Big Sunflowers

Can you tell me about this piece?

Well... it's a painting of some really big sunflowers.

What was your inspiration?

Um... I've had some really big canvases that have been taking up too much closet space for a while.

How did you plan this particular painting?

Plan? Oh... I found a photo I'd taken in my dad's sunflower patch a few years ago. Then I sketched in circles where the centers would be. Next I squirted out some paint.

Did you use special tools or techniques?

Special? No... not special... I used an old chip brush and a one-inch brush... held only at the tip like you'd hold a magic wand. I used the side of an old credit card for smearing. I used a spray bottle to cause dripping. I used a piece of sponge for dabbing.

Did you enjoy the process?

I loved it!

This white one was a lesson a while back.  I wondered if I could pull off another one on my own. "Sunflowers" was my Weekly-ish challenge. It was a good reason to try!

Original Acrylic Painting on 24"x 24" Wrapped Canvas

They're on my wall right now, and I love seeing them there, but click Big Sunflowers if you'd like to see this painting on your own wall!

 

Another Blog

I have another blog.

Did you know that?

I wouldn't have thought so.  

I don't think I've ever mentioned it. It was simple way to record the happenings around our place... kind of a photo diary.  

I'd add photos as the month went along, then it would "publish" at the end of each month. I didn't imagine anyone else would be interested. I didn't have any notifications turned on and never thought to check, so yesterday I was completely shocked to discover that I indeed did have readers. And, there were comments from weeks, months, and many months ago!  Oh, my goodness!  I never responded because I didn't know! Sorry about that! Anyway... I turned the comments notifications on, just in case!!

If you want to peek into our little slice of the world each month, please have a look. 
Serendipity: Where Wonders Await

If you comment, yes, I'll respond!

😊

Willowing Arts: Year of Magic & Fairy Tales (May)

Every Sunday night I get an email from Willowing Arts. The email will have the week's lesson(s). Sometimes the teacher will be someone I'm familiar with, and sometimes it's a teacher who's new to me. I'm determined to watch and make every lesson.  I'm glad of that because sometimes I don't think I'll like one or don't expect to learn anything from one.  Then... I work through it and completely enjoy the process or learn some little thing that I didn't know before.

Watercolor, colored pencil, pen

Watercolor, paint pens, colored pencil

Drawing, collage papers, watercolor

Watercolor, paint pens, colored pencils

Cut collage papers

Layered mark making, craft paint, paint pen

Collage papers, paint pen

Watercolor pencils, watercolor, white ink

I Like... (May 2026)

Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 
Click on HER BLOG to see what positive things others like. 

I like bringing some of the outside in.

I like having forest friends...
But... Stay in the forest, little friend!

I like all of my hens.  This little girl is kind of a favorite though.
I know every feather on her body grows in a different direction
so she has perpetual "bedhead," but she's so sweet
and likes to be where ever I am. Her name is Flo.

I like going for "serendipity walks" down the road. 
We never know what we'll see. But, tiny baby raccoon! 
 Why are you out in the day?
And, where's your mama?!!
(You have no idea how much self control it took me not
to run pick her up, cuddle her, and give her a name!)

Is this your mama?

I like slipping day-old chicks under broody hens
then watching them become a family.

I  like knowing my hens & chicks are safe and sound in their happy little coops.

I like seeing foxes... on television! Not in my backyard!

  I like having a garden.
It's started off very "green" this year!

I like picking blueberries...
Then making very berry blueberry muffins!

LeeAnne's  conversation starter topics this month:

What would be your favorite insect and why? There are lots of annoying insects and so many interesting ones, but a favorite...? Surely, none would be on the list above the butterfly! Swallowtails? Monarchs? Luna Moths?. Did you ever capture lightning bugs in a jar as a kid? Well, of course!! And, yay for calling them lightning bugs instead of fireflies!

Would you rather be swinging in a hammock outside or digging in your garden? l love my garden! I love watching the growth and blossoms and ripening.  I love harvesting and eating what the garden produces.  But, digging? If that means weeding, then no. It has to be done, but that doesn't mean it's a pleasure.

What are your favorite flowers to grow? l love flowers that come back every year and don't require anything from me.  That would be daffodils, irises, daylilies, tiger lilies...

