First Watercolors! I just started a watercolor class, and the flower on the right is my very first attempt, painting a black-eyed susan vine that I photographed in my yard. I changed it a bit, as I did the card by Judy Buswell that I attempted on the left. I absolutely LOVE this new medium. I have always dreamed of being able to paint the vibrant and the transparent hues, the wild frenzy of blooms, and the tranquil softness of flowers.

Hibiscus says Summer!

I caught a glimpse of the back of this gorgeous flower this morning int he early light. Isn't it something? What a miracle these tropical beauties are, even from behind. Something to contemplate in silence and wonder,......

Sandbox Time!

Here is the centerpiece I made for a baby shower I had a couple weeks ago for my friend, Heather. She is expecting her second baby, who will also be her second boy, so I decided on a sandbox theme, because I own a sandcastle Bundt cake pan. You know how you wake up with an idea in the middle of the night? This was one of those. I made a banana cake, because it turns out so very moist. The sandbox was very easy:

Go to the home improvements store, and have them cut 3" high X 6' long pieces of wood into the desired sizes. I made mine 20X 30". I just nailed them together, then I cut a black trash bag to fit inside and go up the sides a bit, and used strapping tape or masking tape to tape it all the way around. I then filled mine with a 50# bag of playsand, for sandboxes, which I also bought at the home improvements store. I bought the sand toys at Wal-Mart, Target and JoAnn. I put the cake on an overturned 9X9" cake pan that I put brown craft paper over. Done! And it cost about $10 or $12.