Another Busy Weekend

I drove to Ann Arbor with Nancy on Saturday for a "Single Sheet Sewing" class at Hollander's. It was a really nice class; Cindy Hollander is a good and patient teacher; Kerrytown was packed and the farmers' market was stupendous. We both left with a lovely book before the official end time of the class.

I love the paper selections and the kits the Hollander's provide for their classes.

I got home around 5 pm to find Zoë and the kitty separated by the sliding glass door. It seems that Zoë is a bit overzealous in her playing with the wee thing. I had a lovely, busy evening with Miss Z and found myself in bed and on the verge of sleep by 8:30, and didn't awaken until 6:30 Saturday morning. I guess I needed it.

Dana and the girls came out to visit the kitty Friday evening and she took a photo of the wee ones with me. She thinks this should become my new profile picture.

Last evening I decided to do a bit of art in my nature journal and came up with these two.

And finally, I spent a bit of time doing what I think of as gesture sketching. In the first one I captured (or tried to) my two older grandgirls a couple of years ago trying to decipher a greeting card at the younger one's First Communion party.

And the other is a cow's head.

I also finally got the niches cut in my altered book, only to find that there still isn't enough depth for the latest finds. Rats!! Next time I will plan better.

I have been banging my head against the wall all morning trying to get my internet access to work long enough to post this. Instead of the usually 20 to 30 minutes that I expect it to take, this morning's post has taken a whopping 2 hours. I have been to my hour long conditioning class and jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes to work off the frustration of the first hour attempt. Hopefully that has kept my blood pressure from going totally wonky.

I hope your day is not as frustrating as mine has been so far and that mine continues to improve. I will make time for family - I am headed into town to recycle, visit, and shop. And then later this evening I am planning to go watch Miss P play softball. Meanwhile, I think I deserve a big green salad with tomatoes, mushrooms, and crabmeat to fuel this system of mine.

Stay well and keep creating!!

xoxo

Pencil Sketches and A Kitty Update

Following my conditioning workout and my half hour run on the treadmill, I ran into town to take my brother in law to the hospital for outpatient surgery. Before I had a chance to sketch anyone in the family waiting room, it was explained to me that the patient probably would not be ready for me to take home until 5 or 6 pm. It was just 1 pm when they told me this. I followed his advice and after wishing him good luck and promising to be back to pick him up (and exchanging cell phone numbers) I went on my way.


On the way to pick up the BIL at his house, I stopped for gas only to find that Miss M and her mom were at the pump next to me. After leaving the hospital around 1, I called the daughter to give her an update and headed for the grocery store. I left a message on her phone. When she called me back it was to find that she and Miss M were at the Wendy's across the street. I waited for them and the three of us did a good grocery shopping. At the end of the shopping trip we parted company.


When I was ready to head back to the hospital (I decided that unless I heard otherwise that I would be back by 5 pm), I stopped at the daughter's house and picked up Miss M so she could go with me and then I would take her to my house. Her sister, Miss P, has two back to back hour long dance classes on Wednesdays. Miss M and I went to the hospital to find that BIL (Uncle Mike to Miss M) was ready for us to come back to see him. He was drinking juice and patiently waiting to be released. He was a bit dozy. When he was ready Miss M and I took him to a pharmacy for his prescription. The hospital had faxed it to them. I left BIL in the car and Miss M and I went to get the prescription, but it wouldn't be ready for about 20 minutes, so we took him home where we found his teenage son home from school and left him in good hands while we went back to the pharmacy. After taking the medicine to the patient, Miss M and I went to my house. By this time it was going on 7 pm and she and I were both tired.


Then the fun began - Miss M met the kitty and it was love at first sight. She has given her the name Ellabear (don't ask me because I don't know). We fed her some of the canned kitty food I'd bought at the grocery store and found a piece of string to play with her. Shortly thereafter, my daughter and Miss P came from dance class and we had dinner. It has been decided that I will call the vet my daughter knows and schedule an appointment for a complete check over and any shots along with a spay (I think it is a girl) and front claw removal. Once that is successfully completed, Ella (short for Ellabear) will be introduced into their household - hopefully Trevor the adult cat that already lives with them will be accepting.

After the girls went home, I decided to do a couple of sketches before retiring for the night. They were pretty quick and just outlines. I didn't do any shading or coloring.

The right arm (the one on the left) appears to be rotated out from the chair and needs some repair. Other than that, I rather like it.

This is one of those gorgeous yellow and purple irises with stripes of gold in it. I think I need to do a watercolor of this one of these days.

This morning my friend, Nancy, and I are going to life drawing class together and then we are taking her iPad to lunch at Panera to play with it a bit. After that I will call the vet and get the ball rolling on the kitty situation. Then, once I've done my obligatory hour on the treadmill, I will decide what kind of art to do.


What are you doing today? Are you finding time for your art? I hope so.


xoxo

Two Sketches - One Ink, One Pencil

It is a beautiful, sunny morning. I can't believe May is just about over. Little Miss M is done with preschool for the year and Misses P and K will be done next week. It must be time to get out the hula hoops and frog catching nets.


Yesterday after cleaning my work play room, I sat down with my "Through A Looking Glass" journal and decided to sketch a bit. I looked through my reference photos for something to catch my eye and happened upon a house with a big front porch that I liked. I grabbed my Uniball Signo and began.

And then I found a photo I'd taken during my still life frenzy of a few weeks ago and liked it, so thought I'd try my hand at a pear with a glass of wine.This one is in pencil; don't ask me why. I try to use pen so I can't erase. My guess is that this one seemed trickier for me. I think the crop made it look like the wine is aslant a bit.

It is going to be a busy day today. I will be going to my conditioning class this morning and then will be taking my BIL to the hospital for an outpatient surgery. I am expecting to find some sketching opportunities there. I will take a sketchbook and my iPad. That way I can sketch, listen to music, read a book, or surf the internet (if they have wireless).

A little kitty has found its way to our house (I am suspecting a drop off). It is very cute and friendly. I am not in the market for a pet, but I am quite taken with the little thing. I am hoping that if the hubster and I offer spaying and declawing, my daughter will take her. I don't have any kitty food and I don't think milk is all that good for a kitty, so I opened a can of Albacore tuna packed in water and gave her a bit. I think she loves me!

I believe the hubster came up with some kind of litter box and let her into the screened porch for the night. I guess we have officially taken responsibility for her. I really don't want to give her to the shelter, but am not in the market for a pet.

What do you have planned for the day? Does it include art? I am anxious to get started today and think my muse approves of the cleaning.

xoxo