Did you go to the beach as a child? Arkansas is pretty far from any ocean.  Did you like to collect shells? Build a sand castle? Have a favorite swimsuit or toy? If no beach, did you go to a lake or river? We actually had our own lake!  Yep.  If you google Powell Lake in Arkansas, you'll see it.  (My maiden name was Powell. It was (is) about 15 acres.) So many church youth activities or slumber parties  or family reunions have a story about our lake... blackberry picking on one of the banks... a picnic area on another side... a spillway on the end where we swam... a flat-bottom boat and motor that we could ski behind... a raft made of 55-gallon drums and a wood platform...snakes... turtles... all the fabulous things!

Marbles

Every time I've started to write this, I think I sound like an old lady! 

Am I an old lady? 

Maybe I am!

When we were kids, we didn't need electronics and iPads...

Kids these days don't know how to play like in the old days...

Nowadays they couldn't sell them without a warning "do not swallow" label...

And, we had to walk to school a mile in the snow... okay, that last one's not true.

Whenever I see marbles in a jar at a flea market for $20, I'm always shocked. How did they get so valuable.  I had a huge bag of marbles... steelies... cat eyes... bumble bees...big shooters...

There were probably real rules, but we made them up as needed.  One game was to draw a circle in the dirt then try knock other player's marbles out of the circle.  I never liked having to give any of mine up, so I'd be sure to yell, "No Keepsies!" before a game.

I actually still have my big bag of marbles.  The steelies aren't as shiny, but half a century hasn't changed the rest.

So... have I taught my grand kids to play? 

Well, no... they have cool electronic toys... they don't know how... they might swallow one...  but the oldest two are 7, maybe it's time to introduce them to the fun of playing marbles!

I finished the Jacks and Crayons a few years ago and meant to get the third in the series done. I got sidetracked, I guess..  My Weekly-ish Challenge was "Big & Small."  That made me remember that I had this reference photo of a big shooter marble and small regular marbles. Finally! The series of 3 is complete.

Click Jacks for its story. 

Click Crayons for its story.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.

If you'd like to purchase this painting, click HERE. I'm making this a special, BUY TWO, GET THE THIRD FREE!

**DEAL** Buy two, and I'll send third along for free! 

Crayons link: CLICK CRAYONS HERE

Jacks link:  CLICK JACKS HERE

Marbles link: CLICK MARBLES HERE

Spring Chicks!!!

What's new here on Serendipity? Chicks!!!

These two have been broody for weeks.  They've been patiently sitting on eggs (well, the porcelain eggs, golf balls, and whatever eggs the other hens put in there).  I don't have a rooster any more, so none of our eggs are fertilized.   How do we have chicks?  

1. Buy two-day-old chicks. (There's a law in Arkansas that you have to buy 6 or more, so I got 6... ok... truth... I got 8.)
2. Put them in a bucket with some food and water.  Cover it with a towel to keep them calm, and put them in a room with a door... because the cat is very curious.
3. Have the kids come over to play then surprise them with chicks to hold and pet.
4. Wait until after dark then remove the fake eggs and gently put each chick under the two hens.
5. Open the nesting box the next morning and say hello to the new families!

This little white frizzle bantam looks like she was made out of an old boa! 
Her name is Lola... She is a showgirl. 🎵

This beautiful little bantam has black feathers that shine green in the sunlight.
We call her Elfie, short for Elphaba. 🎵 

I've never had two broody hens right beside each other with new little ones.  I wondered how it would play out. It seems like they're raising them all together as one family.

After a couple of days, it became clear that Lola was going to the be the mom of the whole brood and Elfie was going to be the auntie.  It seems that Lola makes all the decisions and keeps a close eye on everyone. Elfie comes along and helps.  I'm just glad that one didn't refuse to let the other be around.  It seems like they're working it out.

5 Red Flags & 1 Orange Cat

Sometimes when asked, “How’s it going?” or “What’s going on lately?” it’s just easier to say, “Fine,” or “Not much.” If not giving the simple one or two word answer, it might turn into a whole story…

First Story:

5  Red Flags & 1 Orange Cat

Red Flag #1

I've noticed that the gas bill has been unusually high for a couple of months... Huh...  Have we had the heat on more than we thought? Is it just inflation?  I don’t know. Huh...

Red Flag #2

Have you noticed that the hot water gets to the shower so much faster than it used to?  Yeah, I've noticed that too... Weird... I wonder why? Huh...

