Art has gone on line.

 Visual Artists are doing their thing, painting, taking classes ,  attending conventions, and selling their work.  I have signed up for a large on line convention next month.  Each day's activities run from 10 or 11 in the morning till 9 at night.  If you know me well now, I will fall asleep during  some of that and wake to watch more of it as best I can.  So I have put real thought into how to be present as much as possible.  All of you watching who paint or want to paint, consider this and join me there.

Anticipating attending Plein Air Live in April, it seems ironic to buy a new outdoor paint box for this totally online indoor event! Other art classes have worked well with a laptop  beside a big easel in the studio/library. But the idea of remaining in this stiffly upright position for 9 or more hours a day for three days does not appeal. Better to arrange painting and note taking in a comfortable recliner.

I love the gear and have eight pochade boxes, the favorites are Guerrilla’s. That is after parting with a number and does not include the Mabef French easel. My output of paintings does not come close to justifying the collection of gear.  This newest one is the Ugo medium size, tried out today. It feels wonderful in hand. The palette size is very small. This one could also work as a lap set up to paint in the front seat of my van. For comparison the guerrilla 6 x 8 thumb box has an even smaller footprint but is much bulkier.  All the boxes have different strengths.

TV providers were long ago discarded here for the large TV, which runs off a lap top by HDMI.  On the left is an Ott lamp for the canvas in my lap.  Also out of the way to the left  on a small table are drinking water, phone, TV controller, snacks and eyeglasses. A large junker towel covers my lap and both chair arms. 

To the right are the laptop and a jar of  water for the water washable oils, paper towels, and a note book.  Having the  large image visually directly over the canvas is a big plus.  (camera makes it small.)  

Let me know if any friends here are going too!   e

Thinking of wonderful winters past.

Snow is unusual in Fredericksburg. We had a big snow once when we lived on Cherry road. 

Our first shop on Cherry Road. We lived there 1980 till 1992.

When I was gone for a few hours, Jackie built a snow bear in the yard to surprise me.

Forty years ago.  

Ice hanging from my backyard studio, a great work space!

Red houses are always pretty in the snow. 

Our red cape in the country was beautiful in the snow also! Back door here.

I was about 65 here that seems young to me now!

My wonderful studio beside the red cape with a neat herb garden.

We loved our country life with room to plant 20 pecan trees and have a large garden and keep a few pet goats, they were white Cashmere and incredibly clean and sweet.  The second spring we had six kids and were overjoyed with them! Raised as lap goats, they were gentle and friendly and we loved interacting with them through out the day.

The kids loved to climb in Jack's lap and cuddle. Any time he would sit down near them, they would run to him for petting and play. 

When Maggie was born in an ice/sleet storm, her mother rejected her and kept only the larger twin brother, so Maggie was bottle raised, She was immediately understanding about house training and never one time made a mistake in the house.  I made many many trips outside with her as with a new puppy.

I have never loved any pet more than Maggie, with countless fine dogs and many dear cats and a number of horses long ago.

We lived in the tiny studio building while Jack rebuilt our cape house.

A sweet life.  e

Yes I know I have posted these before, happy times are worth revisiting!

90th Birthday

90 is a big one! I had a nice cupcake party in the front yard, super windy so masks were relaxed a bit for a few close shots. My brother attended by face time, and gorgeous flowers arrived from my sister and her family , right in the middle of the party. I am alone so much because of covid, so a party was awesome.

There is a certain feeling of "I made it!"

Lovely Granddaughter Sarah who has given me 4 great grands. I have a very large family, only a few here for the birthday visit, but I heard from many of the rest.

Masks off just a minute for a picture with great grandmother. A strong wind was blowing, see our sideways hair.

The man of the hour was here!

 

Same song different verse

 A fresh year is starting off with bright cold beautiful weather here in South central Texas.  Many of the same issues from 2020 will be with us yet a long time, so I am trying to re commit to making my own weather and experience good things as much as possible with friends and family.   This does not mean my head is in the sand over environmental, racial, political and medical issues, I am passionate on all of these!  So much I cannot fix, but that must not ruin what can still be good. So in that spirit I share here the daily pleasantries that hold my life together.  May it be a relief from doom scrolling.

