The May newsletter for a coloured pencil artist, Teresa Mallen, who has been a big help to me is now out. You can find her work, newsletter and blog at:

http://www.teresamallenstudio.com

I've started my next portrait (and photographed for a few more still life and portraits) but can't post my progress until I've asked the parents of the child if it's ok! So here's my description.

She's a dark haired beauty with lovely expressive eyes which beam with life and a definate mischievousness. See if you can create a picture in your mind of what she might look like while I try to capture it on paper. Wish me luck and success!

Now that I am spending my time drawing I find I'm short on words. As an old boyfriend of mine used to say, "you can't have a chick, car and money all at the same time." I guess I should count myself lucky. I may not be able to speak, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

I had to do just that one last thing.....
Now it's turned into one of those things that will bug me because I can't take it back. Sometimes you've just gotta know when to say when, ya know?

My coloured pencils are nibs now. I guess I'll have to find a picture that will make use of some of my other colours to give them fair play.

The painting was bowed when I photographed it for the blog, so the wall behind looks a little bent. It's not in the actual painting.

I went to get an estimate on having it framed. After the estimate I decided it looked lovelier hidden away in my portfolio.

I told Mr. P. this morning, "Well, been there done that, what hobby should I try next?"
That didn't go over well, and apparently I will be doing more paintings.

I've contacted one potential model, and am hoping that maybe out of the kindness of her heart that Adventurer will send some more pictures of beautiful children my way. I have one of a little angel that she gave me that will soon be in the works.

Pout

Here's my newest drawing that I'm working on. Also of someone in my neighbourhood. By about the 30th hour of looking at the same kid I'm really sick of looking at them! I can capture a better, darker picture of this one when it's done.

JUMP!!!

Ah, yes....as a matter of fact they were jumping off the roof! I was not pleased. 4 of 4 was told by Mr. P that she could join her sisters when she turned 6. I explained that that would indeed be a terrible mistake since she turns 6 in the heat of the summer. Maybe if we're lucky we'll have this much snow again next year for her;-)

I've got a couple of stories, but I'll save them for later. A dark and cranky little fellow is staring at me wondering why his little legs aren't bounding through those snow banks. He likes to paint them yellow.

Kitty Kat Complete

Who knew that coloured pencils weren't just for school kids anymore!

Kitty Kat

This one is a work in progress for a different Granny this time, so Grandma C won't recognize her. Any other Grannies out there know who this one is?

Sorry, it is actually darker and more vivid in person, but I can't scan it properly or I'll bend the picture and our camera is currently on loan.

P.S. Adventurer....yours is still in the works, but I won't post that one.

Mailman

Ok. I realize that I haven't been blogging more than a couple of times in as many months, but it looks like the boring dry spell that is my life may be over! I managed to return to my old ways of humiliation in the face of others! And thank God for that! I was starting to feel normal.

The mailman walked by me on the street today. I had been shoveling and stopped to conference with a fellow stay at home slave...I mean mom, "White Mocha" (I have mentioned her before.) Her humongous dog Pepper was lying in the snow, being part Akita and part horse, he loves nothing more than cooling his boys in a fresh frigid snow. Oh yes, and stalking mailmen.

White Mocha puts a restraining hand on Pepper as soon as she sees the mailman coming a full block away. Can't take a chance with this big fellow. A gentle giant with women and children, he is always on guard when there is a strange man lurking in the neighborhood. He's been known to attach his ample vice like jaws to the behind of a stray surveyor or two.

I watch as the mailman passes and seems to be out of earshot from us when I turn to Pepper, who is alert and ready to pounce, and say,

"Ohhhh! Doesn't he look yummy! Mmmmmmm. Growwwwwllllll!"

The mailman stops dead in his tracks, turns, stares. I, not unlike a chameleon try to change colour to camoflauge myself. Unfortunately the only other colour I can be is red on a white snowy back ground.

He looks embarrassed and answers something in return. Neither White Mocha or I have any idea what he just said. I am too horrified to even be listening. Unfortunately I keep talking.

"I just meant the dog. He was licking his lips when he saw you! He thought you looked yummy I guess. That's not a good sign. No, not a good sign at all!" I laugh nervously, still not knowing what he said in the first place.

"No, not a good sign." he replies as he keeps on walking quickly down the street at a faster pace than earlier.

"I hope he knows I was saying the dog though he was yummy and not me!" I turn and whisper to a now snickering White Mocha.

