WATERCOLOR PENCILS & INK
I am so lucky to have a gentleman who delivers fresh organic delicious eggs to my door and fresh produce in the summer from the nearby farm he and his wife own.
I thought a fun little card would make them smile...:)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
POINSETTIA DAY & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
POINSETTIA DAY & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
DECEMBER 12TH IS NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY....I love them and this is my tribute.
Journal Entry
All done with Watercolor Pencils and Ink
I am halfway through this journal...:) Note the seam in the flower...:)
The watercolor pencils used were Derwent Inktense, Albrecht Durer, and Staedtler.
POINSETTIA FACTS
* Poinsettias are native to Mexico.
* The Aztecs called the poinsettia Cuetlaxochitl. They made a reddish purple dye from the bracts.
* Chile and Peru called the poinsettia the "Crown of the Andes."
* Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap.
* Some people may have skin irritation from the milky sap
* In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall.
* The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).
* Poinsettias are priced according to the number of blooms. The more blooms, the more expensive the plant.
* The flowers or cyathia of the poinsettia are in the center of the colorful bracts.
* Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.
* Poinsettias are not poisonous.
* A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache.
* Poinsettia sap that can irritate the skin and cause an upset stomach if consumed in large enough quantities.
* A fresh poinsettia is one on which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts. Plants that have shed their pollen will soon drop their colorful bracts.
* Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of the potted plant sales during the holiday season.
* Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.
* In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, mentioned poinsettia plants in his writings.
* Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.
* Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states.
* California is the top poinsettia producing state.
* December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
* The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 80 percent of poinsettias in the United States for the wholesale market.
* Ninety per cent of all the flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch.
* There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available.
* $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during the holiday season.
* Seventy-four percent of Americans still prefer red poinsettias; 8 percent prefer white and 6 percent pink.
* Eighty percent of poinsettias are purchased by women.
* Eighty percent of people who purchase poinsettias are 40 or older.
* Poinsettias are the best selling flowering potted plant in the United States. In 2004 over 61 million plants were sold.
* Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant even though most are sold in a 6 week period.
* An NCCA Bowl game in San Diego is named the Poinsettia Bowl.
* Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.
DECEMBER 12TH IS NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY....I love them and this is my tribute.
Journal Entry
All done with Watercolor Pencils and Ink
I am halfway through this journal...:) Note the seam in the flower...:)
The watercolor pencils used were Derwent Inktense, Albrecht Durer, and Staedtler.
POINSETTIA FACTS
* Poinsettias are native to Mexico.
* The Aztecs called the poinsettia Cuetlaxochitl. They made a reddish purple dye from the bracts.
* Chile and Peru called the poinsettia the "Crown of the Andes."
* Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap.
* Some people may have skin irritation from the milky sap
* In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall.
* The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).
* Poinsettias are priced according to the number of blooms. The more blooms, the more expensive the plant.
* The flowers or cyathia of the poinsettia are in the center of the colorful bracts.
* Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.
* Poinsettias are not poisonous.
* A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache.
* Poinsettia sap that can irritate the skin and cause an upset stomach if consumed in large enough quantities.
* A fresh poinsettia is one on which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts. Plants that have shed their pollen will soon drop their colorful bracts.
* Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of the potted plant sales during the holiday season.
* Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.
* In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, mentioned poinsettia plants in his writings.
* Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.
* Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states.
* California is the top poinsettia producing state.
* December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
* The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 80 percent of poinsettias in the United States for the wholesale market.
* Ninety per cent of all the flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch.
* There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available.
* $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during the holiday season.
* Seventy-four percent of Americans still prefer red poinsettias; 8 percent prefer white and 6 percent pink.
* Eighty percent of poinsettias are purchased by women.
* Eighty percent of people who purchase poinsettias are 40 or older.
* Poinsettias are the best selling flowering potted plant in the United States. In 2004 over 61 million plants were sold.
* Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant even though most are sold in a 6 week period.
* An NCCA Bowl game in San Diego is named the Poinsettia Bowl.
* Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.
Friday, December 11, 2009
POINSETTIA DAY
POINSETTIA DAY
TOMORROW, DECEMBER 12TH IS NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY....I love them and this is my tribute.
