My Mess, eh, I mean work space

Debi yesterday was kind enough to comment that my work space was clean and neat...Oh the magic of editing! Here is the other side of my kitchen where I squirrel away all my supplies...its a chaotic mess. When push comes to shove, I just stack things under the table, to languish until I have torn apart the rest of the house and then finally remember that I had stashed it away.
Now shouldn't this be the clean and neat area, so we can have a pleasant and important family meal?
Amazingly I caught it without 3 cats lounging on the table.
I did go to the intuitive counselor yesterday with Heidi. It was fun..
Some highlights of what she told me...
1. My oldest son is very smart (yup, know that) and that right now he is focused on being social and making friends, but next year he will settle down and far exceed all expectations in school.
2. My youngest is unique (yup, knew that) and that among other things, he will never be happy in a 9-5 sitting at a desk job all day. and also that he loves things, the texture, color, uniqueness of things..Yup, I call him my little magpie, he brings home every bit of flotsam and jetsam that he comes across, we had to get a special jar just for his little bits...good to know there is a reason, beyond driving me nuts with it.
3. Asked me if I was happy where I lived because she saw a move in the next year or so. Hmmm, we are VERY happy where we are, but always keep an open mind and really, who knows what will happen.
4.Asked if I was doing anything different and new with my art, said yes, then she said to really go with it because she sees it taking off. ( a non starving artist possible?) She sees me traveling and taking classes....
I will keep every one posted!

My kids will be at my parents this weekend, and my husband and I will have some alone time. So see you all next week!

What my future holds

Yesterday I was visiting a dear friend of mine, and I came home with this painting I gave her a few years ago. She wants me to put hanging hardware on it. I also want to flatten it out a bit. It is painted on canvas board (I know, I know, I have learned) and it has warped a bit. So sitting here, looking at it,I am sooo trying not to re work it. There are changes I want to make. .... I put undercoats on 2 canvases last night. I can't decide which transfer to use, or if I am going to just paint some things that are in my head...
Decisions Decisions.

I am spending the day with my friend Heidi. We are going to see a psychic. I'll let you know what is in my future!!

GOt iT!

Sarah, smart Sarah knew the answer! A northern Shrike. New to me, and I guess rare here. on it's way north for the summer. The only predatory song bird....

In case you all were wondering...still painting!

What type of bird is this?

Ok, now that I have uploaded the picture, I realize that you all won't be able to see what I saw. Out on a walk this am, I saw a black and white bird. About 9 inches long, darting around the underbrush. When I stopped to pull my camera out, it went further into the shadows. If you look dead center in photo there is a spot of white. This is my bird. I have never seen a white bird in the area (not counting seagulls)

Sorry I have not been around, hip deep in organizing the house! Took a raw foods class. Obsessively pulling mint out of my garden. You know, the usual spring duties.

I have been painting. Will post something by the end of the week.

still here

I haven't been able to upload my pictures to Blogger. I am trying.
Anyone else? Off to get a new water heater.

Around Town

Well, I have been inspired by Bridgette and Susan. Since I am not painting that much right now, I have decided to show some of my favorite places to drive by/go to.
This first one is a private home in Bedford NH. It is an old brick Federal Farmhouse. The property has always exemplify to me that perfect New England 'Look" it is a rolling piece f property with mature trees. THe house fits very snugly in the land, not perched atop of it the way houses are now. It has a marvelous stone wall that in the spring is lined with daffodils and tulips. Later in the summer it is practically hidden by day lilies. I love day lillies. Some may think them a weed around here, but I love them.
Poor pictures, but I was too shy to get out of the car and take a really good picture! The next is right up the street in Bedford. It is the Bedford Village Inn. One of my Favorite restaurants! I actually haven't been in a while, but I'd be willing to go if anyone wanted to take me!
And then I went over the town line into the West Side of Manchester to OPUS (Other Peoples Used Stuff) a great little consignment shop. The two women who started this almost 2 years ago have a great eye for merchandising. They also sell local artists here. It is fun to browse in. As I am officially in the ranks of poor starving artist, that is all I do right now, is browse!

