Sunday, May 1, 2022

~May.

 

















May ~

Sometimes we get to Thursday and I say.."Already Friday tomorrow?"..And lo and behold..it is.

Randall ..  This Is Us gave such a depressing speech at Kate's wedding lol..
Both Jacques and I didn't like it..
Yes as we age time fast forwards in so many ways.. we know..why remind us.
He's been the good kid in this show..but often quite dark. 

Anyway..  Is it May already?

It's been so chilly here..few sunny days and those have been oh so chilly..however true to form ..the scillas showed up.
And the fairies are thrilled.
Funny story..not really..about these Cicely Mary Barker Fairies..
I have a few and have had them for 20 years.I used mine..they came out to play..and in our climate..they have lost limbs etc.. 
But I have loved playing with them and nestling them into our gardens.
They are so worn..I thought perhaps I could add some fresher ones..
Well in these twenty years they have become collectors items and new in box can range from over $100.US dollars to 400.
Egads .
Mine were never over 20.
I would spoil myself ..after transactions etc..with one or two.
So although mine are on their last legs..and I mean it..I am glad they have lived a life outside of the box:)

I am still loving Jean Haines' tutorials ..painting outside my box.

When mid May comes..I will stop until fall/winter.
I sincerely have too much to do..in the gardens..
Not complaining.
I have some great girls that have send me or post people from the back:)
I'll do those on rainy days..

I made those wonderful choco chip bakery style muffins again..from
here    My faves  and use mini choco chips:)

The tea cups are fun..vintage 1950's Lipton tea cups..
Winkie Eyes..Man and Woman.

A recent Varage Sale find.

I was born in the 50's..


I hope you can't see that:)

Who cares;)

The sugar dispenser was first seen in Provence.

My fave place on earth.Apart from being with my family here.
I keep saying..Had I met Provence when I married 48 yrs ago..
I would have asked for us to relocate.
Then.. now it's too late.


Garden update..not much.

Hyacinths are popping up ..some irises ..daffodils and tulips..just breaking ground though..
Invasive pachysandra and goutweed..so much of it..
some buds on trees..
I did spot some pulmonaria ..but so little so far.

 Les années se suivent mais ne se ressemblent pas.

My mother loved May.



One of Jean Haines tutorials is an atmospheric jockey on a horse..practice practice..




My jockey is..where? Oh lala more practice needed..I get lost in it all..I love being so attentive to something.




33 comments:

  1. Those teacups are darling and I love your little fairy! Have fun with your paintings.

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  2. Looks like you are doing a lot of wet-on-wet. I've been playing with that too -- out of my comfort zone for the most part, except with skies and backgrounds so it's good practice. My sketchbook Vivian sent me ages ago is almost full. Loved the Sketchbook Revival classes because they forced me to do something new. Funny -- you stop painting in May and start again after the garden; that's USUALLY when I begin and end into fall! I'm glad I got a head start this year.

    The fairies are so dear -- I'm sorry they are hard to find and so expensive now. And I adore your teacups! Coming here always feels like landing someplace where I will be offered a cup of tea and a wonderful conversation!

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    1. So funny..not really wet on wet..juicy wet brushes..she rarely does wet on wet..It's a whole different ball game with her..no pencils no sketches..directly in with a wet juicy watercolor full brush..then you pull away and soften..FUN.Absolutely..coffee ..tea..a sweet or treat!

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  3. Yeah..it s may already…time flies…love from me and Leaf 🌺🍀🐾🌸

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  4. Sometimes the world spins so fast I think we'll all fly off into outer space! We really are traveling through time.

    Oh I love your fairies. I did not know you could actually buy Cicely Mary Barker figurines! I'm always on the look out for fairies or anything miniature to add to our fairy gardens but I'll be happy with the ones from the Dollar Tree or Hobby Lobby (although they cost a bit too). The fairy gardens are all cleaned up & arranged....& rearranged by our little 4 yr old. They get lots of play in the summer. Now if I could just get the rest of my gardens all cleaned up & growing I'd have it made.

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    1. You will! Oh I had no idea these had become so priceless.. I am missing wings and legs and arms on some..maybe even a head:( Who knew they would cost sooo much)I know I will not invest in that ever.Under $20.00 when I worked..yes.
      I miss 4 yr olds here:( Take it all in♥

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  5. I want to live inside your tea cozy.
    Amalia
    xo

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  6. Those fairies :-) But I also spy a snail I love. I have his brother, a brown one. I really need to make those muffins.

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    1. Mini choco chips..and that rest period:)Really good indeed!

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  7. I am so glad spring is finally coming to you. Soon your garden will catch up to mine. I cannot believe you can't find new fairies at reasonable prices. Who'da thunk?

