HuMp DaY Haiku - Carolyn's Garden

Carolyn's Garden

filled with blooms and garden art

quiet cousin time

Cousin Paula hosted our "cousin's reunion" this past weekend, close to home in Skagit Valley, a mere 30 minute drive away. We drove back and forth since our little motorhome isn't running well. The reunions are always a good time. We did a lot of visiting, playing with little kids we don't see often enough, eating, more visiting, silent auction, sitting around the fire pit visiting and making 'smores... fun times, even though it was chilly. It was a delightful weekend with the perfect mix of people!

Of course, I took virtually no pictures, even though I had my camera. Sunday morning, when I arrived, it was quiet in Carolyn's garden while the others were making their breakfast. I wandered with my cell phone and took a few pictures. I love the art and flowers in her garden, and isn't the garden shed cool? 

More on the reunion later, but now it's time for HuMp DaY Haiku!  

 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

Visiting Family

I'm at a family reunion this weekend, sharing and visiting and having a good time, despite the crappy chilly weather. (Come on weather gods, give us a break!) 

This little 4x4 beeswax collage piece is going with me for the silent auction that we hold to help cover the cost of all the food and supplies needed for our herd of folks. It's always a fun time. 

Have a good weekend, everyone! 

Abstract disaster!

Well, maybe not totally a disaster, but it's close. I need advice... and who better to give me art advice than the Paint Party Friday artists!  

It seemed such a good idea! The abstract is based on this photo from a hike my husband and I took two years ago while camping at Ft Ebey on Whidbey Island, Washington. I love that park! Lot's of cool trails AND ocean beach. 

And this is the disaster: 

I started by texturing the 8x8 inch canvas with molding paste, painted a light green background and started applying paint with a natural sponge. It was looking kind of okay, and then I decided it needed more "light", so I added some back in buff paint with a bit additional green color...  which messed it up. And there she stands. Blah! Lost my urge to finish this little disaster.

Ah well, I may just paint over with gesso and start again. My inclination (now) is to lay the basic color lines down and then use the natural sponge to replicate the leafy look. One should sometimes think things out before one begins. But that would take some of the adventure out, don't you think?  :)

If anyone has advice on how to save my abstract disaster without painting over it entirely, I'd be delighted (and grateful) to hear it. 

For art that actually worked this week, I suggest visiting the Paint Party Friday artists!  

HuMp DaY Haiku - Summer Rain

Another rain storm 

Learning to dance in the rain

Well taken advice

Rain drops finally stop.

Fairy diamonds glisten now

on the garden plants

It's summertime they say. You couldn't tell by our recent weather. Rain and rain and rain. When the rain stopped, I ventured out to the garden (in my goulashes) to see what treasures were left behind. There were quite a few. Do you see the raindrop heart? 


I really would like some warm and sunshine. Even knowing some areas of our country are drying up and blowing away in the heat, I still would like just a bit of it. Just a bit. I really, really really would. :) 

Since we're having so much rain, I created a Summer Rain Treasury gallery on Etsy.  If you have time, do check it out! 

Happy Hump Day! 

Oh! I finally figured out how to make a badge for HuMp DaY Haiku. Feel free to add it to your blog posts if you like. 

Daisy

Happy Saturday! Check out this Shasta Daisy that is growing underneath the Forsythia... poking it's head up through it's leaves. I couldn't resist snapping a photo.

I'm in the process of expanding my vintage shop on Etsy to include several new items from my stash of vintage goodies. More fun items will be listed over this next week, so do check in if you're in the market. 

Brown Apothecary Bottles 

Vintage Ephemera

Paint Party Friday - a-Muse-less week

My muse was not in residence this week. I had plans, but just couldn't get anything I really wanted to finish, finished. Although, I did attempt a water color study of  Monarda/Bee Balm from my garden. I really want to paint them and have yet to master it. Practice, practice. 

This post from my Wednesday  Hump Day Haiku shows you my inspiration. 

In other news... I worked on some inchies and moo card houses for swaps on atcsforall.com. I'm building a mini village! :)

What have you been up to this week?  


I'll be checking in  in with the other PPF artists at  Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin! If you have time, I invite you to stop by and  browse their wonderful art! I'm sure their art will help revive my lagging muse. 

Wild violet

Purple violet

spreading in the rock garden.

It's there by intent. 

Growing in the rock garden, a tiny purple violet. It's busy seeding itself to regenerate for next year. I love how these little guys, with their heart shaped leaves, wander about the yard. And so I let them, always delighted where they appear. 

Linking with Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday.

