Zentangle for Niece

While watching the football game Friday afternoon, then later in the evening some other tv with the family, I managed to do this zentangle for my niece in a Roller Derby theme. Hoping to give it to her framed on Saturday at my great nephew's birthday party, I was disappointed to see that again I had made my image too large. It is almost 11 inches wide....I must mark my boundaries in order to have it fit an 8x10 frame opening...now it will not work in my favorite frame for zentangles! OK, I will punt, have a mat cut to fit and put it in a 11x14 frame. Had a nice long weekend with the family, Mr. U, BigBoy and VolleyGirl went to see "Blind Side" last night, it is a good movie. The Christmas extravaganza is almost complete in the front of the house and I kept washing through out the days so I am not far from being caught up. I have tomorrow free, then start work Tuesday. I have a few errands for tomorrow. Hope you all have had a great weekend!

SkyWatch Friday

Captured this just outside the house last week while I was taking the pampered one out for business. Hoping all is well on this Black Friday! Catch beautiful skies at http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!!

To all my great friends, whether your homeland observes Thanksgiving or not...I am so very thankful to have you all! I pray that those here that celebrate this day, it will be a memorable and safe one. Wish you all could come over and have a piece of German Chocolate cake with me. Everyone have a wonderful and blessed Thursday!

I'm Still Around

Since my last post I have finished sketching out, started painting on a Maytagarama, started this zentangle, almost 8x10, which is already sold, and agreed to do a specific drawing for my niece for an auction by Dec. 5th. I know, probably should say no, but we help each other out, be supportive and it will also reach another group of people to my art.

I just received a call yesterday and my start date for work is Dec. 1st, Tuesday. That Tuesday and Wednesday I go in 10 until 2, Thursday and Friday is 9 til 4. That's just because I will be training for a couple of weeks. Generally I will work 10 til 2. Ah, yes, right at the holidays....but I knew that would be the case. I have still not sold anything at the coffeehouse but still hopeful I may before it's over. My niece has a prominent role at our main library and has gave me information about exhibiting there and I just emailed them. Also, recently she was at one of our swanky restaurants for an artist's reception for an exhibit and spoke with the manager about my work and I am about to contact him. Why....well, I enjoy doing my art for fun but I would also rather bring in some extra income doing my art on my on schedule than working at something totally unrelated away from the house. Not that I mind getting out of the house that much, may be good for me....we will see.

Got the big grocery run today, cooking some for us here at home this week though we will be at my in-laws for the main Thanksgiving meal....my contribution is a German chocolate cake. I usually look for a new cake to make but I haven't made this and I don't think my kids have tried it. I will come up with something new for Christmas. Speaking of that, have picked up a couple of things for the kids, and Mr. U already while I've been out. I really hope to get by to leave comments.....maybe tonight since BigBoy came in last night and they are going somewhere later today for a night. I miss the interaction with y'all so much!

Long Sigh............

Sorry that I have been missing.....was watching the Royal One from Sunday night till last night. He is constantly looking for something to get into, so it is similar to watching a toddler, not letting him put anything in his mouth or get upstairs. It's a constant up and down thing from the chair so unless he settles down and goes to sleep, I can't do anything. I try not to put him in the crate cause he is in there when I leave the house. This week, both VolleyGirl and I had eye appointments, I had a dental cleaning and went to the coffeehouse for that photo. I was able to do this scribble last night after the Mr. came home. Nothing has sold at the coffeehouse. I got all my art scanned in and put on my laptop this week. They come up in photoshop so I will have to work on the brightness, etc. there. I have been supposed to be learning photoshop, illustration, etc. since getting the software last summer..............if I would get proficient in those, I would look for work in that area. I will be hired at the company I interviewed with but the information from my background check has not returned yet.......fingers crossed.....hahahaha. Now, ugh, I must address my eating......perhaps I am attempting suicide by food. Unfortunately, it is my comfort (in the moment), my go to when stressed, upset, sometimes even anger and then there's that extremely pleasant explosion to my buds -but it has to stop. It is so much easier said than done but do it I must. It's not a matter of hunger, yes, I know how to do it. Probably the worst is inconvenience. Not very helpful that exercise is next to impossible but it is what it is so I must do what must be done and stop being a wimp about it. It will not solve all of life's problems but it will sure make life more tolerable. More on this later......or shall I say less on this later. Hope to catch up with comments soon, forgive me.

