Tag Archives: short stories

Thurdsay Time Out For Art

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 Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine

Inspired by my first rooster FogHorg-LegHorn, who lovingly woke us up each morning about 4:30am.  We had to be up shortly after that anyway, and we did live in the country……he never seemed to be a problem to anyone.

I’m sure early farmers trained roosters to crow at 4:30am, so they could get a start on their day….It worked!

After painting FogHorn, and loving him in his own simple form, I decided to have a little talk with him.  He felt that I was simplifying him to much, and he needed to be adorned just a little more.  (Roosters are funny that way!) That’s right, my painting spoke to me!   My solution for all this artist talk was to show a little sunlight on his breast, and put written music on the canvas.  He seemed to be happy with this, and that has made me happy as well.

What do you think?   Is FogHorn singing his song now?

Thursday Time Out For Art is hosted by Zebra Designs & Destinations.  They are located in Equator, and have wonderful posts full or adverture, and inspiration.  Always something different, and interesting.

Bunny Trails

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Dusty playing in the bushes!

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I have to update you on the bunnies….

Dusty is doing great. He is happy, healthy,  fun to watch, and to be around.  Since it is getting pretty hot out where they live,  the bunnies spend the day inside the house, and go outside to hippity hop in the late afternoon.  Nothing is cuter than watching them exploring the yard after a day inside.  Sometimes they even run in big large circles to get their exercise.

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Bubbles…….well, after three breedings, she still has not had any baby bunnies.  And, frankly my daughter said she had given up.  As it get hotter, all she can think about is fifteen little bunnies running all over their large yard.  I guess it would be like having fifteen three-year olds all the time.  This is why I didn’t become a teacher!

Meanwhile  Tracy, my daughter decided it would be easier if the bunnies could go in and out by themselves, and the only way they would be able to do that is to train them to use the doggie door.  So one Sunday afternoon, she spent a little time showing them the door, and how they can go both ways.  Before very long, they were both going in and out playing a game.  One afternoon when they were playing in whats left of the grass, Tracy goes into her bedroom, and this is what she found…….yep, Bubbles happily perched on her bed!

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There are all kinds of surprises when you have a zoo, but for now there will be no bunnies…..

But wait!

Do you remember the “Little Gecko Without A Tail?”  Friday, I will tell you all about the happenings in the wonderful world of the geckos.

Thank you for Hippity Hopping by, and stopping to learn more about Dusty, and Bubbles.

Frantic Friday

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Doodled Greeting Cards

Doodled Greeting Cards

Whenever I get a little time, or something just hits me right, I make an effort to sit down and do some Doodling, or Zentangeling.  It seems like a waste of time, but there are times when the end of the day is close, and I don’t have the energy to do something big.  So in order to make it count, I’ve been making greeting cards.  There are times when sending an e-card just isn’t enough.

Ok  Ok, so a little part of me is still old school.  But there are times when it’s good to have a real card!  Here are a few more cards I’ve put together.  

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Are they finished, I’m not sure.

Sometimes butterflies end up on the cards

Sometimes butterflies end up on the cards

Sometimes being simple is better.  Sometimes Less is not enough, and more is better.  I feel that way about my paintings also.  I rarely go too far in a good way, and usually stop before it gets obnoxious.   That’s why it takes two painters to finish a painting.  One to paint, the other to tell them when to stop!   So maybe that’s a matter of opinion, that’s ok as well.

Boxes & boxes of blank cards are waiting for inspiration.

Boxes & boxes of blank cards are waiting for inspiration.

Sometimes I make stamps, and transfer them to the front of a card….  I’m very spontaneous, and unpredictable when art is concerned!

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Thursday Time Out For Art

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Art Day

Art Day

 

Last week my granddaughter Sage came to stay….for all of 6 days!  Knowing she is 9, made me try harder than ever to keep her interested, and do things she would have fun with.

We started off the first evening with grilled cheese sandwiches, and watched movies of her choice all evening.  The next day she mentioned how tired she was.

Sushi

Sushi

Now we are on the second day, and I had a lot to live up to, so we went to lunch….Sushi, and  the movie theatre.  I remember seeing the title, “Inside Out.”  After that I feel asleep for a while. Wow I didn’t have any idea that a popcorn, two medium sodas, and a small bag of Starbursts would cost $15.00.  It’s only money right?  And Sage doesn’t come to visit often.

The third day Sage again mentioned that she was exhausted trying to keep up with me.  Laugh Out Loud,  do you know how much energy it takes to keep up with a nine-year old?  I’m the one that’s exhausted!

