If you look at the templates on my site, you?ll notice one thing: they all have lots of rich color. I am not a white background type of designer. I often err on the side of complexity rather than simplicity in my designs. So why is it I get client after client asking for clean and simple designs using a white and grey color scheme???? These types of designs are sucking the creativity right out of me. Where are the people who appreciate a heavy dose of rich color?

I really don?t get why these folks aren?t turned off by the orange and green color scheme of my main site if they appreciate something much more staid. You?d think that would ward them off. Maybe I need to come up with something even more garish. LOL!

Don?t get me wrong. I?m glad they come to me asking for templates since it means a little extra income for me, but I just wish I could combine this business venture with something that satisfies my creative, glutton-for-color side as well.

We had such a lovely weekend. We spent the fourth with Diane (one of my mothers-in-law) and Rich, my brother-in-law and his two kids, Zoe and Zachary. My brother, Will, and his friend, Dan, even showed up later in the day to share our barbecued feast. It?s nice to share special days with special people.

On Saturday, Robert and I did a lot of yard work. While I cleaned up the yard waste which had accumulated during the past few weeks, Robert built the first of three raised flower beds we have planned. I?m looking forward to filling it up with beautiful plants.

Sunday was the great mother-in-law switcharoo. We dropped off Diane at the airport and picked up Leslie. She?ll be here for the next couple of weeks babysitting Rich?s kids while he?s at work. We hope to spend some time with her and my sister-in-law, Janine, while they?re in Seattle, but I?m not sure yet what the itinerary is. I asked for next Thursday and Friday off from work. Here?s hoping they?ll set me free!

I also finished off a couple of web design jobs and am very close to being done with a third. It will be nice to use my free time for my own things once again. I?m feeling the urge to redo all my sites. They need to be freshened up!

Every year on the Fourth of July, there is a spectacular fireworks display in Seattle’s Gasworks Park. We took Sam and his grandma Dianne there to see them for the first time and they were bedazzled

I took a million photos last night (OK, just 109) and created this little slideshow to display a somewhat random selection of them. (There were just way too many to sit down and judge which ones were the best, although I do have two or three favorites).

Go ahead. Ooh and ahh