Baby it's hot out there...A new painting started,Goodies from Lynn & Veggie Garden

Annie wants to tell everyone how hot it is.

To Dang Hot!!

We are having a heat wave and it ain't a tropical one either.

Feels like you're in an oven outside.
We have been watering in the mornings trying to keep things from wilting away.

My Roses decided to put out new blooms finally and they are wilting and dying as fast as they bloom. So I have been cutting bouquets for inside. We saw readings of 106 today on the car temps but the record was 104 on the news and more to come for a couple more days. There goes the water bill and the electric bill.

No walks are scheduled during the duration of this heat spell. Even in the mornings.

I got this ATC , from Lynn of Getting my feet wet, which to me looks like a lady with a blue parrot on her shoulder, and a card of Lynn's prize winning quilt and a photo of her Queen of Hearts post card. I loved it when I saw it.

Thank you for sending them to me. I should have posted them last week but I haven't been feeling up to snuff lately and have been fighting with my computer.
We have been walking six days a week in the mornings and coming home to do some work around the yard and I have been collapsing with zip energy left.

Finally made an appointment with my chiropractor and went in to get realigned and I have been feeling so much better. Trying to change my diet to to be less acidic too. Seems to be working so far.

So I started a painting today. I know I have the cottage started but these roses are calling to me.

I actually started this drawing outside a couple months ago and took a photo of where I was sitting... so I am trying to remember what I was seeing then. The photo kind of makes it look smaller then I had drawn out the Roses while sitting there. Not sure if I like it yet but I will keep on with it. Kind of went at it differently then I usually do. I just started slapping on paint. I have a first coat on now with more coats to come. It was rather fun to work on something after not doing anything for awhile.

My roses peeking in the Kitchen window.


I planted Zinnia seeds in with the Green beans, Tomatoes and Sunflowers. Its kind of fun seeing some color peeking thru the maze of green right now. Until our tomatoes start turning red. which in this weather probably wont be long.

More peeking thru. Actually this photo was taken last week and all of this has grown bigger with more flowers blooming.

We are getting green beans to eat now finally.
Thought we never would but all of a sudden they are going crazy.

Took a photo of this Mimosa Tree in a track of homes not to far from us. It is a richer darker pink then the ones we usually see around us.

The ones next door are a peachy pink. This didn't really pick up how pink these flowers were.

Always something pink blooming around here.

***

Like I said above I haven't had much energy lately & my computer is acting up so much, So I just haven't been up to blogging much.

But lately I am feeling better in spite of this heat.

We are still walking , although we haven't walked since Friday. Fairs husband ended up in the hospital with some kind of Virus in his digestive track. At first they thought it was much worse and a surgeon was brought in, then he started feeling better on the IV's they hooked him up to. He came home today doing better. Weak but better. We did walk up the street with Fair & Anabelle on Saturday evening about 7:30 . It was 82 still. I blew it by not taking my camera and I missed photos of Con and Fair picking Blackberries and eating half of them right there. I was holding dogs and watching Geese flying over head thinking about how nice it was to be out at almost eight and still have light and warmth.

Friday earlier, Con and I, went to Home depot and ordered the last two windows for our house we are going to put in. The two front bedroom windows. It will take a couple weeks to get them in at home Depot. I was dubious about ordering them after Cons accident last year but he said WE can do it. We have done all but one of the others.

So we are keeping busy this summer. Lots more to get done now that I am feeling better. I hope I keep feeling this energetic.

Well enough rambling.

Hope I haven't lost my Readers here.

****

Blooming Tuesday and more Wildlife Safari Animals

I am amazed at how well my plants are doing in all the heat we have been having.

We get out early to water well and it has paid off. Not looking forward to our water bill tho but we aren't paying much for Gas heat right now so I guess it evens out.

I am enjoying my daisies and my Hydrangeas.
Be sure to enlarge these to see them better.

