RED HOT POKERS !!!!

A driveway along Rio Grande Blvd.
Albuquerque, NM
Paula's photo - 2007

Some folks here call these fire lilies. I've always known them as Red Hot Pokers. I planted a few last year and then promptly drowned them. This year I started over with three and so far they are looking mighty fine. We'll see.

I always make a point of going down this street to admire this driveway lined with such a fabulous display.

I've been vacationing this week. Well sort of. I took the week off from work and have been enjoying my garden, hanging out at home, puttering about.......my favorite pass time.

Made my first ever abstract painting. My husband isn't wild about it. He wouldn't say he didn't like it, but hey, I can tell. I happen to think it is pretty cool and I felt a lot of satisfaction while making it. Somehow I just felt settled and comfortable when working on it. I'll post it in a day or two for you all to comment on.

Oh and after what must be 2-3 years, I dug out the bag of gourds I've been hoarding. I hope you'll like what I did with them !!!! Stop by tomorrow !!! I'll show you !

acrylic and pen on bristol

4 x 6 postcard - 2007

Sometimes you've just got to fly.

I can't imagine a world without birds, can you? I live in a very arid part of the country however my immediate neighborhood is a bit of an oasis and the birds are abundant.

Once again this year we have a Barn Swallow couple getting things ready for their new family. Hummingbirds are checking out the yard and sipping at the feeder since there aren't an abundance of flowers just yet. The Rosy Finch guys sit on top of the hummingbird feeder, looking perplexed and asking one another how to get to that juicy red nectar.

Summer is upon us. 91 degrees here today.

Get out and get some fresh air and sunshine !!!

MY STUDIO IS IN FULL BLOOM !!

African Violets next to my studio worktable.
Paula ~ New Mexico ~ May 2008

They say it is good to have fresh flowers and/or plants near your workspace. At least I think I heard that some where once......hmmmmmmmm.

Well anyway, 31 years ago I had beautiful African Violets in my new little baby boy's bedroom. That was where the light was best and I was happiest.

I'd not had them again until just this past year.
Why did I wait so long? A very long story.

These are simply beautiful and bring me such joy when I'm at my work table. Just outside the window is what promises to be a bumper crop of Roma tomatoes........hopefully destined to be the best pizza sauce to ever occupy my happy little freezer. I make killer pizza and we love that sauce.

Guess I'm having a bit of a rambling sort of day. It is Friday and I'm thrilled the weekend is here.

We've had a couple of cool rainy days. Just before it rained I'd been out in the garden feeding all my little flower babies. With sunny days this weekend, I'm guessing my garden is going to kick into full speed ahead growing. Thrilling !!!!!!!!

I've more new art to post so check back next week for that.

In the meantime, drop me a comment. I'd love to hear about what's going on in your neck of the woods.

MORE ON "THE ROAD"

Paula's Photo
New Mexico - 2008

I'm 55 years old. More and more these days I find myself reflecting on "the road". What lies in store for me over the coming years. I don't feel older but I sure see it staring back at me in the bathroom mirror. I'm not prepared for retirement. Don't want to end up a "bag lady" out on the street collecting odds and ends, living moment to moment. In the end we all arrive at the same gateway. I guess it's not so much how we got there that matters, but I sure do think about it alot more than I did in previous years.

CROSSES ON THE ROAD OF LIFE

CROSSES ON THE ROAD OF LIFE
Mail art send to Randi Fuerhelm-Watts
4x6 - acrylic and ink on card stock

Imagine yourself floating above the ground.
On a cloudless clear blue-sky kind of day.

Below all you see are green fields,
they stretch on forever.

Breaking the green like a parting of the seas
is a long stretch of highway
and
all around stand crosses.
Like those little mileage dots on the road map.

The crosses are markers on your road of life.

Crosses you bear.
Crosses marking the spot of great personal discovery.
Crosses honoring special moments,
deep agony, joy, pain, sorrow and ecstasy.

Make today the day you acknowledge and honor your crosses.
They all played a part in what got
you to this moment.

Honor yourself today.

ELEMENTS OF LOVE - ll

ANOTHER WORK IN PROGRESS


PEEK # 1 ~ ~ ~
PEEK # 2 ~ TAKING SHAPE

PEEK # 3 ~ GETTING THERE

STILL NOT SURE THIS IS COMPLETE !
STAY TUNED FOR MORE.........