A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

I've been gone, yes I know.  I just didn't feel I had anything to say here.  

 I start off this post with a cutie-pie...Little Miss M is now 5 months old and she just makes my heart sing.  Last weekend I had Snicklefritz for the night and what a smart fun little girl.  I tell you being a Granny is what life's all about.  

"Repose"  16x20 oil on panel

The painting thing is going, slowly.  

"Patsy" 18x24 oil on panel

There are a few shows coming up but because I was on the landscape thing I'm a few ahead, I hope.  I really need to get back to the portrait paintings.

This one I hope to get back to but for some reason a recent update on my IPad has hidden the reference photo. 

So much has been going on nationally, voting in the primary and this dang coronavirus thing.  I really don't feel at risk with it as I don't get out to see many people, I order and pick up groceries, and not in contact with peeps that have traveled outside the country.  I think with the warmer temps coming it will fade away.  

I just keep my nose busy with painting, a bit of work, and reading at the cabin.  I'm actually way, WAY ahead on my reading goal this year.  I've already read 21 books this year to my goal of 50!  One I recently read (in the photo) I highly recommend.  It's "The Flight Girls" by Noelle Salazar.  OMG, that was an awesome book and I absolutely inhaled it in one day.  

Also spent a bit of time yesterday organizing my pantry.  My copy of  Pioneer Woman magazine came and she showed her organizied pantry with links to baskets, both wire and wicker and I was totally inspired.  My pantry just gets out of hand so quickly and trust me it was a horrible mess.  You know those wheat bug moths, well I found the source of a ton of  (thankfully) dead ones...blech!  Vacumn, dust, organize, toss, TOSS and TOSS, I filled three full trash bags.  I also found that I have an over abundance of vinegars, various kinds of vinegars.  That top picture, the basket not only has those three bottles of vinegar but the ENTIRE basket is vinegar.  I also have four containers of black pepper and four of table salt.  GOOD GRIEF!  I don't use that much salt, pepper yes.   

And the cookbooks, well don't get me started on those.  That's just a few of the cookbooks I own.  I absolutely LOVE cookbooks, love to read them, but in reality I rarely use one.  I might use them as a guide, for reference but really don't use them.  I need to cul the collection but can't seem to make myself do it.  I am thinking of having a garage sale and purge a ton of my dishes, cookbooks, regular books and maybe some clothes.  

Almost forgot that on Instagram last Thursday one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand had a quick contest where you answered in once sentence what was your favorite summer inbetween I believe 1993 and 201? something and at random she would pick I believe 10 and give away an advance copy of her new book "28 Summers."  Well, less than 5 minutes after I answered that I couldn't pick a favorite summer as all summers are my favorite I see someone congratulate me and I see I have a direct message (DM) from ELIN HILDERBRAND saying I indeed won of the books to send her my address.  I did that and she FOLLOWED me back on Instagram.  WOW, WOW, WOW!  Then we went to the cabin for the weekend and I totally forgot about it when on Sunday I get back and there is a package with an autographed copy of her advance copy book!  So very exciting.  I actually now have three autographed books from her.  

Life Update in General

 We have company this week...

She, hubby and BABY are here.  They're here for a couple of weeks for just plain visiting and a baby shower for the "little baby girl."  I got to feel her bumping around and that's always such a fantastic feeling.  Makes me just plain giddy. 

They made their way from California driving and met up in Sante Fe with B and B2, and Snicklefritz.  They went a few days  early for their family vacation.  So, that being said they had to farm out their white lab, Vinny and I was responsible for going to their house everyday to feed and love on the grandkitty, ZeeBe.  He's a giant of a yellow tabby and was very lovey back.  But the Big Dog, Mondo, our favorite granddog, got to come stay with us and our sweet Clayton.  They love each other but of course Clayton was gone a lot because he was back and forth with the vet to take care of his wound.  

But, in the mornings when we let Mondo out it was an act of congress to get him back in.  He preferred to stay out and so we did.  He LOVED to dig a small hole in my flowerbeds and sleep all day long and with the weather fantastic, we just left him.  

Can you see him...

There that handsome boy is.  Love this guy.

This little guy has been styling different colored dressings for about 2 weeks now and by Monday he may be RELEASED from this daily, and now every other day trip to the vet.  He is healing so well and getting around like nobody's business.  His appetite is back, he can come in his doggy door, not out yet, and sleeps better than ever.

With all the coming and going happening I took a brief evening off to go and see one of my favorite authors speak.

Elin Hilderbrand, author of the recent "Summer of '69," of which I read this past weekend.  It's a great book and I highly recommend it.

 

Also some quick strokes of paint on canvas was in order.  I finished these two recently and they have been big hits on Facebook.

"Morning Glories" 9x12 oil on linen panel 

"Plethora of Pansies" 9x12 oil on linen panel 

Then I went to see pastel artist Jude Tolar demo at one of my art groups and this was her set up.  I quickly snapped a photo and started it in the studio. 

 

I think it will be really nice.

On My Reading List

Thought I would share a couple of books/authors that I have been reading lately.  This morning I had to spend about 30 minutes finishing a book that I just could not finish last night as the Sandman interrupted.  If you have not found the author Kristen Hannah I suggest you find her and soon.  Man she is good.  I started her latest, The Nightingale and kind of took my time getting into it but this weekend at about 43% through I could not put it down.  It's about the French Resistance basically and the women involved in helping during WWII.  Oh, absolutely heartbreaking and beautifully written.  I also recommend her book Winter Garden.  That one stayed with me for a long time as will this recent book.  A fantastic author.  

Another fav of mine is Elin Hilderbrand who wrote A Summer Affair which I loved.  I love the beach books and hers are much more than beach books.

So some of my favorite authors:

Stuart Woods - Chiefs and Palindrome (the early stuff, FANTASTIC)
Kristen Hannah
Elin Hilderbrand
Mary Kay Andrews
Julie Hyzy
Tatiana de Rosnay
Greg Iles
Chris Bohjalin
Harlan Coben

There, that should get you started!