Calendar page

Trying to catch up with news around here a little. And trying to deal with the thought of losing Timber soon. It's very sad around here.

Sunday, our Calligraphy Study Group put together the calendars for next year. I wasn't able to go and help with the collating, but this is my page for December 2011.

The bunny

It's my last day "on vacation" at Julie's house beaglesitting, and I was just answering Lisa's question below about "Relax-a-Bun" when "Missy" started barking frantically upstairs in the kitchen. I ran up to see and here was the bunny sitting right on the deck, looking around while Missy was trying to tear the kitchen door down. I got some more nice pictures of the scene and will post them when I get home. He is truly a "Beatrix Potter" bunny! I hope you're reading, Lisa.

More lightning and rain last night. Wondering what it will be like today? Everything is nice and green, just like bunnies like it!

The storm

Wednesday's storm offered a dramatic look out our front window.

And then, later at Julie's, this was the sky when i went out into her backyard.

Nature Journal Workshop

These are the journals we were making yesterday. Not sure how long I will leave my streamers, but putting wooden beads on and will see when I do that.

Thinking of finding an ornamentation for the cover too. Something garden-ey or maybe even a key.

A peek at the pages.

Here the painted papers are trying to dry. They never did completely; it was such a humid day. We had the window unit air-conditioner on and could not use the hair dryer because it would disturb the plant material. A real dilemma.

This is how they will look after they are completely dry and the plant material is removed.

Here's Judy creating some of her other pages while we patiently waited for the other drying process.

Deb enjoys journaling, like I do, and has some great ideas for her book.

Pages in the making.

Looking over supplies to make other additions to her book.

And more plants and leaves waiting to be used.

Meet "Relax-a-Bun"

Here he is. Julie's resident bunny. He's seen every day hopping around or lounging in her yard. He seems to like it when we talk to him.

Stretching up for the sweet stems.

Apples on her tree are getting bigger too.

Workshop

Tomorrow is my "nature's journal" workshop and I can't get my pix to load on Mark's computer. I will figure it out and they will come. I know we are approaching a full moon. This has been a day! First off, I locked myself out of Julie's house at 5:30 a.m. with the beagles. I walked several blocks to a friend's house at 6, but no answer. Came back, as the beagles were still in the yard and they are not quiet, hunting bunnies, etc. Tried all the doors again and then finally about 7, when I thought they were up, went next door. Neighbor couldn't have been nicer, but still problems. You see, I just about "deadbolt" myself in. Long story short, finally got the garage combination and the correct key and got back in around 7. This did not end the surprises for the day...but now on to tomorrow.

Gone!

Several days have vanished! I have been back and forth using Mark's computer (upstairs) and now Julie's (I'm beagle-sitting for ten days). It was a nice Father's day weekend though and I even got to see "Toy Story 3" with Dan and Danielle. Loved it! Cried at the end. And, for our supper, made Sweet & Sour Pork, one of Dan's favorites. Now tomorrow is another Monday.

Wednesday's day

Continuing on with trying acrylic washes to make nature prints. Some flower petals still stuck on this one, but I'm happy with the results.

Just trying different plant material to see which ones work best.

I won't use the entire sheet, but will use a template the size of the journal page to zero in on a pleasing area.

The red is striking, but not as vivid as the fabric dye. These were milkweed leaves. Nice detail.

I plan to work on the fabric dyes again today and see what happens. Going to Julie's later, so will cut some more of her sweet gum? leaves as they make really nice impressions.

In the afternoon, I went to Denise's "felting" workshop. We used wool from the sheep at The Center, which Denise had already washed and combed, or I think they call it carded. She also had some, I forget what she called it, already prepared and dyed from the store. I must get the language of this correct. I absolutely love the natural though.

Working with cookie cutters for the shapes, I made an apple and a chicken...

a gnome and a star.

Today's projects

Ledger page due June 1st, but recipient was out of town, so mailed today. The theme for this one was to pick an artist's quote and create about it. I chose a quote by Pablo Picasso, "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary". I sure enjoy keeping a journal and often paint or draw pictures along with my entry. It takes you right back to the time.

The envelope decoration.

And I continued on with my nature printing with the "real" material and fabric dyes.

I hung them up on my door with clothespins...

Don't these look like fancy eyes?

With this humid weather, they don't want to dry. It gets so cool in the evening, I resist turning on the air conditioning and i thought hanging in the air would do it, but I don't know. I may have to go to plan B.

Where did the week go?

Here are some papers I am making for my "Nature Journal" workshop this month at The Center. This one uses "real" weeds, leaves and flowers, making impressions with water-soluble fabric dyes.

And these, household bleach.

Here it is Monday and I am still running up to use Mark's computer. Didn't get mine yet. It's funny how different it is, now having to make time to run up to his computer, when I used to be able to slip right in from the kitchen to the sunroom, several times a day, and stay connected to everyone. This was a busy weekend. Working on stuff for my first workshop this month, T-Ball that got rained out Saturday morning, and Mark's birthday celebration. Today, back to creating papers and planning the journal.

Monday's calligraphy

Using Pebeo drawing gum, we lettered, then covered with a watercolor wash and then removed it to reveal the letters.

Then, going along with my last post, I did these on the deck while painting with Danielle. Now I have some flower quotes to letter over the little flowers and make cards.

Backyard painting

This past week, Danielle and I were sitting in Daddy's backyard painting the sights.

Listening to and watching for all the birds.

And admiring the empty Robin's nest that was just used, on the window's edge.

Experimenting with watercolor.

Farley watched from the doorway...

As Danielle had put a sign in the window "Birdie, Birds Come" after Daddy had hung a new birdfeeder in the yard. She wanted to make sure she spread the news!

We're still here

Our wonderful vet came out to the house to visit Timber this afternoon. You know, he has been having a hard time with all his "lumps and bumps" which are hopefully all "fatty" ones, which is what they all have been, but the latest one has grown and is pressing on his heart and his heart is pressing on his esophagus so he has some issues. He is on med to help with digestion. Then this morning his right eye was mostly cloudy white. Looked like his eye had gone up. Scared me. And he's panting a lot and I have had to hand feed him for a couple of weeks now. Well, we are still going along, as she doesn't feel he is in any pain. He is probably just panting because that's what old goldens do. His heart sounds good, his lungs sound good and he was happy as a lark to see her. How about that? Anyway, his eye is "Horner's syndrome". It's a nerve problem. Dog's have a third lid and it comes up from the bottom and is covering part of his eye. Nothing to do about it; just looks abnormal. So this was not "the time". Thank you.

Today

Timber is not doing well. They say you will know when it's time...

Batter up!

T-ball practice began on Sunday and what a nice coach and a nice day! Those little legs ran like a champion!