Anniversary, Painting, Food...etc!

It seems that this painting thing, life, work, Rio....all of it is consuming my life lately.  Actually, yesterday was our 39th Wedding Anniversary and I didn't even have time to blog about it.  I think my blogging days will have to be on the weekends only for a bit.  

The Hubby and I went to dinner last night at a restaurant we have never been too, Mahogany's.  It's a steak place and I think a chain.  Very upscale and very, very expensive.  We had a gift certificate from one of our suppliers but good grief we still had to pay the other half of $300 food bill.  Really, being honest, it was a nice experience but I was not all that "$300" impressed.  The past 4-5 years we've gone to Flemings and I liked it better.  We had a trio special that had steak, a bone-in rib-eye, lobster and crab legs.  All of it was split between the two of us.  The steak was yummy, the lobster over cooked, rubbery and no flavor.  The crab was better.  The spinach had a strange taste.  But I overlooked that to say the wine was yummy, seeing a very, very old friend of my sister's childhood and the FABULOUS company of my hubby made the evening special.  We had a nice evening.  

I am also reflecting this morning on the loss of one of The Hubby's aunts, well into her 90's.  Actually, she was married to one of his favorite uncles, who is still kicking.  They were married, gosh probably over 60 years or more.  Then a friend, an old high school friend lost her husband to cancer a few days ago.  They were married over 40 years.  Loss is inevitable but still sad and hurts.  We've just got started having fun!

Started watching Rio again while her mother is teaching this week.  We painted and painted.  That kid loves to paint her watercolors and I will have to buy her some more and little canvas's.  She holds up her picture to show me her "bird".  I know it's because I paint a lot of birds.  She is darling.

(Gotta try and paint this!)

Here's some of the latest paintings.

Ain't Life Grand

Looks like blogging will be a bit slow this year.  I've been very busy doing this 30 Day Painting Challenge and as you can tell, I'm ready for spring!  Lots of birds and flowers.

Hummingbird 

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$ 75

Daffodil

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$50

Downtown View

8x10 oil on canvas

$100

Purple Finch

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$50

Woodpecker

8x10 oil on canvas

SOLD

Winter Goldfinch

5x7 oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Yesterday was such a lovely January day that I sat on our brick wall around the patio and sipped bubbly with frozen raspberries and soaked up the sunshine.  I spied the daffodils popping up the green all ready for spring! 

Decided to take a quick pic of MEEEEE... in one of the many mirrors we have around the yard.  Yes I never got out of my lounging clothes yesterday! 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Clean Up

The days are getting so messed up with the holidays and NO SUN.  It was weird that I could not make sense yesterday that it was Friday.  Usually we are heading to the cabin but opted to stay in town because of this nasty wet, cold, NO SUN weather.  I took time to paint a bit for the 30 day challenge as I have to every morning.  I decided to paint a little spring with the birdies.  

"Bluebird"

"Scarlet Tanager"

After a painting session I was off to take Christmas 2014 down and put away for next year.  That also meant cleaning out a closet, yet again.  Oh my gosh what a mess but I was able to even get this all back plus all the Christmas decorations and the TREE, with room to spare.  Just reshuffled a bit and trashed a bit.  

That done it was to the showers to wash my dusty self and de-grease the hair.  While reshuffling the closet I found jigsaw puzzles.  I LOVE jigsaw puzzles and haven't done them in years.  They bring back wonderful memories for me.  It was something we always did as a family during the winter months.  Especially on snowy days when school was called off and we couldn't (or wouldn't) go outside.  I posted this picture on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yesterday and a guy from high school commented, "You gotta good start there, just 998 more to go". What a funny guy, made me laugh out loud.  

Today it's more time at the easel, jigsaw puzzle, listen to the first book of 2015, out to dinner with friends.  Bringing in the new year right.  

