Tuesday, March 31, 2015

A New Chance at Life

Every once in a while I really don't like what I paint. Not often because I'm really flexible with my expectations of myself, but at times I can't help but feel like I want to crumple my paper up and toss it in the recycling bin.

I had that feeling a few weeks ago, but I fought the urge thinking that maybe, just maybe, the piece would grow on me.

Well, it didn't. So I decided to chop that painting up into four pieces, layer some acrylic on top, and see where it took me. My Phyllis piece from yesterday was one of the pieces. I liked it MUCH better than before. Today's is also one piece. Only with this piece I left one small portion of the original. And now that part I hadn't liked before...well, now I rather dig it.

So, yeah, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and all that stuff, right? So fun giving my work a new chance at life.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Monday, March 30, 2015

I Only have Eyes for Worms

A shift has occurred in the chicken space continuum.

It used to be that I'd walk in our chicken yard and only Phyllis would come-a-runnin'. Well now Barry, Maury, and Ernie come-a-runnin', too.

"What happened?" you ask.

Well, I'll tell ya what happened.


I started lifting some of the pavers we have out in their yard and exposing the fabulous delicacy that earthworms are. I did this a few times over several days and now I'm officially the Worm Lady in their sweet little beady chicken eyes. I swear all they see is a big earthworm in tennies.


I'm good with that. I'm feeling' that chicken love.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Skirted

I made Dave a skirt today. It's fabulous, black, and pleated. And he loves it. I've actually made him about five skirts over the past few weeks.

Mind you, he won't be wearing them, his projection screens will. Not that the guy doesn't look great in a skirt...I've had a couple of Halloweens to witness that. Before I knew Dave I had no idea that projections screens needed skirts much less wore them. So the fact that I can sew (I'm really good at a straight stitch) was a perfect match for the fact that Dave has a bunch of screens that were nekkid.

There will be no more indecent screen exposure 'round these parts.


This is a new section of the graffiti wall in my hallway.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Houses of Love

I make mom threats. It's true. And a lot of them are empty. You know how it goes. And here is one of my biggest ones.


Me: "You need to put all your clean clothes in drawers, not on the floor or in a pile on top of the chest, or I'm going to stop doing your laundry!!!"


And their clean clothes just kept right on not being in their drawers and I kept right on cleaning 'em.


But something has happened lately. My big guy has started doing all of his own laundry. And it's not like he's just throwing it in the washer and leaving it there (instead of not in his drawers) for days on end. Nope, he's staying on top of it, switching it to the dryer, and then taking it to his room. It's awesome!

Now just when I'm starting to think, "Hey, responsible wonderful kid, stay a while longer," he's getting set to move out.

And the words, "I'm not going to come home to do my laundry because I'll have machines in my apartment," make me just a bit misty.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Friday, March 27, 2015

My Best Friend is a Big Yellow Ball

Last night our big dog, Hazel, jumped on our bed. This is her usual routine when she sees us starting to brush our teeth and don our PJs. Only this time it was different. This time she had her yellow tennis ball with her and she curled right up with it. Perhaps she's wanting to continue fetching well into her dreams. Perhaps she misses her best bud Scout.

It's nice to know that friends can come in many different forms...even spherical.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Phyllis Goes to School!

Phyllis is growing up. She went to school today for the first time ever. She put on her backpack, packed her lunch, and went to her classroom. OK, so she didn't exactly do all that, but she did go to school with me today. And Barry went to school with us, too.

I was Farmer Parsons today. I donned my overalls, put my hair in pigtails, gathered up Phyllis and Barry, and headed up to school. Barry was the first out of the carrier. She was wonderful, delightful, and a tad nervous. Phyllis came out next. And that girl calmly sat on my lap for close to thirty minutes while I talked about chickens and let more than thirty four-year-olds take turns petting her. She was in chicken heaven!

Pretty sure that when I get up in the morning Phyllis will be dressed and ready to go with me.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Firefly...Shining from Within

I found myself incredibly inspired by an article I read a few weeks ago. It was about a little girl and her mom and seeing that we all have a light that shines from within. Read the article, this mom says it so perfectly and so much better than I could ever hope to.

