SANDY SANDYs WEB LOG

Fruity Artist / Photographer M.I.A.

2012-01-20T18:31:00.000-05:00

My friend and college classmate, Carmella Messina, has just started a a blog called Persona.

She said she came up with the name because of the many hats she wears. Believe me, I can relate. These days, I find I am a house keeper, nurse, wife, photographer, artist and equestrian; not necessarily in that order.

For the past two weeks, in addition to my nursing duties, I have been shooting fruits and vegetables to upload to iStockPhoto. When I get going on a project, I tend to get obsessed, that I will admit.

I think I've spent over $250. on produce so far. Thank goodness for my walk-in, screened-in porch fridge

This is one of the images that has already been accepted and added to my iStockPhoto Online Portfolio. I just had a piece of one and it was delicious!

These days, my studio looks more like a farm market and smells like citrus and garlic.

The deer and horses here aren't complaining either. Nothing is going to waste. As I shoot and discard, I think the critters here at The Sandarosa are truly enjoying the abundant treats and vast variety of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. . . They just don't realize how spoiled they really are.

Part Time Nurse By Chance, Not Choice

2012-01-18T15:52:00.001-05:00

I know I have been M.I.A. here lately, but I've got a new part time job here at Sandy Land.

My husband has had another illness starting on Saturday morning and continuing through the weekend. First thing Monday morning, it was off to the ER again and an emergency operation to drain three abscesses. This time it was a condition at a totally different end from the head problems he had just one month ago. It's not in a place you can easily blog about, but it does give a new perspective and deeper meaning to the phrase, "Pain in the ass". I'm doing the best I can to be a good caretaker. I am not the best or most sympathetic nurse, I will admit. But my husband has got to be one of the worst patients I have ever known! The current situation reminded me of this little illustration I did many years ago. I can see it as kind of a self portrait right now.

Every Winter

2012-01-16T12:46:00.000-05:00

Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay -
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.

~ Charles Kingsley

We Have A Winner!

2012-01-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

"Your mental attitude attracts to you everything that makes you what you are." ~ Napoleon Hill

The winner of my "Little Christmas" Holiday Hummingbird Original Watercolor Giveaway was picked today at 3pm. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw who it was! Well actually, I could believe my eyes, because Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor is one of the luckiest and most positive people I know. She is always winning contests and experiencing the most awesome successes and adventures! Of course, other than the luck of the draw, I believe her powerful attitude has as much to do with it as anything. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she told me she was already envisioning winning the piece. I'm a firm believer in "What you think about comes about". Jennifer is a dedicated blogger, artist, photographer and gardener. She propels herself with her winning attitude and puts 110% into everything she does. Congratulations Jen! Your painting is on its' way!

"Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force." ~ Irving Berlin

"Attitude will always define who we are in life." ~ Mark A. Brennan

LOVE

2012-01-04T18:45:00.001-05:00

Burr, it was a good day to be inside today, so I've been working on some new Valentine's Day images for my iStock portfolio. February 14th will be here again before you know it! It's always been one of my favorite holidays. How cool is it to have a special holiday in honor of LOVE, now really? Since my birthday is February 17th, it has always seemed like an extended one too! That, and we still continue the tradition of celebrating birthday week here in Sandy Land. I always try to plan something special for my special honey on that day. Even the critters usually get an extra treat or two. What do you usually do on St. Valentine's Day? Do you have any special memories or traditions?

And a Reminder: I am having A Painting Giveaway this Friday at 3pm EST. Be sure to leave a comment and enter the contest if you would like a chance to win my little "Holiday Hummingbird" watercolor!

They Go Bonkers For Bananas!

2012-01-02T15:58:00.001-05:00

My horses truly love their fruits! Not just apples either.

Did you know that most horses actually love bananas?

Would you believe me if I said my horses start salivating at the casual mention of grapes, peaches, plums, oranges, nectarines or pineapple?

Of course, they also love most melons too, even the rind if it's cut in very small pieces. My guys are 20 and 31 years young and get hay with small quantities of grain 4x's a day.

I add water to their ration with a small amount of fruit or vegetable mixed in. I also occasionally feed them small quantities of carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, radishes and cauliflower; although I've just read at one source online that the potato and cabbage family are not recommended as they can cause gas. I've never had a problem, but again, I keep my quantities very small, about the size of one medium sized apple per feeding.

If you are thinking of supplementing your horse's diet, offer a taste first and don't over do it. If they spit it out at you, try another small piece later. They may change their mind. A little goes a long way when cut up small for treats or mixed in their feed. Of course, I remove all pits or large seeds or rough skins first. The rule of thumb is that it should be smaller than the size of a ping pong or golf ball, but I think this is still too big. I cut mine even smaller (about 1/2" diameter or less), especially with hard foods like carrots or sweet potatoes. This size is still big enough to chew, but small enough to be easily swallowed, if it isn't fully masticated. I want to eliminate any danger of choking, because at 31, Rudy doesn't have the greatest teeth anymore.

My equines are spoiled, I admit it, but the joy and great workout I get from riding and taking care of them everyday is well worth all the effort, time commitment and expense involved.

Find a great article on how to prepare fruit and veggies for your equine friends here, where I just found out that out you can feed the banana pieces with the skin still on after removing the hard ends.

Your horses will thank you if you put some kind of fruit or vegetable in their feed regularly. It adds excitement to their day and variety to their diet and vocabulary. My horses know so many more words now!

Remember, do not feed too much at a time and wipe off or wash the food first.

The images used here in this post are available for licensing from my iStock portfolio.

Thanks for reading and as always, your input is most welcome and very appreciated.

Celebrating 500 Posts with a Painting Giveaway!

2011-12-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

I am still in the Christmas Spirit here and have just painted this little holiday hummingbird today. The Christmas Day post on my web log was my 500th post on this blog! To celebrate, I am having an original watercolor painting giveaway! To be eligible to win this one of a kind, 5" x 7" double matted painting, you have to leave a comment here on this post and tell me why you would like to win this piece. If you subscribe to my blog, or are already a follower, with your comment you get an extra two entries into the drawing, making it a total of three! The drawing will be held at 3pm, EST on January 6th, Little Christmas, the traditional end of the Christmas Season. This contest is open to all residents of the USA and Canada. The winner will be notified here on my blog and by email. I will mail the painting as soon as I have the winner's shipping address. Thanks to everyone who reads my posts and adds their thoughts and comments! Please tell your friends about this drawing and good Luck to you all!!

Peace On Earth Good Will To All

2011-12-25T17:43:00.000-05:00

"Let time, space and language lay no limitations upon human brotherhood."

May the Spirit of Christmas Bless You and Yours

2011-12-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

When Jerry was in the hospital last week, we got a Christmas card from friends with this poem enclosed. After searching online for the author, I found several who have claimed it as their own. The earliest published version however, was in 1949, by Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981). Each and every one of you has had an impact on my life and I want to thank you and let you know that you are remembered and appreciated at this festive time. MY SINCERE WISHES TO YOU ALL FOR A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS!! With Love, Sandy

01 Days Till Christmas!

2011-12-23T17:08:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! OMG, I can't believe it ! ! This month, especially the past couple of weeks, have been a blur.

We had a scare here when hubby, Jerry, became very ill two and a half weeks ago. It was probably a combination of things; abscess, root canal, flu, dehydration, pinched nerve and low blood pressure from not eating. Then there was fainting, ER visits and a couple of falls resulting in stitches and a broken nose. He was in the hospital for three days over last weekend. His many tests; MRIs, CATs, blood work and heart tests showed nothing.

I knew he was finally turning the corner yesterday when he took the truck up the road to get feed for our beloved critters. Today we went to the doctor's office and he got his stitches out. Then it was on to the bank and out to do a little Christmas shopping. When we got home, he even did a few small jobs outside around the property before collapsing in his chair. He's moving slower, but things are finally getting better for him. I am so thankful that the old Jerry is starting to reappear. It looks like we're going to have a Very Merry Christmas after all!

Easy To Make Party Favor Magnets

2011-12-13T11:29:00.002-05:00

As little gifts for people attending this year's Holiday Open Studio, my friend, Nancy Louie, suggested I make fridge magnets. I had never done this before but thought I'd give it a try with some of my snowman images from iStock.

Here's what one of the art layouts looked like. This was printed on magnetic sheets I got from Staples. The thick plastic material was fed it into the ink jet printer and to my surprise, it worked just as good as paper. Bobbie had the tedious job of cutting four sheets of magnets apart with an X-acto knife. She said she didn't mind doing it though. She always loved getting away from her reception desk and thoroughly enjoyed working in the shop at our old sign company. Especially when she got to cut sandblast masking with her X-acto!