Too Cute Not To Share but then I Bore It Up Some...

Yes.....many already have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads and perhaps making the grocery list for the Thanksgiving meal but I never got around to sharing these photos of my great nephews, Finn and Eli. Finn, the robot, will be 5 on Dec. 23rd, my mom's birthday, Eli was 3 in early July, he is Samurai Jack (recall, I helped my niece make a SJ birthday cake. They live very close to us but sadly with both our schedules, I do not see them that often. It is a tradition that they are the first trick-or-treaters at our door on Halloween. My niece really enjoyed the fact that Finn was unable to run in the robot outfit......so as not to get waaay ahead of them.

See the little "ponytail" on Eli?

Okay, we all had been in the front yard awhile and they were ready to move on! Those boys have endless energy but they are adorable, at least to me.

Here is the full sheet cake that I made for the volleyball banquet. Not one of my better works but it was done and tasted good!

Spent a full day helping my friend choose curtains, meeting with the seamstress and going to a nearby town to look for fabric.......it was fun, but knee/back tiring.

I have been getting updates from my friend, she may get more definitive answers on Monday.....what I have learned so far doesn't sound very good to me.

Going to have an article in the paper on my show this week....have to meet photographer at the coffeeshop for a photo...grrrrrr.....hate being on the opposite side of the lens!

I am itching, itching, itching to do some art, perhaps tonight!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and support, you don't know just how much it means to me. I will have some Royal Canine Duties this week, hopefully finding out my start date for my job, doing some drawing, pen and ink too! Try to catch up with comments soon!!!

SkyWatch Friday

Yes, you've seen it before, a couple of times! I just snapped this photo Wednesday of this week, one of my favorite spots on the way to my daughter's school. I have painted these red trees with the clear blue sky behind them, at this spo,t two diffterent times...but I had to snap it again! Enjoy more sky photos at http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Dad.......and many, many others

Sorry this is late on Veteran's Day, but my thoughts were thinking of the many all day....had to get some of these photos of dad from my brother. My dad served in Korea and was injured by shrapnel hitting his lower back. They thought sure he would be paralyzed, but he was one of the lucky ones. Only in the hospital on his back for a full year. That was before my brothers and I were born. One of mom's three brothers, Willard, lost his life in Korea.

Thank you to all that served, sacrificed, and those serving now.

Cats On Wednesday and Animal Wednesday

CATITUDE!

Fall and Frequent Feelings

Did a small painting of this tree last year.

All of these were taken on VolleyGirl's school campus except for the last one.

Yes, I packed myself into my Spanx and had that interview Friday, will get the job. They are doing a background check, oops, may have the job!

This very moment, my friend is at the Mayo Clinic finding out some answers I hope.

It's raining here today.........Mare Tails in the clouds Sunday.

Hate when I'm like this, any little thing makes me weepy. Saw some item in the grocery store Sunday and almost burst out crying, reminded me of something mom and dad always prepared at home this time of year.

VG has an appointment this afternoon to check on her foot....probably will start wearing her boot. NOT going to play club ball this year. Yea! No Saturday tournaments! She will be strengthening, increasing her jump and taking private lessons.

Presently in the middle of baking a big cake and filled cupcakes for the volleyball banquet tomorrow night........mixed four recipes of buttercream icing last night. I will post a photo later on Wednesday.

Shopped yesterday for a little under two hours for something to wear to the banquet and for a gala for VG's school this Saturday night..........could barely walk on this stupid knee and my back is killing me......hate it!!!

