Illustration Friday: Scattered

Scattered leaves like confetti on the shallow pond.

The Koi feel celebrated by Autumn.  

For Illustration Friday

acrylic paint, colored pencils and patterned paper, 10 minutes

Animal Wednesday: Chick with attitude!

This is one of the resident chickens at Coggeshall Farm when Robin visited.

She came out to greet us....

...turned and stepped through the gate when I got too close,

And then told me to go home! hahahaha!

Could she have been more clear?

And I thought I'd throw this is seeing as I haven't posted much art lately.

I painted this chicken a few years back and sold it in California.

It's one of my best selling notecards on Etsy.

Happy Animal Wednesday, my friends!

Sunday Snippet

Today my leg felt good enough to take myself on a walk.

Mother Nature is giving us little hints of what's to come.

Personally, I can't wait for the full spectrum glow!

Back to work tomorrow, slowly but surely.

Happy Sunday, my friends.♥

Animal Wednesday with Robin

What a wonderful week Robin and I spent together getting to know one another in person. She was a delightful guest! I just took her to the airport where she'll be getting back to her life in San Francisco. Just like when Marianne left, I miss her already.

Here I am photographing her photographing a seagull!

She was fascinated by everything here, even the ordinary.

This photo was taken at Colt State Park in Bristol.

We strolled through the gardens and arboretum at Blithewold and I discovered a pond which I had never seen before. It was fun sharing something new with her.

These koi were coy! They just wanted to stay beneath the surface although the sun was calling them.

We had a wonderful lunch here in Newport.

Most of the shops have water and treats for doggies that pass by!

Lions and griffons on my favorite planter at Blithewold.

And this sweet little Viceroy we saw on the Cliff Walk.

And here's the gang at Coggeshall Farm. One burro, one horse, and an entire family of heirloom cattle. They are massive and gorgeous!

Lilac Robin is scouting for more wildlife.

Looking for shells...

The adventurer!

Marco!!! Polo!!!!! Marco??? Lolo????

And so she continues to sleuth along the water's edge.

I'm told she loves it here.

I'm sure she'll be back ;)

xo

lo♥

Illustration Friday: Hibernate

Whenever possible, hibernate with your best friend :)

A little something from the archives until I find time to make new art.

Happy Autumn!

xo

Lo♥

Missing Suki

Yesterday was a disappointment as we had to make a decision whether to drive in pouring rain for 4 hours to see Suki or to stay home.

For safety and sanity's sake we chose not to drive.

All three of us were sad, but even Suki agreed that she would not have made the drive if she were coming to us.

Later that evening the storm clouds parted.

Robin and I took Emma for a walk down the street to Cove Haven Marina.

The  post storm clouds with the glow of the afternoon light were magical.

This is my neighborhood. I wish I had a house on the water like this but at least it's right down the street.

Doesn't this look like a jigsaw puzzle?

Suki, you were with us as we took these photos and walked along the shore.

Next time, my friend.

Rhode Island is calling you.

xo

Love,

Lo and Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday: Dogs in cars

Some days I take my camera to work with me so I can catch a glimpse of sweet faces in cars along the way, like this one...look at her smile :)

And this sweet galooot! That's a string/muzzle type thing across his nose, not saliva. 

 I was eating chowder in my car parked next to him. His eyes were on the restaurant door waiting for his parents :)

I love him!

And here's my girl Emma in my car at a park in Monterey just before we moved.

How cute is she??? C'mon, you KNOW she is ;) 

Embiggen this face!

And here's my golden girl, Bliss, basking in the afternoon sun in the studio.

Okay, she's not a dog in a car but she still deserves a spotlight!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

I will visit as I can. I'm looking forward to it.

xo

Lo♥



Barrington Graffiti

This is a tree in a park near the marina where I sometimes walk Emma.

Do you know why it's smiling?

Because I finally have a day off !!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully a little art making is in my near future :)

Happy Saturday!

Animal Wednesday: Newport Animals along the way

Nice little summer place, eh?

I took a drive down the street the other day after work and thought I'd take a turn onto Ocean Drive, a known street for the wealthier residents. Some of them summer there, others hunker down all year long to enjoy the winter solitude without so many tourists..

~This is a little inlet in the bay~

~ a sweet house on the rocks~

~a boat on the quiet water~

~ a nice nestled home~

~You can't get through Newport without seeing sailboats. It's the home of the America's Cup, I believe. Many summer residents live on their yachts~

These kites were crazy! All in unison...wild!

~More of the shoreline which reminded me so much of 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach, CA.~ 

All of a sudden I was at a pasture as soon as the ocean view ended. These horses were so friendly! I love the dappled sunlight.

Three amigos :)



This is inspiration for a future painting.

And finally, a very strange cow!! Looks like he has a rugby shirt on!! And he looks a bit like a pig, no?

Happy Animal Wednesday!

And for those of you who would like to do an "O" cover, here's the link.

xoxo

Lo♥

I've been Oprah-fied!

