Not much going on

I made only one outing today - to the gym and then to the library.  I wasn't feeling up to the gym at all and only walked 1.2 miles, and was glad to leave.  I picked up a book on hold at the library - it was about flowers and is from the children's section.  Not a whole lot I can use in there, but a couple of the other books have given me some ideas.

I'm looking at the books right now to get ideas for sketching/drawing.  I've never tried it before and thought I'd be terrible, but I'm not too embarrassed to show my work so you know it could be worse.  I think I've always known where my true strengths lie, and always just skipped over artistic endeavors.  I'm getting too late a start to ever be even halfway acceptable, but I've discovered a "new me" and I like it.

I will paint the apples in class tomorrow, but in the meantime I'm finding things to sketch.  My kitchen is a good source, and I did a not-bad drawing of three tangerines, and another of two lemons.  One of the library books is all about plants and has a great page of various leaves.  I think I might try a few of them.  I have colored pencils but they don't really work well with the paper in the sketch pad, so I think I will just use the black pencils for now.

Today has been gorgeous, cold in the morning and warming up to a high of 72.  I had to get out my little space heater for when I get up in the morning, and I also have one in the bathroom for when I shower.  The cost of the electricity they use is far less than the gas furnace, although when it gets really seriously cold in the mornings I will need the furnace on for just a few minutes now and then.

I'm dreading Friday when I'll have another molar pulled.  That will be at least 2 weeks of recovery, based on the last one.  I am feeling rotten enough as it is.

I had an unusual treat when I got up in the middle of the night last week.  On my way back to bed I glanced out the window and saw way more stars than are usually visible.  Looking closely (as closely as I can) I spotted the three stars that indicate Orion's belt and was astounded that all the rest of the main stars in the constellation were plainly visible.  I could see Orion's entire outline and stance.  Never saw it before, and have not seen it since.  It's almost impossible to remember back when there were a lot of stars visible in the sky; when I could make out certain constellations such as Casseiopia (I know the spelling is wrong on this one), could see the big dipper and lots more.  Now there is too much pollution in the atmosphere, plus the light pollution, and our beautiful night skies aren't visible to much of the population who live in cities.

I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I have a birthday coming up in another month or so.  I will be 24!   That is 24 Celsius!  I like the sound of that much better.

Another beautiful cool day

I was slow moving from the time I got up this morning, the warm bed was difficult to get out of.  I finally ate breakfast and went to the gym.  By the time I arrived it was starting to drizzle which I was glad to see, except that I had puffed and fluffed my hair (which looked gorgeous, by the way), and the raindrops sort of limped out the fluff!  No matter.

I went to Bel Air afterwards and bought 3 fresh apples for my Wednesday effort at painting.  On the way into the store was a table full of really pretty, large, shiny Galas, but as they weren't organic I wouldn't eat them after painting them.  The organic apples are a bit smaller and not quite as shiny, although I'll buff them up a bit.

I've never thought I could draw a thing, but the apples look pretty good to me, so I wondered how much I might improve if I draw one new subject a day.  So far I haven't seen anything that might serve - I want something fairly simple and quick, nothing I will have to agonize over.

Several people have mentioned going to Pinterest for ideas.  I have never been to that website.  Must you register and get a username, password, etc?  I have always thought it might be something like Facebook, which I have been on in the past but quit for good a few years ago.  But what I really want to know, is how Pinterest works, how much information do they want from you, etc.

I'm planning to visit the library tomorrow although the books I requested still haven't come in.  They do have quite a selection of art books, and I hope to find something helpful there.  I went over the apple drawing and darkened the lines so that I could see them better - I was afraid to make much of a mark on paper when I did them.  I find that with my mac degeneration I need to turn the page around as I can see and work best on one side.  I found that in the painting class as well, which means the easel I bought might not work so well for me.  I need to set the canvas on the table and then turn it to suit.  It's almost a laughing matter to me to think I will ever be able to do anything halfway talented-looking, but I love the idea of trying.

