What girls want...

The second born niece came to stay with me for a week.

How they grow up so fast when you don't see them often.

But come to blend right in as if they were here yesterday.

Quite a few things have changed since I was a girl.

The techno gadgets and what you see on television...music videos...

things they learn about the world much quicker than I.

Fashions come and go...some a little similar to what we wore are back.

But the saving grace in this mad, mad world is this:

Some things about teenage girls never change.

The crushes on pop stars.

Doors left open and slamming closed while racing in and out from the barn.

Sleepovers with cousins and new found friends.

Shoes and sandals left as if the wearer dissipated on the spot...

Swimming at the lake, no matter what the weather...

Hand painted finger puppets complete with stories of love and romance...

 

And one thing that's always a sure thing...

Love affairs with horses!

These memories will be treasured by Rachel and her sisters for  the rest of their lives.

Tales about summers spent in the country to tell their children one day.

I take comfort in knowing that no matter how crazy this world can get, 

there are still some simple, beautiful things in life to keep warmth and magic in the heart.

Kings and Queens and Dirty Rascals...

Our summer here on the coast has been, in a word, shite.

Usually by this time of year we're swimming in the river and basking brown

skin in the sun on warm stones.

So when I take the 'cousins' for an outing, it's hard to plan for much, except

something that's versatile even in questionable weather.

Walks and rambles in the woods and by the sea are always a good choice in any weather.

So down to Royal Roads and Esquimalt Lagoon we went...

The boathouse for the rowers...

We went down to the docks there to have a look at the Purple Martins.

For a time these birds were threatened so the government installed a program

to put up nest boxes to encourage the population.

Then it was off into the forest...

The land here is so diverse...woods full of big trees, ferns and moss...

creeks that flow into the ocean...

The property once belonged to a wealthy family in the early 1900's and has extensive trails throughout.

A perfect place to let the imagination and the feet run wild!

Remains of an old water pipeline give way to climbing up and staking your claim as

King (or Queen) of the castle...

Monster stumps from giants who've crashed down over the years...

Castle gates to keep out the dirty rascals!

...and berries for the taking to ease the hunger of weary travelers...

Through the gates we venture onto the majestic gardens of Hatley Castle...

Angels to watch over us...

 Sending an armada of leaf ships down the fish ladder...

Dry summer fields take us back to the ocean...

And all along love watches over us...

Putting yourself out there...

I've never been one to want to be in the spotlight, so when a friend encouraged

me to submit a piece to The Sooke Fine Arts show, I hummed and hawed about it.

First of all I wasn't even sure if one of my pieces were what they were looking for.

Secondly, I honestly don't like rejection...but who does?

I make things because it's a thing I do.

I've always done it. I enjoy creating. Maybe it's a drive in me as well.

Anyway after a bit of heel dragging, I finished up a rather large piece and took it in on submission day.

I had to wait for a week for the results.

I've had work judged for entry into craft fairs, big and small but I've never

submitted to an actual 'art show'.

This particular one has over 1500 entries with 350 chosen for the show.

I figured I was up against some pretty stiff competition and again, wasn't 

sure if my needle felting was 'art show' caliber. 

Or if I really cared.

On the morning of the posted results, I made my way to the website and found

myself a bit nervous in anticipation.

Although I had told myself it was no big deal, I started to feel the pangs of 'being judged'.

Was it good enough?

The thing about art is that it's all very personal.

There's a lot of art out there that I don't get or like but it's out there for

someone else' taste.

When I create something, I do it because I know I will enjoy it and however

it turns out, the process gives me the thrill.

Sometimes the end result isn't quite what I expect but still brings me joy.

And gratitude to know that I've been given a precious gift to be able to create.

Well to make a long story longer....

I was ACCEPTED INTO THE SHOW!!

And there it was...a big deal to me...sort of...well I guess more of a giddy feeling.

Learning to put your work out there is something artists have been struggling with forever.

Did ancient man paint on cave walls because they were a bit shy?!

For me it's about telling stories.

Making characters come to life.

When I started to sell work years ago, my friend Irma (her amazing lamps are here) taught me a lot.

I've taken much of her advice with me throughout the years and am grateful for her experience.

She had been doing craft fairs for years before I met her and had

great ideas about pricing and presentation.

Still, when I sell a piece, I sell a little bit of myself along with it.

Anyway, "Market Day" is off to the land of art shows.

If you're in Sooke during the July 23rd - August 1st stop by and have a look.

It's the 25th anniversary of the show and there's some really spectacular work there.

 

Good things...

Seems like this time of year, it's all about the garden...

What's abundant, what's coming up, what's to eat.

Right now, in my garden, roses, iris' and strawberries!

This morning after my walk with Griffin, I took my little basket out

for yet another batch of strawberries...

I'm not sure if it's because of the honeybees we have now, but this has been

a bumper crop this year.

I've had these plants forever and I don't know where they came from.

Probably one of those friends who had extra 'babies' and pawned them off on me.

Now these are not the prettiest berries around, but OH! the flavour!!!

They remind me of the precious little wild strawberries in their flavour.

So intense and sweet and full of July.

I remember a friend of mines mother used to make wild strawberry jam.

It must have taken her forever to pick enough to make it.

One time while I was visiting, we were sitting down to toast and tea 

and she asked me to go get a jar of jam out of the pantry.

I came back with my chosen jar and the room went COMPLETELY silent.

GASP! I had chosen one of her few, precious jars of wild strawberry jam!!

They were only reserved for special occasions.

Of course being a young, city girl, I didn't realize the faux pas I had just made.

Lucky for me though, the jar was opened by said mother,

and I was educated on the rare, culinary extravaganza of 

wild strawberry jam!

I've also got these beautiful roses in bloom right now...

They are a David Austin rose called 'Abraham Darby' and are the most

deeply scented rose around.

If I could, I would, strap one to my face and walk around all day 

inhaling the lemony, rose, tea blend which is intoxicating!

Just imagine...

Unfortunately they don't last at all as a cut flower so I bring them in

when they're just about half way through blooming and float them

in a pretty bowl of water. 

 They'll last for a few days and give us their perfume every time you walk in the room.

I move them around with me wherever I'm sitting or working in the studio.

Last but definitely not least are these gorgeous iris'...

These DO last for at least a week after cutting and have a second bud which opens

up after the first one fades away...

So, a few treasures to behold at this most horticultural rich time of year...