My garden is mostly herbs which are growing great guns, thanks to the rain. My strawberry plants are a little erratic. I think it has been too cool and wet for them. On a good day, I might pick three. Today, just two. No shortcake here! (Hopefully the farmer's market will have a better yield.)
We did hit the last of MSU's outdoor theatre plays, a delightful musical, "Dames at Sea."
I think I tap danced vicariously through the whole thing because the next day I couldn't get off the couch. I am learning that recovery from pneumonia is hard!
Rick has done wonders in being a good support, even (on a rare nice day when it didn't rain) making a Japanese-style cookout. We had somen noodles, cold and delicious.
Then yakitori -- chicken skewers marinated in a mixture of soy sauce and mirin and grilled on skewers with spring onions. So good!
I was greatly cheered to see my sweet pea bush finally coming to life with its first blooms. Pretty soon this will be a mass of pink and white flowers!
The other plants are hanging in there. The cool weather means the pansies have survived so far...
...and my Southern Exposure basket done HERE in April is looking good.
So, too, is this Southern Exposure project, done at THIS workshop.
And yesterday for the first time in weeks, I picked up a paintbrush. This is from a Cotswold window and isn't done yet. But close, I think.
And this is my friend Penny's cat. I'm trying to practice with the dreaded greens. More work is needed but it did feel good to touch brush to paper.
Paris in July, Tamara's annual blog event, begins next week, so look for some posts on Paris to come. And I hope to start sending "Postcards from the Lake" beginning next week too.
59 comments:
Your paintings are wonderful. I so wish I could do that.
I can hardly believe it is almost July. Your "therapy cat" is so adorable. I love your Japanese dinner!
Your paintings are just so beautiful Jeanie.
Love the pansies and sweet peas and the chicken skewers look delicious. My husband is also very handy in the kitchen.
So nice that you're slowly recovering from your pneumonia.
The only thing growing good on this end of the state is the grass. My lawncare guy has had to cut it twice in one week several times. But my flower boxes aren't doing much.
Your grilled dinner looks great!
Going to the lake? That sounds like a perfect getaway from all the problems with your house/basement. Your watercolors look beautiful, expecially the cat hiding in the weeds.
I'm also looking forward to Paris in July. Just finished reading a book that unfortunately didn't please me at all.
best.....mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Glad you were able to get out and enjoy the musical production, Jeanie, but you are right that recovery always takes longer than anticipated. The artwork looks lovely and is definitely a talent that I don’t possess, despite having tried in school classes. Yes, it is hard to believe that July is nearly here and we will be back in NH from our road trip adventures.
I'm glad to hear you've been able to get out and have some fun Jeanie, and picking up a paintbrush means your energy is coming back! Love the window, it looks finished to me~ please go slow and take care...
Jenna
Yes pneumonia does take a long time to get over. I had it once and it was months before I could do the stairs without feeling a little winded. That meal looked very delicious! Dames At Sea looked like it was fun! Your paintings are wonderful!
Glad to hear you are feeling a little better. Love your paintings.
Glad you were able to get out to enjoy a show. You're right about recovery though... It always seems frustratingly slow, especially on those days when nature seems to be trying to call us outside.
Sounds like you had a great evening out but maybe it was a little to much to soon. Sorry you are feeling under the weather. It's so hard to stay in recovering and do little when "go" is what we love to do. Lovely art, I especially love therapy cat. You are enjoying cool and we have a heat wave, firstling with 100 for a few days not to mention the humidity. Yes, hard to believe July is knocking at the door already!!!! Take care my friend..........
Oh wow, those skewers are so tempting☺☺
Hang in dear Jeanie and just keep adding a few things like walking to your activities. Love your sweet peas and the chicken skewers made my mother water!
I always enjoy seeing photos of your furry therapy pet. Yesterday it rained, and I spend the day clearing out some things. The local pet shelter has been pleading for donations, so I finally took Dixie Rose's carrier over to them. It felt good to do it. Since I know I'll never have another kitty, it was time to move on. I did keep her brush and her favorite toys, though.