Thank you (no, not YOU) for ramming Christmas into the butt of Halloween and ruining it with the commercialism, totally overlooking Thanksgiving, since it's not a money maker, merely a time to be thankful....(blah). Yeah, I'm gonna call it Christmas, not the holidays....cause that's what it is!!!! Christmas music was playing already yesterday........geez! Don't get me wrong....Jesus' birth is easily deserving of endless celebration but as soon as Dec. 26th hits, BAM! No hint of Christmas....if you can "celebrate" it months before in a Halloween costume, why can't you for days, weeks after? I know why. My family loves Christmas so I shall not bitch.....except to you......(lucky!)

I pray my friend has good news from her appointment today.

SkyWatch Friday (on Sunday)

My dad referred to these clouds as "mare tails".....said it meant rain would come in the next three days. Two of these are almost alike but it was so pretty I thought it was worth it. There's a little rainbow spectrum that can be seen in the first and third photo. These are fresh snaps...just taken a couple of hours ago as I arrived at the grocery parking lot.....have got quite a few good ones there in past! Go see more sky photos at http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Dogs On Thursday.....finally

Okay, I do not always do my business this way, like a girl, I mean! However, I am still taking medicines and the side effect is the need to Royal Wee frequently. The morning RW, shown above, is veeeeery lengthy and until a RHH (Royal Hind-leg Holder) is hired, this dude will not be holding my appendage up that lengthy of time!!!!

What, you ask, is this? Mom was informed by her niece that it is a Fairy Circle. You know, the Tooth Fairy gets stiff bending over those pillows over and over every night and from time to time just has to let loose sometime! Just think, I thought it was just dad digging up the mushrooms in the front yard so moi would have zero chance of ingesting anything not on my Royal Diet.....

Ah, blessed peace, it can be so exhausting being royal but fortunately for me mom has otherwise been occupied lately, keeping her from pointing that camera at me!!!! Hey, all my friends out there...hope you are being treated royally as well, especially Snuffles, Annie, Luna, Emma, Snickers, Dizzy, Friday, Lilah, Penney and Tonka!

P.S. Dad, mom and VolleyGirl are riding over to see the bulldogs compete at a nearby dog show early in the morning.....why can't I go too???

Art Exhibit!

Seems like weeks ago since the state volleyball tournament, the weekend is somewhat of a blur. Sunday evening till late and all day Monday till late with a little rush on Tuesday morning.....then put the display up at the coffeeshop! My first real showing! I am both excited and exhausted. My close friend went with me, which was very helpful and fun! Took longer than I thought because I had to put a loop on the back on a large amount of them for the hangers to fit on. Thankfully I brought the wire and cutters. I am still busy, trying to get a new blog or website up, sent out a mass email about it, wrote a "bio"...that was a thrill (not). Missed washing for 2 days and it looked like a week! Dealing with the news last week that my new friend from Chicago area is very ill and they moved back to have support and help of her family. Scanned in all my work before framing it, purchased frames! The kicker, have a job interview in the morning and I don't have a clue what I will wear cause stress/depression has me eating....vicious circle! No, it's not in art, it's auditing. Money is good, hours flexible, close here and will get the monkey off my back some to bring in some money. Keep your fingers crossed. Okay, there you go. That's why I've been MIA online. Haven't forgotten you, always thinking how I wanted to share things going on with my blog buddies. The first photo is inside the coffeehouse, it's so cozy, warm and comfortable inside!

Here is one of the latest color pencil pieces framed in a 11x14 with an 8x10 opening.

You've seen the pumpkins but this bronze frame really set them off.....may not can tell, I put a light apple green background in just before framing.

Just finished this zentangle Wednesday night. The photo does not do justice to the frame. It is a totally smooth surface of plexiglass, very sleek! Also a 11x14 frame with an 8x10 opening.

The portion of the wall with all my goodies, except for the last zentangle, it wasn't quite finished yet........why did we not save an opening for it that was easily reachable??? Duh. You will probably recognize all the pieces. Some were touched up a bit before framing.