I do love flowers. And it seems my favorite flower changes each time a new blossom appears. I absolutely love peonies. No doubt about it. However, they're pretty short-lived here in the PNW. The rain turns my beautiful light pink peony rusty before the powdery mildew sets in. But for the first few days...man, I love that flower.
When we go perennial shopping in the early spring, we always pick up some African Daisies. The colors are so wonderful and as long as I remember to deadhead regularly, their little bright faces bloom up at me throughout the summer. This purple variety is one we pick up each year.
But we also saw the yellow ones with the purple centers this year...and they were just too lovely to pass up.
And of course, when the clematis is blooming, well, there's nothing quite like it. The shower of flowers that cover the vine are spectacular. Most of our clematis blooms in the April-May timeframe because it gets the early spring sun.
However, we have two vines that are pretty shaded until June when they start growing. As luck would have it, one of them is also blooming now:
Anyone who grows clematis knows that it likes its feet in the cool shadows but its head in the sun.
We've struggled with that over the years but really did get it right with this particular plant. It's beautiful...and, of course, one of my favorite flowers!
I was in flower heaven!
Then, our daylilies started blooming. And while some daylilies are okay, we have one variety that is simply stunning. Well, it's stunning to me.
The colors remind me of a tropical sunset. And since I LOVE the tropics, this becomes my favorite flower. I marvel at how frilly the petals are - as if the dramatic color wasn't enough, it has to have frilly petals, too!
And the Asiatic lilies are blooming now.
The coloring certainly isn't as dramatic as the daylilies but the smell...oh mama, the smell! One blossom is fragrant enough to fill a room.
I know because I cut one blossom and put it on our dining room table. And I can smell that one bloom in the kitchen. It's amazing.
Another plant I get every year is an Angel's Trumpet. The first time I saw this plant was in Costa Rica many years ago. There, it grows to a tree size. All I could do was stare at it. The blossoms were out-of-this-world incredible to me. And I swore I would have one if I could find them here. Well, I've had several since then but have never managed to over-winter one successfully. It may because I keep it in a pot. I suspect it would do better planted in the ground near the house. But I need to have it close to me so I can stare at the blossoms.
That picture isn't the best...the sun was on the wrong side.
This picture is better.
Is that not gorgeous? It is my favorite flower today...and probably tomorrow and the next day, too. I love the name, I love the shape, I love the color, I love that it reminds me of a wonderful vacation with Randy and some great friends.
And I love that it makes me think of my parents and brother every time I look at those blossoms. Because for me, Dennis, Mom and Dad are my angels and I like to think that these are what their heavenly trumpets look like.
Gotta run...I think I hear a trumpet!
The quilting - this just blows me away - is the hippocratic oath. You know it - it's the "do no harm" speech that you hear on every medical TV show. It's tough to see on these photos, but it's there...trust me!
Our nephew is planning a film career. He's been into movie making projects since he was very young, and he's very talented. He's at Chapman University in CA...hence the red and white for that university.
His quilt is quilted with the names of actors, movies, directors and producers - very fun and very unique! 
I got them back a couple of weeks ago, added binding and labels, then sent them to the twins. I hope the quilts keep them wrapped in hugs whenever they're feeling a little homesick.
The patterns are from a favorite blogger of mine - http://blog.maryquilts.com/. Check it out - you'll love her work!
Every time we go to the San Juans, my MIL asks if we're taking bird pictures for her to see. This time I made the effort.
These certainly aren't wonderful...blue heron tend to be pretty skittish as you near them. So these were shot from a distance; then cropped.
Don't be looking for digital perfection here. But they're okay shots.
And no, I am not a bit biased.
I mean, come on...look at that sunset and tell me that is not beautiful.
Or that one.
It was just like living in pictures from a travel magazine.
And of course, part of the charm is the sailboats reflecting in the water.
This was the view from our bed the first night. It's difficult to close your eyes when this is the view outside your window.
Since I'd gotten a lot of the blue colorway, I decided to use it, along with a navy-on-navy floral
and a rose-on-pink fabric
...to make my own lattice quilt.
I cut and pieced enough for a few blocks on Friday just to see if I liked it. Then, Sunday, I cut and pieced a few more. One thing I really like is that you oversize the blocks when cutting; then square them up after piecing.
It makes for a bit of waste...but more importantly, it makes for very square blocks!
Since the 4 blocks together make a 12" finished block, I could applique something, but what?
The regatta is hosted by a Portland club but held at our club because...well, because it's a nice club with a nice lake and good camping facilities. 
They have such enthusiasm and are so good.
They aren't afraid to jump on a boat they've never sailed before and that has unfamiliar rigging.
After a few instructions from the boat owners and within a few minutes of leaving the dock, they're heeled over and flying across the water; laughing and grinning from ear-to-ear.
It's pretty fun to watch. 
We watched this pair of Lightnings approach the finish line from our house deck before driving down to the club...that was fun!
This picture was also taken from our deck.
