Our Backyard

Good morning! Jim spotted this decorative copper sprinkler at Lowes. We fell in love with it and decided to buy it. At first, we were going to put it in the front yard. We wanted to test it. Jim hooked it up to the hose in the backyard so we could see how it would look. We like it so much that Jim is going to run the conduit for it and leave it where it is. We're going to buy another one (or maybe two) for the front yard.

We have climbing roses and ground cover roses in this garden. We planted the roses last spring. It will take awhile for them to get established.

Ben and His Shadow

I've posted photos of all of our furry kids except Ben and Smitty. They kept running to me every time I would try to take their picture. I finally caught Ben sitting still with no desire to run toward me. Please note that he's sitting with one of his hind legs between his front legs. (He didn't want you to think that was his tummy.) Now the camera and I are after Smitty. Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

Lake Superior

I painted this from a photo Jim took when we were at Wisconsin Point. In the distance beyond the lighthouse, you can see Minnesota. Im going to paint it again and move my horizon line so that it doesn't divide the scene in half.

Finished!

Here is the finished floral.

Jim is watching golf. He just spotted two golfers he was on the golf team with in college. They are now on the Seniors Tour:)

Please check out Laurie Manzano's work at the The Blue Mule Gallery. I just love her paintings! Here is the link http://www.bluemule.net/pages/paintingsmanzano.htm

Floral WIP

I'm working on a painting of clematis from a photo taken in my dad and stepmother's garden. I'm going to let it sit tonight, look at it again tomorrow and finish it.

Corkboard In Progress

Here it is. Our craft project for the art room. As you can see, Jim needs to get on the stick and consume mass quantities of wine to help me complete the project. (He's watching The Coneheads as I write.) I'll be able to use it as soon as it dries. I'll add more corks later.

Gratitude Friday

I'm grateful to Diana for coming up with this idea. I makes me stop and think (an activity that is beneficial to everybody:)).

I'm grateful to Rosie and Briscoe (our dogs) for getting up in a good mood every morning. They're ready for adventure. Yahoo! Let's have breakfast and go for a walk! Come on everybody! Let's go, go, go! Their attitude is contagious. It also amazes us. Jim asks, "How do they do it every morning?"

I'm grateful to my high school Spanish teacher, Mr. Sergio Alvarez. He gave me an excellent foundation for learning the Spanish language. Although I'm not fluent, I can get by. I took Mr. Alvarez's classes many, many years ago. I'm gearing up for the new school year and I plan to use some of Mr. Alvarez's ideas in my English classes this year. It doesn't matter what language you're teaching or learning; certain principles remain the same. Mr. Alvarez was an excellent teacher. Maybe, someday, I will be, too.

I'm grateful to the people who have taken time to view and comment on my blog. Oh, how that brightens my day!

I'm grateful to Jim for being so nice to me.