Further Experimentation

Still playing with ways to use the baby food jars I have collected around the house. Here is a picture of experimentation with my new supplies. I'm working on Christmas Ornaments for my etsy shop so it has a Christmas theme but I have a really cute idea for fall already and hope to play with a few universal, year round ideas. Still have to work on technique, obviously, but I could see this being cute with the right design and a steady hand!

Iris in Setting Sunlight

“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.” Claude Monet

It took everything I had not to post this as soon as I took it! I was getting ready to put my little one in pajamas last night when I looked out the front door and saw this. Poor boy had to wait for me to snap what I could. Within 5 minutes the photo op was gone but I got a few beautiful shots. Now I understand why Monet felt the way he did about flowers.

Garden Blooms and Buds

Iris

Sweet William

Sweet William

Salvia

Rose

Heuchera

Columbine

Foxglove

Christmas Tree Skirt: Year 2

I've been working on my family Christmas Tree skirt for over a year now(I am a month or so into year two) So, how's it coming along? I'm about halfway done making the mints that encircle it. They are all hand cut and sewn and once all the peppermint stripes are sewn on each individual mint, I will arrange them on the border and sew them into place.
It is a very large tree skirt (about 60 inches) so it will take at least 50 peppermints to finish it. Doing the math that is 300 peppermint stripes cut out and sewn. WOW!! You'd think I'd be able to finish it faster!!

BTW- The white hair on there isn't Santa's, it's from Tinkerbell (AKA the dinkus) I caught her dinky little butt sleeping on it one afternoon last week!

Bearded Iris in Bloom

Finally!! I Feel Inspired!

So, obviously I've been enthralled by my garden as of late. Part of the reason has been that I haven't been very inspired to create. I don't know if the umpteen orders of play dough over the holidays did me in or if I was just in a slump but I do know I finally feel like producing artistic creations(for lack of a better term).

I have an idea for a series of paintings, primarily for my son's room as he is almost 2 now and probably needs a big boy room instead of a nursery! I still have to research my idea a bit but once I have some sketches, I'll share the theme. I think it will be very cute and the transition from nursery to big boy room will be rather easy. I even have the next room theme picked out although no guarantee he will want it when the time comes:o)

I also finally came up with an idea for the baby food jars [photo]. This is a rough idea. I'm thinking they will work well for tealights, party favors filled with candies, vase, whatever... I had a little baby food jar full of lily of the valley and realized that I never see small vases that I like, so there you go the birth of an idea. Not necessarily that original but an idea nonetheless! It's all in the execution anyway if you ask me! Of course, the above example is not very well executed but it was me playing with new supplies. I'll keep you posted with the progression of this project also.

So off I go to work on creating things. Have an Awesome Day!

In the Garden

The Columbine in the backyard is closer to blooming than that in the front yard

The Peony with an ant visitor. Sadly, I think I may have lost my tree peony.

Geranium
I have to divide these and put them on the side of the house.
Again, these were here before us and need a little attention.

Salvia bud

Foxglove budding

Clematis getting closer

Bearded Iris
I am so impatient with these guys! They remind me of when I was little, I used to take armfuls of these to my teacher at the end of the school year. These are 2nd year transplants from my mom's garden so it's the first year for flowers. Grrrrrr.....bloom already!!!!

Frolic Sweet pea seedlings in their permanent home

Nasturtium
Sadly, I can spell it better than say it, thank goodness considering this is a blog :o)

Four O'Clocks

We had a frost scare last night but all the tenders look like they weathered it pretty well.
The outdoor seedlings I covered with fancy fabric (I don't have a rogue sheet so I used old window coverings, looks like white crinkled silk:oD) so they are fine

What Happens When You Don't Sketch Regularly

ARGH! I am rusty! I have decided to sketch a little each day so I can regain the skill I have buried somewhere within my being. Very Irritating, but I know by now that this is par for the course when I don't practice on a regular basis. Still irritating. I took some close studies of the lily of the valley sprig so I can study it while the little one plays.

Happy Mothers Day

Maybe it is because I was 38 when I had my son but I never take being a mother for granted. I am extremely honored to be mommy to such an amazing little boy.

I'm blessed to have the one child that I do. I always wanted 5 kids. Once I hit my 30's the number dropped to 2 or 3. When I hit 36, I hoped I would at least have one child. I had an easy pregnancy with my son, I loved being pregnant. The week before he was born(and we can blame this on hormones, I'm sure) I broke down into tears, what if he didn't like me? I mean we got along swimmingly while he was in utero. He was 4 days late, maybe he was having the same thoughts(JK). I was in labor for a while but had to have a C section when my blood pressure kept dropping and Baby G's heart rate would drop during contractions(if you know anything about baby delivery, this is not a good sign).Well, luckily, my doctor was fabulous and he was delivered safely and I was fine, albeit cut open and in need of healing. The first 6 weeks were the hardest, I didn't know his cues in the real world and he didn't know how to let me know what he needed. I was healing and tired. Quite literally at 6 weeks we clicked and we have the most abiding love two souls can have. Being stubborn sorts, I'm sure there will be times that we will drive each other mad, being the mommy I'm sure I will occasionally trump his desires and thwart his independence(that is my job after all) but always in love, not spite. I hope he shows me a better way to see things when I have tunnel vision. He has already given me a feeling of purpose, I hope I can help him find his in this life.

As I write this I wonder why we don't celebrate our children as they celebrate us. If it weren't for them we would not be moms and dads. Some cultures do. I can understand why. They teach us so much. Not through wisdom but because of their innocence and through their learning and experience of life for the very first time. I always needed to develop patience in this life, my angel baby has taught me why it is important. My mantra is "he doesn't have the life experience you do, be patient with him". I've always been more patient with children (or mentally impaired people) but living with one has taught me how impatient I truly am! I am getting better but I still have moments and after those moments I feel truly sorrowful for my inability to be patient in every moment with my child. Nobody is perfect but we can all strive to be as close to perfect as possible. I know he is a happy child and very bright, he amazes me with his brilliance some days! But he is 22 months, I'm frightened that his intelligence will surpass mine, gosh I hope he'll be more patient with me if that happens!

I could wax poetic on my life as a mommy forever, but I won't. I am honored to be one and I am honored to know so many wonderful loving mothers, grandmothers and aunts. To you all, I wish you a Very Happy Mothers Day! Now, get off the computer and go play with those kiddies! (oops, that's the mommy in me!:o)

Seedlings Update

The last few Sweet Pea Seedlings

The reason they are still in the mudroom! I have to find the time to clear this overgrown portion of the yard. The dog goes potty to the right rear of the yard so I want to build a trellis wall with a garden in front of it to portion that area off from the wee tot. The peony is slightly to the right of where this picture starts so it is a natural progression of the garden bed.

'Spanish Eyes' Black-eyed Susan Vine
Still not warm enough to transplant these.

Spanish Flag
These will go in along the fence in the above picture. I have already planted some of these out in their container and they seem to be doing well.(below)

Calendula
I'm hoping to replant these today into larger pots

Chinese Forget-me-not

Very happy, crazy squash plants!
4 different types:
Acorn, spaghetti, butternut and yellow