A swirling mix
of land & sea--
trillium and seaweed,
salmonberry and mussels,
driftwood, barnacles, rocks polished smooth by the ocean,
Springtime sightings of wild strawberry and lily of the valley--
inspired again
by my time on the Olympic Peninsula.

A print of this painting
is now available in my shop!

Some fairy flowers
in the magical evening light.
How could I resist?

----

Bird Song - The Wailin' Jennys

I recently spent a few days
on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula,
and look who followed me home!

A print of this illustration
is now available in my shop.

Laying bark
and pulling weeds
on my hands and knees,
gritty with dirt and sweat,
I looked up,
and this was my view.
Above my own toil
soared boats of magnolia petals
and stars of sweet-smelling Osmanthus.
I laughed with delight
at the surprise and beauty of it,
and realized
that I felt beautiful too--
hair in my face
and earth on my cheeks,
but strong,
and working hard,
and full of love,
for the living things around me.

The view
out the front of the house,
and the view
out the back.

--

Come Outside - The Melodic

Our blooming cherry trees!

We never really get any cherries--
the trees are small,
and the birds take any fruit before we do
(we've never bothered to fight them)--
but I don't mind at all
when we are treated
to blossoms like these,
illumined
by the early evening sun.

Is anyone else
excited for tulip season?!
I couldn't resist interpreting
a fading bouquet
on our kitchen table
into this swirl
of feathers and blooms...


A print of this painting
is now available in my shop!