It got me thinking. We all have that something that we love or something we're passionate about. Or a kindness about us that we share with others. Something that you wouldn't necessarily know about a person, but it's still there, shining from within. I've taken to looking at people and wondering just what their superpower is, what makes them shine. It's shifted how I move through this world. From assuming that everyone is just busy doing their ordinary (perhaps boring) thing to looking at that guy crossing the street and wondering if he's a sculptor. Or that lady in line in front of me and wondering if she loves to dance when she's home alone. Or if that kiddo sitting alone is totally into Legos and has the most amazing structures in their room.

It's much more fun seeing life through firefly lenses.


I released my own inner firefly and let her land on my graffiti wall in my hallway.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Farewell to our Friend

We said farewell to our dear friend, Scout, today.

Thanks for all the love, the walks, the kisses, for keeping us safe from the evil mailman, for always being there through our sadness and joy, for being the best listener ever, for being our friend. What a wonderful thirteen years it has been.

Blissful travels, girl...we love you.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Baby Phyllis

My sweet chicken, Phyllis, was really sick a couple of weeks ago. Really sick.  I actually thought one night when I went to bed that by morning she'd be gone. But she's fine now, thankfully.

I was thinking about how she was when she was really sick and, by golly, that girl of mine was seriously acting like a baby. She wanted to be held constantly. She made a lot of racket. She pooped and threw up on me. She refused to go to sleep when I wanted her to. And, gosh, did that girl ever drool a lot. I mean some serious drool.

When I was giving her a snuggle the other day I kept thinking about what she must have looked like as a baby. I mean that girl of mine just had to be adorable. There is no doubt. So I had to try to paint a baby Phyllis. I had to! I couldn't help myself.

I love my girl!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Balance

I find the older I get, the less of it I seem to have.

The kiddo and I were at the gym again today and after he'd had me do a crazy challenging upper body workout, he wanted me to work on my core...and my arms a tad more...just for fun.

He wanted me to stand on this upside down half sphere thingie while doing arm work with dumbbells. Well, I could not manage to get on that thing no matter how hard I tried. So the kid gave me his shoulder and after a couple of tries I was able to stand on it as it wobbled fiercely. And then he handed me the dumbbells. I teetered. I tottered. But somehow I managed stay on board.


Little guy: "You did great, mom."


I love that kid!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Up All Night

A couple of weeks ago a canvas was dropped off at my house. I'd been asked to create a piece of art to be part of a fundraiser for the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center. So here's what I came up with. I worked on it over about a week or so. I created the background first, and what always happens to me happened this time, too. I always, always manage to fall in love with the background. I can't even imagine painting over a single bit of it. So the background had to sit propped up on one of our chairs for about five days so I could enjoy it and fall just a bit out of love with it, enough so that I'd be willing to cover at least half of it up. But the wonderful thing is, as soon as I do cover up parts I end up loving the painting even more.

Oh, and the white polka dot stars wrap around the canvas on the edges!

This little guy and five stars and moon watching over him make me so, so happy. Hope it makes them a lot of money!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Helpful

While my kids are really quite helpful (they really, really are), they tend to take their time when it comes to getting them to start being helpful. Unless...


Me: "Will you please help bring the groceries in?"

Little guy: "I'm hungry, will you make me a sandwich?"

Me: "After you bring the groceries in."

Little guy: "I'm too hungry to help."

Me: "Everything to make a sandwich in out in the car."

Little guy: "I'll get the groceries!"


I love my helpful boys!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

A Fabulous Day

What a fabulous day! Let me tell you all about it....

The little guy and I went to a new gym today just to check it out. After our brief tour he went one way and I went another. I hit the treadmill and then when I was just sitting down to do my regular routine with the weight machines my little guy appeared.


Little guy: "Come work out with me. I need a spotter."

Me: "Me? I'm too little to be your spotter."

Little guy: "Let's just try. Come on, let's go."


So with great reluctance, trepidation, and a considerable mumbling of protests, I followed.

