EDM # 7 Draw a shell

So okay ... it took me long enough but I did it ... several in fact. I count as my excuse, I didn't feel well a few days this week. No that didn't stop me from doodling and sketching or reading Danny Gregory's two books that came in the mail but it did stop me from blogging or spending too much time on this machine.

In my bathroom, on the window-sill lives a very tiny re-purposed jam jar that holds a small amount of Biddeford Pool beach sand, some smooth water rounded pebbles plus a few shells. I collected them during my last trip home to Maine on one of several beach combing strolls. It seems so long ago (1 1/2 years!). I am awfully happy to be here in southern CA today though as Maine is under an ice assault. Brrrrrrrrrr! Such tough souls live there. I used to be tough but I'm not anymore. :>)

Peace and blessings to all who stop by.

EDM First Sketch

To sketch or not to sketch. I have forgotten how I think but I will improve with time, perseverence and challenge. Ha! This one is from a group I belong to called Everyday Matters. I am new there so just finding my way about. I will learn how to add their logo (?) here. So much to do, so much to learn. They say that's good for the ol' gray matter so I keep pushing and pulling to encourage continued firing ~ LOL. This is rough, very rough and my waterproof pen smeared but that may have been the watercolor medium I used in my paint too. I resisted futzing and fretting and worked very quickly so I would not chicken out. The talent at EDM is amazing so I've decided to simply post my first efforts here instead of there. Be kind now please.

Anyhoo this week's challenge at EDM was one about what they call it/ what we call it. You know ... different names in various parts of the world for things. I chose molasses and gingerbread (here in the USA) but in the UK, I believe that would be treacle and treacle sponge though on my gingerbread box I found this quote. "Had I but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it for gingerbread." William Shakespeare. Perhaps it was updated for modern sales through Trader Joe's.

Chaeli-bug Christmas Week 2008

Introducing Miss Chaeli in her Christmas finery ~ LOL. Her other grandmother bought it for her so she was a cutie patootie for the holiday. Amazing that she'll be five months old in a few days. She's sitting in the corner of the couch in our living room looking up at her Nonie (me). I'm grateful she's a good natured lil thing and tell her Mama she has no idea just how lucky she is about that aspect of things. Being a single mom is hard enough at the best of times but having a 'good' baby makes things easier than they might otherwise be.

No excuses for not adding to mah blog except life, sweet life

I have been mulling through lots of things, trying to find a suitable topic to muse on. It's 2009 and that's noteworthy to be sure but I seem a tad late to be commenting on the newest turn of time. I made no grand resolutions ~ not new as I generally don't. :>) Mostly I am just happy to mark the change and date be grateful to be alive.

I always seem to rise early these days. Does this happen more as one ages do you think? I don't seem to require so many hours of sleep and I relish my first cup of coffee alone in the quiet of a new day ... that of course after dealing with the feeding of two squalling cats who one might think from their sounds of starving insistence, that they had not eaten in days. So not true as they are free fed dry food and always have a full bowl ~ LOL. The furry cannibals want their wet food of a morning though and woe to me if I stop to pee or make the coffee first. Then it's out to fetch the paper that I sometimes hear slap the drive at o'dark o'clock (between 3 and 4AM) as the carrier heaves it from his vehicle.

The days grow longer and I've already commented on how much I like that. The birds must be like me (or I like them) as they are rising earlier too. Sometimes I sit out back, sipping my fresh ground, dark roast coffee and listen as the world awakens. Sometimes I am lucky enough to hear the whoosh-whoosh of a raven or two as they wing over my head. Nice!

Peace to the earth, peace to the days, peace to the people I love.

Meeerrrrry Christmas!

As someone who enjoys being creative, each year I paint at least one Santa. This years' jolly old man is featured at right and I am very pleased indeed. I'm not sure yet if I'll keep him or gift him. He was done using Jansen Art Traditions acrylic resin paints and mediums. Ahhhhhhhhh ~ life is good as I grow in my artwork. One of the secret treasures in this paint line is the Extender & Blending Medium. What a joy to work with.

Christmas blessings to all who stop by.

The Shortest Day ~ First Day of Winter

Happy winter. Tomorrow the days begin to lengthen little by little. I always look forward to this day in the year, just as much as I look forward to that time when we move our clocks ahead in spring.

No ... I am not in any way, hurrying my life by but in my bones I am a mild season person I 'spose. I love the long days of light so much more than the bleak and cold days of fall and winter. Peace to the seasons though. I long ago found an acceptance of it all. Balance and compromise. Hmmm, a lesson for living eh? I am ever hopeful in that ebb and flow ~ the life dance I call it.

Despite some mild wintry blahs that seemed to influence my mood the last month or so, it's also the time to look forward and begin thinking of garden season; time to muse on the veggies I want to plant, the ways I'll do things different this year (not quite as many tomato plants for instance) and relocating Den's artichokes. They get so huge! I'll add more herbs this year and be fearless in cutting back all that chocolate mint. It smells lovely though when brushed against. More frequent sowing of greens too for fresh leafy salads and lots more beets too! What a great way to contemplate the first day of winter. :>)

Tis the Season

What a wonder the desert of southern CA is this AM. Mother Nature granted my Christmas wish ~ it's snowing, hard and huge and it's sticking to everything. We've got maybe two inches so far. Yay from this transplant from Maine!

I remember the winters of my childhood on eventful, surprising days like this. No school announcements! Skating, snowman building, flying saucers and toboggans too, with all of us dressed up like the Michelin man in our snowsuits and layers, triple socks, two pairs of mittens (attached with clips or a hand crocheted chain that went through our sleeves and dangled from the openings), scarfs wrapped as many times as they could be and heavy woolen caps all askew.

Everyone it seems took a day off for winter activities when the sledding or skating was good, even the adults ... well not the moms but usually the dads and Uncle Mitch if he was around. Chapped faces, snotty noses, and the cold though I don't really remember being bothered by the cold. None of us were until the day was done and we headed home; noses, fingers and toes frozen.

But ahhhhhhhhh ... hot cocoa, the good kind made with milk and topped with marshmallow Fluff enjoyed in the warmth of home, usually complemented by some sort of chewy, stewy something or other cooking on the old oil stove. Life seemed a lot simpler then.