Sketching, Wood Burning, Fishing and Another Sunset

I think I may have mentioned the other day that I fell hard on my tail bone on the beach. It really hurt, but I thought I was probably lucky to fall on sand rather than on hard ground. Each day it has gotten a bit worse and last night I didn't sleep well because every time I moved it hurt.

Needless to say, I only did about an hour in the gym this morning and didn't push myself too hard. I do think movement and getting the blood moving is good for an injury like this.

It was so foggy this morning I couldn't see the ocean at all and on the other side of the building I couldn't see across the street, but the sun has burned it off by now so when the hubster returns from the gym, we will do a slow walk before getting ready to head out for the day.

We are planning a visit to Fort Pickens and then lunch at Pegleg's. My sister and her husband took us to Fort Pickens last year and we loved it. They may go with us today. They haven't eaten at Pegleg's so it will be new for all of us.

We went to Michael's yesterday and the hubster found some oil colored pencils and colored his wood burning signs. They are spectacular:

Don't you just love these?

I'd really like to try some wood burning, but I'd like to try it with my own art and I think when I get home that is just what I am going to do.

Meanwhile I did get a quick sketch done again yesterday. It is a mill scene in the wood burning book that I tried to capture.

While we were walking the beach yesterday evening I happened upon this cute scene. I like to think it was a pelican giving a seagull a fishing lesson. Actually I think it was a pelican fishing and a seagull hanging around to see if anything would be dropped.

And here is the pelican enjoying the fruits of his labor:

Finally, here is last evening's sunset:

Also while walking yesterday the hubster and I found the fourth small sand dollar so now I have one for each of my little girls. I called my son yesterday and talked with Miss 7. She was just reading the letter I sent her and opening the Valentine's card that Papa sent. I talked to my son to find out that the last doctor appointment before next Wednesday's due date is tomorrow and all appears to be right on schedule. I am so looking forward to meeting this newest member of my girl tribe.

I talked with Little Miss 3 four times yesterday. The first time I called her Mom and then talked to her. She almost broke my heart because the first thing she said was, "Can I come to your house today, Nana?" She promised to have lots of hugs and kisses for me when we return. Later in the day my cell rang and it was her again. We talked for a little bit and then I lost the connection. She called right back and talked to both of us. When the phone rang again and it was her again, I asked to speak to her Mom because I thought she was playing with the phone. My daughter is working on numbers with her and by the third call, she remembered the number herself and didn't need any help.

I did find out that the weather has been above freezing at home and is expected to be in the 40s and may even reach 50 this week. The snow is melting fast and my kids and their kids are thinking Spring.

Hope you are well and warm,

xoxo

I'm Home And Playing Catch Up

We got home on Monday afternoon to about a foot of snow. It would appear that either my muse moved out while I was gone or traveled with us and got tired of waiting for me to do some art and got lost somewhere on the way.

Life has not been boring, though. While I've unpacked and done laundry, the clothes are not all put away yet. By unpacked, I mean out of the suitcase. There is still the next step of getting them put away. The house needs a serious cleaning even though we left it pretty clean when we left. Dust doesn't go on vacation.

We had Momo (the 2 1/2 year old) yesterday and we have her again today. Also today the first grader will be riding the bus to our house and they will be here until 9:30 or so.

Yesterday just after my daughter got home to meet the bus, her car broke down. I have given her mine to use until she figures out what is wrong and how much it will cost to fix it. I can use the hubster's truck, but I don't like driving unfamiliar vehicles, particularly in winter when it is snowing every day.

According to the extended forecast for this area, we will have some kind of snow activity through Sunday, but high 30s and sun afterward. C'mon Spring!!!

I'll share a few pix with you from the trip to brighten up this drab post and hope to break out of the art doldrums soon. I am "taking" a watercolor class with Molly Murrah through Creative Techs which started last Friday. I missed that one, but watched the Q&A video to find out about supplies and what is planned. I am also "taking" a watercolor class beginning on March 1 through Artists of The Round Table using the book "Watercolor Made Simple" by Claudia Nice. The supply list and the techniques look very much like the Molly Murrah class. I am so hoping to learn something from these classes and try my hand at watercolor. I'll share with you when I begin the classes.

Meanwhile, here are the pix I have to share now:

Pensacola Beach finds.

We have the shells soaking in a bath of mostly water with a little household bleach. Is this the way to clean them? We picked up some small, brown sand dollars and some small starfish on Hilton Head Island that got really mushy and smelly and had to be thrown away.

Englewood pelican.

This pelican was in the shade when I saw him with his head turned around and his beak tucked between his feathers and appeared to be sleeping. It was so cold there, I think he may have been depressed because fish were hard to find. He was nice enough to come out into the sun and pose for me though.

Osprey near nest.

There were babies in the nest. I could just see their heads once in a while. I took this with my little point and shoot and wished I'd had my better camera and longer lens with me. But I am pleased with the quality anyway. I was able to crop it and still get a decent picture.

I was up most of the night sick to my stomach. I am severely lactose intolerant and am sure that along the way I have gotten some things that I would be able to avoid at home. This has been building for a long time, but was almost unbearable last night. I am hoping to have a quiet day with the little one and get a nap when she naps.

Meanwhile, I will be trying to either find my muse or adopt one that has been lost by someone else and get some kind of art begun that I can share with you tomorrow or the next day.

See you then, I hope.

xoxo