Friday Fun: Dog's Days of Summer

Love that water-skiing Dalmatian!

More Fall

Well, obviously I've been doing more sketching lately than finished pieces. It's just easier to fit in between map work and other ongoing projects. Also, I find sketching more relaxing and enjoyable than anything. Time to take these babies to the next level though. I'll post them as I get to them.

Already?

Woke up this morning to temperatures in the 50's and crystal clear sunshine. Beautiful! But it feels like September already.

I overheard a guy in the garden center saying that as far as he's concerned, June is the new July, August is the new September, etc. Judging from the weather we've had this summer, I'd say he's correct.

Ah well, my head is in September anyway, as the kids go back to school a week from today. Where did the summer go?

Mystery Vine

This strange looking vine with huge leaves popped up in our little side garden at the beginning of summer. I decided to leave it, figuring it was some sort of seed that sprouted from the undercooked compost I'd put down. And besides, by mid to end summer the roses usually looked fairly ratty, so at least it would add some green. But what was this mystery vine? We soon had a clue....



















Could it be a Butternut Squash?















It was! It was a Butternut Squash! So we cooked it up. Yum! We should have let it ripen a bit more on the vine, but it was delicious, anyway.















We've also been growing cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes and peppers. This was our first year experimenting with container vegetables. Not everything has been a bountiful success, but we did okay, considering the strange weather. (At least we kept the deer away!) We'll experiment some more next year.















It feels good to play with a garden, or a story, or a piece of art...

Monday Map: Vermont Vacation

Ooh, Vermont in the summertime. I want to go!

Friday Fun: Medicine For All

Watch until the end for John Cleese's comments... excellent...

More on Story Revisions...

... And sometimes the answer is right in front of your face. It's just not what you expected.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back is Still Moving Forward

Sometimes you have to beg a story to tell you what it really wants to be.

Darcy Pattison is doing a great series during the month of August called 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book over at her blog. Check it out!