Good morning

Some days it just seems hard to get out of the sleep world and into the awake world.
I love the early morning hours, when it is still quiet, and dark, and the light slowly changes from dark to dawn to full day.
The seasons have changed also, although it seems more like April than March. Monday it snowed -- beautifully, heavy white flakes swirling, and now it's in the sixties and seventies for the rest of the week. I feel change coming.

Detail

Nicci Mechler's "Body positive" chunky book

Here's my contributions to the body positive book hosted by Nicci.
The batteries gave out on my camera, better pictures after recharging them!

Watercolor with wood grain textured background, pencil and charcoal drawing, polymer clay and fiber charm

One week later

I know I haven't posted much art lately, but I can't help it -- puppies and kitties are just soooo adorable!
Here is Tink after one week of joining our family. And she is as impish as she looks. I think having a dog is just a wonderful thing. And two is even better. I napped yesterday with one plastered to my front and one to my back. Who needs a blanket?

A new addition to the family!

Once again, we ended up at the animal shelter instead of the grocery store and this is what we brought home:




It was the honey colored, black ringed eyes that got to me, and before I knew it, I had a puppy on my lap in the car, and she promptly peed on me. Which is why we named her "Tink". I think she is going to be a little fire cracker and a nice addition to our family. Fiona is doing remarkably well with her, mothering and showing her how it works here. The cat, of course, is annoyed.

Voting in the primaries

I still feel a sense of elation and pride when I go out to vote. I cherish that right, I worked hard for it! Of course, here in M-town I get to vote in a picnic shelter at one of the local parks! Now THAT is priceless! Even better, I took the dog with me, and she was asked if she wanted to vote.
Here is a picture of voters standing in line at the picnic shelter:

If you can't laugh at yourself....

We had a fun girl's afternoon yesterday! Only the finest facials from Big Lots at 50 cents a piece. Featured are (left to right) Sweeties' Momma in Avocado and Aloe, Sweetie in Mud and Aloe, and me in Cucumber and Witchhazel.
Honestly, I think laughing is one of the best things in life....

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

... It is 3:30 am, and I can't sleep. That's highly unusual for me. Why???? You may ask? I certainly wondered. I had no orange juice on hand, but had these low carb fruit juice drinks that I like to drink. So I drank about 5 during the afternoon and evening -- only realizing about midnight that they had an energy booster in it! So, Zing! Out of bed, back to bed, out of bed, pace, to the potty, back to bed, doodle, listen to radio, read,repeat. I will try the TV next. That usually works.
Here are some of the doodles I doodled:


I like this one. Sometimes interesting stuff comes out with random intuitive doodling. I think I'll call it "Hag". I may use it in one of the decos I'm working on.


This one may have potential for that same project too. Lately I have been using bold frenzied strokes, especially apparent here.


And guess who can snooze any old time? Fiona. Only time I can actually attempt to draw her, because she doesn't move!

And here is what not to drink five bottles of:

Journal page

This is a journal doodle drawn on what it feels like to have a fever. Hot bands of red holding the body captive, surroundings are fiery hot.

I'm home in bed, sick again (or still) with a raspy cough and wheezing, neatly summed up under the nebulous title "URI" at the doctors. Another shot of antibiotics in the tushi, and more horse pills to swallow. Sigh.
Send orange juice.

We have a rather bizarre cat. She LOVES the bathroom! It is her personal domain. She likes to play in the bath tub, sits on the toilet like it was a throne, or takes a swim in the bowl, if we fail to close the lid. She likes to sit on the heater vent, and poke her little head out the door. When it is occupied, you can be sure that a little paw will reach underneath the door, fishing for the pants around your ankles. Today you can observe her lounging in the sink.
I wonder sometimes if she knows she's a cat.

Winter Sky

These are pictures taken yesterday afternoon in the play yard at work. A lovely blue sky, with a wintry sun shining, and a cool wind breezing. Just cold enough to wear a jacket. And there... the moon!

And yet, and yet
This very wind, the winter birds
The glory of the soft sunset,
Come there to me in words.
Claude McKay

Strep throat!!

