Extremely close...

Can you guess?

Last night's was the tread on the sole of a shoe.

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Hosta Blooms

A little more Art Show

This is my idea of Fair Food--- Shish-ka-berries, one of the favorite art show treats. Fresh strawberries, dipped in chocolate, topped with nuts, or sprinkles, or swirls, or whipped cream...you name it. They're delicious, and the berries are huge and juicy. That stick is about 12" tall.

One of the exhibitors in the juried area at the art show is a glass artist, and has baskets full of glass balls. I love all the different color variations and patterns that he gets in the balls. I'd love to have a few of them floating in my pond.

Public Art; or Don't Make Fun of Sidewalk Chalk

Every year during SeaFair there is a wonderful Art Show in Bellevue. There is a huge juried portion full of exquisite paintings, photos, jewelry, sculpture, woodwork, textiles, leatherwork, etc.; another section "one step down" of very good artists; and then a kitschy little street fair that is more of a craft fair than an art show. Um, yeah.

I look forward to this guy every year. He sets up in front of the Art museum, and reproduces a famous painting. This year his choice was "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat (also known as the painting done with all the tiny little dots--ie pointillism). He has a picture of the painting in a vinyl sleeve on the ground near him, and has sketched out the painting on the sidewalk in white chalk. He then spends his time "coloring in" everything, using his fingertips for shading, and wearing knees pads to protect his knees. The street alongside the Art Museum is closed off and set up for kids to "chalk it up"; it is so much fun to watch the little kids watch him, and then run and grab some chalk and get to work. I so wanted to get some photos of the kids, but didn't want to look like a weirdo stalker woman, and get beat up by protective parents.

So, if your kids like to doodle with sidewalk chalk, don't discourage them!! Look what it could turn into!!

Garden pests--disguising themselves as yard ornaments...

Just one of the plethora of rabbits that have over-run the yard this year. There is one cute little furry varmint who insists on hiding out under one of my daylilies. I'm ok with that as long as he doesn't nibble on his hideaway. Hoping the coyote population picks up again next year, though.
However! This little lady had the gall to settle herself on one of my berms as if she is a yard ornament. I carefully took a photo through the window, and then went out on the deck to scare her away. I shooed. I yelled. I hollered. I waved my arms, jumped around, stomped my feet. She blinked her eyes. If deer could roll their eyes, I'm sure she would have done that. (If I had knows she was that blase about humans, I would've taken her photo from the yard, not from inside the house!) Then I resorted to the last measure...the air rifle. Me and the trusty BB gun. Only took me about 6 shots to finally land one on her flank. She was so nervous and worried about it she didn't move during the entire time--until I finally landed the Lucky Shot. She hasn't been back since, and my hosta and daylilies and the rest of my garden don't miss her at all!!!

Water

R was feeling well enough yesterday that we went for a drive--over past the mill pond to see what we could discover. I was surprised to find some reflections; it has been so windy that I was certain that the pond would be too ruffled, but I lucked out. Even with the late summer pond growth starting to cover the surface there is still a decent reflection. R was so glad to get out of the house for something other than an appointment. The little excursion was good for both of us.

My favorite little waterfall-let--even this time of year it cascades nicely. There is just something so soothing about smooth water.

Water: Daisy Drops

I have this wonderful variety of Shasta daisy in my garden; it always looks like it has gone through a paper shredder. The petals are curved and curled and never lie very flat, and each bloom is completely different from the next. The bigger the flower, the more riotous the petals. When the clump is in bloom it looks like a really bad hair day!
But, all those curled, curved thin petals catch water drops really nicely......

Water: Lilies

I thought I'd switch from drops...I need a little variety. These are from my friendly little local nursery from the 4th of July. The water lilies in their pond are starting to bloom, and depending on where I was standing, the water reflected the gorgeous blue sky that day or the trees nearby. (Disclaimer: these were with my P&S--I know I have some blow-outs)

Water: Stringing Along

I don't have much chance to get out and take water shots this week since I am still on nurse duty with R, so I am making do (dew, sorry about that) with what I can find in the yard. The webs have been a good source of inspiration to me. Don't you love the way these droplets look like they have been threaded on the fine filaments of the web?
And this is so abstract and surreal it looks like some kind of painting of the universe from the 60's--not that many of you are old enough to remember that time.... Far out, dude!!

Water: Lady's Mantle

The Lady's Mantle that grows (prolifically) in my garden is an unassuming plant, with a unprepossessing flower. The leaves are rounded, and pleated, and nothing fancy....until it rains, or it has been dewy, or the sprinkler has gone off. Then the serrated edges of the leaves, and the short hairs on the surface, capture the water drops and turn them into beaded embellishments. Sheer magic!!!

A few final faces...

I love this rock! All the holes in in are naturally occuring; it was found on the beach on the Oregon coast.

Do you ever feel like someone is listening in on your phone conversations?......

Low tide last year at the ocean. These are clam holes; if you look on the lower "mouth" hole, you can see the rim. It's really fun to poke the holes with sticks and get them to squirt. That is, if you aren't clamming!
Ugh---from behind my DD's washer in her old apartment. She obviously didn't get behind it to clean very often. To be fair, she was VERY pregnant and there was no room to maneuver.

This is what I what pictured when Sharon posted her "Motor Mouth"...

More Faces...

(Don't you love his topknot?? It is a tree in the background. This is an old logging stump...the eyes are the foot rests the loggers cut to stand in. The top of the stump is probably about 6 1/2' high. It is under water during the fall, winter, and early spring when the lake is high--there is a whole forest of these...)

Faces

Some faces from strange places. If I were going to be snarky, I would put a picture up of Rick in his chair at home. Since my last post he went back into the hospital, ended up having another "small" operation and was there for 8 days. We've been back home now a week, but I am pretty busy while he's awake, and when he's asleep I'm almost too tired to do anything. I'll be glad when he is stronger and feeling better!! Soon! Please!!

Couldn't resist this one from an IV bag of Rick's....