It's Picture Friday

Hello Readers!

I've some art to show for the last few days. I've little else to show for those days gone but life is happening. Those dishes are still screaming from the kitchen and the laundry is still heaped in the bedroom.

I've been busy with my new markers. Best present I've gotten in a long time! Most useful one at the very least! Thank you, Aunt Sherry! :)

I have naked blue guys to draw for a swap and all of the fellas I've drawn I've not been pleased with. This one is no exception to that....

The Incident at Wimbledon

ATC

3 May 2010

365 Project Day #125

fibracolor markers on recycled cardstock.

This inspired by a true incident. I'm not sure that is what it was referred to, but that's what I'm referring to it as...an incident. I Googled 'naked blue men' and a picture of a perfectly colored naked white man cartwheeling over a tennis court came up in the que. I clicked on it to get a better look. It was a man in his mid 30s perhaps, I'm guessing there...doing cartwheels in his birthday suit plus sneakers and black socks across the tennis court at Wimbledon. My rendering of said photograph... Sucks! I''m going to have to give this one another shot.

Happy Face Spider

ATC

6 May 2010

365 Project Day #126

fibracolor markers on recycled cardstock

I found this guy on a list of the 10 weirdest spiders. Someone sent me some postcards of Happy Face Spiders when I first started trading art. I still have them around here somewhere.

Mr. Cool

ATC

5 May 2010

365 Project Day #127

fibracolor markers on recycled cardstock

I like his glasses. He vaguely reminds me of my late husband.

I have made another little blank book as well but I didn't take a picture of it. Not yet anyway.

The other day when I went to see the blood doc, that would have been on Wednesday, I went shopping after the doc sent me on my way with instructions to come see him again in six months. Seems I'll live afterall! :)

I'm really not much for shopping. I was after a few things though and I went to find them. Nevermind that I came home with some other stuff I wasn't exactly looking. I was on the hunt for a canvas for another fish picture and found the perfect one at Goodwill for $3. It had seagulls on it. I'm fairly sure it wasn't a bad thing that I covered it up with dictionary pages, black crepe paper and green glitter paint last night. I should have taken a picture of it before I did that but, well, sometimes I ain't quite on top o' things if you know what I mean! Not to be critical, but I hope "John" who signed the seagull painting has improved in his painting skills since the seagulls invaded his muse! I'm also hoping my own muse doesn't fail me so miserably.

I've no idea what comes next....

In this post blog, Markers come next.

Joss asked about the markers so here they are, my friend. fibercolor is their brand. I'm too lazy this morning to go find a link for you but Dick Blick sells them if you're inclinded to delve further into study of them. I love them! Pay no attention that cluttered desk. This whole room is cluttered.

I've been working on another little book for the last few days. I'm very pleased with how it's coming along! Gonna be a pretty little book when I'm done with it! Hopefully it will sew together nice and tight. That's the hard part about making books...sewing those signatures securely to the covers.

I'm using some canvas stuff on this little book that I bought at a yardsale some time back. It had no label. I've no clue what it's original purpose is. It is canvas like you would paint pictures on only a bit stiffer. I went to Home Depot on my shopping spree to inquire about this mystery stuff. It's still mystery stuff cause those boys at Home Depot thought I was absolutely nuts explaining what this stuff is. I thought it was for like repairing drywall or something you know. Apparently not. I'm almost out of it and it's really cool stuff. I'd like to find more.

I downloaded pictures from the camera earlier this evening. I'm really not sure when these pictures were taken. If I got up and looked in my daybook I might be able to tell you but the closest I can figure is the end of April...29th, may the 30th? I'm just not sure! It might not even be in the date book. I've been a bit slack in that department for a week or more...

I do remember that I was on a roadtrip with Sammy. We must of been heading home....from Abilene with the tin for Susan's pumphouse in the back of the truck. We had fun that day. It was a long, long day but it was a good day. I acquired a lot of good things for the art business that trip.

