Friday, August 31, 2012

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Prickly Pear Fruit

Everyone seems to be making prickly pear fruit & jalepeno jelly. It's a gorgeous color! This one was enjoyed by a small critter in the garden.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cascade Falls

Randy and I went on a walkabout on my day off today. We visited one of the feeder springs for the Virgin River called Cascade Falls. It turns out it's not quite the headwaters...we hiked a part of the Virgin Rim Trail and spent some time at Cedar Breaks National Monument before making our way down Hwy.14 and Milt's in Cedar City for dinner. Besides spectacular views, there were many kinds of mushrooms, bristlecone pine and a yellow-bellied marmot. It was a long and successful day!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tarantula Dance

It's my first time to see tarantulas mating...I always see the graceful males, but never the two together. I have to say...the characterization of her in Lord of the Rings as Shelob is pretty accurate. The female's shape and color and demeanor are entirely different from the male. She's creepy.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Kanarraville Canyon

An inspiring recent hike in Kanarraville Canyon, Utah. I have many new paintings to contemplate. This was my favorite photo.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Desert Bighorn Ram

It's worth a drive to the east side of the park for many reasons, but this group of bighorn sheep was just majestic.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Gorgeous Oil Spots?

There is truly beauty in everything, some things require more time.

These oil in water resists remind me of an eye's iris pattern.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dilly Beans

More canning, experiments and abundance...summer is still with us.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Leave Room for Grass

...In your landscaping. It adds such a lovely element to a flower arrangement, too.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Flash Floods & Waterfalls

Wow! Zion Narrows was closed for an imminent flash flood. The river was chocolate mocha and every ephemeral waterfall was flashing. It was just beautiful.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Creativity and the Brain

Amazing reading about the brain and how we read and what is happening in the brain when we are creative.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Lampshades

This image is from my favorite design site, DESIGNSPONGE.com. If I had a different decorating scheme going, I'd try these...and maybe I still will.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Squash Blossom

Late summer squash blossom...I can see why this might be inspiration for Indian jewelry.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Personal Eyeglasses Coach

I've always wondered what it would be like to have someone "consult" with me on my eyeglasses to help me determine the best shape and color for my face. Thanks to the New Yorker magazine and an article about three years ago, I found an internet company that will make a pair of frames that is suitable just for you and no one else. They've been excellent to work with and have asked exhaustive and relevant questions about my skin color, hair color, eye color, lifestyle, personality, clothing, etc. Here's the pick, more or less...www.indivijual.com

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Late Summer

I'm running without thinking...fruit to can, prep for an arts & crafts fair, prep for a watercolor show, prep for vacation and climbing are filling my time at the moment. I'm also driving my Zion shuttle bus a lot. Seems like the long, hot season is affecting attendance...

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Monday, August 6, 2012

Kolob Visit

Just a little drive to see what's happening in the high country. It was cool, there were elderberries, firecracker penstemon and a light show with scattered thunderstorms.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Giddy River

When the river turns orange, I'm giddy...Mr. Fix It said that the North Fork of the Virgin is red and the East Fork is grey. There are still more nuances to tease out of this mystery.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Spray Paint Lux

One room is devoted to cool, comforting and relaxing hues. I spray painted several things in cream to create depth in texture and not a lot of color. My concession is the flower arrangement because Stephanie's garden is unrivaled to me.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Jewels

Fantastic combination of colors...the green with gold combination in the turquoise with the cotton gauze mustard shirt is one of my recent most favorites. I wore it with a pair of jeans I bought in Madrid and a small turquoise purse. I'll have to remember it for some other special night. I had a fantastic dinner with friends. I'm so lucky...

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Fabric Shopping

To make the best of having to go to town...it's good to have a little treat.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Pickles

I never knew they were so time-consuming! It took me three days to make 3 quarts.