Betsy and Able

Each of my chickens has such a unique personality!  Betsy is one of my sweetest hens, gentle and kind to the others.  She'll sit in my lap contentedly, whether I have treats or not.  A Calico Princess, she has lovely coloring!  Able is a gorgeous Starlight Green Egger rooster, who is still sweet and takes food from my hand so carefully - with a softer touch than any of my hens.  He especially likes taking bites of buns that I hold, when we have some left over from grilling.  I'm so thankful for each of my chickens.  I never dreamed they could add so much to my world.  And of course, I LOVE painting them!  Painting number 4956 in 4956 days. 
 

Today's Cart!

 

Who shops and sketches in an open greenhouse on a 100 degree day?  Me!  Just getting home from Augusta last night, I wasn't sure I'd meet the Monday Morning Watercolorists at Suburban Lawn and Garden this morning.  With the car only half unpacked, I decided not to miss the opportunity!  I was rewarded with more lovely flowers to come home with me, and sketched my shopping cart, too!  Coming home today - large periwinkle basket, rosemary topiary, globe amaranth, young stevia plants and a large begonia for the front porch. I just can't resist a beautiful bloom!  Painting number 4955 in 4955 days. 

Trail Through the Trees

 

It's so peaceful to sketch this trail through a canopy of trees.  Though the weather is in the 90s, this path is cool in full shade, with a lovely breeze cutting through.  Our time is short, and this may be my last time on this trail until next year.  I wonder if everyone connects to places like I do, as if they are living, breathing things.  It's hard to leave, and I feel this way about many special locations.  It's as if I bond with each place.  What a lovely place to spend some time unwinding!  Painting number 4944 in 4944 days. 

Covered Bridge at Sugar Creek

 

It's so fun to sketch this covered bridge in Elmore, from the North Coast Inland Trail!  I've painted this bridge on the Sugar Creek Golf Course a few times through the years, and I'm always happy to see it still stands.  There's a farmers market along the trail closer to town tonight, and Mom and I are headed there when I get back.  It's fun to experience the small town life here on our annual visit.  Painting number 4942 in 4942 days. 

Log Cabin and Depot

 

It was fun to sketch the log cabin and Elmore depot along the North Coast Inland Trail!  I love that we got to tour them, too!  Cool places of interest are open along the trail at certain hours and days.  These two are open every Sunday from 2 to 5, May through October.  It's such a great idea, and it makes the trail a destination to go see something new.  Mom and I enjoyed the buildings before meeting friends for ice cream right up the street. Mom is getting to visit with so many friends in town.  Painting number 4941 in 4941 days. 

Mabel/Able

 

Our beautiful Starlight Green Egger hen, Mabel, is actually a rooster - so we changed his name to ABLE.  He's a beauty to sketch in my special chicken sketchbook!  This paper is in my Mr. Ellie Pooh sketchbook, which is made from actual elephant dung, in an effort to save these elephants in Sri Lanka. With this sketch, and the one before it, I used more water on the surface with the gouache than previously.  The result is a splattered, sparkly appearance on the reverse side, which mimics a spray of shiny kamar varnish, on sprinkles!  Though the paper does not work very well for watercolor, I am finding other mediums that will! I love exploring the possibilities!  Painting number 4939 in 4939 days.  

Lilac and Butterfly

 

Is there anything as sweet as the fragrance of lilacs?  I wish they bloomed all year so I could bask in their aroma at any chosen time.  The butterflies are out and a quick sketch is on order before heading to the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival, something I look forward to all year long!  I've only a few blooms in grandmother's old fashioned lilacs this year, and they must be immortalized. Painting number 4859 in 4859 days. 

Norma's Iris

 

My first iris is blooming three weeks early, one from a dear friend who's no longer in this world. I love how these blooms remind me of friends and family members, long after they are gone.  Pen and ink in this traditional style is fun to return to.  Like old friends, the pens wait for me, and reward me for the effort.  Painting number 4853 in 4853 days. 

Prairie Girl

 

Sometimes, all I need is a little traditional pen and ink.  The tactile feel of pen against paper as it lays down a line feels like meditation.  Drawing brings me completely to the moment, observing every plane and angle.  No fancy fountain pens for this one, I return to a favorite Pitt pen, India ink is a good option, that does not smear as I work.  Many like microns for this line work, but I prefer the feel of the Pitt pen. In fact, I never use microns though I have many.  Life's too short to settle for less. Painting number 4835 in 4835 days. 

Brahmas on a Log

 

It's fun to spend a little time sketching with the girls, especially on a very busy day.  Mom and I had Goodies with Grandparents with Layne this morning, and he was adorable - and so mannerly at preschool!  I had to run to the Buttonwood Gallery, then girl time, and we finished with the Best Pet Show Ever musical to watch Gus in his second grade performance!  After dinner with them, we returned to close up the coop and finish a few chores.  It was 91 degrees today and it will only get to 56 tomorrow.  Maybe, I'll get more painting done, then.... painting number 4832 in 4832 days. 