I put the magnets on the fridge at the party and let people pick some to take home.

I also had the idea of cutting up some of my failed watercolors and making them into bookmarks.

It was Bobbie's idea to dress them up a little with yarn and string.

There is still a variety to offer those who read physical books.

I thought other watercolorists may want to try this too. It's just a way of recycling and sharing. If any of you readers would like a couple of bookmarks and/or magnets, Email me at sandy @sandysandy.com with your mailing address. I'd be happy to share these little token gifts with my friends while the supply lasts.

Here's a photo of some of the food at the party. Bobbie did such a nice job with everything, I sure was lucky to have her. I think she may have missed her calling as a caterer, although her varied skills and unending assistance was truly appreciated.

The Yuletide Season Continues

2011-12-11T11:58:00.000-05:00

In preparation for my Open Studio last weekend, my friend, Bobbie Zurbach came everyday and helped me. No, I should say, directed all the preparations and decorating. Living out in the middle of the pines, I normally don't get this involved with it. I do have a lot of Christmas stuff though. Bobbie was full of great ideas of what we could do with this and that, so I listened, collaborated and mostly just let her do her thing.

The front porch, lights, tree, packages and garland was practically an all day project. It's funny how decorating always turns into a bigger job than you anticipated, especially when working with lights.

After some heavy rain last week, the temperatures have dropped and it's expected to stay colder now. I don't mind the chilly weather and know I should be careful what I wish for, but I'd still like to see a little snow for Christmas.

The back studio porch took almost as much time to decorate as the front one did. Thanks again to Bobbie for making the outside feel as welcoming, cheerful and festive as the inside.

This natural balsam snowman wreath was given to us by my good friend and collector, Dorrie Heil last Saturday. The snowmen decorations by the studio are all from previous years' wreaths.

This one hangs inside my back screened porch, our main doorway, off of my kitchen entrance. It stays cool and protected there, so I can keep it up and enjoy the vibrant color and refreshing fragrance until spring! Thank you again, Dorrie, for such a beautiful and heartfelt gift.

I hope you are all making headway with your holiday preparations, taking some time for yourself and most of all, enjoying this Yuletide season!

My Art Used For Another Book Cover (and Back)

2011-12-10T11:33:00.000-05:00

Last March, I was first contacted by Michelle Waggoner, the production chief / art director for the New Plains Review, a literary journal that that is published twice a year by the Department of English at the University of Central Oklahoma. They used one of my spirit art images for the cover of their Spring '11 Publication. On Thursday, I heard from Michelle again. She wrote; "I’d like to thank you for contributing such nice artwork to iStock. Also, we’ve used another one of your pieces as the cover art for our latest issue and would like to send you two copies."

What a wonderful gesture

and a great way to do business.

When first viewing the online version of the front cover on Thursday, I thought; now why did they use the image that way? Then today, I remembered Michelle saying something about the back cover. I clicked on the book preview and found the back cover. Zing, some pretty powerful poetry accompanies my little golden hummingbird there!

Follow this link to see the Fall '11 New Plains Review,

then click on PREVIEW directly under the front cover

then at top right - -- - click through the pages >, or write in - - pg. 12 - -
It's a bit of a trek, but if you like inspiring words, it's well worth the journey.

I really miss my hummingbird honeys,

especially around Christmas.

What a pleasant surprise visit on this cold and dreary wintery day.

Saying Thank You

2011-12-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was,

"thank you," that would suffice."~ Meister Eckhart

Much of the day was spent locating image files of the paintings that sold this past weekend. After making a print out of the digital photo I take of each piece, the image is trimmed and mounted to a custom made notecard. For years I have thanked my buyers like this. There is still something to be said for a hand written Thank You note. It's a little tedious, but well worth the effort. People love them and often keep them attached to the back of the painting. I think my regular collectors would be disappointed if they stopped getting them. It is a wonderful addition to the purchase, allows me another opportunity to express my gratitude and adds provenance to the artwork.

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone." ~ G.B. Stern

Holiday Open Studio Tour

2011-12-05T23:22:00.000-05:00

I love seeing other artist's studios, so I thought maybe you would like to take a holiday tour of mine.

With the help of hubby, Jerry and good friend Bobbie Zurbach, this year's Open Studio Holiday Party was a smashing success.Bobbie came everyday last week and offered her labor, feedback and ideas. She worked for me at Alpha 1 Studio for many years and we still have a great friendship and a perfect work place symbiosis.

This is the view of the show as you enter the studio, looking to the right.

There are no prints, only originals in this room. The show was mainly for my collectors and neighbors. Prices were lowered considerably and price tags were put on many paintings in my private collection as well.

Panning to the left, the first stop was the mini retrospective.

This was Bobbie's idea and it was a super addition to the show. It starts at the top left with two drawings of a bunny and a turkey, done at age five. Then moving to the top right, is one of my first oils, and my hand drawing at age 12. In the middle is a high school sketch done from life of my sister, Denise. A few old photos accompany the early art. Then a figure drawing and a couple of watercolors done in college or shortly there after. My company brochure, Alpha 1 Studio, from the 80's and early 90's, showing a sampling of our sandblasted signs. Featured at the bottom right are some recent professional photographs and a CD cover with my artwork.

On the table, is a book I made in college, my Animal Spirits Book and a sketchbook from this year's Sketching Everyday Blog.

Although it took considerable thought and effort, I would encourage other artists to consider doing this. The retrospective was really a big hit.

On the far left, you see a table of matted originals. They are 8 x10" watercolors

that are arranged in an attractive display by Bobbie.

Moving around the free standing panels, (in a positive clockwise direction),

you see the first panels with the second set behind.

Looking back towards the entrance, see the back of the first free standing set of panels.

Continuing around the back panels, I hung many older paintings that some

of my collectors had never seen before.

A different arrangement with Chinese watercolors on the left

facing a triptych of lilacs and a soft abstract watercolor.

This is looking toward the North East with my work table and book shelves.

I left my table clear so I could mat and frame while people enjoyed the party.

Some of my favorite books were left out.

Raw original watercolors were left in stacks on this table for people to go through. It was fun watching guests discover their favorites that were hiding in the piles. I matted up several and framed a couple while the visitors merrily ate, drank and socialized with one another.

I had a drawing and gave away little matted original paintings. Door prizes for all included handmade watercolor bookmarks and holiday fridge magnets.

Although not as many people came as I would have liked, all in all, with more than a dozen sales, it was a very successful showing.

I have decided to keep this eclectic collection up all month. In January, the paintings will be put away and the studio becomes a totally different work space. If you are local, see my work as you will never see it again. Please make an appointment to come by.

I'm really feeling the holiday spirit of love and generosity!

Call 609-268-9106 or email me at:

sandy@sandysandy.com

Thanks to my friends and family for all the great ideas they shared with me to make this a fun and unique event. A special thanks to everyone who attended and helped to make my load a little lighter and my holidays a lot brighter!

More Bald Eagles!

2011-11-26T17:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was in the 60's here and a good day to get caught up on some outside work. As I was doing the paddocks, I spotted a bald eagle flying overhead. I followed it's flight for a while. It sailed so effortlessly, in and out of the clouds, always circling my field of vision. I knew it was there to catch my attention, to guide me and offer reassurance that I'm on the right path. Pretty soon the magnificent animal was joined by another. So it happened to me again, just as it had on several other occasions recently. Eagles are rare here, as they are in the other locations where I have seen their glistening heads and identifiable tails gliding through my skies this fall.

Original Eagle Watercolors 8" x 10"
$95. ea. double matted w/ backing
Email me for selection at:
sandy@sandysandy.com

"The eagle symbolizes the warrior being well prepared to seize and make excellent use of opportunity. They represent a connection to the Great Spirit and in many ancient cultures have been personifications of visionary strength and messengers of divine power. Their aerial displays are dramatic and awe inspiring. These birds can soar higher than any other living creature and with binocular vision can observe life in its entirety. Hawks, falcons and eagles often show up when it is time to connect to creativity, spirituality and tune into your life's calling. It symbolizes dramatic new occurrences. When hawk or eagle chooses to guide you, it may become a life long mentor, often appearing to you when a divine spark is most needed to inspire your courage, stamina and creative fire."

~ Excerpt from my Animal Spirits book.

Here is a shot I took of one of two I saw up in Lancaster County, PA last month.

