"Always Maintain a Kind of Summer" -Thoreau

Thoreau's advice is well taken as always. Summer, 2009 has been rainy and quite chilly actually. In an attempt to make the best of it, I am posting a small painting of hollyhocks at left that usually bloom in the height of summer. This is a 2x3, "Hollyhocks at the Lake ", and if you would like the original it is $39.00 matted and framed- 5x7. Prints are always available.
On the right is one I did years ago. These red hollyhocks were right outside my door and I painted them more than once. Those were hazy, lazy days of summer. The kids (grown now) usually would run around the corner of the house and take one or two hollyhocks with them so by the end of the season if we had two or three left we were lucky.

Enjoy the day - don't let it get away!

"SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY
...One of these mornings
You're goin to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky" - Gershwin

Even though we have had too much rain, when the sun shows up all is forgotten and it is glorious summer once more. On your left is typical of cows in summer and this is part of the Family Farm Collection I am doing. I am having trouble uploading the first of this series but maybe I can do it later.

I got a visit from a cousin of mine today- one who I used to be with most of the summer when I was a kid. His family would come up for a portion of the summer or more and stay at the camp on Colchester Point. I would get to stay with them alot so nostalgia was running high. The Irish are known for nostalgia kicks and I am not any different than the next Irishman or woman. For the Irish and especially for the Irish cousins I am posting an icon I did last summer.
St. Patrick -Patron Saint of Ireland. There is quite the chapter in The Story of the Irish Race

by Seumas MacManus on St. Patrick. Both humble and quick to defend, a reason why the Irish related to him, his story is well worth the read as well as the full story of the Irish Race.

Here is a part of one of St. Patrick's poems to close this post.

"...Blessing of elements, blessing of valour, blessing of dexterity,
Blessing of glory, blessing of deeds, blessing of honour, blessing of
Happiness be upon you all...."

"St. Patrick worked so many miracles and wonders, that the human mind is incapable of remembering or recording the amount of good which he did upon the earth"- Story of the Irish Race
St. Patrick rose up singing, spread his wings and took to the sky..........

So much for my Family Farm Collection.. maybe next time