Surroundings

Cold and snowy outside.

Warm and colorful at my board.

Back to work!

A Colorful Prayer

My friend (who has a great etsy shop, She Ate My Crayons --- check it out) found these stunning old prayer beads for me.

I just couldn't resist adding the antique hyacinth blue rosary chain and the green chalcedony beads at the back. And then there were these fabulous old thread swatches that I had just picked up at Artifacts, here in Iowa City...

All made for such a wonderful, colorful combination!

The Ugly Tulips

Easter Sunday, dear Rosemary was helping me in the narthex as my daughter and I tried to figure out which flowers were ours to take home.

There was a mix-up on the sheet and, of course, I couldn't remember what I had ordered.







"You could have a mum, or a lily, or a tulip", Rosemary said reading from the list of options.

I looked at the breathtaking wall of colorful flowers and noticed a pot of shriveled brown tulips tucked to the side.

"I like those," I pointed to the odd, hidden flowers.

"You're kidding aren't you?" Rosemary gasped in disbelief. "We thought they were dead so we hid them in the back."

"They're interesting looking." I picked up the pot and looked at the puckered bulbs.

"I think they're called parrot tulips," Rosemary scrunched up her nose, "And you are more than welcome to take them!"

The wrinkled, brown buds opened into lacey yellow, flaming orange, and burnt red petals. 

Aren't they lovely? 

All these colors tightly closed together made a muddy brown. 

But as they opened... 

all this beauty was revealed!

Studio Shots #3

Feeling a bit of sensory overload lately. Every thing seems so much...

So much color outside.

So much color inside.

So much to do.

So much to be grateful for.

So much.