Hens and Chicks

I love doing extra weekly challenges that make me stop and look around. I wonder if I would have seen these Hens and Chicks blossoming if I hadn't stopped to participate in Cactus Monday? I'm sure I would have because I love being in the garden, but at least this made me slow down today so I could appreciate the simple things we sometimes take for granted.

Happy Cactus Monday Cacuteers! And remember to take a moment to stop and smell the succulents :)

Baskets of Succulents

This is a photo for my Cactus Monday pals. I didn't have a moment to paint anything this weekend because I'm working on my July studio show. I snapped this photo of my hanging succulent garden that's on my fence next to my gate that leads to our duplex. It has 2 tiers, but the bottom one is really scraggly and sad looking, so here are the top two. It really makes me smile when I come up the walkway. Happy Cactus Monday Cacuteers!

Animal Wednesday : Garden Critters

As I was watering the garden last night I was smiling at a few of my garden critters. It dawned on me that I could use them for Animal Wednesday! So here we have a sweet pig in the afternoon light, nestled in the nasturtiums. There's the Princess Camelia in the French blue lobelia, and then there's the cat with attitude! This cat was made by a sculptor in Connecticut (whose name escapes me). I love his human eyes, his stuck-out tongue and the fact that he's not neutered! I should have shown a back view, it's hilarious! (Please DO neuter your real cats though!)

I like having my whimsical friends nearby. They keep me in good company.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!