Another day in paradise.... I used to say that every morning when I lived in California and it was true. I say it here too because it is also true.

Part of what I loved about California was the vegetation and those purple hills at sunset. Oh yes, they are purple and deep, rich blue. I know there are similarities in the two climates because our temperatures are often close to the same. The difference is in the humidity. At the height of summer it is beyond humid here. There are times of the day, especially in July and August, when there is just no point in trying a long walk or do a bit of gardening. But that is July and this is March and it is so amazingly beautiful. The leaves are popping out all over the place. The redbud and tulip trees and magnolias and forsythia are all in bloom and so are the tulips and all those other perennials that show off their colors just when we are all ready to appreciate them. The Bradford pear is beginning to drop its pink petals and the whole world here looks as if it has been painted in pink polka dots.

For many years in West Virginia I grew amazing cymbidium in our dining room. And when I moved to northern California I discovered that they are equally happy there as well. I bought one big planter of them and divided it twice before I had to leave them behind. They weighed too much for our car and the movers just laughed when I mentioned moving them.

I noticed orchids in the market here and also at the nursery down the road from where we live. I rescued one from the market that was being sadly neglected and then I bought another from the nursery. The nursery people took the time to tell me what to do with them to keep them happy and blooming. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they do as well here as they did out west.

Here are a couple of pictures of them. Aren't they something? I hope to make my studio a happy
place for them and maybe a few other orchids as well. The picture at the top of the page is of the Bradford pear.

I've been weaving a rather long piece of fabric which I intend to make into handbags and totes. I figured when I pulled it off the loom last night, that it is about seven yards long. It is an overshot pattern called "whig rose" and I'm pleased with the results.

Down the road even further I hope to have a website and try to sell some of my work...maybe an e-bay business too.