Summer in NJ

Hello Friends,

We have had a busy few days doing lots of fun summer things. The local Farm Fair has arrived and we spent a few hours yesterday visiting the cutest farm animals.

I know, it's just a cow, but you had to see it in person. The teenagers had to wrestle these huge animals all over the tent for about 20 minutes to try and get them into the appropriate positions for judging. They wash the cows with special color enhancing shampoo to make them bright white and they even polish their hooves.

A baby goat sleeping against her mama.

A goat with funny little ears...and a funky necklace.




Ebony and Ivory.



Polka dotted goat in a box.



Enjoying a snow cone.

Ducklings.


Chicks.

And then my sister and I headed out to the city for a Phillies game.

The game started fine.

Then came the thunder, lightning and then the pouring rain.
Rain delay for about an hour.

And then the sun returned just in time to set.

We took lots of silly pictures. Most of which my sister has so I will have to share them later.

The Philles lost...bad! But we had a great time anyway.

I did manage to get into the studio to get a little something done.

This is my latest painting that I'm going to hang somewhere in my house. It's actually quite large and I'm putting it in this cool Ikea frame. She's not completely finished. She needs a little bird or some butterflies or something.

We'll see...

I'll try to remember to show you when she's all finished and in her forever place.

More portraits are on the way just in case you like this one:)

Enjoy your weekend!!

Happy Bertday Alex!

Happy 6th Birthday sweet Alex William!

The huggiest, kissiest little boy who ever lived.

Alex informed us that he thought it was called bert-day, not birth-day. When I explained that it was indeed birth-day, he then stated that he like bert-day better and he was sticking with it.

Ah, to be 6 again!

A Conversation with Alex

Me: Alex, I keep finding your dirty socks on the coffee table. From now on, I'm going to make you pay me a dollar every time I find them there.

Alex: Ok. But you're going to have to give me a dollar for every time I don't leave them on the table.

Me: That's not the way it works.

Alex: Then no deal.

***Art Note***

I am aware that this is an art blog and not much art has been going on. I apologize. I am currently working on 4 commissions...you know, the commissions I said I wasn't going to accept for a while? I can never say no and my current projects are a little different than what I usually do, so I'm enjoying them. I have a bunch of Halloween stuff in the works so stay tuned.

Enjoy your day!

Rested

Our pink little beach house.

Hello Friends,

We had a wonderful vacation on the Jersey shore. Lots of fried seafood, ice cream and baked goods. We were lucky enough to be in walking distance from a fab bakery named Dot's. They had the most excellent cinnamon cake and yummy donuts. We celebrated Alex's 6th birthday while we were there and he decided to forgo the traditional cake and have birthday cookies.

I don't have the nerve to step on the scale but judging by the snugness of my jeans, I gained a few pounds. So it's back on the wagon for me! I'm ashamed to say that besides the lame side salad I had one night, I didn't eat not one vegetable...except for french fries. Do they count?

Here are a few pictures from the week.

Amazing speedboat ride. We went sooo fast!!

Little sailors.

Crazy sea creature

Skin and bones...he eats a lot, really he does!

Patiently waiting for a big wave.

The beach right outside our door....awesome.

Cousins playing in the sand.



My Sister and Nephew (who wasn't too thrilled with the ocean.)

The view from my 7:00 am walks.

Heavenly.

I'm Off!

Hello Friends,

I'm off to the beautiful white sandy beaches of the Jersey shore. I will be back on the 18th. I am leaving my shop open for the week so all orders will be shipped as soon as I return.

Enjoy your week and I will be back with lots of pictures of our seashore adventures!

New Work and a Winner!

Hello Friends,

First I wanted to let you all know that I added some new goodies to my shop. Some are a little bit silly like these...

ATC set

and these...

Brooch set

And two more mermaid paintings. This will be it for the mermaids this season because it's Halloween time in the studio, yay!

4 x6 mixed media painting

8x10 mixed media painting

And the WINNER of my 200th Blog Post give away is.....

#16 Janel!!! Yay, congratulations Janel. I will send you your journal and other goodies today.

Enjoy your day!!

After the Holiday

Hello Friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. We spent the day with good friends swimming, eating BBQ and watching fireworks. As Alex put it..."This was the best day ever."

We leave for vacation next Saturday so I have lots of things I need to get together this week. The studio has been quite lonely since the kids finished school but we have been having so much fun reading and going to the pool that I can't complain. Pretty soon I will have too much time (Alex will be in school for the whole day...sniff, sniff) and I will be wishing my little boys were bugging me for snacks and telling me they're bored. I'm trying to enjoy every single minute.

Well, I'm off to get my hearing tested. Ugh! I always have anxiety about these tests like I'm in school again. I've never passed one, ever, so I should be used to it but I guess some things never change. A hearing aid or two are in my very near future and I'm not sure how I feel about that either. It's not that I'm vain and I don't want people to see me with a hearing aid but I'm not so sure they will be comfortable to wear. I don't like a lot of stuff on me. I wear diamond stud earrings most of the time and I always misplace my wedding ring because I take it off so often. God only knows what I would do with a hearing device. I'm not even 40 yet!

Don't forget to leave a comment below to win a little gift!
Enjoy your week:)

200th Post Celebration!

Hello Friends,

Yay! This is my 200th post. Who knew that when I started this blog 200 posts ago that I would still be plugging away? Not me , for sure. I have to say that I have so enjoyed sharing my stories and art with you all and I'm so grateful for all of the blog friends I have made around the world...amazing!

So, in appreciation to all of you who stop by regularly and leave comments- and all of you who secretly read, too shy to leave a comment- and to you who just came across this silly blog by chance... I am giving away a little prize to one special winner.

A 5" x 7" lined journal featuring one of my mermaid prints, a set of hot pink polka dotted note cards and a set of the cutest little binder clips.

Just leave a comment...any ol' comment will do. I will pull the lucky name out of some sort of hat next Wednesday. Good luck!