Ringing in 2015

The new year came in last night with us staying home to watch little Snicklefritz while her parents threw a New Year's party.  Her momma said that bedtime would probably early but it was not the case.  She is absolutely obsessed with "Anny's" (Granny) bed.  All she wanted to do was get in my bed without me in it.  I finally talked her into letting me in my bed after about an hour.  She insisted it was RiRo's bed (as she calls herself).  For dinner she wolfed down two pieces of pizza, cottage cheese and blueberries, her favorite.  Unfortunately I had to make her cry when I finally insisted she sleep in HER bed.  Oh gosh, made me hurt to hear her cry for "Anny, Anny, Anny..." Finally, about 10:30 I went in for the 3rd time and she held her arms for me to hold her as she swiftly went to sleep on my shoulder.  This morning she is still asleep (it's 8 am).  I've painted and accomplished Day 1 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge that I'm doing AGAIN!  

Day 1 is of our sweet little Clayton.  I've had this picture for awhile and have wanted to paint him but just could not get it right but today...

I have Day 1 of the Painting Challenge under my belt.

Day 1 - "Clayton"

8x10 oil on senso linen canvas 

This sweet picture is one of the last Bri had of her little Opal BeBe.  I loved it and painted it for her for Christmas.

"Opal BeBe"

10x10 oil on canvas 

The End - The Beginning

It is the END of 2014 and I guess I need to reflect.  What a year it has been.  We've moved our offices after 30 years of being in one place.  Daddy had yet another surgery which turned out A-OK!  That precious granddaughter is just the apple of my eye and growing by leaps and bounds, daily.  They also have moved into their new digs which was exhausting for everyone involved.  

My painting has taken on a whole new dimension in my learning and experience.  It will continue in the new year with another 30 Day Painting Challenge and a trip to Scottsdale to attend the Scottsdale Artist School for a week of intensive instruction.

My girls are happy.  What more can you say but that they are happy.  They have great families and possibly we will have another wedding in the near future to celebrate.  

 

The wrap up is it has been an AWESOME year so far and I look forward to 2015.  (Bring on spring!)

Random 5 Friday

I have gone back to the first of the year in blog posts and realized that I was doing a Random 5 Friday and linked it to a particular blog that is no longer there.  Well, think I will Random 5 Friday anyway.  

1.  I hate winter, especially this winter as this month we have had a total of 3 partial days of sunshine.  I don't live in Seattle and this is going on way too long.  I am so wanting spring to arrive but I know we have to wait.  Waiting, waiting, waiting...

2.  Coffee, do you like coffee.  It's funny that I was never a coffee drinker until I turned 23 years old.  I loved the smell of it and when my grandmother had coffee candy in one of her many candy bowls I loved the candy but I just could NOT get the desire real coffee.  At 23 years of age I was pregnant with my first child and we had our business in our home.  That meant that the employees were in our living room every morning and the coffee pot was a gurgling.  The smell drove me crazy and I tried it.  In fact I became obsessed with coffee, I craved it.  Back then we didn't know to stay away from stuff like coffee, diet pop, etc... but I kind of knew real coffee would not be good for the baby.  SO when The Hubby wasn't aware I would pour decaf coffee grounds in the real coffee can and we had decaf coffee every morning.  The guys and The Hubby never knew and I got to have COFFEE and I never looked back.

3.  What was you favorite childhood movie?  Mine was Bambi.  I think I only saw the movie once but we also had the record, the soundtrack from it.  It was narrated by Shirley Temple.  Everyday at nap time Momma would put the record on the record player in the living room and put Bro, Sis and I down for naps.  I didn't want to nap but she told me that I had to at least lay down because Bro and Sis had to nap.  I almost always ended up asleep before them.  Smart play Momma.  Anyway, the record would play everyday and I could almost recite the entire movie, line for line at one time.  So loved that movie, uh, soundtrack.  I still have that record somewhere with a HUGE chunk out of the side of it.  Years later I was able to find another copy for my girls.  

4.  What's the plan for New Years Eve?  My plan is to watch Rio while her parents host a party.  We haven't had an all-nighter in months.  The Hubby is going dancing!  Maybe Rio and I will watch Bambi!  