I was so looking forward to fixing myself a nice dinner this evening, but all thoughts of it just dissipated.  I'm not humgry in the least, and I have a bag of salad mix on hand but don't feel like even fixing that!  

I'm watching a hummingbird that is really enjoying the feeder on the front porch.  He feeds, then goes back to his tree and is back at the feeder again before you know it.  I'm sure it's the same bird, but there may be two of them.

Thanks to all who have given me ideas and websites to check out in the area of art painting.  I'm enjoying them and getting something from each and every one.

I just tried to take photos off both my cameras; two insignificant pictures are intact, but about 10 which I've been taking with my Fuji camera aren't there, for some reason.  When I download them to the computer I always delete them from the card, so they are gone for good.  I might as well give up on photography, and eventually, using a computer for anything except email.  Maybe I could just take the card to Costco and bring it up and print the ones I want to keep, but then that still wouldn't allow me to include them into my blog.  I get brain freeze just thinking about it.

After I published this I looked up Pinterest on google, and see it is described as having social network features.  I'm not into social networking, except if you call the blog I write and those I read regularly "social networking".  Also, registration is required and it sounds like another Facebook to me.

Air Show today

The air show was scheduled for Saturday, but after just two maneuvers it all stopped.  They  held it in a shortened format this afternoon.  I read that several of the pilots became ill and that is why it ended abruptly on Saturday.  We had some heavy rains in the middle of the day today, and when the sun finally came out and the rain stopped the planes were in the skies.  

I think I've mentioned that I don't like planes, especially military type fighter planes, but I'll have to say the way they flew them, so fast and so close and with such precision, is a beautiful thing.    You couldn't see it without becoming awestruck.

The rain was so much needed and welcome, and I doubt anyone was annoyed with it.  Tomorrow will be cloudy and I'm hoping we see some more moisture, as the forecast calls for sun from mid-week on.  It has been so chilly that I closed most of my windows - fine thing that I should have done before we used the leaf blower which caused a lot of dust to enter the house.  I started cleaning the kitchen and bathroom the day afterward, but then lost all my steam and motivation.  I haven't been feeling well since, and I think it is related to the dental problems I'm having.  I see the dentist next Friday and will have another molar pulled.  I will need to get a partial lower denture or I won't be able to eat, which means I will lose weight, which I've already started to do.

I got out my sketch pad and drawing pencils today, plus three apples from the fridge, and did a very light drawing that looks pretty decent.  The apples are not the best as a subject for painting, so I will get a few from Bel Air before the next art class.  The trouble is that the best looking ones aren't usually the most tasty, and I will have to eat them in the end.  I sometimes cut up apples and lightly fry them along with (pre-cooked) Aidell's chicken sausage, and it's very tasty. 

I managed to get to Costco this afternoon and picked up a few needed items (including a gallon of ice cream).   I think the big bag of tangerines with their Vitamin C will make me feel better.  Actually the ice cream will make me feel better than anything, but I love tangerines as well and usually eat 3 or 4 of them at a sitting.  I hope I feel better soon, but unfortunately I'm going to feel much worse before I feel better!

I took a few pictures of the rain today (isn't that so Californian!) and need to take the card out of the camera and see what I have.  Maybe I'll post a couple of photos tomorrow.

A do-nothing day

And I mean I did nothing at al!.  I just didn't feel like going to Joe's for their block party, so I didn't have Jeannie & Donald pick me up thinking I could drive myself and then be able to come home when I want.   I'm only familiar with getting to their house, and if the street was blocked off I might have not been able to find my car later!

I've spent some time today researching painting methods, art supplies, etc.  It's becoming overwhelming, but I think I came to a brilliant solution about what I will paint next week.   I have three small apples in my fridge, and depending on if they look pretty good I'll take up to 3 with me.  I'm going to do a very small canvas, so maybe one would be the best idea.

