Visitors and Final Quote

I missed a day in the consecutive quote challenge but I am not sure that any one is getting notices of my posts so it probably isn't a big issue.

Before I get to the quote here are a few photos of recent visitors to my yard.

This photo was taken from inside the house with the zoom out to almost maximum as the deer was at the back of the yard at the edge of the forest.

This one was taken with less zoom so you can get some idea of the distance. The deer stayed for about an hour around lunchtime. When she left Bob notices that her udder was full so we weren't too surprised after dinner to see this:

Again, they were at the back of the yard, in shade and it was starting to get dark so the photo is not the best quality. These are welcome visitors - even when they eat my flowers - lol.

Now for today's quote!

                                     From your lips to God's ears.

I don't remember when I first heard this phrase but I have used it a lot since I started selling my art, doing Painting Parties and teaching. A friend would say 'That is great, it is sure to sell' or 'you should teach, you will get lots of students'. Statements like this make me think and say - 'from your lips to God's ears'

When I looked the saying up on Google, there was quite an involved supposed history but basically it came from Arabic or Hebrew then to Yiddish etc. It is also similar to Psalm 130:2. I have been surprised many times by the number of people who had never heard the saying before I used it in their presence. It is a good one and I hope God listens - not necessarily about my art but about the state of the world because I use it for those occasions too..

Flowers in my Garden

No art today, just some photos of some of the flowers in my garden. Most of the annuals haven't come into their own yet but the perennials are doing just fine.

I often wish that many perennials would bloom all season instead of just in the Spring. It would be lovely to have the colour and the scent of Peonies all summer long.

I bought a few Fuchsia at the garden centre this year. I liked the pictures on the info cards in the pots but was still surprised when the plants started to bloom.

It is hard to tell from photos but the blossoms in the first two pictures are huge - what a surprise that was! You can get an idea by comparing the buds but I just picked the different types because of the colour.

And, finally, a few pictures of the only rose I have left. When we moved here there were four or five roses in the gardens; I have managed to kill all but this one. I guess they just aren't my thing.

Now for today's quote!

                                         If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

They do not know who to attribute this saying to but think it might be from the Roosevelt or Truman eras. It is thought to be a southern US saying but the first 'recorded' use was during the Nixon administration. I know I heard it long before then and it is one of my 'go to' phrases to this day. I use it or think it often: when they change Facebook or the layout at the grocery store, when the product you have used and loved gets 'new and improved' and isn't. I know there are many instances that I think fit this phrase; what are some that fit for you?

Thank you Sheila Delgado for nominating me for the Three Quotes in Three Days challenge. This is day two.

The rules are simple:

    Thank the person who nominates you
    Post one quote per day for 3 consecutive days
    Nominate three new bloggers each day

As I wrote yesterday, I will not be nominating more bloggers as I just don't know enough that are not already doing the challenge.

It would be great to hear from you - Thanks for stopping by!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

I have a couple of chores this week that will require me to think and make decisions

First, a friend and I have been asked to paint in a garden during Saturday's Garden Tour and they have suggested that we have some items on display for sale. What to paint? What to take for display and sale? How bad will the mosquitoes be? Why did I say I would do this? - lol!

Delphinium Delight - 8 x 10 mixed media

Foxglove Fantasy - 8 x 210 mixed media

I decided to make a few of my quilled/watercolour pieces featuring flowers and garden friends. These are small enough that I can keep the prices down and, hopefully they will sell. I will also take some of my houseplant ornaments, the quilled ones and those made with wire, glue and nail polish. I am hoping for warm weather so my Cool Ties will attract attention and, of course I will have some cards on display too. As for what to paint - I will just play that by ear.

My next chore is to decide what paintings to take for the Art in the Chamber display. Thanks to the efforts of our local Arts Council executive we once again have gallery space in the Creston Chamber of Commerce building.   Each show is for about 5 weeks and I think this one has about 6 artists exhibiting.  I plan on taking about 20 paintings with me - but which ones?

Another job for the next few days was given to me by a blogging friend.

Sheila Delgado nominated me for the Three Quotes in Three Days challenge. This is day one!

The rules are simple:
    Thank the person who nominates you
    Post one quote per day for 3 consecutive days
    Nominate three new bloggers each day

So here goes!

Thank you so much Sheila. This is quite a challenge for me as I don't think of quotes, never pay attention to who says what and find that very few 'sayings' stick in my head. However, over the years there have been a few things that have grabbed my attention enough to be remembered.  Here is one of them:

   Every man who has a dog to worship him, should have a cat to ignore him!

I looked this saying up on Google and couldn't find a definite author although some attribute it to Mark Twain. I first heard this many years ago from my brother, David and I never really thought about what it actually means. During my Google search there was a listing for a sermon that used this phrase to highlight the need for balance in your life and I thought it was very appropriate.

I will be sharing two more quotes in the next few days but I can only nominate people for today (many of my blogger friends have already been nominated by others- sigh)

I nominate - Cathy Hubman

                   Win Dinn

                   Kelly Warren

Now for the fun part! No decisions are need for this as it was just plain fun and it is over - lol. This past Saturday I did a Watercolour Painting Party for a group of 5 ladies, three of whom were returning participants. I love it when people enjoy something so much they come back again!

painters at work

happy painters and their finished art!

All in all, it was a good weekend and it looks like it will be a good week too. Ain't life grand?