Owl Moth?

I am always finding these amazing guys in mornings in the summers

when I go out to fold laundry that has been hung to dry outside.

His awesome little precious face looks so much like an owl to me...an owl moth?

Does anyone have any idea what kind of moth this is, I can't find a match up anywhere!?

The Back Deck Project

Well one project we wanted to get done straight away was our back deck redo...

We've been wanting to refresh and improve this much used space for some time now.

I am always SOOOOO glad and grateful

that I have not only a handsome bearded honey but one who is also very handy & hardworking.

After a long harsh winter we had to take the old gazebo down because it had seen it's best days...
our winters are so hard on any and all of our outdoor areas and stuff.



We put up a structure for a clear roof all by our handy little selves, ha ha...

Painted it...sanded and re-painted the floor and VOILA.....

  

Well, okay!  It wasn't just 'Voila', ha ha, it was a lot of work but it was so worth it.
We made sure to get this all done in early Spring so that we could enjoy it for a nice long season.

I just love sitting on the pillows on the floor at the long bench Japanese style with some food.

Or stretching out on it to watch the rain.

I love all of the flowers.
Oh flowers galore.

I love sweeping it and keeping it all clean
because it feels like the loveliest spot and keeping it up is me respecting & appreciating it.

I love putting on the pretty white flickering lanterns at night.
I love just watching the buns play about.

I love sitting here in the mornings with my espresso and a book.
I love how the chickadees bathe and drink from the fountain even with me sitting right there.

I love it all by myself or with the bun babies.

But I especially love it when I have lovely company to share it with.

Outside With Buns

Tis the season where your likely to find me outside with the buns ALOT!

 

I love being outside with happy rabbits frolicking around me,

it's truly one of my happiest places on earth!

 

 

I don't get nearly as much work done in the summers as I do in the fall/winters...but that's okay...

 

 

...learning to embrace the ebb and flow of an artists life is part of living that life well!

and for me, taking rabbits outside to play is just as important to my soul as making pictures.

We're in the middle of the chaos of yard construction right now because we're completely re-doing

our 'main gazebo' (which you saw last year when the rabbits gave you a yard tour)
I am trying to keep my cool...

sometimes it's hard for me because I don't do chaos in my physical environment very well!



A gazebo may sound like a very indulgent thing but for me it's necessary,

I don't do summer heat & sun as well as most &

it's pretty crucial for me to stay out of the sun when the migraines strike, like today!

 

 

I get so nervous, having the house buns outside, there's so much out there that can hurt them.

But we've always let our buns outside because they've always loved it SO insanely much.

So here's wishing for a safe, happy

and uneventful summer season!

 

Hope your off to a wonderful week & are enjoying this beautiful day.

See you later in the week for another new illustration which I am SO proud of

and a post on my exhibition which recently wrapped up.



Yard Bliss, Clean Up & Happy Weekend

I think alot of people search and search endlessly for things and situations that make them happy.
Some of us are lucky in finding our bliss quickly and easily.

Being in the yard, working away, be it at yard work or artwork,

with rabbits running around happily around me

is without a doubt one of my purest and most blissful happy places to be...

...I am grateful...

so very grateful, for the times that I had with our Ella Bella & other furry kids out in our beloved yard
and for the current precious times I share out there now with my honey, Roo, Jin and Jaks.

I am pretty sure that this yard is going to be enjoyed by many more rabbits yet!

This weekend we'll be hopefully finishing up the rest of the yard work before winter storms in.

May you be feeling oh so blissfully grateful today too & enjoying your year end yard wrap up as well.

My Back Deck

So onto lighter things...

Want to see where I spend alot of time on spring, summer & fall days? 

Well one of the places anyways!

This is our back deck.

It's where Mister Roo-Boo tends to hang out during the days,

where Ella Luna and I spent oodles and oodles of time together,

and where the squirrels and chickadees come to converse with me.

It's also where I have my morning coffee,

my mid-afternoon reading breaks

and where my easel is set up for painting or pastels.

It's also where I stretch out and gaze up at the stars in the evening times.

Ahhhh.

I LOVE it.

I've shown you this space before,

but it does change from season to season,

I am sure it'll be completely rearranged next year again.

And, I still have to paint that one rocking chair a bright red...maybe this coming weekend.

Thanks for hopping in.

XO Mandy & The Buns