Memories

If you've not lost a parent yet,

you don't know what it's like.

You can only imagine.

Last month I lost my Dad.

In a way you feel like a part of yourself died.

Living close and helping take care of him has given me a

 library of memories of his sense of humor and thoughtfulness.

Memories to cherish. 

Westie Rescue Garden Roots

Westie to the Rescue

Painting

We have been away from computers for a bit.

My dad went into the hospital for a few days, we thought,

and ended up staying two weeks.

He is home now and very happy to be there.

One nice thing is that on Thanksgiving Day the hospital

cafeteria gave us a full on Thanksgiving Day Meal for free.

Sweet potatoes, squash and apples, turkey, mashed potatoes...

you get the picture. We thought that was very nice of them.
Then later we had a lovely Thanksgiving Day dinner
that my daughter cooked. I ended up not doing very much
in the kitchen this year.

I did get a few paintings done today.  One of my westie boy

who probably thinks we have been off on vacation every day

the last few weeks. Not.  Outside he usually is at a running pace

everywhere he goes. And I tend to be slower with wellies on.

So our westie boy is the scout.

More about paintings here.

Santa Claus, Jack Frost and Myself

Santa Claus came with Jack Frost to our house.

I am busy too so we really don't  see each other.

We are all creating.

I seem to be creating stacks of things.

Jack keeps busy outside doodling on the windows.

Santa eats all of the candy and cookies

and I am finding lots of mismatched socks around the house.

It could be that our westie dog is hiding them somewhere.

(We hear Frosty the Snowman is on his way

and that he has already visited some of you.)

I had thought they were early this year

but then I saw a car on the freeway with a

Christmas tree on their car roof. Hmmm.

I hope all is well and you are happily busy, too.

My aceo's are here.

Nuremberg Chronicles Art Wood Cuts Book

I have always admired wood block prints. I dream about carving out my own art by a cozy wood fire with a love for art fueling me late into the night by candlelight. Every night. It seems like such a romantic form of art/illustration. With the finding of a Nuremberg Chronicles book published in 1493 just recently in Utah, I am in awe all over again. Do you think anyone would notice if I pulled a loose barn board off and got a knife and started carving intricate swirls for wind, roses, and sunshine, which is also what I dream about the rest of the time?

From what I understand each print was from a wood cut in this book. All 1,809 illustrations. Some illustrations were hand watercolored. We are still romancing wood cuts after all of these years and rightly so.

Siamese Cat Nap and Roses

Today I think Spring arrived. I passed a sign today at a nursery that said, "Spring is coming," and I had to smile thinking ..."It's already here." Yay. I painted this watercolor titled Spring Songs and listed it on ebay. It has some of my favorite things in it. Topiaries, roses, gardens, siamese kitties, birds, white table top, paintings...well it has the side of a painting and last but not least the soft lime green color!

Edwardian Westie Boy Dog Clothes

Edmund, the westie, and his friend Lester share a croquet game on the lawn. Lester is trying to line up his shot with the stars, I think.

Original aceo painting for sale on ebay. I am smitten with watercolors and india ink. These little characters are pulling on my heart strings.

Victorian Cats Lester and Eleanor Watercolor

Lester and his sister Eleanor have a pet squirrel who retrieves nuts for Lester. Yes, the squirrel can hold up to three nuts in his mouth at a time. He is used to chasing them when they roll from the trees and it's not much different when Lester tosses them.

Original watercolor illustration painting up for sale on ebay now here.

Edwardian Cat Named Lester

Lester loves being outdoors even when he is dressed for indoors. Every button buttoned and bowtie tied, but Lester hid his shoes in the bushes so they will stay clean. His feet are feeling the outdoor bliss and if I know Lester he is about to race off and his toy rabbit will be para sailing behind him. He comes here to admire the birds who are not as flighty as the birds at home. The topiary birds move ever so slightly in the breeze just enough to make them seem a bit real.

This is an original watercolor painting on 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and has been finished with a light acrylic varnish. For sale here.

The Little Details

These new khaki raincoats for little girls are from Land's End. I just love the little ruffles along the bottom.

Ruffles are in on everything.

Big ruffles.

Little ruffles.

Ruffles are beautiful.

Just as long as we don't get, "ruffled up." That is not beautiful.





I've finished a few more aceo watercolors. This one is titled "Watering Hope".

Some things just take time to bloom.

We have to be patient.

We have to nurture it and protect it.