Thanksgiving Afterglow and Self-Portrait Reveal

I hope those of you celebrating Thanksgiving had a lovely holiday, whether you were solo, with family or, as we did, enjoying a Friendsgiving. 

 

Our holiday weekend began a couple of days earlier when Rick got me along-awaited new toilet and installed it. Two trips to the hardware store later, it's a beauty (everything going down all right!). Now, what to do with the old toilet, presently sitting by the garage? I am contemplating decorating it for Christmas. We shall see. I don't have the energy to actually figure out how to get rid of it right now! 

Giving Thanks

Those of us living in the US will be celebrating Thanksgiving on November 27 -- the latest day in the year that this "moving around" holiday takes place. Four weeks from today will be Christmas.

 

This holiday has been happening since 1621 when the Pilgrims celebrated their first year in the new world and a successful harvest. They shared this celebration with the Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans. 

Birthdays and Greens!

You'd think after the last week, with the art sale eating most of the time, I'd be laying low. And in some ways, I would have liked to. But there was too much on the agenda -- the fun and the not-so-fun.

 

The fun was a belated birthday party for Rick and me and our friends Mark and Jan. Jan's birthday was in May, Rick's in July, mine in August and Mark's early this month. But we hadn't celebrated a one of them! So I decided to have a birthday party for us all.

It Was a Busy Week!

I am SO ready for a break! Last week was a bit of a zoo (and this one is, too). Mostly all good stuff, but still, sometimes enough is enough!

 

The sale ended up being pretty successful. But I confess, I'm wondering if I'm getting a little old for this! We had great vendors, a lovely time and it was wonderful to see many people come and love the work -- mine and that of my fellow artists. But it was good to get it over.

A Full, Hectic Week!

It's been a good week or two and not a lazy one! I've been busy ramping up for the art sale (which is November 13-15 and if you live in my area of Lansing, MI and want more details, let me know and I can email them to you!) There will be nine of us altogether and while we're all a bit apprehensive on how sales will go with things being financially precarious for so many, it will be fun, no matter what. Still, our prices are fair (and no tariffs!) These are some of the paintings I did this year that will be included. 

 

In addition to the framed (and matted) watercolors, I'll have lots of cards, many from photos and some original watercolors, and the felties. 

November Ramblings

It's been kind of lonesome around here of late. Rick's been north, doing his annual retreat at the cottage, which culminates with his closing it up for the year. Once the temps drop and the leaves have fallen, I'd rather be home! He's home now, but it felt like a long time! This was our first Halloween where I didn't make chili while he handed out the treats. That was a bit weird! (It was also weird that we only had 15 goblins come to the door and now I have to unload 45 packets of Oreos to someone who isn't watching their sugar!) The photo is just SOME of the leftovers.

The October Book Report

October was a surprisingly good reading month for me. Or maybe not all that surprising. About a week of that was spent up north with a foot that prevented a lot of things I would have otherwise done, so there was more time for reading. That continued, even when I got home.

 

The results? Three very different memoirs, four mysteries and another holiday selection, this time essays.