Hi Jeanie, I hope you are recovering. I love your paintings and your sweet kitty. The flowers are gorgeous. The chicken skewers look yummy. Wishing you a happy day!
I am glad you are taking it easy! Keep doing that! Rest is so important when you are recovering from a bad illness. But it's extra tough to rest when you've got the basement mess weighing on you. I am glad that Rick is further along in his recovery and can take care of you!
It's good to have a good therapy cat by your side. Oscar was such a comfort to me when I was home with the blood clot stuff before Paul was born!
Beautiful paintings and oh what I wouldn’t give to be on campus on a summer night!
Your cat is beautiful and so are those flowers, I really enjoyed seeing all your photos, and your two paintings are so beautiful too, I really like your painting with that window!
I'd say that was a perfect day! Food looked delicious.
2 strawberries are better than none! They look delicious. Isn't it wonderful to enjoy theater outdoors? Where we used to live there was an outdoor theater in a wooded park. Not the most comfortable place to watch a play, but what gorgeous surroundings. Your flowers are all so beautiful and I love how your basket is looking! The paintings are so pretty.
Jeanie, sometimes it's nice to just ponder around the house and do nothing special at all. The chicken skewers look delicious, as well as the noodles and sauce. I love that log planter that your pansies are in, so clever. And your paintings gets better every time I see them. The window is so charming with the red flowers. And how mesmerizing are your cat's eyes. I can see why she's your therapy cat. : )
~Sheri
I am sure that pneumonia is no picnic and I would imagine that it can sap your energy appreciably. Kudos to Rick for taking such good care of you - but then again you took good care of him didn't you? The meal he cooked looks beyond delicious!
Years ago when I had pneumonia, I was so wiped out (and I was only 30 ish) so give yourself great grace, Jeanie. Rest and rest some more and feel no guilt.
Your photos are beautiful...love the Queen Elizabeth plate of plump strawberries...Some rest in the sunshine is good...hope you're feeling better soon.
Continue be gentle and patient with yourself!
Adorable paintings ~
Take it easy till you feel better again. Love the paintings, especially the pretty window. Hugs, Valerie
It is truly amazing that July is just next week. Love seeing your Lizzie. Love the painting of the window. Oh my, does Rick deliver good food like that? I would love that food. I would have enjoyed the show too, but sorry to hear it was recovery time the next day. Hope each day gets better. Pneumonia is a slow recovery process. Take it easy.
I like your paintings Ms Jeanie, and your beautiful flowers too!!
Take care, Ms Jeanie!
I´m lazing off here, too, it´s hot! :-) One task a day is enough (or two or three)
Cold noodles? Never heard of that! But the skewers look mouth-watering.
Love all the flowers, real and painted!
Cat-content, oh, yay :-) And ewww... half the year is over already?!
Watercolor is difficult. I tried it once, and that was all. Yours are so amazing.
Jeanie, I so hope you will be back to normal very soon. Oh, I do love the sweet peas and the Cotswold window is fabulous!
Your painting of the window with the beautiful flowers is perfect! I would like to try something different...I've been drawing birds until I see them when I close my eyes! lol You are so talented my friend! Hugs!
Love your Cotswold cottage window (etc.) :-) Very nice!
Take good care of yourself.
Therapy cats are good company when you're under the weather.
I love your window painting. You've got talent, no doubt of it.
Beware of bad weather (cold, rain) and try to strenghten your immunity system - to prevent pneumonia and other such issues!
YOu're doing very well after pneumonia, Jeanie. It's a tough illness. Take care of yourself, keep enjoying the flowers and - for sure - keep enjoying cats, sunshine, painting, and Rick's cooking! You guys deserve a break, and so be patient... it's on its way...
So sorry you have been sick. I hate being sick. Have to say I love your flowers... and the kitty, oh my. Get well soon.
Beautiful flowers. Beautiful paintings. Glad Rick is taking such good care of you.
How did I miss that you have pneumonia? So sorry to read that. glad your therapy cat and Rick have given you support and lots of delicious food. Your flowers are lovely, your plants are doing well, strawberries, not so much (grin). Get better really, really soon, dear.
