The Last Roses of Summer

I went out a few days ago to get photos of the last of the blooms in my rose garden. Here they are.

My little "buds"! They may yet bloom. Still a bit warm during the days.

This is my hydrangea singing its last song of 2008. The 2 shots are of different clumps of flowers on the same hydrangea bush. Now, how in the world can that happen?? Beautiful though.......

This was came out a bit blurry but I loved the look anyway. See, even I can't get it right every single time. LOL

Little sad pink rose. It's still struggling through its existence but getting a bit "faded" around the edges........kinda like ME..... ;-)

Another beauty struggling with its end of life cycle..........definitely like me! :-)

This one is a lovely pink salmon color. It's at its peak when taken the other day.

A huge bud of a pink/yellow rose. I'll try to remember to get another shot after it opens fully.

Next 2 shots of a very pale pink/white rose out there. One is a closer shot but this is lovely when at its peak during the summer. I can't remember the name but it a multi-petaled rose. Just gorgeous!

This one is my favorite in the garden. I love this color and the fullness of the bloom and its "ruffley" appearance.

Another rose getting ready for autumn.

Close up of it loosing its petals. Makes me a bit sad. I could see some little bugs nibbling on some of them. The dew is still visible on some of the above roses also. I should have waited until about noon to take the pictures but I took them early in the morning when the sun was in the east. But aren't they simply beautiful??? I love my rose garden. Love Bunny is taking me over to Greenhurst nursery saturday to get me a gardenia plant. I love the smell. BUT I promise to let hubs take care of it. Otherwise, it'll die as I only have a PINK thumb and not a GREEN one in any way at all. ;-)

And last but not least are the latest practice painting roses - one a closer look than the other. My group chicks have told me to bite the proverbial bullet and start on a canvas with these roses. I'm scared!!! Yes, I'm truly scared to put that first drop of paint for a rose on my canvas. I'm stalling but I'll do it within the next 2 days. Pray for me!!!!!

Vintage Millinery Rose

There's a blogger called "polkadotrose" and everytime I see the name it reminds me of this rose I made several years ago - probably 5 or 6 now. I love the rose and would wear it but it's glued onto a heart shaped box I made and don't have any more of that ribbon. But isn't it pretty? Well, I think so. ;-)
Then I have this true candy apple red vintage millinery flower that I've had for many years and can't decide what to do with it. Any suggestions? I don't think I'd get very much selling it.

And last, but not least, my practice roses from yesterday. I see some progress! I'm at least to the point of "liking" them now. LOL. I'm almost to the point of trying some on a very small canvas. Leaves and squiggles are much easier, chicks!! ;-)

Roses and a New Bed

I went to Boise today to buy a new bed. Our last bed was purchased from Sears in Feb. 1989........does that tell you something?!?! Hmmmmmmm???? It was time! Now, hubs doesn't have a problem with the bed OR with falling asleep. His head hits the pillow and within 1 minute he's asleep. I lie there thinking up ways to wake him UP!!! LOL. Married for 47+ years and it's been that way from day one. Sooooo he saw no reason to purchase a new one. My back has been killing me. He says to get up off this computer and away from practicing my roses and that will help. Killjoy!!! Anyway, we know who won this battle, right?! New bed arrives next week on thursday. ;-) It's a foam bed like our other one. I love foam because it doesn't bounce like springs and is just so comfy that I said I'd never buy anything BUT a foam/latex bed ever again after this one. Just soooo wonderful!
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Okay, here are pix of roses I've done today. Now, I really have to say that they look much better in person. I'm doing them on newsprint because it's so cheap, though an ugly color, but it serves its purpose - cheap for lots of it. ;-) I am practicing with different brushes: angles, filberts, rounds, script liners, flats, large, small, smaller. Just point me in the direction of the brush aisle in Michaels and I'll pick another brush! So here's the last day of what I've done. I'll probably practice more tonight. Some are better than others; some are WORSE than others, but it truly helps me to get used to the brushes and the paints. Yep, different paints are better than others. I'm finding that out also. Cheap paint IS cheap PAINT. You'll also notice I'm practicing leaves and some squiggles also. I think I've got something good going in the last 2 pictures, chicks! But every single brush stroke has taught me something and I'm grateful for my friends who paint that have told me that. They know who they are!!

Ooooh, and please don't laugh too hard!! It ain't easy trying to be another Grandma Moses, ya know......... Hah.........

Lazy Today!

I have these tiny little ballerinas that I've been going to do something with for a long time and just haven't. The main reason is that I want to redo my craft/sewing room and hate to go in there really because it is so crowded. This dilemma will be solved in the next few months when there is no outside work for hubs to do and it's cool enough for him to go up into the overhead "attic" over our garages. I'm going to pack up some fabric and send it up there since I'm not sewing to sell on ebay anymore and that will give me a lot more room for crafting.

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Off to practice rose painting or may just go look at the new mattress we've going to be buying. Just lazy today so not posting much. I was going to speak to an issue but decided not to..........yet. Maybe I will and maybe I won't. We'll see soon.

Being Happy is the Goal

Pretty pink and red roses fabric gives me joy.

Another post from over a year ago. I'm being lazy this week!!
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I thought of something today. Being happy and peaceful, especially at home but also in any place where you spend a lot of time, is the goal: stimulating the senses is one way to start. Learn to "tease" yourself into doing necessary and useful tasks by stimulating your senses. Think of the fountain pen squeaking across fine white paper. Smell the fragrance of the ink. Feel the smooth pen in your hand. Have a light bulb ring with the glorious scent of plumeria; you'll think you are in Hawaii. These oils can be bought for very little in many natural food stores or on line or ebay. Put a lovely small french style lamp on your writing table. Have a lovely little antique footstool under your desk for you feet. Set up the task so it will be pleasurable for you.
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