Saturday

Click on images for a larger view

I took this photo of a calf moose out my upstairs bathroom window. I'm pretty sure he is a calf from this year, so his mother must have been around somewhere. Shorty had been my "wildlife alarm" ever since he moved into my back yard. Without his alerts, I would miss a lot of it.

I guess I have never paid much attention to a moose's eyelashes before. So long and thick!

******************************

I love this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon.

*************************************

My plans for the afternoon are to complete the color pencil dog drawing I have been working on for a while.

Some time soon I want to drive up Skyline, and also to Green River Lake. The colors are changing fast, and I don't want to miss it!

Friday

Lotsa' Dots

Click on images for a larger view

I finished the pen and ink stipple drawing of trees today. I think the background needs a little touching up, but I am happy with it. For some reason, I am really tired of pen and ink right now!


Cooking for a Crowd: This is Barrie's new cooker. I think it is 8 gallons. She cooks rice and meat for her dogs in it.

The artist and the critic.

******************************

It has been a perfectly beautiful day today. I love this time of year. As I look out across town and towards the creek, I can see many trees that have turned to a beautiful golden color.

Barrie and Kasey and the sled dogs are going to a sled dog symposium in Casper next weekend. They will camp on Casper Mountain with other mushers and she is taking a four wheeler so she can run her dogs on trails up there. I think she plans on getting some meat from a friend and fellow musher in Glenrock. She is still getting meat from Specialty Meats, but some days the bear hunters beat her to it. She is also trying to make arrangements with the locker in Jackson to pick up game meat.

Thursday

Click on image for larger view.

Natalie posted this picture for me of Paul and Tracy at Long Lake. Ward, Natalie and kids and Paul and Tracy hiked in. Paul was so mad at himself because he didn't take his fishing pole. Gene Andrews, both Sr. and Jr. were up there and catching fish.

************************

Gina asked about the Artist Trading Cards. As long as they are 2 1/2" by 3 1/3", I guess just about anything goes - watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil, pen, etc. Make some, Gina! I have heard that trading these cards is a big deal in some places. They have trading groups organized all around the country.

I counted 20 robins on my lawn yesterday. They were working around the sprinklers, looking for worms, and are also into the chokecherry bushes. Barrie won't park her pickup in the driveway any more because of the robin poop. My truck is in the garage, and the carport is hers. As I don't go anywhere much, it works, because she has to move her truck out for me to get out of the garage.

This is a quote sent to me by a friend:

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

Wednesday

Kat has earned her Kibbles!

Click on images for a larger view.

This is what greeted me at the top of the stairs this morning. The cat had mostly lost interest in it by then. As she won't go outside, this had to have come from inside the house. Barrie said she has noticed the cat hanging around the refrigerator in the kitchen lately. The mightly hunter is sleeping on the top shelf of her condo pole right now.




I started another 5" x 7" greeting card last night and finished it in art group today. Judi, Vicky, and Terry put pen and ink touches on their watercolors, and I think it really adds a lot. I need to do more of it, especially with small pieces like this.

Vicky brought a small plein air she had done of Fremont Peak. It was incredible. All I can say is WOW. Maybe I can photograph it next week. I hope I can get some more plein air done.

I started on a watercolor of Square Top today, but all I got done was the sky.

**********************************

After getting dog boxes on her truck, Barrie put more boxes in her horse trailer. She has quite the setup for hauling sled dogs and equipment now. She took her trailer out to the dog lot this morning and brought 20 dogs in to Vern Aultman for their rabies shots.

She was a little late getting back into town, so I had Kasey up, dressed and fed when she got back. As I am always alseep when they get up in the morning, I wasn't sure what to do. Kasey knows the routine, though. When I got her up, she headed for the bathroom and said "I go potty". Then we found clothes, panties and training pants. I put her sock on her, and she went to find her boots and put them on herself. (Wrong feet, but I left them that way). Then she headed for her high chair and told me she wanted her "Ego". How easy is that??

Barrie didn't take her to day care until late. Vern and Rose have been nagging her because they haven't seen Kasey for so long, so Barrie took her out there. She laid on the floor with a piece of paper and a pink highlighter, and enjoyed herself while Vern vaccinated the dogs.

********************

My thoughts are with Chase and his entire family. Best wishes and hopes for them. He is too young for that kind of health concern.

Big Stuff and Little Stuff

Click on images for a larger view

Artist Trading Card 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Greeting Card, 5" x 7"


Kasey's Crayon masterpiece, 14" x 17"

I finally tried one of the little artist cards yesterday. I liked it, so tried the same scene on a greeting card. While I was painting, Kasey drew in my big sketch book with crayons. She is into making long lines. She really wanted to paint, but I convinced her it was my turn. I have ordered a children's pan set for her and some new paper. I think I can set her up at the little table I have up here and put plastic on the floor and let her do it on her own.

