Checked out of Hospital

Luckily my Dad got out of the hospital, not moved to a rehab facility, and is home. I gladly committed to being here night and day until he regains strength and can be back to his independent self. He is so happy to be home. Who would want to look out onto a gravel roof all day at the hospital?

When you have to stay in bed for weeks it really zaps your strength and it takes a bit of time to rebound especially when you are older. All of the physical and occupational therapists come here which is wonderful!

Right now I am looking out over the green fields at some Canada geese. When we came home from the hospital nine deer ran across the hillside jumping and kicking. A pleasant reception to be sure.

We are itching to get gardening again! The above photo is from the Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Rhode Island. (My husband checked out lots of beautiful books for my dad to look at.) One book says this is a camel and another says it is an elephant! Maybe it was originally an elephant that they let grow into a camel? It is formed from California privet which grows fast and is fairly cheap unlike yew. So we don't have any excuses for not growing topiary shaped animals.

Hospital Stay

Life takes some twists and turns when you least expect it. We were eating out with my parents two weeks ago and my dad tripped outside of the restaurant hitting his head on the concrete. He has been in the hospital since then and I have been with him, too. Hopefully he will get to go home soon away from all of the walls, carpet, linoleum, needles, to the green fields and countryside where his house sits. First he must get well!

Being here I have noticed the lack of art around. The cutest art they have is Mona Lisa washing her hands when you enter. I will post a picture when I can. My watercolors and a few supplies are here with me, but I have yet to get them out.

We've had a visit from a therapy dog named Jack who was part chihuahua and part jack russell terrier. He is 13 years old and loves all of the attention he gets from patients and you could tell he loves his job!

Hopefully everyone else is well.

French Shabby Chic Roses ACEO Painting

Our pink peonies and roses will soon be jolting to life again and making their magical 'parfum!' The bare-leg roses have some swelling leaf buds now. Gardens that overflow with fragrant peonies and roses transform us. They take us to Versailles, France. We feel like we are princesses out for a walk, even if we're muddied up standing with a shovel in hand, clothed in white victorian/edwardian lacy dresses. We feel elegant and light headed...all because of the natural beauty around us. Gardens are magical and enchanting and ours is just starting to wake up.

I painted this oil aceo above titled Blossoming French. The softest colors and brushstrokes were used to portray the romance that gardens make. It is for sale on ebay.

Siamese Cat Nap and Roses

Today I think Spring arrived. I passed a sign today at a nursery that said, "Spring is coming," and I had to smile thinking ..."It's already here." Yay. I painted this watercolor titled Spring Songs and listed it on ebay. It has some of my favorite things in it. Topiaries, roses, gardens, siamese kitties, birds, white table top, paintings...well it has the side of a painting and last but not least the soft lime green color!