Dec31Art

Went to the hockey game tonight disappointing game, Stingrays scored a goal but the referee didn't see it so, it didn't count and we lost the game.  Ron and I went to Chili's for dinner and were home by 9:30 pm, still need to feed the dogs and pop open the champaign.  Don't expect I'll be awake at midnight… bye bye 2014.

Dec30Art

I usually draw at my desk, and my Sea Salt grinder is usually in the kitchen.  I've had an upset stomach all day, so I had a baked potato with cheese for dinner at my desk.  I left the grinder on my desk, and decided to give drawing it a try.  This year 2014 is grinding down… so it sort of works for the date.

Dec29Art

Some days the blank page wins, and I can't see anything around me that I want to draw.  It is rainy and grey or dark so outside is not going to happen the animals are all hanging with Ron (he's got the week off) so out of my line of sight to draw Gracie or Inky (the cat with no name has a name… Inky)… so my imagination is not in gear either today… so an inch worm and a quote… call it done.

Dec28Art

Two great hockey games this weekend.  First fight tonight started in the first 2 seconds, finishing their beef from the night before. The Stingrays managed to win both games, so that made it even better for the 300 young Army soldiers from Ft. Jackson who came to the game tonight.

Dec27Art

We have a new cat, she's two years old short hair, black all over with piercing green eyes.  She was very annoyed with people looking at her at the shelter, twitching her tail, and they warned us that she bites. She did try, but we liked her anyway and brought her home.  Once out of the carry box she hid under my art table among the piles of boxes, easels and other clutter.  We had a hockey game tonight and left her alone to explore the house.  Our old Yeti kitty hid from us for 4 days when he first came to our house, but we were very pleased when we got home from the hockey game she came up and wanted petting and attention… no biting and she was very relaxed.  I think she's going to work out just fine… now to decide on a name for her beside kitty.

Dec26Art

I added to my Lamy collection with a Lamy Joy, I guess watching Liz draw with hers every week made me want to try one.  I do like the way it feels in my hand, I changed out the calligraphy nib for an extra fine nib, I already have a calligraphy nib on a Lamy Vista.  We went by the Humane Society today, we want to adopt a cat, but they were closed.  I do hope they'll be open tomorrow, I'm ready for another cat.

Dec25Art

Merry Christmas everyone.

Dec24Art

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Dec23Art

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Fear not…. fear not… for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy…

Keep the families of the NYPD officers murdered yesterday in your prayers, so sad for the children to lose their fathers at Christmas time.

A verse for those seeking revenge on both sides… remember  

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Romans 12:19 

Dec22Art

We got our Christmas turkey today a small 10 lbs 'fresh' turkey.  I've never bought a turkey that wasn't frozen. It has been raining on and off all day long today, hard enough to knock out the satellite tv at one point. Ron was back at work today, so the Tamiflu worked and I managed not to catch his flu.

Dec21Art

I've cleaned my red Lamy pen and flushed it 3 times, and still it won't feed ink properly… the new red Lamy pens don't look like this one, I wonder if I can buy a new one, but use this one's body.  I've been wanting to try a bent nib Hero pen, but can't tell from the photos on Amazon or eBay if the nib is bent or straight.  I spent way too much time searching for one tonight, which is why this is posting so late.

Dec20Art

Rainy gray day, ventured out to get some Micro SD cards and a wine refrigerator…Super Saturday sure looked busier than the day after Thanksgiving.  Mall parking lots were full to the brim, people parking on the grass and the traffic was impossible.  Hard to maintain a cheerful attitude,  so we got home as quickly as we could.

Dec19Art

Went to Dr this morning, got my flu shot, and x-rays of my hand and my foot that I was afraid I had broken.  X-rays showed no breaks, so I just need to be patient and let it heal. Also got an A1-C test that was 6.6 dropped a full point since my last A1-C, so very happy about that.

Back home a box from Goulet pens, a new Coral Lamy and some Platinum Sepia Ink (used to draw this today).  Also got pen cleaning solution trying the bring some old dried up Lamy's back to life.

We were supposed to go to the hockey game tonight, but I didn't feel like walking on my foot that isn't broken, and Ron probably didn't need to be out in the cold either.  So the weekend starts off with a quiet evening at home.

