THEN AND NOW

It was only several months ago that our front entrance looked like the first picture. Now we are enjoying all the lovely
flowers. That tree (bush) behind the gate is a ServiceBerry and right now the Robins especially and some Cedar Waxwings
are just loving it. The nice weather is so wonderful--enjoy it while it's here.

I was sitting in a meeting several weeks ago when the Flag at the front took my eye--so I decided to sketch it and
watercolor it when I got home (it's easy to remember the colors :-) Then last weekend--Memorial Day--I decided to
print the Pledge of Allegiance on it (mostly in remembrance of a dear friend's Grandson who was killed in Iraq.)
God Bless America!

The Pansies I bought in April are growing like crazy, and even are bigger and fuller than the pot above--I just can't keep on painting more pictures of my pansies...this is it!!! We sure are enjoying them.

Colorful Pots Colorful Pansies

Our local Kroger's had this display outside their Store on Monday...It was the most colorful thing I'd seen in a long time.
Luckily, I had my camera with me and since it was early in the morning--there were no shoppers around yet. So I took a
quick picture and brought it home for a reference (I sketched it in my Sketchbook, then took to watercoloring it)
The bright-colored pots and all those pansies were just too much to resist....

A waterfall and two Restaurants in the Smokies

When we were in the Smokies, I took my sketchbook everywhere...The Waterfall is Meig's Falls (just off the Little River Road) on the way to Townsend, Tennessee.
The "Best Italian Restaurant" is in Gatlinburg, Tenn. right downtown--we ate there 2 times--It's good, and we could split a meal.
The "Back Porch Restaurant" is in Townsend, Tenn. Also ate there 2 times. The Steakburger and Fries (I had Coleslaw) :-) were very very good!
We always enjoy ourselves in the Smokies and it's not as far to drive as Florida (from Michigan).....But it's always great to get home.

Arriving home to More Flowers.........

This is what my front gate looks like in the summertime.....









When we arrived home from the Smoky Mountains last Friday (29th) my
Dogwoods were all in bloom and the Pansies went crazy--thanks to my neighbor.







This is my dogwood on the other side of our front yard.

Watercolor in the Smoky Mountains

We are in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and I am doing some fun sketching
and watercoloring...also photographing some of the many, many flowers this time of the
year. Wildflower Pilgrimage starts tomorrow...I hope the weather holds for all the "Pilgrims."
We just 'go about' on our own. My husband loves to photograph all the flowers too.
The watercolor is of some Longspur Violets I liked.