The Pagoda Project

I wanted to share this big project with you guys last season but I forgot to take good shots!

 

 

So here we are, this was our first big Spring project last year...our new 'Pagoda'

 

 

It was a huge job of tearing down our old gazebo which we had made also years ago.

 

 

We had to remove the old patio bricks, pull out dead trees, redo the walkway, etc...

 



 

Once my honey sets his mind to something he's like a workhorse, ha ha, so we got it up pretty fast!

 

We wanted to make sure that it was done quickly so the rabbits could safely use their yard again...

 

 

But also of course so that we could make sure to really enjoy it all season long too.

 

 

And enjoy it and adore it, we do...ahhhh.

 

It's one of my favorite places.  especially cause we made it together, just us twosome.

 

We created our own little Shangri-la, I think...and I am pretty sure the buns love it too.

More Outside Loveliness

I wanted to show you all my 2nd favourite place outside.
I am puttering around and working in this lovely spot all spring, summer and fall
(and now nights since that the mosquitoes are going away).

This is the beautiful gazebo Jonathan and I made together...(Jonathan made that table too from old scraps).
I've shown this space to you before as well, but as always, it changes from season to season.

We can be found out here even when the snow is flying...which it will soon be doing!

so the buns and I are out here enjoying the last of the flowers & warm sun, every chance we get.

Hope you's don't mind seeing snippets of my time outside
but it is what I am currently enjoying and basking in.

I'll see you again in a few days.  Thanks so much for hopping in.

Outside With My Co-Workers

While I've been outside working on a new illustration...

 

...My co-workers have their own important agendas.

It includes the munching of yarrow...

...and of course Ella Luna needs to constantly check on what Roo is doing,

apparently he's abit of a slacker and needs much supervision and direction,

which Ella Luna is happy to provide since she's appointed herself boss long ago...

...Of course there are birds to listen to, breezes to bask in, soil to turn over, leaves to collect 

and squirrels to watch as they skitter by, annoyingly so according to Ella Luna...

...Breaks ARE allowed, especially when deemed fit by the boss...

...But breaks don't last long for there is lots more work to get done such as the pruning of trees...

...Of course whiles the boss is busy pruning, Roo always manages an extra nap,

He says that it'll make him much more productive in the long run...

...we're all busy bees as you can plainly see, ha ha.

Have a wonderful day.

XO Mandy & her co-workers

A Bunny-Full Weekend

Well despite some head pain to deal with & falling behind on studio work, Ella's abscess not looking great and Jonathan being knocked down with a really bad cold, we had a good weekend anyways. 

How can it not be good when it's full of these sweet sweet little faces...



Ella Luna realized that the snow is on it's way out & and she's anxious for the grass to dry up.

Jinny found a new favourite napping spot...within 5 minutes of moving a new storage shelf into my upstairs studio, she claimed the bottom shelf as hers!

Jaks told Jinny...'you can have that little shelf because I got my big puffy blanket under momma's easel'...

Roo didn't really care what everyone was up to, all he knew was that the weekends mean alfalfa hay for treats and he couldn't wait for it to reach the plate, so his head got a slight dusting...

Even the sweet chickadees were out in full force

(Ella loves to sit by the back doors and watch them all afternoon)...

And a new grey buddy, I've yet to name...

And of course there was the return of some old pain in the butts, like Rudy the bully squirrel...

Indeed, how can one not feel blessed with all this furry & feathered goodness going on around you.

Ahhhh.....

See you soon.

XO Mandy & her animal friends XO

Outdoor Studio Days Are Numbered...

Brrr...it's getting chilly around these parts...abit too chilly lately to bring everything outside for some serious work...I am abit sad every year to say goodbye to my lovely outdoor space...sure we go out in winter with the buns for a couple hours everyday if it's not too cold, they love the snow but of course it's not the same...so I thought before I start to pack everything up for the winter, I'd show you my beloved outdoor space/studio...

...here's my coloured pencils set up in the large 'gazebo' (which Jon and I made our selves)...

...and here is my easel with a coloured pencil in progress (I am trying to work upright these days to help save my neck and ward of the head pain perhaps, so far I don't notice a difference but I'll keep at it)...

...my favourite colour is red, it's everywhere in our home, and I couldn't resist adding it to the outside too, especially on the garage door...

...I take frequent breaks when working with coloured pencil, because my work is so detailed etc it's important for my hands, eyes and back...so on some of those breaks I'll grab a book and sit on my sweet pink bench by the 'pond' (which has been emptied out for the fall in this shot unfortunately)...

Ella Luna and Roo are always close by...they bask in the sun, play at my feet, bunk & bink, dig holes and nibble on grass all day long as I work, it's just lovely...

...Than there is our upper deck, which I love as much as the big gazebo...(we made this one as well)...
I might take a break or two up here with a book and a cup of tea...

...It's one of Ella's favourite hang outs too...she's there under the red rocker in this shot but you can barely see her, ha ha...she's afraid of the big black crows so it's important that she has lots of things to hide under (even though they couldn't carry her away)...

I spent lots of time out here in the summer....I love it so (despite the hot tub humming of my neighbours!)..the twinkle lights & candles at night are wonderful..

...but usually my main set up for studio work is down in the main spot, that is Roo napping under the table but again you can barely see him...(we also made this table)...

psst....we also made that fountain against the fence (which we also built, ha ha) and the sweet colourful table to the right, we also made...we really take pride in working so hard for our sweet little home...

...Anyhoo...that's where I spend most of my summer days...my outdoor studio if you will, my little slice of heaven (until the hot tubs came into play!)...

Do any of you work outside???  If so feel free to leave a link in the comment section to your outdoor studio spots...

Okay, well before I get productive I am off to enjoy abit of time under a soft warm blanket with a new book and a cappuccino...Hope you have a wonderfully cozy and productive day too...

See you Wednesday for a new giveaway (this one is an original so don't miss out on it) and than Friday for a new work...

XO M & The Buns