The view from my tub!- Desiree

I have a jacuzzi bathtub that sits in a corner in my bathroom under two huge corner windows. I knew it would be a wonderful area to look out onto as I soaked in my long luxurious bathes at the end of the day so I planned the landscaping carefully! The area on the eastside is the rose garden and a japanese maple which fills those windows with foliage and colorful blooms. On the southern side I planted the lawn and a Pistache tree (pistacia chinensis or chinese pistache) that I dreamed would grow and shade the window and provide a canape of color in the Fall.  Flash forward into reality! Who has time to soak in a bath these days and the water waste is more than I can justify unless it is a special treat or I have to just stop and relax once in awhile. The pistache tree I bought (not during color) turned out to be such a disappointment. Known for their amazing colored leaves in the fall I has often dreamt about looking out onto shades of scarlet, crimson and orange during the fall. After 5 years of waiting and watching the tree never colored up in the fall. It would tease us by starting to look like it is going too and then drops all its leaves just about the time we were starting to get excited. I have written about this tree many times in my journals. This year my husband decided we were going to cut it down and plant another one which we will buy while they are in fall color. I think the tree overheard him because shortly afterwards there was a blast of color, not the color I expected but wonderful shades of gold, and orange and pink. I now found myself sitting on the edge of my bathtub painting in my sketchbooks and for my International postcard exchange. I had our Christmas pictures taken under it and photographed everyone sitting amongst the leaves, standing next to the branches etc. The day after I painted this we had very high powered winds and the tree that finally colored up had dropped almost every leaf onto the lawn below, the yard was a sea of gold! I did document this special occasion, through photos, paintings and journaling,its so exciting I had to share with you!

Chinese Pistache

With hope and anticipation for fall color, again, my husband and I watched our chinese pistache tree turn brown and drop its leaves within two days. These trees are known for their beautiful fall color and in California we don't get lots of that so I planted some trees just for their that purpose. This one was bought during the spring so we never saw it color up. It is a big tree, brought in with a crane so I can't rip it out. Every year for the last 4 years we hope but nothing. This year I noticed that my leafless tree was dropping these nasty hard peppercorn shaped things on the grass and walkway. I bent down and grabbed some of them and they were really beautiful. I did a sketch as I sat outside on this glorious morning thinking about how I need to not expect more than it is able to give and be thankful for what it does provide which is also beautiful. I need to apply that to my personal life also. So this is my sketchbook entry and was my prayer for the third.

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and tell you all how much I enjoy getting comments and hearing from everyone. I love visiting your blogs and getting inspired by each of you. Although we have not met in person I feel as though we have been friends for such a long time. Thank you again for brighting my day and making me feel connected on those gloomy days.