And we did it. And it worked pretty well. I continued my undercurrent of negative commentary as he pushed and pushed and PUSHED me harder than I've been pushed in many years. And I was actually able to spot him effectively though he likely wasn't pushing himself as hard as he was pushing me...you know, for his safety and all.

So while he's promised me that my upper body will be really really sore in the morning, I'm super excited to go back tomorrow for the leg workout he's got in store for me.


Me: "I promise I won't gripe so much tomorrow."

Little guy: "Oh, you'll gripe. You'll have a lot to say about how sore you are." (Pretty darn sure he looked more than a little happy about this.)


I cannot wait!!! Really!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The Sweetness

It all started with a small comment.


Dave: "Hazel sure would love to go for a walk."


Truth be told I've totally slacked on my dog walking for some time now.


Me: "Let's walk her to Lick and have ice cream!"

Dave: "OK."

Me to my little guy: "Hey, do you want to go with us?"

Little guy: "Do I get to have ice cream?"

Me: "Of course!"


And while I never, ever eat ice cream, haven't been a fan since I was a kid, this place has ice cream I simply cannot resist. I mean where else can a girl like me get a Coconut and Avocado Curd ice cream fix?


Sweetness bliss...

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

We Were One

I woke up in the middle of the night with one thought. "Oh, I'm not well." My tummy was all cranky and I was a tad achy. So what did I do?  Well I stayed in bed until 1 pm today, of course. Did I stay in bed all by myself after Dave got up? Absolutely not!

No, in this house if you want to stay in bed for a nap, for healing, or just sleeping in, you are never, ever alone because you will one hundred percent of the time be joined by one 85 pound dog and two tabby cats. And they will not move, not one little bit, unless you move and they find that they simply must snuggle a bit closer to you.

So the four of us sleepers...we were one. Best medicine ever!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Long Strands

I learn something new from my chickens every day. For instance, I knew they liked greens...green bean tips, bits of lettuce, etc. But what I didn't know is how they eat what is now their favorite treat, long strands of grass that I toss into their yard.

So, imagine any kid (and some adults) eating a strand of spaghetti. They put the end in their mouth and suck it in till it disappears. Well, this is what chickens do with long strands of grass. They grab it with their beaks and suck, or whatever it is that chickens do, it all the way in until it disappears. Now, unlike kids (and hopefully all adults), chickens are also apt to steal the strand from a pal, pull it out of their beak, and then eat it themselves. This is odd in my book, but I've seen it so many times that it must just be a chickeny thing to do.

I don't think I'll ever look at grass and spaghetti the same way again.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Runaway Chicken

I was watching one of those "make you cry" videos about a homeless dog who had been rescued. And yes, it made me cry. And then I had to go hug my dogs...and my cats...and my chickens. Except when I went out to hug my chickens I saw that Barry (my husband gave our hens boy names, that's for another blog) was on the outside of the fence. She had literally flown the coop.

So I ran around the house and beside our neighbor's house and attempted to get Barry. In the process I startled my neighbor who then startled me when he opened his window and asked if I was a prowler. Then nice guy that he is, he came out and tried to help me round up Barry...but Barry had other plans and ran right at my neighbor who laughingly declared that he, himself, was a chicken and went back into his house.

Barry ran around the front of my house and then to my carport. I dashed in the house and woke up my little guy to help me round up our runaway. When we went out Barry was nowhere to be found. We looked everywhere. And then I saw our cat staring and I followed his gaze. There was Barry. My little guy and I got the gates to the back yard open, herded Barry into the backyard and into the chicken run.

Whew! She owes us an omelette!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Into the Woods

My dad, my little guy, and I went to a quadcopter class today. The two of them know a lot as they fly one fairly often. I know just the teeniest tad as I usually just chauffeur them around to the flying locations, though I'd piloted briefly a couple of times.

Well, today before they let us fly they mentioned that they knew that most of us were just learning and crashes might happen. Oh, and that trees tend to not move out of the way if your quadcopter is heading right at them. Truth.

