getting out

walking on the levee

a beautiful day in the country

(photos edited using the FREE online photo editing website: phixr.com ... did I say free?)

first cup

ordinarily, my first cup of tea is around 5:30 am

today it was around 8 am

ahhh, the simple luxuries

:)

my first cup is always irish breakfast with milk added

and it's always in my "ugly mug"

I like this mug because it's big and the tea stays hot

it's steeps as I'm sipping

it's really strong tea - but it wakes me up

I'm at my kitchen table

prying my eyes open

and keeping company with the easter eggs

I love these eggs

they're from pre-school days

each egg has a lesson about Jesus death and resurrection

this egg has a rock

symbolizing the rock rolled in front of the tomb

*

do you need a strong start to your day too?

whether it's 5 or 8 am makes no difference to me

I still need that extra help

:)

I hope your day is great ....

... and your week too!

drifting petals

it's petal season

and they drift like snow in the cracks of the sidewalk

 I'll be drifting in blogland this week 

- in and out -

the kids aren't in school

the garden is calling

family plans are hatching

we are all like petals floating through the air

*

... tea is about the only dependable routine ...

I will see you on tuesday - ok?

oh, how I love photo editing

original photo straight from the camera

using my iPhoto program

online filter: lomo.helloburin.com

online filter: rollip.com

online filter: phixr.com

do you have a favorite photo editing program that you already use?

is it software, an app, or online?

... let's share ...

... let's talk about it ...

some of us are old hands at this - and some of us are newbies

it's all good

tea and a giveaway

today's tea: Bengal Spice and a piece of cornbread ... a corner piece ... the best

(but the giveaway is neither one of those things)

I've had this blog for over four years now

and it's been almost 800 blog posts

- p h e w -

and I started a Facebook page last week

w h y ?

I don't even do FB that well

just giving it a go and we'll see how it goes

*

and the giveaway?

click the Facebook badge to the right and "like" my Art in Red Wagons page ... your name will be entered to win a "Spring Banner" .... made with teabag papers and my own hand carved stamped birds, flowers, etc ... it's groovy

* 

and here's what else is groovy:

about ten days of sky pictures - it's a daily show!

future WalMart

up til now my town and the towns nearby have been spared the WalMart intrusion

... up til now ...

yesterday's watercolor sketch is from a vacant lot in Monroe WA

the site of 

The New WalMart To Be

it's a typical vacant lot

gravel, weeds, unnaturally flat, curbs installed, driveway entrances to nowhere

waiting to become 

Something Big

but it is bordered by the loveliest forest of lodgepole pines

it is heartbreaking to know there will be an enormous concrete box here

my first painting is in a more realistic, impressionistic style

for some reason I became increasingly depressed as I painted

knowing the site is slated to become concealed in concrete

*

the second painting, I recalled the aboriginal style of australia

as I painted in dots and dashes I felt a rebellious sort of happiness

... knowing the power of roots to break concrete to rubble ...

photo transfer

I made a photo transfer of my great grandparents several weeks ago

(but I was quite unhappy with the results)

so, yesterday, I add lots of color with watercolor pencils

and burnished it with beeswax

now I'm happy

for more about photo transfers

follow the "photo transfer" label