVE...and animals (of course).....It doesn't get any better! I want to give all of you a BIG HUG...and a HUGE thank-you for all your kind birthday wishes!!!! You guys are all the very BEST! I LOVE all of you! XXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am going to be busy in the studio today...CREATING....with my trusty spray bottle at my side...it's going to be another very warm week...in the 90's...as long as the temps don't hit 100 and over..then I'm fine......

Saturday Drive

Decided to go for a nice birthday drive...I wanted to get a box of cucumbers to make pickles. Hooverville Orchards was the destination....on the way to Coloma. The pond above is located on the way into the orchard....and the peacocks protect the place......

Picnic On the Bed...and Good Old Movie

My birthday started early Friday night...we decided to have a picnic on the bed...and watch an old classic movie...(The Ghost and Mrs. Muir).....I covered the bed with an old tablecloth...and put down plates of goodies...cheese...peppers and olives...french bread...crackers ...chips and dip...with some cantaloupe....Stella Doro cookies and orange juice for dessert...We use to do this years ago..I forgot how much fun it is.....

Another Birthday !!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Smokes Munchkins !!!!!! Today the 21st of July is my birthday!!!!!!! An...Toby and I just got back from a nice walk along the walking trail....I'm going to do one of my favorite things today...which is alittle bit of everything......art...read....pool....play...eat....... work in the garden......kick my walking shoes off..and just "Hang Out".........listen to some good music....and LOVE my family and animals.....we are going to have teriyaki burgers tonight...and maybe watch a good old movie....that's my day !

ART and the Morning Sky

Finally...I finished one of the pages for Debbie's shape-design book...this one is the shape of an 'arch'............since we are in the middle of high Summer I thought I would do something vintage concerning "the Sea"......woke up yesterday to the morning sky (above)...it was a cool wonderful change for the day...I can't believe how GREAT the temps. have been....we've had so few days with temps. being in the 100's......it's PERFECT !
I'm working like mad to get all the chores done so I can shut myself up in the studio and get some ART DONE....I have lots due by the 1st of August! Ty's birthday was a smashing success yesterday...she had a "birthday" slumber-party....I had a routine doctor's appt. then...Andy and I treated ourselves to a Chinese lunch.....(General's Chicken) my favorite !!!!

It's Ty's 10th Birthday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TODAY is my Granddaughter Ty's BIRTHDAY !!!!!! She is 10 years old! The first photo is her hospital photo...... the one right above this post is my very favorite...it's baby Ty and her Great Grandmother (my Mom)...my Mom died less than two years after this photo was taken....(breast cancer).....she adored her great grandbaby. I can hardly believe it's been 10 years already!
The photos below are some of my favorite photos of Ty...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY.....This "Mom-Mom" LOVES you so so much!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

My beautiful Granddaughter..today!

Otis Redding - ( Sittin' On ) The Dock Of The Bay

Enjoy this on a SUMMER day !!!! XXXOOOOOO

Sierra Artaffaire

Beautiful Day...among FRIENDS.......

I met a beautiful person yesterday....Tammy... over at http://mylifeasawarrior.blogspot.com/
She was just as I expected her to be....BEAUTIFUL inside and out....down -to-earth...open and friendly....caring..and a fellow animal lover! Tammy and Dave live over in Sonora. They are waiting until their home sells...then they are looking forward to moving into their dream home up in Sly Park Hills (Pollock Pines, California)....this is where we met! I decided to make the drive....and, as soon as I smelled the "mountain misery" I knew I made the right decision....They have a beautiful cozy lovely retirement home nestled in the pine trees and surrounded by fruit trees (peach, pear, plum, apple,) to name a few....lots of grapes....and lots of beautiful flowers that Dave lovingly tends....(he was working out in the flowers all day).....I took the photo (above) while sitting at the dining room table and looking out the big window at their front yard...... Tammy and I chatted and drank ice tea.....You can see Tammy and Dave's personalities all through the house...which makes it even more special....Thanks to BOTH of you....for a nice day! I LOVED it! Tammy and Dave also sent me home with some iris from the yard that Dave was digging up....I have it in a bucket until I decide where to plant them....
BLOGS are so coooool.........you meet the BEST people!!!!!
Today my friend Linda is stopping by to give me some artwork to help her with in getting ready for the Art Faire that is quickly coming up the first weekend in AUGUST.....this is gonna be really great...so if any of you can...be sure to drop by and check it out.....lots of great art... also the world's largest collection of artist trading cards...(atc's)....after seeing all the art..... you can browse downtown Placerville which is always fun.....and less than an hour away is the AWESOME Lake Tahoe.......( I sound like a "travel brochure").......