Christmas is upon us!

Christmas is coming faster than a snowball rolling downhill!  I started preparations the first of November and felt like I would have plenty of time.  Then I got the viral bronchitis that was making it's rounds and that put me down for three weeks, so it was back to the old first of December rush for me!  Thankfully, Paul came to my rescue, as always.  He nursed me back to health and had me call MaidPro and Fish Window Cleaners so I don't have any cleaning to do.  I have my shopping done and cards sent out but still have lots of presents to wrap and two packages that should have been sent off last week or maybe the week before?  One thing I know for sure, whether I am ready or not, Christmas WILL come! 

Painting: Prospecting on the Turquoise River

This latest painting is near and dear to my heart.  I painted a turquoise river in Colorado and put my brother panning for gold...look closely and you will see he just found three gold nuggets!  This painting was fun and easier for me than most, because I love the rivers in Colorado.  My husband and I rafted the best part of our adult life away on the Green and the Yampa Rivers in Colorado and Utah.  When I painted the sun sparkling on the water it transported me back in time.  I could see the water and the way the sun hit it in my mind.  I could see the dark deep pools and the green trout below the surface.  Painting rivers and mountains may be my niche!  This painting was like a time machine for me and while I am painting rivers, I am young and on the river again!

Bees and Bikers!

I finished two new paintings recently!  My first was a huge oil painting, a modern/impressionistic attempt.  I've had all sorts of interpretations from family members...a man playing a lute on stage, a man on a bicycle escaping a fire, a biker on the highway to hell riding in the lake of fire, a boy on a bike at dusk in the autumn.  What do you see? 
The second painting was so much fun!  It's is a 16x20" mixed media painting of bees!

New Improved Pea Pen!

Four days ago Trevor told me he had a great idea.  We should decorate the peacock pen.  I was thinking maybe holiday decorations would be on his mind, wondering what comes up next I asked, "What exactly is on your mind, son?"  He said, "Oh, how about a jungle, with grass and trees and flowers, and maybe a waterfall and rocks.  Then we should move the doves in with the peacocks so they will all be friends and won't be so lonely."  I said, "That is a great idea, but no waterfall."  I could just see how messy a waterfall would be to clean up after peacocks, full of feathers and what I will politely call 'pea dirt' here.

Mortalities and strange disappearances....

The peacock population is dwindling.  We sold one male peacock, partially because someone REALLY wanted it badly and partially because the two males were at war and pulling each others beautiful tail feathers out.  The next day the man called me and asked, "Do peacocks fly?"  I answered yes, why?  He said they had kept it in the coop overnight and released it the next morning.  It flew away.

New Eggs, New Painting!

I finished a new painting last night.  My husband says I am getting better and soon he will stay home and live off my earnings!  I think he is over optimistic as I have never even had one of my paintings for sale yet.  His goal in his old age is to be a kept man, my Boy Toy.  I have sad news for him... there is a slight chance I may never get rich and he is no longer a boy and paint is my new toy.  Oh well!  He is a very sweet old boy, and if I do ever get rich I will keep him supplied in Lowe's gift certificates, hot breakfast every morning and flatiron steaks hot off the grill at night.  He will  be such a happy camper!  What a retirement plan!

New Painting ... And peacock story

I posted a new photo and cropped detail photo of my latest painting..."Where's That Worm?"  Check it out below.

Five Little Peachicks!

We ended up with five little peachicks out of 21 eggs, a perfect illustration of why it is wise NOT to count your chicks before they're hatched! 

Happy Birthday, dear Peachicks...Happy Birthday to you!

This morning when I checked the eggs I had one peachick on it's feet and a white peachick newly hatched from it's egg!  This afternoon two more hatchlings emerged.  I keep checking for peep holes in the other eggs...maybe more with escape their eggs in the night.

Candled Eggs

I candled the peacock eggs Sunday.  Thirteen of the twenty one eggs in the incubator are fertile!  Two more weeks and we will see how many of the thirteen hatch!  What fun to be able to see the darkened area and know there is LIFE in those eggs!

Fantastic Father's Day!

We had LOTS of tear-jerking heartfelt cards for my husband, Paul (who just happens to be the most awesome, wonderful Dad to five children and a Father figure to three grandsons), a family dinner and an awesome impractical gift!

Will They or Won't They???

Will they or won't they ....hatch???  The temperature keeps rising and falling in the incubator.  I am beginning to suspect my little helper likes to turn the dial whenever he comes to visit.

Peafowl Eggs are in the Incubator!

June 9: The incubator finally leveled out to an even temperature...between 99 and 100 degrees.  My grandson, Trevor, retrieved the eggs from the cool pantry where we have kept them in a willow basket since he began gathering them from the peacock pen.  First, he marks them with an X on one side, an O on the other, because peacock eggs have to be turned two or three times a day. 

Graduations!

I have two grandchildren graduating from high school this coming Friday, a grandson and a granddaughter!  No pictures today...there is MUCH to do, so I will probably catch up with this next week!  I will surely have photos to post by then!