I've been trying to find a picture of a single flower I would like to paint, but  can't find anything online that I liked, and I didn't feel like going out to look for magazines.  Most magazines on the racks I've seen are ones that I wouldn't buy and  probably wouldn't have anything of use to me.  I've ordered a couple of books from the library, and when they come in I might check out the Friends of the Library book sale - I donate magazines to them (and have a stack to take to them now), and I might get lucky.  If I do the apple I might take a photo of it and post it.  Many thanks to all who have written with suggestions, links, names to research, etc.  

It was cold this morning when I got out of bed, and stayed cool all day.  It might have been warm out in the sun, but I didn't go out.  I didn't close all my windows entirely, but lowered them by half - I have those awfully dated jalousie windows in the entire house, except for the bathroom.  My wish is to to replace them all, but there are so many things I wish for when it comes to remodeling that I haven't been able to set priorities.  The bathroom was top priority and I'm so glad I got it done.  (I still need to paint though, and I don't know if I'm up to it.  Standing on even a small ladder and stretching doesn't sound great.)

Nights are in the low 40's now and sleeping is wonderful!   I'm actually cold when I get up and love wrapping up in my fleece robe.  This is my kind of weather!

Nothing happening

Just another Saturday that has gone by way too fast.  I realized this morning that I didn't feel like knocking myself out over anything - I did enough of that yesterday.  I did a load of laundry, line dried, and folded it, and that makes me feel virtuous enough!

I was talking to Ara on the phone when the electricity (which means no water as well) went off in the entire Park.  A little over an hour later it is now back on, but I passed the stage where I feel like cooking dinner, a shame because I had everything ready to start.   I opened the fridge quickly and retrieved a bottle of beer, got out a bag of cheese puffs, and may fix a turkey sandwich a little later, or maybe not.

Ara says "thank you" for the birthday wishes in my comment section.  She and a friend have been rafting, biking, camping, etc., in the Ozarks and I want photos!  She said something about the fact that she doesn't take many photos.  I thought everyone with a smart phone took pictures incessantly!

I just looked out the window and the sunset this evening is beyond words.  I wish I could paint those colors.

The planes practiced a little today, but not as much as I thought they would.  There were a couple of breath-taking maneuvers though.  Would you believe that neither of my cameras would take a photo?

It is so much cooler today and I hope we are past the sizzling summer so common in Sacramento.  We might even get a bit of rain by Sunday.   I'm going to enjoy sleeping tonight with the cold breeze blowing in through my window.

I just looked outside again and couldn't believe the colors.  It looks like a Bob Ross painting with the palm trees silhouetted against the beautiful sky with all shades of red streaks.  I did run out with one of the cameras, and I can tell that the colors are going to be drab.  Some things you just have to store in your memory.

I've just about decided that I'm going to set the painting aside as whatever I do to it now is not going to be an enhancement.  I plan to use some small 5x7 canvas boards and am looking for easy, uncluttered pictures as subjects, but having a difficult time finding anything.   I looked at the magazine racks at Michael's this morning but they aren't the type of thing I'm hoping to find.  I think I'd like to paint a flower, or a piece of pottery, or just something more simple where I'm not so attached to the colors.  I need a rest from the one I started on, and a couple of weeks doing the small and simple scenes will get me back on track, I hope.

Clean-up

I went to Target before I started on the clean-up job I am dreading.   I was nearly out of Pine Sol so that was the first thing I put into the cart, and to the produce section for bananas.  Target is the only store around here that sells Chiquita bananas, which are so superior to Del Monte and Dole that there isn't even a question about which one I prefer.

I finally got started in the kitchen, and I think I've cleaned just about everything except the floor, and I'll try to do that tomorrow.  I also did the railings and spokes on the front and side porches, as I could barely stand to touch them they were so dirty.  I washed the kitchen window that looks out on the front porch also - this is the window where I cleaned the venetian blinds not too long ago!  I could probably go over them again but not just yet.  I wiped off a lot of surfaces in the living room but everything in here needs to be done, and then there is the dreaded floor, the one I do on hands and knees.  By the time I get to the back of the house the front will be needing to be cleaned again.  I don't know if my old knees can take it again.

