Tis' the season...

Tis' the season!

It's that time of the year again...

I am spending each day painting ornaments!

Ornaments to be shipped out to new homes and families from all over!

This warms my heart.

I have much more to share with you…

but it will have to wait. My iPad has died. I used my iPad for simplifying not only my life, but my art biz and blog. As I create this post on my Macbook Pro…

I can't help to feel so lost. Everything is different on a laptop! I am certainly out of my comfort zone now without the ease of an iPad!

I do hope that you are enjoying this beautiful season!

We are expecting snow today!

Yes, I will have my camera ready and I shall return soon!

XO 

Celebrate Halloween!

The wind is howling just outside my windows.

A crisp chill has made it's way into the house. That old familiar chill that forces me to quickly jump out of bed in the morning hours and grab my fleece robe that has hung on the bathroom door hook for months.

 

It's such a beautiful season, indeed.

I cannot even imagine living somewhere else, where there are no Fall colors and the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet when I venture out.

 

To me, this is the season that excites and reminds me that the holidays are soon upon us!

Here in Kansas, it usually begins now.

Halloween.

Start digging out the sweaters, mittens, boots, and ear muffs because it's coming.

 

But let's not jump to far ahead.

In leu of this wonderous, spooky time...

Let's stay in the moment and celebrate Halloween!

I have enjoyed many opportunities to play and prepare for this "holiday".

Shopping with friend from Texas...

(Pure silliness and fun as we tried on masks and hats)!

A trip back to my home town recently led to more dress up fun with my special cousin, Tonya...

and, of course, my immediate family whom I miss so much, especially during holiday months.

Yes, life has been blissfully busy lately.

Art sales.

Some substitute teaching.

Friends. Family. Chores.

A trip to Arkansas. Flea markets. Off road riding. Dining.

Selling out of Hand painted Christmas ornaments already!

 

I even watched my very first World Series game on tv!

(I have never been a fan of sports, but did enjoy game 7)!

I try to be a very open minded person and expose myself to new things. Watching the game with hubby made it even more enjoyable!

I wish each and every one of you a safe and happy Halloween!

Stay warm!

Xo

 

The smallest things...

I witnessed something extra special this morning while I was out walking and jogging.

Did you see it too?

The moon!

It was the strangest thing. Traces of the moon behind our house as the sun was rising on the front side of the house.

Unfortunately, I only had my iPhone camera with me, otherwise, I might have captured some more detailed photos.

I get so excited over the smallest of things...

And so grateful that I do.

(It makes exercising much more enjoyable, I might add)!

Ahhhhhhh, the colors of Fall are now filling my paint palettes.

It's that time again.

Handpainted Christmas ornaments!

I'm going to begin posting them, (for sale), in a couple of weeks, on my Facebook page! I'm having so much fun with all new designs....

Baby ornaments, teacher ornaments, wedding ornaments! I try to create ornaments to suit everyone. Yes, I will even personalize them!

This ornament will represent peace on earth.

I have such a happy heart when preparing for the holidays.

Pumpkin pie fragrance fills the air in every room. I love those wax warmers! (Especially since I'm not doing any pie baking at this time)! Soon though... Soon!

Still art journaling in the evenings...

And sipping hot tea.

Yes, these small things in life make for a wonderful life. Truly, they do.

Something else that I cherish so much is receiving messages from YOU!

Today, Sylvie, from France, sent me some very kind words. Friends, YOU inspire me. You see, I was not going to blog today since I had such a large "assembly line" of ornaments in the makings, and still had supper to cook along with other chores...

But then I thought of Sylvie.

She took time out of her day to type a very thoughtful message. I decided that at this moment, it should be a priority to create a simple blog post and to acknowledge Sylvie. Thank you, Sylvie, and to all of you who do follow my blog. It means so much to me!

 

Yes.

It's the smallest things that matter the most.

Blessings to all and I will meet you right back here, soon!

XO

 

 

My morning workout...

Hello!

As I sit here typing, I can see the outside view from the big arched window in our dining room.

On a typical day, I am out for my morning walk and jog...

Taking in all of the beauty that surrounds me here on the prairie.

Today is different.

It is a cooler morning.

The wind is harsh.

The sky is darkening.

I tell myself to just go!

Put on those running shoes and toughen up.

But then, I take another sip of my coffee. It's oh, so hot and filled with goodness.

I have unfinished business to tend to with my art journal and new watercolor pencils.

But my thighs are getting flabby.

Should I?

Should I dig out my fuzzy thermal underwear and go out?

Afterall, it's not snowing...

Or raining as it was yesterday when I skipped my exercise routine.

My mind is bouncing all over the place this morning. (One would consider that in itself a good workout)!

Yesterday I had a genuine excuse.

I had a morning hair appointment.

Do you like my stripes?

*giggle*

I needed some change.

Later in the day, I had a date with my hubby.

Nothing fancy.

In fact, it's just an A&W/ Long John Silvers. Fast food...

But so retro.

More photo opportunities!

Oh dear.

The sky is nearly black now.

