Sunday, July 19, 2009

Serendipity

Talk about serendipity......The other day Lynn found 'Whisky Jack' who has appeared on my Blog before (first in 2006 and drawn from a real person.)
The very next day I received these 'Cowboy Rules' and they just went together so well I had to share.
Enjoy!!

Cowboy rules for:
Arizona, Texas , Colorado , Oklahoma , New Mexico , Wyoming , Montana , Utah , Idaho, Nevada and the rest of the Wild West are as follows:
1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.
2. Turn your cap right, your head ain't crooked.
3. Let's get this straight: it's called a 'gravel road.' I drive a
pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.
4. They are cattle. That's why they smell like cattle. They
smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10, I-40, I-70 and I-80 go east and west, I-17, I-15, I-25 and I-35 goes north and
south. Pick one and go.
5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have
$250,000 Combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.
6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being
friendly. Try to understand the concept.
7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during the hunts, we WILL shoot it outa your hand. You better hope you don't have it up
to your ear at the time.
8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want
sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.
9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a
religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of
November.
10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women,
regardless of age.
11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order
steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2
pounds of ham and turkey.
12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah . . We don't care what you folks in
Cincinnati call that stuff you eat IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!
13. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet
and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have
long hair.
14. College and High School Football is as important here as
the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.
15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.
16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump
crap ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore
than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!
I think these are a hoot!!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

White Coneflower

While I was waiting for someone I walked outside and found this white coneflower. I don't see a lot of them and I just 'happened' to have my sketchbook with me so I sketched them and painted it at home.
I love the one flower that is buried in all the leaves near the bottom.
It is always interesting painting white flowers.
Have a great Saturday!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Illustration Friday - 'Tango'


The theme word at Illustration Friday this week is 'Tango'.


Meet the 'Dancing Daisy Duo'.


I had fun with this one!


Happy Illustration Friday everyone.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Thankful Thursday

Phew, this is another wowzer Thankful Thursday and a great day for Show and Tell also.
I traded a card for this adorable ATC from Julie on "ATCs For All".
I also traded for this beautiful zentangle from Robin at the same place. She does such awesome zens.
This one blew my socks off; it is SO clever and creative.
It is the 'I' I got from our 'ABCs Around the World Blog'.
Gina from Ireland used the word 'incomplete' and put this puzzle together with one piece that didn't work. (and you know I tried).
Thanks Gina!

This card came with my 'H' from Linda in California. It is a three piece card and totally adorable!

This little lady with the heart is so beautiful. The gold on her skirt is layered on and very textural. Love it. Another one that looks like me. lol

Thanks so much Linda for all the extra things you always send along and for all the great ideas. She is giving me little instructions on how to use these things and it still scares me so I haven't tried.
But I will.
These ladies are so creative with ATC cards, it still boggles me. All I know how to do is paint.

Pam at Gingerbread Snowflakes is a blogging friend I met last year.
Her Blog is full of instructions on how to make so many neat things. Pam's 'how-to's' are so clear that anyone can do them. She always has the most beautiful photos to accompany the instructions too.
And that is no surprise as she and her husband are photographers of the highest quality.
Every time I visit there I want to make whatever it is she has explained.

This is an ATC size magnet with their own photo on it.
They live in the northwest and it is so beautiful.
See what I mean about their photography?
Isn't this lighthouse awesome?

Such a gorgeous northwest scene!!


She did a woven ATC card and also has the instructions on her Blog.

Pam also sent this Christmas tree ornament, a punched tin butterfly. I couldn't wait for Christmas so I hung it on my jade tree.
Instructions on how to make these are also on her blog.
Plan on some time when you visit her Blog as there is just a wealth of information on there. You may even see a post about me that she did not too long ago. Her family bought her some of my cups from my Zazzle and she sits in her garden with them.
What a wonderful, creative and awesome friend she is.
Thanks SO much Pam for all these treasures.
And thanks everyone for your friendship!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Animal Wednesday - Baby Cardinal

I have an old white wicker chair that I put under this tree because it is falling apart and I don't want anyone to sit on it. And it looks kind of neat.
Good thing it was there
because this torn-up nest had a baby cardinal fall out of it.
Here is the father watching out for the baby.

who was sitting on the chair

looking quite forlorn.
When I walked out for the mail I noticed the baby and heard the father sqawking in the tree so I ran for my camera and sketchbook.
I managed to get those photos and this quick sketch and still the baby did not move.
When I looked an hour later I could still hear Father sqawking and flitting around the everygreen trees so I think the baby was under those trees.
I am not sure the baby is even old enough to make it.

When I walked this am, all was quiet so I am hoping for the best.
Interestingly the baby was dark with just a trace of red.

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Blooming Tuesday - Cari's Coneflowers

My daughter, Cari, has the most beautiful gardens! I had some time while we were there this weekend so I grabbed a lawn chair and sat in front of these beautiful coneflowers and sketched them.
In this particular plot the blooms are just thick with coneflowers, monarda and not yet opened black eyed-susies.
Unfortunately, the mosquitos also love the flowers (and the whole yard), so this was a fast sketch and painted inside.
I just love those coneflowers so I even did an ATC. (NA)
I am now going to contribute to 'Sketching in Nature' and am very excited to part of that group and all the wonderful artists that contribute there. It was started by Cathy Johnson who has written at least 30 art books of nature and sketching and is one of my very favorite nature artists.
These coneflowers will be my first entry there and now I am inspired to do more nature sketching, which is really my first love.
Happy Blooming Tuesday everyone.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Cactus Monday- Old Man From The Past

This cactus is really called 'Old Man' cactus. The spines on it are quite long giving it an interesting 'old man' appearance.
I did this when I was first becoming so fascinated with cacti.
It is done on tan paper with green colored pencil and white gel pen.
Been a long weekend.
Happy Cactus Monday!
Be sure to enter your Cactus Monday link on Mr Linky.


Sunday, July 12, 2009

Zentangle Sunday

I did these zentangles last week and some the week before.
Time to get caught up on them.
All are ATC size and available.

This was two designs and one color.

Another two designs and one color.

Goofing around with white ink of black paper.

More goofing around.


Done using three designs and a few colors.
These were done in response to challenges from the zentangle social group on ATCs For All.
I am getting very reacquainted with zentangles :)
Happy Sunday!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Travel Sketch Yesterday

I haven't done a travel sketch in so long and this sorry mess is from yesterday. I was just trying to capture sights as we drove by them.
The reception is this evening so maybe I can get some more sketching in today.
Hope your weekend is going great!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Illustration Friday - 'Hollow'

The theme word at Illustration Friday this week is 'Hollow'.
Since we are out of town (again) for a wedding, I am using this sunflower with the 'hollow' stem for the illustration.
Happy Illustration Friday everyone.
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