Batter Up!

Pretty much spent the past four days preparing two cakes for this past Saturday. The first, a pirate cake for my nephew's 3rd birthday party. Finished it Friday night, party was at 4 p.m. the next day on the mountain. Above is a side view. The "beach" is light brown sugar.

The black "thingies" in the "water" are shark fins out of a semi-sweet chocolate bar. The ship top black section and sails were found at Hobby Lobby for $2 and the pirates came from a cake decorating store. The bottom of the ship was baked in a loaf pan and iced in chocolate buttercream icing, first time I made it. Was so freakin' simple, what we have missed over the past many years!!! The cake is chocolate with buttercream icing.

The next cake was finished Saturday around noon. It was to be for a casual engagement party Saturday night for one of my niece's second marriage. It was a 10' and 6' double layer each of white cake with buttercream frosting which is more of an ivory since I use butter in the icing. The initials are in tiffany blue. The couple were having an engagement party then getting married on a cruise......surprise......they actually got married at the party, to everyone's surprise except for a few. My dear eldest niece gave me the scoop just the day before since I would be party hopping Saturday....so I did get there in time! I went to the "engagement" party alone since VolleyGirl had a team sleepover to attend and Mr. U had sports events he wanted to attend. Upon seeing all the cars at the party upon rounding the curve.....I said aloud, "I didn't make enough cake!" She told me to make enough for 50.....it didn't matter, but all was eaten. This has been all the art I have summoned in weeks, though my thoughts are that more will be done this week. Not the edible kind. Okay, I take that back. BigBoy's birthday is next Thursday but he has requested lemon bars. Pfffft, must have at least a little birthday cake........

Hopefully I can get around to leaving comments.....been slammed hard (pun intended) with the start of volleyball. First weekend tournament was 3 hours out of town and had to spend the night followed by a 2 1/2 hour trip for a game the following Monday. Games are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week capped off with a tournament on Saturday. I'm in charge of the food table so I get to carry alot of things and food to set up....but it is fun, just tiring. I do hope to work on my time management to get back to regular visits.

Tuesday's Bloom

The 2010 volleyball teams, before the spandex shorts are applied.....VolleyGirl, in the cream dress and long mane is in the middle, just right of center.

Yes, another busy summer, filled with a few tasks, performed for the last time: volleyball photos, senior pictures, still learning to drive.....Pictured above are the seniors on this year's varsity volleyball team. These girls have been friends since first grade, they get along so well. I had a good time helping pose all the girls for photos and giving efforts towards making them smile! They are used to my goofiness.

It was sooooooo hot out there that day, we were in the Botanical Gardens. Yep, she's number 10. I told her she looked like a "Breck Girl", but she didn't get it, thoses commercial were before her timeMy BigBoy did the artwork for the front cover of the team's program, the seniors had some action shots taken at the gym. This is one of my favorites.
Last but certainly, not the least, the Senior portrait. Thank goodness there was one she liked! All these photos and not one did she have her hair in natural curls. Having casual ones made in October by a friend cause she wanted to wear more wintry clothing. She is finally driving to school this year, so this makes the first year in sixteen years that I haven't been dropping a kid off at school....I won't lie.....feels pretty good.....well, after I receive her text announcing she has arrived safely! The bloom on Tuesday? It's Rose, VG's middle name, just as mine, after my mother. It's our favorite flower.

Ramblings of a Boring Artist

I'm craving art.....hopefully I will do some soon! Right now, it's been catch up with house chores, blech! I was really under the weather all week and worse Saturday and Sunday. Today, I am better. Though now, it has begun. Cue scary music.....VOLLEYBALL TASKS! Yes, it officially started today with the team hosting two sessions of camp for younger girls. They have an afternoon and evening session and parents provide food for them in between the sessions. I washed a couple of pounds of grapes and strawberries for the food table and took the second shift for registering campers. They host another next month, go to the gym at 7 a.m. a couple of mornings and my favorite................ SELLING $600 WORTH OF PROGRAM ADS! VolleyGirl will be helping of course. This morning I sent out the first emails, gonna have to start making the rounds, they are due in a couple of weeks. This process of practice, gym, camp at a university and fundraising will continue until school starts. Later in August the matches will start, then it is really a whirlwind until it ends sometime in October. I enjoy it, but right now, not really feeling it, but it is the very last season of sports after going through all the years with the two kids, so I will do my best to squeeze every drop of enjoyment and memories I can.

