Stormy Weather

It's been awhile since I was at the the Oregon Coast in real stormy weather, but last Sunday night we had a rip-roarin' storm with tons of rain and gusts to 70 mph!  We took the dogs out in the afternoon, and our little Manzanita town was empty.  Streets were deserted since many were walking on the beach, watching the huge waves, and running their dogs before the storm rolled in after sunset.

Rick and I hunkered down in the house with our "his and hers" flashlights and tons of candles nearby, just in case.  It was so great to have some quiet time after the craziness of the holidays to paint, read a good book, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Oregon winter. I feel so blessed to live in an area with such beauty.

We had the wood stove going in case we had to cook our provisions for the weekend.  No, it's not the fake Yule Log Christmas shot- we were ready to roll for coffee, tea or soup on a moment's notice LOL.

We were driving north on Hwy. 101 when we suddenly saw a herd of elk walking on the side of the highway! Traffic stopped in both directions for pictures!  Most drivers didn't mind the wait...

We survived the Sunday night storm, even though the winds were so strong that I feared we'd end up in Kansas. We left town on the Monday MLK Holiday just as a series of storms were headed to the Oregon Coast. Below, a shot of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. It's hard not to love the quiet beauty of an Oregon winter.

Manzanita on Dwellable

Watercolor Journey - cards

I found some blank postcards for painting that are actually a perfect size for a greeting and miniture watercolor.  I always have a hard time finding greeting cards to send.  I will often stand reading the Hallmark offerings in the racks and finding them too sappy or psudo funny, and end up leaving without a purchase.  I was inspired to paint some greetings when I had thank you's to write and birthday cards to send. 

I'm loving using artist quality paints, rather than the student grade that had been in my art bag. 

The colors are much richer than the wimpy ones I was getting before. See below:

It' always fun to have my Kannie cat helping out.  She tries to contribute to my art projects by laying on the colorwheel!  Note that isn't a mirage that you're seeing. It really is a Christmas Tree in the room in the middle of January.  When I suggest taking it down, Dear Husband says "Oh let's leave it up another night!"  And so it goes....

Watercolor Journey - warm and cool

A lot has happened on my artful journey since I posted on watercolor painting last summer.  I was surprised at how many people were interested  in my post and in keeping a watercolor journal of their own.  I thought it might be interesting to my blog readers if I shared tips from my classes, and my neophyte paintings. I'm convinced that anyone can paint.  You just have to silence your inner 'critical voice' and do something often-everyday is best, even if it's just a small sketch.  The good thing about watercolor is that it's very portable.  You can take a small sketchbook and paint tin with you anywhere.

I signed up for another class this term and the instructor showed us how you can make a whole pallet from 'warm' and 'cool' shades using three colors.  Six paint tubes total.

Yellow:  (warm)  New Gamboge
               (cool)   Hansa Yellow   

Red:       (warm)  Pyrrol Red 
                (cool)   Quinacridone Red

Blue:       (warm) Ultramarine Blue
                (cool)  Phthalo Blue

Santa brought me a gift certificate from the art supply store, so I was able to splurge on some supplies. However,  it was nice to know that if you want to get started without a huge investment, you can start out with six tubes of paint. I was using student grade paints, and both of my recent instructors pointed out that if I was really serious about taking up watercolor it would be a lot less fustrating if I invested in a higher quality paint like Daniel Smith, Winsor Newton or Holbein, so...  The other thing, is to fill up your paint space and not meter out droplets, or as one instructor said "No rat turds!" LOL

Gray Days

I got a call from a friend yesterday saying that she'd visited my Blog and since I hadn't posted in a while, she wanted to see what I was up to! Ah, technology!  Well, all I can say is that living in Oregon, many of us hibernate in winter! Think of endless wet and gray days and you you just are grateful if you have lots of interests or a fun job to keep you busy. No point in wasting time waiting for the sun to shine!

Every time I step outside, it seems there's a deluge!

Poor Molly and Lulu.  Everytime I walk near my purse, or the front door, they lift their heads, as if to

say "Is it time  for a walk yet?"

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a year of peace, prosperity, good health and happiness in 2010!

It's Snowing!

Scenes from the back deck after

the Big Snow of 2008!  Below, looking out the window of my favorite room

 

Last year we had 3 feet of snow at Christmas and couldn't leave the house for days!  This year, I didn't want a repeat with memories of instant Fondue and fruit for Christmas dinner still fresh in my mind. When we finally did get to the grocery store, all the produce, meat and dairy sections were cleaned out!  Not to mention that church services were cancelled, work was missed and presents weren't delivered.  Still, when we had brilliant blue skies on this Christmas Day, I was reminded of my California childhood when I longed for real seasons, instead of the 70 degrees that we uually had during holiday time.

Today, I found myself running errands across town when the snowflakes stared falling.  Just an hour earlier the weatherman said to ignore the snow since it would quickly change to rain.  Fat Chance!  Those of us who have lived to the Pacific Northwest for a while know that the weather up here can turn on a dime. Luckily, I dashed home and soon those flurries turned into 4 inches of snow.  Rush hour traffic was tied up for hours. Still, if you are home, it's hard to beat the beauty and quiet of a snowday.  Everything slows down, and it's not a bad thing that you have to too!

