Yipes! August Already!

 Even with the terrible heat I want to appreciate this final month of summer. I have been enjoying the flowers that are still blooming. Such happy colors!

Inside where there's air conditioning I enjoy art time. I keep adding pages to my art journal and hope one day to have it full.

Today I plan to do some painting. I bought a couple of larger canvases to layer on the colors. This little barn came about last week as I was trying to get back in the mood to paint.

Also wish I could get back in the mood to do more blog posts. I want to share my thoughts but have a hard time expressing myself these days. Sometimes my thoughts are too dark. So many changes have occurred that I don't fully understand. Gone are the safe days of my childhood. Today's young people have a very different experience.

Thanks to those who still stop by and check out Bits and Pieces.

Looking Around

Two gardenia blooms greeted me in the garden today. I held them up to my nose and inhaled, recalling this same scent from my childhood days in Louisiana. In fact, this gardenia bush was bought several years ago when I was visiting my birth state.

As I was cleaning and filling the birdbath, I noticed the smaller bloom.

Another white surprise was a hollyhock. So far I have had only pink ones blooming.

 

This was my first summer to place this birdhouse outside on the patio. It got some attention right away. 

These geraniums on the patio table are favorites because you can see their bright colors from my kitchen window.

 

This vignette honors my mother who loved to garden. Under the larger cloche is one of her McCoy flowerpots.

 

 

The E for her given first name - Essie

 

Because her last name was Barnes before she married, she acquired the nickname Barney that was used much more than Essie.

 

 

flower frogs

 

 

This "heart" flower frog is a little something I almost passed up on one of my antiquing days. Sometimes the littlest things provide the most joy. 

 

 

Speaking of Mother, I'm so glad the view from her room is of a courtyard with flowers, trees, and birdfeeder. She and I have spent peaceful times together watching squirrels and birds. This past week Mother's sweet roommate moved to another facility. Ms. Staggs will be dearly missed. She tried to watch out for Mother and help when she could. Maybe in the years to come there will be medical advances to end this heartbreaking disease.

 

 

Until next time,

xo

Summer Day

a peaceful view

a swing

birds - real or fake

terra cotta pots

blooms

a special tree

After weeks of stifling heat we were rewarded with a perfect summer day on this last day of June. How have you been spending your summer days? Would love to hear from you.

Days Come and Go

I bought myself some new gel ink pens to brighten

up some of my journal entries.

Now to find the time to record.

Hope you are managing your time better than I am.

A Fine Friday

An old treasure came out of hiding.

Hearts, books, and floral frogs...perennial favorites

Grandsons were here today.

My daylilies are blooming. I owe this lovely specimen to my mother.

Wish you could smell this gardenia. I'm excited about this very first bloom on a plant I brought from Louisiana about three years ago.

Have a great summery weekend.

Sandy