I probably won't be posting again this week because I am getting ready for my client appreciation Open Studio Party and Art Show!

Out with the fall and in with The Holidays!! YAY!!! I'll be posting more snowman paintings soon. Check out all my snowmen available for download through iStock here!

And let me be one of the very first to Wish You A Happy Holiday Season!

Happy Thanksgiving Today and Everyday

2011-11-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~ W.J. Cameron

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day." ~ Robert Caspar Lintner

The Symbolism of Trees II

2011-11-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

"The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber.

The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The fall always has a way of getting me really looking at trees. As they put on their autumn show, (or not), their individual characteristics become so much more evident. I went back to The Symbolism of Trees and followed this link to the tree test. Mine has changed significantly from the first time I took it.

"The oaks and the pines, and their brethren of the wood, have seen so many suns rise and set, so many seasons come and go, and so many generations pass into silence, that we may well wonder what "the story of the trees" would be to us if they had tongues to tell it, or we ears fine enough to understand." ~ Author Unknown

Check out The Unfading Tree by Big Green Oak if you are into this kind of thing. It was fun. What kind of tree, or trees are you?

This iStock image has really changed and "grown" as I have become more comfortable with the Wacom Tablet. Now, I actually ENJOY using it. I remember in the beginning, I was tearing my hair out. As usual, I'm glad I stuck it out. Many thanks to my good friend and mentor, Nanolou for always cheering me on.

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground." ~Author Unknown

Fall Colors in the Pine Barrens

2011-11-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

Most of the leaves are down. The brown and grey colors of winter now preside.

Fall has come and gone here in Sandy Land, but this

year I was able to get a few shots of its' fleeting glory.

I love the spots and patterns of mold or fungus on the dying leaves.

The orangish brown oak leaves take on a richness against dense fog.

Notice the spots of white here on the red maple leaves.

The fleeting season offered me a grand finale in my own backyard.

I am glad I took some time to record the show.

"The Art Spirit" Solo Show

2011-11-08T12:23:00.000-05:00

"Art, when inspired with love, leads to higher realms.

Love art, and that art will open for you the inner life." ~ Meher Baba

19 OF MY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS

~ Now On Exhibition and For Sale ~

SAMARITAN INPATIENT HOSPICE GALLERY

at VIRTUA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, 175 MADISON AVE., MT. HOLLY, NJ 08060

Come By the Main Hospital Entrance desk Any Time

SEE MY DISPLAY from November 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012

After hanging last Tuesday, I went back and tweaked "The Art Spirit" show.

I am now satisfied and pleased with the layout.

The paintings really brighten the already awesome, Samaritan Inpatient Hospice Center.

Many thanks to the Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice for

providing such a nice space and hanging system.

It is an honor to be a small part in brightening the walls of this great institution.

Hopefully, they will help to cheer those in need of it too.

I am donating 30% of all sales to the Hospice.

When you purchase a painting, you support the Arts

and the great work of the Samaritan Hospice.

Keeping My Old Buddy Going

2011-11-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

I've been searching for young timothy hay for my 31 year old Paint horse, Rembrandt. It is VERY hard to find, especially with the crazy summer drought and later the extremely wet monsoon season here. I ran out of the hay he liked a few weeks ago and he has been going downhill ever since. I think he gets depressed when he can't chew his hay. It needs to be short and tender. I've got a dozen different varieties of grass and alfalfa hay filling my barn that he just can't or won't eat.

The poor guy doesn't have good teeth, so it's hard to find hay that he likes and that he can chew.

On Friday, I picked up a couple of bales of tender timothy/orchard grass mix. I'm cutting it into bite sized pieces with a paper cutter and keeping my fingers crossed that he continues eating it, because fortunately, there is more of it to be had.

I am also trying a new puffed "Blue Seal Senior" feed that is like "Cocoa Puffs". It is softer and easier for horses with tooth problems to chew. He really likes it and learned the words "Cocoa Puffs" immediately. He is so enthusiastic about it, you could even say he's "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs". I am glad and Rudy is fortunate that there are more and more products on the market for senior equines these days.

After lunch yesterday, I decided to ride my big mare, Miss Rita. I usually lunge her first to get the bucks out. When I did, she seemed off, so I took her for a hand walk in the woods instead. I have been riding Rudy the past few days, as it helps to regulate his digestion, keeps him supple and really perks him up. Rita always carries on, screams and tears around when I ride him, so that could be the reason for her lameness.

Rudy was really feeling his oats (and probably jealousy) yesterday. The whole time I was walking Rita in the woods, Jerry said the old guy was whinnying, trotting, cantering and bucking all around his pen. I caught a few glimpses of him and it was good to see him moving about so soundly and feeling so well. My efforts have not been in vain. Now I just hope he didn't over do it.

As always, any comments or suggestions you may have are appreciated. All images are from my "Horse Stuff" lightbox on iStock.

Day Of The Dead Greetings

2011-11-02T13:23:00.000-04:00

Senorita Catrina dances in the Day Of The Dead celebration.

Here two Catrinas offer gifts and homage to the dead.

ARREBA!! ARREBA!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ahoy all ye wenches and buccaneers with piratude!

I be shovin' off fer distant lands now, me hearties!

It's been a scallywaggin' swash bucklin' Countdown ta Halloween mates!

'Til nextime buccos, wishin' ya smooth sailin'

an th' mudder load o' treasures!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day Of The Dead

2011-11-01T11:03:00.000-04:00

Day Of The Dead is a Latin American celebration which takes place on November 1st - (honoring children and infants - Day of Little Angles) and November 2nd - (honoring deceased adults - Day Of The Dead).

Friends and family gather to remember and honor those that have passed on. It is a national holiday in Mexico and is widely celebrated around the world. People visit cemeteries, build alters, decorate graves, make offering to the dead, eat special holiday foods, light candles, say prayers, recite poems, tell funny stories and in general have a darn good time.

As with many modern holidays, Day Of The Dead gets it's roots from indigenous pagan cultures dating back as far as 2,500 - 3,000 years ago. The festivities were then dedicated to the goddess, "Lady of the Dead" or the modern day Catrina, which has now become one of the most popular symbols for the celebration.

Shrunken Heads ~ Hours Of Fun

2011-10-31T11:23:00.001-04:00

Me an' me maties be finishin' up ar shrivaled up shrunken heads last night.

Truth be told, me mutter, sis an' this scallywag wench be gittin' mighty silly w' it thar .

We be makin' it dark except fer ar wee handy flashlanterns

Then we cleaver hags be makin' up dancin' routines an puttin' on shows with 'em

ta spooky Halloween tunes of course . . .

And we be hysterical

All ye buccaneers be serious an' watching th' game

but broke free long enough to judge our heads fer us

Each chose different favrites 'n we was all winners.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was my parents last night with us, so it was nice to share

our last dinner together and so many laughs.

They left this morning.

I was hoping they'd stay through Halloween,

but with the cold snap and dusting of snow here,

the warmer climate beckons them.

It was a wonderful three weeks.

I am very grateful for

them and their visit.

Love you Mom & Dad!

Time for me to stay busy and get some work done here.

Tomorrow I will hang 19 of my watercolor paintings

in a three month solo show at The Samaritan Hospice Gallery

at the Virtua Hospital in Mt. Holly, NJ..

I haven't been posting much since my folks were here. We were Busy Busy Busy!

I just want to thank everyone who came out to my Apple Festival and Cranberry Festival shows. They were both very successful and I was able to significantly lighten my load. This was due in large part to you friends and collectors who showed your support by continuing to believe in me and my work.

Thank you, thank you very much!!

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~ G.K. Chesterton

ARRRRRRGH ! ! !

2011-10-28T12:03:00.000-04:00

Wishin' Ya a Hauntingly Happy Halloween!!

Shiver me timbers and blow me down! Autumn leaves ar a flyin' round here, matey! An' so is th' time!! ERARRRR! Me be stoppin' by just a wishin' all ye witches, wenches, zombies, ghouls, ghosts, monsters and scallywags a weekend o' Halloween Hauntings and Frightnin', Fall Festivities!

And avast, if ye could muster just a wee bit o' extra Hell Raisin' while yer out there, it'd be greatly pleasin' to this ole' salty sea hag, ARRRAGH !! Have yerself a fun-filled Halloween, me Hearties!

Happy Halloween Me Hearty

2011-10-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

"Ahoy, me folks now be at port with ther' great grand landfarin' furner ship! Me buccaneer pappy turns 81 today and me sweet swashbucklin' ma be turnin' 79 in th' week."

