Doing watercolor on the back porch on a perfect summer afternoon. This is a commission from a friend who works with me. A cardinal painted for her father. Fun for me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[from earlier in the day....]

This morning is heavenly here.....temperatures in the mid 60's, 20 degrees cooler than it has been of a morning! Though uncertain if it was yet "safe", I couldn't resist going out to water the plants, feed the blooming vines and clean the birdbath. Wearing long sleeves and gloves for more protection this time.

This photo taken looking straight down on the garden from the deck above shows the evil poison ivy bed at the bottom edge of the photo, surrounding the terra cotta pot. [click on any photo for larger version]

We went ahead and harvested the first 2 tomatoes, these are Cherokee Purple, heirloom variety. They are very large (weighing almost 1.5 lbs together) and beginning to ripen. I was suffering "separation anxiety" with these "babies" as I was staying away from the garden (due to the poison ivy as mentioned in previous posts)! Also fears that a bird might decide to feast before we did.....anyway they are now finishing the ripening here in a brown paper bag. With these "monsters" off of the vine, the other tomatoes may get more nourishment (fish emulsion was administered again today)

You can see in this photo just how large they are compared to the human hand....LOL!

In this human's other hand is a bottle of spray-on ivy killer. Come on!... this is too limited! I want the evil vine dug up and eradicated, no roots left alive to spread terror in my yard!!!!

Of course I have to be diplomatic in negotiating the type of attack my "Ivy Slayer" will launch....after all he has his own sensitivities to this noxious plant [and strange sensitivities to nicknames I give him in my blog! LOL!]

Back to the peaceful, heavenly side of gardening now with our friend, St. Francis near the front steps!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A day off from work and a call in to the doctor. My poison ivy seems to turn into hives, moving around and tormenting me. So I will soon pick up an oral medication which could help!
Meanwhile, I am planning to keep the air conditioner cranked up and stay cool....of course this is my day for yoga class too!
I'm afraid to go near my garden until the poison ivy nearby is removed....and that is not being taken care of very quickly. :-(
I am praying for rain as I can't go out and water this morning. It IS cloudy, so it could happen! My "Cherokee Purple" tomato has 2 huge tomatoes which are beginning to turn red! I am so excited. I will have someone pick them and bring them in soon!
**************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, a little bit of organizing in the studio....
Here a three ring binder with page protectors holds ephemera and clippings which may end up in collages. This is much better than having them piled in a shallow box! Now I can see what I have to work with and even enjoy placing them in visual relationships in the page protectors!

Flower clippings
Frida and turquoise

Afghan woman and child across from some large leafy kale!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my art journal page for today.....wanting to garden but staying away from it.

Off to yoga now! or NOT

[A few minutes later, having decided that yoga class is not a good idea] I've been out to the mail box just now....(in the front yard, not near the poison ivy in the back yard), and found a lovely card from Janet!

Tales from the DARK side of gardening......or 'poison ivy is not a good ground cover!"

Above: self-portrait for today.....hair bound back in a black scarf and no makeup. Lots of rash due to encounter with poison ivy (below)!

This is not growing in my garden, but just 3 feet away, it is flourishing! Apparently I am pretty sensitive! I had sort of thought it was wild strawberry (below)....but just didn't pay much attention to it! I don't remember touching it either.

Now, I am afraid to spend much time out there. So my plans for gardening are on hold until we get rid of the creeping evil ivy!!!!

I'll just stay in here where it is cool, read, knit and rest.

Hope I get better soon and can go to work tomorrow. I have been to the walk-in clinic this morning (Sunday) for a cortisone laden injection.....so much for any money-saving with gardening, LOL! [It is still a lot of fun though!]