Formania Picture Album

Will's reaction. 

Needs Vitamin "P"

Corey- ever present, ever faithful, ever watchful, ever protective, 

 is depressed. 

 The weight of her world has crushed her broad shoulders.  This is not a pose we associate with our girl.

She'll forgive us for taking her for granted, or not.  It is entirely up to her, as usual.

shirt inspired room

   When a color combination works- go with it, shirt, paint color, curtains, etc.....

   I saw a shirt for Jim and bought it for him...blue and yellow.  I liked the combination so much that I decided to paint the back hall.  It was a blue/green that I was getting tired of anyway.

  Then I went to J.C. Penney and found a curtain topper in yellow and blue, took the curtain to the paint store and got the yellow for the walls.  The back hall is now yellow and blue.  I guess, thanks to Jim.

To The Rescue

When every egg in the new package ended up on the hard tile floor...

our always faithful and diligent Corey was there.  

She never rests-ever.

These Shoes Are Made For Walking

 

 ...and a whole lot more- 

     Marketed as "Princess Reeboks", these shoes are not being worn by one. 

Trooper

  

    While ironing in my kitchen, I noticed one of our resident Mourning Doves on the power line in the alley.  He/she likes to sit there during the afternoons.  The rains came down, down, down...hard at times.

The bird sat, slightly hunched over but resolute and patient, or maybe just hot enough to get a cooling shower.  It's still out there, thirty minutes into the rain.  

Circle of Life

     I knew Grizzly "had" something in the yard when I tried to call him in.  All I could see of him was his tail, wagging tentatively and very slowly.  I noticed a small fuzzy thing in his mouth when he eventually sauntered, proudly, towards the house.  He dropped whatever it was as soon as I started screaming at him to do so.  (not cool on my part- I am sure the neighbors wonder)

I watched in sadness as the baby bird struggled to right itself and then eventually ceased to move. Before I could get outside to move it to a spot under a large and sheltering rose bush to either recover or quietly die, a blue jay swooped down onto the patio, picked it up in his powerful beak and flew with it into the Sequoia tree.

     I haven't gone out to the yard yet, but a cursory glance revealed a few feathers scattered about on the ground under the tree.  That brings the dead baby bird count up to six this spring.   My little back yard eco system has all the drama of the bigger one we live in!

Corey, again

Corey, never relaxing, checking out the kitchen skills of Anne and Ben.

...which are awesome. 

This is Grizzly, 8:01 a.m., June 22-  securing some rays.

Corey, 8 a.m., Sunday 22nd of June, securing yet another perimeter.

The potential "incoming" is Diamond, neighboring feline (seen just to the right of bird house at top of surveillance photo).  this stand-off occurs 

more or less on a daily basis and lasts until Diamond decides it's over. 

 Corey never flinches.

Corey, still on duty.

Corey...Ever watchful, told you.

After a long day of watching over us-guarding gates, doors, marking territory, keeping Grizzly in line and in general, just being a Terrier type canine, Corey relaxes in a way that is typical Corey...unique.

Egypt's  sacred tombs with buried treasure have nothing on this beetle I saw in my garden yesterday.  I thought a gold earring had fallen on a leaf. When the earring started eating the sweet potato leaf, I guessed it was alive.

Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a lady bug size GOLD bug...not yellow,  gold.

When I have time, I'll look it up.  

Grizzly loves people but not all people love big black scary creatures like him.  In deference to a young guest who doesn't know dogs well, we put him in Anne's room during her family's visit last night.  (Corey had already been sent to Dr. Pam's jail for the night because she barks when she is put into a space away from us -unlike the Griz who is happy in almost any situation).

The family visit took place on the back court yard- the evening was wonderfully pleasant and a good time was had by all...sans 

                                                    dogs.

Grizzly was let out to join the two of us when company left.  The next morning, when I went into Anne's room to dust it in preparation for a house guest coming in today, I noticed that the bedspread had indentations and telltale Newfie fur on it.  Grizzly never gets on beds, but it was definitely his signature.  I laughed out loud when I realized that he had been on the bed in order to watch the goings on outside.  The window facing the back yard is right next to the bed.  

                                                      Grizzly loves people.

This angel is drawing- how appropriate for my garden.  

Hope the dogs don't knock him down during a chase...

he needs to be there.

Don't you feel like this sometimes?  You can do anything.  The morning is fresh, you are rested and the world is yours.  This unknown-to-me action figure was left behind in clothing after the last grandson visit.  I will return him the next time I see the boys (soon, I hope) and I will probably miss him.  He is perched above the dryer-watching over daily laundry rituals.

He soars with daring, confidence and impunity to fight or defend... never looking back or down. 

   I hope he is not evil.    

   The day is just begun- fly into it, one and all.

     Today is Saturday and a let down day after having some of the family home.  Anne and Ben (and Leigh), Jim and Lindsay and Will and Toby were all here for the opening of my art show "Marking Time" at Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center.  It was the biggest crowd they had ever had for an opening, I hear from the staff.  By day two, I had sold nine works, also a record for them (and for me).   Reenactors in dress and Gallowglass playing in the dining room enhanced the mood and people stayed and stayed.   My family's presence made the evening for me!  some stragglers from the event came home and had a light supper on the courtyard surrounded by roses blooming and scenting the humid night air.  Phyllis and Bruce from next door joined us also and Phyllis and Lindsay realized they had met each other six years ago right next door at 34 Poplar Ave.! Today clean up and changing beds and missing those who could come and those who couldn't.

Meet Rose

My first blog!  This site is dedicated to several Roses.

This is my mother, Rose, at about three years of age.  She stayed with us for only a short time- 53 years of sweetness, guidance and uncomplicated love and not a day goes by that I do not miss her.  Forty years of not having her ...

This passage written by Pat B. Allen in her book Art Is A Spiritual Path is a treasure.

"When you do not have a mother there are certain things you do not know.  Like what is enough?  Or when to rest; when to be quiet.  Then again there are other things that come to you as gifts through that space, that emptiness left by her absence.  You will always carry the imprint of her fears, her unrealized dreams the unfinished and half begun possibilities.  Remember that her spirit is always near with wise guidance ask! Ask!  Then be very still out of the void will come what seem to be demons stay. .. Stay...allow your eyes to soften to soften, soften see that they are angels and that everything is revealed."