These pictures have nothing to do with the good stuff brought home though. It has to do with the scenery on the drive home.

It was a perfect day for a drive. Not too cold, not too hot. Clear blue skies with those puffy little white clouds. Good company. Good tunes on the radio. Adventures to complete.... it was an excellent day!

Between Lucas and Luray, Kansas on hwy 18 looking north

Between Luray and Waldo, Kansas on Hwy 18 looking north.

A couple miles east of Waldo, Kansas on Hwy 18 looking north. I've no clue what they call this hill but I'm sure it has a local's name.

A little closer to Waldo than the last photo.

A lot of folks think that Kansas is flat. This picture would lead one to say, "yep, looks flat to me", but it isn't really flat all over... we have a lot of open space that leads to hills.

You thought I was kidding about Waldo, Kansas.....it's hard to see in this little picture but that water tower says WALDO. Don't blink when going through Waldo. You'll miss the scenery! I think there were only six pictures on the smartcard of the journey through Waldo...one right after another.  So don't ask me where's Waldo? I know exactly where Waldo is! lol 

The road sign right outside of Waldo says Paradise is about 17 miles down the road too. To get home from Waldo I still have about 70 miles to go.

If memory serves me correctly I was having trouble with my right arm on that drive home. Damn thing has a mind of its own some days and it hurts like the dickens if I do too much with it. I only had 70 pictures on the smart card and they were taken over six days time. 

Billy-Mr. Mess Maker! loves cardboard! My sister's cat would have a thing to do with this carboard scratching box so she threw it in the wheelbarrow to go to the rubbish bins (which are a ways from her door). That silly cat was in the wheelbarrow just going at this thing so I brought it home for him. He sleeps on it! And he scratches the devil out of it. He's to blame for the little footstool in its state too. He gets to going on that scratching box and he loses his mind! One happy cat and all it took was trash! Go figure! This picture was taken a few days ago...he's got little chunks of carboard all over the floor around that thing today. Time to vaccuum.

And just because I've never shown my face here I thought I'd say Good Morning!

Get your hugs today! Shoot a few smiles out there as well! Have a wonderful Friday!

Peace

831

Another Year Older and None the Worse for the Wear!

Birthday Girl is tired!

I turned 49 on the 2nd of May. I'm still above the green and doing quite OK so I'm not complaining at all about my age! Age is just a number! It's how old you feel inside your head that is important. I still have a sense of wonder. Yeah I wonder if my sense of wonder is me going into my second childhood... You only grow old if you let yourself do so. The hard part is taking your own advice and putting it in action.

Hope your day was excellent! Mine was!

I changed the picture on the top of the page.

I couldn't find the picture that was there, but I found is really cool night picture taken of snow in Feb. Same view, different season.

But then it dawned on me that I could go steal the picture that was there from Naked Heart Studio blog.

It's a bit tiny, but nothing I can do about that!

Thought you all might like to see the same scene.

I did indeed turn 49...round about 4:19 a.m. is the time I was born according to my silver baby spoon in the china hutch. I was just heading to bed about that time in the morning.

There was a wind ding next door at my sister's house with 16 people present. That's a pretty good turn out for my birthday! We had mint ice cream and chocolate brownie cake. It was YUMMY! Mint ice cream is my favorite and you just can't go wrong pairing mint and chocolate together!

My list of pressies:

6 paperback novels from Evelyn

brocade covered box filled with a cut crystal perfume bottle with a dark green glass lid, a book about sisters and some really pretty red organza ribbon tied the box shut from Linda

a pot-bellied, 5 o'clock shadow bearing cartoon man bank, a red heart keychain, a May teacup and saucer set and a bobble head Uncle Sam from Susan

a big rubber skinned mammoth that does something when you put batteries in him, a brass three elephant sphere holder, and a green glass bird of happiness from Ma

a bird feeder from Court and Justin

a set of 100 fibracolor markers and $10 from Aunt Sherry

green from Sam

the pleasure of Rich and his youngun's company

lots of hugs

The guest list:

Ma

Susan

Linda

Sam

Aunt Sherry

Justin

Courtney

Richard

Gavin

Grant

Gabriel

Gage

Evelyn

When I came home from my party, I sat down at my desk and broke out those new markers to see what they could do. Either these are some REALLY magical markers or my muse is on fire! I really like the new markers and what they can accomplish! They play nicely with the Sharpies and the Bic Markers. They have their own storage unit and there's a boatload of them!

