he sticks his nectar-loving tongue up your nose.
Life, Love, and Critters – of course!
Lorikeet Love
June
18
2008
he sticks his nectar-loving tongue up your nose.
Reaping What I’ve Sown
June
17
2008
May 10th
May 25th
June 17
Just 41 days after planting (more like 39, since I harvested broccoli, spinach and a couple of green peppers on Sunday), we’re eating fresh organic food from our own vegetable garden. From the left in this photo we have tomatoes (against the fence), broccoli, cauliflower, beets, beans, peppers and spinach, and along the garden fencing I’ve got musk melon and cucumbers that are flowering.
A Weekend Wedding
June
16
2008
The beautiful couple is my Godson and his new wife. The wedding was sweet, and short, and their adoration toward eachother was so apparent throughout the day.
The flowers were simple, but beautiful, they were just right.
The exchange of vows was romantic, and sincere, and yes, of course I cried.
They lit the unity candle in perfect synchronization.
The flower girl offered rose petals for everyone to throw as they exited the church.
And we danced.
* * * * *
It was a weekend of remembering, of smiling, laughing, hugging, and eating. It was a weekend of meeting people again that I haven’t seen in ages. And on the way home, it was a time of reflection.
In my 19 years away, look at all that I’ve missed. I’ve missed watching the childhood of my Godson – going to his baseball games, birthday parties, and graduations. I’ve cherished a photo of him when he was just a toddler and it was as though my mind didn’t think of him as a person who would grow up, fall in love, and get married.
I’ve missed my cousins being born – and met one of them, an adult, that I’ve never met before. I’m on the outside of the inside jokes. I’m loved, yes, from a distance and with casual yet formal hugs and smiles. I am the one they thank for traveling a distance (though it’s not a very big one) to visit.
It’s amazing to me how much life happens in 19 years. How not being nearer to your family means you will miss it, unless you make it a point not to. I spent some time mourning the things I missed, but also being so grateful that this realization hit me when it did. I won’t be the one who sits idly by and waits for an invitation to be with my family. I need to be the one to call, to remember, to make the effort – because if I’m not, no one will.
What a wonderful, beautiful, emotional weekend.
How far do you live from your family, and how often do you see the ones you love?
I Wish I Were a Tiny Person.
June
12
2008
If I were tiny, I could climb on his back and ask him to fly me around the backyard. He just looks like he’s got a nice comfy little seat there for someone to ride on. In fact, I could probably bring a friend. Who wants to be tiny with me?
It looks like a comfortable spot, doesn’t it? Please say you’ll go.
In Case You Were Wondering
June
10
2008
He’s got a fuzzy nub.
Northern Flickers, when eating ants out of anthills on the side of the road, need to come up for air.
Maiden Pinks are really prettier than I thought. And also take up more space.
Wild mushrooms can disappear overnight.
Appreciate their beauty, before they’re gone.
Our Quaker parrot, Quintin, enjoys my Gerbera Daisies, and also?
He’s cute in his little green parrot pants.
Speaking of little and green, bugs can be cute, too.
Bird Portrait : Boo Complete
June
9
2008
I completed Boo’s portrait lastnight, but the sun went down fast and I signed the painting from the light of a small lamp. I prefer to paint during daylight hours, thankfully my signature was all that was left when it got too dark to paint in natural light!
Boo was a sweet little Pacific Parrotlet who passed away. Parrotlets are only about the size of the palm of your hand (no fingers), so this portrait is much larger than life size.
Here’s her previous work in progress so you can compare the underpainting to the finished portrait:
And here are Boo and Kiwi together, as this is a pair of portraits that will be gifted to one very special girl.
Any Weekend Plans?
June
6
2008
We’ll be playing.
And relaxing.
And maybe even reflecting over how little we are in such a big, big world.
What are your weekend plans?
Send Me Your Empty Vases.
June
5
2008
Did I ever tell you about how long it’s taken me to grow Peonies? Yes? Well if you don’t know the story, you can read it here. Now I’m so excited to have them, I cut them as soon as they’re ready and keep bouquets all over my house. This year, I have more Peonies than I have vases. It must be because I cut every one of them last year, I’m guessing, and all that flower power went back down into the roots of the plants.
I have three bouquets in my house, and cut two and gave them to a couple of special neighbors (and by special I mean polite). That’s five bouquets so far, and I’ll be cutting another bunch today.
If you want to relocate, there are a couple of homes for sale down the street.
