"Six Years Ago Today..."

...we closed on our house here in Arizona.
This little illo of her
was drawn from a photo reference as an EDM challenge
(Challenge #165 "Draw the Front of Your House")
a couple of years ago
but
I thought a repost today would be fitting. :)
And, yes...
the house was totally finished when we closed..
and, no...
it is not purple IRL !!!...:)

“A house is made of walls and beams;
a home
is built with love and dreams.”
~Author Unknown

"Love this Site..."

...it's Sandra's blog "Life Imitates Doodles"

and it is filled to the brim with

oodles and oodles

of artsey

patterns, tangles, and links to all kinds

of doodling fun things...:)

Don't diddle around...
doodle on over there for a delightful time!

;)

"Now Blooming..."

in my back, side, and front yards...

...she is called "Mexican Bird of Paradise"...

...and she will continue to grow and bloom all summer...
...and get this big by September!!!
And...here she is again...but so very much smaller
appearing as part of my spread
in our fabulous Maruman Sketchbook exchange
which was started two years ago
this week!
What an 17,566 mile adventure we had!
Mmmmm...:)
Check on this Maruman link to see all of our work!
Have a colorful
and bright blooming Tuesday...:)

“Every production of an artist
should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.”
~William Somerset Maugham

"Sonoran Moonlight..."

...painted first on some Ampersand Claybord

which has a really unique surface

and then

etched out for details

using simple scratchboard tools.

(Size 4"X 6")

Really intriguing and fun to make!

Maybe...give it a try!!! :)

For sure...have a Happy Cactus Monday!

May tonight's moon etch some magical memories

for you, too!

“Moonlight is sculpture.”
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Seeking Relief..."

...Temperatures to peak over 110 degrees today.

This has now become our new

home

especially...after sundown...:)

Ahhhhh! Sweet, refreshingly cool water!

“It is wise to bring some water,

when one goes out to look for water.”
~Arab Proverb

"Six Word Saturday..."

Thought patterns interwoven in my brain.

(See other Six Word Saturdays here.)

"An Art Filled Wish..."

...for those who are searching for...and craving

balance,

wide open soulful breathing space,

serenity and peace,

simplicity,

and

energy to ignite the fire to do what one loves.

May you find it all! :)

“I go to nature

to be soothed and healed,

and to have my senses put in order

once again.”
~John Burroughs

(American Essayist and Naturalist, 1837-1921)

'Wordless Wednesday..."

"Another Season Begins..."

“In June

as many as a dozen species

may burst their buds on a single day.

No man can heed all of these anniversaries;

no man can ignore all of them.”
~Aldo Leopold

Happy Birthday Scott!

"A Past Post Remembering..."

...those who gave their all this Memorial Day.

"Love your country and live with pride

And don't forget those who died.

America can't you see...

All gave some

and some gave all...

And some stood through for the red, white and blue

And some had to fall.

And if you ever think of me...

Think of all your liberties and recall

Some gave all..."

~BillyRay Cyrus

"By the Light of the Moon..."

...Sunset Jack left Illinois Saturday just after midnight for his

5:00 AM flight

back home to Arizona...

it was a "Hard Day's Night" for sure.

This weekend Jack will be doing nothing but resting

and

catching up on his blog friends...

It's good to be home!

(Past adventures of Sunset Jack can be found here.)

"It's been a

hard day's night,

and I've been working like a dog...

It's been

a hard day's night,

I should be sleeping like a log...

But

when I get home to you I find the things

that you do

Will make me feel

alright..."

~John Lennon and Paul McCartney

"A Heartfelt Tribute..."

...To those who serve unselfishly-

bringing light into darkest corners with a warm smile

or a tender touch...

To those who give lovingly from their hearts daily

to perfect strangers who have been

placed in their care...
To those who provide unceasingly

remarkable levels of dignity, respect, comfort, and support

to the terminally ill...

To each of the professionals and volunteers

of health care and hospice

systems worldwide

who bolster inner strength and peace in so many...

who serve from their hearts

and

love from their souls...

You are the best.

"Hanging By A Thread..."

...to a wispy world of limited wireless connections.

Guess that's part of the deal when

trying to "make do" when

travelling.

This heart was made on scratchboard...

carved with various tools

and then washed with some watercolor paint.

Very rough around the edges...
a perfect partner for a very piecemeal post.

Never realized how internet spoiled I am

back in AZ.

"Cottonwood Snowfall...!"

...down like, fluffy tufts of seed...they are nestled EVERYWHERE!!!

"The smallest seed of faith

is better than the largest fruit of happiness."

~Henry David Thoreau

"Meet Coral Sunset..."

...a perfectly petaled peony from the infamous Blumen Gardens

(a little slice of gardening paradise) right here

in Sycamore Illinois...:)

Happy Blooming Tuesday y'all!

"Bread feeds the body,

indeed...

but flowers feed also the soul."

~The Koran

"A Doubly Delightful Day..."

...my 700th blogpost and a Cactus Monday

all rolled up into one!

How sweet...and so superbly serendipitous!

Let the party begin!!!!

"Serendipity is putting a quarter in the gumball machine

and have three pieces come rattling out

instead of one-all red!"

~Peter H. Reynolds

"Balancing Act..."

“Toleration

is the greatest gift of the mind;

it requires the same effort of the brain

that it takes

to balance oneself on a bicycle.”
~Helen Keller

"Six Word Saturday..."

An African Violet..."Floral Zen" style...:)

See other six word Saturdays here...:)

"There Is Nothing Like..."

...cherry blossom time in Washington D.C.

I remember

when I was a little girl

my parents would take our whole family to

see my grandparents who lived in D.C.

We would travel the seemingly endless miles by car...

nonstop...

weaving in and out of tedious road detours

throughout Indiana and Ohio.

And then we would reach the "magical highway"...

the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

It was breathtaking...

complete with wide smooth driving lanes,

tunnels through the mountains,

and the wonderful Howard Johnson rest stops.

This is the always the spot in the trip where

my car sickness bouts would come to an official end.

It also meant

that quite "soon" we would finally reach

my grandma and grandpa's house...

a comfy bed to sleep in...

and all the

wonders of the Capitol city.

As majestic as all the formal marble monuments were...

it was

the simple and natural springtime display

of the lacy fluttery

Washington D.C tidal basin cherry blossoms

which holds the most special place

in my heart's memory.

Those blossoms were the inspiration for this card.

Someday I will return to D.C....

in the spring...

and take it all in...with childlike wonder...once again.

"TaDaaaa! Here They Are..."

...the three ATC cards I received from the

Louis Comfort Tiffany Window Panel ATC Swap

at

Illustrated ATCs.

From L-R:

"Riverbrooks" from Sandra In Oregon...

"Floral detail" from Cheryl in New Hampshire...

and

"Landscape with Irises" from Amy in Illinois.

What beautiful work in each piece!

NOTE: If you click on each artist's name

you will be directed

to their personal galleries at iATC...

well worth your time!

Be sure to also click on the image above so you can

see the marvelous details

easily.

You can see my trades for the swap here. :)

Thanks, ladies!