That's what I got! Fever, roaring head, whole body aches, can't swallow, tongue looks white as a sheet -- quite miserable.
I made it to urgent care yesterday -- I was first in line! Got a huge ol' shot of antibiotics in my tuckus and some horse pills to take and a shot glass of liquid Motrin that tasted like manna from heaven and acted like it too. Bed is sanctuary and I'm resting and dozing and listening to book on tapes and making brief ventures out of the bed to sit up a bit. Doggy has hardly left my side and Sweetie has been fluttering about making sure that I drink lots of fluid and eat something. I'm lucky to have them.

Across the big pond, part 4

My camera really did not do it's usual fine job -- maybe it is time for a new one soon. I didn't get very many good pictures.
I visited my very favorite aunt Christa. She has the most beautiful, calming place. I called it "Oasis Christa". And it is. Peaceful, tranquil, regenerating. I always enjoy my visits there tremendously. Here is the view from her balcony:

Across the big pond, part 3

Here you can see the Bergmannskapelle give it their all for their annual Christmas concert. They had a blast, and so did the audience. Unfortunately, I had trouble with my camera, but you get the idea. Hurray for music in all it's forms and efforts!! :)

Across the big pond, part 2

We spend a wonderful afternoon at the Christmas Market in Freiburg. The sights and sounds and smells spelled only one thing: Weihnachten!


This is a detail of a life size, hand carved wooden nativity scene.


And here you can see ol' Santa taking a spin on the Merry-Go-Round.

Across the big pond

Papa asked me to spend Christmas with him. Well, when your Papa asks -- what else can you say but yes?
I left on December 18th from Knoxville at 11:00 in the morning and arrived the next day at 11:00am in Germany. I kept telling friends that I had to take a plane, a train, a bus and a donkey to get to my home town. Most people here said wide eyed: "Really?" and believed the part about the donkey, much to my amusement. Little did I know that I was not that far from the truth. Papa met me in Frankfurt at the airport, with tickets for the bullet train in hand. We had a little time before the train left, so we had a bite to eat. Ahhhh -- German Wienerle! Beats hot dogs hands down any time. Anyhow, we got on the train, I've forgotten how pleasant riding the rail system can be, made it to Freiburg in a couple of hours, where we had to wait for the regional train. Of course we had a beer while we waited. I had been traveling for a long while by then and was pretty tired and punchy. We got on the regional train, when Papa remarked "I left my bicycle at the train station!" Oh-oh.
I knew what that meant! There would be no bus ride home. We would have to walk with my hefty suit case, back pack and bicycle from the train station to home. It's a good mile and a half. So we arrived in my home town, Papa hefts my 50 Kilo suit case onto his bicycle and proceeds to push the bike (aka the steel donkey!) along. The weight gave him momentum and he clips along at a pretty good pace, me in tow with my back pack on wheels, and an ever widening gap between him and me. And it was bitter cold, and I was not exactly dressed for a trek like that. We arrived about a half hour later at Papa's place, me huffing and puffing, and shaking my head. That's my Papa! Heavens forbid he would ask someone for a ride!
But when we got there, there was a nice hot cup of tea for me and a "chraettimann" waiting. Papa had not forgotten how much I liked this local Christmas treat, a slightly sweet bread that you can only get at Christmastime. Made me smile all over. My Papa!

My magic wand from Ollivanders'

Wood type: holly Length: 11½ inches Core: Unicorn Hair get your own wand!

Swish and flick!

Weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6e3xow3iqk

15 heart pages

15 heart pages created for a chunky book collaboration, based on a poem by e.e. cummings.
Hosted by Nicci Mechler. I enjoyed this challenge and look forward to the returns.
Watercolor and stamped backgrounds, lace doily paper, ribbon and one of a kind polymer clay heart. On the back there is contact information and a secret pocket with a tiny painted wooden heart.

Rainbow Bridge Poem - Another Version
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, they go to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. Author unknown

For Sadie and Sarah (aka Cyd) Sadie is ill, and it looks like she may have to leave Sarah. She will be waiting at the bridge for you, dear friend.