knitting like a fiend

Sorry all, no art post today. I have been furiously knitting with Christmas approaching, so all my creative energy is being taken up with that right now. I do have a journal page that I will post soon. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It's been a month already!

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted last! The last few weeks have flown by. Working my new job has completely taken over my life..Pretty much I go to work, come home, eat dinner, do a few chores, get ready for the next day, then go to bed and do it all over again.

My Grandma is back in the hospital with a blood clot on her brain and one on her heart; it's very touch and go right now. So I talk with my Mom everyday after work also.

My energy has been very limited, and I feel badly that I've neglected some of my faraway friends. But I can only do so much. I'm trying to be gentle with myself, and take one day at a time..

fun with magazine photos

Saw this doggie photo in a magazine recently and just had to play with it. I did this page with my friend Dawn in mind, and used some of her drawing inspirations to do this. It was great fun just to sit and doodle on the page, making shapes and coloring. Just like a grownup coloring book!

This is a painting I did for my living room. I like the peaceful, flowing feel of it. In other news, my Grandmother is doing much better - it's been almost miraculous, her rate of recovery. She's improving a little bit each day. Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers.

good thoughts for Grammy

The painting above was birthday present for a friend of mine...

What's been happening in my life these past several days. My grandmother has had 3 strokes in six days. Miraculously, she's still with us, but has suffered significant damage. She is able to talk, but has widespread paralysis. Please send her good energy, say a prayer, whatever works for you. I feel so helpless here, so far away from my parents and grandmother on the east coast.

I also started my new job on Monday. I think it will work for me. It's started out very slow, but once I am able to get going, get calling on customers, it will improve. We'll see...

Here's a little something I did last week. It's not my favorite piece, but it was fun to do. I'm ready to get back to figure drawing. I don't want to lose the skills I gained in school. I need to do some investigating to find open studio times somewhere around town.

my walk today

A wooly bear caterpillar going about his day

A really cool tree trunk

An Osprey nest

A guaranteed blue heron sighting...on the mausoleum; go figure...

The beginning of the trail...

part way down the hill

view of the marsh

a beautiful complement of colors

the Willamette River

Today I walked the trail at Sellwood Park. It's hard to believe this is a city. Wild areas are everywhere! While I hiked, I saw all sorts of birds, most notably a little duck that was happily paddling away in a swampy area about 8 ft from me, and some great blue herons. There's something about those birds that fills me with awe every time I see one. Just gorgeous.

Decided I better take advantage of the beautiful sunny day we had and my last few days of freedom before I go back to work. I got my official offer today; I start on Monday. Yeah!