Bountiful Blessings

Cooking away, no time to sketch, so posting a sketch from a few years ago. It really doesn't have to be a holiday for me to be thankful to all my friends in the blog world but you are most appreciated and enjoyed. Wishing each and everyone of you a very safe, blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! (even if your country doesn't celebrate it...have an awesome week!)

Team Spirit!!!

9x12 color pencil on bristol

I am not exaggerating when talking about how big a rivalry it is between two schools that play next Saturday. University of Alabama and Auburn every year play each other last on their schedule. Bragging rights for the year. Auburn won last year, going on to be the national champions. Alabama is ranked # 2 this year and very well may have a rematch against #1 LSU for the national championship. Too bad the game isn't in Tuscaloosa, home for U of A. It is often referred to as "T-town" which would made for a better tag line. Haven't had much experience doing cartoon type drawings but I really enjoy it!

8x10 graphite and color pencil on bristol

This was a commissioned piece from an old college friend to another old college friend for her birthday. She was originally from Michigan and this is for Michigan State. Both of them were once my college roommates. I mailed it to Florida last Wednesday and heard this morning that she loved it which makes me super happy!

Been busy, Dudley's care takes some time, he is still confined and has improved some. Can tell he feels better but his balance is still haywire, though improved. If we didn't have two staircases, both of which have a gate on them to prevent the Royal One from going up, I might would let him out. The vet mentioned that the antibiotics may upset his stomach but praise be it hasn't!!!!!!

Baking and cooking begins this week. The birthday cake was put off from last week until Thanksgiving, will post photos later.


MUST clean, clean out before the explosion of Christmas decorations go up and sadly I dread it so badly because both the cleaning and decorating is back breaking. My family will help, but it is so much. I love the season but it is greatly hindered (and usually dreaded which I hate to say) by this situation. I cannot tell you how many holidays have been spent in pain or horizontal due to this. Should have been doing it all along but I have a procrastinator....ugh. I will not give up though....me, the tree and glee will conquer!!!!

Dogs on Thursday: Late Edition

I've missed you.......but it hasn't kept me up, still able to rest my royal bod.

Embracing a little tv occasionally.

Paws down, my favorite thing in the world is wrestling with my best buddy. Using my fiercest growl with the occasional bark thrown in is simply thrilling and great fun!

Pretending that I'm really mad is such a rush, I wouldn't bite this boy for anything.

Minutes later, it's over and I'm tuckered out with my tongue hanging out and panting. Perfect for a lovely nap afterwards!
I miss chasing Dudley, he's been confined for a week now with inner ear trouble. Three trips to the vet. Wandering around the door mystified by the meows I'm hearing but not finding that furry thing drives me nuts!!! Hopefully he will be released soon and things get back to normal. Hope all my friends out there are healthy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with their two legged buddies.This year I'm thankful that my best buddy is here year round! Enjoy it Snuffles, Emma, Luna, Buddy, Dizzy, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe, Chief, Sophie, Snickers and it's barkaliciously good to see Annie doing so well!!!!

Argh! Time Flies!!!!

8x10 graphite and color pencil on bristol board

Gosh....so meant to post Dogs On Thursday, SkyFriday and more! Time gets away from me, especially if I get on the computer but I've had other things going on. Big Boy and Mr. Unplugged went out of town over night. VolleyGirl and I went to our favorite Italian restaurant, returned home to watch some tv, all the chick flick type shows. Starting with a couple of episodes of "Say Yes To The Dress" followed by "The Notebook" then catching the last half of "Pride and Prejudice". Okay, had to override VolleyGirl to watch the rest of "Pride" since she's not a fan of period movies and I love them, this is one of my favorites too. She relented that it was good as i kept pointing out the dynamics between them. Then the next day we did some shopping, lovely girl time! I hope to keep up better this week but it's a full one too! Getting Dudley back to the vet with his ears after taking him last Thursday, poor thing, he's so pitiful now, couldn't believe a Dr. wasn't in the office Saturday. Called an ER vet to inquire if I needed to bring him in or if he would be okay to wait til Monday morning. Must get finished setting up my Etsy account, doing some art, cleaning (ack!) and topping it off with a cake for my niece that turns 1.

