ATCs from Teri C & BT, Roses in first bloom Etc.

I took this photo this morning.

My Roses are blooming their fool heads off.

I love seeing the first blooms of Spring. Its never as beautiful as that first bloom.

Below are some flowers off the first bush.

BE SURE AND ENLARGE ALL THE PHOTOS

Got this lovely PINK DAISY KITTIE from

Teri C yesterday.

http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

In fact I got TWO ATCs in the mail yesterday.

Such fun.

I loved this and picked it because of my love of the color Pink, Daisies and Kitties.

Thank you Teri.

This one came from Gina of,

http://bt-thecraftygardener.blogspot.com/

all the way from Ireland.

Its called

Fantasy Garden.

Because she knew I loved gardening like her.

I love it for the colors and the subject matter and the birds on it.

one pig too.

Thank you Gina

Thank you to both of you.

This is my favorite Red and White Rose

:))

This Rose I showed in a post or two ago. It has opened up more.

This is the Rose Bush I brought with us when we moved here.

This is the first bush just under the hummer feeder.

It did such an odd thing this year.

Not only this rose but the roses below are all from this very same bush.

This is how it us supposed to be and look at the rose next to it and below.

Same Rose bush.

I love how they are so different from each other and smell soooooo good.

Since this is Animal Wednesday I had to post these little critters at the park. This one didn't seem to want to run but the dogs were trying to chase it so it ran under the chain link fence and up on the wheel. There is a chain link fence between it and us. He also had a bent tail.

We found out why they weren't running when we walked a couple steps further. Some man was feeding these critters peanuts right from his hand.

This one didn't bother to run at all. he was eating the peanut here but I couldn't get my camera in between the chain links well enough to get a good shot.

Yesterday I posted the Purple Robe Locust tree flowers.

This and the picture below are of the whole tree.

It's in Fairs outback and blooming its head off.

Its huge

Hope you can enlarge the photos to see them better.

****

Flowers, Birds & ATC's from Margaret & Mim

World Class

It sure is.

That's the name of this beauty.

Fair & I let Annie and Anabelle play last night on her front lawn while we enjoyed her Bearded Iris' since they wont be blooming for much longer.

In July she is going to dig them up and thin them out. A big job but has to be done. She will then give some away. I am going to see if I can do an Iris bed somewhere. They are sooo pretty.

She is also going to get rid of Five she likes the least or doesn't perform well and is ordering five new ones to put in their place.

She knows every one of their names too.

BE SURE TO ENLARGE EACH PHOTO

Friday I got two envelopes full of ATC cards.

I love going to the mail box these days.

This one came from Margaret

http://waterblossoms.blogspot.com/

I LOVE her work on this paper she uses.

She drew a lovely drawing of Cactus in a heart and wrote words in a string like row.

Be sure and enlarge to see the detail well.

Thank you Margaret I love the whole package.

Mim http://ammdh.blogspot.com/ sent me these Two ATCs and a cute card I showed before with Apples on it and this little envelope with Miss Em on it that Miss Em ATC was in.

Love the Lizard she surprise me with too.

Thank you also Mim. I love it all too.

We finally got back to the Duck pond a couple days ago.

The babies are growing up. These two were together but with out and parents. I loved how they were walking and squawking. Today we went early with Fair and did the whole walk and saw them together still. They have paired up already.


The decided it was to much work to walk and squawk and sat right down in the parking lot.

Didn't seem to matter if Annie was with us.

I thought they were adorable.

Something else was out there begging for food when we went.

This is a nutria. I think that is the spelling.

they are blind and have two big yellow buck teeth.

They aren't mean and love bread. He came right up to get some bread this one guy was throwing. He tossed it some and then gently pushed it on its way. He had a little girl with him and was a bit afraid of it. I miss that shot as a Canadian goose was flapping its wings getting in my way to get the shot.

He went on his way after that.

Lucy Goosie with four babies. but later she hooked up with two other geese with six little babies and these came to beg for bread the man with the kid was tossing out to them.

Look at all the babies here.

I am not sure if they knew who their parents were after this.

They learned how to beg very well.
I stuck around watching for a while and then we left.

This I took close up of Fairs Purple Robe Locust tree.

