I have also had a weird experience because of my exposure on the net too and I am feeling a bit over exposed . .so feel a need to cacoon for a while.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Taking a Breather
I am taking a breather. I have not been posting as much as I should and feeling a bit neglectful about that. But my life is very hectic right now. Aging, ill parents, kids, a husband who lost his job and starting his own business and my own career. So much going on that I need to pull back spending time in many places that just aren't mandatory and sorry to say this is one of them. I love all my faithful friends here and I thank you all for being there for me. I just might show back up here one day. . .but for now I need to pull back and devote time to only necessities. If any of you feel like it drop me a line by email. . .
I have also had a weird experience because of my exposure on the net too and I am feeling a bit over exposed . .so feel a need to cacoon for a while.
I have also had a weird experience because of my exposure on the net too and I am feeling a bit over exposed . .so feel a need to cacoon for a while.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Local Color - The Movie, Trailer Opening NY July 3rd LA July 31 2009
We are back. Just heard about this movie. It looks wonderful!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Here today Gone tomorrow!
We are off again. I will be gone from early morning on Sunday through Thursday. We are off to Lake Tahoe. My husband is doing a conference there and I well. . .I'll be hiking and reading and. . .drawing!
See when I get back!
Monday, August 17, 2009
We're Back! Sharing a recipe!
We're back from vacation. We had an incredible time.
This is my version of a bar I found. I actually changed it quit a bit. Hope you love it as much as I do. I am making it for a breakfast bar. . .but it's great just for snacking!
Dried Fruit and Nut Bars
• 1 cup pitted dates
• Vegetable Spray
• 1 ½ cup Old Fashioned Oats (finely grind ½ cup and leave the rest whole)
Or1 cup Quinoa flakes
• 1 cup pecans, almonds or walnuts (half finely ground, half coarsely ground)
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries (other dried fruit can be substituted)
• 2/3 cup raisins (other dried fruit can be substituted)
• 2 tablespoons oat bran
• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (can be omitted)
• 3-4 tablespoons brown rice syrup or honey
Preheat oven to 350 deg
1) Place dates in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat and drain water off dates.
2) Place dates in food processor with brown rice syrup or honey and blend until smooth. Set aside
3) Coat a 8 inch square pan with vegetable spray
4) Mix oats (or Quinoa flakes) nuts, dried fruit, oat bran, flaxseed, wheat germ and cinnamon (optional) in a bowl. Add the date mixture to this and blend really well.
5) Press the mixture into the sprayed pan. You can use wax paper or parchment paper to keep your hands from sticking
6) Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the edges are browned and center is very firm
ENJOY!
This is my version of a bar I found. I actually changed it quit a bit. Hope you love it as much as I do. I am making it for a breakfast bar. . .but it's great just for snacking!
Dried Fruit and Nut Bars
• 1 cup pitted dates
• Vegetable Spray
• 1 ½ cup Old Fashioned Oats (finely grind ½ cup and leave the rest whole)
Or1 cup Quinoa flakes
• 1 cup pecans, almonds or walnuts (half finely ground, half coarsely ground)
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries (other dried fruit can be substituted)
• 2/3 cup raisins (other dried fruit can be substituted)
• 2 tablespoons oat bran
• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (can be omitted)
• 3-4 tablespoons brown rice syrup or honey
Preheat oven to 350 deg
1) Place dates in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat and drain water off dates.
2) Place dates in food processor with brown rice syrup or honey and blend until smooth. Set aside
3) Coat a 8 inch square pan with vegetable spray
4) Mix oats (or Quinoa flakes) nuts, dried fruit, oat bran, flaxseed, wheat germ and cinnamon (optional) in a bowl. Add the date mixture to this and blend really well.
5) Press the mixture into the sprayed pan. You can use wax paper or parchment paper to keep your hands from sticking
6) Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the edges are browned and center is very firm
ENJOY!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
On Vacation!
Hey everyone I am off until Friday! We are going to Monterrey for the week! I am so excited. I need a vacation!
Have a wonderful week!
Have a wonderful week!
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Superior Scribbler and Bella Sinclair Awards!!
Superior Scribbler Award!
I am so honored Kelly who is a great writer and one of my favorite bloggers has awarded me a Superior Scribbler Award.
If you haven't already gotten to know her blog, go on over and check it out. You'll love her.
If you haven't already gotten to know her blog, go on over and check it out. You'll love her.
Here's the rules for the award
- Each Superior Scribbler must, in turn, pass the Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy buds.
- Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
- Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.
- Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List (!?) at the Scholastic-Scribe's blog. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honor!
- Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
Not only did I have the honor of receiving one award I had the honor of receiving two awards!