Red Flag #3

Have you noticed lately that when you turn on the cold water, hot water comes out for a minute before it gets cold?  Maybe I have... Weird... I wonder why,,, I don't know... Huh...

Red Flag #4

Have you noticed that when you're in the kitchen there's a spot on the tile where it's warm on your feet? No, I'm not usually barefoot.  Could it be from the dishwasher?  Maybe the air isn't reaching it? What if it's coming from under the refrigerator?  I don't know... Weird... Huh...

Red Flag #5

Have you noticed that the cat has started lying in the dining room all the time?  Yeah, why is that?  I don't know.  It's always the same spot. Maybe he likes being able to keep an eye on us in the bedroom or the kitchen or the living room and that's the best place to see all three.  Maybe. He seems totally relaxed there. Weird... I know... weird... Huh...

 

Next story:

The Mouse Who Gave His Life to Solve the Mysteries

Our air conditioner when out.  The repair man opened the air conditioning unit, saw a mouse who'd crawled in and bitten the wires which blew a fuse.  He tossed the mouse, changed the fuse, and closed the door to the repaired system. Due to a little policy, it was done... no charge… end of story…

Except that while the repairman was here, I told him about Red Flags #2-#4.

He solved every mystery in no time, (even the ones I didn't tell him about because I didn't know they were mysteries).

... Well, not no time… There was time for a coyote to come out of the woods right outside the window and grab a big chicken... There was time for us to run out and yell at the coyote who just looked at us and paced around deciding what to do, dropped the hen, and finally took off… There was time for the repairman to send his assistant into the woods to retrieve the chicken (The chicken who, by the way,  I'd just painted a portrait of and posted about her that very day)... Tragically, not a good end for the hen (R.I.P. Eleanor)... anyway... I digress…

Back to 5 Red Flags & 1 Orange Cat

"You have a slab leak." These are not words of comfort for a homeowner.

“There's a hot water leak in a pipe somewhere under your house.  The hot water heater is working nonstop as hot water keeps pouring out the hole.” (Red Flag #1)  “The rocks and concrete of the foundation are continually being heated, so the water in the pipes is surrounded by heat.  When you turn on the shower, the water in the pipe is already hot and ready.” (Red Flag #2) “Since both hot and cold water pipes are sitting in the heated area, they both are filled with hot water.  When you turn on the cold, first it flushes out what's there, warm water.” (Red Flag #3)  The heated tiles in the spot in your kitchen is where the pipes are closer and you can feel it.”  (Red Flag #4).  “The cat has probably found a spot that feels good and just wants to stay right there.” (Red Flag #5)

Well... am I living on a bed of heated magma like a volcano? “No.”

Fast forward a few days to the arrival of the “Leak Detection Team.” They spend the day with lasers guns and wands and head phones and meters and all kinds of equipment (just picture the Ghostbusters) and determined the exact spot where the leak was... the exact spot where the cat has been stretched out so comfortably for the last couple of weeks. 

The moral of the story (I guess) is to pay attention to your pet!

So... they come back Friday to take a jack hammer to my dining room floor.

Epilogue

The guys were great and fixed everything good as new! 

"How’s it going?" Great. Just fine. And you?

The offending piece of pipe
It somehow got a slight bend during the last 25 years.
The hole was about the size of a pin.
The guys and all their equipment were able to locate it in only a few hours.
Almost as impressive as a little orange cat showing us the spot for 2 weeks.

Willowing Arts: Mastering Mixed Media 2026 (Inspired by Lessons 1-11)

There are about 40 lessons in this series.  I've decided to work through every one of them in order.  It amazes me that there are some lessons I think, on first look, will be a waste of time then I end up thoroughly enjoying a process that I had no intention of caring to spend time on.

Watercolor, paint pens, colored pencils

Watercolor, splatter, paint pen, colored pencil

Drawing, Collage for texture, paint with 4 red, ocher, black & white

Penciling drawing, stenciling, magazine & collage papers, pen

Craft paint, Posca pens, collage paper

Craft paint, acrylic, collage papers, paint pens

Drawing, watercolor, watercolor pencils & crayons

Collage papers, gesso, doily, white ink

Sewing, collaged, inked, & painted pages, 

Mark making (to make a booklet later)