Eamonn's Room

A month ago Eamonn stayed home sick from preschool. We spent some time drawing in his bedroom. Then recently I picked up the drawing and started painting it over the period of about a week, whenever I had a minute here or there. He was inspired to draw and paint the rug while I worked on mine and also added himself lying in the bed. He used a little set of watercolors I recently got him.

Martha Stewart's French Bull Dog

In honor of the holidays, cooking and decorating, here is Martha's dog. I recently received a free subscription to Martha Stewart's Living Mag and I have to say it is great. Great recipes that I can fantasize about making, and some cool craft ideas involving glitter and color photos. I also wish my hair looked like hers.

The French Bull Dog is one of my favorites. They are hilarious and exuberantly friendly. Some neighbors of ours have a couple and they really brighten my day every time I see them.

Thanksgiving and the Desert

This picture is my stab at a desert landscape. Just for fun. Since work started again in late August, I have not made much effort to draw or post here, but recently have done a few silly things.

Eamonn drew this family picture right before Thanksgiving. It's Mama, Eamonn, and Daddy and a turkey. Actually, he said Mama is shooting the turkey. I think they were talking about hunting turkeys in his music class or somewhere. At home, we have not talked about hunting turkeys. As a matter of fact, I cooked "naturally raised" chicken pieces this year, and am considering tofurkey for next year.

New Piano

I was up late last night practicing the bass clef and the treble clef notes on our new piano. It is an electric piano (not a keyboard), so I can plug in the headphones and play without bothering anyone, such as a sleeping child. I took a year of piano in high school but nothing more, so the two different staffs are kind of mind boggling. The measures of the notes are not difficult, though, because I played flute proficiently all through high school. I have a beginning piano book, and some nursery rhyme songs to start with. I think I may have "Lazy Mary" down and am close to mastering "Hey Diddle Diddle."

Eamonn was inspired by my drawings to make his own. The piano is in the middle, with a picture of "Mommy and Daddy before I was born" next to it. The headphones are the two circles above the piano.

Orange Tree

Here's my potted orange tree on the back porch. I got it last spring but have not harvested a crop yet. The oranges are actually still green.

We are finally getting some much needed rain around here so the plants are a little happier. This guy of course has received regular waterings all summer.

Seymour Loungin'

We have two cats, Seymour and Jose. While the black one, Jose, is more guarded and curls into a ball (usually up high somewhere, like on the grill or a chair), Seymour typically naps on the floor in poses such as this. Maybe it's a pose that lets body heat escape.

Non HDTV Corner

I sketched this last Sunday night while watching Inspector Lewis solve a murder mystery. Stolen books, forgery, and drawing were central to the plot. I'm thinking about adding some spots of color to it.

Sidewalk Chalk and Sketchbook

Bunk on The Wire

We've been watching The Wire on DVD all summer. Currently in the middle of Season 3. I think our favorite character is Omar, but we enjoy so many.

Mueller Lake Park

Got to take Eamonn to ride his tricycle and play at Mueller Lake Park this morning. While he climbed on one of the playscapes and tried to befriend another little boy, I drew one of the mothers there. Then I quickly sketched Eamonn while he stood beside the swings yelling to me "Push me Mom!"

Mueller Lake Park is part of the Mueller Redevelopment, a former airport (Robert Mueller Airport) about a mile from our house that is in the process being turned into a mixed use residential and commercial community. The park is wonderful except for the fact that the trees are all pretty small so it is sunny and gets hot quickly. We haven't played there much this summer.