When I lived in California I was so busy (and popular) that Brian used to jokingly call me "the second coming of Oprah." I thought it was hilarious, always wondering how the hell Oprah could juggle all that she did.

(Um...being a billionaire and having a huge staff who make a lot of money!!!!!!!!!)



I admire Oprah for being self-made, I do.

I'm self made too. I may not be successful monetarily, but I'm rich in love and friendship.

Here are 5 things I know for sure.

I am very blessed with true, amazing friends.

Ditto in the husband department. Through all of our ups and downs we still have each other's backs. And there has always been a mutual respect. I love that.

I know I always try to do my best even though I often fall short. But I do try.

I would give nine cents of my last dime to someone who needed it more than me.

I know I'm blessed in spite of the journey I've had, as well as because of the journey I've had and survived.

So here I am on the cover of "O" magazine. Big boobs, black hair, darker skin and my old red hair which is back to blonde.

I'm surrounded by dogs...yay! What, no kitties?

And I look relaxed.

Now if I could only make this horrendous sciatica pain go away.

oh yeah, Calgon, take me away!

I miss you guys!! But again, I'm trying.

xo

Lo♥

It's All Good

I thought I'd show you a part of my commute just so you know I'm still kicking.

I have always wondered how you working folks find the time to blog and still get other things done after a full week. I'm relearning, I swear. Thanks for understanding why I've been scarce.

This is the Mt. Hope bridge which I have to cross on my way to and from the market.

It's one of my favorite parts of the commute because the views from either side at the top are glorious!

This is Memorial Drive in Newport, the last road I'm on before I turn onto Bellevue where the market is. At the end of the day I come down that hill and Easton's Beach presents itself to me.  There are always swimmers and surfers and sunbathers galore.

I guess it becomes a ghost town after this weekend. That means I'll be able to find parking so I can do some exploring on my own!  This is one beautiful city.

And here is the beach in the golden afternoon sun. I didn't take this photo nor the one above because, as I've said there's been nowhere to park! So thank you to whoever took these shots. 

When Robin visits we'll paint the town! Until then I'm enjoying my job so far and the folks I work with are fantastic and welcoming.

It's all good!

I'll be popping in as I can. I miss you all!

Love,

Lo♥

Animal Wednesday: What Emma Has To Say...

Sweet little yippity-yappity Emma HATES my new schedule!

It takes me away from her and her "normal routine" even though daddy does a fine job of keeping her feeding and walking schedule.

BUT it's not mom.

I get it!

I'm all thrown off kilter too.

I have been self-employed for the past twenty years. If I needed a break, I took one (or two!)

I'm not working very long shifts...six hours with an hour commute each way.

I love the people I work with and quite honestly I don't mind the work.

The customers are mostly wonderful.

The food is great.

But my body is wondering WHAT is up!

Today I asked that my break be closer than they were scheduling it so my blood sugar wouldn't crash. When it does, it's hard to recover. I'm a zombie.

I eat very little but I eat every three hours to maintain my brain.

Guess what? They said no problem!

So I ask you, what is Emma yapping about???

Oh yeah, she's a mommy's girl and she misses me. 

AND I miss all of you!! I swear I'm trying to visit, I really am.

Ah, life adjustments. It's all good. ♥

HAW!!

Animal Wednesday: Emma wanna greeeeen beeeean?

Okay, I still don't have a handle on using my video thingy on my camera, otherwise I wouldn't have scanned the greasy frying pan while trying to follow my dog!

That said, Emma loves green beans. I mean L-O-V-E-S!

So, I had just gotten off the phone with Auntie Robin after telling her how much Emma adored beans.

The proof is right here!

Please ignore my high-pitched teasing voice. I was just hoping for her cute head tilt (which I got!)

The new job is going well. Two days under my belt and I'm still alive!

Happy Animal Wednesday my friends!

xo

Lo and Emma♥

To Market, to market...

No, not to buy a fat pig, but to show up for work here!

For the first time in fifteen years I will be showing up for a regular job rather than being self-employed. And for the first time in two years I will have a much needed income. 

The quote above says so much. I have, for the past two years, not taken very good care of myself. It shows physically in my weight and it has worn me down emotionally. That is so opposite of how I usually treat my body.

So now I have another chance to get it right.

I feel so lucky to have landed a job in spite of feeling like an invisible, heavy, middle-aged woman.

I'm so grateful for the man who saw through to the real me.

I'm not a number on a scale.

I'm not invisible.

And now, finally, I am employed. 

Wish me luck!

xo

Lo♥

Heron Dreams

I figured I had better post something, anything so you all know I'm still here!

Summer has been busy. Family visiting, job hunting, etc.

This is an old collage I did for notecards. My mother was from New Brunswick and the locals were referred to as herons. I think of her every time I see this collage.

This is for Robin, too, who recently posted about the one she encountered.

Tomorrow I see KJ, Mim and Suki !!

More later...miss you all!♥