Journal page

Don't these black boxes look like TVs? I saw this ancient piece of art in a museum in Turkey and was captivated with it. This is my interpretation of the piece. Wonder if the ancients predicted TVs. And that with thousands of channels there would be almost nothing worth watching.

Pen and watercolors.

Remember This

Art journaling is one of my fave things to do with my nieces.

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Digital supplies: layered template and png file from Ali Edwards; papers from Katie Pertiet.

World Book Night 2013

I love this program and have selected my books already. Are you a giver?
You can learn more here.

The sugar hill

Remember how I recently said that I was listening to something that was blowing my mind? It is about the latest research on sugar. I've been paying attention to sugar for a couple of years now. Started by removing easy sources - white foods, sweets, candy, etc. And I notice a difference. My system burns cleaner. I feel better. I have more clarity. I'm not yet at the point where I eschew sugar all together, but my friends, I think I am slowing inching my way in that direction. You can listen to Steve Gibson talk about his experience with the sugar hill here.

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Pen and watercolors.

Top 10 lies in online dating

From everything I hear about online dating, it is a jungle out there. But it would never occur to me that someone would lie about loving museums!

"If everyone who says they 'love museums' and 'go to them all the time' were telling the truth, every museum in the world would look like Walmart on Black Friday," says Vice's Brian Moylan. Daters run the risk of sounding boring if they have only a couple hobbies, so many "interests" are exaggerated.

Click here to see the other top 10 lies.

Journal page

I love graphic novels. They sure have come a long way from the comics I used to read as a kid.

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It is always fun to try sketches from a book. Style is such a personal thing. Ink and markers.

Play Date

Had my nephews Luke and Jonah over for a play date recently, and we lucked out with a really mild day. Luke is almost 10. Jonah almost 8. They grow up so fast.

Activities included a 3 mile walk in the park, shooting bows and arrows, learning how to use crossbows, soccer drills, and table tennis competitions. Being an aunt is one of my fave, fave things. Love these boys.

Journal page

There is something wonderful about abstract art. Everytime I look at this wood sculpture, I see something different. Sometimes it looks like a woman, other times a cat, or some Egyptian artifact.

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A quick sketch while watching a good game between the Pats and Bills. I need something to do during all those commercials. When you don't watch much TV, they seem interminable. Pen and watercolors.

Reading right now

So many books, so little time.

Am currently reading The Handmaid's Tale on my nook, The Wake, and Le Road Trip in print. Each of these is so different from the other, and yet each so good in their own way. Need to pick my next audio book. What are you reading right now? Anything good?

Journal page

When I don't feel well, I take out my journal and paints and play. It always lifts my spirits. Feeling much better today. How wonderful a feeling that is.

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Pen and watercolors

Recent Reads

109. Gone Girl
This was probably the most hyped book this summer, so I waited until all the noise died down before I started it. Expectations can be set too high. I listened to the audio version, which was wonderfully narrated by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne.

Gone Girl is the story of two of the most unlikable, selfish, dysfunctional, and narcissistic people I think I have ever read in literature. On the day of their 5th anniversary, the wife goes missing. And the ride begins. The pace is good, and the author makes some clever observations of human nature, but on the whole I don't think I would have finished this book if I had been reading it in print. The audio however is an enjoyable, if disturbing, ride. Am glad to have their voices out of my head. Rating: 3 stars.

110. A Storm of Swords
This is book #3 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Oh, the twists and turns of this story. I find myself struggling not to get too attached to characters. And failing. And find myself talking aloud to characters. And saying no, no, noooooo.

Winter is coming! Rating: 4 stars.

111. The Art of Urban Sketching

I read the Urban Sketchers blog, where you get to see the world, one sketch at a time. The book has wonderful sketches from artists around the world, and is chock-full of tips, advice and inspiration. Makes me want to sketch everything in sight. I loved everything about this book. Rating: 5 stars.

112. 1493

I loved the first half of this book, but have gotten bogged down on the second half. Might come back to it - it is really wonderfully narrated. But putting it aside in my DNF pile for now.

A sign of the times

What does it say about our times when even dogs have anxiety?

And how does this help exactly? Does it feel like a tight hug?

Dudus

Been under the weather the past several days. Throwing in the towel and going to see the doc today. My lungs are not sounding good. Funny how art work can be foreshadowing. These sketches reflect exactly how I feel.

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Pen and watercolors.

Play Date

We had my nephews over for a play date yesterday.

 

It was election day, so we went in to vote. No lines at all in our town. The kids were fascinated by the entire process. We discussed who they would vote for if they could, and also talked about the pros and cons of the three ballot questions. Our civic duty done, we spent the rest of the day discussing books, going for a walk, climbing trees, making a fire, and playing monopoly. And before we knew it, it was time for them to go home. Good thing we have another play date scheduled for next week.

Journal page

The thing about aging, is that it beats the alternative. Popular culture seems to demand that we spend loads of time, and money pretending to be young. Like somehow we will cheat time. I for one do not buy into this notion. Age as gracefully as possible - that is my motto. And if that means that I now have to dangle reading glasses around my neck, so I'm not constantly looking for them, so be it.

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There is something wonderful about faces with character. Pencil and watercolors.

Reading right now

I've got several books going right now. A Storm of Swords on my nook, 1493 on audio (iPod), The Art of Urban Sketching in print, and I dip into A Passion for Books on my nook every now and then.

What are you reading right now? Anything good?

Turkey Travel Journal

Here is a short video of my completed Turkey Travel Journal.



If the embedded video does not work, click here.
Click here to see how I make this type of journal.

Bellagio Collage

A family tradition when I'm in Las Vegas is a visit to the Bellagio. We admire the creative works of art in the botanical garden, and then proceed to sample the edible works of art at Jean-Philippe. Yummy.

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Hello November

I love the start of each month. It is a time to reflect on the months past, and set goals for the months to come.

As part of my goals for this month, I have signed up for a 21 day meditation challenge. Starting Nov 5. Care to join me? Learn more about this free program here. 

Trick or Treat

And just like that another month has flown by. Am holding on for dear life. Need to spend more time running or meditating - time always seem to move at a crawl then.

I love quaint American traditions - like Halloween - where kids dress up and walk up to strangers homes and ask for candy. I mean think about that for a moment. Do kids really need to be given more sugar? Well, kids aside, I'm getting smarter in my old age. Bought way less candy, so was left with only five at the end of the night. Better than having bags of the stuff that I constantly have to pit my non-existent willpower against.

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Spent some time at my local book store with hot tea, magazines, and my journal. Sketched images that caught my eye and then made them my own. Added the watercolor at home while listening to something that is blowing my mind. Will share soon.