Was It Something I Said?

Will I never grow up?

ah... probably not. Not completely.

Do your feelings get hurt when a blog you've been following for years suddenly goes private? I'm talking about a stranger's blog. Someone you have not and will never meet or anything close to meeting.

I have an instantanous reaction that lasts maybe a nano second... I'VE BEEN (GASP) REJECTED! Then I get a grip and remember its not real. (oh, just to be sure you have an accurate picture... I don't even comment on these blogs. I just follow them because they're interesting.)

On a cranky day, if someone writes that they are taking an extended break from blogging and are not sure they will return, I'll delete the link from my favorites list with a huff. "Fine then.... go take break, but don't worry about coming back for me. You're deleted!!" All the while I know that I can do a google search and no doubt find the link again. You know, if I want to find it.

These childish reactions always surprise me a little when they jump out of the closet at me, but I recover so much faster than I did in my youth. And there's not a permanent scar or anything.

Need I mention I just visited a blog that is suddenly private? No matter that its been three weeks since my last visit. Huff!

Another Hawk

 

 

A different pose of the cooper hawk that is part of Wanda's art challenge. The second drawing is a duplicate of the first but in a "soft focus" mode.(see post below for links.)

Hawk - Wanda's Art Challenge

 

Cooper Hawk curtesy of Abe Lincoln's wonderful photography skills found here. Check out his other blogs, too. You will find Wanda's art challenge here. Join in... the more, the merrier. Or something.

I'm Too Damn Slow

I'm hanging things up (Wanda's Art Challenges) by being too damn slow so I'm posting a work-in-progress of the horse so others can move on to the next challenge. First, I apologize for the picture quality. I took the photo at 5:30am.... a few minutes ago. Its dark outside, as it is inside too, so the flash had to be used. That causes reflections, etc.

 

Second, I want to acknowledge how outstandingly brillant I am for selecting paper about the same color as the horse. You know, cause it makes the drawing stand out so well. I certainly hope I never do that again. (ever optomistic.)

Third, I don't really have a third.

I was close to throwing the towel in several times, but the drawing kept pulling me back into it. "Maybe the perspective can be fixed." "hmmmm.... I like how that spot right there turned out, maybe the rest will too." "Ohmygawd... neon turquoise?!? Really?"

If I get anything half way decent from this drawing, I'll post the final version. Otherwise, lets just move on, shall we?

The Garden - A Magpie Tale

 

Old man Brown’s body was withered and bent into a permanent question mark. His face, laced with wrinkles and punctuated with sagging jowls, was surprisingly serene as he stood on his back porch and looked out over his garden.

The garden had been his obsession for years. Everything had to be neat, orderly, and perfect in all respects. Visitors would often ask him if the garden was real or if he had taken a photograph and had it blown up to mural size. They usually thought it sounded humorous, but it wasn’t funny to old man Brown. He dominated his garden. He ruled it completely, that is until Effie died ten years ago.

She used to bitch about how much time and effort he put into his garden and how she felt some jealousy at times. Finally, however, she accepted his obsession and let him spend all the time he wanted in his garden. In fact, there were times when she would encourage him to “go garden, damn it” so she could have the house to herself. Some say she died from loneliness, but it wasn’t true. She died from boredom.

Brown stood there gazing out over the garden and smiled to himself. The garden looked completely different now. Most folks wouldn’t even call it a garden. To them it was just an overgrown backyard that desperately needed to be cut down.

Brown grabbed the handrail and carefully stepped down the few steps. Once on the ground floor, so to speak, he hobbled over to the lawn chair and lowered his fragile body down slowly. When settled he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He continued to sit there with his eyes closed as though waiting for the overgrown plants to envelope him.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Soon enough, my garden, soon enough. I’ll be joining you soon enough.

He sat there a while longer while the sun heated up the garden, then he called to the house.

“Hey sweetie! Bring me a beer, will ya?”

In a few moments out came a drop-dead gorgeous young beauty wearing shorts and a can of cold beer in her hands. She danced down the steps, sat the beer on the small table next to Brown, bent over and kissed him on the top of his head and then turned and bounced back into the house.

No need to start thinking dirty-old-man thoughts about Brown. He may have let his garden return to nature but he still needed his house cleaned.

This is an entry for the Magpie Tale writing challenge. Check it out here.

The Dancer

 

Colored pencils on colored paper.

I couldn't get a photo that wasn't blurry. All things considered... its not bad for me.

How Now Brown Cow? Wanda's Art Challenge

 

Oh my gosh, what can I say? The poor baby looks like he got caught in a giant blender full of hair. Good thing its all about the process and the end result is secondary. That's my story. Its theraputic.

Here's the original challenge post over at Wanda's place. Check it out here.

A Glimmer of Hope for the Future

If you have a few minutes you may find this validictorian speech refreshing; commentary on the state of our robotic educational system. It gave me a glimmer of hope for the nation's (and the world's)future.

Read it for yourself and see if you agree or disagree with the speaker's sentiments.

Butterfly - Wanda's Art Challenge

 

Prismacolor pencils on cardstock.

I quit. This is done! Who would have thought a butterfly would have me climbing the walls! Certainly not me, but it happened. I have the scuff marks on the walls to prove it, too. However... I did manage to stop myself before scribbling all over the picture in frustration. That's new for me.

Wanda's art challenge post can be found here.

Where's the Fly Swatter When You Need It?

The other evening as I was engrossed at the pc I felt someone come up from behind me and stand there. I thought it was my grandson. Nothing was said, so after a few moments I turned to look and this is what I saw...
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"EEEECCKKKKKK!"

I grabbed the rolled up newspaper thats always kept at hand for flies and started to bat this bug around its head and shoulders. Finally it turned and skittered out the door. Just as well. When they are that big, smashing them just creates a big mess.