I got one from Ginger Nielson, who has been a wonderful friend of mine for a very long time. I am truly honored to call her my friend.
You can read about the history of this award here on Ces's blog. It was created by Ces in honor of her friend, Bella Sinclair, who tragically and suddenly lost her husband. Here is what Ces says about the award:
I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us.
I am passing on these awards to my blogger buddies. . .and long time friends. Go on over and check out their blogs.
Congratulations to all my fellow blog buddies! Awesome group!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Illustratin Friday - "Impatience"
Well I am thinking that this little boy will not be showing impatience to Newton his dog for knocking down the dominoes. . .he will be showing annoyance.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Illustration Friday - "Modify"
This is a single page from the book Newton and Me. I just finished illustrating it today!! Yay! The book is complete. There is relief and yet sadness that it is all finished. But I love this book so much.
I am thinking that the bird off to the left is going to have to modify his morning bath plans. . .what do you think?
Have a great week everyone!
I am thinking that the bird off to the left is going to have to modify his morning bath plans. . .what do you think?
Have a great week everyone!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Robert Duncan Studios. . .WOW!
My husband forwarded me this mans work. . .wonderful. It is not just the way he paints, not just the subject matter of his paintings, but also the way he has intertwines the personalities of each person and the feel of the moment.
http://www.robertduncanstudios.com/content/index.php?typidx=4
Enjoy!
http://www.robertduncanstudios.com/content/index.php?typidx=4
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sherry, Sherry Quit Contrary How Does Your Garden Grow?
I am an avid gardener. . .might show more of my yard later. I have done all the landscaping myself. I live in a city named Rocklin. . .we have huge rocks, some the size of a Volkswagon bug. . .seriously. Thus the name Rocklin. I even used a jack hammer a time or two to remove those huge rocks.
Though we live on 1/2 an acre some of it is on open space and I am not able to landscape that. I only have a small food garden on the side of my house but hope to expand it starting this fall. As you can see by the photos below I made a raised garden bed for my plants out of landscaping stones. I made the raised bed a couple of years ago when my husband was out of town on a job. It was a lot of work to get the ground level, hall the stones around the house to the side yard and get the stones laid properly, but it has been so worth it. This fall I plan on making another raised bed on the same side of the house. I am sooo excited!
This year I only planted grape tomatoes (which are huge for grape tomatoes) and yellow and red bell peppers. Next year I will plant less tomatoes. I have been getting about 2 gallons of tomatoes every other day. Giving a lot to my parents and friends. Next year I am going to try yellow zucchini. . .and maybe something else. Not sure.
Here is a big bowl of tomatoes I picked yesterday
I decided I needed to go in and get another bowl, so stopped by my studio to get the camera a take some pictures before I picked the rest.
My tomato plants grew so tall they have now bent over the cages from the weight and are creeping into the path.
The tree on the right is my Bing cherry tree and the one in the background is a Fuji apple tree. Wish I had an apricot tree and a nectarine tree too. . .maybe someday.
The part that is funny is the tomatoes are so huge you can't even see my shed, which is off to the right behind the cherry tree.
Here is a picture of my yellow and red bell pepper plants.
and here is a close up. I have a total of 11 peppers. I planted Marigolds beneath the tomatoes and peppers as they are great at keeping pest out.
Okay back to work. . .have to help my husband prepare a PowerPoint Presentation for two classes he is giving next month. . .should be fun.
Though we live on 1/2 an acre some of it is on open space and I am not able to landscape that. I only have a small food garden on the side of my house but hope to expand it starting this fall. As you can see by the photos below I made a raised garden bed for my plants out of landscaping stones. I made the raised bed a couple of years ago when my husband was out of town on a job. It was a lot of work to get the ground level, hall the stones around the house to the side yard and get the stones laid properly, but it has been so worth it. This fall I plan on making another raised bed on the same side of the house. I am sooo excited!
This year I only planted grape tomatoes (which are huge for grape tomatoes) and yellow and red bell peppers. Next year I will plant less tomatoes. I have been getting about 2 gallons of tomatoes every other day. Giving a lot to my parents and friends. Next year I am going to try yellow zucchini. . .and maybe something else. Not sure.
Here is a big bowl of tomatoes I picked yesterday
I decided I needed to go in and get another bowl, so stopped by my studio to get the camera a take some pictures before I picked the rest.
My tomato plants grew so tall they have now bent over the cages from the weight and are creeping into the path.
The tree on the right is my Bing cherry tree and the one in the background is a Fuji apple tree. Wish I had an apricot tree and a nectarine tree too. . .maybe someday.
The part that is funny is the tomatoes are so huge you can't even see my shed, which is off to the right behind the cherry tree.
