snow day #1

Today my sister and I were completely snowed in by the first blizzard of the year.

We were very busy making the most of staying at home allll dayyy!
First we cleaned the whole house,then we decorated the whole house.

I also hung the laundry up in the basement ,and I enjoyed taking artsy pictures of myself.

We haven't had a working dryer in months, so we're going green , old fashioned and cheap all at the same time.

Here is our clean laundry long-underwear and all .
I felt so domestic hanging up the laundry on a line (never mind being in a basement.)

We actually found a use for this lovely gentleman.

And last but not least I started an underpainting for the new tree picture.It was pretty cool seeing how the layered paper soaked up the paint.

Weds. at home

Wednesday all by myself at home.

I've been going through my old stash of rejected paintings for whatever reason,and some of them aren't half bad. ashamedly none of them are signed ,so I have no idea when I did these.

And I started a new painting .I had some fun with old scratch paper and modge podge.

Trees are so fascinating, every little twig goes a different way every branch has character.

My day has been wonderful,theres nothing like a day entirely by oneself after weeks of being with people. I had a wondrous walk this morning in the chilly ,but sparkling air and I just enjoyed no stress; no timetable except for the one I give myself.
I ate steak and onions with a fried egg and applesauce ( you would be proud of me mom) and I balanced my walk out with 2 cookies. Today it's just me and God (and the cat) and I'm enjoying just being in his world.
In the middle of this afternoon I'm going to start to want to see people ,and the best part is I can just drive over to the farm and see just that.I'm glad I get to remember this uneventful day.

A tree for baby

Life is full of firsts: First black friday shopping,first speeding ticket,first time watching the christmas parade, first neice or nephew and first tree painted on a wall.
All of these things I may or may not have done (I'll let you be the judge),but I definetely painted a tree on a wall and it all started with a inspiration picture, a few slightly scary tree sketches and finally a cheerful happy tree ready to be projected on the wall and painted.

With the help of my highly accomplished assistant I made my debut on the new baby's bedroom wall.
what do you think? ... ..

We also painted E's kitchen a very bright Yellow ( florescent lights don't really give it the right hue think slightly warmer). Even though this color was a bit shocking at first after it dried and we put up some paintings I thought it looked great! and made the kitchen match my sister in laws cheerful personality. So I have been painting ; just walls instead of paper, so if I had something profound to say I would say it now.... something about the new color starting a new chapter in the life of a well aged farm house,and how many little finger prints we painted over and how many more to come.....

sunrise sunset

My camera goes with me wherever I go ,and the skies have been breathtaking the last few weeks. Enjoy!

THis picture I took out my sunroof. The pond was so cool!

Finishing a bike ride sky.

Going to work sky.

evening walk sky.

Have you been painting lately?

A few people have asked me this question after the A.R.T and while its really no excuse I say that I have been really busy thus unable to sit down and create . These pictures are out of order,but first of all was my trip to colorado with two of my good friends . I saw lotsa great art ,and had a blast hiking and sightseeing with these two beautiful young ladies.

pumpkin carving at T & E's

THen there was the pumpkin carving party ,a barn dance and a crazy fall costume party ( I dressed up as a nerdy homeschooler ).
And with church choir and youth group and of course work I haven't really been back to painting since early oct. But never fear that doesn't mean I never will . Winter is coming and along with it snowed in days. Now that's something to look forward to isn't it?

barn dance

A.R.T Show

The Artisans Road Trip is over for another year .It went well I think. It was relaxing and kinda exhausting at the same time. I'm glad I did it ,but glad it's over.
Attendance seemed lower than in past years,but over all not bad.

I had a lot of time to paint,and I liked talking with the people.
So I did it ! WHew..... and here are the pictures to prove it.

I sold one painting which makes it not a total loss. Plus I get to give 80 percent of the money to the Oakdale E. Free Church child adoption fund! so excited to see what God will do with that.

Family

This weekend my mom and dad and siblings stayed in a cabin at a nearby lake.
Family ahh..... gotta love em, sometimes you can't stand them; but mostly I'm just glad that they love me even with all my quirks.

I know you probably can't tell very well, but this time next year there's gonna be a little addition to Torray and Erin and our family. (that means BABY!)
I'm just an itty bitty bit excited to be an Aunty!
So during this weekend we heard a sermon by Frances Chan (very cool preacher guy) and he highlighted this verse which I think is very helpful in family relationships.
James 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Think about that when you talk to the next person in your life. yep it quieted me right down. (for at least an hour or two (:)

In other news: ART is coming! Run and hide because it is crazy framing and matting time!

Here is a verse that helps me with the pre Artisan tour worries and jitters
John 14:27
"peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful"

And if you're in the area come see me at Rhoadside Blooming House on Friday evening , Sat, and Sunday afternoon.
Please be kind and buy all my paintings so I don't have to take them home! ( hehe just kidding ....sorta)

Take a walk with me

I love to walk.
I take a walk everyday if I can ,and when I'm working I walk at the park on my lunch break.
Today I brought along my camera ,so that you could walk with me.

God's creation is somehow calming and it makes me smile especially on a beautiful fall day like today.

Our life is kinda like one big walk,it's exhausting,beautiful,hard,sad and exciting . Here is a verse I like to remember when I'm tired of walking.

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will renew their strength;They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

I hope you get a chance to go outside and take a walk not just for exercise ,but for peace and quiet and to enjoy the Creation God placed you in.

A.R.T.

The Artisans Road Trip is coming in a little over a week,so today is the rush day to get everything ready.

I need to finish this painting. And just so you don't get bored I'll show you some Art I get to do at work.

This painting won't be in the show because I sold it. I actually painted this a few years ago ,and forgot I had it .You never know what kinda treasures you can find in the art closet!

The house painting is not actually of any particular house it's kinda a combination of houses .It makes me think of fairy tales and hidden cottages in the the woods and Grandma's with warm cookies .Hmmmm ...yep when I grow up I want to be a Grandma no doubt about it.

So I must be off and frame pictures with my lovely Grandma . Maybe there will be warm cookies involved.(:

A chill in the air

Today it feels like Fall ,and it also feels like I need to make zucchini bread. Yes "need".

Eat it warm with a big smather of butter ,and go walk outside and crunch some leaves under your feet.

This is a basic recipe that you can easily alter to add any fruit you want.
Zucchini,cranberry,peach Bread
2 eggs
1/2 C. Veggie or olive oil
2 teas. vanilla
1/2 C. white sugar
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 C. Shredded zucchini
3/4 C. white flour
3/4 C. wheat flour
1/2 teas. Baking powder
1/8 teas. Baking soda
1 C. berries, or other fruit
mix the ingredients in order listed making sure to
wisk eggs and to get all the baking soda and baking powder mixed in.
bake in bread pans ( 2 smallish ones) at 350 for 50-60 min.

This is what's going on in the studio.... tomatoes.

The view from our front porch .I started this one after supper the other night ,it was so beautiful outside . I got it all sketched in before the bugs became too much for me.