5.  Finally, getting better.  I've had a sinus infection for the past two weeks and yesterday was the first day I felt back to normal.  Still crappy in the head a bit and the voice is still wonky but better.  I haven't been sick in a very long time and this kind of whooped my butt.  I have to get better because I am gearing up to do another 30 day painting challenge so get ready for a painting a day.  

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to everyone.  I've been busy just trying to get well lately but I did finish this sweet painting, "Three Elves".  These little guys were my granny's and I wanted to paint something else Christmas.  I love them and them immediately found a home after I posted on Facebook.  I will definitely paint them again.  

Christmas Goings-On!

This week I've been a bit slow as a stupid head cold has left me puny.  It's not a bad one but bad enough to knock me down a bit.  There has been so much to do that this is just not acceptable.  The Hubby decided, that it was time we did Christmas cards again.  It has been a few years since we have sent out business or personal cards.  Since the move we unearthed a huge box of best intentions Christmas cards so sure that is just what I did.  What better to do while sniffling and sneezing but to do Christmas cards.  I've probably done 300 or so with about 60 or so left to do.  Today they will be finished, maybe Monday.

Last weekend was Bri's Alliday Show and it was a great success.  Unfortunately, while watching Rio either she gave me this cold or vice-versa.  I suspect though that one of our employees who was hanging over my desk last week moaning and sniffling gave it to me and I passed it on.  DANG IT!  So she's been quite puny too.

There was a sad note on Monday morning as they lost their sweet new kitten Opal Bebe.

Opal came from a large feral community and the community has a lot of health issues that apparently she was not able to fight.  They think she had a stroke or brain bleed.  The very short time she was in their household made a huge impact and struck them hard with the loss.  Opal had bonded very tightly with Bri so she was very devastated.  They got a kitten for Rio and for their older cat, Vera and they were all very sweet together.  precious baby, 

Opal Bebe. 

Saturday Catch Up

My week has been SOOOOoooooOOOooo busy and I'm glad it is over, but all is good.  It was our first real week at the new offices and all went very well.  I love, love, love my windows.  It seems to rejuvenate me, even though we've only had one sunshiny day this week.  Enough with the cloudy days already! 

I did get a day at the easel in art class and boy what a day I had.  I finished two commission works and a fun painting.  I have another commission I'm not looking forward to doing but will tackle soon.  I really do NOT want to be known as a dog painter but that seems to be all I'm doing lately.  They are very fun and I'm getting better.  

This one is for my friend Carol who already owns six or seven of my paintings.  This sweet face is Tally Ho.  

This one was a challenge, not because of difficulty but difficulty of the pictures given to me to try and paint from.  Good grief, one was the backside of the dog with her child.  Really.  Finally, one came that I could work with and I did this one in less than an hour.  I'm happy with it too. 

Now on to fun stuff.  We have a friend who takes the most amazing photos at the cabin area and in fact is putting together a wildlife calendar.  She has given me permission to paint ANY of the photos she takes!  YIPPEE!  In the spirit of the holiday season I titled this one "Do You Hear What I Hear".  

Speaking of holiday season, I am so very behind in present stuff.  I did get Afton and Nick's stuff ready and wrapped and we have it all packed up in a box to hit the postal ways on Monday morning (I hope).  Have got to find the packing tape!  The nieces and nephews are sadly going to get a card with money this year as that is all I have time for.  The Hubby wanted to do Christmas cards this year in the business and personal which translates to ME doing all the Christmas cards.  I've been busy addressing and addressing and ADDRESSING cards.  So far I've got most of the personal ones done which was about 150 and have started on the business which might be between 150-500.  I have my work cut out for me.  He also wants to have an open house, NOT the Christmas season but before April 1.  That is a lot of planning on a huge scale and I will totally need Bri to help.  This weekend is her Alliday Show and when she gets to rest up on Monday we will hit the ground running with it all.  So very much to look forward to getting accomplished this next year.   

