Batty for Austin, Texas

Well my "no pain after surgery" bragging rights officially came to an end this morning...in the most creepy way.

I had just taken a shower, reached in the cupboard to get my deodorant, and when I grabbed it my poor little innocent fingers encountered a great big cockroach. I flailed and screamed, of course. I mean, who wouldn't? And then I saw some serious stars and I wailed and wailed, waking everyone in the house up. It was the most unimaginable pain that is hard to even put words to. My flailing had affected the spot in me where there had been a rib just last week, and I'd made that and the surrounding area quite grouchy.

Five minutes later I was still quite shaken but back to my "no pain" state, thankfully. And now cockroaches have been moved to my "kill on sight" list. It's not a huge demotion from my "catch and feed to the chickens" list, but they should most definitely quake at the sight of me.

<shudder>


And I created this bag out of a shirt that had one of my paintings printed on it. The painting is titled "Congress Avenue Bats". The name of the bag, however, is "Batty for Austin, Texas". The strap is long enough to be worn over the shoulder and the bag itself is close to messenger bag size. I'm so happy I saved all of these t-shirts...and my sweet husband is so happy that I'm finally doing something with them.

"Batty for Austin, Texas" - $25

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Batty for Austin, Texas

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder.  And maybe that's what's been happening to me.  Although for me it's more like the anticipation of distance.  I've been thinking a lot about my upcoming trip to California (the little guy and I leave first thing tomorrow morning).  So I couldn't help but create something that celebrates this city I love and one of my favorite things about it. 

I absolutely never, ever tire of watching the bats emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge (I think they now actually call it the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge...a totally rockin' name to be sure.).  But what I love even more is being on that bridge just before the sun rises and I can still see the last of the twinkling stars above.  The bats return home in a flurry that to me, is even more beautiful than when they emerged the evening before.  They're tired.  They're tummies are full.  Sleep is the next thing on their batty agenda. 

I love them...and I'm definitely Batty for Austin, Texas.


I've had this design, minus a few of the stars, set up as a T-shirt on Zazzle.  The back of the shirt says, "Batty for Austin, Texas".  Click here to go to the Zazzle link.  Scroll down to see images of the front and the back of the shirt.  Available in sizes infant to adult, guys and gals.

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!

 

 

In the Nose of the Beholder

About six months ago Dave sent a postcard in to the city in response to a "free trees" offer.  Awesome!  Fabulous!  Amazing!

The city dropped the trees off about a month later and Dave put them in the ground.  He watered them faithfully and they've absolutely thrived under his care.  Which is good, because if I'd been in charge they'd be goners.

Anyway, as spring has come both trees have begun flowering.  I absolutely love flowering trees!!  With the exception of one kind, that is.  You see, there's this tree at the school where I've worked for the past ten years.  It's incredibly fragrant.  And it's an odd thing.  The smeller either perceives the scent as pure heaven or as stanky as the bat guano under the Congress Avenue Bridge here in town.  I, unfortunately, am the latter.

And you guessed it, one of those delightful trees that now reside in my front yard is one such tree.  Beautiful, but stanky.  I'm determined to love this foul tree...even if I have to wear a clothespin on my nose to do it.

Click here to purchase this painting.