My small space of nature is a joy in every season. Yesterday for a few hours we had snow falling mixed with a much needed rain. Tonight there will be a hard freeze.  With the house still lightly decorated for Christmas, I am enjoying all the sweet cherry tomatoes I can eat. This will be the last for a long while now, as I had drainage problems in the big pots on my sun porch, and the lovely big plants have now given out.  In the kitchen by a bright window there are two green tips in water, which I hope will  be tomato plants by February to plant fresh.  This favorite variety is Husky Cherry Red.

Today I cut the first of my broccoli heads, crisp green and beautiful! Cutting out the head in the center, allows more florets to form on the sides as a secondary gift from the same plant. 

Since I was alone on Christmas, being leery of even the most careful family gathering, decorating was kept to a few bright spots and one small tree.  My newest Izannah Walker doll is compatible with the one that came to me earlier this year and the two little sister dolls are sweet together. I will leave this tree up a few more weeks.

 And Bears just because they make me smile!

I flooded the house with music for the last several weeks. Two favorite Christmas albums of Pavarotti's rich voice rattled the rafters.  My favorite tenor Andrea Bocelli played day and night.  I even tried a little painting of him singing. I did not want to paint from another person's still photo so stopped a frame on a YouTube video to paint from that. 

 My brother and I watched a Christmas special of Bocelli's streaming,  Bro in Austin and me in Fredericksburg but feeling at least somewhat together in the experience..  My computer is my link to people and events.   Now in 2021, my great teacher in Taos plans to teach painting by Zoom.  I can hardly wait!    e

Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

 

Children do not learn nursery rhymes anymore.  My garden grows very well!  It is nip and tuck now dodging the first killing frost, the average date for which is November 10th.  The trees are dropping leaves, not a lot of color here because of drought.  But afternoons are bright and in the 70's.

Sugar snap peas are starting to climb, no blooms yet. That bare spot holds newly planted beet seeds. Boxes beyond hold young lettuce and spinach and then garlic chives.  

I prepared this box today and planted it with beets also.  I had some eggs that had gone past their date so I broke them and added them and other kitchen scraps to the soil as I was filling the container. The top layer is just miracle gro potting soil, which does well sprouting tiny seeds.  How happy the roots should be when they reach the enriched layer below. 

There are two large pots with tomato plants that were started late summer from cuttings, and they are full of tomatoes. These big pots will easily move inside with me to the sun porch at the threat of frost.

Another view of these second season tomatoes by the rain barrel..

These have been the three big ones, over my head now, still have a hundred little tomatoes that will not ripen by frost. I will blanket them a few times to hold off the cold as long as I can! Many of the ornamental bushes in my yard will stay green through the winter, like holly with berries for the birds, and my much loved magnolia tree, Little Gem.  My small yard is so much pleasure now that I am mostly homebound due to covid.  Penny called today to say she is planting strawberries in hanging baskets today.  Maybe next year I will try that.  e

Staying at home these days.

 I continue to enjoy my container garden these pretty fall days.  I hope to paint more soon. But lately I have been sewing for some of my early dolls.   This one is likely from the last quarter of the 18th century.

  Many years ago in a pile of scraps at Brimfield, an early brown and white print fragment caught my eye and came home with me for $7. One sleeve was torn away from the funny short garment and the brown dye had eaten many holes in the fabric, leaving it fragile as a cobweb. Now I know it was a short gown, an unlined everyday cotton garment from maybe 1800 It had a charming pleated fan tail in the back. I have finally made a jacket or short gown for one of my woodens. Phoebe is pleased enough with it, though she would have liked it to be a little snugger in the waist. Hooks and eyes close it in the front.

A perfect early sampler used for her apron is softly folded over a draw string and not pressed, out of respect for this nice old textile.

Picture taken before hooks and eyes added.

Phoebe is serious about her spinning.

The old day cap she wears will be replaced with a plainer one by and by.

The blue polished cotton was once the lining of a melting silk quilt.

The dolls are pleasant company but I also enjoy friends who visit in my yard, The weather here still allows that. Stay safe, edyth