Another New Year

Our 2007 family portrait

Christmas is over and New Year's Eve is closing in. I have a love/hate relationship with the Holiday season.

I HATE the commercialism of it all. This year we gave mostly handmade by us or traded with other artist gifts. They were a hit!

I LOVE the family connection and the reflection on the year coming to an end. We went to see The Nutcracker ballet this year. My sister in law is the ballet mistress for the production in Las Cruces, NM. My brother started dancing in the production around 6 years ago. He's one of the uncles. It's so fun to see my heavy metal loving, musician brother dancing around to classical music. It's a little ironic! The show was amazing this year, we haven't been in about 5 years and they had all new costumes and sets. I love the ballet!

I LOVE looking forward to a fresh new year to start over and do things differently. I have many new goals and plans. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2008! Election year again, hopefully with better results this time!

I doubt we will celebrate New Year's Eve this year. I can't stay up that late anymore. Actually, I have no desire to stay up that late. I love sleep! I'm more of a morning person now than I was in my younger years. I like to get up early and enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning before anyone else is awake.

Happy New Year everyone!

Yay Monday!

After a long weekend of turkey and family, pie and pooping out(all day Sunday on the couch in front of the tv!), it's great to get back into the studio! I had planned to get at least one day of painting in, but of course that didn't happen. Actually, I did get into the studio for about an hour of painting on Saturday, while I waited to meet family for lunch. That doesn't really count though since I was just getting started when I had to stop!

I must say, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Lots of family, food, and football! We actually had the whole family together this year(except my dad, who we saw a week or so ago). I ate way too much, but it was all so yummy! The best part was, we went over to my in laws for dinner, so we didn't have to cook!

I LOVE my job! How many people can say they woke up excited about getting back to work this morning?! Even though Monday is my day to catch up on bookeeping, filing and all around office work, just being in the studio makes me happy!

I'm thinking about issuing some special edition prints for the Holiday season. Not neccessarily holiday art, but limited edition prints that will only be available until the end of the year. I also have many, many notecards to post in my Etsy shop. So keep an eye out for some fun new items in my shop in the next week or so.

Six days to go!

At my studio today. Taking a break from the Fair to ship out orders and rest a little. Aaron is out at the booth holding down the fort. Last night was his show at the boxcar stage, it went VERY well! The State Fair has been lots of fun, but very exhausting! This Sunday is the last day! Next week we will take it easy, in fact, Monday we plan to do nothing but sleep in and watch movies! I can hardly wait.

I've sold a couple more of the framed daily journal paintings!(Fire and Bold as Love) So, if you are interested in buying one, I suggest you do so soon! Of course I plan to make more.

I don't usually like to write much about my personal life here, but my two younger boys are giving me fits! Teenagers! They seem to think at 17 and 14 that they are ready to move out on their own! They don't even have jobs! So, along with spending 12 hour days at the fair, we've been coming home to arguments and hassles with the boys. We even had to call the police the other night and didn't get to bed until way past midnight! Aaron is about ready to kick the 17 year old out on his butt! It wouldn't be the first time! Actually, we did kick him out, but he came back a couple days later and "says" he'll follow the rules. We'll see!

Funny thing is, everything else in our lives is going wonderfully! I hate to wish away their childhood, but I am looking forward to having an empty nest! Why is it that teenagers think we are doing things to try to hurt them? I'm just trying to help them have an easier life, you know, graduate from high school, get a job, etc!! I've decided that they act this way so I WON'T miss them so much when they finally do grow up and move away. Anyway, sorry, but I had to vent about that!

Unfinished portrait

Today I'm working on a portrait that I started at least a year ago. To be completely honest, I don't remember when I started it. It was meant to be a gift for my mother in law and since today is her birthday, I decided to try finishing it up so I can give it to her.....FINALLY!! This is a portrait of one of my nieces. I have already given my mother in law portraits of my other niece and my two nephews. Now, of course, I have a new niece who just turned one, so I'm a little behind! Anyway, I guess it's better late than never! This started as a watercolor, but I decided to finish it with my new favorite...H2O oils.

In other news, I have to take my youngest son to the Dr. for an ultrasound today. He has a lump in his left breast that is most likely a cist, but the Dr. wants to be sure. So....keep some positive thoughts going for him please!