Its flowers are like sweet peas. It is huge in her out back.

Another one of her Rhody's. This is looking at our house from her yard. We can see the other side which is just as pretty. Benefits of her yard is we can enjoy and she can dead head. LOL

This clematis is in Fairs yard too. I have one growing but it is slow to get to flowering.

We spent the weekend working in the yard. We had so much to do once it warmed up and quit pouring. Weeds had taken over. Hedges had gotten out of hand.

So I spent most of our time outside working.

We got an early walk in with Fair and Anabelle at the park and then got busy working in the yard.

But we didn't forget to ENJOY ourselves too.

Hope you all enjoyed your three day weekend

****

ATC's from Lynn , All fabulous! Flowers and Critter photos too

Nature at its finest.

This Rose I brought with me from CA when we moved here.

Con had brought this home from work one day. It was heading to the dump from a remodel job and the people didn't want the Roses. This one was in sad shape but I put it in a clay pot and babied it and it rewarded me with one beautify rose in no time. So I planted it in our tiny yard.

But when we moved I dug it up and put something else in its place and brought it with me as it had such heart in wanting to grow and bloom

It has never failed me. I was jazzed to see this misfit Flower on it.

BE SURE TO CLICK ON AND ENLARGE THESE PHOTOS.

I had one other rose do this a couple times but never this one.

Look how the color split right in half on one leaf.

I have no idea of its name but it has to be some kind of peace rose.

The mail came today and I got a lovely group of ATCs from Lynn at http://lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com/

I tried to get them all in one photo. The Free motion sewing one should go sideways but needed the room here. Click on this and all the rest of the photos to see the detail.

She did the cat one with me in mind, she said, and the Girlfriends one too. I adore them both and picked them right away. She added the cat one but I had wanted it.

The pink daisy and the Jean one with sequins are fabulous also.

She sent this lovely card from her collection and she even LynZentangled her envelope.

:))

Thank you Lynn

I love them all

I will treasure them all too.

This Rhody is in Fairs yard. I just had to get a photo of it.

All my Rhodys are young yet and still growing but they have been blooming well too, Just not as showy yet.
Then She has this bearded Iris Bed to die for.
She knows everyone of their names too.
This one she bought and planted for her sister, because it was her favorite.

Be sure to enlarge them. To bad you cant smell them. They all have different fragrances and are soooo heavenly to smell,
As long as you don't have allergies.

I loved the color of this one. I think she called this Boogy nights.
Looks like one of the ruffly dresses from West side story.
:)


The bird population has taken off now.
The starlings have all been busy.
Lots of babies around now.
I was watching one Daddy and Baby in the grass this morning, The baby was so demanding of him that he was trying hard to get enough to feed it. He would grab some bug and shove it into its wide open beak then rush to find something else to stuff down its beak to quiet it down, But I guess he wasn't fast enough for it ..and I wish I had had my camera in hand.. ran from Daddy clear over to the tree and right up to one of the Doves by the Tree opening it's beak wide and started squawking ..demanding for the dove to feed it. I was cracking up. The Dove jumped back a foot just as Daddy quickly rushed over to get his 'kid'. I could just hear the Dove thinking...what is this crazy thing doing, You're not MY kid.
The Dove went back to eating and Daddy found more food to jam down his babies throat.
What a treat that was to watch.

I tried so hard to get a good shot of this CA Quail, But the light wasn't good.
Mama was on the ground eating and he just hung up here watching over her.
They come regularly now so I am hoping maybe the nest is close by and maybe we will be seeing some little ones. We never did get to see the Nuthatches babies. They moved them so quickly when it go to hot to stay in he box.
Bummer



Up date on Lucy's clan.
Goslings are growing bigger and bigger and they are still swimming around as a family.
This was taken end of last week.
We went to walk in the park this morning but we only walked thru the woods.
Maybe tomorrow we can go to the Duck pond to get more updates on the Babies.
Our yard is a hive of activity right now.
Woodpeckers and Scrub Jays taking baths and getting food for some yapping beaks I bet.
Yes Sue, of A Brush with color, There do seem to be lots of babies this year.
*****

A painted Daisy ATC from Teri C, And Spring Flowers

Got this lovely ATC from Teri C

We traded Daisy ATCs

She said no one had ever done a Daisy for her so I was tickled pink to trade a Daisy for a Daisy.

