As I type this blog post, new LED panel lights are being installed in our basement!  I can’t wait to see that space properly lit and bright.  I put off my painting until the new lights were installed so I could see better.  I hope to have that done next week. My four things this week – Restoring Williamsburg, Alone Africa, regret & gardening overalls, and hiring out annoying jobs. what I’m reading My research of Thomas Jefferson’s gardens at Monticello led me to Williamsburg.  Jefferson was educated there and was influenced by the architecture, but departed from their formal English-style gardens when designing his garden.   I have a couple of books on Williamsburg, but poked around to see if there were any good ones I was missing.  This led me to Restoring Williamsburg, and it’s been an interesting read so far with lots of great images.  Would you believe

I usually enjoy the summer because of the slower pace, but this week has been busy!  We’ve just had a lot on the schedule.  Things should quiet down next week.  In all of the busyness (and the suffocating heat), I’ve still managed to get some good things done. Here are my four things – My Jeffersonian period, borrowed light, toning down the crazy what I’m reading I’ve been enjoying my book on Monticello’s garden so much (A Rich Spot of Earth) that I pulled out my favorite book on Monticello, Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, to read along with it. It is a gorgeous book with wonderful photography and great information.  If you can’t take a tour of the estate (or you just want to spend more time looking around and learning), this book is excellent. what I’m watching I’m currently in my Jeffersonian period, so Jeff and I watched the

Well, between thunderstorms and hot, sticky afternoons, summer is in full swing here in Maryland.  I’ve been spending mornings and evenings working on projects outside and staying inside for the heat of the day, working at the easel and writing.  While I’m not a “summer person”, I do love the longer days and the slower rhythm of summer.  I don’t have to get up early and rush the boys off to school, more of our evenings are free from obligations, and there seems to be a little more free time to enjoy.  Believe it or not, I haven’t gotten in the pool yet for one reason or another, but I’m planning on enjoying it in the coming weeks as a treat after working outside. Here are my four things – A rich spot of earth, more gardening, repairing failure, and summer rhythms. what I’m reading I’ve been reading A Rich

I must say, I am pretty proud of everything I’ve accomplished in the week since my last Four Things post.  I turned in my book manuscript, primed more pieces for building a few more panels to screen the A/C unit and propane tank.  I built another garden obelisk and completed a few commissioned paintings.  Jeff and I also worked together over several days to get the garage organized, and now I feel even more motivated to get projects done now that I have a covered place to work and can find the tools and materials I need.  The weather has been hotter than I would like, but I’ve been doing outdoor chores in the morning and evening and working inside during the hottest hours.  It’s been a good week! Here are my four things… what I’m reading I like to grab a book when I know I’ll be waiting, so

Whew, what a week!  I decided to try fitting in a bunch of projects to “beat the heat,” and I ended up working quite a bit in the heat, red-faced and sweat dripping off my brow.  It was only in the mid-to-high 80s, but I’m just not built for heat and humidity.  I got a lot accomplished, but it threw off my blog posting schedule, and my e-mail was woefully neglected.  I spent some time today getting caught up, so I won’t go into the weekend feeling behind. Despite my full week, I picked out four things… what I’m reading I had a few appointments on top of my projects, so I revisited a favorite gardening book from last year to read while I waited.  I try to always bring a book with me if I know I’ll be sitting around, so I can spend the time better than just

 My four things this week – Blooms, “I’m farming”, little by little, and rainy day painting… what I’m reading I received the most beautiful book in the mail this week – French Country Cottage In Bloom, the latest book by Courtney Allison.  I’ve known Courtney for years, since my early days of blogging, and I’ve loved watching her bring her incredible styling and photography to books.  I own all of them and love looking through them, especially for ideas for styling flowers and tables.  She is brilliant at both, and that brilliance is undoubtedly on display in this book.     what I’m watching Clarkson’s Farm Season 4 is now available!  This is one of our favorite shows on TV.  It is funny, heartwarming, and a realistic look at the difficulties of making a living for local farmers.  I enjoy watching how earnestly Jeremy and Lisa work at farming and running

It’s graduation week, and now we have our first high school graduate!  Marshall is graduating from high school tomorrow, so Jeff’s parents have come up from Raleigh, my parents are driving over, and we’ll be celebrating this milestone.  In case you need a point of reference, this is the toddler who used to streak through my blog photos in diapers!  I love this stage of parenthood, though.  I love that he can now drive himself around, is earning his own money in a job he enjoys, and has such a wonderful sense of humor.  He’s also oddly good at calculus, and I have no idea where that came from!  It’s enjoyable watching him discover his gifts and fill the shoes of a young adult. Between family visiting and putting together a huge trifold board of photos for Marshall’s senior display, I did manage to put together this week’s four things.

After a misty, drizzly morning, the sun is finally shining after over two days of clouds and rain!  I won’t be getting out into the garden today because the easel and writing projects need my attention, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it this weekend. My four things for this week – A return to an author I enjoyed, a treasure hunt, the season of effort, and another annoying project day. what I’m reading I was a little sad when I reached the end of Van Gogh has a Broken Heart, so I was delighted to find the author had written another book about art history mingled with lessons of faith – Rembrandt is in the Wind. I started reading it earlier this week, and it’s just as enjoyable so far.  I’m trying to limit myself to a chapter a day, so I don’t fly through it too