Changing the subject, went for a second opinion on my knee today. Verdict is the same, nothing further can be done, get a new model. Sooooooo, hopefully it will be scheduled before long so as to take advantage of BigBoy being home. Work tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday.

The photo above was taken before chopping them up for a recipe of sausage, peppers, onion, creole seasoning, crushed tomatoes, garlic and penne pasta. Thought I might like to sketch or paint them once upon a time............

Pumpkins - Uncut!

This is on 9x12 paper with pencil and colored pencils. I have a Christmas one almost finished, just lack the background. BigBoy thinks I should add background to this one....I may do that but it would probably just be some color, no scene. Found out yesterday VG's team is leaving tomorrow after school and we are doing "Elite 8 Goody Bags" for them so I am trying to think of something to contribute. They have their last practice here today but will have a bit of one Wednesday I think hours before their match. I sure would love to see them win at least the first match which would put them in the top four I think. Oh well, lots to do. Got to a few sites today but I haven't even showered and I probably should go to Michael's. My plans are to frame everything that I am displaying at the coffee house, don't know what else I could do. I hope to get one more painting on canvas done and I wouldn't have to frame it but I have a little stock of frames here both for canvas and paper cause I always look for bargains and sales. I really should have pulled them out and planned my work around frames I already have but that would have made too much sense!!!!

So Far...

Here is what I have completed so far on my 8x10 acrylic painting for the raffle drawing tomorrow night. I will be finishing it tonight. Got wrangled into helping with getting gifts for the Seniors on the team. The last home game is Thursday night so I spent part of the day doing that. I am probably not driving to the tournament until Friday afternoon with another mom. VG and the team will be going after the game tomorrow night...I don't really like that but that's the way it is. I must pack her things tomorrow since she has no time, practice right after school then straight to a meeting at school and now doing homework. Still hoping to catch up with you all...I post so you don't forget me....hahaha. Hopefully that rotten canine king will post for me tomorrow.

The Cake

I found a recipe for a fondant that did not require cooking. Made it two days ago. Rolled it out tonight three or four times then couldn't get it off the counter to put on the cake. Tried a big spatula, my rolling pin, all tore it up. Then I thought of a tube from a roll of wrapping paper and bingo! I was thrilled and so pleased with myself.

Used cocoa to dye some to make pieces of Apollo's food for the border. Dyed the yellow and blue with food coloring paste.

Painted with my food paste....some of it wasn't quite thin enough and frankly I was/am tired....it's almost 2:30 a.m. now but I am pleased. BigBoy watched the beginning of my 'sculpturing' and aided with the mouth a bit. It was his request to have 'Apollo' on there and specifically wanted a bulldog cake. Never seen a guy love a dog so much. He also so me begin the border but has long gone to bed. I have been wanting to try fondant for years. Now, pray nothing sags or slides off by morning. Nine hours, or was it ten of volleyball today, team tied for third. They are ranked third in state in our division, 3A!!!!! Reunion tomorrow, making potato salad in morning, cooked potatoes tonight.

'Prickly' Week

Snapped this cactus a couple of weeks ago with all you Monday cactus sketchers and Teri in mind.
My week is especially prickly with volleyball games today (45 mins away), Tuesday, Thursday (45 mins) and tournament Saturday, (30 mins away) food required at tournament. BigBoy comes home for the long weekend and to celebrate his 21st birthday. VolleyGirl has the bone scan on her foot this Friday, which will take up a huge portion of the day. Sunday is my mother's side of the family, yearly family reunion - food required (45 mins away). Later that afternoon, we are planning a party at the pool for our 'boy', food required. Finally...I am attempting my most ambitious cake ever for BigBoy. I will share my progress provided my head doesn't blowup first!!!!!! The birthday gifts have already been purchased and all I must do is wrap. I have my master grocery list, to do list and have researched my cake. I am also CAUGHT UP with my laundry!!!! Like my dear Soulbrush, I am 'on fire'.........sadly it is not with my art! Fingers crossed, c'mon back, don't fail me now......

