Ingredients of My New Beginning...

Things are getting easier to deal with. I still don't have a job, but continue to look. I acquired a 1966 Airstream Overlander to live in. She (I named her Cher) landed in the side yard of the house I grew up in. My dad, his dog and one older brother still live in it... so I guess you can go home...

Fred (my dog) and I are content in Cher. She needs a good bit of work: some floor repair, then a bamboo click-down floor. Prior to that though... I got tired of only having my bunk to sit on, so I started tearing out the front gaucho (which was missing all of its upholstery).

 

I had ordered a cute convertable sofa/lounge and bought a rug. Turned out cute I think. I still need to remove the front freshwater tank and pump (Cher will be a stationary live in so I won't need it), so I can push the sofa back further to gain a bit more living room.

 

Both arms of the sofa fold down, which will come in handy as a second bunk, since I'm going to take out one of the twin bunks so I can have a "studio" space for art. She also needs some new vent covers to stave off some leaks, new appliances and other work. I'll have her gypsied up soon enough.

"Gypsies, tramps and thieves...''

A New Beginning...

I'm still reeling from Bruce's passing, even though it was expected... but trying to move on. Packing up the house, trying to sell things, giving things to the hospice that helped me with Bruce and paring down from a 1200 square foot house to a 200 square foot travel trailer... I arranged to trade Bruce's motorcycle for a 1966 26 foot Airstream Overlander. Right now, it's parked in my dad's driveway (since I don't have a job and lot rent there is free). It needs a good bit of work and I'll be posting on it as I work on it. This will be a whole new beginning for me... something I've always wanted to do. My dreams may not be grand... but they are mine and I will live them...

My best friend and soul mate went to live in the eternal sunshine last night. He went peacefully and is no longer in pain. Rest well Bruce... We will be together again someday, my love...
 

What 2013 Brings...

I know I haven't posted much lately and have been cryptic when I have posted... So it's time I told you what is going on... Some of you already know what I'm facing, but most of you don't. The reason for the reticence is that my husband wanted his privacy... and still does... but now that his entire family has received the news, I can post about it and explain why I will continue to be scarce for a while. My loving husband of 8 short years has been battling cancer for 4 years and is now under hospice care here at home with me. I have much support from family and friends... including my friends in blogland. I will keep you posted now and again and will visit your blogs here and there. I have a plan that I'm putting into place to continue my life when the inevitable happens. It will be a new adventure, however sorrowful at first. Thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers and support. I love you all...

Give Thanks... Everyday...

Today is the day most in America give thanks for the blessings in thier life. And I do too... However... I am grateful everyday. I've learned to be... Grateful for life and love and laughter, grateful for my husband and the time I have to spend with him, grateful for my family and friends who love and support me... and I'm grateful for Fred, my dog and the joy he brings me...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

but remember to be grateful every day!

Just not feelin' it...

Sometimes you just have to let yourself be sad... If I'm not around for awhile, I'll be back... and I'll be alright... See you all soon.

New Art and a Little Advice...

My newest piece, framed in a distressed black wood frame...

5"x7" oils and journaling on gessoed scrapbook paper...

It Sings! I can even hear Maya Angelou's voice saying this...

What is Bruce of the Thicket looking at from his perch atop my whiteboard at work?

Must be his new temporary neighbor, across the desk...

I bet this is what he's thinking....

Newly Finished Painting...

Remember these backgrounds?

I finished one...

Poison Dart Frog 1: mixed media - oil and archival ink (rubber stamped moth and journaling) on acrylic and clear gesso washed and sealed vintage dictionary page over 6x6 inch masonite board.
The other one is a bit more than half finished.

 

Across the Road...

The third installment of "Why I Love my Bicycle Commute!" Across the road from the abandoned house from the last post is a huge wooden privacy fence.  And this...

it tumbles over it and cascades down...

like a colorful waterfall.