Journal Entry
All done with Watercolor Pencils and Ink
I am halfway through this journal...:) Note the seam in the flower...:)
The watercolor pencils used were Derwent Inktense, Albrecht Durer, and Staedtler.
TOMORROW, DECEMBER 12TH IS NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY....I love them and this is my tribute.
Journal Entry
All done with Watercolor Pencils and Ink
I am halfway through this journal...:) Note the seam in the flower...:)
The watercolor pencils used were Derwent Inktense, Albrecht Durer, and Staedtler.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Made cookies today....Pumpkin/oatmeal/raisins/nuts/coconut....yummy!
Used applesauce for some of the butter and Splenda for most of the sugar...turned out great!
Used applesauce for some of the butter and Splenda for most of the sugar...turned out great!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
THE JOY OF PEANUTS
Journaling memories seems to be my focus...:)
Grandpa built his ranch from scratch on a hill in Oakdale, Ca. which is about 2 hours due east of San Francisco, in the San Joaquin Valley, 2 hours south of Sacramento. He raised 4 kids there....through the depression, wars and etc...My mom tells of having bread and milk for dinner a few times in the 30's...it was rough for everyone in those days I think. He never lived in the south where peanuts are mostly grown,...but liked to grow all sorts of things and tried many experimental and innovative things....plus a lot of ''old fashioned things'' he grew a few Kiwi years before most people in the US even heard of them...:) More ideas for journaling...:)
Grandpa built his ranch from scratch on a hill in Oakdale, Ca. which is about 2 hours due east of San Francisco, in the San Joaquin Valley, 2 hours south of Sacramento. He raised 4 kids there....through the depression, wars and etc...My mom tells of having bread and milk for dinner a few times in the 30's...it was rough for everyone in those days I think. He never lived in the south where peanuts are mostly grown,...but liked to grow all sorts of things and tried many experimental and innovative things....plus a lot of ''old fashioned things'' he grew a few Kiwi years before most people in the US even heard of them...:) More ideas for journaling...:)
SUNDAY
A very nice quiet day....mostly spent drawing and painting pages in my journal that I am making for the class I am taking...although it is really for me and whoever else might enjoy it...:)
It is becoming one of childhood memories...at least that seems to be where I am ''led'' to focus for now.
Babysitting with Lia is really fun...I was with her Friday night while her parents went to dinner and the Ballet, and then again for a few hours Saturday while her parents took their dog Brandi to the vet for an exam of the lump on her leg. She is expected to have surgery. I was hoping it would go away but it hasn't and the vet doesn't want to wait too long....:(
It is becoming one of childhood memories...at least that seems to be where I am ''led'' to focus for now.
Babysitting with Lia is really fun...I was with her Friday night while her parents went to dinner and the Ballet, and then again for a few hours Saturday while her parents took their dog Brandi to the vet for an exam of the lump on her leg. She is expected to have surgery. I was hoping it would go away but it hasn't and the vet doesn't want to wait too long....:(
''HOMEMADE BUTTER'' CHURNS
Two pages from my journal...
Note...Butter from soured cream(not like the ''Sour Cream'' we buy in the stores now...)...may have been a German thing since my grandmother was from a German background. I don't know...my other grandmother made it from fresh cream, and she was Welsh/English.
Note...Butter from soured cream(not like the ''Sour Cream'' we buy in the stores now...)...may have been a German thing since my grandmother was from a German background. I don't know...my other grandmother made it from fresh cream, and she was Welsh/English.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
THE POPCORN PATCH
Grandpa grew many things on his farm...many things were just to delight the children around him...and himself....he never grew to be ''old''....he was always a ''kid at heart''...:)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
THE LAST TREE
This is a very poor scan...don't know why my scanner wouldn't cooperate...tried several times.
This is a ''memory'' tree of the Grand Fir. They are the tallest of all silver firs. The foliage when bruised gives the strong scent of oranges.
It generally grows on the coast of northern California, all the way up to Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Also seen in the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains.
You seldom see ''cones'' from this tree, as they are all hidden in the very top of only trees that are about 200 ft. tall and are over 100 years old...plus they disintegrate on the tree.