Here is a picture of my yellow and red bell pepper plants.
and here is a close up. I have a total of 11 peppers. I planted Marigolds beneath the tomatoes and peppers as they are great at keeping pest out.
Okay back to work. . .have to help my husband prepare a PowerPoint Presentation for two classes he is giving next month. . .should be fun.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Illustration Friday - "Idle"
This is from the book I am currently illustrating "Newton and Me." The boy in this book is anything but idle. There is action on every page. . .love that!
Life and Photoshop
My Dad is doing much better. He had a blood transfusion because he was low, antibiotics because he had a bladder infection and an adjustment on medication. He is smiling and says he feels much better and can't figure out why they won't let him go home. . . :0) He will be having surgery in a month to have a small defibrillator put in, which should give us all a pit more assurance.
Just want to thank all those people who emailed me personally to offer encouragement and prayers. I really appreciate them all!
I have not been at the hospital with my Dad as much as I had thought. My Dad when he worked was a very hard worker and so he understands that deadlines are deadlines, so he told me only to come by for an hour or so a day and to keep myself up to date on my jobs. I have actually been there more like two or three hours a day. . .but it was nice of him to let me do my job here at home.
Thought I'd share a bit of Photoshop and my coming around to reality.
For a long time I painted every stroke. Even the large areas of color. For some reason I felt like if I didn't paint every stroke that I wasn't really painting or was being lazy. . . wrong! Now I look at it as being more efficient.
Now I use the paint bucket to fill. I use a smaller brush to outline the area, even if it is a small area like a shoe and then I fill in with the paint bucket. By using the smaller brush to outline I get more accuracy on the outlines and my using the paint bucket I save time.
Here are some samples. I put the line drawing on top so you could easily understand what I am talking about.
Here I have outlined the area:
Here I have filled in with the paint bucket. You can see there is still an area that was not filled and is left without color
That can easily and quickly be filled in with a large a paint brush like this.
Will be sharing more Photoshop things this week. . .Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Just want to thank all those people who emailed me personally to offer encouragement and prayers. I really appreciate them all!
I have not been at the hospital with my Dad as much as I had thought. My Dad when he worked was a very hard worker and so he understands that deadlines are deadlines, so he told me only to come by for an hour or so a day and to keep myself up to date on my jobs. I have actually been there more like two or three hours a day. . .but it was nice of him to let me do my job here at home.
Thought I'd share a bit of Photoshop and my coming around to reality.
For a long time I painted every stroke. Even the large areas of color. For some reason I felt like if I didn't paint every stroke that I wasn't really painting or was being lazy. . . wrong! Now I look at it as being more efficient.
Now I use the paint bucket to fill. I use a smaller brush to outline the area, even if it is a small area like a shoe and then I fill in with the paint bucket. By using the smaller brush to outline I get more accuracy on the outlines and my using the paint bucket I save time.
Here are some samples. I put the line drawing on top so you could easily understand what I am talking about.
Here I have outlined the area:
Here I have filled in with the paint bucket. You can see there is still an area that was not filled and is left without color
That can easily and quickly be filled in with a large a paint brush like this.
Will be sharing more Photoshop things this week. . .Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Update on Life
My Dad had a massive heart attack this last March. . .We spent 11 days in the hospital with him, sleeping on a window seat that was not 5'8 1/2". . .I can testify to that. He has been doing good until. . .
Yesterday when he fell.
He had fasted for a blood draw. When Mom was taking him to the lab he got so weak he couldn't walk. He told her he felt weak and shaky. Mom said he was visibly shaking. She decided to take him to the doctors office first, when they got there Dad just collapsed on the floor in the patient room. They rushed him to Emergency and he and we were there for several hours. The doctor did blood work and urine tests and said when he stabilized he could go home. Seemed quick and a bit to easy too me. . .especially for a man with congestive heart failure.
Mom took Dad home, gave him a sandwich. . .he only ate half as he said he wasn't too hungry. They had given him a sandwich in ER and he only ate half there too. She said he was tired so he took an nap. He got up from his nap and fell again! He was shaking again, weak and couldn't get up. Scared Mom really badly. So she called me and then the ambulance. We were there until late last night.
The original doctor who released him the first time was there to see Dad re-admitted to the ER again. . .and feel embarrassed. Hard way to learn a lesson. . .
They did xrays, blood tests and one test where they had him stand up and sit to see what it did to his blood pressure. It dropped 25 points, so they said that might have been what caused him to fall. . .or pass out. He has been walking a mile a day with his cane so they think that perhaps he doesn't need as much medication.
Today Mom called, I will be going in later as I have a deadline, and she said they told her he had a heart attack and sustained some more damage. Poor Dad, he just wants to go home. . .and so does Mom. She broke down and wept yesterday on the second trip to ER. Dad didn't see her.