"Aye, what fun lovin' landlubbers, the 'ole farts be too! Blow me down me hearty, it be an excitin' Countdown to Halloween filled w' plenty hearty piratude cheer 'round here!"

"An' here' be a special shot fer me Witchy Wiccan friends . . ."

"And fer all ya cat lovers out yonder too . . . "

"ERRR, me an' me mates be a makin' some freaky fruity shrunk'n heads 'ere . . . "

"Aye. . . but maybe me sprogs be leavin' 'em in me oven a bit too long thar! Ya think? oh 'ell. . . "

"Avast, an' shiver me timbers ya scallywags! Th' Countdown to Halloween still be continuin' all th' while 'ere, ERRRR!! Jus' checkin' in w' a big AHOY THERE MATEY from me playfully, piratey piney woods port, ARRRGH. . . "

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"There comes a time in every rightly constructed kid's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure." ~ Mark Twain

"It is never too late to have a happy childhood." ~ Tom Robbins

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older." ~ Tom Stoppard

Kirby's Mill Apple Festival ~ Saturday, October 8th 2011

2011-10-07T12:58:00.001-04:00

I've spent the week sorting, shooting, matting, framing, planning, packing and getting ready for my first art show of the season . . . AND . . . . Y A Y . . . No rain in the forecast!! I am thrilled and very thankful! Last year it was cold and damp with some drizzle in the afternoon. The year before was the same, but in 2008, what a fine day it was!! People were out enjoying the beautiful Fall weather and the work of artists and craftspeople selling Handmade In America, one- of-a-kind works.

Of course, the Apple Festival is also about the apples too. It doesn't have a whole lot of variety, food wise, except for the apples. It's apples galore, from cider donuts and apple pies, to cider and apple ice cream. It's a Mecca for apple lovers of all ages.

Image From My iStock Portfolio

On a nice day, I've seen people come out in droves to the Kirby's Mill Apple Festival. There's live entertainment, demonstrations and tours of the mill. It's unique, meandering, country setting gives the festival a nice relaxed vibe. I really need to lighten my load, especially since I only had one show last year. I'm doing some sales and specials. If you need art, now's the best time to get the best selection and price from me. My print special , Buy Two, Get One Free, is a darn good deal. Christmas is creeping up on us pretty fast this year. I always feel better if I start thinking about it before Thanksgiving. So get out of the house tomorrow, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air! Come to Kirby's Mill, in Medford, NJ. Walk, relax, eat and do a little shopping. If you mention that you saw this blog post or you read about it on Facebook, I will give you 20% off any originals' price.

Kirby's Mill Apple Festival - 2008

This could be my first and last show of 2011, as it was in 2010. You never know what the weather's going to do this time of year, or any time of the year these days.

Cranberry Festival - 2008

Now, two days of warm, sunny beautiful weather for next weekend's show, the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival would be another truly amazing blessing.

R. I. P. Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T05:50:00.000-04:00

"Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011, was an American computer entrepreneur and inventor. He was co-founder,chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc."

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, May 31, 2007

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come." ~ Bill Gates

"Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips." ~ Steven Spielberg

"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world." ~ Barack Obama

Jobs at the 2008 Macworld Conference & Expo

Borgota Casino and Coney Island Mermaids

2011-10-05T21:55:00.000-04:00

The weather has finally broken and we had a whole day of sunshine here today, YAY! It was a busy morning getting hay in for the winter and rearranging my barn. In the afternoon, it was off to a wonderful lunch and some gambling at the Borgota Casino in Atlantic City with Jerry, his sister, Patty and son, John. We all had lots of fun on Jerry's favorite Mermaid Slot Machines. I was going to do a short little post with a picture of a mermaid here tonight, but I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw some of the pictures on Wikimedia of the CONEY ISLAND MERMAIDS! I had just remarked to my friend Jennifer, on her recent Coney Island Blog Post, that it would be the perfect place to go to all dressed up for Halloween!

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ARRR, An lo' an behold, blow me down, ther' they'be mateys, twin Day O' Ye' Dead, bare breasted mermaid wenches!

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Ahoy, me lads an'lasses, just feast yer good eye on these here salty lobster and squid buccaneers! Makes me git a yearnin' fer me long lost, adventur filled, sea farein' pirate days fer'sure!!

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Aye, an' jus'take a gander at this horse ridin' mermaid, me hearties. It'd be a bit more convincin' if she'd be ridin' side saddle, but th'pair be gettin' a 5 star ratin' form this here scallywag sea wench.

Today be day five in th'countdown t' Halloween ye'know, so ye can expect strange and entertainin' spirits might be stirrin' round here more 'n more these days, ERRRRR!

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These costumes are a few of the conservative ones. Follow this link to Mermaids on Wikimedia. There's lots more shots of crazy costumes in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. A word of warning though, there's lots of boobs and flesh. It's all in good fun mind you, but like Jerry says, how do they get away with it? You really never know what you're going to find or what your going to end up writing about when you go poking around the wonderful and sometimes crazy world of web!

Rufous Hummingbirds Still Here in NJ

2011-10-04T20:32:00.000-04:00

As of this morning, there was still at least one Rufous Hummingbird here at The Sandarosa in Southern NJ. I estimate that there are (or were) at least four individuals that have had a few days lay over here in Hummer Land. I tried to get some shots of the buggers, but they are so fast, they put the Ruby-Throats to shame. They are very shy and only seem to come to the feeders in low light; very early morning or dusk. They barely hover. They zip into the feeder, sit and rest, drink for a few minutes and then lickety-split, they are gone again! I bet that there are a lot of them coming this far East these days, it's just that people haven't noticed them yet. They are just so secretive!

According to the map, they now are "infrequently" wintering in the South-Eastern US. See a map here. With lots of folks getting into the hummingbird habit, there's a lot more food sources out there for the little cuties than there used to be. So all you Eastern Hummer Lovers, beware! Keep your feeders filled, your binoculars and cameras handy and eyes peeled! Those travelers at your feeders may be juvenile Rufous Hummingbirds that have just flown in from as far away as British Columbia or the Rocky Mountains! You peeps in the Southern States may just get some resident winter snowbirds if you treat them right!! Here's another article on the newly discovered Eastern distribution of the Rufous Hummingbird. I am posting a few of my terrible photos here, taken through my window, just to prove that I am not making this up.

A Rufous Hummingbird in NJ

2011-10-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

OMG! Just had to tell someone . . . I'm so excited because I just saw a Rufous Hummingbird here in Southern NJ!! Normally, east of the Mississippi, only Ruby -Throated Hummingbirds are seen. He looked just like this little guy I found on Wikimedia Commons! Some other unusual looking ones are zooming around here today but I haven't gotten a chance to get a close-up look at any. They really are a bunch of wild ones!! They are not coming to my feeders or plants very much but I can see and hear them in the trees, bushes, flowers and on the edge of the woods. It's obvious that they are gorging themselves on tiny bugs! I hope they eat mosquitos!

October First ~ Let The Fall Fun Begin!

2011-10-01T10:43:00.000-04:00

Most of my flowers and hummingbirds of summer have come and gone.

There are a few hearty souls in my yard that are thriving.

Bubba bird has departed, yet there are several others still lingering.

Cooler weather has seemingly given some plants revived strength.

And the flowers and decorations of the new season are starting to appear.

October is the time for me to go into soup making mode.

We love soup, salad and a good crusty bread for delicious hearty meal and so do my friends and family. I just made a big pot of this Ham and Broccoli Soup yesterday and served it to my hubby and sister-in-law, Patty, who is visiting us from California. They both loved it. She asked for the recipe, so here it is. I always follow soup recipes VERY loosely and rarely measure the ingredients. Instead of a recipe, it is more like a suggestive guide. This is a very tasty and easy one to start with. I always make a huge amount and and freeze some in plastic quart containers. (I use the ones that take-out Chinese soup comes in.) You can write the date and description on the lid with a sharpie marker. That way, I always have a nice variety of quick meals in the freezer. Just put a little water in a pot with the soup block and simmer slowly until it's hot.YUMMM! I do not add the noodles to the soup as suggested in this recipe, but cook them separately and add them to individual bowls before serving. This way, the soup doesn't get all starchy and mushy. Also, if you freeze the soup, do it without the starch! You can add potatoes, noodles or rice for more variety when you defrost it.

And aye, ahoy me hearties, blow me down, me ol' pal Cap'n Hook has come to spend October with meself and me whole scurvy scallywaggin' crew!