It is Trumpet Creeper, another Florida native and a great hummingbird attractor!

There weren't any hummers here this day..

but it's beautiful just the same!

and so was this Hempweed (not the kind some people smoke) vine entangled in it.

Waiting for a hummingbird...

The Cycle of Life...

The second installment of "Why I love my Bicycle Commute!" involves the (formerly) overgrown yard of an abandoned house. I say formerly, because, sadly, the yard has since been mowed and cleaned up. Sadly? Yes...

This yard was covered in wild Passion Flower vines...

These amazingly beautiful flowers were everywhere...

even over the concrete driveway...

Passion Flowers are a Florida native plant and grow wild here...

Their fruit, Pssion Fruit, are edible and put in teas, yogurts, etc. My dad grew up calling them Maypops. They grow wild in Georgia too. I'll get pictures of the fruit when they are on the vine.

They are the larval host for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly.

The females lay their eggs on the leaves and when they hatch, the caterpillars eat the leaves.  See her in there laying her eggs?

I was upset when I saw that the yard had been mowed and cleaned up. Only the vine covered bush in the middle of the yard remained.  At least it is still there and the vines are thriving on it... They are very persistent (Is that why some call them weeds?) and will be back next summer...

My Neighbor's Garden...

First installment of "Why I Love My Bicycle Commute!"

I took the time one morning to stop and take pictures of one of my neighbors' gardens... What a lovely sight on my way...

I don't know what this yellow flowered bush is...  but it's so cheerful!

This is a Purple Allamanda...

and what a beauty it is,

With it's big soft violet flowers...

A brilliant yellow flowering tree... A False Ponciana? Don't really know... but it makes me smile...

and this beautiful Angels Trumpet tree...

I just love the flowers!

They are this soft shell pink...  See the bee?

Heavenly... don't you think?

Problem...

My menu bar (New Post, Design, etc) that ued to sit at the top right of my blog is gone! Any clues how to get it back?  Thanks!
 

Lunchtime Surprise!

Yesterday morning my hubby called me from the grocery store asking about the pin number of the card he was using... Then he asked if I was in the office... Of course... and would I meet him in the parking lot at lunchtime... Of course... So he calls when he gets to my building...

and gives me this! A pretty little pink rose bush for my desk! He said I had a little desk, so he got me little flowers...

A couple of weeks ago I snapped this picture of our resident squirrel... He's sitting in a little Dahoon Holly tree between the building and the parking lot, eating green berries...  I see him in this tree a lot.

Today I snapped a picture of him relaxing in his favorite place to hang... Chillin' out in the shade on the wall of our little dining patio... Apparently he lives in the eaves of our building and he's very often spotted sprawled out on the wall.

Next post will be full of pictures of why I love my bicycle commute!

Metamorphosis...

My husband came in from the garage the other day and told me to hold my hands out. I did...

He put these in my hands... It's a good thing I'm not squeamish! A shed caterpillar skin and the resulting pupa...  Here's what the pupa looks like up close...

The underside (top) looks almost as if it has a face and on the back (bottom) you can tell where it will split open...

Photo source: www.carolinanature.com

To reveal this! An Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) ... with a wingspan of 5 to 6 inches...

I've been working on an oil painting of a Prairie Warbler on gessoed purple scrapbook paper that looks like old wall paper. I'll post it when I'm done. But I thought I'd post a few of the backgrounds I've been prepping for other oil paintings...

Vintage sheet music adherred to 5" x 7" masonite and coated with with matte gel medium. After a few coats of the gel medium, comes a couple coats of clear gesso and then a final wash of clear gesso with a few drops of turquoise acrylic paint mixed in. Finally before it dries I wipe alot of it off with a paper towel. A singing bird will go on this background.

These vintage illustrated dictionary pages are prepared the same way, but are on 6" x 6" masonite, with the wash being green. I'll be painting Poison Dart Frogs on these.

Metamorphosis in progress... in nature... and in art...