Brown Sugar has unwound herself from her tight petal spiral and opened up under the filtered light of the front yard oaks. She prefers dappled light to full-on sun. I'm happy to accomodate as long as she keeps unfurling these metallic brown flowers. Good hibiscus, good girl.
High Voltage likes things bright and hot. Pure flash that one.
And in the end the Italian travel journal split into two. Larger rings to hold things together weren't functional – too difficult to turn the pages. I'm thinking of sewing up a clear vinyl pouch to hold both sections.
The cover for one of the sections came from a 1930's Italian travel guide written by the Italian Rotary for Americans wishing to explore Italy. Found it at a library sale a few years ago.
My small collection of earth and sea is growing. There in the center, my latest water sample. When I find the perfect little bottle for the garden soil carried back from Praiano, it will join the others up on my desk. As for the other samples and broken bits, I can look at each one and remember exactly where it came from – bark from a tree I layed beneath at Paestum, staring up at branches and a cottony blue sky. Shard of aqua glass lying in a pile of rubble next to a grove of lemon trees. Ditto the orange tile. Tiny driftwood & shell from the same beach where I collected the water. Have small plastic bags, will travel.
Life as a monkey whisperer has resumed. In between hopping over children, whirling around to answer urgent questions, rescuing snails from tiny paper cups stashed in little boys' pockets, and removing pierced paper clip earrings from little girls ear lobes I entertain wonderously big ideas that involve art making. But mostly I sit and stare into space when I get home.
And dream up walkway ideas. It's high time unsuspecting visitors stop slipping over acorns, crunching through oak leaves, and dirtying up their shoes on the way to the front door. Civilization is coming to Moss Cottage!
p.s. Honk if you hate the new "improved" typepad compose screen. Takes twice as long to post half as much. This is progress? Oy.
HONK.
I must admit I glaze over at flower photos so I almost missed the juicy bit at the end of this post. LOVE the evidence stash. {I have some bottles I use for my grave dirt collection – I can send you some.} Fab sidewalk rendering.
HONK HONK HONK!!! I don’t like change. There I said it for all to see!!!
The path way will be wonderful. Have you considered decomposed granite?? That might look really pretty. Love the journals. Looking forward to touching them and having some “tea” ha!
Love the journal covers! I’m back from my trip & thought of you when I was taking pictures around Spain. Isn’t that strange? I’ve never met you, but you inspired me with your pictures! That’s why I love the blog world! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
OOh. That walkway looks like it’s going to be intensely cool. I’m working on Hoffman Cottage in Fort Collins as we speak.
1) Hibiscus makes me gasp
2)Journal makes my pen hand jitter with antici….pation.
3)Earth and assorted goodies…what a Brilliant close up.
4) Typepad…gun poised at temple.”Thanks guys, my blog now looks like Crap.”
Ah, we in the Blog World are VERY much on the same “Page”…get it?
ooxx
Lisa H.
Wonderful, wonderful. I so enjoy it here. I have an Iris that blooms metallic brown, not quite bronze. Magical. The flower photos make me just want to sit here and stare at the computer screen.
I just came over from Stephanie Lees blog. Oh my goodness, You took me on a wonderful journey!! Thank you. Laurie
I hope you CA girls FULLY appreciate this floral beauty you have at the tip of your fingers! I still have wild blooms shaking in my head. How wonderful to have your collection of water and earth from your wandering this big blue ball.
YES! In agreement, not really loving the new and improved typepad….
Honk! Typepad is driving me nuts!
Wonderful pictures. I was intrigued especially by the notebook cover.
I love the large format of your pictures but can’t understand Typepad at all.
i think I have actually paid them and am not using them
Blogger is not very chic but easy to negotiate.
All best wishes from Marrakech
HONK!!!!!!
Love the walkway design and the journals look fabulous. Hate hate hate the Typepad upgrade!
Love the journal, you should get it published. I know I would buy it just to read it and look at the photos. Love the water, sand etc. from your travels and the new walkway. The flower photos are so pretty. Thanks for sharing them.
Love the jam-packed travel journal. Any chance of seeing some of the pages inside??
You’re so clever to bring back the soil and water in plastic bags! I’m always collecting rocks and pinecones from my travels.
Don’t you ever get thrown into the Agricultural Inspection line at the airports? I’m an international cheese smuggler. It never fails – I always end up with some forgotten cheese either on my person or packed in my bags. This time I got busted by a cute little beagle named Dusty for my sliced apples I bought in Manchester and forgot to consume on the airplane.
I-de-clare, I don’t know how they didn’t SMELL the Stilton and Ale Pate.
I’m still liking my free stuff (blogger)…awesome collection you have and what a great idea at that! I love your envision of your walkway! You gave me an idea for the stepping stones I was going to make… don’t you love the multitasking with the kiddos..if people only knew. …add actually driving in the scenario with 100% safety!!
Oh the hibiscus are beautiful! I am from California, now living elsewhere and I do miss them.
As for typepad?
Ugh.
*honk!*
Love the water and minerals! I’m glad I came back to check out more photos, that Italy cover is so gorgeous.
Yo Sister!
Love the walkway. Current design is superb just as is. Any attempts to improve upon it would be … well, wrong. Can you have the person who comes over to do it put some concrete out back for a hopscotch playing area?
P.S. I got my travel journal to work with big giant rings if I send it to you will you make my cover look as good as your’s does?
well – yessssssssssssssss – typepad – as I was admiring the new format – when I wanted to upgrade and edit – well – I gave up – hhhhhhmmmmmmm…
on to a more interesting note Ms. Monkey Whisperer – I LOVE these samples that you have shared – and I will happily hop over an acorn or two on the way to Moss Cottage…
rest assured…
xox – eb.
I so admire your style! These photos are marvelous, and that journal photo just makes me want to open it. How hefty and filled with promise!
I’d help with the walk, but I have a bad back and sore feet. Oh, and a whiny attitude.