All that was incomplete on the artwork above was the "surface". Debated different colors and that Wednesday at the open house, woodgrain came to mind. Pondering what to do last Wednesday night I asked my son his opinion. He hesitated, then mentioned wood. Ha! Showed him the pencils I had already set aside and some of the sample color combinations I had tested out. We think alike often. Still, upon showing him the finished piece later that evening, I was a little surprised when he commented that he wasn't sure I could pull it off. Told him to just look around the room. My bedroom is full of oak furniture my father made. Oak was his favorite because of the vivid grain in the wood. The perfect reference was abundant.

Hope all is well, will be catching up again!

ME-OW!!!

One of the highlights of last Wednesday's open house was these sweet kitties! Meet "Tux", a chubby Maine Coon, though his "mom" says he's not (I felt that tummy, he's preparing for a long winter) Holding big kitty is the granddaughter of my mother's closest friend, was great seeing all of them.

Several times I tried to get a really good photo of these felines but my cell phone has the battery life of a flake of snow in July these days so this was the best I could do. This is another granddaughter, we were at her home. Going back in December, perhaps they will pose by the Christmas tree or in it!

This is "Jag", obviously a Bengal, he was displaying his highwire circus act many times on the staircase that day......again, the ONLY photo I managed to secure. Enjoyed seeing these two from time to time that day.

The View is Black and White....Sometimes

Acrylic on 8x8 canvas

So, the game was what I expected, stressful, tough and unsure of the turnout. Sadly, a disappointing loss, oh well, onward! I finished this first attempt of painting in black and white, I really enjoyed it, maybe because it reminds me of working in pencil. Still in the process of painting the edges black, it's one of the deep canvases. Probably a name for it but don't ever expect me to know the correct name for almost anything......I do remember my children's names (usually).

Like I posted before, the open house at my friend's beautiful home on the side of the mountain was good. Wow, what a view, the entire back of her home is solid two story windows- and the view is breathtaking. Got a couple of shots with my cellphone....not trusty anymore cause the battery doesn't last worth doodly. (shopping for another)

I sold three pieces that day, have an order for a snow family and just this morning have a request for a personalized zentangle......better get my bum in gear!!! In addition, I have two more Christmas open house events to participate in as a result of this, the first one on Dec. 3rd, the following one is at my friend's home again (taking camera!) a week or two later. I want to have more things ready, perhaps some smaller items, paintings, drawings and maybe some tiny paintings to be used as ornaments. A girl can dream! Now all I need is a band of house cleaning fairies to clean around here to get ready for decorating. Once again....sometimes dreams come true.....let's hope. Each day on Facebook I am posting something to be thankful for, can never be overly thankful. Today I am thankful for my family's good health!

Recovering and Preparations

8x10 color pencil "Big Al rolls the Tigers!!!"

Wednesday's open house that I participated in was good.....been recovering, back and knee not liking it. Sold three items, a snow family order, possibly other orders and two more open house opportunities to participate in! My hand and wrist literally aching from the color pencil drawing yet I was compelled to do this one for fun!!! If you aren't from Alabama or Louisiana perhaps you are unaware that there is a football game tonight dubbed "the game of the century" between the number 1 (LSU Tigers and 2 ranked (Alabama Crimson Tide) college teams. I am preparing meatballs, haystacks and Russian tea for the event. Alabama is my husband, son, numerous friends and family's alma mater! ROLL TIDE!!!! Hope to catch up soon with viewing everyone's site.

"Display Eve"

Started this Sunday and worked on it some last night and today. Also have another snowman well on the way. These ornaments won't be floating when I'm finished. I shade in pencil first then add color pencil and shade a bit more with those. I go ahead and color the ball as I finish to avoid pencil smears. These are fairly large, each is around four inches across, will be an 8x10. Hopefully finish it tonight to take tomorrow to my friend's open house event. 8x10 graphite and color pencil
I know, you've seen one snowman, you've seen them all....but all are a little different, no two alike. The detail and color doesn't show up real well. I gave my previous Alabama snowman to my future daughter-in-law and her family as a little gift for the new house they just moved into so I had to get another ready for tomorrow's event. Sorry, I haven't been around to everyone....been trying to catch up on laundry and draw after being away with the hubs, had a good time. Promise to catch up soon. Keep your fingers crossed for me on Wednesday!!!!