Dec18Art

I am subscribed the Koosje's "Draw tip Tuesdays", but the email about it arrives on Thursday, so I watched her Tuesday tip today, and really liked the idea for Christmas decorations. Day two of Ron being home sick, he's still running a fever and sneezing, and couching his lungs up… poor man.  So far I'm ok, washing my hands a lot and no kissing until he's bug free.

Dec17Art

Happy Birthday Ashton Badenell, my grand daughter is 18 today, old enough to vote, she's a great kid, headed to college next year. I love Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Schnapps this time of year.  Peppermint stick not required.  Ron stayed home from work today, was running a fever so I made him go to the Doctor.  It's the flu… he's taking Tami-flu and lots of fluids, and I'm trying not to breath his air. I haven't had my flu shot yet, wonder if it is too late to get it tomorrow.

Dec16Art

Grocery shopping night, Chic-fil-A dinner and staples for keyboards seen on tv. Blue tooth keyboards for touch screens, I'd rather have a mouse for my touch screen… is that nuts?  I think using a mouse is so much easier than putting my fingers all over the glass so that by the end of the day… who care how high res the picture is, it looks fuzzy under all the fingerprint smudges.

Dec15Art

Crate and Barrel pillow that I really like..    Lost my internet connection
around 9pm didn't come back until 11pm…akkk

Dec14Art

Ron and I spent the afternoon looking at new phones, so many new things to choose from. New phones you can wear as a watch, very cool except they didn't have any to sell.  We came home and discovered everyone, Amazon, Office Depot, Target, Wal-mart… everyone is out of stock.  I guess we'll wait until after Christmas for that particular gadget.

Dec13Art

Stingrays won tonight in a shoot out against Greenville, it was a 1 - 1 tie so we got to throw our bears on the ice, I think this was the biggest bunch of stuffed toys so far.  We really enjoy this Christmas tradition that hockey teams hold this time of year.

Dec12Art

A short list of my favorite Christmas movies, all of these are the old movies. I haven't seen a 'current' (in the last 10 or 15 years anyway) Christmas movie that I liked. What are your favorites?

Dec11Art

Used my Pentel pocket brush pen for this bauble (looks like it is running low on ink).  I did a Christmas card exchange with Pamo I sent her a watercolor painting, she sent me a delightful cartoon of hers with a Christmas theme.  Since she's sending these out to others, I won't spoil the surprise for others on her list.  If you like motorcycles, cats, dogs, have a husband… well you'll find some fun comics on Pamo's website, she's also a talented writer (unlike tongue tied me).

Dec10Art

Everyday my email inbox is loaded with fabulous 'deals' ending today only, until the next day when a new set of discounts show up. Not to be outdone, I also get interesting requests from the car dealership I bought my car from, promising to put me in a new car at a lower payment.  These advertisements particularly amuse me, I paid off my car a year early so my payments now are zero… so they'd have to pay me to take their new car at lower payments!  I just may call them and see how much they'll pay me to take a new car off their hands.

Dec09Art

Life goes on, birds to feed, dogs to feed and play with.. food to eat… and yet we miss our little buddy Beau. We still have his daughter Gracie (who looks just like her Mother Jill) and his son Jeb who is the dog who insists we play with him, either throw the ball or play tug… he is relentless he will not take no for an answer. He is a comfort to me in his insistence on having fun.

Dec08Art

Very sad day for us,  Beau waited for Ron to get home before giving up the fight, in fact Ron was taking him to the vet's office and he breathed his last breath before they got there.  I got Beau for Ron when we were dating, so he's been a part of our life together for a long time.  We will both miss him very much.

Beauregard 1997 - 2014

THE BEST PLACE TO BURY A DOG

"There is one best place to bury a dog.
"If you bury him in this spot, he will
come to you when you call - come to you
over the grim, dim frontier of death,
and down the well-remembered path,
and to your side again.

"And though you call a dozen living
dogs to heel, they shall not growl at
him, nor resent his coming,
for he belongs there.