***********************************

Reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear

*****************************************

Paul and Tracy went home yesterday. They had such beautiful weather while they were here, and had a great time.

Tracy and I pulled the hard drive out of the old computer, and I will probably install it as a second hard drive in the new one. Not sure how soon I will get that done. I feel like I need to do more reading about exactly how to do it. They took the old monitor home. I'm not sure why I ordered a new monitor. They one they took is a really nice one - flat panel 24".

Sunday

Gilligan on the Beach

Click on images for a larger view

Look! I think it's Gilligan on Gilligan's Island!

I think I could really get into pleine air painting. These are two very small ones I did yesterday at the lake. Nothing to brag about, but I enjoyed doing it. And I think I am getting a little better.


This is the little Guerrilla painter box I got that will mount on a tripod. It holds a 6" x 8" canvas panel. and a tiny palette. I have used it once, and I want to take it out in the front yard and paint outside.

Just a photo of the beach where Paul and Tracy are camped. The campground is officially closed after this weekend, and from now on, I should be able to go up and find an empty campsite and do more pleine air painting. This is the time of year I enjoy the lake the most - the people have pretty well all gone home.

Friday

Friday, Sept 4, 2009

Click on images for a larger view

Beach bums! There are two campsites off the main road down right on the lake. Tracy and Paul have been lucky enough to reserve one of them the last several years. There is a nice protected cove where they can beach the boat.

I love spending time at this camp site, as I can wander along the shore, sit on the beach, take pictures, and paint. The Forest Service is planning to do away with these two sites and turn them into day use for registered campers.

**************************

I wandered around this afternoon and took lots of pictures of flowers around the campsite.

I think these are flicker feathers. Very bright and colorful!

Berries on a grape holly

Harebell (I think)

Showy Daisy

Thursday

September 3

Click on images for a larger view

What fun! Kasey has really made up with Paul now. He hoisted her up in the driver's seat, and she helped drive the boat fast! She was delighted.


Tracy went wading with Kasey. Kasey was in up to her armpits, and never seemed to mind the cold water. Tracy was shivering and whining!

Goofing around with Mom's hat

*********************************

I came home exhausted today. I know Barrie and Kasey would have stayed at the lake longer, but I just couldn't do any more. I was sunburned, my legs hurt, and I felt like a nap. I was whining. I might be in bed by 8:00 tonight!

The life jacket Judi brought for Kasey was perfect. Kasey was so much more comfortable in it. I thank you, Judi, Barrie thanks you, and Kasey thanks you!

We saw three osprey today, hanging around the old nest. I thought maybe they were all gone, but these three haven't left yet.

Tracy is such a voracious reader. I don't know how many books she brought with her, but she has finished two and sent them home with me, The Texas Connection and Pope Joan. Her library in Silverthorne has a paperback trade section.

Wednesday

September 2


The wind was blowing hard and the lake was rough when we went up last night, so we didn't go out in the boat. We are going up earlier tomorrow, so should be able to spend some time out on the water.

Click on images for a larger view

Kasey pretty well made up with Paul last night. For one thing, she figured out he is the guy who drives the boat and will take her out and go fast. She went in the camper with him to help him do dishes, and helped him build a fire.

Kasey is getting her sunscreen on.

**********************

The Rendezvous Pointe art group went to Pam's house on the Upper Green to paint today. What a beautiful place with a beautiful view! The weather was great, a little bit of wind came up, but not bad. Conley, Cindi, Terry, Nancy, Vicky and I went. It would be fun to do that more often.

Pam had found this interesting item on a walk near her house recently. It is a hairball from the stomach from an animal, and a couple of teeth were under the edge of it.

This is Pam's living room - -




And this is the view she has from her living room and deck.

Tuesday

September 1, 2009

Click on images for a larger view

Kasey and Shorty playing on the edge of the water. Shorty doesn't like the water. Jarvi will swim out after a stick all day.

Kasey ran up and down the shore and splashed a long time. Her hands, feet and legs were so cold they were turning blue. She didn't seem to even notice.


I had taken my lilttle plein air watercolor kit along, and was going to paint a little. But I didn't get a turn. Today I am having my turn, and Kasey will just have to wait!

Judi saw the picture of Kasey in the life jacket and stopped by with two vest type ones for her to use. She should be much more comfortable today. Thanks Judi!