leather posie pins

Today was a marathon day- up at 6-even though it was Saturday! I just felt like making a crafty thing- so with Oliver ( my dog) next to me on the couch and a delicious espresso I made these posies with scraps given to me by my friend Cheryl . I feel the Christmas elf energy brewing here...
Cheryl works at a beautiful furniture store and gives me the discontinued leather and fabric samples.Thanks Cheryl! I use old buttons for the center of the flowers,

I love to craft things-These will be pins or pendants...(Not the greatest photo...)
Back to PAINT tomorrow!

Cyclamen 8" x 8" oil on panel

This plant has bloomed consistently for a whole year- i don't know why- usually my cyclamen sort of peter out...I love its heart shaped leaves and upward reaching fuschia petals. ( I need paint that color- can't get the vibrant pink it needs!)There are lots of hopeful buds coming up underneath. I think its success might be because it lives on my kitchen windowsill and I water it at its first sign of wilt, unlike my other houseplants gasping in the other room!

"In this moment" 7" x 9 "watercolor on paper

Every month I get to paint with a wonderful group of people.

We sit in the gallery on thursday mornings, enjoying the beautiful art on the walls and paint. I put on music, lay out the paint and paper and they just pick up the brush and go.

It's one of my favorite parts of my job. These people are retired lawyers, doctors. artists, dentists, musicians and many other professions. They are all here together because they share one thing- they all have early Alzheimer's disease. Painting and being together in this way is one less pill to take, one more way to be in the world. They are dignified, intelligent and loving people. They have taught me so much.

I am blessed to have them in my life. They are assisted by qualified and sensitive staff and volunteers from the local senior center.

Certain ones come for a while, then stop coming, and I miss them terribly when they do. Looking at art unlocks memories. I try not to be sad about it- these are not my parents, grandparents or loved ones.

They are just people, not suffering, at least when they are painting. I know it's the ones that are at home that hurt the most. I pray they find a cure for this terrible disease, but until they do, we can paint together and be here now.

Buddha "8x8" oil on panel

I got this Buddha statue at the Christmas Tree Shop.

I think this sorta says it all.

( I think the right eye needs a little help...funny how it shows up in the picture!)

"Artichokes" 8" x 8" acrylic and oil on panel

I love artichokes- always have- and many thanks to the first human that tried them. How did they know to steam them and dip them in butter and not eat the choke? Isn't it great that someone did all that research about wierd food for us?
The cashier gave me the "what the heck are these" look as she was looking up the price.
I adore those those cute young things- so much to learn ! I did a little research ( bear with me) and found out that......
The origin of artichokes is unknown, though they are said to have come from the Maghreb (North Africa), where they are still found in the wild state. The Globe Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus)^[2] is a perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows to 1.5–2 m tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery glaucous-green leaves 50–82 cm long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about 8–15 cm diameter with numerous triangular scales; the individual florets are purple. The edible portion of the buds consists primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of immature florets in the center of the bud is called the "choke". These are inedible in older larger flower.( thank you WIKIPEDIA)
I like them also with mayonnaise and even cold in a salad.
I do not like them pickled as much....but are nice in hot dips!
In other news- This weekend is the annual art sale at the  North River Arts in Marshfield Hills, MA (Old Main Road, right off 3A) where they will be part of the Holiday Sale THIS Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22. 10-4 are the regular hours. Those in the 'know' show up (and pay $15) for the 'Early Bird' hour, from 9-10 on Saturday, they get to scope out the deals from all the fine artists in the South Shore Area. 
I have 20 paintings there at rock bottom prices - and also don't miss my pal and mentor
Kelley MacDonald who's awesome blog got me in all this trouble.She has her incredible daily works at a reduced one time only price as well. Check her out.
Wait! There's more! -  Rockland open studios where several of my friends will be -be-don't miss MarySheehan Winn's studio-at the Sandpaper building- she's the bomb!
One last thing- I went to the "Avante Garde"opening at Oceanside friday- it was a blast.

Here is Tina Watson of Cohassett looking quite fetching next to the Zebra cow...

"Anticipation" 8" x 8 "oil on panel

My friend Kim gave me this amaryllis the other night-I planted it in the amazing wafer mix that puffs up with water- and now I wait. I will paint it weekly so you can see its progress.

I bet you all have them too- they are in all the stores! I think getting them to bloom again will be a challenge-so cool that something that looks as droll as  like this is going to be so beautiful! I did this one rather quickly- and listened to a beautiful African cd while I painted-seems to have a folk art look to it....

Asparagus 9" x 12" oil on panel

I always love the way asparagus looks in their sporty double purple rubber bands.
We had some in our pathetic little garden when we bought our house, but it only sent up 2 or 3 shoots at a time- not enough to really serve as a side dish- but fascinating.
I learned a few things about this sumptuous green veggie tonight...
Asparagus is a member of the Lily family.
The larger the diameter, the better the quality!
Asparagus is one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables in existence. It leads nearly all produce items in the wide array of nutrients it supplies in significant amounts for a healthy diet.
AND-Of course- there is the "funny pee" factor that I have to mention ( not the I ever have that problem!)
Most authorities feel that the compound that causes the odor in urine after consumption of asparagus is methylmercaptan, which is a sulfur-containing derivative of the amino acid, methionine. 
Hmmmmm very interesting.
maybe this is just TOO MUCH INFORMATION....
I like it and it's yummy .