Happy Anniversary

Oh the memories. . .

My, how time flies. It flies right up into the air and blows up.

On this very day 29 years ago, another great disaster occurred in the Rockville, Maryland courthouse. Just kidding!! What I mean is, after 29 years of happily wedded bliss, etc. etc.

It is hard to fathom the fact that I have now spend MORE than half my life with Miguel. It's been one long, weird trip...but in a GOOD way. I'm just so glad we found each other, because I'm pretty sure there is no one else out there who would put up with either one of us. So, as Mike always says..."See, there really is someone for everyone." Here's to 29 more years of crazy goodness!

Karma Mobile

2004 Toyota Sequia 4WD 

I'm stunned. Last Wednesday I gave $5 to a panhandler in the parking lot outside of my favorite craft store. I didn't believe her story (car broke down, needed bus money) but I did my Christian duty and performed an act of charity. I told my co-worker that I truly believed that when you did a kindness, it would come back to you one thousand-fold. So, after Mikey's van crapped out on us Friday, one of his guitar student GAVE us this SUV. I'm still reeling. Thank you, Carl Arneson. YOU will be blessed for YOUR act of kindness.

Consolation Prize

Red Guitar

While I was waiting for Miguelito to rent a car and drive back from his aborted trip to Ikea, I painted a portrait or one of his guitars. This is done in acrylic. I think the size is 24 x 36. Or maybe 20 x 30. I can't remember now.

Anyhow, it now proudly hangs in his newly reburbished recording studio. He posted a photo on his Facebook page and I am happy to report I got a lot of great feedback. Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement.

R.I.P. Big Red

Farewell to an old friend

Well, it had to happen someday. The old red minvan finally bit the dust. Miguel was on his way to Charlotte--and he almost made it--when the engine just seized and died. Of course it was during a miserable cold rain because these things never happen during good weather. So I had to leave work early to put money in his account. (We don't believe in preventive maintenance, AAA or credit cards...) He had the car towed to a dealer and was told it was beyond hope. He then rented a car and came home. I am glad that I didn't have to drive to Charlotte to get him. I certainly would have done it, but my God, what a pain that would have been!

Got my mojo working

Cottage

I have just come through a long, dry spell. I was finding it very difficult to paint. I was doing other "artsy" stuff, just to keep from getting totally rusty, but I wasn't able to paint. I just wasn't FEELING it. But, I waited it out and now I'm back, baby! It's great.

This is a painting in gouache (opaque watercolor) of a little cottage on a hill at the end of stone walkway. It's meant to be kind of whimsical. It was fun to do. It's a somewhat different style for me. Gouache is great to work with. It's creamy, like pudding, and goes on smoothly. But, it is substantial enough to build layers if you're careful. It dries very quickly so you can't mess around too long. It also will reactivate when it gets wet, so underlayers will bleed through it you muddle around it. I've also started working a little bit with gouache acryl, which is supposed to be something between gouache and acrylic. I think it is more permanent, but I haven't experimented enough to figure it out. I'll let you know what I find out. Happy Painting, ya'll!!

And now for something completely different

"49 Shades of Gray"

I finished this last night. I think it's finished... I keep looking at it and thinking I need to add a little more or this or that. That's a good way to ruin a painting, by the way. Sometimes you just need to step away and quit monkeying with it. So, this is a 24x30 canvas, mixed media (acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and newspaper collage). My co-worker's sister is working in China right now and she brought back some Chinese newspapers for me. I like the way the characters look. They are a work of art in and of themselves. Forgive the glare, I don't have a good camera set up. I coated the whole thing in gloss gel to protect it and it makes it a little shiny. I plan to take this to the gallery when they rehang for February. So, starting next month you can see this in person at Chapel Hill Art Gallery.

Babies everywhere!

Liam and McKinley napping.

My former boss (she retired last summer) was also blessed with a new grand-baby in 2014. It was a great year for grandbabies! I have been informed that my own grandson, James Two, has finally cut his first tooth. He's been working on it for a couple of months.

They're all growing up too fast.

At any moment both boys will be crawling, then walking, then driving...I can't stand it.

James Two with his grandmother

I don't have the words to describe how wonderful my little grandbabies are. What a joy is it to live long enough to see your children have children. And my children are turning out to be excellent parents. It's a blessing. My one and only sorrow is that my parents aren't around to see their great-grandchildren. They would be so pleased to see how great everything turned out.

James One tries out his new teeth

James One enjoying a snack last Saturday when we went out to eat. He has two new teeth on the bottom that are just barely poking out. His mommy goes back to school today and his daddy is at a new job in Mebane, the Downtown Table or something like that. I need to look it up. Right now it is the only "upscale" eating establishment in Mebane. Jon got "Yelped" in a review the other week. Apparently his mashed potatoes were a big hit.

Portrait of the Artist at the Beach

Oh look, it's me...only I'm not really that tanned.

Yesterday was the coldest day I can remember. It was 9 degrees when I got to work and the temperature never got out of the 20s all day. Hideous. It's better today. I think it's 40 now. So to take my mind off this ridiculous weather, I am posting a watercolor I did of some fine looking ladies at the beach. I also watched old re-runs of Hawaii Five-O last night. Everyone looked so warm and comfortable.

More exciting news...tonight is the 2nd Friday Art Walk at the Chapel Hill Art Gallery. I am now the Vice President of the gallery. I'll try not to run it into the ground or declare war on the other local galleries.

Heppy New Yeer from Krazy Kat

George Herriman, creator of the Krazy Kat cartoon. One of my favorite artist/illustrators. He also illustrated the "Archie and Mehitabel" books by Don Marquis.