Dear Jeanie, I think you need to give yourself permission to take it easy. You not only are recovering from pneumonia but have just come through the ordeal of the flooding and clean up and before that Rick's ordeal with the leg and surgery. Sometimes we just need to do nothing :-) I agree also with your advice to me about my blogging break. I just know that sometimes people disappear from the blogosphere and you wonder what happened to them. I hope you recover soon. In the meantime enjoy your painting. While you are getting lots of rain we could use some. My garden is suddenly dying in one day!
I'm sorry your recovery is going so slow Jeanie. Summer colds can sure turn into something wicked can't they?
My strawberries are covered in flowers but no flowers as yet. The bees are enjoying them so no doubt we will get some soon. This heat/rain combo is great for the gardens. My herb planters are going great guns too. We have been harvesting parsley and cat nip almost every day.
Don’t rush your healing. You are not at work; you don’t have to report to anyone. Take care of yourself. Rick’s meal looks wonderful. I love seeing what you make when you take brush to paper - beautiful paintings.
I can relate to the just laying around. I am not getting anything done myself. But....we must need it. Loving the paintings! Great job. Flowers are beautiful and I love sweet peas. They are just pretty, and a great color.
Jeanie, I do hope you will be feeling like yourself soon. It is difficult when our energy level is not what we are used to. Love your Cotswold window painting - it is so lovely.
Enjoy your garden of herbs and also your wonderful sweet peas. Be good to you.
Glad you are feeling better, Jeanie, and enjoying the summer! Your watercolor is lovely, as are uour flowers. Rick's Japanese style dinner looks fabulous.
We just returned from a 2 week land and sea trip to Alaska, so I have to adjust to the hot weather the Denver area is getting the next few days.
Jeanie, I hope you are feeling better. I love the little Cotswold window as well as anything I have seen, really pretty and well done. You have got 2 more strawberries than I have so that is cause for rejoicing. Take it easy..xxoJudy
I'd like to add my thanks for your last visit, Jeanie. That dragon fly just kept coming back to that garden stake which I was standing about 2 inches from. A very brave little creature..Happy Thursday..xxoJudy
The outdoor theater looks like a lot of fun.
I can draw but I have always hated painting myself. Your work is amazing! Now I know where your son gets his artistic side. Janice
I'm sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. The show looks interesting and I love your painting. You are very talented.
Love the notion of vicarious tap-dancing, Jeanie! Truly, all in all, it sounds like an idyllic time! Your paintings are wonderful! We need quiet times for creativity to blossom!
I hear pneumonia can be slow to heal...For not having much to write about, you sure did make a rich blog post!! Get better and better!
PS Have you read The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating? ~Rita
Good News . ..
Outings . . .
Resting . ..
Watercolor . . .
Resting . . .
Therapy love cat . . .
More resting . . .
Loved your post . . .
Recipes please Rick!
I'm pleased to read that you are slowly recovering from your pneumonia, continued feel better wishes coming to you :)
I think your paintings are very nice and I enjoyed seeing all of your photographs.
Take Care.
All the best Jan
Your flowers look great. A few of our pansies, the ones in the shade, are still hanging on, but it's really too warm for them already. Do strawberry plants come back the next year? Maybe yours will do better next year? I was convinced I had killed our blackberry bush the year we planted it, but we finally had blackberries last year, and it;s looking great this year.
I'm so glad you picked up your paintbrush again. I simply love your watercolors. The Cotswold window is lovely and just like they are over there. The cat is adorable! Your sweet peas look like mine (color); I also enjoy them very much. Hopefully the rain will stop for you and you can enjoy a nice summery July.
I love the image of your friends cat - you've captured the sense beautifully.
Well you can justify the down time as it is summer and down time is good time. 😀. I am sitting at Chicago midway airport waiting for the flight back to NH. The trip went way too fast and of course could have been longer. Your Japanese food looks delicious. Perfect for a picnic. Rick is a good caregiver. Of course you are too when he was down and out. Relax and enjoy. Happy July. Hugs Erika
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