Hello Friends!

What a joyful day I had today. I found out that I didn't have to drive bus today that a mistake had been made that worked out for my benefit. So my friend Barb came down from Shippenville today for a visit and we took a trip to the new Whole Foods in Wexford. We had a blast. I had been to the store before with my friend Colleen, but this was Barb's first time here. We stopped at Olive Garden on the way home for lunch, had their soup, salad & bread stick special--it was yummy!

After Barb left I made an apple cinnamon coffee cake for dessert for our company. Daryl's sister Beth and her boyfriend Ted came for dinner, burgers on the grill, chips and dessert. We hadn't seen them for quite some time and had a really nice visit. Ended up going to bed around 10, just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

My friend Dale just returned from Thailand with some phenomenal photos. There were two that interested me in particular of her petting a beautiful adult tiger. Dale was willing to share them so I could use them to do a couple of paintings. So be looking here in the near future, you may see them posted before mid summer.

That's all folks!
Check back next Saturday morning to see what's happening at the studio.

It was tricky driving today, snow, sleet, and freezing rain was the weather menu . . . I prefer ice skating on a pond not on the road in my bus!

My website is now officially up and running and open for business. I am so excited. It was easy choosing the design and putting all the little tweaks in but writing the copy was a little more difficult, I'm rustier than I thought! I hope you will take the time to visit my website and let me know what you think of it.

www.whiteoakstudioandgallery.com

I also have a new painting to share with you, it is a tufted titmouse. Thanks for your friendship and support!
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas Everyone! What a beautiful day, we are so blessed!

Last night we were invited to a good friends home to celebrate and enjoy some wonderful company, fabulous food and have an all-around great time. And that we did . . . thank you Carol & George for your hospitality and generosity, but most of all your friendship!

The menu included lasagna, beef brisket (Carol's mom made), oyster stew, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, egg roll type dumplings (very delicious!), cheeses, spreads & dips of all kinds, shrimp, crackers and of course excellent deserts: Monkey bread, and cookies galore! What a spread!

One thing I regret is not having my camera for some great pictures to share of all the fun and laughter.

Blessings to all!

I entered my first art show on Friday, November 23rd, "Black Friday." It has been 40 years since I last exhibited my artwork. Wow, I didn't realize just how long it had been, seems like it was yesterday. It was a slow night at the Art Center, not much people traffic coming in off the street. I had a few good friends stop by, one brought her sister and the other brought a neighbor friend. It was really nice to see all of them and I enjoyed taking them around a portion of the show. The show will be running until December 31st and I'm hoping it does well, and hoping also that all three of my paintings sell.

I picked up my issue Artful Blogging magazine yesterday and finally had a chance to sit down with it this afternoon. I always begin with the letter from the editor, Jennifer. She mentioned a question from last quarter's issue, which by the way was sold out and I never got a copy. Sorry, the question: Why do I blog? Well, that's a good question. I had to think about that for a bit. I opened up my blog and looked through its entries which revealed my answer. I blog to share myself, my artwork; there is a need for me to share it. I want others to see it and enjoy it. I love posting a painting as soon as I finish it for all to see, critique and comment.

I would love to write a small blurb about my blogging experience and share my paintings with the outside world and someday I just might if I get up enough nerve.

Well the treck in getting greeting cards produced is turning out to be a challenge. Proofs arived on Wednesday delivered by Fedex, however I never realized they were delivered becaused the Fedex person left them laying on my top front porch step. Get this we have a side covered porch where Fedex always leaves or picks up my packages, and can't for the life of me figure out why they would all of a sudden leave a package there—oh well at least I got it right!

I opened up the greeting card proofs and was very surprised. The color was beautiful and the looked fabulous, but I was a little disappointed in the overall look of the card because of a slight glossy look and feel which is not what I expected. However, they are lovely and suitable for framing.

Have a couple of new snowmen for this year's series, with another in the works. I hope you like them!

Good evening!  How was your day? 

Mine was pretty intense for awhile. I finally gathered all the digital scans of my watercolors and prepared them to send off to be copyrighted. That was quite an experience but I made my way through it after two hours trying to figure out all of the computer particulars—exhausting to say the least, and I'm even pretty well educated in the computer. Thank goodness that is done, at least until the next batch. Hopefully I will remember not to make the same mistake I did this time . . . UG!

I have finally had the opportunity to finish reading last quarter's "Artful Blogging" magazine. I have been so busy painting that I haven't had time to read. I love Artful Blogging, the articles are not only inspiring and encouraging, they're beautiful. The whole magazine is lovely, well put together, and has an elegant classy feel. Being a retired graphic artist, I appreciate this type of magazine because I know what goes into putting a quality magazine together.

I am going to start a new series in watercolor of my favorite birds, as a matter of fact I finished one which is featured in my last post—Mrs. Cardinal. The next bird will be a surprise so keep checking back in. Thanks for visiting! Have a blessed weekend!