"He was yummy though!" I won't tell you which one of us said that.

I only sent this one to families without young children. No need to have to explain to kiddies why this is a cartoon.

Hey! Mr. P. showed me how to use the new hardware!

It's been so long since I've been here, I'm having problems figuring out blogger! Seems like there's been some changes since I've last been here.



Mr. P. has switched my hardware and I'm a bit lost there too or I'd post a copy of the Christmas cards I sent out this year. They were all handdrawn original cartoons. About 50. It seemed like a good Idea until I actually got to about number 10. My hand is still not the same. Next year I'll know better.

P.S. If you were one of the people that didn't get one, it's not that I didn't love you, it's just that now I am crippled from the previous ones and I'll get to yours sometime soon. Probably not later than by this summer.

Merry Christmas and Happy, safe, healthy and sane New Years! (Not necessarily in that order)

Adventurer Meme to me....Now your turn

Now, Here Is What You Are Supposed To Do...And Please Do Not Spoil The
Fun! Hit Forward, Delete My Answers And Type In Your Answers. Then
Send This To A Whole Bunch Of People That You Know...And Send It Back To
Me So I Can See Your Answers, The Theory Is That You Will Learn A Lot Of
Little Known Facts About Those You Know.

Remember To Send It Back Please!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, myself.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I don't cry, but my eyes prespire now and again.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
I prefer my handtyping.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
balogna

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes. Five. They are 12, 10, 8, 5, and 46.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Not on your life! I'm an idiot.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Not enough.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
That's a bit personal isn't it?

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
I don't have a death wish, so no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don't really like cereal.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
That would be unnessessary work. Especially when they don't actually have laces.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE strong?
Only my body odour after I exercise.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chocolate mint chip.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Arrogance level.

15. RED OR PINK?
Pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My brain.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ?
Grandpa.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
ok.

19. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING NOW?
6 year old holey running shoes, a cycling coat, pants and a smile.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
lemon cranberry scone.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The little voices in my head.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lilac trees in bloom.

Dear Mr. P

"You have a serious problem" Mr. P states as he passes by watching me gaming with great intensity.

"Do NOT!" I retort. I can't get sucked into this conversation again at this time. I'm on a roll and about to win big money!

"Stop distracting me!" I throw out quickly as I continue with my game.

This is the greatest website ever! I love it. I don't get to use the computer very often any more. Our family rule is weekends only and on weekends I have to fight four other computer addicted little bodies for a few minutes on the blasted thing.

I take a second to look down at the points. $18,790. Wait a minute, that's not right!

"OH CRAP! ONE OF FOUR, GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!" I scream in full anger mode.

"Have you been spending my money? I was up over $20,000?" I ask the sheepish child now standing before me.

"Ya Mom. I wanted to take some courses. It costs money you know." she quietly replies.

"Do you know how hard I worked to earn that money?" I ask her unbelievingly.

"Well, ya. But you know....it is my Webkinz and my Webkinz account. I thought I could spend a little bit and you wouldn't get mad." she says defensively.

Huh. Little do you know. Maybe I need to purchase my own stuffed animal with account information. This selfish little monster doesn't appreciate all the hard work I do for her!

"You do realize this is a kids game." Mr. P reminds me with a smirk.

"I'm sorry, but that's what we're led to believe but in reality I'm telling you Mr. that there are a whole lot of adults sitting at their computers right now just like me playing on their very own childrens accounts!" I defend.

"Snort, right!!!!!" He laughs.

"Some of these games are quite difficult once you get up to the advanced levels, and I'm telling you, the person I played rock, paper, scissors against the other day was not a child. There was great strategy going into the moves that person was making. I tell you again....that was NO CHILD!" I rant.

"Besides," I remind him "what child plays Webkinz at 1:30 am in the morning on a school night? The place is just a hoppin' at that time. You can't tell me these are all kids, even with the time differences!"

Well Mr. P.....now I have proof!

Last evening at 11:30 pm, I was sitting in my car with just one of those people. It started off with a conversation about our kids and their love of certain toys. It went to stuffies and then Webkinz. Eventually there was an admission that yes, they did enjoy to go to the job office in Webkinz world and was frustrated that they were only allowed to work once every 8 or 9 hours. Also they liked to tend the garden of said childs toy. This un-named individual ALSO was granted permission to upkeep the site when the children were at their other parents home for the week.

That being said, I still want my own Webkinz toy. Maybe for Christmas Mr. P?