2013 at a rush

It has been so long since I posted, I'm just going to do a quick & dirty download of photos.

Rylan raking leaves

2011Merry Christmas!

Jason & Julie's new house

Grandma's visit

Open Studio

For the Focus on Book Arts Show

Etched book I made at Art & Soul

Reconstructed Clock at A&S

2010 Dante

My kids 2012

I had a full summer in 2011.  In June, I had a garden window installed in my kitchen.

My grandson, Dante, helped me remove a large andromeda from under the window-when I pulled it out he said "Wow Grandma, you're the Hulk" (the root ball was really shallow and dry). My backyard rosebed was coming along well:

I happened to drive past two of my previous houses and was pleased with the way the yards had aged.  Our house on 13th in Beaverton (moved out1976):

The house was grey then.  All my original plantings. Right before Ben was born.

The house on Sumac Lane in Aloha-I owned for 12 years:

Most of my original roses plus a much better fence on the side.  It was tan when I lived there.

I was so happy it was still there.

Cedar deadora was 6-7 feet tall when I left.  The weeping Atlantic Spruce next to the car wrapped across the front & I angled it back toward the fence 15 feet or so.  I think they trimmed that part back. Next time I'll ask to photo the backyard.

Moving on:  Here's another painting from my Suzi Blu classes:

Some more pug photos from October:

Cody

Teddy

My house is very doggy........
I went to Art & Soul the first of October & took some photos of hats entered in the competition with the theme of "Into the Garden".  Most were outstanding.  I happened to be creatively challenged this year & did not enter.

Birds & nests were featured on many.

Photos from the Washington County Artists Open Studio Tour in November:

and from the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Bazaar in December with my sister Marilyn:

WHOOEY it was cold in that tent.  There was a heat pump that came on from time to time but I kept my coat on the whole time.  I sold enough to pay for my booth fee. We were right next to the bar so had lots of traffic.  Watch for us next year.
Hope to post some pics of new grandbaby soon.  See ya later.

I have been busy with my Suzi Blu classes & had originally posted more of my paintings here but I evidently did not save properly.  So I'll repost them.

For my granddaughter

I'm getting ready for the 2nd annual Washington County Open Studios Tour on October 22 & 23.  More info may be had at washcoart.org

 

Melanie

 

Grace



I have been busy since last February taking Suzi Blu art classes.  The first one was learning to draw portraits stylized per Suzi Style.  My first endeavors were moderately successful: 

 

Fah! Getting these things to align is a pain!

Anyway, I've learned a lot, spent a fortune on art supplies, but having fun learning many new techniques.

This is my little grandaughter, Kyra, Age 5.  I got to spend a couple days with her mom, Ben & new baby, Rylan, this last weekend.  Weather was great, she got to go swimming in neighbor pool & I pushed her on the swings.  Her daddy, Ben, who is a great cook, cooked curry for dinner with fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini from their garden.  Sauce was out of this world!

Flew home to Portland, took Max train to Tanasbourne & bus to within walking distance of home-2.5 hours from airport to home.  Pugs were very happy to see me.

I haven't posted for awhile.  The day after my last post, July 7, my male pug, Bailey, died suddenly.  It was a huge shock.  The following week I decided Mitzi & I needed a new friend-she was crying & digging out of the yard whenever I was gone.

So I drove to Tillamook which was the only place I could find in Oregon that had a black pug puppy.  Teddy was there with all his 7 brothers & sisters running around in all their pugginess.  I stopped now & then on the way home to let him run around, hoping he wouldn't run off into the woods.

When we got home, I had to set up the neighborhood garage sale & people were more interested in him that what Holly, my sister, and I had to sell.  We gave away a lot of junk & made a lot more room in my garage.


2 months into our togetherness, Teddy was running poor old-lady Mitzi ragged

so I called Teddy's parents to see if they had any puppies left & they did.  They drove Cody up to me that next weekend.  I got a bargain since apparently 2 month old puppies are not as desirable as young puppies.  I just looked at it as being that much closer to being house broken.

He was shy at first but seemed to remember Teddy & soon they were running all over the yard barking at neighborhood dogs. In this photo they are 4 months old.