weeping Cherry 8''x8" oil on panel

This tree was a gift from the school's PTA when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten.
I did a lot of volunteer art work in the school and was presented with the tree. It was wonderful to be recognized for doing stuff that I loved doing anyway, and what a great thing to be given- a beautiful tree that blossoms every spring. My daughter will be graduating from college next year- and thats pretty amazing!

from the farmers market- Waimea- 8" 8" oil on canvas

I thought I posted this in Hawaii but it never  made it on the blog- which is GREAT because I didn't get to paint a flower today- which is not good , but happens! It was a wonderful day- got my water garden mucked out - 7 year old my nephew Chris came over and we captured a ton of pollywogs (or tadpoles- not sure if that is the same thing) for him to take home in a jar  and I got my waterfall running again. There were two big frogs in the pond- one alive and well- the other not so well-sadly-he got chucked over the fence.
This afternoon my daughter Maddie and I went to the matinee of RENT at the Company Theatre in Norwell to see our friend Shawn Verrier ( Angel) it was amazing. It's there through the 18th so if you are in these parts try to go. I loved it.
Shawn was the best! What a voice !

" red bridge " 12"x12" oil on canvas

I had started this on early on my trip- still needed tweaking -as I look at it now it looks like the blue grey river rock is water ( in the foreground) might need to fix that! Today I could only handle about 20 minutes of painting. Jet lag finally set in today- flying against the sun is tough( boo- hoo- poor me!). I went to Lowes in the early afternoon and got some composted cow manure and soil and flowers to bring over to Kate DiSantis' house- there was a work party there to help her, she is fighting brain cancer. I did a little- not much, and of course there was great  food( of course- it was the Lyons family!)

I know she will come through this- she is a wonderful person and has given so much to so many for years- now it's time to give back . It was an inspiration to see  so many cheerful loving hands  at work mulching, weeding, digging, painting, cleaning and burning in her yard and house. 

                                          And the sun shined gloriously  all day!
PS- sorry for the extra post yesterday- i did a little editing and republished- didn't realize it would go out twice!

" mimi's myrtle" altered book

I have some of my mother-in-laws myrtle blooming for the first time in my yard.

I love the periwinkle blue color, and that fact that it is from her garden, from the house that holds so many wonderful family memories.

There's No Place like Home

When I left Marshfield everything was black and white- and when I returned- color!  Spring! The flights back were perfectly uneventful- and I got in on time and even a little early. The only negative was the fight movie choice- a move called Hatchi with Richard Gere- based on a true story about a Japanese dog- let me tell you- it was so sad- I actually had to go to the teeny restroom to cry! And talk about red eye! Please- airline people- no sad movies on flights out of Hawaii! That is sad enough!
Other than that it was fine. I even made it back in time to hear my daughter sing at the high school spring concert- perfect re-entry- especially because the last song was very Hawaiian. Sweet!

I had a wonderful session making mosaics today at the Bay Farm Montessori school in Duxbury- ( luckily after lunch!) and here are the kids enjoying the process. They created two nautical themed stained glass mosaic windows for their annual auction.
Here is my flower of the day- I designed this for the school garden in Waimea. HI. The original painting is for the auction they have there, and the image will be also be used for a tee-shirt.

Aloha, Hawaii, until we meet again

I sat on this cliff and meditated ( or tried to- mostly was scared I would fall off)

I have this island in my soul- and aloha

( the meaning of that word is "generosity of spirit" ) the giving and loving energy.

I hate to leave, but of course- love to get home to my turf- my peeps- my wonderful New England. 

this is the road out of the secret cliff spot.

Here is the 1930's theater where we saw "Alice in Wonderland (no - not in 3d)

Its a wonderful old theater- reminded me of Loring Hall in Hingham

movie was fun too- loved tweedle- dee and tweedle- dum...

A mural in Honoka'a depicting the sugarcane workers, and my flower- something i did 15 years ago,

Its a wood construction- I did a lot of these at one time-- I had  given it to my Dad and Jan and it hangs in the loft.

No post tomorrow- I will be traveling....

ALOHA!

Easter Lamb( one day late)

Lavender surprised us with a lamb- a baby ewe! She is 9 lbs- a very nice size!

She is adorable. 

Here is Joanna helping her to latch on. 

Here are the boys- Sherman (in front) is the proud father. He's waiting for a cigar!

This is what MY Dad does while this is all going on- he hides in his woodshop!

Here is the baby-still unnamed...lying in the grass, SOOOOOO cute!

This is one of the paintings of the day-

And this is the portrait of Nicole- commission ( thanks Nicole's Mom!)

Nicole came as the sheep shearer and ended moving into a tent on the property, she now lives in town. She is doing her thesis on agricultural community of the Hamakua district, at UH-Manoa ( Owahu)

Nicole is, simply put , THE BEST. One of those people you meet and love immediately. 

I hope I captured her natural beauty!