This is a wider view of the top photo.

We have been in the 90ies the last week. Saturday they say going up to the high 90ies. This is not normal to have 90ies so long.
We are also getting up early to go walking at the Park with Fair and Anabelle. so I apologize for not getting to your blogs early like I used to but heat is dictating our routines right now.

I took a photo of my Fridge of Magnets and Andreas Eiffel Tower.
These are places I have been or someone else has been and brought to me.
The horse was from a Van Gogh show in LA and it says Van Gogh on it. I have two from the Huntington Gardens and Library in LA too. Lovely area near Pasadena.
I have one from the Ranucula fields In Carlsbad CA.
Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Art magnets from shows I went to.
Its so much fun to see these daily as a reminder of fun places or friends of mine.

****
I took so many photos on our Wildlife Safari trip that I thought I would share a few more. It was so much fun and I love looking back on some of these birds and animals we saw.

We couldnt get out of our car so all of these are taken thru the windows of the car.

You get out of the car and they escort you out of the park.
They drive around keeping an eye on everything as well has the booths they have around the area.

These black birds were lined up in a row. there were more here laying just like this.

I thought they were hurt at first but then they moved and did it again so we figured they were sunbathing. I loved this. These guys were with the Flamingos.

I just loved looking at them. They just stood there sleeping under this shady tree.


There were several Yaks running loose with the Rheas. Well they weren't exactly running anywhere as it was pretty hot. but they could have walked right up to us in the cars.

This is a female Rhea with her babies. Just wandering along the road side.
Andrea, you asked in my comments if these were the same as something else. . . I forget the name but I really don't think they are... they look like Ostriches and something else tho.

A hippo just laying in the water.
It was BIG!

Zebras with the Giraffes and other animals that were laying up on the hillside with Rhinos.

Loved this guy

Roosevelt female Elk

More Elk below. .

Just look at his RACK

Buffalo on their way to the food by the road. We had just missed them heading to eat. I was taking this from the Bears area.

Another Giraffe view. Very tall critters

And last but actually first as this Peacock was at the entrance as we drove in. There was an all white one in here too but it was to far away for me to get it.

Hope you enjoyed the Rest of our visit.

I have been doing no art work lately.

Been busy in the yard and doing other summer projects.

We are about to order two more windows for the front of the house and get them in before the rains come and winter. We have slowly been changing them out. Every thing we do has improved our heating and Air conditioning in our home.

I will be back to painting soon. There will be plenty of time when things get cold and wet out again.

****

Come for a visit to Wildlife Safari in Winston Oregon

Last Thursday while we were walking with Fair at the park , she asked us to go with her to Wildlife Safari in Winston Oregon. Not very far from us. She has a yearly pass that she can take up to five people and go as often as she wishes. So she asked us to go.

We had gone walking early to beat the heat so when we got back we dropped off the dogs and took off for the park. It is an hours drive at least to see all the animals. You can only go 10 mile an hour but you can stop by the side of the road to see them longer. We wanted to get there before the heat so they weren't hiding in the shade.
I had done several collages to show most of the animals but after hours and a few days I just couldn't get it to work. so I posted a few main fun animals but the place has over 500 animals and birds in there. It is a non profit organization and those who go thru help pay for the feed and care of them. Also they have volunteers to help out.

Be sure to enlarge these photos.

You can see one of the Giraffes loose on the side of the street. we came right up to him later on the drive and the Elephant was in the building area. right in from of us was a water hole with a hippo in it. big sucker.

This is the wet lands. we just came thru the Africa's.

This is where they have an American bald eagle that was hurt in the wild and now lives here peacefully. he can go all over the island but he cant fly off.

The bears were fun to see. They are behind electric fences and they are in an area they CAN close off if need be. but there are two sets of bears in there own areas with pools and toys to play with and They feed them well.

They were so cute to watch playing in the water.

