HAPPY 2010 !

Happy New Year !!!!

May you all have a safe and blessed start to your new year. Looking forward to another year of continued friendship, making new friends and more art. You have not only encouraged my art but enriched my life as well.

Cats On Wednesday

The lovely Dudley.....cleaning up, just like the Christmas decorations around here, now cleaned and put away.....I know he will miss climbing that tree!!! Y'all, I am worn out- will try to catch up with you all very soon!

The Art of Christmas

Pictured above are the recipients of the zentangle created especially for them by request of their daughter...who just happens to be a magnificent artist living in the same town as myself. How honored and flattered I was to be able to do this for her, for them! It went all the way up to the last minute, finished in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve. I called Michele (see her blog) and proceeded to frame it. Apparently, they were very pleased with it....that really makes me happy! We left after she picked it up to my in-laws for the evening, returned home to bake a pecan and key lime pie.......then it was time to wait for Santa!

Like I said...most of these pictures and symbols were specifically for careers, interests, family and personal meaning to this long married couple. Now....Michele has already sent me information to create another one, with two more to come! Last night I managed to create the outside border for it. Next week is busy, working a half day Monday and then three full days, probably because my best friend is off all week to attend her daughter's basketball tournament. I also agreed to work for the sweet 19 year old on Monday so she could be out of town. Next month I need to limit my days and hours so to get ready for the art exhibit. I did rest some yesterday though my knee ached the whole time. We had a nice Christmas, love having the kids free from school and home all day.....they have been very helpful. Next week is VolleyGirl's last week out of school and I hate that I will be working so much....may see if I can get a little more time off. I want to catch up with everyone's site.......remember patience is a virtue...so it may take me a few days. Hoping you are all healthy and happy! Off to the grocery store now....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Wishing each of you and your families a very merry and blessed Christmas! Hoping all have a safe, happy day, with wonderful memories made. I have missed checking in with you this week, it has been a busy one but I have completed my art and baked. Thank you for all your wonderful comments you leave and especially your support! Love to you, your family and your cherished four-legged friends too!

Latest

Finished this a day ago and have one more to complete by Christmas! This and the next is are 8x10 in size. We wrapped gifts yesterday and hopefully will finish those today, attended a family

get together last night, seeing most of my mother's sisters and many cousins and their families. It is SUCH a blessing to see them all and I really should make the effort to spend more time with them...perhaps a New Year's resolution....hmmmm. Came back and watched "Elf" together again, still funny! Making my lists and checking them more than twice, have some cooking to do this week. I did not work Friday and do not Monday. It is still going pretty well. Met with owner of a fine art gallery this last Wednesday and decided to jump in and exhibit which will be Feb. 1-May 31. Must have pieces ready by middle to third week of January! I want to do some new art......so after the holidays is already planned looks like. I finally have my business cards printed up correctly after Staples did them and they turned out horribly....BigBoy did the artwork without asking me one question and he had me pegged perfectly. They are gloss black with letters reversed with a very light design in the background that you may miss if you look too quickly. Keeping very, very busy, not anal though like some of you may think I am.....my floors are really dirty and bathrooms need cleaning again...........I am not a maniac...have to watch the back, if it goes, I'm in trouble! Hope all of you are well!!!!

SkyWatch Friday

Rained and rained and rained....sick of the rain but the clouds are awesome! Spotted this as VG and I walked out of the grocery store into the parking lot....stepped right into a puddle that went into my shoe as I took the shot...but it was more beautiful than this! See the beauty above at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/

Dogs On Thursday

Apollo

(a.k.a. Canine Messiah, His Royal 'Hine'ness, Fat Bastard)

2009 Official Christmas Portrait

Please view my housemate's photo on previous post.......

Cats On Wednesday

Dudley

2009 Official Christmas Portrait

:)

Decked My Halls

Hey everyone! I have missed checking in daily and getting around to leaving comments. This is the "commissioned" zentangle that is not quite complete. It will be a gift from mom to her 16 year old daughter. I will be adding some color also. The job is going very well (though I'm not sure what my employer would say). Very excited that my brain still works!!! Though I would really enjoy spending more time on my art, can't deny that getting out of the house and meeting some new people has been good. It has been hectic this past week trying to get the decorations out, shopping and the job. Pleased to say the decorating was completed today, now behind in wash, BigBoy arrived home safely this afternoon for the holidays, a whole lot to be thankful for! Also, I sold five pieces of art this past week, all a result of the show in November! AND today I found out the owners of the gallery have saved a spot for me after I emailed some photos of my art! I am to meet with them this Wednesday at the gallery. Uh, my concern is, when, cause I need some more pieces! OK......so I will be working that in during my sit down time!!! Working on getting around to "see" everyone the next couple of days! Ho Ho Ho!

Parties, Parade, Panic?

Okay, one of my photos was accidentally deleted while typing (could I already be that rusty?) so you may have to scroll up after you read! Weekend before last we went to a birthday party for my great nephew. He is in the top photo, Finn, on the left, sitting with his little friend, "Snow White", while Finn's cousin, Stevey, my great niece, the monkey with a banana on her head looks on. Finn's birthday is Dec. 23rd (my mom's too) so they had the kid party earlier. What theme did he want? Halloween! So the party was a "Nightmare Before Christmas" themed party with the children wearing their costumes, Halloween decorations amongst the Christmas decorations! My niece made an awesome cake for the party.

Mr. Unplugged, VolleyGirl and I went to Christmas parade this past Saturday, the first time in many years that we have. The middle photo is Finn's younger brother, Eli, holding a friend's little yorkie while his mother pushed him in the parade......aren't they both adorable....I know, I am a bit partial! It had snowed a whopping half inch here and was very cold! That's Mr. Unplugged and VolleyGirl in the last photo as they waited for the parade to begin!

Quick update....last week was my first week on my new job. It went well, felt really weird since I have not worked regularly, training and such in over 21 years!!!! There were constantly little puffs of dust coming out of my ears as I learned something each day!!!!! It is a wonderful atmosphere, the co-workers are all really wonderful, one of them started the day before I did and she is my best friend. I work Tuesday through Friday this week and should be cleaning and putting up my decorations inside. I washed all weekend and put items out of the way for the decorating. I also worked on my photoshop skills a bit with some of my artwork that was already scanned in. I also worked on the zentangle some last night that is "commisioned"! Just must be very careful about this cleaning and decorating....how many Christmas seasons has my back "went out"? Hmmmm, at least four.....not this year hopefully! Tried to catch up on my commments....I miss reading and posting daily so much!!!!! BigBoy comes in at the end of the week for about a month for the holidays! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa! I want to have all the decorating complete by then. He and his dad put up the outside decorating over the Thanksgiving weekend....will post photo soon!

Dogs On Thursday

Best Buddy was home for a long visit but before he left I was given a "royal dip". It is soooo much fun to play with the towel afterwards!!!

That Best Buddy....I could just eat him up, I love him so much! (I think he really likes me too!)

The bath and playtime just can wear a royal canine out though......

Mom was gone all day today and I was really happy to see her tonight, getting all the petting I could from her...when she was available! Here's hoping that all my good friends out there are getting all the petting that is allowed...go for it Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Dizzy, Friday, Penney and Tonka! Hey, look below and check out my housemate too!

Cats On Wednesday

Ah ha!!!! I knew Dudley was from a distant feline planet! Happy COW and AW to you all! Will catch up with you hopefully tomorrow!