I need another cup of coffee...

or a brisk walk.

Enjoy your day!

XO

 

Too good not to share...

Fall has officially arrived!

A big hello to you...

and to the spooky month of October!

I get extremely camera happy this time of year and find myself photographing pumpkin displays when I am out shopping. True story.

Displays make lovely photographs, don't you agree?

While out shopping, hubby and I also stumbled upon something that is just too good not to share with you!

(If you are a coffee drinker, that is).

 

Normally, we do not buy flavored coffee because we really do prefer a plain ol' cup of joe with our choice of flavored creamer. We are strange like that...

one morning we may be in the mood for a simple French vanilla...

but by evening, we may want Irish cream or caramel macchiato in our coffee.

However, when we saw the clearance shelf in the store for "Blueberry Muffin" coffee, $1.00...

we both agreed that it was certainly worth a try for that price.

So, "how good was it", you may be wondering.

Oh, my.

 

Friends, this coffee, topped off with vanilla creamer, is absolutely heavenly and too good not to share!

It also earned a spot in my art journal!

That's how good it was!

It does not have a fruity taste. It's a sweet coffee and very smooth. I'm so glad that we picked up two bags and I plan on trying more flavors from the bakery series, including more Blueberry Muffin!

I painted in my art journal using Faber-Castell watercolor pencils, Albrecht Durer-

Something else that is seriously too good not to share!

I splurged and chose the full set of 120 pencils. After reading such wonderful reviews, I felt confident in my decision. (I went back and forth with sets and added single pencils to my cart as well... For two days). Do you do that?

When I opened the metal box, my eyes lit up.

Color does that to me!

This metal box holds three layers of beautiful watercolor pencils.

I will say that I have no regrets and I'm very pleased with my purchase.

The pencils are creamy, vibrant and don't seem to leave a pencil mark residue on the paintings after water has been added.

Once again, all paintings shown in this post have been created with these Faber-Castell watercolor pencils.

I will close for now. My work for the day is done.

I'm now sipping on a cup of Blueberry muffin coffee and ready to play again with the new pencils!

This is a perfect day!

 

 

*Pumpkin Love*

Orange, yellow, purple, gold, red, and brown.

Are you seeing them too?

I'm finding these lovely, rich colors of Fall here and there...

on a morning walk, I have stumbled upon resting leaves beneath the trees.

Every market has pumpkins now, in all shapes and sizes!

Because our pumpkin patch failed us...

I purchased some pumpkins for our home. I am particularly fond of these white pumpkins.

Of course, I bought an orange one too...

and I really love painting them, as you may already know about me.

Most evenings are spent in the living room with hubby. He watches television while I play with my watercolors. I must confess, I have quite a collection of watercolors since they are my fave. I have itty bitty field sets, medium size sets, tubes, half pans, watercolor pencils, hydrus watercolors, and even that very expensive 48 color palette in a metal box.

I love them all equally, for different uses.

I want more watercolors, can you believe? Not to be a greedy or snobby artist... But because I truly get so very excited to try them all! (and I still use each and every set)!

For Halloween art, I really like the iridescent watercolors and Twinkling H20's.

Do you have a favorite medium or hobby that you just never can get enough of?

During the day I am still plugging away with commissions.

 

An Irish Blessing in honor of a man who turns 80 years old in October. His grown children asked me to do the painting, which will be donated to their church. Isn't that so nice?

The man was also a wheat farmer.

I absolutely enjoy hearing the stories that go with each commission. These are real people with real events...

and I always feel so honored myself, to be a part of.

God is good!

By night...

I'm right back here, in the living room...

 

Yes, I got the Halloween decorations out...

Even the lights!

*pumpkin love*

Xo

 

A Country Fall with Mr. Pippin...

Oooooooh, don't you just love Fall?

Although we still have some 80-degree days in our forecast this week, the Fall festivities have begun here on the prairie.

Country living is simply wonderful.

Neighbors and friends live fields apart, but still remain close should one need a helping hand or wish to share a cup of coffee.

Every Fall is welcomed with the annual Bon fire, a few dirt roads South of us. Many of the town folk gather, with a covered dish in hand...

for a night of visiting, eating, and a live band for some dancing, for those who desire to do so.

This goes on until 1:00 in the morning...

but hubby and I could never last that long!

It was a nice evening.

 

I have completed, "Mr. Pippin". Doesn't he look festive in his orange and black?

I am now eager to decorate the house for Halloween!

It's always so much fun digging those boxes out of the basement and admiring each decoration, one by one...

deciding on it's placement for this Fall year.

For now, "Mr. Pippin" hangs from the fireplace mantel. He needs more friends, and once that I get caught up with commission work... (Or in between),

I will sculpt a Mrs. Pippin, for him.

At last!

This piece will ship to it's new home tomorrow!

A painstaking piece of art that has undergone many transformations.

Mistakes were made...

and layers of acrylic paint were added to fix them.

I'm doing the happy dance today because it is time to move on to the next!

I hope that your weekend has been wonderful as well.

We will meet right back here again, real soon, ok?

Xo