This is a ''memory'' tree of the Grand Fir. They are the tallest of all silver firs. The foliage when bruised gives the strong scent of oranges.
It generally grows on the coast of northern California, all the way up to Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Also seen in the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains.
You seldom see ''cones'' from this tree, as they are all hidden in the very top of only trees that are about 200 ft. tall and are over 100 years old...plus they disintegrate on the tree.
Wednesday...
Tried an experimental painting using Liquid acrylic ink, dropped onto wet paper and then tipping the paper, blowing on it and letting colors blend....then used both black and white ink pens to ''find'' poinsettias,,trying for a Christmas card.....not happy with it yet...but there are good things about it...:)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
TUESDAY
A busy day today....had an early Thanksgiving lunch with some of my neighbors...and still working on covering an Art Journal....and getting some assignments done for my Art Journaling class that started yesterday.
I have so many ideas for journals, it is hard to even BEGIN!
Do I want to do memories, or my life,... in journal form, or something about music...or all the jobs I ever held...or Nature, places I have Lived...., Wildflowers, Trees, Animals I have had, life on the farm, cooking and recipes, Gardening...Poetry and Haiku...Childhood,..my experiences with children, mine and all the foster children I helped to raise,....so many interests ...and now am thinking to just combine everything...otherwise I will have 20 journals started and none complete....:)
I have so many ideas for journals, it is hard to even BEGIN!
Do I want to do memories, or my life,... in journal form, or something about music...or all the jobs I ever held...or Nature, places I have Lived...., Wildflowers, Trees, Animals I have had, life on the farm, cooking and recipes, Gardening...Poetry and Haiku...Childhood,..my experiences with children, mine and all the foster children I helped to raise,....so many interests ...and now am thinking to just combine everything...otherwise I will have 20 journals started and none complete....:)
THE FIRST PAGE
THE FIRST PAGE
This is for the Art Journaling class I am taking online from Cathy Johnson.
Watercolor & Ink on Chiri Unryu paper.
This is for the Art Journaling class I am taking online from Cathy Johnson.
Watercolor & Ink on Chiri Unryu paper.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday Morning....:)
Today is an organizing day...yesterday I pulled a lot of stuff out of my storage closet that has not been unpacked since last May...when I moved from California to Michigan....:) Christmas decorations, sewing supplies, fabrics, art papers and supplies and much more.
I also start my Art Journaling ...Watercolor Journaling class today...so it will be a fun day...:)
I also start my Art Journaling ...Watercolor Journaling class today...so it will be a fun day...:)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
AHAAA
I see the Blog time is 3 hours ahead...still on California time...if I cannot correct it somewhere, I just want it to go on record that I am usually not writing at 4 AM....:)
SUNDAY MORNING..WHAT TIME IS IT?
I AM WRITING THIS AT 12:05 MY TIME...MICHIGAN...EASTERN...WHAT TIME IS MY BLOG COMING UP WITH?
SUNDAY MORNING...SUNDAY!
So here I am this morning...caught up with my blog..:)
The name of my blog is "NOW'' which reminds me I want to be ''in this moment''....and I AM!
My plan today is to finish covering my journal and posting a picture of it here...so I am off to do that...:)
The name of my blog is "NOW'' which reminds me I want to be ''in this moment''....and I AM!
My plan today is to finish covering my journal and posting a picture of it here...so I am off to do that...:)
SUNDAY MORNING.....SATURDAY
Yesterday, I spent the whole day totally involved with covering a small binder to use as a journal for my Journaling class with Cathy Johnson online beginning Monday.
The binder is 10x7 inches and was the old blue cloth type. Don't know how long I have had it, but the price sticker inside said ''Sprouse Reitz $2.95''. I think I have had it for at least 20/30 years.
I first covered it with my oriental paper..'unryu'. I used Modpodge.
I painted a Watercolor and Ink Butterfly on the same paper...used a little glitter and the Modpodged it to the cover...along with the word "JOY"...on top of a piece of ''decorative music''.