Thank you Teri, it's awesome.

Check out her work and see for yourself.

http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

Spring has been busy here.

My bridal Veil was awesome this year.

For the first time since we planted it the flowers were thick on it.

Close up

Thought this was a lovely flower too.
:))

Our one Orange Rhody

Pinkish red Rhody up front

Two others like it are in the front planter too.

A Red Rhody someone gave us.

Fairs Mothers day present from her Husband was two of these French Lilacs she has wanted for ever. They smelt wonderful.

Fairs Dog wood in back.

And last but not least a final photo of the Nuthatches.

They and their babies left sometime Sunday without us getting to see the babies leave.

I saw him on Saturday morning puffing up his body to chase away a squirrel.

It got very hot the next day and I noticed no more activity, so we looked in the box yesterday just in case they roasted in there but nothing was in there except for a round nest way on the bottom, some downy feathers and bird poop.

I was disappointed we missed the exit. But they are off to start a new life.

That's OK tho, This morning I heard babies chirping in one of the Sparrow nesting boxes. Those we DO get to see being fed, and they wont be long before they'll be popping out the door peeping for food by the sound of them.

*****

MOM

MOM

4/4/26 to 5/20/94

Today is the Fifteenth Anniversary of her Death.

I still miss her very much.

For those who didn't see what I wrote last year click on link below.

http://crisinor.blogspot.com/2008/05/commemorating-special-mom.html

ATC's To Trade or Give Away TWO LEFT..

1. English Cottage Teapot

All the blue in the backgrounds faded out when I scanned them but they have blue in the background.

2. Climbing Roses ..picked by Lynn

3. Butterfly Moth on Pink Coneflower

...Picked by Lynn...


4. Posy's --Picked by Deepa

White flower has some blue in it too.

5. Yellow sunflower




6. Love Birds...Picked by Deepa

Wish you could see the colors on the back ground
All done with ink and watercolor on 90lb watercolor paper I cut up into ATC sizes.
If you have nothing to trade and would like one Send me your address and its yours.
*****

ATC from Katie Jane, Pix from Fridays walk

Got this ATC on Saturday from Kate of

http://mykatiejane.blogspot.com/.

I absolutely LOVE it.

It says it all to me

Thank You So much Kate

Do go check out her blog.

Speaking of home..

Took this of one lone duck floating across their home... The pond... being followed by

14 little ducklings.

Can you imagine taking care of 14 babies? yikes.

We resumed out walk last Friday after a few weeks of due to bad weather and rain.

And Fair getting so sick. She is fine now and we are trying it again to get out regularly.

The leaves have come on the Oak trees now and it is so lovely to walk thru and you cant see so far ahead now.

Lots of Wild Iris' were blooming all over.
Then we came up to a couple gals walking their dogs.

I asked the names but forget them now.

Why do I bother to ask??

The Blue Dane was HUGE Anabelle and Annie next to him cracked me up.

The Great Dane was more like a small pony. He was so lovable.

Look at Annie, She wasn't one bit intimidated. Fair was petting him.

The German pointer was with the Great Dane. There was a muzzle on her so I was a bit anxious at the nose sniffing but Annie and she were doing. But they were ok.

I had to get a photo of him alone.

NO leash was on him either.

The weather went from rainy and cold to warm and warmer.

88 Degrees this weekend.

I think I have finally thawed out from our cold winter.

:))

****

We've hung our Sign out... We're busy in the Garden

Its a beautiful day out.

We've hung our shingle out saying,

We're busy in the Garden.

Its time for weeding and mowing & watering, believe it or not.

We took a long walk in the park with Fair yesterday and this morning.

She was back for a short one yesterday to see if she had her stamina up and to day we did the longer one before it got hot. Fair is baaaaaaack...

Everything is busy today.

Last week Con put out the net to grow our Pole green beans on and we planted the seeds and all that lovely rain we had for a week was perfect timing.

We have beans peeking out of the ground already.

We also planted all our tomato plants. Two are in here now and I planted more sunflower seeds. I so enjoyed them last year.

The summer flocks are back

Piggy as ever.