A Day (or two) In the Life Of...boring but serves as cheap counseling for myself

Thursday was washing some, painting some then picking up VolleyGirl from school. 45 minute ride to the high school I graduated from for VG's team to play two matches. I ventured around the school a bit since I had not been in the building since. Lots of changes, additions, doesn't look the same, of course. Sitting on the bleachers is already killing me. Did you hear that? My spine is screaming. Home close to 9 p.m.
Today VG did not have school....yippee! Her foot has been hurting. Miraculously when I called the orthopaedic office we could come in at 10. Waiting, waiting, finally left after noon, or later. Eek, what I thought, maybe a strained tendon, having a bone scan to rule out a stress fracture. Keeping fingers crossed it will not be. Lunch plans for over a week with our friends, was fun. To Michael's to buy a 6 inch cake pan to use in the baking of a cake for Mr. Unplugged's parents anniversary. Home, clothes out of dryer, more in dryer, more in washer. Off to grocery store for a bit. Drop off prescription for VG's anti-inflamatory. Back home. Cook some for supper, bake cake, mix icing, crumb coat cake, mix more icing, clean up. Standing for over 3 hours........finish icing and decorating in the morning......photo to come after it is finished. Will take to my sister-in-law's house tomorrow. She is having her 2 year old's birthday party tomorrow afternoon and it falls on her parents' anniversary. It is a mini three-tiered cake. Never done it, we'll see how it turns out. Oh, did you hear that? It's two part harmony of the spine AND knees screaming. Wash is STILL not complete, yea, more tomorrow. Would it be possible to finish some paintings and do some ATCs??? Committed myself (no, not in that way, though probably needed) to begin singing with a ladies group at church, practice at 5 on Sunday's. They asked a long time ago....need a dependable soprano. I need it more than they do......

The Little Team That Could

Here is VolleyGirl's team after coming in second place in the tournament last Saturday - out of 16 teams. The coach, on the right, in red, was very pleased. They played six matches. We were there from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The man is the team school sponsor, he also sits on the bench and keeps stats. Another match late this afternoon.....waaaaay across town. Will not be expecting a win, the school is a 6A school compared to our little 3A, at least four times larger. Can see how well they hold their own though, coach thinks it is good for them. Doing a bit of catching up on your sites and painting some today........later!

Just A Little Art

Trying to get back into some type of routine now that VolleyGirl and BigBoy have returned to school. This is my first and only ATC that I have created. I have a friend in mind to give it to. It looks blue but it's not. Alot has been going on..VG's team won the tournament that they were in at the end of camp...that's a nice beginning. Her first games are Thursday night and Saturday is a tournament. This will not end until early October. BigBoy left Saturday and it was quite difficult after him being around since May and working at home. Between gathering items for back to school and the usual, I've not had any art time. I apologize for not commenting or posting much lately......trying to work on that. Hope all of you are well!!!!!!

Stomping Out Fires......

Ta-Da!!!!!! The latest in the 'Maytagarama' series to be completed!!! Biting at the bit to start the next one but I must stomp out the fires as they come......so part of today and tonight is filled with shopping/practicing/packing VolleyGirl for team camp. I've not had any time hardly to leave comments with everyone and I MUST post next time about new awards from Cynthia, A Woman Of No Importance and Soulbrush. Please do not think I am being rude! I have made a bit of time on an afternoon or two and two evenings to get this painting complete-I want these done as quickly as I can.......in between 20 loads of wash each week, cooking two meals a day, sometimes three, picking up....teaching VG to drive (she finished driving class and passed her test!), going to the grocery store....yada, yada, yada. Mr. Unplugged wants me to mess around with PhotoShop and Illustrator in order to get a 'real' job......I am not opposed but when? Okay, that was a 'baby vent' there that just sort of popped out without notice.