I still have to line the inside of the cover, but so far am very happy with my results...:)
Of course to do this I dug out all sorts of art/craft supplies....and also got into sorting pens, pastels and so on...between letting layers of Modpodge dry on my Journal,....however I located all my Calligraphy and decorative writing books... and have put them all together...and went through all my calligraphy pens and supplies....and I have much more than I remembered!...:) Happy surprise!!
So it was a fun day...any day spent organizing art supplies, and creating art is a fun day...:)
The binder is 10x7 inches and was the old blue cloth type. Don't know how long I have had it, but the price sticker inside said ''Sprouse Reitz $2.95''. I think I have had it for at least 20/30 years.
I first covered it with my oriental paper..'unryu'. I used Modpodge.
I painted a Watercolor and Ink Butterfly on the same paper...used a little glitter and the Modpodged it to the cover...along with the word "JOY"...on top of a piece of ''decorative music''.
I still have to line the inside of the cover, but so far am very happy with my results...:)
Of course to do this I dug out all sorts of art/craft supplies....and also got into sorting pens, pastels and so on...between letting layers of Modpodge dry on my Journal,....however I located all my Calligraphy and decorative writing books... and have put them all together...and went through all my calligraphy pens and supplies....and I have much more than I remembered!...:) Happy surprise!!
So it was a fun day...any day spent organizing art supplies, and creating art is a fun day...:)
SUNDAY MORNING...FRIDAY
Amazing that November is speeding by with such gusto!
I missed my last two days of posting...but I was having a wonderful time.
Friday, Michelle and Lia and I visited a nearby charming shop called ''The American Sampler'', which was having their yearly open house, filled with Christmas Decorations and other goodies, plus a huge table filled with snacks, canapes, and such. Didn't stay long because it was one of those ''look with your eyes'' stores for Lia and that doesn't last long with a 2...almost 3 year old.
We were on our way to lunch in the quaint, nearby township of Ada....which means driving along the Thornapple River for 5 or so miles....always a welcome sight and drive.
I love living on the Thornapple River...well it's a block away....I even like the sound of the name of it.
We had a wonderful lunch at the Thornapple Daily Grill, which is quite a ''high end'' looking place and the food is also quite good...unlike I might expect in a ''grill''
I had a salad with their house dressing which was a superb ''Sticky Chardonney Vinaigrette''
It was a lovely day.
I missed my last two days of posting...but I was having a wonderful time.
Friday, Michelle and Lia and I visited a nearby charming shop called ''The American Sampler'', which was having their yearly open house, filled with Christmas Decorations and other goodies, plus a huge table filled with snacks, canapes, and such. Didn't stay long because it was one of those ''look with your eyes'' stores for Lia and that doesn't last long with a 2...almost 3 year old.
We were on our way to lunch in the quaint, nearby township of Ada....which means driving along the Thornapple River for 5 or so miles....always a welcome sight and drive.
I love living on the Thornapple River...well it's a block away....I even like the sound of the name of it.
We had a wonderful lunch at the Thornapple Daily Grill, which is quite a ''high end'' looking place and the food is also quite good...unlike I might expect in a ''grill''
I had a salad with their house dressing which was a superb ''Sticky Chardonney Vinaigrette''
It was a lovely day.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday
I read something referring to ''spoiling'' children the other day, and today I was thinking about it and whether it is possible to ''spoil'' a child.
Most people who talk about ''spoiling'' children are speaking of giving them too much in the way of material things, or letting them have their way too often and such. I have even heard them refer to them as ''spoiled rotten''!
Give me a break!
The meaning of the word ''spoiled'' in this usage has to do with harm and impairment.
You can't harm a child with too much....but you can harm them with too little.
By that I mean too little attention, love and caring.
You can harm them by abusing them.
These are the things that ''spoil'' a child.
Most people who talk about ''spoiling'' children are speaking of giving them too much in the way of material things, or letting them have their way too often and such. I have even heard them refer to them as ''spoiled rotten''!
Give me a break!
The meaning of the word ''spoiled'' in this usage has to do with harm and impairment.
You can't harm a child with too much....but you can harm them with too little.
By that I mean too little attention, love and caring.
You can harm them by abusing them.