Here we came to two giraffes. this one was going to a building near by for food and the other one below decided to walk by us and go drink some water. something Fair said she has never gotten to see before. It was awesome to see him get his stance wide and slowly bend over.

Look how wide he has them

We got right up close. I had window down and you could see the muscles on those powerful legs. not spindly at all.

This was fun. This Rhea was in the Asian area. He came right up and pecked on the window. i had rolled it up in case he tried to take my camera. :))

These guys stood up all of a sudden as we came in view and started screeching. At first I thought it was my camera but as we moved on we saw they were focused on something up above us.

Her.. She was a threat to them even tho she was caged.

At the end we stopped at the village and browsed around.

There was a cool gift shop and a petting zoo and rides and a cool Restaurant that we treated Fair to lunch in.

Loved these Flamingos and yes they are real.

Of course a few pix were in order with the animals.

LOL

I couldn't get low enough to do the Zebra.

:)

End of trip.

It was soooo much fun.

We had a bit of a heat wave last week so kept low the rest of the time but we have been going out every morning doing our walking.

Hope your having a great weekend.

****

Surprise from Andrea, More flowers, A fish pond & A One year Anniversary

Try as I might I couldnt get this photo to go to the bottom so this is for the last sentence in the post. Last weekend it was Graffti Weekend and I had to get this shirt for him.

Its a One year anniversary as told below at the end.

Monday I went to my mail box not to excited. I expected to find the usual bills and junk mail.

As I am pulling out the mail on top is a LETTER to Moi from Paris France.

I grabbed it quickly and checked the return address.

Who else do I know in Paris but dear sweet Andrea De Palacio AKA Cestandrea.

I rushed into the house dumping any junk mail and bills and headed out back with a letter opener, a glass of Ice Tea.. must savor this moment you know.. and sat in the sunshine opening it very carefully.

Below is what came out of that lovely letter.

A refrigerator Magnet of the Eiffel Tower being Struck by lightning in 1902 taken by Gabriel Loppe` 1825-1943

And a post card with some of her Art work on it with a lovely letter on the back side of it.

be sure and enlarge photo.

What she didn't know was that I have been wanting something with the Eiffel Tower on it FROM Paris for a long time. I have had friends go over and never remember. And out of the blue Andrea sends me this.

I meant to take a photo of it on my Fridge door but forgot of course.

But I love it and the thought and THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDREA.

You made my Day.

I feel my Sheep painting is very happy there.

:))

Well I am still taking photos of my Flowers and others.

I love my Shasta Daisies and they seem to love this spot but I have to go out into the field and look into the yard to see the blooms.


I took this with the flash


This one with out the flash. I like both for different reasons.


So I posted both.


Which one do you like?



This hanging basket I got out at the Nursery in Glide with Fair.


Its called a Flowering Oregano. He said it will get reddish in Fall and die back completely for winter and come back in Spring. all I need to do it put it somewhere and ignore it till spring.


My kind of wintering plant.

:)

The other plant I got is called a Crocosmia. below is at a friends house of her pond and has that very Orange flowering plant I bought.


We were invite to a BBQ at their home on Tuesday night and they have the coolest Fish pond. She has Gold fish in it. I had to take some photos of it of course.

she has some plant that floats on the top called Duck feathers... or goose feathers I forget now. It is to protect them from the sun and predators, She parted it to feed and let me see them better. It is a water fountain too and sounds so good.

This one blurred on me

That round thing is a filter and every day she empties it out into a wheel barrow and mixes water in it and leaves it over night to let the chlorine filter out and then feeds her plants with the water. She has very healthily looking plants too.

Another view

This is the sides of it. They live on hilly property and we were on the patio under a summer tent.

Around her yard she has her husbands old shoes filled with plants. I loved them so much I photographed them.

These boots are done with Walkin'

****

On the Eleventh of July it was the one year anniversary of when Con cut up his hand pretty bad on the table saw. On the 18th he had his Surgery so really his healing started with the Surgery.