Shopped for some undergarments that VG and I should have purchased before today that she needs before the volleyball season kicks in.....hey ladies.....between you and I, the girls choose to wear thong underwear to avoid a panty line in the spandex shorts they wear........sooooooo, seems like that would be uncomfortable to me, VG says it isn't. She didn't start wearing them until ninth grade. Since practice and games will be six days a week starting later in August she needed some more. Also had to get sports bra.........she would die knowing I wrote about it. She doesn't even like anyone seeing us shop for them and she went away as I checked out! I told her ALL women buy undergarments sooner or later! Took her to practice and then ran to the grand Wal-Mart for a few snacks for her and Dudley food AND BigBoy three boxes of cereal...should be good for 3 or 4 days! We began some packing this morning but the bulk of it is tonight. Thankfully they are meeting at 7:30 a.m. instead of 6:00 now!

Just wanted to catch up a bit as the dryer finishes, so I'm off (well, you know that by now), I mean off I go to stomp out present fire! Hope to catch up to you all really soon! :)

Celebrations Continue

Yesterday was another festive day, Eli's 3rd birthday! This made three days in a row of celebration! The birthday tyke is in the middle, with his brother, Finn, on the left, and their sweet mom.

Blow that last candle out Eli!!!!

Isn't this the cutest 'sushi' that my niece made for the party! The green 'wasabi' is icing I tinted with her direction.

My niece baked the cake and I offered to make the icings and went over yesterday morning to decorate it. The theme was 'Samuri Jack', the flames up the side of the character on the raised portion are made from fruit roll-ups. The part was molded of rice krispie treats, iced, then decorated. It took a bit longer than anticipated but was great fun spending time with my eldest niece and seeing 3 year old Eli and 4 and a half year old Finn see the cake. We all attended the party later in the afternoon.

It's been another barn raisin' busy week again, aren't they all? Mr. Unplugged wanted to go out of town together for a night, so we went to the casinos a few hours away. It's not my favorite thing to do but we had a really great time. However, I knew that mounds of lovely laundry would be awaiting and since we all went to the pool, cooked out and I made ice cream last night, then we took in the fireworks....well, not a whole lot was done yesterday or today around here so.........I will be bleeding lint the next couple of days. VolleyGirl started a two week driver's education class this morning so I am extremely excited about getting up to get her off before 8:00 for that then straight to volleyball practice this week. That also means the 'cleaning elves' will be responsible for her room that is almost finished....oh, and she has two birthday events to attend this week also and a photo for the team program.

FINALLY finished the volleyball ads last week...$600 dollars worth.....good riddance to that task for another 11 months. Next tasks....back to 'maytagaramas' AND the next art festival is this Saturday............do I dare try to do some small paintings and large zentangles PLUS build a display for it? Hmmmm, not sure, having intense knee and back pain presently, but I really want to. There is good health news, finally had that freakin' abdominal ultrasound last week and I HAVE ALL THE RIGHT PARTS AND THEY LOOK NORMAL...they didn't even comment that I had a fatty liver! Though....I have to dig deeper with a specialist to find out about the elevated liver enzymes.

Busy Baking and Being a Taxi.....

Be back tomorrow checking everyone's site. Today is VolleyGirl's 16th birthday! I have been driving her around to meet friends for lunch, to volleyball camp her team is hosting for five hours, picking up last minute items and making her cake which will be pink and lavender. Hope you all are having a great Monday!

Still here.......

I've tried to keep up a bit with everyone. This is BigBoy's pen drawing, one of his finals for a class, it is 16x20. He is job hunting this week and simultaneously eating everything in sight! The other day he created a website with all his work, will get his approval to post it. He has his wisdom teeth taken out this Friday - not looking forward to that since he has a strong gag reflex and eats like an infant - every two hours! VolleyGirl has exams next week then she is out for the summer, of course there will be volleyball workouts beginning in June. She has got to practice driving like mad in June since I managed to get her signed up for a driver's education class in July.

I have had a bit more energy the past couple of days but I have also been resting more. Heard from my second blood test and I do not have mono! But.... apparently I have had it.....news to me. Mr. Unplugged is curious as to where I got it.....I'm clueless....I told him he probably had it, didn't know it and gave it to me! Doesn't answer why my liver are enzymes elevated......on to an ultrasound next week. I am not overly concerned, they didn't sound that way. Will know next week. Thanks for all your caring comments, they mean alot to me.