He will be there up until possibly Tuesday for medication adjustment and evaluation.
Just an update and letting you know I probably won't be around much for the next five days or so.
Yesterday when he fell.
He had fasted for a blood draw. When Mom was taking him to the lab he got so weak he couldn't walk. He told her he felt weak and shaky. Mom said he was visibly shaking. She decided to take him to the doctors office first, when they got there Dad just collapsed on the floor in the patient room. They rushed him to Emergency and he and we were there for several hours. The doctor did blood work and urine tests and said when he stabilized he could go home. Seemed quick and a bit to easy too me. . .especially for a man with congestive heart failure.
Mom took Dad home, gave him a sandwich. . .he only ate half as he said he wasn't too hungry. They had given him a sandwich in ER and he only ate half there too. She said he was tired so he took an nap. He got up from his nap and fell again! He was shaking again, weak and couldn't get up. Scared Mom really badly. So she called me and then the ambulance. We were there until late last night.
The original doctor who released him the first time was there to see Dad re-admitted to the ER again. . .and feel embarrassed. Hard way to learn a lesson. . .
They did xrays, blood tests and one test where they had him stand up and sit to see what it did to his blood pressure. It dropped 25 points, so they said that might have been what caused him to fall. . .or pass out. He has been walking a mile a day with his cane so they think that perhaps he doesn't need as much medication.
Today Mom called, I will be going in later as I have a deadline, and she said they told her he had a heart attack and sustained some more damage. Poor Dad, he just wants to go home. . .and so does Mom. She broke down and wept yesterday on the second trip to ER. Dad didn't see her.
He will be there up until possibly Tuesday for medication adjustment and evaluation.
Just an update and letting you know I probably won't be around much for the next five days or so.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Gorgeous Ocean Photography - Clark Little
Check out this guys wonderful ocean photography!! Awesome!
http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/gallery/
http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/tour.php
Enjoy!
http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/gallery/
http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/tour.php
Enjoy!
Friday, July 17, 2009
NASA’s Top 50 House Plants For Fresher Air
I try to be as healthy as I can. I started to try to live healthier when I first started thinking about getting pregnant with my first child. . .my son is now 24years old. Prior to that I had been kind of a candy-aholic and really didn't understand nutrition much. I still falter at times, but in general I am really healthy.
For the last six months I have started to think about adding indoor plants to out home. The part that is curious is that when I was younger and didn't eat so healthy I had tons of house plants. . .maybe 20 or more. All of those plants died on our move from Oregon to California, 24 years ago. I was so sad but didn't replace them. . .I mean I do have one plant right now, but that leaves 19 more to replace. I will now do that gradually over time.
My parents just moved here last year. They lived on 5 acres in Oregon at the base of Mt Hood for 40 years and well, I guess that shows how much my Mom loves the outdoors. At one time she had a garden that was half an acre. Her current yard is small, perfect for her now, totally landscaped and really needs no new plants, but I have wanted to show her three wonderful nursery's in our area for a long time. One of the nursery's has a large selection of incredibly healthy house plants, so I am thinking that I will take her on the nursery tour really soon.
The whole gist of this post is to share what I have learned about the great benefit of indoor plants and a healthy environment. NASA did a study some twenty years ago about indoor plants and their benefits. . . I found a wonderful website that really puts all this into a nutshell.
Here is a link
http://www.flowershopdeals.com/blog/archives/345
I copied this chart for you. . .so if you're going to a nursery you can just click on it, copy and paste it into a document and print it out.
For the last six months I have started to think about adding indoor plants to out home. The part that is curious is that when I was younger and didn't eat so healthy I had tons of house plants. . .maybe 20 or more. All of those plants died on our move from Oregon to California, 24 years ago. I was so sad but didn't replace them. . .I mean I do have one plant right now, but that leaves 19 more to replace. I will now do that gradually over time.
My parents just moved here last year. They lived on 5 acres in Oregon at the base of Mt Hood for 40 years and well, I guess that shows how much my Mom loves the outdoors. At one time she had a garden that was half an acre. Her current yard is small, perfect for her now, totally landscaped and really needs no new plants, but I have wanted to show her three wonderful nursery's in our area for a long time. One of the nursery's has a large selection of incredibly healthy house plants, so I am thinking that I will take her on the nursery tour really soon.
The whole gist of this post is to share what I have learned about the great benefit of indoor plants and a healthy environment. NASA did a study some twenty years ago about indoor plants and their benefits. . . I found a wonderful website that really puts all this into a nutshell.
Here is a link
http://www.flowershopdeals.com/blog/archives/345
I copied this chart for you. . .so if you're going to a nursery you can just click on it, copy and paste it into a document and print it out.
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