I have pictures of Mine and Michaels Trip to Portsmouth.(in his new little impuse buy, a convertible)

Ta Ta until next time!

.

Piece for the Mantle

I Finished a piece for the Mantle Test. Don't like the bit of blue violet I put in, May have to work on it today.
But I have a doctors appointment today, so I need to re organize my day. Thank goodness my kids are older. I feel so lucky on one hand that I can tell the oldest to walk home and the youngest that no one will be there when he gets home, so just hang for a while. On the other hand, what happened to my babies??
Can't think that way.

Something about Ty

This is my girl. The other one, Coco is EVERY ONES girl. But Ty is my girl. We (or rather, I ) rescued her about a year and a half ago. She was being given up by the family that had had her for all of her 5 years. She was an outside dog and I was told she never had a toy. I was also told that all she wanted was to be loved. "Well", I thought, "bring her here! All the toys and lovin' she could ever want!" It was a rocky start. She got off the truck from Kentucky and I was told that she had not eaten, drank or relieved herself in 3 days. As we walked her she would defaecate every few feet. All the while trembling and just being all around pathetic. (can you tell I am trying to garner sympathy at the start?)

She did not hit it off well with Coco when we brought her home. She needed to be crated whenever I wasn't around to control the situation.

After a few weeks they became a pack.But we did notice that she wasn't good around other dogs, both out on walks and in the house. Some (Like Lady, Sarah's golden,) she didn't particularly like, but tolerated, and Some (like Henry, Sarah's all American mix) she , umm, hates.

While on vacation, long story short, Henry got attacked by Ty and ended up in the emergency room. Lots of decisions that could have gone the other way. Henry is doing great, Sarah has recovered. Ty is thinking she saved the universe, and I am kind of coming to terms with it.

If you want the full blood story go HERE.

SO now I am faced with getting this little girl help. We had been the the behaviorist a few times, but the best we really got was "that is just the way she is" Now that answer is not good enough.

We saw a trainer this weekend at The Barking Dog. Her name is Kim and she was magical! Harry Potter Magical? No. She could speak their language and was able to tell me what was going on. Surprisingly, our Perfect Pooch Coco is part of the problem.

Needless to say we will be doing Dog whisperer type training around here for the next few months and then some.
I'll keep you all updated.

Getting back in to the artfull life

(Sorry about the flash, I was leaving and in a hurry to take the photos)

Husband & I went to Rosemary's opening last night. She looked great, there was a terrific turnout and we got to chat a bit. I think she is the new Sarah Jessica Parker. I had just finished watching the Oprah show which had the cast from the Sex in the City movie . The way the women went wild for SJP!! Well, Rosemary has her fans too I found out. It was great to see such excitement over her work. She has worked hard for this. Her images of animals are really touching, not in a sickly sweet saccharine way, they capture the essence of a personality, but not in a cute way, in an endearing and unique way. Chatted with her handsome husband, Chris (I swear he looks JUST like Tyrone Power) Chatted about chickens (he did confirm my husbands belief that they may be a bit too noisey for city life, my hopes for fresh eggs were dashed) and sheep shearing. They live on some acreage and have what you may call a gentleman's farm.

Saw Ann Trainor Domingue. Saw Sarah's Sister with her two little girls.

All in All a fun time was had by all.

I've been tagged!

Older piece. I feel is has a spring quality to it. I will paint a bit today. Tonight I am going to Rosemary's opening at East Colony Fine Art Gallery. This weekend is the BIG YARD CLEAN UP. And also the BIG GARAGE CLEAN UP. If you saw the condition of either you would understand the bold, capital letters!
I have been tagged by Bridgett at Contemplating the Moon to list 7 random or weird things about myself.
1.I have 11 cousins, all of them Boys (or rather Men now)
2. My nickname is Mim , because my mother thought long and hard when she was pregnant what an appropriate nickname for Michelle should be that wasn't like all the others (Shelley, Shell, Mich, Mitch..) So unlike earning nicknames thru behaviour or appearance, mine is based on a pregnant woman's folly!
3.My husband can get me to agree to anything by scratching my back.
4. I met my husband when we both worked at a ski shop while in college
5. I was on the ski team in college, very briefly. But quit because it infringed upon my Rowing time, I was also on the crew team (I was never an athlete before that)
6. But my brother is a professional athlete.
7. One of My distant cousins was Eddie Waitkus, a pro ball player that part of the story, The Natural Was based on.
So I in turn get to tag some people.
1. Sarah at A Rich Inner LIfe
2. Angelgurl at Confessions of a fallen Angel
3. Jen at Jens Dish
4. Mikkie at Painting About Life
5. Jenn at Noodle and Lou
6. Crabby Gabby
That's it, can't think of anyone else that hasn't been tagged by Bridgette.