These are the things that ''spoil'' a child.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
KITTEN & DAISIES
This is a 1986 photo of one of my daughter's kittens....I always thought it was a sweet kitten, and cute photo. Here it had already pulled down one of the daisies....:)
Tuesday...November 10
Tuesday...November 10
OH Lovers!...
Who are you looking for?...
OH Lovers!...
Where are you going?...
Who are you looking for?...
Your Beloved is right here......Rumi
Monday, November 09, 2009
Monday..
Three things that bring people...groups...strangers...races...nationalities together...:)
Art.....Music.....and Food....:) My favorite things...:)
Art.....Music.....and Food....:) My favorite things...:)
Sunday, November 08, 2009
POINSETTIA
Last year's Christmas Card...:) I painted it with Watercolor and Ink.
Thinking about Christmas cards for this year...and can't seem to come up with an idea...maybe when the snow falls I could do a snow scene...:)
Thinking about Christmas cards for this year...and can't seem to come up with an idea...maybe when the snow falls I could do a snow scene...:)
Pot of Soup...OR..." Soup Unlimited "
I made myself a large pot of vegetarian soup today that was extremely delicious!
It is one big pot....and filled with fiber and nutrition!..Can be frozen.
Saute in olive oil...onion, celery, bell pepper, and 8 crushed cloves of garlic.
Add broth and water.
Add cut up into chunks and chopped.....red potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, green beans, peas, spinach.....and/or any combination....I would have used bok choy if I had some.
1/2 to 1 cup pearl barley
1 cup lentils
(Any beans, grains or legumes could be added.)
1/2 to 1 Cup coconut milk
1-2 T Fish Sauce(vegans leave this out and double the Soy sauce)
1-2 T Lt Soy Sauce
2-3 Bay leaves
1 teas onion powder
dash to taste of red pepper flakes
Ground black pepper
2 T dried parsley...or fresh
1-2 teaspoons Madras curry powder(a must have at least one teas.)Does not make it taste like curry.
Salt to taste.
Simmer about 45 minutes...best next day...:)
It is one big pot....and filled with fiber and nutrition!..Can be frozen.
Saute in olive oil...onion, celery, bell pepper, and 8 crushed cloves of garlic.
Add broth and water.
Add cut up into chunks and chopped.....red potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, green beans, peas, spinach.....and/or any combination....I would have used bok choy if I had some.
1/2 to 1 cup pearl barley
1 cup lentils
(Any beans, grains or legumes could be added.)
1/2 to 1 Cup coconut milk
1-2 T Fish Sauce(vegans leave this out and double the Soy sauce)
1-2 T Lt Soy Sauce
2-3 Bay leaves
1 teas onion powder
dash to taste of red pepper flakes
Ground black pepper
2 T dried parsley...or fresh
1-2 teaspoons Madras curry powder(a must have at least one teas.)Does not make it taste like curry.
Salt to taste.
Simmer about 45 minutes...best next day...:)
Saturday, November 07, 2009
GRANDPA'S BARN
GRANDPA'S BARN....from Memory...not to scale...:)
My grandpa was a carpenter, and fruit and nut rancher. He built 2 homes on his ranch and a barn, a shop and fig packing shed and an almond huller(with the help of his son). He raised 4 children on his beautiful ranch in Oakdale, California...a couple of hours due east of San Francisco.
He was a wonderful grandfather and loved to laugh and have fun with us, playing games, teasing, joking and always smiling.
He was a big man with a booming bass voice that you could hear outside the church when he sang in the choir. He was a fantastic singer! He could immediately sing the bass part in any song with any group.
He started his ranch from nothing...on a hill...and ended up with large almond and fig orchards...spreading over sloping acreage...looking very Mediterranean. As a child I probably loved to go to ''The Ranch'' more than anyplace...I always had fun. I lived on a ranch too...but we had a lot of animals to care for and there was always a lot of work. At Grandpas, I could play.
This picture came about because of a comment from Milagrosuegp about my ''Austrian'' Copper rose. She reminded me of the old ''Belle of Portugal" rose that climbed up the side of grandpa's barn...when in full bloom the whole side of the barn was PINK!...and the fragrance was heavenly.
