All of This White...

Guess who has been inside for the past two days... In her loungewear... sipping java with macchiato creamer and being creative?

It's been pure bliss!

Thursday morning the big, fluffy white flakes began to fall. As predicted, this continued throughout the entire day! I must confess, I spent that day resting and catching up on house chores. Today I spent some time updating my art journal. (I never did finish my Valentine's Day entry)!

I sketch with Micron archival pens. I prefer the smallest tip- 01. This ink does not bleed when wet. I have tried other brands, but always end up returning to my Microns!

I am totally in love with my MaimeriBlu watercolors... And Paul! He smiles as he picks up my art journal and sees this Valentine entry.

We played today...

Out in the deep snow!

Even the dogs joined in! This is Mindy Lou.

I think that we got a total of 12 inches of snow here. Our pond has a pretty sheet of ice on it. I plan on photographing it more tomorrow.

It really is a pretty sight... All of the white. I put on my boots and dashed out the back door to capture the sun setting.

We are now back inside, quite cozy and warm.

Having night coffee.

Winter Blessings!

 

A rumor...

There's a rumor going around in my neck of the woods. Everyone is talking about it. They say that we are going to have a severe snow storm here. The Wintery mix is supposedly arriving very late, tomorrow night... and the other part of that rumor is that school may be canceled for Thursday... Possibly even on Friday. I try not to allow myself to get too excited about a snow day... Oh, but it's so hard not to secretly wish for it to happen! How nice it would be to sleep in a little, all wrapped up in these wonderful micro fleece sheets! It's just a bonus day off when this happens... and that creative mind really kicks in. Big snow... (So they say). What could possibly be better than some pajama painting, java sipping, movie watching, picture taking... and chocolate eating on a weekday?!!!!!

 

I happen to have a chocolate stash. Shhhhhhh. Giggle giggle.

The snow is so beautiful out here, in the country. We had a bit of snow just a week ago and I captured a few pretty photos.

 

If this rumor is true, we will not be able to get out for anything, so we may go do some shopping tomorrow after work. There's something thrilling about being "stuck inside". I can hardly contain my excitement...

But I must.

For now...

it is only a rumor.

 

Valentine's Day...

Valentine's Day. Oh, how I dreaded it... Every year... For many years. Seriously, it just never was a great event for me. I observed friends and co-workers being lavished with love, roses, and chocolate, discussing their plans for Valentine's eve with great excitement. Just another reminder to me that I was unvalued in my "situation", and would be spending Valentine's Day alone. Even during good times in my relationships, it never happened. Valentine's Day was sabotaged by unexpected chaos. Initially, I accepted the first few Valentine's Day disappointments, telling myself that the next one would be better... But let's face it. After 10 bad February 14ths in a row... Well, lets just say that I became wise and realistic. This day was simply not a day for ME to celebrate, in fact, prior to Paul, I feared the last few V-days and prepared for them as if they were a severe storm moving in my direction. I would go do some shopping ( for myself, of course), the day before. A frozen pizza, a few horror movie rentals... and maybe even a little chocolate. Once my workday was done on Valentine's Day, I would scurry home, put on my jammies, and shut myself into my safe, cozy bedroom for the night with all of my goods...

and ride the storm out!

Those days are behind me now.

Yesterday I came home from work to a dozen of beautiful roses in a vase, balloons, candy, and the sweetest card that read, " I will love you always and forever... Paul".

He truly is amazing and I feel so blessed to have him in my life!

My heart goes out to all of those, who do struggle with Valentine's Day because not everyone does have the experience of being appreciated and pampered this one day out of the year, yet cannot avoid it. I do hope that those people WILL do as I did...

and take care of themselves with a special treat and some love. It will pass. For some it will take years.

 

Don't these little guys just make you smile? Sugar bears! Oh, how cute! Too cute to eat really... but I gobbled them up!

It was a quiet evening at home. We like that during the work week. No extra events. We even had dinner at home- enchiladas.

Sending some love your way!

XOXO

 

We Love Holidays!

Why is it that the weekends seem to end so quickly? I wore my pouty face last night because I knew that I had to get to bed. Back to work. But I had more painting to do... and another fabulous book to read, by author, Mary Kay Andrews. (My fourth)! If I knew how to use the link function in this new blogging app, I would link you to her website... (Another task that I could have completed last night: learn to link, if only I could have stayed up late)! Just type her name into your browser and enjoy! I love her style!

It was, however, a wonderful weekend, as always. For a gal who has never looked forward to Valentine's Day...

Well, let's just say that the holiday of love may not be so dreadful after all, in fact, this year I am actually participating in all of the hoopla!

I'm painting little love notes.

My sweetie surprised me with all sorts of Valentine decorations.... glittery hearts in pink and red. Big ones, little ones... "Baby, look what I got for you", he said!

Hmmm. My eyes widened and my mind began wandering. Oh, what would I do with all of these lovely sparkling hearts?

Uh oh, I thought. I did have a bit of a problem, you see. I refuse to take down the Christmas tree. I like seeing the lights glow every morning and night. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to our tree, but how then, can I decorate for two holidays at the same time?

Compromise.

We do have a smaller tree. So, I removed all of the Christmas ornaments from the small, woodland tree that stands in the dining room...

And gave it a new look!

We now have a Valentine tree... (With a congrats card from Laura.... Thank you, my friend over at "where the gold bees dream" blog)!

And, a Christmas tree!

Maybe it's not "proper" to have both, but we don't care. Truly, there are no rules in this home! My sweetheart and I are both free spirits! Perfect together.

We love holidays!!!!




 

Priorities...

Once school was out I thought that I would have more time for the neglected things, such as my blog...

NOT!

(However, I cannot deny the fact that blogging is no longer high on my priority list).

Of course I love sharing, reading other artists' blogs when I can, and being a part of this whole blogging community...

but I also love so many other things in my life such as working in the garden, reading a good book, cooking, and spending time with Paul. I find that I no longer want to sit in front of a laptop screen! I want to be in the NOW and live joyfully in these other moments & interests.

Yes, I think about shutting down my blog. Closing this chapter...

I have blogged since 2006 (In a Shabby Kind Of Way blog), so I've "been there, done that". I have met wonderful friends/ artists just by blogging. It seems that many of them have also closed their blogging chapters and moved on.

I shall continue to ponder this. 

I have been on the go and keeping busy ever since that final week of school!

May 18th, 19th, & 20th Paul and I went back to our hometown to see my only niece graduate from High School! It was great to be around family again!

Then, on May 25th through Memorial Day...

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS where we met my dear cousin, Tonya, and her hubby, Garry.

The 4 of us shared a condo, got crazy dirty while riding the beautiful trails...

got wet in crystal clear spring water!

Us gals also spent a glorious day shopping in the historical downtown district! We dined, we laughed...

we loved! (Even with a dirt-covered face)! 

(Paul & Garry).

After our lovely get-away, I settled into an art routine at home.

I have had 2 custom paintings for clients to work on. One completed...shipped!

Of course I DO make time for my art journal and some fun paintings! I just love the bright colors on my silly owls!!!!

There has also been time for shopping for patio lights and a big hammock, decorating the patio, cooking out, shopping for a new car, making gifts, planning our family vacation with my parents, un-boxing more of my belongings, baking fluffy cakes...

laying in the hammock.

Yes. These things are all very high on my priority list!