"People may scoff at you, who see
no lightest blade of grass bent by his
footfall, who hear no whimper, people
who may never really have had a dog.
Smile at them, for you shall know
something that is hidden from them,
and which is well worth the knowing.

"The one best place to bury a good
dog is in the heart of his master."

--- Ben Hur Lampman ---

Dec07Art

Pearl Harbor day, my father made sure I remembered the date and day.  Do parents today make sure their children remember 9/11/2001?  Today is also my older brother's birthday, lots of December birthdays in our family. Ron and I took the trike over to the Harley Shop for a Toys for Tots ride,  we dropped off the toys we bought yesterday, but didn't go on the ride.  Our dog Beau isn't feeling good so we wanted to be home with him.  He has had these bouts of stomach problems in the past, but the older he gets the worse they seem to be for him.  At seventeen going on eighteen, he's a very old dog we're grateful to have had such a long time with him.  I do hope he recovers from this episode.

Sketching Now - Week 4

I used the books I have on hand at my desk my little red book where I write down all my passwords. My Galaxy Note, where I download all my Kindle and Nook books. On the bottom my iPad2 with a grey cover, my yellow Lamy and a tin of Altoids. The shadows got a bit confused because my lines for the shadows disappeared when I added color and had already put everything away to paint it.

Dec06Art

Spent a quiet Saturday, ventured out to buy some toys for a Toys for Tots ride we'll do tomorrow afternoon. Went by the new Gander Mountain store to pick up some 22 ammo, also found a bag in the fishing dept that I bought for myself, I think it'll make a great bag to hold my sketching gear when I go out and about.

Dec05Art

Today is my daughter JeAnna's birthday, she's 40 something, not quite something enough to be considered pushing 50, she's living in Chicago these days, so I don't get to see her much and I miss that.   I banged up my knuckles on my right hand this morning breaking up a fight between Dixie and Gracie.  The dogs didn't hurt each other, I think I was the only one hurt in the brief altercation. It is affecting my ability to write and to draw.  So watch for some loose drawings and lettering in the next week or so.

Dec04Art

Sweeping my hand across the page to see if the paint was dry, discovered that the ink wasn't dry, even if the paint was.  Gives it character right? Holly has thorns, and even the leaves are spiky thorns, the berries I've been told are poison… so why did people 'Deck the halls with boughs of holly'?  How did Red and Green become the colors for Christmas?  Peace on Earth Goodwill to men, boy is that message needed in today's world. Still have to put a little something in the mail for my girl friend in Atlanta, we've been friends since high school… old friends are the best friends, they know you and love you and they've helped you find places to bury the bodies…(just kidding people).

Dec03Art

Used my new Rosemary travel brush (size 8), it holds WAY more water than I thought it would.  I think I'm really going to like this brush.  I also got a squirrel hair travel mop from her, I really like it too.  We went to Chic-fil-A for dinner before grocery shopping.  Found something new from Dole, in the freezer section, strawberries dipped in dark chocolate… I think I may go try them out now… just to see if they are good or not.

Dec02Art

This is a total fantasy, Charleston SC does not have hills and rarely, very rarely a bit of snow will fall.  I've seen pictures of snow, hills and trees, so it was not much of a stretch to draw this.  Some days keeping it simple works best for me.

Dec01Art

December is here, and I'm planning 24 more Christmas pages, so get your Christmas spirit in gear… it's here.  Cyber Monday isn't over yet a few more hours to shop online.  I've got 5 things I need to mail, hopefully tomorrow.  I'll send digital gift cards to the grandkids in Chicago, then the only people left to shop for are the hardest of all, my Mother and my husband?

Nov30Art

Probably got too creative with the orange word under 'how'… it is supposed to be DRAW… now the page should make sense I hope.  Hockey game this afternoon, the Rays won again 3 - 0 so a 'Shut Out' for our goalie Jeff Jakaitis fun game to watch.

Nov29Art

Early hockey game today against Gwinnett Gladiators, Rays won 3 - 1 played a good game today, fun to watch.  A box from Dick Blick arrived with a few new art supplies.  Got the colors Liz suggested for her class that I was missing so I did a chart of the colors I'll carry out and about.  I added the Cadmium Orange and Light Ultramarine blue and dropped her Cobalt Green.  I had also ordered some Graphitone (water soluble graphite) pencils, but with I opened the package every single one of them was broken.  I was disappointed, but I have confidence Dick Blick will make it right, you could not tell there was anything wrong with them by looking at them in the package.

