Capture

 I am doing my best to capture all the spring blooms before they are gone.

With the warmer temperatures in April it seemed to fast forward the daffodils and tulips as well as so many of the early flowers this year.

 The dogwoods generally wait until the end of the month or the first of May before they make their show.  This season though they started blooming two weeks earlier.

Every day I spot the male cardinals.

I know they are very busy with their courting.

I am sure going to miss these sweeties.  It seems like they are only here for such a short time.

Well this is what has been happening at Harmony Hills this week.

Hope when you stop by you will let me know how spring is going in your world or for my friends in the southern hemisphere, autumn.  Both are lovely times of the year.

God Bless and have a great week.

Hugs

Debbie

 P.S. It is to be cold here this week...even hearing a possible snow flake or two!!  That may slow things down a bit.

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."  Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV) 

Overwhelmed

How many of you feel a wee bit overwhelmed with the return of nice weather?

Yes, it is wonderful not to have to wear a coat and boots.  Great awaking to the sound of bird song out the window.

Lovely to sip morning coffee enjoying the garden after a long winter nap.

All of these make the season of spring welcome.

However, I find myself running from task to task.  Torn between taking time to capture what is blooming...

to preparing the garden for more blooms.

Then there is the indoor chores that need finished.  Seems like when the sun starts shining and the days grow longer one seems to see how much dirt clings to nooks and crannies that have gone unnoticed during the colder months.

Ah such is life at this time of the year.  

Perhaps I need to take a lesson from these two...sit a spell and quietly accept that not everything must be done at once.  There is no reason why some things cannot wait.

 Maybe visit the swing...

"Look Up" and enjoy God's Amazing Sunrise.

Guess I found the cure for being overwhelmed.

How about you?  Do you have a cure too?  Hope you will share. 

Have a blessed week!

Hugs

Debbie

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. he restores my soul." Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Here!

Winter is certainly here!  Last weekend we received 12" or more of snow.  Today, a week later we are seeing 4-5 additional inches.

Our peach tree looks rather forlorn without her leaves and fruit.

The garden has a completely different look when it is buried under a blanket of snow.

Keeping the bird feeders filled is challenging.

 These fine feathered friends need substantial sustenance when the snow arrives.

Well this is what is happening in our "neck of the woods" this weekend.  Hope you will take a moment and share what is happening in yours.

May all of you have a blessed week.

Hugs !

Debbie

"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow"  Job 38:22a (NIV)

July

Dear friends hope your July has started off well.

Summer is now in full swing at Harmony Hills.  We are in the 90's and the forecast is telling us the heat is to keep us company for the next week or so.

 Like this male cardinal I will be spending more time in the shade...

enjoying all the visitors that come and go...

painting what is in bloom

and catching up with a bit of extra baking.

Would love to hear what you will be doing in July.

Hope you will share.  Have a great week.

Hugs

Debbie

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men."  Col.3:23 (NIV) 

Variety of Visitors

The  summer garden brings a variety of visitors.   Some are plain...

Others are quite colorful...

Some jabber loudly...

while others are more subdued...

and some are
 so tiny they might be missed.

No matter the color or size though all are welcome.

So glad you stopped by for a visit too.

Hugs Debbie

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NIV)

 











.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day.


Hugs Debbie

Smile!

This sketch of my soap dispenser made me smile.

Little Chippy stopped to visit.   He always makes me smile.

And lastly Mr. Cardinal wanted  his photo taken and that brought a smile as well.


Hope you are smiling too!    Have a lovely day.


Hugs Debbie

Inspirations

Everywhere I look there are inspirations to be found.

Weeds that grow along a fence row...

Garden flowers that have delicate petals and interesting seed pods...

Fruits and things that are wild...

 a friend curled up on an old quilt...

 the cardinal on a branch.




All these inspire me.   Would love to know what is inspiring you.

Have a beautiful week - God bless!

Fresh Snow and the Birds

 Morning brought us another fresh covering of snow.

This little Sparrow didn't seem to be bothered one bit.    He patiently was waiting his turn to eat.








The backyard restaurant had a stream of patrons all afternoon.  The lines were long.  It was so busy at times I had to keep restocking the buffet.

Mr. Cardinal claimed his place before Ms. Blue Jay arrived.

 Later they had quite a discussion over the cracked corn dish.












As the day faded into evening one by one they left.

It was time to go home.  Time to get some rest.

 
Tomorrow they will be back.   Hope you will too.
Have a wonderful evening.   God Bless!

           

A new technique

  I tried a new technique this weekend.   I had read about an artist spraying her drawing with workable fixative.  She used it to preserve her lines under masking.  

 

 

 To experiment I did a small drawing of a cardinal.   When it was completed I used Krylon's fixative.  Then left it to sit for about 15 minutes before applying Miskit. 

 

  After the mask was no longer tacky watercolors were poured into the background.   When they were completely dry I removed the resist .  The drawing had remained totally intact.

 

 

    

 Will certainly use this technique again in the future.  

If any of you have a tip that works well I would love to hear it.

Hope you all have a wonderful week-end .

Thanks for stopping by.