Here's what I accomplished with the new markers!

Brown Mushroom

ATC

2 May 2010

fibracolor markers and sharpie on recycled cardstock

Green BD Fish

ATC

2 May 2010

365 Project #123

fibracolor markers on recycled cardstock

Red Koi

ATC

2 May 2010

365 Project # 124

fibracolor markers on recycled cardstock.

I really do like my new markers!

I know better than to eat processed meat... I ate three hotdogs earlier and my head is killing me now! Those damn nitrates don't like me at all! I don't generally even like the taste of hotdogs or bologna but I have cravings for them and I cave on occasion. And every time I do cave.... I pay for it with a killer headache. Why must I put myself through such knowing full-well what will happen in the long run?

A nap will cure the headache!

You all have a marvelous Monday and try to make the following days even better!

Get your hugs and give some somewhere along your journey today.

Peace

831

I Wasn't Kidding About, Back to Art

Hello Again Readers!

Two posts in one day? What's the world coming too?

I've ticked off Lola kitten cause she can't lay on the desk with her head draped over my right forearm while I type. She's gone off to the other side of the room to sleep on the carpet till she tries once again to get up on the desk to try to catch a snooze.

She's been snoozing all day! Unlike me. I've been busy!

The junkman didn't show up to bale the pile of iron out back like he said he would yesterday when I called to confirm the appointment. To his credit he did come out to discuss the delay. He said tomorrow he'd be here. I'll believe it when I see that big orange rig pull into the east driveway and he comences to bale iron.

I worked on art for a few hours waiting on the man. I was going to stop with the art for the day when he got here but since he didn't get here, I just continued with the flow and ended up with a lot of art done! It's probably best it wasn't me he talked to when he came out to discuss the delay cause he'd of just bummed me out and I wouldn't have continued with art. Guess I should be thanking for the boy for my day of art opportunity, which I took full advantage of!

Lola snuck back up on the desk while I was proofreading the previous. And I've sent her packing.

I've dragged out the acrylics for some of the artwork done today and I also used my sister's markers, as well as my own markers today. It's been a great day for art!

An Old Soul

ATC

1 May 2010

365 Project Day #118

Acrylics on recycled cardstock.

At The Pond

ATC

1 May 2010

365 Project Day #119

(My) Markers on recycled cardstock.

Blue Butterfly with Berries

ATC

1 May 2010

365 Project Day #120

Acrylics on recycled cardstock.

Blue Moon

ATC

1 May 2010

365 Project Day #121

Brown Cat

ATC

1 May 2010

Acrylics and marker on recycled cardstock.

Copper Blue Asters

ATC

1 May 2010

Acrylics, dimensional paint and glitter on recycled cardstock.

Fantasy Trees

ATC

1 May 2010

Acrylics and dimensional paint on recycled cardstock.

Green Elephant

ATC

1 May 2010

(My sister's) markers on recycled cardstock.

Obsession of Senses

ATC

1 May 2010

365 Project Day #122

Acrylics on recycled cardstock.

Salt Shaker

ATC

dmnh and llc collaboration

1 May 2010

Markers and glitter on recycled cardstock.

I drew the salt shaker a few weeks ago. My sister, Linda colored it with markers today and I put the glitter on today. It looks much cooler in real life as the glitter on the bottom of the salt shaker looks remarkably like salt!