Well gotta fly. Got lots to do.
Have a great weekend.
****

ATC arrived from Cathie today

I love Sunflowers and Daisies so Cathie of,
http://clevelandgirlie.blogspot.com/
Traded this with one of my ATC's Isn't it TOTALLY lovely?
Check out her blog and see how she did it.

It came with the cutest little card she made.
The little sun shows fully once open.
THANK YOU CATHIE.
I LOVE IT!

I am feeling very blue today. Yesterday, Wednesday, we had to do something that was VERY hard for me to do.
You have seen my photos of my CATS all three of them.
Well Romeo, The Turkish Van cat, long haired white with black markings , has developed some serious health problems. IBS or IBD in cat lingo. Possible kidney problems. Maybe thyroid problems. We have had him in and out of the Vets and we just couldn't find anything that he could eat that didn't cause heavy drinking of water and bad diarrhea. Except for some Expensive dry stuff that he turned his nose up at.
The last time we had him in this week he had lost so much weight and was down to seven pounds which for him is way to light.
The Vet wanted to do some Costly medical tests but we just are unable to afford them and he was getting worse and our home stunk so bad from the smell of it. So he suggested we take him to this place in Town that finds foster homes and real homes or keeps them till they die.
So with heavy heart we took him in yesterday.
The Vet said his heart was strong & he was so lovable so he didn't want to put him down. With two other cats and a dog in our home we just couldn't treat him properly as he got into their food or climbed into our refrigerator and our plates.

Yesterday he had Diarrhea so bad he squirrted it ALL over the wall, the floor, into the just cleaned cat litter box and all over him dripping it off as he walked thru the house and jumped up onto the counter. So after cleaning up that mess and with heavy heart I called the place suggested and we took him down. They said that they are pretty sure, since he is such a lovable, beautiful and unusual cat, He has seven toes on each front paw, that they will find him a home or foster home with NO OTHER PETS and get some proper help.
He was a cat that Friends had left with us as they rushed out of state because their daughter was in a major health crisis. They ended up staying and wouldn't take the cat back when he came back to pack up and move. Romeo never fit in with us because he was male and headstrong and the other pets didn't like him at all because he tormented them. But he was sweet to us.
Even so I felt really lousy like I was abandoning him there.
There he has a chance now and with us he didn't.
Still I wish it didn't hurt so dang bad.

****
Do Check out Cathie's blog you wont be disappointed.
Thank you again for trading ATCs Cathie. It really did cheer me up to find something so lovely in my mail box.

Five ATCs for Trade.

I have 5 ATCs to trade.

UP DATE

Well ALL my ATCs are spoken for and sent off.

Thanks everyone for Trading. Its lots of fun doing this.

I am not sure I will be doing more for awhile, Altho one never knows about me.

:))
Lots of work goes into these little guys and I want to get going on a bigger painting.

1. Yellow Daisy-- Goes to Margaret

2. Yellow Cone flower.

Teri C picked this one.
3. Pink Cone flower -- Picked by Lynn



4. Duck watch--Goes to Mim
This guy actually gets up on Fairs chimney daily right now and stands watch as His mate eats below.

5. ONE RED BUTTON ALONE -- Lynn Picked this one

This was called Jar of buttons originally but I looked at it and decided it need one RED button in it. Symbolic of being alone in a crowd.

*****
Our bird life is growing these days.
We counted at least 30 Band Tail pigeons out in back crowding into the box feeder and on the shelves and on the ground to where they looked like masses of Turtles feeding. :))
Our Nuthatch is still busy doing his thing. She hasn't come out much so there are eggs or even babies in there. Time will tell.
Sparrows are busy in one of our bird houses sitting on a nest as only one comes out now and goes for food to bring back to mate sitting on eggs.
I love this time of year.
****

ATCs came in mail. Two more to trade....

I love going out to the mail box these days.

I am finding some fun things in there instead of Bill..

I wish Bill would keep away. sigh.

I got this lovely Fabric ATC from Lynn at http://lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com/

This is Butterfly and a Daisy.

Free Motion Sewing.

DO Check out her blog.

It came in this lovely flower card she sells.

Thank you Lynn I love them both.

