This is my very own version of the Taj Matent based upon the fantastical creation by the lovely Debi. The name is Cindy's brilliant characterization for Debi's 'sleeping quarters' for the 'camp out' during last Barn House show. If you read my blog with regularity you may remember that our patio roof collapsed on Christmas Eve last year after ice and snow became too much for it to hold. We remain roofless at this point and as we have been having record heat this month i decided i needed to innovate. The vision created with tablecloths and old curtains is quite lovely i think.
Since it has been so very steamy here in our usually cool Northwest i have been watering Avalon pretty much non-stop in order to keep the haven a haven and not a desert.
And while i have been pushing sprinklers and pulling hoses around Joe has been preparing his canoe for a weekend away for fishing and boating. Believe me he deserves a break for some summer fun. He has been working pretty much non-stop since my Dad got sick in May, working on home projects, doing helpful things for my family, volunteering his gardening skills for friends as well as faithfully working at his day job.
On Sunday as nightfall began in earnest i walked through the garden with my camera and watched for opportunities to capture an ephemeral moment of beauty in each little ecosystem of Avalon. The blue background of this photo was due to the alchemy of water and the blue toned light of dusk. There wasn't a blue object or flower in sight. If you look closely you will see there is a backdrop of spraying water surrounding the scene that shows as white streaks. Cameras do sometimes show us magic that with our eyes we may never see.
A frequent pastime of summer is following around the various winged visitors to Avalon trying to take their portrait. The fat bumblebees are all over the Agapanthus and it being later in the evening they seemed to be as lazy with the heat as i was.
I captured this rare photo of my twin (Robin-Bird... get it?) through the screen of my kitchen window. I'm not sure if it was the screen or the radiant light that caused the diamonds of water to sparkle so but no matter because when magic presents itself i regard it as my reward for believing.
What night magic have you captured with your camera of late?
Love, robin
Really lovely and amazing pictures!! I love the robin in your bird bath! We have a robin friend too who loves to pull worms out of our lawn - so fun to watch!!
Posted by: Jackie | July 28, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Oh I love the birdbath one! How beautiful!
Cxx
Posted by: Claire | July 28, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Mt tweety friend. Those pictures are absolutely dreamy and magical. You have such a wonderful eye.
Posted by: Yoli | July 28, 2009 at 09:11 AM
I love when my camera captures the magic and I love that you share that magic with us all. Thank you my friend. This heat wave definitely helping us to find creative ways to stay cool. I also love that you have named your garden Avalon, Anne of Green Gables is a favorite of mine and my girls, someday I hope to go to Prince Edward Island.
Posted by: Florence Muma | July 28, 2009 at 08:55 AM
I've not found any magic with the camera lately, and certainly none like this! Inspiration will strike soon! These are all stunners -- I applaud your ingenuity in tenting your patio! That's pretty darned brilliant! That blue bg on the daff captures me -- you're right -- amazing what the camera sees. And since sunflowers are a fave of mine, I'm glad you're making sure yours are well tended!
Keep cool, Ms. Robin Bird! Sounds steamy out there!
Posted by: jeanie | July 28, 2009 at 08:43 AM