My dear Granddaughter stayed with us for a week so we had several oil painting sessions.  She had never before used oils and she did a good job with this image of two sheep on a sunny hillside with clouds. She is better at freehand work than I am.  It was fun to hear her tell me that she was able to apply some things I taught her to her computer drawing and painting programs.  How wonderful it is to pass on skills to the younger ones and how great it is to watch them develop!

I have finished my works for two upcoming shows and I am working on a third.  Also, I have been finishing several portraits of my grandchildren.  Those have no prominent deadlines, (that sounds ominous!).  All previously mentioned projects are in the not quite done stage. For instance, the vintage/art clothing storage project, the gardening project, the cleaning my house project, etc.

I have several orchids that are getting ready to bloom.  I think they liked the tropical forest humidity we have had recently.  These are big Catleyas.. I will let you know and get a photo when they bloom.

I’ve spent a lot of hours cataloging my butterfly photos too.  I have large photo displays on our four season room walls and I have a small frame that I can use to put a few more in.  I have so many wonderful shots of butterflies that I just cannot let them go unappreciated.  I’ll pull one up and put it here.  Till later guys.  Shalom.  DianaThis is a Question Mark that was on our butterfly bush.  The tiny silver mark on the under wing actually has a little dot, along with other markings, that distinguishes it from a Comma. The butterflies in this part of the country have taken a hit because of weather and habitat destruction as is happening all around the country and the world. I do my butterfly collecting with my camera and I enjoy it so much. They are God’s jewels.