Spring around the corner

With all this rain recently, I notice that the garden is full of dormant and newly awakening life. Plants bursting with buds and new growth, and green abounds in a way not usually seen in these parts - especially at this time of year. Spring feels like it may be just around the corner.

I realise that come 9th Feb, I will have been blogging for a year! and I am also coming up to the 100th post, which, given the latter part of last years baby related blogging quiet, feels like a little achievement at least.

I plan to do a give away of sorts to celebrate, so watch this space for info!

Random note

Hooray! Finally got around to ordering giclee canvas prints of bunny and Boo paintings. I will be very interested to see how they come out. Who knows, I may get around to opening an Etsy shop yet. Maybe this year is the year!

This is a somewhat random photo of a book shelf in my lounge. I prefer to upload a picture as well as words. I know I like having something to look at when I visit other blogs.

I seem to have a bit of a thing about pears, as you may see - there are several of them of these shelves. Hope everyones Monday is a reasonable one.

New year, new hope, new painting

It is time to put some of the sadness from Dolly's passing away, and replace it with warm thoughts and feelings about the thirteen and a half years I was lucky enough to share with her. Thank you, kindly, to those of you who left a comment, they were all greatly appreciated.

My other dogs - the buttons (Pixie Stix and Cookie Baxter) are doing very well, and have adjusted to the new 'shape' of things. They seem closer than ever. Cookie has resumed training (when Dolly was alive, she prevented her from doing so, being the Alpha and all) And Cookie is now rather good at: sit, stand, dance, down, beg, shake, and roll over!! not bad work for less than a month. She seems to love the challenge, and she certainly enjoys the treats that come with it. Pixie on the other hand, just enjoys the treats!

I have been really quite busy with work of late, which is very nice. Mostly because of the sense of achievement it brings. I'm sure many people would think that raising a baby is enough work by itself, but I do put pressure on myself to do more than that.

I have just finished this commissioned painting of a teapot. It is 14"x 14" acrylic on canvas. Still life is not really my thing at all, but I enjoyed the challenge, and think the results are quite successful. I'm a bit naughty posting it here today as the client hasn't even seen it yet, but I couldn't resist, and I'm sure all parties will have seen it by the weekend anyway, so you just get to enjoy it first!

Still working on some illustrating work too, so will post that as its ready.

Happy new year to you all.

The saddest of news

It is today, with great sadness, that I blog about our dearest Dolly being put to sleep on Monday. I didn't have the heart to write about it before, I still don't really have the heart, but the fingers can type - so that will have to be good enough.

Dolly was thirteen and a half years old, and we had recently discovered she was suffering from advanced liver disease. We did the things we could to help, but after several months of very frequent bloody poop, we felt it was time to make the hardest decision of all. The final straw came last week when she started to poop every hour, 24-7. We were exhausted, and she was distressed, so we booked an appointment for Monday.

The weekend was special 'Doll time'. We took her to Carmel beach, out for lunch, curled up on the bed with her, and gave her so many treats and snacks that she has been unable to have for months. It was time well spent, but didn't make Monday any easier.

Now, my heart is broken, but I know it will mend, and in it's place shall be so many memories and thoughts of a truly loyal companion.

I'll probably post a few pics of Doll over coming posts. Ones which make me smile and remember all the great things. Many have probably been posted before, but all are worthy of posting again.

Moments and muddles.

My yard is a pile of wood and mess at the moment, as I am having a deck and fence project done. Thought I would share a picture of the pile as it strangely reflects the contents of my head! That too is damp, disorganised and really quite a muddle.

Then we have the gawd, color and plastic 'survive the Apocalypse' exersaucer. Which, whilst horrific to look at, and even 'have' in the house, brings so much joy and pleasure to one (now six month old) Peanut. So - an honorable mention for you.

Next, we have a shot of some sketches I am doodling for a project I am working on with a friend, to illustrate some educational material about Grammar. I am working on A4 printer paper with an IKEA pencil. Yes!! I did say printer paper and an IKEA pencil. This is what I am resorting to as I realise the baby is asleep and I have a moment to do some work. Then - oh, my sketchpads and pencils are in the closet in baby's room (the room formally known as my studio).

Still - I am drawing!! hurray! AND - I am blogging about it, to boot. It's a good day!

Hark! the sweet sound of an awake baby, oh, and a dog just threw up. I'm not joking.

The view from here

It was nice to take some time out to decorate the tree, and of course, the dogs were there to share in the experience. My husband took this picture of Pixie, from her perspective, and it made me realize what a big and scary place the world is from down there! Pictures are rather blurry, but who cares!

Also - the finished tree. Happy Holidays everyone!

Good reason led her West

Oh how time flys! I have been creative more than this blog shows, and in ways that I would not previously thought of as creative. But I am learning that art and creation come in many forms and it's important to recognize that.

On the visually creative front though, I have managed to finish this simple painting on canvas called 'Good reason led her West'. It's acrylic on canvas, and has detailed little bird, a Junco a believe, in the corner. I actually painted it for my own bathroom, which we have recently remodelled. I really prefer original art rather than prints, so reluctantly set myself the task of painting a picture for the room. (reluctant, as it was just one more on the already enormous 'to do' list) I am very pleased to finish it, but mainly as I can cross it off the list as completed!! So now I can start on other jobs.

The holidays are looming, and a whole new year is right around the corner behind it. I am not much of a swimmer, but find my head just above water, thankfully. Hopefully, even if I sink I can muster the imagination to be able to breath underwater, and embrace that as a peculiar adventure instead. In the new year I will, at some point, roll to the one hundredth post - I'd better start thinking about how to celebrate? perhaps a give away or something?