ALSO in the Mail was some ATCs from Mim at
http://ammdh.blogspot.com/
She too does some Awesome work and ATCs

I liked this Feeling blue ATC for some reason.

Maybe because sometimes I feel like this.

Not often thank goodness.

:))

Altho I picked this, She added the one below

I absolutely Love this one.

It reminds me of the Geese that fly over head morning and night from River to River honking all the way.
Thank you Mim. Such a treat to have your work and Lynn's too.

Mims ATCs came in this Moo card of hers with her work on it.

Thank you so much.

Both of you.

I Have two ATCs left for trading at the moment.

I will be making more this week.

I spent some time today making two more ATCs.

1. Geraniums & Clay Pots --Picked by Cori -Lynn

2. Duck Watch -- Up for trade

From yesterdays Blog.

3. Jar of Buttons --up For trading.

4 Band Boxes---Picked by Cori-Lynn


****

More ATC's to Trade

We had a lovely warm sunshiny weekend so we took advantage of it and worked in the Yard.

We got our Pole beans in and the net up so they have something to grow up on.

We also planted four tomato plants.

One Cherry tomato called Sweet 100's

They grow quick and are sweet and last into the first frost.

We planted one more up front by the cherry tomato.

It is an old fashioned tomato called Brandy Wine.

It takes a bit longer to grow but will get good sun there.

Then we planted an Early Girl which is abut 70 days of growing and A Big Beef tomato.

Not sure how long that takes, But you have to go for the ones that will grow faster as our season isnt that long.

In amongst the tomatoes and Green beans I planted more Sunflowers seeds like last year. They were fun to watch grow and the birds had a nice harvest off them.

I did manage to find some time to paint a few more ATC cards. I did these a little quicker then the last batch so I hope they come up to expectation of my last ones. I will be doing more this week too. It was so nice out I sat at the picnic table drawing them out and then painted with watercolors in side.

1. Button Jar

2. Band boxes
3. Yellow birdhouse. --Picked by BT
Its not easy dong birds in miniature.
This is actually in our yard and a bird was on the perch.


4. Grass seed mill Barn. --Picked by BT
This is an actual working seed mill not far from us.
Actually it is Grass & Clover seed.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.
We had a visit from some CA Quail this weekend.
About 12 Band Tail pigeons
Grosbeaks, Sparrows, Warblers, Nuthatches, Mourning doves, Turtle doves. Lazuli Bunting, Woodpeckers. three kinds, Scrub Jays and Stellar jays and Starlings and their first babies of the season.
OH and TWO MICE.
yep out there eating with the birds.
NOOOOOO
Was awaken AT 5:30 Saturday morning by Annie, our dog.
She wanted out and NOW.
I grumbled all the way to the door till I saw why she was adamant to get me up so early.
Two DEER had hopped over the fence from the neighbors side into our yard and were heading for my Roses that are in full bud about to open up in full bloom.
I/WE shooed them off fast. Later con put up some tin roofing along the fence to keep them out till we can fix up something better to keep them up. arrgh.
I told Annie
GOOD GIRL!!
I will never grumble at my dog again.
:-}

ATC's Came from Lisa today

I swapped with Lisa at Greenbow http://artsyendeavors.blogspot.com/ for two of my ATC's for two of hers and they came today in this darling card.

Looks like one of those old time clasp coin purses my Grandmother used to use.

How I Loved them.

They are really much prettier in person.

This one is

Orange Tulips

This one is called

Cosmos

Thank you Lisa, I love them. This is fun swapping little bits of our Art with others.

Check out Lynns blog today ..its all about my ATCs to her.

How Sweet is that. :)

http://lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com/

****
I haven't posted much because of having problems with my computer freezing on me and my mouse acting up. Well it did a nose dive this morning and I had to finally go buy a new one.
Trying to get it on I shut my computer off by accident and messed up my modem so I wasn't able to get on for awhile.
BIG STRESS FULL SIGH HERE.
While in Staples paying for the computer mouse They gave me a coupon for a FREE PC TUNE UP. Usually costs $29.99.
Takes two days. They said they say it boosts speed & performance. Removes system clutter, Check for viruses and Remove Dust.. and will fix error signs.
So I am thinking that maybe I should do it as my computer is going on five years and acting up.
Anyone done anything like this. Is it a good idea? Are they good at Staples?
Its called Staples EASYTECH.
*****

Spring bouquet of wild flowers Plus ATCs & Fair update

A few days ago we walked our field and I picked flowers that were growing in the field. When I got done I said it needed some blue in it. So I picked some of my wild growing forget me knots. Isn't this pretty? Who said weeds aren't pretty?
Our wisteria plant did so well this year and it is only 2 years old.