I will never forget the fragrances of the roses mingled with the hay and straw stored in the barn...I went there a lot to look for kittens from the barn cats.....I was the ''official'' kitten finder and tamer...:) If you have never had the experience of the sweet smell of kittens nested in straw, you have really missed something very special.
This is a quick sketch to ''capture'' Grandpa's Barn....It is not to scale and my perspective is off...since the barn was a very large one...not illustrated by my sketch. Grandpa always kept his barn neat and painted white. One one side he kept his John Deere tractor, and other farming machinery. The other side was for milking a few cows he kept for milk for the family. Grandma also made butter and cheese from the milk.
The fig orchards started near the left side of the barn and the almonds were on the right. There were 3 almond orchards...this is just one. The tall trees behind the barn were a Eucalyptus grove, that he grew for wood for the fireplace. To the right of the almonds was a huge garden..not shown here. Many other fruit and nut trees were there including apple, pear, plums, apricot, peaches, grapes, quinces, pomegranites, persimmons, loquats, and walnuts.
He built his own packing boxes and the women in the family packed figs for shipping in his shop and packing shed. He picked the figs and knocked the almonds with help from his kids, until the orchards got too big to do it all themselves, and then they hired a few helpers. They hulled their own almonds(usually done by the women in the family...I did it too) in the Huller he and my uncle built...and all in all his family was almost completely provided for from his ranch...:)
He was one of the greatest, gentleist, kindest and happiest men I have ever known.
What a privilege it was to have him for my grandfather!
He was one of the most loving human beings to ever Grace my life.
Uploaded by Louise001 on 21 Jul 09,
My grandpa was a carpenter, and fruit and nut rancher. He built 2 homes on his ranch and a barn, a shop and fig packing shed and an almond huller(with the help of his son). He raised 4 children on his beautiful ranch in Oakdale, California...a couple of hours due east of San Francisco.
He was a wonderful grandfather and loved to laugh and have fun with us, playing games, teasing, joking and always smiling.
He was a big man with a booming bass voice that you could hear outside the church when he sang in the choir. He was a fantastic singer! He could immediately sing the bass part in any song with any group.
He started his ranch from nothing...on a hill...and ended up with large almond and fig orchards...spreading over sloping acreage...looking very Mediterranean. As a child I probably loved to go to ''The Ranch'' more than anyplace...I always had fun. I lived on a ranch too...but we had a lot of animals to care for and there was always a lot of work. At Grandpas, I could play.
This picture came about because of a comment from Milagrosuegp about my ''Austrian'' Copper rose. She reminded me of the old ''Belle of Portugal" rose that climbed up the side of grandpa's barn...when in full bloom the whole side of the barn was PINK!...and the fragrance was heavenly.
I will never forget the fragrances of the roses mingled with the hay and straw stored in the barn...I went there a lot to look for kittens from the barn cats.....I was the ''official'' kitten finder and tamer...:) If you have never had the experience of the sweet smell of kittens nested in straw, you have really missed something very special.
This is a quick sketch to ''capture'' Grandpa's Barn....It is not to scale and my perspective is off...since the barn was a very large one...not illustrated by my sketch. Grandpa always kept his barn neat and painted white. One one side he kept his John Deere tractor, and other farming machinery. The other side was for milking a few cows he kept for milk for the family. Grandma also made butter and cheese from the milk.
The fig orchards started near the left side of the barn and the almonds were on the right. There were 3 almond orchards...this is just one. The tall trees behind the barn were a Eucalyptus grove, that he grew for wood for the fireplace. To the right of the almonds was a huge garden..not shown here. Many other fruit and nut trees were there including apple, pear, plums, apricot, peaches, grapes, quinces, pomegranites, persimmons, loquats, and walnuts.
He built his own packing boxes and the women in the family packed figs for shipping in his shop and packing shed. He picked the figs and knocked the almonds with help from his kids, until the orchards got too big to do it all themselves, and then they hired a few helpers. They hulled their own almonds(usually done by the women in the family...I did it too) in the Huller he and my uncle built...and all in all his family was almost completely provided for from his ranch...:)
He was one of the greatest, gentleist, kindest and happiest men I have ever known.