Jerry, my sister's boyfriend, cooked jambalaya for supper at Susan's house and after supper we made elephant ATCs and some twinchies.

These are the ATCs I brought home from next door.

Jerry did the flying pink elephant and Linda did the grey elephant below. It did not dawn on me till I got them downloaded to the blog that neither of them will work for the Frame. Both are oriented the wrong way. That was the intention of doing elephants, cause I only need a few more to put it all together and show off the generosity of my art buddies! I'll keep these with the other elephants in my collection that did not work for the frame for one reason or another.  Jerry's is called "Dumbo Air Force Bombing Run". Linda's doesn't have a title.

We ran out of ATC blanks....Susan only had three of them in her possession at the time and I didn't feel like a walk across the yard to my house to get anymore so we started on twinchies. I've done very few twinchies this year....Twinchies were all done with my sister's markers.

Twinchie

Pink Star

1 May 2010

Markers on recycled chipboard.

Twinchies

Orange Flower

Pig Pink Elephant

1 May 2010

Markers on recycled chipboard.

Twinchies

Pink Elephant

Green Peace

1 May 2010

Markers on recycled chipboard.

Linda and Susan got into the twinchie making mode as well.

The mask is Linda's and the other two are Susan's. The first two are done with markers and the 5 is done in lead pencil, all on recycled chipboard from packaging...think snack boxes.

I'm off to play majhonng for awhile.

Get your hugs if you haven't already!

Give a few while you're at it!

Peace

831

Back to Artwork

Hello Readers!

Well, it's back to artwork for the blog for the time being. I'm still behind on the 365 Project with no sight to the end of the tunnel. I need to get four cards done today to get caught back up.

April's end was a busy, busy time for me this year. The wedding, my oldest son's birthday, two roadtrips in a week's time and the junk heap needed attention.

Tomorrow is my birthday (yes, I'm pushing 50, but not quite there yet! That will happen next year!) and today will be the family celebration of said birthday. I'd just as soon they forgot it was my birthday but that will not happen so I just go with the flow and be happy about it!

All this activity leaves me no time for housework nor artwork. It would be cool if someone decided to come clean the house for me for my birthday, but I don't see that happening either! Laundry has been screaming for days! Dishes even longer, it seems. It will all come together in due time though. It's not like the housework can't wait. Which is a good thing cause it's going to have to wait till my schedule clears a bit for me to have time to tackle it all.

Here are the ATCs produced since the 20th of April.

Mr. Franklin

ATC

20 April 2010

# 109 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

New Sandals

ATC

25 April 2010

#110 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

Orange Mask Blue

ATC

26 April 2010

#111 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

Vogue Tennis

ATC

23 April 2010

#112 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

Bird

ATC

27 April 2010

#114 365 Project

Acrylics on recycled cardstock.

Green NB Fish

ATC

29 April 2010

Fish Bowl Swap

#115 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

NB stands for Nickleback. I listened to all the Nickleback music I own while doing these three fishes for the swap and the project.

NB 2 Fish

ATC

29 April 2010

Fish Bowl Swap

#116 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

RJ's NB Fish

ATC

28 April 2010

Fish Bowl Swap

#117 365 Project

Markers on recycled cardstock.

I named this one RJ's NB Fish cause it was drawn on RJ's birthday.

Sunshine on Your Shoulder

ATC

27 April 2010

#113 365 Project

Acrylics on recycled cardstock.

This concludes the art showing for today.

Go get some hugs!

Peace

831

A Wedding

My son, RJ and his longtime girlfriend got married on Saturday the 24th of April 2010.

They have lived together for the last four or five years and finally got around to tying the knot. Most couples get married before they have babies but RJ and Terah gave me a grand daughter before the nuptials and that is perfectly OK with me! I not only gained a daughter-in-law, I also gained a grandson, Brenton, from a previous union of hers.

One happy little family making the vows to stay together for eternity.