I planted three more at this same time in various places and this is the only one that is doing well and one is just up the fence from this one. Go figure.
It has been raining most of the day today. A nice gentle steady rain which is kind of nice actually.
So I down loaded some of my photos in the camera and here are a few pix to share with you all.
This Canadian Goose broke his wing some time ago and it healed like this, but he can still fly.
He/She is always at the top of the embankment
He/She seems to milk it for all its worth tho. He begs from everyone for food.

There were seven of these Band Tailed pigeons in our Yard today.

First we had one and then two and. . . Last year we ended up with about 40 in our yards before they took off to where ever they go this time of year.


WE had a horrible wind storm two days ago.


And all the Cherry tree blossoms that would still be on the trees were blown to smithereens.


All over town and in our yard the ground was covered in Pink.
I also spent the morning addressing and preparing to send off the ATC's I promised to Lisa, Lynn, Mim, Soulbrush & Cathie

They are on their way Girls.

I also redid this one for Mim as I wasn't happy about the way the ink smeared.

Can anyone tell me what kind of ink to get that doesn't smear with the paint?

And
I spent some of the time today making another ATC for Katie Jane.

It will be on its way tomorrow.

I hope you like it.

Its called Swiss Alpine cabin
I have another one to do for some one
then I will do some for trade again IF anyone is interested.

*****
Update on Fair.
She got home on Saturday Afternoon late.
She was weak but much better.
Food Poisoning.
I passed along all the well wishes from everyone even though she doesnt know anyone and she smiled with pleasure.
We yakked on the phone on Sunday
Catching her up on all the bird life she was missing.
She also finally got to see the photos I took of her Tea Party and she was raving about them.
She never gets photos of her Tea Parties and doesn't have a record of all she has done.
She was so pleased when I said I love taking pictures she said I have to become her Tea Party Photographer from now on.
Thinking she was kidding I said GREAT.
She said Good its a done deal.
Wow.
This morning she called me up early to see if Annie wanted to come play with Anabelle since they hadn't been together since she got sick last Monday. Annie about jumped thru the closed door. YES SHE DID.
I couldn't move fast enough for her. She was out the door and barking for Anabelle before I could get out the door. They played and played till we finally had to say ENOUGH.
I really missed her fair last week.
Shes still a bit weak but slowly recovering her strength.
We did some more chatting while throwing ball.
She in her PJ's and Robe and Me in my sweats and uncombed hair out there on her WET front lawn.
Ain't life Grand?
:))

I made ATC's 8 0f them

I decided to try some ATC's since everyone else has been doing them.

So I cut up 90lb watercolor paper into 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 size cards.

Here are my first eight cards I have done.

Everyones been trading them so thought I would do some to trade too.

The colors are kind of faded by scanning them unfortunatly

I scanned two cards to save time.

1. Hand....Bag... Picked by Lisa at Greenbow

2. Tulips in Spring .. Picked by Soulbrush

3. Roses in Vase Picked by Soulbrush

4. Cottage window picked by Lynn

5. Bird with nesting material Picked by Lisa at Greenbow


Background is a bit more blue


6. Pansy Teapot Picked by Soulbrush. She sent me three


7. Wild horses Picked by Auntie Mim




8. Beach Tent ..Picked by Clevelandgirly

If you dont see anything here you like I am going to do a few more this weekend.
****

Fair is doing much better.

They think it was food poisoning.

She had eaten at a new little Mexican restaruant and that afternoon got violently sick so much so that Jim had to rush her to the hospital.

To be on the safe side they put her in isolation
Today the culture was supposed to be done to find our for sure.
But they were pretty sure it was food poisoning.
I will have to wait on Fair to get home to find out more.
I havent had a chance to talk to her since she went into the hospital.


****

PS
My old childhood photo is in the post below.