So, Yo Ho-Ho, and a bottle of rum, hope yer plannin' to be joinin' this sea wench here and all the fun-lovin' sea fairin' and landlubbin' witches, goblins and buccaneers who'll be celebratin' the Countdown to Halloween 2011. Have yerself a fun filled fall day matey! ARRRRR!!

Aye, A Whole Month Of Halloween!!

2011-09-29T16:57:00.000-04:00

ARRRR, Ahoy, me just discovered that a landlubber lassie by the name of Danni from The Whimsical Cottage Blog will be hostin' a month long celebration of me favorite holiday! Aye, matey, ye better git yer keester oer there and check out the fun! What with posts by witches, gobblins, scurvy scallywags, ghosts an' buccaneer sea wenches, I bet there'll be lots of shenanigans and mischief for all ye salty dogs to gnaw on. Hey, Ho, blow me down en' check out me link at the top of this blog The Countdown to Halloween! ERRRRRAGH!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day ~ September 19th Every Year

2011-09-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

Ahoy Matey, Blow me down! International Talk Like A Pirate Day has come and gone without havin' me sorry keester utter a single pirate word!

Meself and th' captian back in th' good ole' days , ARRRRR!

ERRRR, , Hey Ho, sure could fancy meself lettin' off some steam by makin' some scurvy scallywag walk th'plank, early in the morning!

Me swashbucklin' crew ready to set sail.

Way Hey, it all started by two blokes back in the good 'ole days of 1995. In 2002, humorist, Dave Barry, started promotin' th'holiday, ARRRR! See th'history of how it started here. Aye, if yer feelin' rusty or a little lily-livered, ye can just start by growlin' at store clerks and answerin' the phone with "Ahoy matey"! Or ye can be like this drunkin' sea wench and brush up on Pirattitude lingo with th' Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy. Aye, with October 31st on the horizon, avast, me hearty, all ye drunkin scallywag buccaneers be gettin' a second chance to talk like a pirate for the day, ERRRR!

Ahoy, view the international Talk Like A Pirate Day 2011 map and see what Wikipedia has to say about International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Learn how to be speakin' like a pirate here.

Aye, just one of me new pirate pictures available for a mere booty of a few shiny doubloons to all ye scallywags and sea hags. With me Jolly Roger flyin' high, Yo-ho-ho, shiver me timbers, I bet ye'll not be wonderin' what this salty landlubber lass be up to around Halloween time, ARRRRGAH!!

A VERY VERY BAD HAIR DAY

2011-09-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

After a cut and color (highlights and lowlights) from my usual hairdresser, she styled it and I thought it looked so good when I left.

But look what I woke up to yesterday morning!! O M G !!

I don't know what she was thinking!! She said she has A.D.D., so I guess we shouldn't have been talking so much. It was cut so short and wierd in the back! It was as long or longer than those long strands on the sides and I only requested a TRIM! It looks like a man's cut or worse. I had spent the last six months growing it long enough to style it the way I wanted it and now it is shorter than ever!

I thought the hair stylist was just taking a little off the top and around the ears like I requested! I even had brought photos of myself with the style I wanted!! Surprisingly, she doesn't want to see the photos of it, so I am posting them here for her and the world to see. Now I know why she didn't show me the back when I was there! Look how uneven, spotted and blotchy the color is and how choppy the cut is.

After emailing photos and getting advice from my sister in Florida, who's a hair dresser, I had my other sister, Denise, who is an artist, come over and paint in more highlights and lowlights in the back, above the ears and through the top. She also did some trimming to try to fix the back and break up the terrible, cheetah spots and squared off, sheep sheared look. She spent over five hours with me here yesterday. Meticulasly painting tiny strands of hair and working in stages, she was trying her best to blend the color and help me out. She did a great job and got it to look decent enough that I can now go out in public without feeling terribly ugly and extremely self conscious.

I know that this is really a very small, insignificant matter in the big scheme of things. I also know that I will be uncomfortable and a little bummed out about this for quite some time to come.

Thank God for sisters though! I would be freaking out without their help. Thank you Gaile for your advice and Denise for your patience and artistry! I really owe you one!!

"Helping one another is part of the religion of sisterhood." ~ Louisa May Alcott

"Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolize the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers." ~ Pam Brown

"Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends." ~ Author Unknown

"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other." ~ Carol Saline

Bubba Birds

2011-09-21T08:50:00.000-04:00

These photos were taken yesterday through my studio window.

This "Bubba Bird" has definitely by far,

got to be the fattest hummer I have ever seen!

And believe me, I have seen a lot of hummingbirds.

I've still got a half a dozen or more very active and vocal

juvenile male hummingbirds stirring things up here.

This guy is guarding three feeders right outside my studio porch.

Extremely aggressive, this Bubba Bird must have

an overload of hormones rushing through his veins.

Bubba's a great hunter. I've watched him successfully pluck

countless tiny insects from the air. He seems much more

concerned with stuffing his face with protein than sugar water.

I have a feeling he's a regular that was hatched here.

I bet he will be the very last one to give up

his claim to the digs this year in Hummer Land.

Arr Ha Ha Har! (Or However JD Would Laugh/Snarl/Growl)

2011-09-15T17:53:00.000-04:00

I just finished my 2011 Jersey Devil Series minutes ago. Woo Hoo! Pictured here in working mats, you can see the similar color scheme and value patterns. I used Alizarin Crimson and Viridian Green mixed together for 90% of the painting. A list of my colors and painting supplies can be viewed at the bottom of my workshop page. Better photos are coming soon. Right now, I'm feeling the satisfaction of the completion of a project. Check it off the list, it's done, honey. It's a good feeling, isn't it? Just had to brag and pat myself on the back for finishing this set a month ahead of deadline. I'm eager to keep the momentum going though, so on to the next project!

Real Friends

2011-09-15T10:42:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "The guy with the most toys wins". Actually, it should be, "the guy with the most friends wins". Study after study shows that having friends is an important stress reliever and actually attributes to a longer, healthier life. In one UCLA Study On Friendship, for example, researchers found that people who had no friends increased their risk of death over a 6-month period. In another study, those who had the most friends over a 9-year period cut their risk of death by more than 60%. It's important to make time for your friends and not push them to the back burner, because friends are such a source of strength to each other. We nurture one another and we need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that friends do, a necessary and very healing experience.

Favorite Friendship Quotes:

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be." ~ Douglas Pagels

"Nobody sees a flower; really. It is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe
"I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult the calendar." ~ Robert Brault
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost." ~ Charles Caleb Colton

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." ~ Lois Wyse

"The best time to make friends is before you need them." ~ Ethel Barrymore

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies." ~ Mencius

"Best Friends" ~ 16" x 20" Original Watercolor ~ Sold

Red Neck Fly Spray For Horses

2011-09-12T10:07:00.000-04:00

The summer is over.

But the flies and mosquitos are still going strong.

My friend from the mid-West gave me this recipe for homemade horse spray.

She said it came from Tennessee and is known as "Red- Neck Fly Spray".

It's simple to make, inexpensive and IT WORKS!!

I made up a batch and it seems to work as well or better than many of the others

I currently have in my arsenal. And believe me people, living out here in bug country,

I've got quite a collection. I think we have pretty much tried them all

from the cheapest to the most expensive brands.

Here's the recipe. I mixed it up in a 1/2 gallon milk jug,

gave it a good shake and then poured it into my sprayers.

If you want to make a gallon at a time,

just increase the ingredients to 1 cup instead of 1/2.

RED NECK FLY SPRAY

1/2 cup PineSol

1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol

Fill the jug with water ands shake each time before use.

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BTW, these new photos of my babies are now available for licensing.

See my iStock portfolio here.

The Jersey Devil And Fall Is In The Air

2011-09-09T08:53:00.000-04:00

This year's illustration is just off the brushes

for the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Program Book.

It's done in color, but will be in black and white for the cover.

I think the 2011 Jersey Devil is one of the scariest I've done to date

and just realized that there may have been some influence here.

Do you see any resemblance to Jerry's new sculpture?

My Wet And Soggy Sandarosa

2011-09-08T19:07:00.001-04:00

This past week we had another little visitor that just hatched from the nest.

This little snapping turtle was even smaller than the first one.

This is the first time, in living here over thirty years, that I have ever seen snappers.

I took him down to the old irrigation pond and released him.

I wonder if the two have met yet.