After all the safety and info talk I finally worked with an actual instructor who took me through the process of turning it on, calibrating the compass, getting it up in the air, doing a few jazzy things like making it fly in a circle shape, and then landing.

And while the woods were right there and I could tell that the quadcopter gods were seriously thinking of sending me into its depths, my instructor only had to say something once.


"Don't forget about the pole with the transformer you're heading towards!"


I didn't hit it, happily, and good times were had by all.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Friday, March 13, 2015

My Favorite Quote

I love this quote from Picasso. It's now a part of my graffiti wall in my hallway. It sums up how I feel about my art...and by art I include my writing in addition to my drawing and painting. They are the best things I do for myself and a gift I give to me each and every day.

May we all find something in our lives to wash away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Fall

It's funny what we remember.

I have such clear memories of an event that happened when I was in elementary school. I was eating my tray lunch in the cafeteria. I wanted to drink some of my milk, so I picked it up and gave the container a shake, as was my routine. Only thing is, I had already shaken it and opened it, so milk went everywhere. Particularly on the little girl sitting next to me. I was mortified. She was mortified. Gosh, I've never, ever forgotten it and have actually felt bad for that little girl from time to time.

So when I was sitting in the cafeteria at the school where I work and one of my students picked up their milk, gave it a little shake, and chocolate milk splattered all over me, I was startled and then so, so happy. My student looked at me wide-eyed waiting for my reaction.


Me: "Would you mind getting me a napkin?" I said as I smiled.


He did. And I wiped my hair and my shirt and the table and said, "I know that was an accident." And he returned my smile.


My milk karma is officially clean. I feel so much better!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Summertime Dreams

I'm taking a brief pause from my tree paintings to visit the beach. I love the beach. It's not all the fun in the sun that I adore. It's the smells, the wind, the humidity, the myriad of creatures that make their lives there, and the people who call beach towns their home. All of them rugged and delicate in their own beautiful ways.

So if I were at the beach right now, this would be my view from my spot on a blanket, sitting under a big umbrella, with a tall glass of iced herbal tree, and my watercolors at play.

Summertime dreams...

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Whimsical Roots

I did this interpretation of a tree with henna on my forearm. I particularly like the roots, all full of whimsy and personality, not unlike my genetic roots. Have you met my delightful family?

And now that you've seen my forearm, can you tell I've been working out? Nope? Oh, well. I have, ya know. Know how I can tell? When I'm at the gym I have to wait at the top of the stairs while the big muscle bound guys make their way up. I can't possibly fit on the stairway as they come up...I'm sure it's because I've bulked up so much from all those reps. Yup, it's me not them. 

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Summer Lovin'

The latest in my tree series. I do adore a tree sporting all its big beautiful summer leaves!


And a wee tale I just got to share...I've got one of those names that most folks find particularly challenging. If I spell it for someone then they're never able to pronounce it correctly. If I pronounce it for someone they're never able to spell it correctly. But something truly incredible happened. I was at a store purchasing some things for my classroom...compliments of our amazing PTA...and I spelled my name for the checker. I had a feeling that my name was about to be Texanized, but I got a great surprise. A lady behind the checker looked at my name and then said, "Kali, we're going to have to put a couple of these things on order." And she said my name perfectly!!! This is a big deal for a girl who was never able to find any of that awesome personalized stuff like keychains, bicycle license plates, and pencils as a kid. A BIG DEAL, I say.

If they'd had a tip jar I would have dropped some cash in it!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Save a Tree

I'm sure you all have canvas or some sort of other reusable bag for taking to the stores, right? Most of mine were either given to me or I purchased for three dollars max. Well, this morning this happened.


Trader Joe's checker: "This is the bag I want."

Trader Joe's bagger: "That's the one everyone wants."

Me: "That bag?"

Trader Joe's checker: "It's the perfect shape and they don't make them any more."

Trader Joe's bagger: "I've seen them for sale on Craig's List for $35."

Me: "People are nutty."


