Why not Christmas?

So, I know my Christmas spirit rubbed off when my 19 year old daughter called me last night and asked - Since she has to study for finals for half of December, the other half she'll be at home, and she'll be home for Thanksgiving, is it too early to decorate her apartment for Christmas? That's my girl!

my dog

So, I finally got a good nights' sleep last night. My dog, Argus has really advanced arthritis and has kept me up at night - that's why I haven't written in a couple of days. I've upped his steroids to the maximum level and I'll see if he can walk today. The steroids aren't good for him, they'll eventually get to his organs, but in the meantime will hopefully give him some quality life.

After teaching this morning at MCC I'll come home, take care of the dogs and then hopefully start on some pet portraits. I do wish I could post them as I work, but ... whoa! as I was writing that I heard Argus get up on his own to go out! I guess the steroids ARE working. YAY Argus!

Sunday

Is anyone else in the mood for Christmas? I'm using all the strength I have to not listen to Christmas music.

Tomorrow starts my homeschool kids class. The kids that I've met are bright and think for themselves. I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure that I'll learn a lot too!

Lots of dogs

This is the time of year I do pet portraits for people that they're giving as Christmas gifts. I just got a photo by email and I wish I could post it as I work on it - but on the off chance that people are actually reading this blog I should wait until after Christmas to show any of them. I don't want to ruin any surprises. It's just tough because the dogs are so cute!!! I can't wait to get started.

camera works!

So, here it is, finally - camera works with Aunt Sally's batteries, but not the new ones I bought. A friend suggested I do it again with less detail and use colors to suit my mood more than the 'real' colors. Since I usually work by mood I usually don't use helpful suggestions like this, but I think I will this time. I used Mattson paper that you can buy at Dick Blick and unison pastels (they're so great!!!) along with some Rembrandt ones, which are also very nice. It's 22" x 30". Don't forget to go to my website now and then: www.telfleur.com

broken camera, so sad

Ok, I just got home from our artist's coffee and put in my new batteries, but they don't work. I think it might be my camera... very sad. I will try another set of batteries tomorrow anyway. The coffee was a lot of fun. We talked about art, but then got into movie reviews. Everyone who likes old movies should definitely see "Holiday Affair" with Janet Lee. I think it was made in the late 40's. I saw it for the first time last year and I loved it. It's so funny in a 40's innocent kind of way, but has a great message about being true to yourself and not settling. I want to try to find it on dvd.

pastel thoughts continued

So, I finished yesterdays pastel last night. I'll get some batteries later today so I can post a photo. I was thinking about how the subject matter is pretty typical - a landscape - mountains and water. But I like it anyway. The colors, shapes, etc. I think I'll do more of these, but try to get more abstract with them. I'll write a little more later about the materials I used when I post the photo.