What a privilege it was to have him for my grandfather!
He was one of the most loving human beings to ever Grace my life.
Uploaded by Louise001 on 21 Jul 09,
CONEFLOWERS FROM MY PHOTO
I did this in August...it hangs in my daughter's home...:)
CONEFLOWERS FROM MY PHOTO by you.
A LOOSE interpretation of the photo I posted last week of the Coneflowers in my garden.
Watercolor and Ink.
CONEFLOWERS FROM MY PHOTO by you.
A LOOSE interpretation of the photo I posted last week of the Coneflowers in my garden.
Watercolor and Ink.
RECYCLED
I did this one last month...:)
WATERCOLOR & INK
This was in my reject bin....and thought I'd play with it and see if I could fix it...:)
WATERCOLOR & INK
This was in my reject bin....and thought I'd play with it and see if I could fix it...:)
LAST PHOTO BEFORE THE STORM ...."Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus
LAST PHOTO BEFORE THE STORM ...."Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus
Originally uploaded by Louise001
This is a few days later and just before we were hit with high wind and heavy rain. Today there are only a few leaves left...this is the same tree I posted last week at the edge of my driveway...:)
IN MY YARD TODAY
This was taken on October 29th
At driveway entrance.
YES...it is dazzling everywhere I look...out every window!...:)
At driveway entrance.
YES...it is dazzling everywhere I look...out every window!...:)
CRAFTED APPLE PLATE
I ''made'' this deco plate yesterday.
Although it DID NOT photograph well, I am very pleased with it! The white areas are all reflections...not blemishes.
So simple to do.....
It is a clear glass salad plate(1.50 at Walmart), with a piece of fabric ModPodged to the back with 3 coats of thin ModPodge, dried between each coat, and then the back is sprayed with 2 coats of clear spray, dried between each coat. (You must cut the fabric with an extra inch margin and fold it over the edge pushing out any creases when Modpodging...and smooth out any bubbles....after it dries shave the edge pulling razor blade toward you, so that fabric comes right up to the edge but not over it. Also, the plate must have a flat base, meaning the edges can rise but the mid bottom must be flat. You want the right side of the fabric against the back bottom of the plate, so that when you turn the plate over the right side shows through.
I think it will be a nice hostess gift with cookies, or fudge, tied with clear plastic
cellophane and a Red bow...for the holidays...:)
Although it DID NOT photograph well, I am very pleased with it! The white areas are all reflections...not blemishes.
So simple to do.....
It is a clear glass salad plate(1.50 at Walmart), with a piece of fabric ModPodged to the back with 3 coats of thin ModPodge, dried between each coat, and then the back is sprayed with 2 coats of clear spray, dried between each coat. (You must cut the fabric with an extra inch margin and fold it over the edge pushing out any creases when Modpodging...and smooth out any bubbles....after it dries shave the edge pulling razor blade toward you, so that fabric comes right up to the edge but not over it. Also, the plate must have a flat base, meaning the edges can rise but the mid bottom must be flat. You want the right side of the fabric against the back bottom of the plate, so that when you turn the plate over the right side shows through.
I think it will be a nice hostess gift with cookies, or fudge, tied with clear plastic
cellophane and a Red bow...for the holidays...:)
SPONGE GARDEN
WATERCOLOR & INK
This was done almost entirely with a kitchen sponge dipped in Watercolor.
The sky was done with a brush.
There are touches of Ink.
The sponge is a piece of a 3x6 kitchen sponge...cut into 1 inch strips...making the bottom of the sponge piece about an inch by an inch square, which I dip into water...squeeze out and then into paint...:)
This painting is 6''x7''....If it were a very large painting I might use a whole sponge...:)
This was done almost entirely with a kitchen sponge dipped in Watercolor.
The sky was done with a brush.
There are touches of Ink.
The sponge is a piece of a 3x6 kitchen sponge...cut into 1 inch strips...making the bottom of the sponge piece about an inch by an inch square, which I dip into water...squeeze out and then into paint...:)
This painting is 6''x7''....If it were a very large painting I might use a whole sponge...:)
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