If you see this man around, treat him to a vanilla latte with a blueberry muffin. He is aging well, dontcha think? 😎
Happy Birthday, Trail Guy!
Just One More Frivolous Post
I know, I was going to get back to work, but Samson is so fun that I have become one of those internet weirdos bores who post endless photos of her cats.
This is for Kaylee, and I don’t mind you called The Boy “Sammy”.
This is my blog, I’m 57, so I’ll post what I want. Risky, I know.
End of the Year Thoughts
Those year end newsletters are good for updates, and they make everyone else’s life seem so sparkly, happy and fun, just like Facebook (Nope, not on, and not going to join). Life is a balance of both good and bad things, but who wants to put the sad, bad and hard stuff in a newsletter?
Here is some of what I remember about 2016, but not all of it. I want my life to look sparkly, happy and fun too, but realistic. The list could be longer, but I want you to stay for the photos at the end.
Personally:
- Lost neighbors on three sides, all for different reasons (We aren’t lawn-parkers, don’t have barking dogs, don’t have loud parties or lights that stay on all night – what’s the deal??)
- Lost Perkins, the kindest-hearted cat of 17 years, and gained Samson, the fiercest little feline I’ve ever met
- Visited Israel (still in shock – did this really happen??)
- Took very long road trip – Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada
- Hit 30 years in the marriage department
- Walked the Lake Tahoe Marathon
Professionally:
- Edited a novel
- Edited, designed and published Trail of Promises
- Painted 5 murals (2 in someone’s Events Room and 3 in the Three Rivers Museum)
- Designed and published 4.9 coloring books (#5 is completed but not printed yet, waiting customer approval)
- Did all the other normal work stuff – lessons, oil painting workshops, speaking to groups, oil painting, pencil drawing, blogging, bazaars/festivals/boutiques/shows
- Received an award, Women in the Arts, from the DAR (Not sure why, but appreciative all the same!)
Thank you, dear blog readers, for sticking with me through 2016.
Happy New Year!
P.S. Am I always standing by people I love with my arm thrown over their shoulders?? Nope. Couldn’t stand to be touched in Israel because it was always too hot.
Two Last Non-Art Subjects
Subject #5
What is this? Inquiring minds NEED to know. . . we got a pair of insulating mugs for Christmas, and got curious as to which sort of mug will keep coffee the hottest. So, we conducted an experiment. They were all within degrees of one another, with the short Starbuck’s mug in the middle slightly ahead. Trail Guy is a little bit sad that his special old mug from Cabela’s with its hand-carved wooden handle didn’t win.
Subject #6
On Boxing Day, as December 26 is known in England, Trail Guy and I drove down to Lake Kaweah (AKA “The Lake”) to take a walk. This is an interesting place to spend time when the water level is low. There are great views of Alta Peak, lots of birds, an old road to walk on, a bridge or two to cross, cockleburrs to pick out of your socks, rocks to contemplate, the river (Kaweah) to watch, mud to slide around on, and people’s undisciplined dogs to fend off.
2 More Random Non-Art Subjects
Subject #3
This deserves no photos. On Christmas Eve it was raining and dark when we got home from our church’s Christmas Eve service. Trail Guy pressed the button on the garage door opener (my favorite luxury item) and nothing happened. He pressed it again, the door went up a little bit, then it thudded back down with an uncharacteristic loud clunk.
Say what? My car is in there! The pickup is out here! What’s the deal?
A spring broke. It was very important. It took an hour with lots of banging, grunting, and possibly some swearing although no one here is going to admit to even knowing those words, and now the garage door is neatly folded in a pile in our front yard.
Here – look at the new green chair and feel better. I wonder how long it will take to find the right lamp table. . . will we go dumpster diving? curbside shopping? garage saling?
Subject #4
On Christmas Day we had 2 very dear friends join us for lunch along with my mama. It was a perfect day for a post-lunch walk.
Nothing to say except a good time was had by all, and the Central California artist probably ought to make a New Year’s resolution to give up sweets.
Forget it.
Time Off to Take in the Views
This week I will post several different subjects, all unrelated to art work. These could be titled “Sources of Inspiration”, although I don’t know if they will result in paintings or drawings.
Subject #1
Trail Guy took the Botmobile to a secret location with a great view of the High Sierra. The mountain range is the Sierra Nevada, and it is only people from Southern California who say “the Sierras”. Those of us in Central California generally know better in spite of being uneducated, poor and fat.
I wasn’t there because I was finishing the mural, not goofing off. Yet.
Can you pick out Sawtooth?
Here – have a slightly closer look.
Subject #2
The Captain decided that this rocking chair, more of a glider, a beautiful piece made by the Amish, no longer suits her. Together we figured out how to fit it into my car, and voila! It looks just right in this corner of our living room.
There used to be plants on that table, but Samson thought it was his personal jungle. Now there is a squirt bottle handy to remind him that our hands and feet are not his chew toys.
The view out the window looked like this:
Hey, this isn’t complete. We should be seeing Moro Rock to the left of Alta Peak. Time for some yard work.
Alrighty then. Life in Three Rivers for this Central California artist and her husband, AKA Trail Guy, seems to be about views.
The Chair From the Dump
Remember the chair I found in a dump this past summer? Trail Guy asked about it and learned it got tossed off a balcony. We looked it over and decided it could be repaired. Then Trail Guy loaded it in the back of the Bot-mobile and brought it home. It has been at the upholsterer’s since July.
Last week it was ready, Trail Guy brought it home, and we put it in the green room.
Next, I need to find a lamp table that looks solid and chunky to go with the chair.
Meanwhile, I can’t uncover it because of Samson. He has been going wild in the plastic, and I think he’d shred the new fabric in a matter of minutes. We don’t leave him in the house alone, but if we aren’t watching him every minute, providing diversion, fighting him off, chasing him around, he is either attacking us or attacking something.
I miss Perkins.
Mineral King in November
It is Friday, and I have some recent Mineral King photos for you. Trail Guy and a friend went up the hill for a day. He is retired, I am not. That’s okay – he provides photos for you who love Mineral King and I post them. We are a team here.
Check out the red tree at the Sweet Ranch.
Now, time for a Samson update. He is still cute, and he is still biting us.
Shhhh, I’m Working
Please forgive the silence on the blog. I am working on a project that requires focus. The customer is away for awhile so I haven’t been given permission to tell about the project.
Samson can keep you company while I work.
More Road Trip, Part Six
Yes, I know this isn’t about art or Mineral King. I hope you enjoy it anyway!