It's been so wet and soggy here, we have been having an annoying issue with all the mosquitoes. We had to take down all the plants because they were hiding and breeding in there. Then when we would open the door to go into the house, they'd come right in with us.

The caution tape is for the deer.

We put it up every night. So far it has worked like a charm.

The plants look a lot better hanging than on the ground.

We took all the hummingbird feeders down and sprayed the back of the house.

Several times.

Then we hung them back up

for our frantic customers.

We still have hoards of hummers here in Hummer Land, but they won't be here much longer.

Anybody needing a hummingbird fix better get over here - El Pronto!!

The Red Canoe Vs. Mystery In Painting

2011-09-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

I found yesterday's letter, "Notes On Paucity" by Robert Genn, very interesting. Paucity is something that many of us artists will or already have come to grips with in some way. This succinct, witty essay conveys some very important truths. With the help of a suggestion by his long time friend, Joe Bloggett, Bob decides to take the red canoe out of the painting he is working on. He goes on to explain why; "In some paintings it's best to have viewers launch their own canoes". I invite you to give Robert Genn's Twice-Weekly Letters a look if you never have. You may be missing a real gem. I've been subscribing and gleaning insights from The Painter's Keys for more than a decade! Thanks Bob, for your letters and your continued dedication to raising the bar of art and evolution.

The Red Canoe ~ Winslow Homer 1889 / Wikimedia Commons

Getting Back To Normal After Hurricane Irene

2011-08-31T16:22:00.000-04:00

We really lucked out with Hurricane Irene. Many people in our area are still without power.

We only lost power and had to use the generator to run our sump pumps for about four hours the night before last, while they patched the electric lines on our road.

Jerry spent two days pumping water from across the street into our horse pasture to divert it from flowing further down the road and through our basement.

His efforts really paid off. The basement is starting to dry up. The sump pumps are running a little less frequently and we don't have to go down and wet-vac every hour anymore.

The bridge just up the road was flooded with about three feet of

"water over the bridge" on Sunday.

On Monday, Jerry put the plant stands back up.

We hung the flower baskets as Princess supervised.

It took most of the morning, but we got almost everything

dug out, rearranged and hung up.

All morning, the hummingbirds showed their delight

with loud vocalizations and synchronized, ariel displays.

Along with lots and lots of water, Hurricane Irene also brought

out a great deal of misquotes, flies, aphids and other insects.

She also brought me another unexpected visitor.

I felt a pair of teeny tiny eyes watching me from a large grey stepping stone.

It was an adorable baby Snapping Turtle coated with wood chips and debris.

He was all dried out, hot and exhausted.

Not much bigger than a silver dollar,

he must have gotten washed away from his nest far away in the storm.

I put him in a box and walked him down the road to an old irrigation pond.

He really perked up when I put him near the water and he enthusiastically jumped in.

He's a shot of his new home. I hope he likes it.

Good Riddance Hurricane Irene

2011-08-28T13:36:00.000-04:00

It's the day after the debut of Hurricane Irene here in Southern New Jersey.

Irene did show mercy on us. No injury was inflicted on our various critters and damage to our property was minimal. We tied up the butterfly bushes which protected them from harm. We took down all the hummingbird feeders last night at dark. The first crack of dawn brought the hummers back to us in droves. By 6:00 am. we had the feeders back up and we were back in business for our famished customers.

The horses, cats, turkeys and deer all seemed to be very hungry but overall in very fine shape.

Irene dumped some huge amounts of water on us however.

The lot across the street is overflowing with run off.

The bad news is, that it drains underground through our basement!

We have 4 sump pumps and a wet-vac going in the basement now. Just trying to keep up with it is a full time job. Looks like our main priority now will be keeping up with the flood. I'm afraid we won't be getting much free time or sleep over the next week or so.

Good Riddance Hurricane Irene!

Getting Ready For Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

Jerry and I have spent the last day and a half preparing for Irene.

The house looks so empty after we removed all the shepherd's hooks,

chairs, decorations and hanging baskets.

We still have some of the hummingbird feeders hanging.

The little birds don't like the new arrangement one single bit.

And I can't say I blame them.

I don't think anyone has visited this one that I tied to the railing yet.

Jerry's workshop looks like a nursery.

There are plants everywhere.

His fishing pole rack makes a great hanger.

We moved the truck and trailer to a safe spot away from the trees.

Topped off the water trough . . .

Jerry did some grating in front of the horse stalls

so that the water would hopefully drain away.

Put plexi-glass in Rita's west side window. . .

Moved the metal pony into the barn . . .

And now we are all just waiting and hoping that Irene will be kind to us

and keep moving farther out to sea.

Summertime On Long Beach Island

2011-08-22T15:00:00.003-04:00

Sally and I started out Thursday morning at the far north end

of Long Beach Island, at Barnegat Inlet.

Wanting to get some photos of various walkways to the beach, we headed south.

Fragrant bayberry grew wild at one entranceway.

It was still early and there weren't many people at the water's edge.

Although many flowers were past peak,

we didn't have to look far for beautiful colors.

An abundant variety of textures, smells, sounds and styles

awakened our senses and got the creative juices flowing.

People watching is always a big pastime on the island.

Spending quality time together, relaxing and just hanging out

is a large part of what a shore vacation is all about.

A solitary sentinel looks towards the ocean from Holgate

at the southern point of the island.

Dad's doing a really good job here.

Probably the first Family Portrait with their new addition.

Find out more about Long Beach Island

and see great photos from a long time resident, Sally Vennel.

A Morning Visit To Long Beach Island, NJ

2011-08-19T12:46:00.001-04:00

Spur of the moment on Wednesday, I decided I was going to go down to Long Beach Island on Thursday, to shoot my new camera and 28-300mm lens. I called my friend, Sally, who lives on the island, to see if she wanted to meet me. She did, and said she gets up at 5am. I don't get up that early and it takes me 45 minutes to get to her house, so I was down there by 7. I should have gotten there earlier, however it was an overcast, grey, flat light, kind of morning anyway.

We visited the Barnegat Lighthouse.

This is a 5" x 7' oil painting I did of it a couple of weeks ago.

Many varieties of flowers are planted around the lighthouse and the park there.

We met some nice people.

And we watched the fishing boats head out to sea.

Then we went over to the Viking Village Marina, just outside of the Barnegat inlet.

A leader in the Commercial Fishing Industry here on the East Coast,

much of this country's shrimp, scallops, crab and fish come through this port.

Here many commercial fishing boats and charters are docked.

I even found one with my name on it!

Then off to the yacht club, where not much activity was taking place.

Wow, I wonder who lives there, across the bay.

After checking out the bay, we headed off to the beach side.

I took lots more photos there. I'll post a sampling of those shots next time.

Here's a parting shot of my friend, Sally Vennel in a contemplative mood.

Check out her wonderful photos on her blog here.

Boardwalk Empire Facade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

2011-08-13T16:19:00.001-04:00

Here's a few snaps from yesterday, of the 'Boardwalk Empire' facade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Check it out.

It's pretty neat!

"The 180-foot long display is in front of the West Hall of Boardwalk Hall, near the intersection of the Boardwalk and Florida Avenue. It is a re-creation of some of the sets for the HBO television series, which is itself a translation of Atlantic County Superior Court Judge, Nelson C. Johnson’s history of Atlantic City." ~ PressofAtlanticCity.com

Another Road Trip! Atlantic City, NJ

2011-08-12T18:33:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, my Nikon buddy, Nano, took a ride up to North Jersey with me. O.M.G. ! I came home with a beautiful new setup. With this new, popular, lighter weight body and zoom lens, I'll be doing some serious shooting. I'm anxious to get it all sorted out and set-up.

Today I got up early and headed down to Atlantic City Boardwalk with college classmate, friend and photography mentor, Nancy Louie, aka; Nano. Because I haven't even had it out of the box yet, and because my main goal was to assist my friend, I didn't take my new baby. I took my little point and shoot Cannon PowerShot A590 instead. Here's a few of the untouched snap shots I got.

The morning shadows added to the atmosphere.

It was a beautiful morning. The early risers included bikers, walkers, families and seniors.

Although the background remained constant, the flow of people was ever changing.

The guys with the push carts were waiting in line.

When the cart by the casino door got a passenger, the next guy in line would move up to the door.

Any time of the night or day, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is an interesting and unusual place. It's got a unique mix of the old and new with a "Down the Shore, Jersey Style " gambling town character all of it's own. A great place to people-watch for sure!

We've done a lot of things to get across the message that the city center is not just a place to buy things. It's not just a commercial place. It's a place where you come in and sit on the boardwalk, have a cup of coffee and look around you.