I've got nothing

Take the Quiz here!

Shasta Daisy!

In the middle of the night I woke up and said "Shasta Daisy" That is what I planted last year in my empty space. Whew, mystery solved. I am having the hardest time to get back into the groove of creating. I have a list yea long (picture hands spread far, far apart) to get done, spring is always busy. And I had kind of packed everything away for the vacation, didn't want the house sitters tripping over everything. Now I am off to meet with Bindy, my trainer. (Ha, I love saying that, my trainer...I sound like Oprah) actually she is a friend who is also a trainer and she will be making a routine for me. New goal, lose the equivalent of one 4th grader.

Still getting combobulated

I made up that word. Sarah laughs when I make up words. Then she corrects me (I think that trait comes from her grandmother who was a school teacher) . I did nothing yesterday. I should probably change the title of this blog to "A painting once in a blue moon". I have a new canvas waiting to get started. I think it is gonna wait another day or so. as I left to take son #1 to school today, I saw that my Butterfly Magnolia had started to bloom! Sorry about the picture, I had to hold the camera over my head to get the shot of the one blossom that was opening. ( I am rather vertically challenged) Then I noticed in my absence that a whole manner of little green things had started to poke their heads up in my front garden. I must get out there this week and clean up the beds. I hate a messy garden. Well, ok, I like messy gardens, just for some reason not when they are mine. Well, I like mine messy when I need an excuse for not having cleaned it up. Well, especially at the end of the summer I HATE how it looks. Well, I guess it is that control thing of mine popping up.Well, most people will tell you I am not controlling. Well, I am.
Somewhat.

And here is where I need my friend Sarah. Super Sarah. I can always count on her to tell me what I have growing. You see I forget what I planted from the year before. Some things after a while I remember. Like the Lupins, and the Columbine. The dianthias (Sarah will correct me for spelling that wrong too, she is a big believer in that a real gardener knows the LATIN names of plants...hell, I can't even remember the common names) Now below is an example of what I forgot. I remember looking at the rather large empty space (hate empty spaces in gardens, which of course leads to messy gardens, which I hate, it's a vicious cycle I tell you!) I remember putting some little green things in ,or "Petite Greenious". Now I forgot what they were. (Forgetous absolutous...I'm liking this latin thing) Sarah will know, she will tell me. I know I make fun of her, but really, she is a great gardener (Planter Fabulousous?) And then I turned the corner to go in my back yard and couldn't believe my eyes!
There it was, as calm as anything. Eating my grass and young Daylillies.
So smug, not in the least bit ashamed.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

After being on the road for almost forty hours, we came home to this enthusiastic greeting from the cats. ( I wonder if they are going to hold a grudge?) But I also came home to this in my mail pile.
Which surprised me, I am not a subscriber (though I have often toyed with the idea, but read this blog post for reasons I don't subscribe.) In it was my friend Rosemary. She has been chosen to be one of their Renaissance Women. How exciting is that??!! It is a beautiful photo and a great article of her. I went to the magazines website only to find that it hadn't been updated. I think I have an advance copy. Rosemary must have had them sent to some of her collectors (smart woman) (see my Rosemary Conroy HERE). Yea, now I can relax, I haven't subscribed to magazines and then forgotten about it!
I will write about the trip later. I am bone tired-weary. I need to unpack, do laundry and get reacquainted with my life. There is nothing like a trip to make you appreciate your own life. I love my life! I think we are a family of homebodies! And that is just fine with us.
Oh, and there was the INCIDENT. Will be discussing that too in the near future.