Catching Up......Finally!

We attended the last Club volleyball tournament in downtown Atlanta this past weekend. The team played alright, lost a couple they should not have but that's okay. We drove over on Friday evening and we stayed nearby the venue in downtown. We arrived to play at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning and finished around 1:30 that day. Our hotel was about 3 blocks away, so we walked. That's nothing....unless you have a bad back, one bad knee and the other is worse! I survived. VolleyGirl and I took a little nap upon returning to the room. Then we got ready and went walking around downtown for a bit. I didn't take that many photos but caught a few.

I liked the reflection of one glass building on another.

The same here.

We were constantly encouraged to take a horse pulled carriage ride. I thought the horses were so sweet and of course felt sorry for them. Mr. Unplugged wanted to take one but VolleyGirl obviously thought it would be extremely embarrassing. I'm usually steps behind trying to keep up - should have just hopped on and said adios!

These windows were broken almost a year ago from a tornado.

Appropriate carriage for VolleyGirl - there were normal ones. We ate at an Italian restaurant.

I am not completely recovered from the trip. The weather was bad on the drive home part of the time and was at home and along the areas where BigBoy was to drive back to school. We kept asking him what were the weather reports in order for him to leave. Finally, I looked on Mr. U's phone at weather.com and it was to be bad all evening. I do not believe BigBoy was being totally upfront about it. We didn't let him leave Sunday. Luckily, his class wasn't until 3:00 on Monday so he didn't leave until yesterday morning. There were a couple of deaths and damage in nearby towns. I had bags to unpack, clothes to start washing, grocery trip so it takes me awhile after a trip to get back to blogging. Also, school volleyball tryouts are this week and I had to driving VG to that after school and then return to pick her up. Her school does not have it's own gym yet so we must drive 20 minutes from school to the one they use, it is about 30 minutes or more from our house. That's every day this week. We don't allow her to ride with her 16 year old friend drivers just yet.

I will slowly catch up with everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend!

A Bit Out Of Sorts

The kids are home, out of school this week and Mr. Unplugged has taken off so of course my usual routine is not usual right now. I haven't been on the computer all day. Washing, cooking, visiting. I did take VolleyGirl to a vball lesson yesterday and today. I have shagged the balls (okay, those of you from England, it is not what you think!!!!) meaning I have been chasing the volleyballs and picking them up during the lessons.......that I have discovered has been causing lots of pain in the evenings for me so I guess no more of that.

I did this zentangle last night with some new colored pens I bought a couple of weeks ago for mostly this purpose. I am still working on a colored pencil drawing.

Tomorrow the guys are going to be away and VolleyGirl is having three friends come spend the night. I probably will get some drawing time or computer time tomorrow night if Apollo, a.k.a., His Royal Hineness, Fat Bastard, Canine Messiah, will act right and not have been after him every five minutes to keep him from going up the steps and trying to cover the floor like a dustbuster! Hope to catch up with all the posts I missed today!

Double 'Whew'...

Double, because the day was long and the loooong list of facts are complete! I did not take that many photos yesterday, seating was not great and games too close. I like how the ball showed up in this photo though. I thought it would be a fairly short day since it was to be tougher competition at this one and our team was missing two players and the setter was playing with torn ligaments in her left arm which affected her quite a bit....duh. VG played really well! I predicted we would finish around 2 p.m. The two men in the family always want to know when it's over even after years of telling them it all depends on how much you win........but what's a woman to do.....ha.....guess I could draw them a picture of it!!!! We left a bit before 7 a.m. and didn't return home until around 8:30 p.m. The team played pretty well considering and the competition was not what I expected. Today my body feels like a mack truck ran over me. It is alot of standing and bleacher sitting........but I do enjoy them though I was looking forward to getting home and all of us going out to dinner. Thankfully we have an entire week to spend some time together.