We were talking with someone today about it and we all realized how far Con has come in that years time of healing. I am sure there will be even more healing but he really is doing good now.

He even finds humor in things to do with his half missing finger these days. Yes he has done his fair share of grumbling but for the most part his attitude about it has amazed me at how well he has dealt with it all.

See first picture on post of Con

A trip to Colliding Rivers & more flowers in the Garden

View of Colliding Rivers from standing Bridge in Glide Oregon. It is more active in Winter and less so right now. But it was pretty.

Fair and I took a trip back out to the cute little Nursery Con and I went to a couple weeks or so ago. She had never been there and it isn't easy to find from the HWY. We just went to look but we did buy. We got something called Croscosmia. It has light orange freesia like Flowers on it. It will spread which is what both of us wanted. We wanted the Lucifer color but he didn't have any. I fact he ordered it and got the light orange in. I got a hanging basket plant which I forgot to photograph so I will have to post it another time. it is a flowering Oregano plant. has green and purple flowers on it. very subtle. smell lovely too.

She decided to take me to see Colliding rivers since I had never seen it. It wasn't a very far drive from where we were. The sign

What it tells about it.
This River is called the North Umpqua once it all comes into this basin and leaves. This goes thru the northern part of our Town. We have TWO rivers that run thru out Town. this one is cold and the one that runs by and around us is warmer.

I walked around taking photos. It was so pretty and I love the sound of running water.

Another view

One off to the left. We walked thru a little path of greens to get this angle.

These wild Sweet peas were all over.

Close up of them

This is from Fairs yard. I love these flowers. Its such an old fashion plant.

She has a full bush of them.

A wild sunflower seed sprouted and grew around her Bird feeder.

This is from my Hydrangea bush. I love the blue in the center.

***

I have been having problems with my computer lately.

I tired and tried to post something yesterday but it would let me. my computer on AOL kept freezing on me. I couldn't even comment much. so please forgive me for slacking off lately.

I have been in the garden more and walking more and enjoying summer but I am also fighting my computer.

***

We had a nice thunder shower yesterday and it watered everything nicely. We got out in the yard and did a lot of dead heading and trimming back certain things like Blackberries that try to take over. we left a few so Con could have some berries to eat. We hand just finished planting a couple things we had waiting to be planted, when all of a sudden we heard a loud clap of thunder and it let go and poured. Good timing I would say.

Today it is a perfect day.

We even got out and gave Annie a bath.

oops I said a nasty word.
LOL.

She didn't like it but she sure is going to smell better, that is until she finds something nasty to roll in.

And you can bet on it being soon.

:O
Oops. I forgot a couple pix I posted.

below is my view from my Kitchen window right now.

I didn't know that Roses could get so tall.

This bush rallied around and bloomed pretty quick right after the first bloom of spring. I am still l waiting on the others.

***

A little of this and a little of that

I don't really have many new photos to post but found a few I have taken over the last couple weeks that I decided to post. This one was taken while taking a drive around the country side a couple weeks ago. Everyone has been haying their fields and bailing it. I love how these are rolled instead of in squares.

I also loved the old truck they are on.

Be sure and enlarge them.

Things are pretty quiet at the Duck pond these days. Not much going on. All the babies are grown up even tho you can still tell the young ones from the Adults by the size and colors. This is the white duck that had the pin feathers that I posted walking across the parking lot with its Canadian goose friend a few posts back. The are still together but this was feeding time and begging is done alone you know.

:)

A little boy was tossing out bread. I loved the look on his/her face.
MAY I HAVE SOME BREAD PRETTY PLEASE ?

Sharp shinned Hawk

This was out sitting on our back fence a few mornings ago. I took this photo before shooing it off. I am not sure if it was eyeing a bird or the bird bath. It was a rather warm day when I got this.

