A rediculous crop of Tomatos

I planted three little tomato plants back in May. One patio variety (it is short and stocky and does well in a container). Then I planted one that I thought was the same little yellow variety of a cherry sized fruit that I planted last year. The tomatoes are about the size of peaches but they are turning yellow. Finally I planted a little heirloom plant that produces tiny yellow fruit that look like little pears. I am hereby giving warning to friends, family and neighbours, I am going to have more tomatoes than I will know what to do with How cool it THAT.

It's daylilly week(s)

You would never know that I divided my daylillies last fall. I think I ripped almost half of them out. They seem even fully this year. I really don't know why I love them, but members of the Ontario Daylilly society agree with me, you can't have too many.

Heat, Humidity and a Sore throat

Day three of being sick and day four of maybe 10 of heat. Thursday is forecast to be around 38 degrees celsius with humidity it is to feel like high 40s. Thick wet air, and I have a sore throat and something working into my chest (coughing and hacking - gross). I am in need of something cool, clear and fresh. This is a picture of the lake at Val Du Bois in Quebec. We rented a cottage there three years in a row. This is the view from the deck of the cottage down to the floating dock on the lake. It must have been late in the day as the water is so calm you can see all the clouds that were floating by. The lake had a pair of loons that would come and watch me swim. It is such a beautiful place.

Real Camping

The little man on the left is my husband, about 50 years ago with his brother John. I am not sure why you would pitch a tent of the roof of the station wagon, but, you have to know it was a blast. This is the stuff of memories.

It's hot here and it's going to stay that way

Yes indeed, it is HOT and it's going to get hotter. I need to find my inner coolness from the dock. We don't have one here in town or in our back yard in the suburbs so here is a picture I took just a week ago. Coolness, water, loons and a red canoe. All that is needed now is a fine looking cabana boy to serve adult bevies. Sighhhhhhhh.

Home again

I've just returned from a great week at an art workshop in Haliburton. The week began with a BBQ with friends at their cottage on the lake. I ask you, can it get better than that?????

Sad news on the little birdie front

Our little bird got flattened. Right there on the street in front of our home. Murray came home last night and discovered him. Though I see dead birds and animal all the time on the street I will still very saddened when Murray told me. He wasn't very big and could not have avoided the vehicle on the road. Now, who will his Mom feed her berries to??

Daylillies and Roses

First of all, contrary to what my husband says, daylillies are not swamp weeds. I have an excellent collection in the garden (over 20 varieties) and they are just starting to bloom. These are the first two of the season. I only have one rose bush, and as you can see to is beautiful to look at but doesn't smell like anything. I guess you can't have everything.

We have a little guest

When we were loading the car this morning at 7:15, I noticed this little bird huddled in the planter by our front door. I almost didn't see him (or her) in the foliage, but based on the amount of purple bird poop (what exactly are the robins eating this time of year) he hadn't spent the night alone. When we came home in the afternoon he had hunkered down in the impatients about 6 feet from the front door. As it became cooler this evening he became bolder and, as you can see, decided to see the world from a different perspective. He really looked frail this morning and I was concerned that something would try to eat him, but I was pleasantly surprised, as the car pulled out of the driveway, Mom showed up with some breakfast. This evening she was close by with a berry in her beak for her baby. I have no idea where the nest was, but Mom has encouraged him to follow her and I watched him take little bird hops down the street. I hope all remains well for this dynamic duo.

Second half of 2011

There has been good and bad over the first half of 2011. The bad was we lost both our Bonnie and our Hershey, but the good is that we found Moose, I was able to complete the full and the half at Disney, we have had good health, and we are about to welcome Katie into our family. Alright, we have already welcomed Katie, but we get to do it with a big party, and by god, there will be cake and dancing. I love cake.

As we begin the second half of our calendar year, I thought I needed to but some goals in writing and by publishing them, well that makes me a wee bit more accountable for them, doesn't it???? So here we go ..

1. complete and launch my website
2. complete proposals for a minimum of three shows
3. complete proposals for a minimum of 5 workshops
4. train and complete the Wineglass Half this October
5. trim off 5 pounds (not unreasonable)
6. paint upstairs bathrooms (that would be two)
7. have a kick-ass video for the wedding
8. Exercise daily
9. make art DAILY
10. work on my 2012 sketchbook
11. have a wonderful time in Haliburton at the workshop and with Murman
12. Have quality time with Murman

There will be more, but this is a good start.