I don’t think I could paint this and do it justice.

This enormous, weird cloud came creeping, almost ominously out of the South. I was riding at the time, and high-tailed it back to the tack shed and just got my horse unsaddled when it crept overhead. I grabbed the camera and started shooting, forgetting that I had left my mare in the yard. She spent the storm in the yard with her back to the wind. Not a big deal, I turn that mare out in the yard quite often to eat the grass as I am reasonable confident she will stay out of my flower beds. The others, they are a different story

The hail started coming down, only pea-sized but I wasn’t taking any chances. I dashed out just in time to get flower pots over the tomatoes. When I buy trees or anthing in a large pot I save the pots for just this purpose. They also help in covering transplants to shade them and get a head start. I was a sight in the garden throwing pots over little tomato plants. The hail stopped as quickly as it started. The storm passed over, but by that time it was late evening and dark. I was left with a very creepy feeling.

They are forecasting more storms for tonight.

Look at these lines and the colors! I wish I had a better camera to capture the colors. Everything is more intense before a storm.

This little guy was hilarious. I was hanging out in my favorite place – the hammock, listening to all the birds flocking around. There is a good-size koi pond by the back deck and the birds really like to congregate in the quacking asp trees between the hammock and the pond. Anyway, I heard the typical “chicka dee-dee-dee” call of the chickadee and I started to mimic it. I heard chicka dee-dee-dee and I would chicka dee-dee-dee right back. This little guy above was answering me! He would fly back and forth from the tree to the pergola where I was swinging in the hammock, calling to me. It lasted a good 30 minutes. I guess I am easily entertained . . .

I grabbed some field watercolors and some cold-pressed paper and did a quick sketch of him. Not really anatomically correct, but hey, done on the fly (get it — on the fly?) and swinging in the hammock. I think I captured his jaunty, fluffy personality.

This is one of my favorite hide-outs on the place. This hammock hangs on a rough-log pergola under some large cottonwoods with quaking asp nearby. A weeping willow hangs behind me. A nice floral pillow, a cool drink and my shoes off. Nothing better after mowing 5 acres of pasture! Money sure can’t buy this kind of contentment.

My neighbor has a Jersey cow. She calved on Tuesday and had twins! Unfortunately, according to my friend, twins in cows means the babies will be sterile. Sad news for her as one of the cuties is a heifer calf and she was hoping to raise this calf for a milker. But they are still all kinds of cute:

Momma cow won’t let us get too close

The cuteness! Oh the cuteness!

We finally got some produce out of the garden!

Colored Pencil on Bristol Board

Where do our eggs come from? So glad you asked. Meet two of the three red hens

Welcome to my new blog. I hope you enjoy your stay. Please visit often as I will be adding content and artwork daily!

This image is of the windowbox on my children’s playhouse. On Arches watercolor paper. The small wave petunias and million bells were of such a vibrant hue that I couldn’t pass them up.

Enjoy!