Saving a tree suddenly seems like it may ned to be part of my retirement plan.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Reaching Upward

Here's another in my tree series. This one was inspired by the work of one of my dear friends. It in no way compares to her talent, but I'd like to think that I captured her love of bold colors, and maybe, just maybe, the way I always feel I'd like to melt into her paintings and be a part of them. Please check out the amazing Wanda Collins Johnson here.

I particularly love stumps and the remains of dead trees. I feel they have such amazing stories to tell. I think this tree lived a glorious life and will retain its beauty and optimism long after its death.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Friday, March 6, 2015

For the Love of Trees

I love trees. I always have.

When I was a kid I counted the trees in my yard amongst my best friends. The Chinese Tallow tree in the front yard was where I'd climb up with all kinds of gear...a pillow, a drink, and a book, of course...and plan to stay for many, many hours. The loquat tree in the corner near my room would hide my late night escapes and early morning returns. And the tree, more of a bush actually, of unknown type on the side of the house, well, behind that is where I'd meet boys and try out kissing.

Yes, trees are wonderful. I painted a couple of trees a week ago and really loved paying tribute to these wonderful creatures, so I thought I'd do a series of trees.

Here's a sweet little cluster of late spring or early trees. They remind me of Crepe Myrtles when they're not in bloom.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Hair

I have wacky hair. There's really nothing I can do about it...or at least nothing I'm willing to do about it. But every once in a while someone says something charitable.


As I entered the YMCA...

Nice counter guy: "Look at you coming to the gym with your hair looking great."

Me (after looking behind me to see who he was actually talking to): "Um, thanks. Just wait till I'm done working out, then it'll look really great."



After I'd been working out for about half an hour...

Nice counter guy who was now a nice floor guy: "Your hair still looks great!"

Me: "Thanks, you're sweet."


I'm pretty sure he was fulfilling a personal challenge to say something nice to a bunch of strangers that day, but it was super nice of him anyway.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
 
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Big Eyes

Dave's been using our family as his guinea pigs lately for his photography. It's actually quite fun. But one thing I'm noticing is that if I'm smiling, as I'm apt to do, I squint...like crazy! So I figured, why not try not smiling and see how it goes. Well, my eyes were still not what I'd hoped. So I tried opening them a bit more, you know, just to see how it'd go. Did I look like a supermodel? No way. Nope. Not ever, really. But I looked like a cross between a lemur, Marty Feldman, and Crazy Eyes.

"Big eyes" fail.


P.S. Yes, this wee one looks sweet...that was so not the look I pulled off.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
 
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Three

We've lived in our house since '91 and my kids have both lived here since the day they were born (home births, ya know). And even though my little guy has lived in our house for over sixteen years, he learned something new about it the other day.

I was walking around the house turning on the external lights and I flipped the middle of three switches in our kitchen. My kiddo was standing right there.


Little guy: "That switch turns on our carport light?!?!?!"

Me: "Yes, you didn't know that?"

Little guy: "I knew about the outside switch, but not about this one."

Me: "What did you think this switch was for?"

Little guy: "I had no idea."


I love that! May my little guy be a lifelong learner making many more fabulous new discoveries along the way.


Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
 
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Winter

Funny thing about winter. Historically I'm so not a fan. I've got years worth of complaining about it under my belt. Years. But something's changed. I'm rather in love with the overcast skies. The trees' beauty fills me with awe. And the chill in the air makes me feel alive.

Perhaps it's age...you know, all that woman approaching "the change" stuff. Maybe it's that once we decided we'd retire in the northwest my mind/body/spirit decided it better start adapting. Or it could be that I'm just happier now than ever. 

Whatever it is I'm loving it. 

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
 
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Fall Leaves

I spent quite a while out in the chicken yard this morning. I was raking all of the fall leaves. Yes, fall. As in those leaves have been there for several months. Anyway, all the leaves were making it so grass couldn't grow, and our chickens love grass, so they had to go.

And I tell you what, raking around chickens is pretty much a comedy show. I'd rake a beautiful pile and move on to another part of the yard where I'd rake another beautiful pile. The thing is, while I'd be raking the second pile, the chickens were quietly being quite busy turning my first pile into about eight small piles.

Adorable...I love my girls!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.
 
I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!