HuMp DaY Haiku - Spires of Red

Tall spires of deep red

dancing among light green leaves.

Summer's here at last! 

It always seems that summer weather finally arrives when the monarda (aka bee balm) begins to bloom.  Our weather the past week has been summery, sunny in the high 70's, with a few thunderstorms thrown in. 
Bee Balm is hands down my favorite flower in our garden, loved also by the hummingbirds and bumble bees. The garden is alive with activity! 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

Garden delights!

I love this time of year, all the colors and textures and yummy treasures in our garden.

Our yellow zucchini is finally setting on... a few more days and we'll be eating it! So close! 

We have been munching on lettuce from our garden for two months now... it liked the cooler weather we were having. This lettuce is called flashy trout.


Linking with Straight out of the Camera, A Creative Harbor's Magical Monday, Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday.

Anticipation

Promise of summer

unfolding slowly to show

its radiant glory. 

I'd love to say this sunflower blossom is from my garden...  however I'll 'fess up that it's from a recent visit to the nursery where my husband works.  I do have sunflowers in the garden, but they are not this close to blooming. But soon! Especially if this luscious warm weather hangs around. 

Sharing today with Rebecca and the wonderful haiku artists at Haiku My Heart 

Scattered - but productive

It's been a scattered week... best laid plans and all that. Dealing with some changes that are disrupting my usual flow has been challenging. Although I did have a quiet day today, and completed a couple of small pieces for my Etsy shop. Both are mixed media collages using beeswax to meld it all together. I just love beeswax!

The large (for me) canvas I started last week is still looking at me, wondering what else will appear. I have a couple of ideas and haven't yet figured out how to execute them.


I started an 8x10 canvas board in the same style... papers, brayered paint and this one has stenciling.

And here they both sit in the studio... ideas percolating as I see them each time I come into the room. 

Because it's that time of the week, I'm sharing with Paint Party Friday, hosted by the fabulous Eva and Kristin! I hope you have time to check out some of the other PPF artists! They always inspire me! 



Also linking with Artists in Blogland

HuMp DaY Haiku - Stand out

 Showing your colors

As you stand out from the crowd.

Let your true self shine!

I noticed this red zinnia in a field of orange at a recent lunchtime visit to my husbands work. one must take opportunities when they arise.  

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

Busy, busy!

I've worked on several art pieces this week, focused on increasing my inventory for the Allied Arts Holiday Festival. I was accepted to have my art for sale this year! Happy dancing, but busy, busy!

First completed piece is this 4x6 encaustic collage that is now in my Etsy shop. 

I also started this 12 x 12 canvas, beginning by adhering a variety of papers with matte medium.

Then muting the papers with cream paint, scrubbed off.

Once dry, I used my brayer to apply neutral colored paint... I got a bit more covered than I originally intended, but I still like where it's going. 

I hope to have this completed to share next week. Happy Friday, everyone! 

I'm sharing today with Eva and Kristin at Paint Party Friday, where it's delightful to see what the other PPF artists have created during the week! If you have a minute or two, check them out!

Morning solitude

Morning Solitude

Trees alive with singing birds

Nature rests my soul

I love wandering the garden in the early morning when the yard is alive with birds, chirping and flitting about the trees. It's a restful sound.

Our hybrid spirea is in it's glory; the lovely chartreuse leaves make a gorgeous setting for the bright pink blossoms. This morning I see hearts among the bright colors. 

Our wild strawberries are ready to eat. I am pleasantly surprised that the birds have left us some; they've been devouring the Salmonberries!

And joy of joys, the mondarda (bee balm) is starting to bloom.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Sharing today with Guest Heart Thursday,, Share the Joy Thursday 

and Haiku My Heart Friday

HuMP DaY Haiku - Growing Memories

Planting family love.

Auntie Ruths seeds scatter here

growing memories

I originally got the seeds for Love in a Mist from my Auntie Ruth, who lived in Dayton, WA a good portion of her life. We lost her several years ago. During her lifetime she shared a great many seeds (and pearls of wisdom) with her nieces and nephews. This one plant freely self seeds around the yard each year, and always reminds me of Auntie Ruth.

When one is remembered, their love lives on. 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

Chamomile? It's Feverfew!

I love chamomile; it's so cheerful in the garden. This one self planted itself in the rock wall near the lavender and we let it stay.
When I edited the photo, I realized a little visitor to the garden wanted his picture taken too... can you see him?


Sharing today with Lisa's Chaos Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday.


P.S. I just realized this is actually FEVERFEW... I just planted some chamomile and have it on the brain. O.o