Spring has sprung

After a year of fighting thrips on my orchids, and not having any healthy blooms to enjoy,

at last, I think I have won (and the good news, not with serious chemicals).

I diligently used citrus flavored dishwashing soap and Neem oil alternating.

Both were mixed in a gallon of water.

I also used a blend of 409, alcohol and water once or twice.

So, this is what is blooming today.  

When I wasn't stewing about my orchids, I did have some fun with my art

Some of those backgrounds I love to do got cut into bits and mounted on a canvas.

I had envisioned something more exotic but as sometimes happens, those great ideas just don't work

in reality.  This reminds me of the colors of Hawaii

This background really looks like a shawl.

I am not sure where I am going with this, yet.

It may reappear in a few weeks completely revised.

Playing around with these things is half the fun.

After all, it's only paper, right?

Wishing everyone a beautiful Spring

and praying for peace and good will.

Happy PPF

Happy St Patricks Day

Happy St Patricks Day!

We have so may happy memories of time spent in Ireland.

Both my husband and I have Irish background and when we arrived there for our first visit     

we both fell in love...with the countryside and the people.  

The people we met in Ireland were just the best.

We were fascinated by their fascination with our politics.

(I wonder what their thoughts are today)

We loved their cheerful, "of course you can" attitude.

And their food, and their countryside, and, and,and.

So we have been back four times (and never been disappointed).

So Happy St Patricks Day to all

and put this wonderful country on your bucket list.

The painting is, again, yupo.  I did layers, starting with yellow and if you are interested,

there is a 4-leafed clover hiding in there for some lucky stiff.

 Spring is springing on our lanai.  This is my guatemalensis orchid covered in blooms.

They start out sort of dark and fade as they age.

(Just like us?)