This 'n That

I've been sleeping in lately . . . a good indication is that Gary made the bed up this morning with me in it. I've almost, but not quite, got the low-down February Blues. I NEED sunshine!

I've been going to Louisville 2 or 3 times a month to sketch "live" models. I've included one of the sketches and a photo of Kivi to the left and right.

We went to see Randy Newman in Lexington for Gary's birthday and that was a treat. I feel terrifically content staying at home reading, drawing and painting. I wonder if something is wrong with me?

Ha! Back to my blog in JUST over a week. That's progress. I've been to a two-day portrait workshop. Actually it was a "children's portrait" workshop. Since I don't have upteen grandchildren that I just HAVE to paint, I painted Gary and his Mother. The photo I used to draw it is a black and white (they didn't HAVE color) from 67 years ago. I'm pretty happy about the study and I feel as if I'm beginning to become uncontrollable with color, which is what I'm aiming for.

Things DID improve . . .

I haven't added a post since August and yet I visit my blog at least once a week to add a new book that I've read.

I was just now thinking I love the sound of tires hissing on wet pavement. I can hear them passing my home. It's raining. I think we'll get snow again in a day or so . . . but until then, rain.

I noticed that at my last blog I was complaining about the events of 2010 SO FAR. They DID improve in that nobody else died. But we took a vacation to Mackinac Island and around Lake Michigan that could have been better. Gary and I are not "spring chickens" and yet the rest of the folks on this (escorted) trip were far older than we were. Folks got lost a lot. There was as much traveling as seeing and doing and we didn't care for that. We won't be doing a vacation like this again. I DO believe that the Road Scholar (Elderhostel) folks are much more intellectually engaged than any other groups except possibly the Smithsonian and I'm not so sure about them.

We visited my brother at his home outside of Atlanta and that visit didn't go well. Mainly because he wanted to talk politics. I believe he thinks that arguing politics passes for conversation. Gary reminded me that my brother "for whatever reason, HAS to win."

We went to Myrtle Beach in November so I could take another class with Carla O'Connor (see my rave review below). The workshop lasted 5 days and she was ill the last two and not there. So much for that particular (twice a year) group of workshops. I don't think I'll go again.

Our Christmas holidays in Kentucky were just fine. We enjoyed Gary's extended family very much. We visited his nephew's new house in Richmond and saw his operatic niece. A good old fashioned Xmas, at a very laid-back pace. His brother and sister are wonderful, non-judgmental folks. It's a pleasure to be around them.