We went to walk on Sunday at the Park and heard a Band playing and it was about 7:45 AM. I had to go peek. It was a Christian band practicing for some event. I got to see the new half shell that was recently delivered to replace the one that got ruined in the bad storm.

Sure is pretty.
I did feel sorry for the Senior Citizens that live in the Senior housing just across the River in back of the half dome tho.

Sunday in the Park.

A little music, a little sun, some reading. What more can one ask for?

I tried to get a close up picture of this gal walking her corgi, for Cathy at Cleavelandgirlie, in the park but she was really hoofing it. We did get stopped by some nice lady who flipped over Annie. She said she too had a Red Border Collie and had to show her to us on her phone. She was a lighter red and she said she loved Annie's darker Red and could she take a pix to show her husband. I said sure.

She said she was up visiting her Mother From Las Vegas. I said, Aha SHE was the one who brought the heat up last week. :)

She got down on her haunches to pet Annie and so I told Annie to shake hands and she did then I told her to give her a high Five and she did that too. She was rewarded with lots of sweet talk and petting.

We have so much fun walking in the park. We interact with so many people and thier dogs.

We have been managing to walk almost every day for an hour or at least over 35 to 40 minutes. The more we do the more 'Annie' wants to do.

LOL

Our Veggie garden is growing taller daily but we are being bombarded by little yellow beetles that look like red ladybugs with the black dots on the back. They are eating up everything like locus. They are getting Fairs figs now. they can strip a leaf in no time. We are trying to hand pick them off and squish them so as not to have to spray and kill bees or birds, but I'm not sure we're winning.

So this years crop might be a wash out if we cant get rid of them soon.
Fair was really discouraged this morning. Its not been a good year for our flowers, trees and crops so far. We've been plagued by mildew, snails and worms and now these yellow flying beetles.

close up view.

And last but not least,

My Daisies seemed to be doing well and blooming bug free.

Thats something at least.

*****

Lynns visit..Short but Sweet

I have put the cart before the horse here.

I am putting the presents before the Guests I fear.

Lynn came to visit Saturday baring gifts.

She came with her DH who spent time with con while I showed Lynn around.

We had a great time.

It was as if it wasn't one year ago almost exactly that we had first met and last seen each other.

Big hugs started off the Visit and a little show and tell and then she brought out some gifts she had made for me. I found a place in my studio right away to hang her gifts. I love hearts and she made this big Art piece in my colors with lots of hearts and a how does your garden Grow pin.

I also love Tea pots so she did this in my colors

Tea four U

And on my Art board I put her other Heart piece she made me.

We finally got the print

(I got from Oregon Art Guy some time ago )

framed and hung in my studio

I had started adding to this wall but it was sadly lacking in warmth and Lynn's Art quits added that warmth.

Thank you so much Lynn

I spent some time cleaning up messes before she got here so I decided to photograph where I sit and email. This room is also my dressing room since our closets are so dinky Con has our bedroom closet so I got this one and my dresser.. Which was my parents and I painted all to match in here.

I made all the curtains in this house too and the pillow I sit on.

OK I digress... On with Lynn's Visit

We sat outside since it was to nice to be inside.
Lynn taking pictures of our birds.

Lynn asked me to make a cherry cobbler when she came so I did.

I also invited them to come for lunch since they would be here about that time.

So we had a nice visit and fixed some sandwiches, ate outside and the had some cherry cobbler inside.

For some reason my photos wont move for me now. so I am stuck where they land.

Is anyone else having that problem?

My second cobbler came out much better.

Annie found a friend and decided He would throw ball for her. An honor for Fred.

LOL

She spent most of her time getting attention.

After eating Fred showed us some of the fish fossils they had found. Really cool in person.

Then it was time for them to leave and go on to visit with their long time Friend a town away and our visit was over.

Lynn showed me how much room she had in the car while sitting and doing some car art.

Not very much.

:))

All to soon we were waving good bye.

We enjoyed every minute of it.

