Forced Branches

She is a living example of a forced branch.

She has suffered mightily.
She has experienced the darkness of the human soul.
Through God's loving and tender grace she has survived and blossomed.

Happy Birthday Mama!

In Bloom

I noticed on the way to Sunday School this exquisite specimen of Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) softening and cascading over the hard edge of a beautifully aged and mossy brick wall. We are very fortunate to attend Sunday School in one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Georgia---The Old Medical School Building.
The building is next door to our church; after our early service we leave our church building, walk the old brick walk, and enter this building built in 1835 and designed by architect Charles Blaney Cluskey. The exterior is pure Greek Revival, built of brick covered in stucco to resemble large stones, but the interior reveals a large central dome that is barely noticeable from outside.
My favorite part are these enormous stones making up the front steps---the top one worn into a groove by the generations of feet that have passed through these doors.

Remember and Honor

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Streetdance!

We danced the Virginia Reel Friday night...

Friends,

Mothers and Daughters,

Brothers and Sisters,

Fathers and Daughters,

Mothers and Sons,

...into the night.

Capturing a Moment

Late one evening last week, before the sun had sunk into the trees on the westerly end of the creek, I made myself leave the undone dinner, unwashed dishes, and unset table. I walked out into the middle of the backyard. It was the time of evening where you could feel the warmth of the day in the pools of sunlight, but in the shadows you could feel the coolness of the night.
I faced the creek...

Then I turned ninety degrees to our neighbor on the right...

And then one hundred and eighty degrees to our neighbors on the left...

"We are perishing for want of wonder, not from want of wonders."
(G.K. Chesterton)

Painting Leaves

One watercolor technique for painting leaves is to lay a yellow wash then, either while the paint is still wet or dry, paint over the yellow wash with a blue. Here, after sketching out this tea olive branch, I painted a deep wash of Gamboge Yellow. Don't forget to leave any white you made need. I left some for the tiny blooms at the top of the branch.

After drying, I put on the next layer---a mixture of Phthalo blue, Ultramarine Blue, and Prussian Blue---letting the colors run and mix together. While still wet I used a sharp instrument to make the veining.

A botanical study of Osmanthus frangrans. You can see the finished piece in the next issue of Newnan Coweta Magazine!

The Widows Home

This property in downtown Augusta is a living witness to the beauty and tapestry of God's grace throughout the years. It began serving this community in 1818 when the first city hospital was built, later becoming Georgia's first School of Medicine. The present building, The Widows Home, was built in 1871 and was a place Confederate widows and their children could call home.
Today two young doctors who founded Christ Community Health Service of Augusta have a vision ..."In response to God’s Grace we desire to be a part of the redemptive work of Christ to the economically, socially, and spiritually impoverished communities of Augusta. We envision an incarnational ministry through a community of Believers who use their particular gifts to care for the poor and who bring them into their fellowship. Our primary means for accomplishing this goal is through a health clinic which provides excellent care physically, emotionally, and spiritually."
What an exciting opportunity for many to serve and be served,love and be loved! My boys helped on one of the many workdays and came home happy, hungry, and dirty. The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40)

In Bloom

The temperature dropped into the 40's early this morning after a storm blew through leaving us with a Blackberry Winter---an unusually cool spell in early to mid May. I was wrapped up against the wind while photographing these blossoming shrubs...

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
But I ended the day with a cozy fire---an unexpected pleasure this late into the spring!

A Passion

What other people may find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive. ~Arnold Palmer

My Second Born agrees.

In Bloom

While downtown photographing a Trumpet Vine(Campsis radicans) that had engulfed an old warehouse, I was approached by these two salesmen hawking "antiques." Although they assured me their wares were in high demand and should be carefully examined I, on the other hand, tried to convince them of the incomparable beauty and value of the blooming vine before us. Needless to say, they were not swayed. But not being ones to miss a business opportunity, quickly and hopefully asked if I would "donate" my camera to their cause.

In Bloom

Old hands that have--touched in joy, raised in anger, written in love, clasped for comfort, hugged in desperation, submitted in prayer. Hands that have experienced Life pulled out the old recipes---the old standbys, the favorites, the ones everyone always asks for. They baked their cakes and pies for the famous cakewalk at St. John Towers Retirement Community to raise money for their new van.

Yes...Life is good!

In Bloom

Over the weekend we transplanted these cheerful little zinnia's into the

perennial bed that borders our patio.

Happy faces!

Friends

This little chartreuse anole
---and his chartreuse family---
love our patio as much as we do!

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes..."

Just when we think the entire world has gone crazy, we can be comforted by the simple things.
A girl---pretty in a dress, a boy---handsome in a suit.
Having fun dancing...with 1000 other teens!
This beautiful tradition has been an institution in Augusta since 1935
and is an amazing feat of skill and organization presented by Social, Inc.
And...our First Born wants to do it again---even more amazing.