Binding Watercolor Journals

I just finished binding these two books with watercolor pages.  I like the smaller-sized one because it is easier to carry around.  The larger one (about 5 x 7) has part of a Catherine Carey painting on it--I put the window part of the picture on the front because it was more colorful.  I put the main door on the back of the book...love this scene. 
When is this hot (over 90 degrees) weather going to let up???

Summer Cooler

I actually sketched/watercolored this a few Summers ago--but was reminded of it on Catherine's blog and since it has been so unbearably hot, I thought it was a "cool" thing to post.  :-)
Our Air conditioner died (after only 22 yrs :-) and we had another one installed several days later.  The day before it was installed, we had 102 degree weather so we stayed at the local Hampton Inn.   Now we are really "cool."  Today is Tuesday and tomorrow there is a High Heat Warning for our area :-(

Geraniums and Hollyhocks

Last year I bought two Hollyhock plants at our local Farmer's Market.  They do not blossom the first year, but they grew and made it through the winter and this Spring they really started growing, and getting buds on them.  They blossomed starting last week and I am very pleased with the colors.  The (almost) black ones are a deep Merlot Wine color.  And the light ones are a (almost white) light pink with maroon centers. 
Also, my husband picked out a different-looking Geranium with bright pink petals with maroon centers.
I had difficult keeping my hands off the wet watercolor border :-)  Just klutzy, I guess!

Clematis Time

These are my Clematis--I have a pink one on the Trellis and below it on a smaller Trellis is a Purple Bell-Shaped Vine with loads of Purple Bells.   Around the side of the house I have a large flowered Purple with a white Star-type Center.  I think this one is called some kind of Etoile????  Love These bloomers right now.

White Petunias and Pink Impatiens

I love white Petunias--I think they highlight other plants of color.  I planted them among some other flowers that needed some "white."   I had an empty pot and white Petunias left over, so I combined these with bright pink Impatiens and planted them together today.  They are so pretty-looking.  I put them up on my brick wall so "everyone" could enjoy them. 

Spring Roadside Flowers

Here we go doing Roadside Wildflowers again....the Phlox are so pretty among all the green on the Road sides right now.  Even spotted a few Daisies on the way home today.  The Dandelions have come and gone (to seed) already. 

Hooray for Wrens!

Our House Wrens arrived today--constant singing and going in and out of the Wren House with twigs.  They were very, very busy (active) all day today.  This evening the singing and busy-ness settled down.  They were probably exhausted and needed to "eat."  I hope they are planning on using "our" little birdhouse because it is so fun to watch them tend to their little flock.  I'll keep you posted.
This is last year's wren house.....I bought a new one up in Petoskey, MI last summer and  the wrens seem to take to it right away.  I will post a watercolor of that one soon.
The Rose-Breasted Grossbeak also arrived today and I saw our first Hummingbird.  Didn't get much done today because I was focused on the birds.  :-)  :-)  :-)   Enjoy!