White Balloon Flowers

It is hump day! I just had to say it, I love that commercial that GEICO put out, it is one of the better ones that I've seen on TV lately. I don't know what is going on with advertising companies these days, but most of the commercials are just plain annoying. I would love to hear from anyone out there how you feel about the poor quality advertising commercials on TV.

The sun is shinning here in western Pennsylvania but it sure is going to be one humid day. Thunderstorms will be in the picture for tomorrow and Friday. I have a very busy day today.

I'm working on the final sketch of a 3-painting project. Each one is very detailed and unique. I just love doing these types of projects; intricate and challenging.

During the beginning of Summer I did some sketches that I will be working on during the winter months. I was hoping to have had them finished before mid summer but unfortunately that didn't happen. My plan was to have some birds painted and ready to go press but it will have to wait until next Spring, which is much better actually, rushing things can sometimes cause mistakes and we don't want any of those.

I'm gearing up to take some fall foliage photos to share with you when the time comes. It seems as thought the leaves are changing early this year, I'm hoping they will slow the process, I'm not looking forward to the cold of winter ahead. I love the snow but the cold that goes with it is not so nice to the body and the bones.

Have a blessed day all!

Hey All! So sorry I haven't kept up with my blog over the past couple of weeks. I've been pretty busy in my studio. Had our photography workshop August 1st out at Moraine State Park which was a fabulous and enlightening evening. Our class was taught by professional photographer Kim Vensel. I have also taken a few photo excursions when I've been in town to run errands and have included my photos from the workshop and my little excursions.

This is a wasp and her nest that she has fixed to the top of a window on the side of the one of the buildings at Moraine. Looks pretty mean and ready to strike if I got any closer.

The photo to the left is of a small Dogwood Tree in a friends front yard. This will be one that I will sketch out to paint over the winter months. I love how there is just a smidgen of pink on the edges.

Well I best get back to work and get stuff cleaned up for the night.

Blessings to all! Have a wonderful evening . . . until next time.

My new Nikon D3200 SLR camera arrived July 16th just in time for our vacation at Lake Lure North Carolina. I have had so much taking pictures with this camera, and the detail is phenomenal.

This week I got some nice shots in of mama bluebird feeding her babies in the mealworm feeder my husband made for me. I never thought when I put up three bluebird houses that I would actually get all three of them filled with bluebirds—amazing! We also have two other bluebird families that live in an old tree on our property on the other side of our garage. I'm truly blessed and enjoy watching them bring their young to the feeder and hope you will enjoy seeing them as well.

Its is difficult to see how pretty the adult female is through the plexiglass on the feeder, but the young one sitting on the top waiting its turn to be fed is really clear and very cute.

I have hopes in getting much more proficient in taking some professional pictures over the next year. I want to be able to capture some amazing wildlife and birds to set up a file of reference photos that I can do watercolor paintings from.


I will have an opportunity this week at an onsite photography workshop taught by professional photograph Kim Vensel. I'm really looking forward to it and hope that it is a beautiful evening at Moraine State Park.

Tuesday morning I went to my friend Colleen's to photograph some of her flowers. She has one of the most amazing and beautiful flower gardens I've seen in a very long time. I've included some of those shots for you to enjoy also.

Chimney Rock

We are finally home from vacationing in Lake Lure North Carolina. What a beautiful area! Went into Chimney Rock (a neighboring town) and visited some local shops, played miniature golf, and topped it off with a wonderful dinner at Genny's. The next day we went back to Chimney Rock traveled up Chimney Rock mountain and took an elevator up to the chimney rock off the side of the mountain what a fabulous view of Lake Lure. We snapped a few pictures.

Lake Lure shot from Chimney Rock

A long time coming . . .

Have you ever had something exciting take place in your life that you totally forgot to share? I did just that. Four exceptional friends of mine believed in me, enough so, that they were willing to sponsor the cost of printing my snowman series of watercolors into greeting cards. I was so overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness and thrilled too.

The process was a long one and I finally received the cards, all 1600 of them, three days before Christmas. It didn't leave me too much time to sell them for Christmas but I did have some sales throughout the winter months and that was a real blessing. What I forgot to do was share the photos with you of the cards so here they are. And if you would like to purchase any, you can find them on my website: www.whiteoakstudioandgallery.com. A portion of the proceeds helps feed and clothe orphaned children.

Its the first day of summer, Friday, and its a beautiful morning here in Karns City. I love mornings like this; I make myself a cup of coffee and head out on our porch to have my time with the Lord and read His word. Its where I tell Him everything going on in my heart. I like to start my day off right, also right with God.

This afternoon I will be headed up north to Edinboro, PA to bus the soccer referees to each of the playoff games. I'm excited about this. I've never been to the University of PA in Edinboro and I'm looking forward to watching some of the games as well as get some reading in. I will fill you in when I return home Sunday night. Have a great weekend all!

Good Saturday morning to you! I was up bright and early, got coffee made and a blueberry bagel for breakfast. Daryl enjoyed a french toast bagel. Yummy!

After breakfast and a second cup of coffee I went out to the garden area and planted our veggies. We are still sticking to a small garden so that we have time for some summer fun. We did add two new items this summer and eliminated two. I put in Better Boy Tomatos, King Arthur Peppers, zucchini, summer squash, red leaf lettuce, and green beans. I also planted some basil and Italian oregano in separate pots. We'll see how it does. This is my second year at this and I'm hoping it does better than last year. Although we got a good crop of better boys and green peppers the rest of the veggies didn't do well at all; weather played a big roll in that too as it was hot and dry conditions. Looks like it will be a better year for veggies at least I'm hopeful.

Also want to introduce to you the Allium Schubertii: Ornamental Onion that looks like fireworks. My friend Colleen gave me two bulbs last fall which I planted one in the small garden by our side porch and the second bulb I planted on the opposite side of the house. I was shocked when it had blossomed. Here is a picture of it. It is an amazing flower! As my friend said "it looks like a fairy's wand." Yup it does but more so like exploding fireworks. I absolutely love them. We have a friend we like to give joke gifts at Christmas and it is my understanding that these blossoms will remain like this when it dries. So guess what our friend is getting for Christmas, yup a fairy wand! Thanks Colleen for my bulbs I love them!

We topped our day off with several games of "Agravation" with friends, needless to say I didn't win any of those games   :(    oh well next time!