I haven't gone to Bri's Alliday Show because my part of helping was watching little missy.  I had her Thursday morning while her momma did a bit of publicity on television and got to play with her hair.  It braids beautifully but is so very fine and slick it won't stay but what fun.  Yesterday I got her about 11 am and took her to lunch at our usual Friday hangout.  She loved pad thai and spring rolls.  Then I we got gas and she was intrigued but the guy washing our windows (yes I did full service).  Next stop was Hobby Lobby for more yarn.  I have presents to make.  I've discovered a thing called arm knitting.  I'm kind of obsessed with it.  Anyway, we made our way to the yarn section and since her new favorite thing is PINK we bought pink yarn to make her something.   

After that trip we headed home and I tried and tried to entice her into a nap but it was a NO!  She has only had one in a couple of weeks and goodness sometimes she needs it.  Really though she was a jewel.  I took her to her house because I was to keep her until around 11 pm last night.  She fought and fought going down for bed but that girl she was tired.  When it did get quite I looked on her little monitor and I could see something weaving and bouncing but was not sure what it was.  I sneaked down the hall and peaked and there she was sitting with her back against the back of the crib sound asleep but fighting the urge to actually lay down.  The bobbing and weaving was her head lolling back and forth.  Poor baby!  I reached in and gently laid her down and she was OUT!  We had a long day of sight seeing, shopping, gas getting, hide-n-seek, chocolate ice cream...just what granny's and granddaughters do.  

P.S.  Daddy also called last night to kind of give me a dig that I need to come check up on him because he fell hitting his head Thursday morning.  GOOD GRIEF!  He said it just would not stop bleeding and he had not cleaned it because of that (blood thinners).  By the end of the conversation I think I gathered that he really didn't fall all the way that he kind scrapped or barked his forehead against the wall while cleaning the kitty litter.  I told him I would be down Sunday morning and then sent texts to Bro and Sis who both said they would go today to check up on him.  Yes, I have been absent but goodness I have been so busy these past couple of weeks with no time for anything.  Guilty conscience.

Sunshine and Paint

Yesterday was AWESOME!  Yes, quite awesome because I got to work all day at the office.  What is good about it you ask.  Well, I will tell you, WINDOWS!  Yes, after 30 years of no windows we now have windows and yesterday was sunshine all day long.  I couldn't be happier about that.  I got a lot done with a lot more to do later this week.  After several years of not doing Christmas cards for the business I am gearing up to do them again.  That will be a lot of writing but well worth it to our customers.  

Last week I took yet another art workshop with artist Derek Penix.  This will probably be the last class I take with him.  He is so, SO very talented but he is young and I think he is still searching on where he wants to be in his art journey.  Maybe we all will be searching forever.  The first class I took with him I was terrified and the last time I was in his workshop I left so frustrated and angry that I wanted to quit painting.  Actually, last time he painted so much on one of my canvases that he should have signed it.  This time I felt really confident in my ability and where I am in my journey.

This painting is what he demoed for us and the less he put on the canvas the better I liked it.  Oh I kept saying SOLD.  He kept putting more paint and it was better.   

I don't think it is finished but I so loved it.  I own several of his paintings I don't really need another...

Anyway, this is what I did on the first day and I have to say I love it.  It was from a picture when The Hubby and I took the Fall New England tour a few years ago.  This was a beach in the Acadia National Park.  I tried to paint it but ended up using a palette knife on most of it.  LOVED IT! 

Moving Day

It's done.  We've moved.  Well, most of it is done, the most important part, my desk.  Whew, it was a whirlwind day yesterday but I think we have all settled in, now we start sending out the change of address notifications.  

We had a little help from little Snicklefritz and she was mightily confused by it all but in the end she had a great day. 

Her new digs upstairs were outstanding and she loved the wide open space to run from one end of the space to the other with her push toy, The Hubby not so impressed.  We even found her Momma's old Alrac Electric shirt to wear.  I had forgotten I had it hanging on my wall. 

We did hit a few snags with the proper place for it all and had to make some adjustments in my new desk.  (I was also informed that The Hubby decided to NOT have cable put in, WHAT!  I watch the news and one soap to keep me company but oh well, on to NetFlix movies.)

BUT, look at my new view.  In the other office I lived without windows for nearly 30 years.  It was so depressing and now, YEAH! 

The upstairs view, from my easel,  OH MY!