I do believe they are a good match for one another. They balance each other out most of the time.

Terah, RJ and Little Annabel

Brenton had been at his dad's house when this picture was taken back in March.

This wedding had been in the planning for almost two years before it actually took place.  

More than likely I have messed up the placement of the photos as they relate to the story but you'll get the idea, I'm sure. There isn't going to be a whole lot of commentary on some of these pictures anyway.

The wedding party is at the altar waiting for the bride.

The bride arrives at the altar on the arm of her dad, Rick.

On Friday evening we had a rehearsal for this wedding. The preacher, Mike (that's what everyone called him!) lead us through the paces and got us all to pay attention and we were all pretty certain we had our parts down pat.

My part, as mother of the groom, was to kick off this wingding. As the music started at the beginning of the ceremony, it was my job to walk to the altar and light the right hand candle to signify I was responsible for the boy getting married. Terah's mom then came down the aisle after I had lit RJ's candle to light Terah's candle (on the left side of the unity candle which RJ and Terah lit at the end of the ceremony) to signify she was responsible for the girl getting married. Sherry had no trouble getting Terah's candle to light. I had to try three times before the flame stayed lit on RJ's!

At rehearsal Preacher Mike had said, "You know if something goes wrong, don't worry about it! There is no such thing as a PERFECT WEDDING! Something will go wrong. That's just how these things work." And he was right!

If this picture were larger, you'd be able to see that everyone in this photo is laughing out loud! The Bride laughing the most! RJ had already said his "I do" as the groom does that first. Preacher Mike was going through the vows with Terah....do you take this man to be ....yadda yadda yadda....well he wasn't quite done with the yadda yadda yadda and she says, "Yes! I do!" and immediately realized she had not heard the cue to say such just yet. Preacher Mike hadn't got to the part about forever and ever yet. Preacher Mike looked at RJ when Terah missed her cue and said, "She's quite eager for this!" and the whole church burst into laughter! It was a precious moment indeed! Cause Miss Terah, she was eager to be my son's lawful wife! And I am so glad to officially have her as a part of this family!

Here the preacher is fixing to present the newly married couple to the  heathens congregation seated in his church.

And RJ kissed his bride.

I was going to say this is their official wedding picture but it isn't. Not THIS particular picture anyway. The real official picture, I am sure came out much clearer than this one did! Danielle, their good friend and photographer will have made all the wedding pictures she took look beautiful! Of that I am certain! This picture was taken with my cheapo digital camera and I know it ain't as good as the pictures taken with Danielle's expensive set up. I can't wait to see the pictures she took of this wedding!

Both RJ and Terah look fabulous!

The happy couple and their children, Little Annabel and Brenton.

RJ was smiles all day long! He was indeed a very happy man!

My handsome sons, RJ and RW.

Otherwise known as Ronnie and Richard. It's just easier to call the RJ and RW while typing.

Down the screen some, you'll find a picture of  RW in the outfit he showed up to the wedding in. He was dressed appropiately in my opinion. No one, NO ONE, expected RW to show up dressed to the nines! If RW had shown up dressed to the nines, I'm pretty sure there would have been some fainting going on....RJ would have fell right on the floor from amazement! RJ had gone through his closet the day before to find something that RW could wear so he'd be dressed up somewhat. Therefore RW got to wear a white shirt and black pants instead of his Tshirt and jeans. More on this subject in a few moments....

The lady in the middle of this picture is RJ's grandmother, his father's mother. I didn't know if she would be in good enough health to make the trip or not. I should have known she wouldn't have missed this for world! I was so glad she did come. I hadn't seen her since Feburary of last year.