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    1. Collectors items:( Why? LOL.. there are many other fairies..but these had a certain je ne sais quoi..now I know what:):):

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  8. Happy May to you, Monique!! Although we're still having cool temps, we KNOW summer will come (I think...) and bring with it the beauty of living things. I looked again, and again, at all your paintings. And the picture of your flowers and well-loved fairies--so sweet. I had to look up Cicely Mary Barker because she was new to me. She was very gifted. Saving your recipe for the mini-chip muffins--chocolate is my weakness. Hoping your days are filled with sunshine and good things. xoxo

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    1. As I hope yours are TOO! It felt so good to feel warmth on my face outside the last two days:)

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  9. The Scilla I planted years ago have formed big patches under my big tree. Those and snowdrops and winter acconites. They have finished here. I have not worked on that garden much because I got a tick on me and have avoided it. This year I plan to try. I forgot some of the things I planted and it was fun to discover them again. Mostly it is hosta and ferns. They are taking over. Every gardener has their weed that drives them nuts. Mine is artamesia vulgaris (the spelling is probably wrong). It’s a runner, of course so it’s everywhere. I’m sure you will have your gardens in shape before no time. Weather is similar here. Raining again today so I will try the garden tomorrow. Enjoy your garden faries.

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    1. Apparently they sell tick retardant clothing..I've not gone that far..most of our gardens are full sun and not a lot of woods etc..the woodier shadier areas..I too think of ticks:(I have a spray and tucking pants into boots helps I hear..But I often have flip flops just to primp:(So I'll have to stop that nonsense.I Googled your invasive plant..I swear the goutweed is everywhere in a garden I put landscape fabric down I wish I could rip it out but the gardens are 20 yrs old:(I tug at pieces that are now showing up..

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  10. The setting for tea is lovely. The tea cozy, sugar shaker, and those cups are WONDERFUL. I am going to try baking the muffins. So, in northern Illinois where I live Spring is trying to arrive. Grass is green since we have had so much rain & some trees have are starting to leaf. They just need the warmth of the sun as I do!

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    1. Same:):)I did feel the sun and warmth on my face the last 2 days.WONDERFUL..It makes us appreciate every season right? Right? LOL

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  11. By the way Monique, that last comment from anonymous was from me. Don't know what happened.

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    1. I get to say hi twice:)No worries:):):)Have a nice week Ga:)Hope warmth arrives for you also.

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  12. Happy May Monique. Your paintings are lovely, such a fun hobby. How sweet to see your beloved fairies. Yummy mini muffins and and those darling tea cups.
    I hope the weather warms. Happy plantings.

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  13. It seems Blogger changed the comment box while I was away! Not too much different but just a bit. I always love seeing your wee fairies in the scilla patch. I haven't even been outside to inspect the garden yet as it rained and rained all day yesterday. This morning I go plant shopping...yay! I had to skip over the part where you talked about This Is Us - I haven't watched the last episode yet :) I'm not sure I'm going to like the last episodes. I'll probably be an emotional wreck - LOL. Your paintings are just great and I love the technique. ♥

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    1. I won't say a word..we watched the latest last night..I won't say a word:) Yes the comment area changed..see what happens when you leave?:)Cant wait to see what you buy!I guess my nasturtiums and marigolds get deeded when warm out? I am hoping the nasturtiums will act like my orange ones and drop seed and self seed! Loving my Iris shoots:)

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  14. As you know Monique, I always love your photographs and your artwork. I think that both are very beautiful my dear friend. I know you are about to get very busy in the gardens. Things are coming into bloom here also. I miss my garden fairies. I had such a lovely garden there, but then you know who did all the gardening. I just added accents like fairies. That I can do. I will have to look in charity shops to see if I can find any cast offs! I have not been able to see any of the latest season of This is Us. I really hope that they put it on Netflix. I am watching the whole series again from the beginning on there. One of my favorite shows and it always makes me cry. I hope that you have had a lovely Mother's Day weekend! You deserve it!! I heard from three of my children so that is good and had a nice supper with Cindy, Dan and dad, so its been a great day! xoxo

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    1. Im so glad you had a great day and I love witnessing how filled with love your life is back home in Canada..You know that:)

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  15. I'm late with a comment. Sometimes I open in Safari and my comments don't go through. I need to only use Chrome. Ha! Ha! At any rate, you know I'm a child of the 50s as well. Love your style in all things. The winking couple make me smile! Your tea cozy as well! Your art touches my heart. Always! I wish I could send you a bit of our heat. Then we might both have a lovely spring day. It is reaching 100 here in recent days. I'm not ready for this! Glad you had a get away with your darling girls. I treasure the time spent with my nieces. It's good to be spend quality time with different generations. Happy Month of May!

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  16. It is very hot and beauteous here also!xxxNo need to say your style is my wish style:)

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  17. I've stopped going to my art club, I will start again in autumn. I have gardening and dolls house work to do.

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  18. Your posts always take by breath away! So much beauty!

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  19. I couldn't take my eyes off of your little Scillaland fairies. I misunderstood that they were a line of fairies and I thought it was a line of calendars that were sold somewhere, and I started searching to see where they sold those calendars. Is that an arrangement of fairies that you created in your flowers? It is so lovely, it was fun seeing the tiny fairies, butterflies, etc peeking out from the foliage. I wish I would have been aware of those fairies years ago when they would have been affordable to me. I hope you will show us some more fairies in the garden as time goes by.

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