Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Slide Mailers


I've been playing with modeling paste and slide mailers, getting them ready for the Fall shows I've signed up to do this year. Here are a few. Two of them use metallic paints and glazes, the third uses only paints. I'l go back in and hit the highlights with a gold leafing pen.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Friday, August 22, 2008

New place in the country


I saw this on the web and had to put it on my blog so you can all enjoy it too. Does this look like a fun place? I'd have room for everyone - think of art camp there!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

My aching back.


No, mine isn't aching. But, I know what it feels like. That is the title of my new painting/collage. The fold lines are meant to represent the bending of the spine.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Grousing again.


My son Matt's a trucker. Today his truck bit the dust and repairs would be far more than the value of the truck. His company is not doing well just now either. So, I think he'll be looking for a new job unless he can salvage his truck. With the price of Diesel fuel, insurance, etc. it has been getting harder each year to make a good living as in independent trucker. Please say a little prayer for him and his family. In today's economy, finding new employment may take awhile - but if he gets the chance - no one works harder or is more dependable. Love ya, Matt.

Monday, August 18, 2008

What's the world coming to?

My over the counter meds are not available anywhere in town, or in the next town. Every place I went said they switched to a cheaper generic. I had tried two of them lately and neither work for me. Cheaper is not better. It is crap! I think I found what I'm looking for at Amazon, but I won't know for sure until I have it in my hands and can read the label and look at the pills. How many of us will have to suffer and complain to get this kind of thing changed?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Painting again



It has been a long time since I've painted. Too long. Here are a couple new cat paintings (one a collage/painting). I'm not crazy about either one, but I'm getting warmed up.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Picnic at White Pines Lake

This bear prefers his own sign.

Week in the country




A couple friends came up Monday and spent the night. I was still suffering sore muscles in leg, shoulder and neck, from the fall, so I was not very good company. But, Cat took good care of our friends and we ate at her place. Here are a few pics. One is of Cat in her mini-studio (a converted camper). It is so organized and has so much in it, it's a little jewel of a place to hang out. I know because I went over on Wed morning and we sat at the table and each did our own art things. That was before we changed and went to the pool where we relaxed by floating around looking up at the tops of the pine trees that were blowing in a breeze, despite the heat. I came home today because I didnt' want another hot day. Poor little Buddy had to get doused with water to cool him off. He prefers air conditioning.

head over heels?

Love? Nope! It was a guy wire to the kids badminton net that grounded me! In a flash. So fast, I had no sensation of falling. I was adjusting the hose for the watering mechanism and it continued to go back and forth over me while I was down for the count. I had to take a quick inventory to make sure nothing was broken or seriously wrenched. I was really lucky only to have bruises and a skinned knee to show for it - and getting soaked. This was a good hair day until then, I came out of the sprinkler area drenched and feeling pretty silly. No one else was home so there was no one to sympathize with my plight. I'm counting my blessings again. TYG

Saturday, August 9, 2008

uninvited guest


Wacko camp was crashed by an uninvited visitor two nights in a row. This is what it looked like.
Raccoons cannot be Wackos! No way!

Fuzzy ant


On one of our nature walks, Buddy and I discovered a yellow fuzzy ant. I have only seen it once in the park in Avery, but previously I have seen red ones in the Jackson, Amador County areas. I looked it up on line and found it is really a wingless wasp - and it stings. So, next time I'm looking for it, I won't be picking it up. Here is a photo from the web. I'm taking a better camera with me this week and maybe I can get a good shot of my own.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Wacko Camp






This past week was the summer Wacko Camp in the Sierras. Who are the Wackos? Well, Sally, Rosemary and Nancy have had this name for decades. And recently they have adopted a few of us art friends and other friends into the group. It's official now, I have been sworn in! We had a great time in the country, making art and then attending the White Pines Flea Market for art finds. We came back loaded with new art materials. But we also wore each other out. Here are some pics of Wacko Camp and also the original Wacko group.

Last night, after the others had gone home Sat evening, I had a night visitor in the form of a black bear. He had been out of the campground for a number of weeks and we all hoped he had moved on. But I guess he missed us, so he came back and raided the dumpster near my camper. I could actually see the dark figure from my window and could shine the flashlight so it would reflect in his eyes. He was after some left-over bacon I had thrown out. He's a clever bear. He can raise the wooden enclosure lids and lift out the garbage can so he can sort through it at leisure. When he had finished only the tastiest things in my garbage, he ambled away to the big steel campground dumpster, which he opened with a huge boom. There he helped himself before moving down the mountain to the next dumpster station. My dog, Buddy, slept through it all. If I wanted him to do anything I'd have to wait until morning. The last picture is the dumpster as the bear left it.