A view across the creek.

Couldn't resist a shot from outside into our familyroom.  It still feels like Christmas.

Happy New Year Everyone!  I'm definitely looking forward to a new year and a new decade.

Happy Birthday

Happy 20th Birthday to our wonderful daughter, Katie, shown here on her

first birthday!  This was taken downtown last year, when it snowed so hard, she had to spend the day with your parents!  Aww...we had a great time!

Yum, Creme Brulee, and a beautiful birthday girl

Seasonal Moments

Well, it's time to round up the Snow People!  They will eventually end up on the mantle, but I snapped this photo as I was unpacking them.  I like putting up the Snow People since they can stay up through February after all the Christmas decorations have been put away.  After Christmas and New Year, everything looks so bare and spring still looms long on the horizon before the bulbs pop up.  In winter, you have to find visual cheerfulness wherever you can!

 

The temperature has been between between 14 and 20 degrees in Portland all week.  We've crammed so many activities into one week, since my Mom is having hip surgery next Thursday and will have a long recovery.  It will be a bit of a juggling act over the holidays with kids coming into town, and Rick and Bryan heading to Pasadina for the big Rose Bowl Game between the U of O Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes. But, we did catch a fun performance of the Portland Christmas Revels, a couple of great parties, and more music events.

I also came across some of the Christmas books that I used to read to the kids when they were little.  So many favorites, but the ones that stand out are: The Polar Express, The Mitten, and the timeless, Night Before Christmas.  Our sweet Kannie Cat (named by Aunt Barb), likes to be wherever I am-she was named for the Neahkahnie Beach, on the Oregon Coast.  She was a stray and living off the land in our beach home's yard before we could catch her and bring her to her new home about 6 years ago.  She now lives a life of steady meals and comfy chairs.

Thanksgiving Memories

It always seems like once fall is here, all the holidays come and go in quick succession!  Thanksgiving was fun, but a blur!  The kids were home with friends and significant others.  Our dear friends Mark, Barb and son, Tanner, joined us for the day.  Their daughter in in Africa on a Fulbright Scholarship, so it was time for them to have a new tradition for this year.  We had a turkey on the BBQ, and one in the oven...so far, so good, until, the oven decided to die!  It was a mad dash to put the pre-made stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes in the microwave to re-heat.

Our lovely KTB with her Godparents, Uncle  Mark and Aunty Barb.  I always love to serve buffet style from the counter.  I spent too many years feeling like a Traffic Cop, passing right and left throughout the whole meal!  This way, everyone serves themselves and we're done with it.

The best thing that we did this year was to share Thanksgiving stories between dinner and dessert.  We sat at the table and each person shared a memory of their favorite Thanksgiving.  It was interesting to hear the stories and to hear what mattered to each person... for me it's all about the stories and the memories!

My Mom has always been a stickler for a pretty table so naturally I fell into the tradition too.  When the kids arrived home on Wednesday, they found the tablecloth in the freezer where I'd put it so it would be easier to iron.  We made an "executive decision" to forego the tablecloth and just use placemats.  Dear son said he never remembers how a table is set, but remembers the food and conversation.. Ok, that did it!

I gave up trying to arrange everyone in the dining room.  The kitchen/family room is best--we can fit up to twelve for sure!

The water pitcher always reminds me to pour water when things get hectic!

Mom's china resides in my dining room cabinet since she doesn't host big dinners anymore.  She enjoys it when I use her lovely plates for a holiday meal.

Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without my Dad's turkey candleholders.  It's a rule in the family that whoever hosts dinner, gets the turkeys!  Hard to believe that my wonderful Dad has been gone ten years!  He loved Thanksgiving!  We think of him every time we bring these birds out!

Here's hoping you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner as well and are enjoying the blessings of the season!

Going Vintage

Theses days I'm feeling a little like Santa's Helper working downstairs, making jewelry and thinking about what's IN and what's not. My daughter, KTB the fashionista, always reminds me to follow fashion trends but that isn't always easy to do especially when they change so quickly.   Last season, it seemed that chunky, colorful beads were in.  The Bold and Beautiful look was strong.  Now, however, it's all about Vintage Style.  Delicate necklaces are all the rage:

Especially seasonal necklaces...love the snowflakes...no two are alike!

Snowflakes can be worn late into winter and will be especially popular with the Vancouver Winter Olympics coming up in Feburary 2010.

Flowers, leaves and birds, and bird's nests continue to be hugely popular.

Filigree is also huge, lots of it faux painted and sealed.

Rick says that I aways fill the space available with my business ventures (which usually means the whole house), but it's been hard to stay put in my office where's it's dark and cramped.  So... I moved my beading operation to the familyroom where I have better light, and the company of my little buddies keeping an eye on things.  Meet the ever adorable

Lulu

and Molly!

And these beautiful views!  Even in late autumn, it's so pretty and peaceful.

Stay tuned for more hot jewelry looks in future posts!  As for me, I'm off to clear off the pool table before the college kids arrive home for Thanksgiving!  Maybe they will be enticed to stay home more!