This summer has been very very hot, as anyone who's been to Atlanta in August remembers. There's nothing like the feeling of walking out the front door into a steam room. We did not make it to Maine this summer for the first time in years, which was very disappointing. But life happens...

The photo to the right is of a baby hummingbird making its very first flight ever. Her mother circled the holly where the nest was, making encouraging noises. I was luckily at the window drinking my morning coffee and seeing the hummingbird there, ran for my camera. She circled and encouraged for about 15 minutes, then out the little one burst in a mad flight that ended with her clinging to the nicotania. You can see how very tiny she is compared to the nicotania blossoms - and the aphids. She clung there for almost an hour, gradually making her way up to perching on top of the blossoms. I could see her heart beating so very fast - sheer terror at a first flight. Eventually, she decided that was enough and flew up into the trees.

I immediately refilled the hummingbird feeder and have a steady stream of visitors still.

And yes, I do know how to get rid of aphids - lots of soapy water at regular intervals, but...

That would discourage visitors like these black swallowtail caterpillars from eating my parsley!

By the way, when they are quite small, they have evil looking spikes and a white saddle in the middle. A day or 2 later, they turn into these. I think I can see them grow visibly!

They do greatly prefer curly parsley to flat Italian parsley. Completely ignore the latter until the curly parsley is decimated.

Some more visitors...

There's always so much to paint, so little time!

A little sketch of sailing on Lake Lanier. We haven't been since it got so hot, but I'm looking forward to fall sailing now!

Roger grabbed this sketch and won't give it up - I'm thinking of doing it larger!

I really enjoyed this painting. It's exactly what Venice is all about - at least some of it. Deep dark shadows, glaring light and interesting shadows in between. Lovers in a gondola. Green milky water with hidden depths. Layers of stucco. And a journey through it all.

So that's my summer! Now into fall!

By the way, for anyone interested in taking a workshop, I am only scheduling one workshop in 2008 - the one in Italy. So sign up early!