reaching out in love...and receiving human touches.............

On Tuesday morning I returned to my beloved Dawes Arboretum to make Art with 6 wonderful artists.  I knew a couple from last summer but we had a couple new members ready to play.  The gentle men were ready to print with soft foam shapes and play with burnt sepia acrylic paint on to watercolor papers.  We then layered the prints with water colors and multiples layers of crayons.  After about four to five layers they turned out to be very individual and really quite nice.  Appealing ...colorful ...assemblages  completed as we went into the green house to prune and taste and smell the herbs they had planted the weeks before.  There was even a tomato or two blooming on some very healthy plants.   Ken came in with my Mr. Lyndon Allen,,,the two of them were having a day one on one and spent the morning exploring Dawes for fish in the Japanese Garden looking at large coy fish and a snake or two.   I am not sure who wore the other one out but I do know they are a very cute pair to behold.


Today Ken had a golf outing with nine other teachers to celebrate the end of the school year.  They got an early start and a beautiful day to play.  After 18 holes they went to our local Nutcracker Restaurant for a home cooked lunch.  Tony and Kathy are making the final professional preparations for this weekend's Granville Art and Wine Festival on Friday and Saturday!  Ken stopped by and brought in a few more boxes to help me pack the studio up....I am using my label maker ...to beat the band!  I gave several of my studio plants away to dear ones...there is no way I could find enough proper lighting for my living plants to thrive and grow in!!!  I love sharing living plants.  Jenny Pope gave Ken and I a special tomato plant we will pot on the front porch safe from the hungry deer. And she also gave my a Jewel plant...with sweet pink flowers and twirls in the growth.  I think I like the twirls and spins the very best!

   the sun is drying our first efforts..........
be patient.........this is the early layers of their marks........

 design elements- foam butterflies with different textures....crayons........watercolors..........

 the tiny jewel flowers ...taking roots......

 Gerand and Jason check out the greenhouse progress...........

 Jenny Pope is the magic lady with plants............everyone can learn to smell ...taste.....cook..... and grow living plants.....

 curious visitors....

 I think this is a new form of mint....so sweet smelling......

 the garlic plant has a beautiful bloom...........

 the coleus plants are just taking off..........

 look at this baby tomato growing on a new plant...........

 here we have a tiny pepper taking form...........I love this greenhouse....

 Jenny helps Jason make his next herb selection..........

 baby jewel plants........I believe.......

 look into the center and you can see the magic twirl beginning to take shape............

 Tim and David have a good laugh about what they like to eat and cook..........

 Joyce and I both love the lavender fragrance........so sweet and soothing...........

 Melvin is a real character and has already stolen my heart!

 Jason is sharing the herb fragrance with his love...his kitten that travels with him everywhere.....

 This is Tim's smile.........it was his 44th birthday.........

 more baby coleus plants............

 the boys are being silly...............more herbs..........tomatoes............

 beautiful herbs.............

 working in the greenhouse............a peaceful moment ........

 these keep bugs away..........

 mint is making him smile..........

 back to their journals...........

 David is making plans...........

 simple words to make a memory page...........

 Tim is writing his words and works permanent ....

 everyone seems to be very pleased..........

 Melvin is a sweet little man............

 Lyndon is working at his Art table at his Momma's caramel kitchen.......... they will have a children's room so they can go with Momma when she has big orders....

 he is so precious to us............

 this candy cooker can make 17  batches in the time she made one....her business is growing so well!!!!!

 yummy sweet candies are coming...........

 there is a special window so Momma can still watch her little ones............

 back to the studio............getting ready to add another layer........

 Two dear friends...........Jenny Pope and Melvin!!!!!!!!

 ready set go.............play with color!

 Joyce receives some encouragement from our dear Melvin...........

 Tim asks great questions...such a sweet gentleman..........

the Canadian geese came over to thrill Lyndon.......

 beautiful blue lilies over by the Japanese Gardens.......so peaceful and calm.................

 Lyndon is checking on the Dawes pat turtle.................. and snake inside the children's hand on lab...........

 Is he Okay Grandpa???

 Lyndon is so proud to have his Grandpa all by himself........

 this will be his heart memory...I hope he remembers and will look forward to fishing with Grandpa!!!

He is growing up so fast.  Imagine and Live in Peace.  Count the small miracles in your daily lives...they are there even when Life gets tough!  I love you Mr. Lyndon Allen!



Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart aka Art Lady!!!!!!!!!