Bye till next year. Please come again.

***

Check out Lynns blog on her take of our visit.

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

Nursery's and Walks in park during Concerts

I always am so happy when this plant stand opens in April.

I am hopeful that Spring is really here and it is getting time to plant for spring and summer even tho it is a tad cool yet. Fair and I buy lots of our plants here during the three months it is here. Its only about five minutes from us in the parking lot of our very tiny mall.

These plants come from two nurseries in towns not far from us but a ways away.

I always feel so sad when it closes up around the 4th of July. That means planting time is really late after this, and we must go further out to find plants if we want any more.

I love the beauty of all the flowers in here.

BE SURE TO ENLARGE PHOTOS.

This is the last week for this year.

Fair and Con and I are still walking. we go when we can. Evening or early morning or afternoon.
What ever works. but now it is getting hotter it will probably be early mornings like today.
Last Tuesday we went about seven pm and it is concert night every Tuesday in the park.
Parking is all over where we walk. Parking is crazy but we are now parking at the duck pond instead of the park and no one has figured that out yet.

Last Tuesday it wasn't bad at seven and it was Reggae night.
Since I had never been there during concerts I had to walk around a bit to see how crowded it was.

We usually have a half Shell but it got torn during that bad rain and wind storm a few weeks ago. It is on order but they are using the curtain for now. Since it is called Music on the Half shell it loses something with a curtain. :))

I think this shot is showing the River that is behind the curtains. It is the very same River that goes by our house. Last night we went again and it was some Rock group. but we didn't go check it out.

Fair decided last week that she wanted some Ice Cream. We have the best Ice cream here.

by Umpqua. also name of the Rivers that flow thru our town. North and South Umpqua.

I got a kick out of this shot of Con and Annie. This was the first time Annie had been in any kind of a crowd and she didn't know what to make of it. She went up and put her cold nose on the back of this girls leg and con was pulling on her but look at that grin.

We all succumbed to an Ice cream cone. Con and Fair got Raspberry swirl and I got my favorite, Chocolate Thunder Brownie. OMG It is GOOD.

Last night we got NOTHING. . . just kept walking.

:)

This morning we got out there walking at seven. We knew it was going to be 90 today or close to it.

**

Last week we took a drive out to a cute nursery that was about 25 minutes away and on the North Umpqua River. We have bought things from Dan at the Farmers Market since we have been here and went there once when we first moved here. I had forgotten house neat a Nursery it was. I wanted another Fairy rose for my front Arbor that had that American Beauty Rose on it. Every year that Rose would bloom and look beautiful for a couple weeks and then get black spot and lose all it leaves the rest of the summer. so we replace it with another Fairy rose that does so well on our other Arbor.

Dan and his wife Moved up from So Cal 20 some years ago to open a Nursery and bought a house with land and made it their home and a wonderful Nursery. I wish I had asked him If I could take pictures sooner then I did as I missed some great shots of Cherry trees full of cherries.
This shot of there sign is across the street on the River but it is there land.

Peeking over the front fence. Have to deer proof things.
It looks like a jungle in there.

Going in the gate.

They have a friend that did this and another mural in there. I loved it and finally asked if he minded me taking pictures. Why am I always so chicken to ask?

This is on our way out. He has plants sitting all over. not every thing is in one spot. its like he decorates a spot with his plants.

We got a five gallon Fairy rose as he is the only one who carries them around here and we got a photinia bush for our back side fence. and some plant food he says is fantastic for getting roses and other things to bloom over and over. I will see if it works.

I hope to go back there soon. Fair wants to go check it out so I will be sure and take my camera and get some better photos.

****

Three more days till Lynn gets here some time Saturday morning. She will be only staying a couple hours as she is heading the stay over night with a very good friend of there's out past this nursery. I am looking forward to their short but sweet visit.

Sure is nice having motivation to get things done we have been procrastinating about.

:))