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Onward, and upward…the next day we headed out to the Rack because, Sage loves to shop with grandma, and what nine-year old would give up the idea of going shopping with a Grandma that pays for everything?  She was determined to find a pair of boots!  I tried to remind her that it is summer, and she lives in a particularly hot place, but you know how we girls are.  When we make up our minds, well….you know how this is going to end?  Sage found a pair of Heelies that lit up, and she was a happy camper.

We ended our day by going to dinner at Rubio’s.

Rubio's

Rubio’s

Sage was thrilled, and I just kept thinking how could I not be cooking healthy foods?  I didn’t cook one meal for her the entire time she was here.  If you are thinking… hay granny, what about the grocery store?   I’m here to tell you I did that, we brought home peach yogurt, fresh peaches, and an entire shopping cart full of goodies.  Healthy goodies from Trader Joe’s, so that was a good decision right!

Waterfall to the Koe pond

Waterfall to the Koi pond

Next day we visited Auntie Barbara, and Auntie Maria.  We checked out the fabulous vegetable garden, the beautiful flowers, and watched the Koi as they lazily swam in the pond.

Auntie Barbara's Koi pond

Auntie Barbara’s Koi pond

What more could she  ask of me?  I think that might have been pizza night, I’m a little foggy from here on out.

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I had forgotten how messy kids are.  We had slippers on the end tables, and every table in the livingroom had some piece of clothing, or art project on it.  The house was a mess, but Sage only comes once in a while, and if it isn’t going to make a difference in 100 years, why bother!

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The following day…..Sage, and I went to visit Aunt Shawna, and Sage’s cousin Nolan.  The cousins love each other, and Shawna and I were happy to be able to have an adult conversation.   Although, our eyes were glazed over, and we didn’t do a lot of  talking.  The kids entertained themselves at the pool,  as we discussed what a great investment swimming lessons had been!

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The newest invention...

The newest invention…

Once we got back to the house, dried off the kids,  we  send them outside with water balloons.  Then the fun began! OK, It wasn’t long before we realized they were at the end of balloons, together we decided to give them tempera paint to make handprints all over the sliding door.  

What fun!

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There was red paint everywhere, and my wonderful daughter-in-law cleaned up everything.  Here is a picture of the of the cousins just beginning to put their stamp on the patio.

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And here is a picture of what they looked like after they finished painting themselves red…..

On the last day, Sunday  – the energy level of us both was quiet, and while I prepared for the family to come for a BBQ, Sage laid  around with Daisy reading, and playing with dolls.

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I’m still trying to put my house back together, and just as I think things are looking pretty good, I find more out-of-place art supplies, or something similar that was hidden in plain sight.

A fun week was had by all, and the next time I am asked if they can come and stay with Grandma, and Papa…….my answer would be,

“Of Course You Can!”

Coming Out of The Fog!

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It's too warm.....

It’s too warm…..

As the weather warms up, I’m warming up as well.  I have ideas!  Ideas for painting,  decorating, gardening, and ideas for fashion.  It’s been important for me to stay away from stores in general.  Everything except grocery stores, and that seems to be just as dangerous.  (I love to shop, especially if it is for me.)

My tomato, and bell pepper plant are growing big. The cilantro,has decided to throw in the towel, and  be compost.  The  celery along with a new organic parsley plant  are  growing quite well.  This gives me hope that they too will survive.

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The lawn, well we have stopped watering the lawn altogether.  The drought has pushed us into a brown lawn, maybe brown dirt is a better way to describe it.     It takes a lot of work, and a huge amount of water to keep our lawn green and healthy looking.  Then….. there is Daisy, our dog!  She is helping make the decision to eliminate grass.  Between the drought and Daisy, our lawn doesn’t stand a chance.  Although I have wanted to do something different with that area for a long time, anything I want to do isn’t affordable!

All the other plants are fine.  We have just about totally replaced water guzzling plants with drought tolerant plants,  and anything that doesn’t live around here,   will get replaced with a boulder!

They don’t take much time, or water…..they just sleep a lot!

Timeout for Art: Fishin’ for Time

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Since I have completely lost track of time, and finally remembered this morning that I missed yesterdays post, and now todays post is due.  Being so busy got in the way of my blogging goals.  So today I’m reposting todays post from Zebra Designs & Destinations.  I hope it inspires you to do a little something while we sit here in Southern California suffering from humidity.  This storm seems to be circulating around the drain, we being the drain!  We aren’t use to humidity of this kind, and for this long.  I know it’s nothing next to the heat, and humidity some of you have to put up with, but we are spoiled here, and aren’t use to bad weather.earlier in the week this storm actually brought to us a wonderful thunder, and lightening storm along with a little rain.

On the positive side, the three of us sat on the patio and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

Timeout for Art: Fishin’ for Time.