HerbnArts

    ...For nearly two weeks the roses have been blooming here in Ohio.  That's a bit early for us, but then, the weather has been much milder than usual.  Roses like cool nights and sunny days, and that is what we have had until Memorial Day weekend.  It was hot and humid which caused my rambling roses to virtually explode into opening and then to be spent in nearly a day.  So, I have had to work fast at harvesting the blooms for the crafting projects that I have in mind.  Though my roses are producing quite a few flowers this year, it is not nearly enough for all the things I would like to do with them.  I may start visiting the neighbors to get a "cup of roses" from them.  I admit to being tempted to stop and harvest roses from the rambler growing wild on the property of a church building that is for sale.  Sounds like something my grandmother would do.  At any rate, the millefleurs are producing copious amounts of blossoms as well.  The millefleurs are a wild rose

    As my French lilacs began to bloom I took heart at the fact that they were blooming just in time for Mother's Day.  Both my mother and grandmother have been gone for many decades, but the memory of them is as fresh as if they were still here with me.  The heavy perfume of lilacs wafted through my open windows causing me to travel back in my mind to the fun times with both those truly amazing ladies.       Grandma was the gardener, so I certainly come by my green thumb honestly.  My dear mother could not grow anything to save her soul.  Every Mother's Day my father saw to it that I was able to buy a basket of pansies for my gift to Polly.  Mom always like the cheery little faces on those sweet blossoms.  She always made sure I was the one to plant them for her, knowing that her touch would be the kiss of death to anything green and living.  The joy of having little bouquets of pansies in jelly jar vases was the gift she could deal with in the spring and early summe

     For everyone who could not make it to this year's Artists of the Rubber City Annual juried show, here is the piece I have in the show this year.  It is entitled, "Urban Window Dressing".  It has been a long time since showing any of my photo work, but it looks as though this will be a year of completion for much of my work.  With my job situation changing, I have had time to clear away the creative cobwebs in my brain, allowing me to actually create art, again.  Just finishing a piece is a major accomplishment for me.  But I seem to be on a roll, lately.  I have been working on two proposals for Summit ArtSpace for consideration in next year's exhibition slots.  You can't get in if you don't submit something.  I have been climbing out of a dark hole in my creative life, and it feels good to finally see the light of day.  I didn't win any prizes or get any big deal recognition other than acknowledgement from my fellow artists and a nod or two from t