Woods of Petit Jean

 

The woods are so peaceful on Petit Jean Mountain, and I love spending a little time among the trees!  This path leads down to a fishing pond tucked way back in the trees, which we discovered today.  It will be a lovely place to sketch next time I get the chance.  We hiked the Cedar Creek Trail (with everyone) and the Cedar Creek Overlook (with Mom, too) today.  I saw SO MANY paintings along the creek. We're hiking the Cedar Falls Trail in the morning - and I know that will be a big treat! Painting number 4824 in 4824 days. 

Yellow Blotch Pansies

I had so much fun painting these pansies at Suburban Lawn and Garden that I brought them home to my own garden to enjoy.  I'm so happy to have gotten all 18 in the ground before the 2 inch rain.  Six of those are a purple and white large variety, and I can hardly wait to paint them!  Many daffodils popped open today, and I'll need to paint them, too, while they are opening up.  So many flowers, it must be spring already!  Painting number 4817 in 4817 days. 

Bougainvillea

 

Thank you Suburban Lawn and Garden for sharing your gorgeous greenhouse with a few artists today!!  It was a glorious space to paint!  If I already had the garden room I long for, this beauty would now grace a corner, ever at the ready for a quick paint.  I had no idea the bougainvillea of hanging baskets could be trained into such a showstopper - and I will tuck this in the back of my mind for the day I can begin training my own.  Painting number 4815 in 4815 days.  

Perennial Vegetable Seeds

 I've been super busy planting perennial vegetable seeds ahead of a few days of heavy rain, hoping to still get in on the benefits of winter sowing.  I've marked each one, so hopefully I'll see their funny shoots in the coming weeks!  It's fun to sketch my progress through the garden!  Painting number 4812 in 4812 days. 

Herb Seed Packets

I worked in the garden until I was pelted with sleet! Then, I sketched my progress as the rain watered my seeds!  It's been so gorgeous until today, and I've been winter sowing more seeds this winter than ever!  I nearly forgot to plant 10 Ozark Besuty strawberries (mainly by the back door pump) and probably a third of the 100 red onion sets that I picked up earlier in the week.  We should get good rain over the next few days, which will give every seed a boost.  I also spread a bee lawn mix over some bare patches, too.  And since I've never tried that blend before, I have no idea what to expect.  I'm going to enjoy watching all these new plants emerge in the coming weeks!  Painting number 4807 in 4807 days. 

Perennial Vegetable Seeds

 I am painting what I'm planting again, and these are all perennial vegetables.  I've been researching different vegetables during the winter, and I think these will fit right into our meals. It's pretty fun to have great ink loaded in my fountain pens for am extra pop of color in the finish!  Painting number  4801 in 4801 days. 

Iceberg Lettuce in Vase

 

This little head of iceberg lettuce is growing from my kitchen scraps.  It's so adorable I had to paint it!  I've started another and a tiny cabbage, too, just to see if I could coax life from the stumps.  I add a little plant food every two weeks, and refresh the water every few days.  I'm hoping for roots, but so far they evade me.  It's fun to garden inside at night, in the middle of winter!  Painting number 4796 in 4796 days. 

Going for a Walk

 

Have you ever found a drawing that you have no memory of doing?  Traditional pen and ink from 9 years ago, and have no idea where I sketched it! I'm most cases, I will see a painting or drawing that I have done in the past, and I'm instantly transported to that time and place.  I remember the sights, sounds, and weather of the day as I worked on location.  It's so strange that this completely draws a blank for me. And I found others, too.  Painting number 4795 in 4795 days.  

Chamomile and Radish Seeds

 

Chamomile and radish seeds  planted and painted! What a beautiful day to spend outside!  In addition to these seeds, I also planted 5 or 6 of the new seed varieties I bought from the Experimental Farm Network.  They are all perennial vegetables which can be winter sown, and I'm so excited to watch their progress in the coming months.  I'm marking everything I plant, because it is so easy to lose track with the sheer volume of gardening that I do!  60's today and maybe snow this weekend, so I'm making hay while the sun shines!  Painting number 4794 in 4794 days. 

Blooms!

 

It already feels like spring inside the Family Tree Nursery!  What a great place to sketch with friends and 4 generations of my family in attendance - totally fitting for FAMILY Tree Nursery!  They are so gracious to welcome us into their lovely space.  The pink tulips featured returned home with me, along with special seeds and a couple of herbs.  I enjoyed a few lemon balm leaves on my salad today!  The ground is soft and I'm already weeding a few of the early henbit for my chickens to enjoy!  It sure doesn't feel like February!  Painting number 4789 in 4789 days.