Nov28Art

While lots of people were fighting over bargains at the stores today, I was cleaning bird cages.  I've never really like shopping, and I especially dislike big crowds of pushy people.  My grandmother 'Hello' we called her, never missed Black Friday shopping, I went with her a few times but always ended up getting lost and separated from her in the crowds in Rich's or Davison's in downtown Atlanta.  I've disliked huge stores and shopping in crowds ever since, I'm so thankful for the internet, I can shop in my PJs and no crowds to deal with.

Nov27Art

We have so much to be thankful for in this country, even the poorest here would be considered rich is some places in this world.  Say thanks today for all your blessings, and be happy.  God wants us to be happy, it is called 'GOOD NEWS' for a reason.  Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Nov26Art

The 'pink' around the clouds is a red paint droplet from my juicy watercolor yesterday.  I tried to get the cloud white with gouache but it didn't quite do the job.  I've neglected my Lamy Safari fountain pen for a while now…. so I cleaned it today, running clean water thru it, letting it soak until all the ink was gone…. but… it isn't working well still, see the test marks on the bottom of the page.  I've been working with it on and off all day drawing lines and swirls, fast and slow, pressing hard not pressing hard… it just isn't feeding the ink as well as my cheap Preppy pens and definitely not feeding as smoothly as my Pilot Falcon pen… so sadly it will languish at the bottom of my pen case full of pens I don't use any more.

Nov25Art

It poured rain all day today, I was going to use a photo for my Liz Steel outdoor homework.  Liz said she didn't want us to use photos… so… I'm behind for this week, probably won't be the only week I'm behind I'll do it later this week or when the weather lifts (it is supposed to clear up Thursday).

Nov24Art

When I first started wearing readers I wouldn't wear a leash for them, because only 'old maid' school teachers worn their glasses around their necks when I was a girl in elementary school. Well the old maid thing isn't a problem as I'm married and a grandmother, so a week or so ago I bought a leash for my readers.  So convenient I loved having my glasses handy without having to search for them.  Then just so I could learn humility, I lost my glasses with the leash… I've been looking for them for a week.  So I bought a new 3 pack of readers and a new leash, I am officially an old woman with my glasses around my neck now.

My indoor prompt for Liz Steele's week 2 class, blind contour and point to point contour drawing.

Nov23Art

Poor Beau has been so distraught this week, he hasn't been getting his usual sleep time in, you see Gracie is in season and so has been separated from him.  Beau has spent the week whining and pining over her.  He is losing interest a bit today and so I was able to catch him napping.  It has been raining on and off all day and now it is raining hard with thunder and lightening.  The same system is dumping tons of snow up North, but here we are just getting rain, lots of rain.

Nov22Art

We were married by our good friend Wanda Usher eleven years ago, on a boat in the Charleston Harbor.  Here's a picture of us on our wedding day.

Nov21Art

When I did a color chart for my Liz Steel Sketching Now class, I realized I had two reds almost exactly alike.  I used up the Permanent Alizarin Crimson making Christmas Cards for an Exchange with other Sketchbook School Students and changed that out for Quinacradone Magenta.  For the first page in this journal I decided to re-do the color chart and now I see that the Quin Magenta is very close to the Mineral Violet I already have…. so I may be in search of a new color again real soon.  Oh in a couple of days you'll see a page where I tried to cover up the date and weather with some Washi tape, didn't quite work because the date is still visible.  Here's the story on that, I usually start the day, by dating my journal page and including the weather forecast for the day… for some reason I did that 2 pages into the book this morning… when I picked up my journal to do this color chart I discovered my mistake… I hate to waste paper, so I tried to cover up my error on that page, and did my color chart on the real page one.

Book 29 Title Page

Our Anniversary, Thanksgiving, my daughter and a grand daughter have birthdays, Christmas, New Years and my Son-in-laws birthday will all be covered in this Journal… much to be thankful for.