...And The Livin Is Easy

 Well, at least according to this fellow:

 This sweet very young catbird thinks my ground birdbath/drinking hole is his own private spa!

 At least a bird or two can sneak a drink albeit very quickly:) He or she has been coming and sitting for up to a half hour several times a day barely moving and I am sitting only about two feet away reading. Love these simple joys of summertime.

 For T Stands For Tuesday I have one last coffee related postcard to share:

  I have given them all away randomly to someone who mentioned how much they liked the postcards and this one went to Canada to Jenn of Just add Water, Silly. Jenn is an amazing watercolor artist who also blogs about book reads and food. Do have a look! Jenn kindly suggested it be a swap and look what she sent me:

 Lucky me!! Fun stickers and magnets, a sampling of QOR high chrome watercolors, two of her illustrated cards, a book mark, along with that gorgeous painted postcard!!!  The postcard is now framed and sitting on a little table by my phone in the sitting room so I can see it everyday. The details are absolutely amazing. Thank so much Jenn-you have spoiled me!

 I have become fond of cooking one meal pots on the grill in my cast iron pan and here is the second one I made:

 A dinner of scallops, baby corn, baby zucchini, hash browns and roasted garlic with some lemon and pesto. SOOOO good!!! This is another recipe from Wegmans, a wonderful large grocery store in our area.

 Of course I have some art to share too:

  The background was made using Distress inks smooshed on a kraft mat, spritzed with water then dipping the tag and moving it over the inks.  Linking with Try It On Tuesday (theme is tags),  the Simon Wednesday Challenge (theme is summer sunshine) and the new challenge at the Simon Monday challenge blog (Distress It)..

 I do love watching You Tube videos for more inspiration and I had come across a few where the artists used a toilet paper roll and q tips to paint and so I gave it a go on this journal page:

 I gessoed the page before painting a sky with acrylics. To make the "wildflowers" I used a toilet paper roll with one end thinly cut into strips to form a brush -like end,  a bundle of q tips, and a liner brush. Although you can't see it in this photo I mixed some pearl medium into the paints to give it a bit of shimmer. The sentiment is an old foam stamp inked with Archival black ink.

 Linking to Art Journal Journey for the theme of Summertime Love hosted this month by Elizabeth, Creative Artiste Mixed Media #28 with an Anything Goes theme all month, and to Paint Party Friday.

 Looks like a busy time ahead helping son and gf move into their new apt. and then reorganizing  for my art room's return. It's all good.  The Tour de France is in full force on TV too! And I'll try and keep up here in between it all:)

      " Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair."     Susan Polis Schutz