I have wracked my poor little menopause stricken brain to think of something really interesting to wrap up the facts challenge that I hypnotized each and every one of you this past week. I keep thinking that there is something I am not thinking of and you don't know how bad I wish mom were here for me to ask. It's like I know she would recall something right off that should be so obvious to me..........oh well, it's actually been sort of fun however it seems like my comments have dropped off! I've either chased some away with my yawning life or some have formed some type of opinion of me that is unpleasant! Whatever the case, I appreciate those that have hung in there. Here is the last of the 70 facts!!!!!!!

61) Pocohontas connection in ancestry
62) Had a pen pal from England
63) Rode with mom & aunt to sneak a peek of a KKK rally nearby (NOT TO ATTEND - TO SPY!!!) We got more than bargained some started coming by with guns out going towards a house! Wow did we get out of there!
64) I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis
65) LOVE to dance, have taken a hip-hop class-difficult to now though
66) Spent many nights in hospital with VolleyGirl, she was born with cleft palate, her whole babyhood was constant ear infections, carried her till she was 3 years old
67) Dislocated knee cap practicing high kicks to try out for college dance team (now have to have total knee replacement)
68) 100: decorated over 100 tshirts & painter's caps as different animals for children's choir performance, used to paint clothes in 80's to sell, once did 100 outfits alike for tupperware group to go to convention, baked 100 filled cupcakes for VG and 2 friends combo 13th bday and iced in their favorite colors, purple, hot pink and turquoise blue
69) Had photo taken with John McCain at a book signing a few years ago
70) Love historical things- movies, documentaries, antiques, old homes, etc. John Adams miniseries was amazing!

AND ONE BONUS: I LOVE DOING ZENTANGLES!

I have a fresh pot of coffee made for you, y'all come! (assorted teas available also)

Week Wrap-Up and Counting Down The Facts

Here is the zentangle I did a few nights ago.

The past couple of days I've been doing some cleaning and preparation before Spring Break. BigBoy and VolleyGirl are both out of school next week. Feel pretty good that I have squeezed out 50 facts, completed a painting, a couple of drawings and some zentangles. Saturday Mr. Unplugged, VolleyGirl and I are off for a one day volleyball tournament again. It is only an hour and a half drive away so we won't leave until close to 7:00 a.m. Thankfully I do not have to prepare food because it is not allowed, they sell it there. I hope to get some good photographs, probably not much sketching....I'm cheering, clapping seeing that VG is getting water and food in-between. O.K., control that gag reflex, the fact challenge is almost complete!

The next ten are:

51) Have met Don Rickles, the comedian

52) Have broken four bones

53) Art major, marketing minor

54) Have tap danced on stage dressed as a nun

55) Have shot a gun

56) Played on tennis team

57) Had a foot of intestines removed (sure to be crowd favorite!)

58) Made a 3-tier wedding cake

59) Raised a baby goat on bottle

60) Toured Graceland

When I snap my fingers...you will awaken!!!

Weekend Update

We have our first snow on the first day of March!!!

I created this zentangle last night while we were watching a little tv together after the day of volleyball. Welcome to March and Spring???

VolleyGirl played well in this weekend but her team was eliminated in the second match of tournament play on Sunday.

Have a lot of catching up to do around here at home and with all my blog friends! Give me a day or two.....there's laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning.....ugh. I had already been feeling a bit under the weather and two days of cheering have left me terribly hoarse but I'm betting you will even notice!!! Mr. Unplugged and VolleyGirl requested my silence last night however.............(no respect at all around here! Ha.)

Award, Image and Volleyball

I was blessed and thrilled to receive this 'Friends' award from A Woman Of No Importance a couple of days ago. Thank you soooo much, I return the award back to you tenfold. I have recently made many new friends so it will be difficult to choose.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I am to choose eight friends to share this with." 8 friends, out of many, that have been supportive, friendly and just good fun include:

Cris, Artist In Oregon

Soulbrush

Teri's Painted Daisies

Leet.Gallery

Carian In Crete

Studio LOLO

Oregon Art Guy

Supplies Overflowing

Thank you to all my 'old' and new blog friends!

The colored pencil quick sketch above is the softer image created with Mim in mind.....

Finally, two day volleyball tournament in our town this weekend but work starts tonight. Will be having a tougher time checking my site and visiting yours. Tomorrow morning we arrive at 7:30 for some hours of vball.....go VolleyGirl!!!!