~ John Fitzgerald

Snowflake the Mother Raccoon is Alive!

2011-08-09T18:29:00.001-04:00

About eight to ten years ago, Snowflake the raccoon came into our lives. She was out in broad daylight, up in a tree on the edge of the yard. Jerry thought she was sick, but I knew she wasn't. Just looking at her, you could tell she was the picture of health. She most likely had young ones to feed and was out scouting around for a meal.

A couple of weeks ago, we sadly found a dead momma raccoon on the side of the road, by our driveway. Not wishing to think that it was our own long time resident, Snowflake, we kept hoping for a glimpse of her. She had moved this years' litter out from under the hay shed several weeks ago. We hadn't seen her and the three babies since.

Jerry was working in the yard today when he saw a raccoon out around noon. He called her name several times and each time she paused and looked up, obviously unafraid. We are certain it was her. She is the only raccoon we ever saw out in the middle of the day here. YAY Snowflake! We are both relieved and happy.

A Virtual Internet Friendship Turns Physical = A Delightful Weekend

2011-08-08T19:39:00.004-04:00

I met artist, Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor online several years ago when I began following her blog. Although I am twenty years older, we have so much in common, that at times it's really uncanny! This past weekend, she took me up on my offer to come out and visit us here in Hummer Land. The hummingbirds brought her here and Jerry and I are so very glad they did!

A delightful person and an interesting, lighthearted guest, Jennifer stayed a day and a half with us here at The Sandarosa. What an action packed, enjoyable, memorable time we all had! It's nice to have such company, who makes you see things through fresh eyes and appreciate your gifts in life even more. See Jen's awesome paintings and photos on her blog here at: The Mare's Tales - Gypsy Mare Studios.

"In my friend, I find a second self." ~ Isabel Norton

It's a Filly! - Same Drawing, Different Medium

2011-08-02T17:10:00.002-04:00

Variety is the spice of life! I got my studio set up to paint in oils this past week and just completed my third little canvas. As I said in my SketchingEveryday post today, "Various mediums offer interesting lessons. Like golfers perfecting their stroke, repetition in drawing and in painting is all part of the game." This is a 5" x 7" painting commemorating the birthday of my mare, Santa Margarita. You can see the sketch I did of her today in pencil and watercolor wash on my sketching blog. If any of you painters have suggestions or advice, I welcome your input. I already see some things I may like to change. One of the great things about oils vs. watercolors is you can always go back and make adjustments.

Another Hummingbird Moth

2011-08-02T10:02:00.000-04:00

This guy showed up at my hanging baskets the night before last. It was so humid out I couldn't get any shots, as it flew off before my lens cleared from being in the air conditioning. Then last night it visited my flowers again! It was not as humid, so a fogged up lens wasn't as much of an issue. Although it was nearly dark, I followed it all around the house, hoping for a shot of this unusual insect. Come to find out, there are several subspecies of Hummingbird Moth and I believe this is an example of a Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. Here is an interesting website with photos of the different species, in moth, pupa and caterpillar form. This site also tells how to raise and care for the caterpillars. I will be on the lookout for these spellbinding animals in the future.

Here is a shot taken the first night when the lens was fogged up. Looking at the silhouette, one would swear it was a hummingbird! Don't you agree?

It's tongue or beak, or straw (Whatever it is called) is longer than it's body! I have enhanced it here in yellow so you can see it better.

This is definitely not the same critter that landed on my lens the other day. I believe that one was a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth. Wow, isn't nature just amazingly spectacular sometimes?

The Emergency Weather Report

2011-08-01T18:32:00.000-04:00

I recently signed up for Emergency Emails from the National Weather Service. Since we have had so many violent storms, I'm really getting paranoid. I'm unplugging and replugging everyday, since the last two storms took down our TV Cable Box, Six trees and all our cordless telephones. It's been threatening to let go for an hour now, so I plugged back in. But that may change at any moment. That last clap of thunder sounded mighty close.What wonderful and weird times we are living in!

Hummingbird Hawks

2011-07-25T17:35:00.006-04:00

As the summer continues here at HummerLand . . .

I've had some photographers stop by to try their hand at capturing my little gems. I think a couple of them are hooked and may be coming back.

Yesterday afternoon we had another violent thunderstorm move through. High winds took down five large trees on our property. Our electricity was lost but restored again in about three hours. This morning a group of residents survey the storm's damage.

While attempting to photograph the hummingbirds today, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth attached itself to my lens. I ran inside and got my point and shoot and got a photo of it before I shooed it away. It's an interesting creature with an uncanny similarity in size, shape and color to my little bird buddies.

My "Working Toes" Are Famous!

2011-07-24T22:49:00.000-04:00

One of the many fun blogs I follow is called ToeMail. "It is a collaborative photography project featuring original photographs of toes of both genders, from the newborn to the elderly, photographed at outdoor or indoor locations around the globe."

Today my toes were featured. Check it out here!

"Toe Ring"

used with permission of the artist, Britton LaRoche

It's Very Hot And Humid Here in NJ

2011-07-21T20:12:00.001-04:00

The heat index here today was 115 degrees. It was so humid that my eyeballs were fogging up when I went outside from the air conditioning into the soup. The black flies have been torture on the horses and I am spraying them with fly spray 3 or 4 times a day. I use OFF on their legs which is the only thing that seems to give them any relief for more than a few minutes. Jerry set up six fans out there, so they are getting hot air blown on them from all angles. We also have a large cooler of cantaloupe and watermelon, seconds from the local farmer, that they get four or five times a day along with a bath or two to cool them down. The extreme heat is especially tough on my old guy, Rembrandt.

Photo taken here at the Sandarosa.

Even though we've had very few rain storms, they say we're not having a drought here. This is due to some severe thunderstorms we have been having about every ten days or so. The last two dumped a lot of rain in a very short amount of time. I am very thankful for them, even though we had to get a new TV cable box and go out and buy all new phones for the house, workshop and the barn. They all got fried from a close lightning strike. I was on the back porch watching the hummingbirds going crazy when it hit the transformer 300 feet up the road from us. I felt the charge go through my arm and let out a scream. We were only without electricity for five hours, Thank God! Now if I hear even distant rumbling, I unplug everything of value from the wall. The weather is so strange these days. There was no real warning of the last hit. I would be happy to see it happen again, the rain that is, without the lightning strike. I hope some of the other folks across the country that are suffering with record breaking heat and drought, will get relief real soon too.

Here's one of our young "yard dogs" after the last downpour. During the storms, the hummers just have a ball, getting blown around while they bathe and play tag, all the while cheeping and flying around wildly. It's very entertaining to say the least. Notice this youngster's single red feather on his gorget.

See more hummingbirds this week on my SketchingEveryday blog.

Monday's Child

2011-07-19T17:19:00.003-04:00

Is Fair Of Face . .

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." ~ William Shakespeare

This sketch is from today in my sketchbook on regular drawing paper.

Watercolor Flower Vignette

2011-07-17T09:41:00.000-04:00

The week before last on SketchingEveryday.com, I focused on flowers and a few of the *elements and principles of design. Our sketching challenge was to sketch from reference photos I posted. I am doing a watercolor painting of one of the vignette compositions.

*A vignette is a drawing or painting that involves a group of overlapping shapes placed somewhere on the paper, that is also surrounded by varied shapes of blank space. The mostly mid value image area should be an interesting shape which should run off the sides of the paper, not corners, in at least one place, usually 3 or 4. It should not go off the paper directly opposite one another horizontally or vertically. The edge of this shape should be dominantly hard.

I pre-mixed my colors in the little round palette here and set up to view my drawing and reference photo while working. Getting inspiration and the essence from the photo, I'm not slavishly copying every detail. I have outlined my loose, painterly, one wash approach below.

I traced the flower drawing onto 140lb. Arches Cold Press paper and first wet the back side thoroughly to allow for a longer period of wet-in-wet manipulation. The front was then wet thoroughly where the mid value will be, except the white flowers and white shapes which I avoided with the clear water. I never attach the paper to a board and paint on a non-porous surface. Freely stroking in various colors while the paper is wet with the biggest brush I can use, it was a 1" flat for this tiny 5.5 x 7.5" piece. I have deliberately softened some edges to avoid a stiff cut-out look. The edges are harder with more contrast where I want you to look and softer in less important spots.

After the wash was dry, I did go back with a darker value in a few areas and added some details with softened edges, like in the stem shapes here. This approach was then repeated with the pink flowers, completing the main washes in one step.

