playing inside

i believe in positivity.

i hate to complain.

but,

this endless heat wave...

well it is

oppressive

uncomfortable

and

dangerous.

i had heard of this danger... but being the tough, rather physically fit, perhaps a little stubborn, active, outdoorsy type ...

well, i over did it yesterday and became dehydrated and was probably close to heat exhaustion.

don't worry, i learned my lesson.

record 100 degree heat +high humidity=playing inside.

too hot to even take photos outside...the lens fogs up (ew) and i start sweating.

(double ew.)

so i quickly cut some Diamond Frost Euphorbia from my window box and brought it inside to

play.

luckily, we have been getting some rain and there are lots of bloomy blooms and tons of butterflies right now!! at least something to view out the window.

thank goodness for photoshop and my blog and all of you!

how fun it is for me to play with my photos and learn more about the computer everyday.

i am constantly surprised at the rewards this blog has given to my life...

and how addicting it can be!

thank you all so much for your input on my mantel.

i'll most likely take Mr. Lee's advice and paint it white with a glaze over top.

i want you to know how much it means to me that you take the time to read my blog and leave comments and heck, even if you don't leave a comment...

i love thinking you are out there somewhere peeking at my little slice of bloggy.

thank you

thank you

thank you

and

keep cool.

i'll be playing inside.

kitty porn

i was thrilled to find this pair of vintage cement swans recently while junking around!

that's right...
a PAIR!
they survived all these years together.
i believe swans pairs mate for life.




i have a serious LOVE for white birds right now,
white birds and water.
as reflected in some of my art.

shades of turquoise remind me of water and somewhat fills my yearning to be near the sea.

my swan lovers rest on the hearth for now.

most likely to be relocated later.

love to change things around you know.

i filled them with old insulators.

together forever.

i just love all you creative and insightful bloggers out there.

i do, i do.

and i know you give great advice.

advice, i need.

i'm hankering to paint my fireplace mantel (i'm thinking white).

hubby isn't sure.

he is my mate for life.

together forever.

i'd love your opinion on this serious matter.

to paint or not to paint...and what color?

walls are white and beams in ceiling i have painted white.

and because i KNOW you will be giving the best advice...

here it is...


my little present to you...

kitty porn.

daisy absotootly LOVES the swan on the left!!

time to get her fixed, i guess.

wet paint.

just a little sumthin i've been working on.

too hot to play outside.

in today's hot chaotic world

i seek a place to fly to.

just outside my window.

a light and airy cloud of solitude and calm.

a free floating island of serenity and peace.

enveloped by the

cool.

still.

blue.

quiet gardening

pretty bougainvillea blossoms with yew trimmings.

LOTS of trimmings.
part of my job as gardener at this property, is to make sure everything outside looks pretty.
including all the shrubbery (this is fun...every time you see the word "shrubbery", use an English accent. it makes it sound much fancier).



trimming all the shrubbery (you're using an accent, aren't you?) can be a real drag, especially in the heat of summer!
because this is my work, and i want to love my work, and feel good about it...
for me getting QUIET and taking my time with plenty of breaks is essential for this task.


being QUIET means using simple tools.
shears. tarp. rake. wheelbarrow.

NO gas or electric thingamajiggies.
just good old fashioned quiet tools.
using shears is GREAT EXERCISE for the upper body and when you do it long enough you get into a RHYTHM.
and when you get into a rhythm you start to notice the other rhythms around you...
birds.
cicadas.
tree frogs.
crickets.
leaves rustling.
dog panting.
beautiful sounds of nature that you would never notice if you weren't
QUIET.


this is office number 2.
i use this to haul the shrubbery trimmings up into the woods.
office number one is my old jeep.

pretty simple stuff.

my point here is

i use NO electricity and NO gasoline.

that's a really good thing for the environment.

and it is good for me.

i take the time to pet the dog.

and see the love in his eyes.

and that happy tail!

since i am QUIET...i take the time to throw some spent bougainvillea petals into my bucket...

and i NOTICE how beautiful they are (hence the first picture in my post).

if you are

QUIET

you will ...

get in shape

notice the rhythms in nature

help the environment (if even in a small way)

be in tune to the beauty around you

pet the dog more

and

you will

occasionaly use an English accent, just for the fun of it.

please join my friend Suzan

for PROJECT GENESIS

creating change, one day at a time

at old grey mare

http://oldgreymareprimitives.blogspot.com/2010/07/project-genesis-ii-8110.html

and find out more about how you can make a change.

even a small change for good is better than no change.