HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am thankful for

cadmium yellow,cadmium red,burnt sienna,

 phalo blue

And you.

HOME, SWEET HOME

So good to be here, after a two week stay in Texas.
I looked after Jack as his Mom had a routine surgery
which turned out to be anything but routine.
Complications all worked out, she is now resting and healing.
God is good!

We sneaked away for a weekend break to San Antonio.
Visiting the Alamo and The River Walk for my first time, I found
much history and beauty. A fabulous get-away, and wonderful break
from the stress and drama of post surgery care, and four year old play.

The Mission which became part of the Alamo

Mille and friend in front of the Monument to the Defenders of The Alamo;

(west wall)

A peek inside one of the gates of The Alamo

And a beautiful, huge old tree at one side of the fortress.

All of the plantings and trees are so lush and gorgeous!

The beautiful downtown River Walk. No way can photos do justice.

One of the many beautiful hotels right on The River Walk.

And no, we didn't stay here, as they are several hundred dollars per night.

Check out the size of these trees along the walk!

We had dinner here. There are so many indoor and outdoor restaurants

that it was hard to choose, and we were famished from all the walking. This one turned out to be a very good choice, as the food was fabulous, and the service great!

An open air theater where an improvisational dance production was just getting set up.

We didn't stay, as there were too many other things to see, as in small galleries where I purchased

a wonderful metal sculpture for our daughter.I was thrilled to find something so cool in my price range!

Okay,,,,has anyone heard of Luckenbach Texas?

You know, with Willie, and Waylon and The Boys?

Fascinating place, although there wasn't much going on there on a Sunday

afternoon. I'm sure it was jumping on Saturday night.

The small outdoor stage

Back in Dallas, with Jack and Grandaddy, hard at work on a project.

He was a delight, but oh, so busy,,,,and SUCH a boy!

We were completely worn out, but grateful to have been able to help with him, be there when needed,

and of course for the weekend break.

We returned home (sweet home) yesterday, and I slept until 10 this morning!

I'll be catching up with all of you soon,,,,,,,,

EXTENDED LEAVE(S) OF ABSENCE

Artwork compliments of God.

I'll be on an extended leave of absence beginning tomorrow,as life calls.

I'll check in with your blogs upon my return.

CARLOTTA CAT

TWO A.M.

I hear a noise coming from the back patio.
I nervously peek out the window
and discover the source of the commotion:

Carlotta has released Tweety from her cage,
unlocked the back door,
and they are dancing by the light of the full moon.
With her 'deer in the headlights' face, she turns to me and speaks softly:
"Not to worry,,,we are only dancing, I'll put her back."
But I wonder,,,,
Carlotta can be so sneaky sometimes,,,
Is Tweety in danger?
What do you think?

A mixed media hanging sculpture

as a  little birthday gift

LITTLE SOMETHINGS

My sister asked me if I could come up with  some "little somethings"
for her to give to her co-workers for Christmas. She didn't have any preferences, and left it up to me.
We'd discussed clay,,,wonky women cards,,,and tiny paintings on tiny canvases. For some reason or another, none of these ideas appealed to me very much, mostly because of the time involved with making several. I finally came up with something that I thought people might actually use.
Bookmarkers.
On the back is the quote: "Dreams are the seedlings of reality" by James Alden.

I've finished five, with three more in various stages of unfinished. They're fun, and fairly quick to do.
Each will be in it's own little presentation bag, with my Off The Wall card attached. I hope they will
use and enjoy them.

THURSDAY'S CHILD,,,,

,,,,on a Wednesday.
 Just because.

This is the latest painting that I've been working on.
It's acrylic on 24x36 canvas.

Here's a detail shot.

I'm having a hard time getting quality photos,,,,it's very cloudy today, but a perfect day to paint.

The color is washed out, it's actually much richer.

EDIT 

Leslie, thanks for the much needed push to keep trying to learn

Photoshop!  Of course now it's too dark, but it's so much closer to the real thing.

I'll keep working on it, and maybe one day I'll learn how to re-size!

There may be hope for me yet!

TO BE CONTINUED,,,,,,,,

I am out running the streets,,,,
the highways, and the by-ways.
I am seeing The Sisters in Kansas City,
my Light,,, Jack, in Dallas,
and enjoying the Autumn color,sunshine and rain at the lake.

I haven't painted, so here is an older portrait of you,,,
of me,,,
of whomever.
A portrait of a certain time,a certain feeling, a different world.
This is soft pastel and charcoal on 16x20 paper.

I hope to get around to your blog soon; and see what's new with you,

and I hope everyone is having a beautiful fall.