Animal Wednesday - animal sketches and rambling notes.

I am working my way thru a book called "Drawing and Painting Animals" and am still in the early portions of the book and am not even close to the "painting" section. I got myself a brown paper sketchbook and am going to keep my animal sketches in that book as much as I can.

What I have learned, over and over again I might add, is that practice helps. It's a little bit hard because there are so many animals to draw, but this book tries to bring you back to basic shapes and drawing animals from those circles, triangles etc. Once you start to get ease with drawing those shapes, and taking it to the basic animal look - I guess you start on some more complex drawings - like two animals together. But I do know from my experience over the past two years that the hand is learning to draw while the eye is learning to see - and when you get these two senses working together with confidence, drawings flow better and everything works easier.

I think the top cat has the mumps - doesn't he look a bit swollen about the jaw area? Ah well - practice will help.

On other notes, work has been so busy that I haven't had time to post, or comment or much of anything. Yesterday was a 12 hour day, but I am over the hump now and can go back to regular hours. My tooth is bothering me again so I am going to make an appointment to have it taken out finally.

All of a sudden, the weather has changed to fall like temps, a very abrupt change from hot summer weather. This is the time of year that you wonder if you should get out the sweaters and put away the sleeveless shirts. I usually make the wrong choice and end up broiling in fall clothes on what seems like a hot summer day. Sitting outside before dinner now requires a light sweatshirt, whereas two weeks ago I felt like I wanted to sit in a pool of cool water. I love fall weather - there is a tiny little tang in the air that is conducive to biking, hiking, and in general - being outside. I'm not so happy doing loads of activity in the heat, and seriously hate doing outside stuff in freezing cold weather - but give me that fall crispness and I'm happy. Apple weather; pies and the like call out to be made...or bought.

My printer/scanner is doing odd things. Big streaks in the scanning - so much so that I can't even think about posting the latest in the adventures of Miss Em. I've cleaned it, and fussed, and am beginning to think that it's unfixable! It doesn't show up as much on this brown paper but on white - yucko! Any advice?

HAW everyone - enjoy your animals today!

Illustration Friday - Magnify

Creation was really a sneeze - magnify to see the sun, moon, man, woman.

Six Word Saturday

Quilting makes me feel in control

I realized this today while working on the bottom quilt at 6:00 am. Now, the reality is that I have been asked to make 3 baby quilts for friends - so I've had a mission going anyway. The first one below, is baby sized and sort of a crazy quilt with many different fabrics and all done on the diagonal. I'm just finishing the binding and it will go to it's new home next week (I hope)

And the second one - well, while buying quilt batting for the first one, I saw this green/blue collection of fabric and decided to try making a baby quilt from those fabrics, side by side with white squares. But once I got everything all cut out, I realized that I didn't like it for a baby quilt..so am making it for myself! The colors don't show up so well in the basement light but it's really pretty, and very springlike and cool looking (why am I making this as fall is approaching? - let's not even try to analyze the hidden denial in that one)


But as I was sewing this morning I got (once again) the revelation that sewing quilt squares is a way of control for me - and after a few weeks of being off work, and having fun with family, and then going back to work...well I need to feel like I can control something. I used to clean house when I felt like this, now I make quilts.

I'd rather make quilts. I'll save the housecleaning for dire times - where very serious control is needed. When it's either clean...or get some serious revenge on whatever is pissing me off.

Animal Wednesday - The Norwegian Welch Fish

I was so enchanted with this dream that I spent the flight down to Atlanta (on Monday) drawing these two fishies. No color on them yet, but they will have soon.

HAW to everyone and have fun on Blogland lane - where fishes roam like little free ballerinas.

All Quiet Again...

The pull-out bed is put away. The inflatable bed is deflated. 6 loads of laundry are complete, my bathroom is my own again and the house is quiet. I'm not crying - but I do miss them all!

Mom was here for 5 days before everyone else got here and we got the place ready for additional visitors by hauling out the pull out bed, and finding linens etc. We had a good time with mom, she's low maintenance and enjoyed new experiences like pulled-pork sandwiches, with coleslaw. And espresso ice-cream. Brother and family got here on Saturday and on Sunday we had other friends over for a clam-bake type cookout complete with lawn games and Frisbee.

We went Kayaking on Monday - in the worst heat wave that we have had in years. Of course we all jumped into the river and had a good swim. Cooled off and kept going for a few hours. The California crowd couldn't get over the heat and humidity.

The Family on the River

Brother and Nephew (aka minx)

A cool cloud and sun thing happening.