I noticed early on some rumbling in the skies and at first couldn't figure out what it was.  Then I heard planes streaking overhead and remembered there is an air show this weekend at the old Mather AFB.  Joe has an excellent view of those shows from his house.  The racket they were making was tremendous so I finally went outside to investigate.  At that point there was one jet flying in huge circles over the city - I think they must have covered the entire Sacramento area taking into consideration the time they flew over me and direction they headed in, the direction they came back from, and the length of time in the air.   I eventually went outside with my camera but of course the planes never flew anywhere nearby when I was ready.  

That was when I did some cleaning on the porch, so I could run down to the street and see the planes when they flew overhead.  Two appeared, and eventually four of them together, looking so close to each other I could hardly bear to watch.  What a noise.  Neighbor Ed came out and told me they were F-18's.  Couldn't prove it by me but even though I'm not a big fan of jets I'll have to admit they are spectacular to watch in the air.  Never did get a picture, but I'm sure they will be practicing again tomorrow and I may just go out and stay out watching the sky until I can get a photo.

I'm just finishing Series 3 of the Bob Ross youtube videos.  Each series has about 13 videos, running close to 27 minutes each.   I'd love to try the oils, but not right now as I've spent a lot getting the acrylic paints, and oils are  even more expensive.   I'm wondering if my vision problems won't overtake my ambitions.  In the meantime I love the videos and have learned quite a lot just from watching Bob paint.

My granddaughter will be 27 tomorrow.  Happy birthday, Ara!

Busy Day

I had a difficult time making up my mind whether to post today or not, so maybe I can keep it shorter.   Joe came over this morning and we spent a full 4 hours cleaning up the yard, driveway etc.  In the back yard a lot of the debris blew onto Ed's property, so he ended up getting a good cleanup as well.  I was absolutely worn out by the time it was over - I helped with the bagging of the debris and a few other smaller jobs, but it was as if I put in a lot longer day, and when Joe left I just conked out on the couch.

I have mentioned that all the dirt, dust, and debris from this part of the park blows right into mine and Ed's properties, and since I don't close my windows it gets into the house, although today was even worse.  There is a film of dirt on everything, so I think tomorrow I will have to spend cleaning.  When I turned on the shower a rim of grimy black dirt was all over the tub, and I had to clean that before I could even get into the water.

Art class was this evening.  I thought I was over it as I've really tried to not let anything bother me and to become more laid back as I age.  I have always held myself to an impossibly high standard and it sure hasn't changed.  I'm not that way with other people, but I can never do anything to satisfy the perfectionist standards I set for myself.    I can be a slouch on many occasions, but when it comes to something I want to learn and to become good at, I have no mercy.  I have to do something about my attitude or I'll never continue with wanting to paint.  To be fair to myself, my vision is a big factor in how I paint, and I have to figure something out.  I had a good talk with the art instructor, and I think we can come up with a solution, although I'll have to give up some of the control I have always wanted to have over myself and how I do things.  Maybe this will be one of the best things that ever happened to me - it is certainly an eye opener into how i must appear to others.

I had an unusual experience today when Joe was here.  I was in the bathroom trying to reach the thingy that releases the screen as we wanted to plug the leaf blower in the bathroom outlet.  I pulled the shower curtain aside and stood on the side of the tub, leaning towards the window and reaching up.  Joe walked in and caught me!  Anyone with several children knows how there is a dynamic with each one that is different from the others.  Joe is my youngest, and while the others often feel free to tell me how or what to do (absolutely knowing I will do what I want), Joe never has, and he's never criticized anything I do or don't do.  I'm sure he has his own opinion, but he's never said much one way or another about what or how I do anything.  Today was an exception!  He saw me on tiptoe on the side of the tub, stretching upward, and handed me a lecture on falling, lying in the hospital, getting pneumonia and all the rest.  He didn't yell, but he didn't mince any words either.  I was shocked, but also pleased.  

So much for keeping this post short!