Spring Nature Journal /Sketchbook.

 

Hello, hello, on this very foggy evening. I do love a spooky mysterious fog. And no wind! 4 mph winds, so still, so lovely.

I'm pretty much caught up on current nature journal pages. A few weeks ago, poring [pouring?] over the best artists' work on IG, I noticed that not only are their drawing beautifully done, the pages, even year after year, every space filled,  are also beautiful. These artists make a effort--unconsciously?-- to design and curate their pages. Aha! You can see how I used this idea to upgrade my tiny book's presentation just a little. So let's see.

Back at Easter, a blown out duck or goose egg.

My neighbors' fig tree, leaf buds. 

And  scribble journal notes page. Always better, spontaneous and definite.

Palest butter yellow hyacinth, withered but still interesting.

A handful of shells found in an old coat pocket; not native here*. I saved them to use with the pebble/ fossil---neutrals and textures gathered over the years.

Radish seeds planted. I have such high hopes, though am squeamish.

This one is a do-over at some point. It is ghastly. Even the sketch is much better. 

Scribble journal pages are always drawn from memory; often they are much better work, easy and engaging, yet surprisingly accurate. My vision issues, where I see and draw skewed images, is not as apparent when I draw from memory.

This amused me. For next week's sketch I brought home and photographed the black cherry blossoms, just after a wind and rainstorm.

Only to see that this coming week, every week, for the three years, that is what I draw.

It's quite barren here still, always. Barren in the sense of not much variety, even as spring finally begins and things green up. Three kinds of shrubs, three kinds of trees, two kinds of dune grass. Big flies; yellow jacket wasp [already!]. Looks like I need to brave tick season and look further afield.

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On a sort of journaling note. I thought this meditation scroll/ journal is so intriguing, so charming.  I can't imagine an object much more useless, but I love it. Perhaps I'll do a summer of 25 spool? How bout you? Here  or Blog HERE

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"Useless, mommy? Did you call me?"/ "No sweet Mo Mo ,you are loved and valued. ''

Mo is doing ok; 5 days since a pain event.

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Did I show you the doll dress on the doll?

It fit perfectly. My little friend loved it. She notices all the details, like the black and white Keds [sneakers], and colored ricracs. Next we plan a girl and dolly sundress set.

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I planted more seeds and the rads and lettuce are doing well:

I  worked on What Nots, cutting the teeny tiny Nots on rainy afternoons.

I didn't spring clean more. Bowl of eggs, below, stays out til June, as May is bird nesting month here.

Have a good weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

*Non-native shells and coral? Sometimes people, for whatever reason, return their beach finds to the beach. Sometimes their rejected collections reflect trips to Florida or the Caribbean, and so I find little piles pf coral or unusual shells. Rarely found but treasured. I was surprised to learn this practice is a big no-no with some beachcombers, according to a poll on Beachcomber magazine. They call it it "seeding''. I think of it as rehoming, recycling. Must think about my plan to return my seaglass to the shore when I die.

 

Planning My Garden

 

Hi! The past few weeks I've been planning my deck garden. Every August when I'm overwhelmed with the heat and twice daily watering, I say I am not going to garden out there any more. But where's' the fun in that. Seeds are so tempting, so deliciously hopeful, aren't they.

I did get rid of the two very old, very big, decrepit meadow pots. One remains. The guy I paid to clear up and winterize last December did a great job, but sadly he pulled out everything including the red lilies and both coreopsis perennials. Hoping these take and replace the ones removed, though I see I didn't buy yellow.

Last summer, coreopsis, age 7 or 8.

My pansies are so adorable. I do love them. These came from the grocery store, very pretty, very cheap.

A reader mentioned how they had done a whole yellow/ orange pansy display---of course I loved that idea. But when you get grocery store flowers, you get what they offer or you get nothing.

                                     

Amazon delivered potting soil, but I misread  the Buy It Again and was given enormous bags of Miracle Gro soil. A friend had to come help me top off the pots. And  then--I decided to try something new. I planted baby lettuce and radishes, so fun. 

I only ever grew cherry tomatoes on my deck, years ago. Gave up bec the wind makes the outer skins tough as old dry leather. So this is exciting. The seeds of both have sprouted. The lettuce says harvest in 30 days. 

I also planted, yes, very late--sweet peas. I nicked them and soaked them[wet paper towel, baggie, in the dark], am seeing a few fine tendrils. I saved most of the pack for next year, bec they prefer cold weather and one of these days, it will be very very hot here at the beach,

For the rest of the pots, probably sow late next week:

The seed packs' art is so cute.

Wouldn't it be great if the Chinese Lanterns actually grew? They and the one wildflower packet will go in the pot where the lettuce is now.

The thank you pack came with my seed order. I gave it to my friend who helped refill the pots.

Do you garden from seeds? Do you grow veg or only flowers? 

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This is a new project. It was a gift to me from my little artist friend at Christmas. I tried to explain to her that if the trees grow, many many years from now, she will inherit them, and must care for them and ensure their futures. It may be warm enough to sow the seeds now.

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I must share this book. Maybe years from now I   will find it aon the used book website, though I suppose that's rather unkind to the person who produced this stunning book.

They did a book on daffoldils too.

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It rained most of this week. I finished the pillow and pillowcases project, the blue seashells. Will deliver them tomorrow. Today I made a doll outfit for my little friend mentioned above. Her doll is a 14: American Girl Doll, harder to sew for than the original 18" dolls, but right size for a little one who is just 5.

I think this makes it fun: "Color the dress!" It won't matter if she colors outside the lines, or uses crayons. Or not at all. I have neon fabric markers too. I'll ask her mom when we do the project.

have a great weekend

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Mo is poorly, but I love him no matter what, rarely leave his side now. Today was a good day despite the rain. His beloved dogwalker carried him out for a gentle walk and Mo was so happy. 

Happy Mothers Day