morning light

the sky is definitely getting lighter earlier and earlier

I took these at about 6:40 this morning

it's turning out to be a very busy week

so I didn't get to my tea post until this morning

... but hey, it is tuesday after all ...

I feel like a bit of a faker when I'm writing my tea posts on monday

... but I do that for all of you who are east of me ...

that's just about everyone!

yesterday:

Paul Gauguin at the Seattle Art Museum (o!m!g!)

today:

child's field trip

tomorrow:

science fair

thursday:

quilting

friday:

breathe

how is your week shaping up?

take time to breathe ... and a nice hot cuppa

:)

birth of an idea

... a children's book idea ...

"at night"

(page 1) night surfing & (page 2) night laundry

just getting started

what do you think?

thinking today ...

... that it could be worse

and thankful it is not

crazy weather here the last few days

you may have heard about our avalanche tragedy over the weekend

major pacific storms have been blowing through here

the weatherman calls it "an atmospheric river"

lots of rain, lots of snow and warming temperatures

avalanches in the mountains

and

cresting rivers in the lowlands

I live on a high ground

but took these pictures while on a walk this morning

I thought the swings floating on the current were eerie

sorry ...

... For the word verification woes ... I am going to try blogging without them entirely ... But I have disallowed "anonymous" comments .... Sorry for the inconvenience

double comfort

... tea and a good book ...

double comfort

my book is The Double Comfort Safari Club

- eleventh in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series -

and the second to the last book

I have been putting off coming to the end of these wonderful books

but today is a perfect day to escape to Botswana

african redbush (rooibos) tea figures prominently in the stories

and the health benefits are becoming well known

(here's an interesting article about it)

*

another healthy thing: going for a long walk

while I was out walking today, I found this skeleton blossom

it's from a hydrangea bush

... amazing ...

I hope you are fitting healthy things into your day today

sometimes we get so busy ... and we have to give each other a nudge

nudge nudge

:)

under glass

I don't keep cheese under this old cheese plate dome

no brie, cheddar or camembert

for now I keep this lacy leaf

but a seashell, bird nest or piece of coral would be pretty too

*

... and here's today's sky ...

under glass

the daily

the daily watercolor sketch

(it's my routine since early january)

and some days

(like today)

it's the only "productive" thing I do all day

(but regular life is productive too - we all know that)

so, I should say: sometimes, it's the only "fun" thing I do all day

I wish I had added that far right tree that is standing aloof from the others (in the photo)

... I think I'll go do that ...

grounded

I made this piece using a trader joe's brown paper bag ...

which I

collaged

inked

tore

and just thoroughly messed with

... then I applied a patch of Watercolor Ground right in the middle of it

I waited the 48 hours or so that is recommended

and then I took it with me for my daily watercolor sketch from the car today

a winter hayfield nestled up against a forested hillside

here's a close-up so you can see the amazing texture of it all:

f u n !

valentine

I have a small collection of antique valentines that I've been adding to each year

... it all started with this one from my Great Grandad to my Memaw ...

my darling proposed to me on valentines day

... ahhhh ...

these are my addition for this year

... courtesy of the superlative and quintessential eclectic Ruby Floy ...

and these are modern valentines suitable for any 12 year old

... 3-D and store bought ...

today's tea?

... rosehip and cherry from Ahmad ...

today's sky?

... robin's egg blue fading into mother of pearl pink ...

*

I wish you a love and affection filled day - today and always!

dish garden

I made this easy dish garden using a big glass serving plate and a cake cover

the soil is cactus mix with a layer of sand on the top

I give it a little drizzle of water about every 10 days

the glass dome makes it quite humid

I originally had just succulents in it, but I've recently added mosses and lichens

they seem to be very happy

living up here in the Northwest, moss and lichen are abundant

... all of these pieces I found while out walking ...

a different sort of frame

I did these little watercolor studies of mosses from our garden

and wasn't sure how to frame them

you see - they are just so - L I T T L E

(only about 2 and half inches)

and I had these little tart pans on my desk

an "aha" moment

born out of not putting things away and just leaving them out

I punched little holes and threaded a wire for a hanger

... framing problem solved!

not just tea ...

... but a taste of spring tea ...

like this light and delicate shortbread cookie ... all it might need is a sprinkling of pink sugar

 and this perfectly blue sky with the buzzing sound of a small plane

and a chance meeting at the park with some parachutes

spring feels like it's just around the corner on a day like this!

how are you this fine tuesday?

a dream?

this morning's sky was brilliant and beautiful

it set everything aglow

(above) a painting from the car

and (below) a valentine matchbox

in yesterday's post I said I was "living the dream"

and I'm feeling like that was a braggy thing to say

honestly - it's a day to day thing

most days are actually really very complicated with the stuff of life

like today:

a child with a sore throat

another one with a skinned knee

late to pick up another one after school

the dog dragging me down the street 

(even saying my favorite swear word in combination with my dog's name)

a broken plate that was an heirloom

gross leftovers for dinner

dusty dirty house

unfolded laundry

and on and on

you know what I mean

:)

and the living the dream part is:

hugs

kisses

sweet text messages

being asked "how was your day?"

and replying

"I am living the dream"

completed matchbox

either 

I'm crazy 

or

I'm living a dream

because this is what I do

I make weird stuff

(etsy)

just hope I never have to knock on walmart's door for a job!

and speaking of living a dream

this was my sky today as I was gabbing on the phone around lunch time

( w o w )