And here is RW in the outfit he showed up in. His wife and younguns couldn't make it to the wedding because they had no way to get there. RW bummed a ride with my sisters and there wasn't room for 5 other people. My brother was going to come with the sisters but he gave up his seat in the car so RW could come instead. And there he stands in his ONE LOVE Tshirt, a bandana, blue jeans and flipflops on his feet! He did trim up the beard but I doubt very seriously the boy combed his hair before he put that bandana on his head. That's just RW...the rebel at heart....and he'll always do things his way and to heck with what anyone thinks about it! He caved and agreed to wear the white shirt and black pants though. He gave me a hard time about the bandana though, said he was going to wear it. I said he was not going to wear it and he was going to comb his hair....grinning the whole while, he said no, no, no! I'm his mother though and he knows he has to do things he's not agreeable to from time to time and this day was one of those times! He looked rather handsome when he showed up dressed like you see....but he was even more handsome (so long as you didn't look at his feet...the flipflops, you know!) dressed in the white shirt and black pants, minus the red bandana.

RW cleaned up rather nicely even with the flipflops on his feet! I was resizing this picture to put it here when I noticed that RW not only has the silliest shoes seen at this wedding, but he is giving his brother rabbit ears in this picture as well. LOL Typical Rich! Love that boy dearly! Never a dull moment with RW around!

I have no idea who took this picture of me and the kids. There were very few pictures of me on my camera when I downloaded the smart card on Sunday afternoon.

Here is a picture of me with RW, his grandma, his Aunt Cindy (RW's dad's sister) and the fellow behind is one of my sister's husbands, Brad. Grandma Edna had ahold of RW like she was never going to turn the boy loose. It had been quite some time since they had seen one another.

This little guy is Oren. He belongs to my sister's boy, Jake. Marilyn brought him with her but left Jake at home. Jake is 6 months older than RJ and I really wished Jake could have come as well but it just wasn't to be. Little Oren was one of four babies at the wedding younger than a year old. Oren is 4 months old. He's such a cute little guy too! That is my sister Susan holding him.

Something that struck me after the fact was that there were four babies and numerous young children in that church as the ceremony was in progress. Not a one of those children made enough noise to be distracting. Little Annabel slept through the ceremony actually. Susan was holding her then. Just before the ceremony started, Annabel was fast asleep! And she didn't wake up till it was over!

This is Oren and his grandma, my younger sister, Marilyn. The lady in the background is one of Terah's people. I'm not sure how she fits in to Terah's family but her name is Kim.

Susan is the woman nearest in the picture and Linda the one in the driver's seat. Both are my sisters. They didn't stay for the reception because they needed to get back home before it got dark. That was their excuse anyway...that and they had Evelyn with them and they weren't sure Evelyn could hold out that long if they went to the reception as well. They were probably right in that aspect as the reception went on till well after midnight.

And here is a picture of Miss Terah in that beautiful gown! She looked so pretty!

I didn't get any pictures at the reception. I don't have a clue what the heck I was thinking leaving the camera in the van at that time! I did go retrieve it and got a short video of RJ being bossy telling me, "You have to dance! Put the camera away!" If I knew how to get that video here for you all to see, I'd do it, but since I can't, you all will just have to take my word for it! I had to dance with that bossy boy cause I'm his mother. I had never danced with my son before this. As we were on the dance floor, I forget which song we were dancing to....we were laughing up storm and contemplating mosying over the doorway into the bar to have a beer! We didn't do that though. I didn't drink at all that night...only ice tea.

All in all, it was a beautiful day!

And I've been pooped since I got home early Sunday morning around 3a.m. After the reception broke up I followed RJ and Terah back to their house and helped them unload the gifts so they didn't have to haul them around when they went to Salina for their honeymoon. I'm not sure what was so appealing about Salina but when I talked to both of them earlier today, they had a great time! The went to see a movie on Sunday after they slept in that morning. Then they came home on Monday. And it's back to the same ol' same ol'.

Lots of hugs were given and gotten on Saturday and on Friday as well.

I do hope you collected your fair share of hugs over the weekend! If one could save up hugs, I'd have an over abundance of them! But being hugs must be renewed continually, I guess I better go collect some more before too long!

Peace

831