Although never fitting all of them into a painting, I try to remember the *Elements and Principles of Design during planning and execution. A successful painting should have a clear focal point, harmonious colors and good shapes with variations in size, texture and value. Ideally my finished piece will entertain the viewer, evoke some emotion and invite them to connect to it for a few seconds or so.

If you have any questions, comments or advice, I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading and keep those brushes wet!

Bachelor's Buttons, Nachos and Hummingbird Lovers

2011-07-08T16:12:00.001-04:00

Today's post is about this and that. Just some random thoughts, pictures and daily happenings here in the Pine Barrens of NJ at the Sandarosa.

Bachelor's Buttons and Queen Ann'e Lace are in bloom here in fallow fields and on the sides of the country roads. I cut these last Sunday. They were growing around the barn at my hay guy's place.

I put them in a bucket outside my studio and meant to sketch or paint them for our flower sketching challenge but it never happened. Now they are beyond peak, so I guess I'll have to go find some fresh ones. I only took a few photos. Wish I had taken more. Wow, look at the close up of that flower head!

What's your favorite lunch? Mine is Nachos. This is how I make them; nacho chips, fresh salsa, shredded cheese, black olives and jalapeno peppers. Micro for 1 min. with a cover and it's delicious. I swear I could live on Nachos and Beer. Too bad it's not a little more nutritious.

The next day I used some fresh peppers from Jerry's garden. The little dark green ones are very hot, so I cut them up real small and boy were they good!!

Today Nancy and Frank "THE HUMMER HOUNDS" came to visit. I met them about five years ago at a hummingbird presentation I did at the Wild Bird Oasis. I invited them to come to my place and partake of the Hummingbird Happiness. They did and have been coming several times a season ever since.

It was great to see them and share our stories and enthusiasm for our little friends!!

And remember folks, the invitation still stands for anybody else wanting to come visit me and my tiny gems here in HummerLand this summer!

Flower Paintings

2011-07-04T16:56:00.000-04:00

My Summer Sketching Series, 2011, is now into the second month. I am trying to expand my audience by delving a little deeper into composition and design.

Our current weekly sketching challenge involves using a bit more insight and creativity.

Participants will be encouraged to sketch flowers and make a pleasing composition using the Momma, Poppa, Baby Theory and the Rule of Thirds.

Here are some of my flower paintings from my archives to help demonstrate what I'm looking for.

Baby Raccoons and SandyLand Update

2011-07-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

Guess who's living under my hay barn? OMG there are three little fuzzy-bear rascals and they are SOO CUTE! Momma took over Chuckie the wood chuck's home under there a few weeks ago when it was so hot here. The family has been living there ever since. Jerry took these snaps of them last night. I need to do a stake out from the big barn and try to get some good shots of them soon.

Snowflake is a very good mom and very strict and protective of the cubs. She has also taken over our feral cats, Ziggy and Leah's turf and food.They don't seem to mind it though and instead look forward to watching mom and the kids. The two cats can often be seen looking under the barn and waiting by the hole for the babies to come out.

We got some more plants and Jerry welded up more plant stands. We had to stake them into the ground as one tipped over in the strong wind. Thank goodness it missed the Jeep! Here's the studio entrance, taken this morning.

The screened porch off the kitchen is a favorite spot to hummer-watch any time of the day! The butterfly bushes are just starting to flower at the very top, but they should be exploding with blooms any day now.

Princess loves to roll around on the cool stepping stones in the morning.

She'll survey her territory to see who's been around during the night. Then up on the porch to watch the hummingbirds, deer, turkeys, birds, cats, squirrels, and chipmunk action for an hour or two.

I've gotten up early the past couple of mornings and taken Rembrandt for a spin through the woods. He's been looking awful mopey lately. At 31 years old, his teeth are not good and he doesn't do well in the heat. He has not been eating his hay at all, not moving around as he should and not pooping very much. It's been so hot and dry the past month, there is no pasture to speak of. I knew he needed exercise and lunging just wasn't enough. He starts out pretty slow and stiff, but by the end of our rides both days, he was so strong! Trotting through the trails, stirring up flocks of turkeys and herds of deer, I was applying a lot more half halts than leg! Looks like I'll be riding regularly this summer, 'cause he's been doing sooo much better since I started. It seems to have helped me and my back too. It's good getting up and out early. It makes the day so much richer. Here's a photo of him this morning after our ride. The watermelon and cantaloupe has really perked him up too. I've increased his Cushing's medicine which I think is helping and I started wetting some chopped hay mixed with Cavalor Senior which he has eaten a couple of times now. There was more manure in his paddock this morning, and his attitude is much more spirited so that is encouraging. With a horse this age, it's constant attention and tweaking of diet and routine to keep him strong. Oh, what Jerry and I wouldn't do for our old buddy! (And all of our animals!)

Hanging Baskets and Caution Tape

2011-06-27T12:37:00.000-04:00

Our numerous hanging baskets are really looking fine these days.

I know from experience that the deer will soon think so too.

A couple of days ago , I caught several juveniles, probably yearlings, eyeing them up from the driveway. We worked too hard and spent too much money for them to become deer food in the night.

I've been putting up various barriers (brooms, chairs, trash cans) at night to discourage investigation, but I knew it was time to take more aggressive measures!

Jerry had some caution tape, so we made our barrier more formidable last night. I will take it down during the day and change the way I hang it a little each night, so they don't get too used to it. I think that's the key with deer. Change things often, because it usually takes them a day or two to relax around something new. Of course, they are pretty comfortable just about everywhere here in SandyLand. They are just not welcome to eat my flowers, thank you very much!

Jerry's got another giant tomato plant growing this year. I think it's even bigger than last year's. It has taken over the deck table so that our woodchuck can't get to it.

Three males showing off for each other this morning.

Rembrandt is begging for watermelon.

And Princess just takes it all in from her throne.

*SANDY SANDYs WEB LOG*

Fruity Artist / Photographer M.I.A.

Part Time Nurse By Chance, Not Choice

Every Winter

We Have A Winner!

LOVE

They Go Bonkers For Bananas!

Celebrating 500 Posts with a Painting Giveaway!

Peace On Earth Good Will To All

May the Spirit of Christmas Bless You and Yours

01 Days Till Christmas!

Easy To Make Party Favor Magnets

The Yuletide Season Continues

My Art Used For Another Book Cover (and Back)

Saying Thank You

Holiday Open Studio Tour

More Bald Eagles!

Happy Thanksgiving Today and Everyday

The Symbolism of Trees II

Fall Colors in the Pine Barrens

"The Art Spirit" Solo Show

Keeping My Old Buddy Going

Day Of The Dead Greetings

Day Of The Dead

Shrunken Heads ~ Hours Of Fun

ARRRRRRGH ! ! !

Happy Halloween Me Hearty

Kirby's Mill Apple Festival ~ Saturday, October 8th 2011

R. I. P. Steve Jobs

Borgota Casino and Coney Island Mermaids

Rufous Hummingbirds Still Here in NJ

A Rufous Hummingbird in NJ

October First ~ Let The Fall Fun Begin!

Aye, A Whole Month Of Halloween!!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day ~ September 19th Every Year

A VERY VERY BAD HAIR DAY

Bubba Birds

Arr Ha Ha Har! (Or However JD Would Laugh/Snarl/Growl)

Real Friends

Red Neck Fly Spray For Horses

The Jersey Devil And Fall Is In The Air

My Wet And Soggy Sandarosa

The Red Canoe Vs. Mystery In Painting

The Red Canoe ~ Winslow Homer 1889 / Wikimedia Commons

Getting Back To Normal After Hurricane Irene

Good Riddance Hurricane Irene

Getting Ready For Hurricane Irene

Summertime On Long Beach Island

A Morning Visit To Long Beach Island, NJ

Boardwalk Empire Facade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

Another Road Trip! Atlantic City, NJ

Snowflake the Mother Raccoon is Alive!

A Virtual Internet Friendship Turns Physical = A Delightful Weekend

It's a Filly! - Same Drawing, Different Medium

Another Hummingbird Moth

The Emergency Weather Report

Hummingbird Hawks

My "Working Toes" Are Famous!

It's Very Hot And Humid Here in NJ

Monday's Child

Watercolor Flower Vignette

Bachelor's Buttons, Nachos and Hummingbird Lovers

Flower Paintings

Baby Raccoons and SandyLand Update

Hanging Baskets and Caution Tape

SANDY SANDYs WEB LOG