The Nephew.

Is a complete and adorable troublemaker. He's just 13, but you know how boys can be - he acts and seems more like 10 than 13. He loved the quilt I made for him and used it all week. He zips around the house with his iPOD getting in trouble at all turns. He surprises me, like the day he asked if all my CD's were arranged by "genre". (??). He is starting guitar lessons soon and wants to "shade on the rock side, as opposed to the folk side". He hates reading but loves music. He was amazed at all our "old" CD's - and tried to copy some onto his iPOD and my computer is still recovering from the assault. He's small, but keeps asking me how tall his Dad was at his age (small I tell him, and look at him now) - he desperately wants to grow as tall as his Dad. I don't point out that his mom is only about 5 feet tall, and her brothers are about 5'5" at the most - who knows how tall he will grow.
I think this kid is very special and enjoy the hell out of him. Below are some typical poses.






The Niece -

Shown in typical poses below. Always kind and caring, yet not a saint. Beautiful girl with a figure that is wow wow. Runner, soccer player, musician, reader, writer, photographer, straight A student - but realistic about not always being the brainiest in the class. Willing to work hard for her goals and wanting to do well. She looks so much like me at her age, but with a freshness and openness that I never had. A confidence and attitude that I envy and admire. This is one very special girl - I was amazed at the complete pleasure that I got from being with her. She is so smiley and happy to help around the house, but with enough 15 year old self absorption to keep her human. I adored having her around and encouraged her to apply to East Coast colleges when she is ready. She just smiled....




Sean and Brian came over on their birthday Wednesday and we had cake and candles and presents - they were just thrilled. After that - Movie night and we watched an awful movie and made jokes and ate ice-cream. I love these pictures so much I'm posting two.



We went sightseeing one day, and ended up at the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA - where the first real battle happened that started the Revolutionary War way back in 1775. The heat was on and the river was enticing. Mom wanted to put her feet in the river, but it was a bit of a walk over a slightly steep riverbank - my initial inclination was to say that it was too unsteady for her to walk down to the water. Then the better half of my brain kicked in with "it's your mom, she's old, she wants to feel the water on her feet - get real Mim - and just help her out". So we walked down to the water and she got to dabble her feet in the cool river. I felt good about this even if I did have to keep her upright by holding onto her pants waistband.


One night we even had fireworks and ran inside when we heard police sirens. They weren't for us, but sometimes people complain about the noise... but we only set off a few...


It really has been an awesome few weeks - from Sedona to Mass. Work again next week and I do wish I could have another week off to recuperate from all the activity.

Happy last few weeks of Summer to you all...

Anticipation

Mom has been here since Monday, and we've had a relaxing time. She's very low maintenance, easy to feed and keep. Brother and family are coming today - sometime. I still have beds to make, and things to do but it'll all get done.

But last night I got a little weepy about when they all leave next week. Most of them haven't even gotten here, and I'm weepy about them leaving. Silly I know, but real sadness.

If I could change one thing it would be to have family closer so that we could visit and it wouldn't just have to be a VISIT. Dinner would be nice. Spending the day would be nice. Years ago my two sister-in-laws lived here (one was a sort of adopted sister of DH) but both moved away and then they both died. (!!!) Cousins are in NYC area, but that is a VISIT. Brother is in CA, sister in Italy, niece in AZ, Mom in FL - we are a crazy alphabet family.

I'll enjoy what I have, trust me - and will have a great time over the next week. I just wish....

Postcard Friday - Diner Card

I got this postcard in the mail from Lynn in CA - it's a diner in Berkeley that they go to and enjoy. Lynn - how did you know that I love Diners?

You can read the history of Diners here which is pretty interesting. I adore going to authentic diners and love good old fashioned diner food. When I worked in Worcester MA, there were great Diners to go to for lunch - where we could have wonderful meatloaf and mashed potato; with pie for dessert - all for about $4.00. The "Miss Worcester" was a great one - totally classic from 1948 - we had many a lunch there. There is also the Boulevard diner which had great food also. This book has great pictures of Worcester diners - I could go on and on.

I often thought about buying an old diner and having it moved to my backyard as a studio for either me or DH. Of course I haven't done that because (1) it would be a fortune and (2) it would freak out the neighbors - they'd think that they were in the Bronx and (3) it would cost a fortune. But wouldn't it be fun??? I know...I'll get on for my backyard in Blogland Lane!

Thanks Lynn - this was a great postcard and brought up alot of good memories.