Yet another thing .. . . . .

If it’s not one thing it’s another.  Had an echocardiogram done last week.  Cardiologist’s office called today with the results.  Seems my ejection fraction had dropped from a high of 45% a couple of years ago to 30-35% now.  This apparently makes me a candidate for an implantable defibrillator.  I need to make an appointment with the cardiologist they call “The Electrician.”  The Electrician did both of my electrocardioversions – where they stop your hear and then shock it to start it again.  Last time he had to try and turn the motor over twice.  I could feel the burn from that one.  ■  Kind of scares me.  A while ago I went into afib and after that had a short stroke.  The stroke really freaked me out.  Thank goodness it was what they call a TIA (I think) and there was no permanent damage.  ■  Finished one drawing this morning and then worked more on one I had started yesterday.  A couple of more hours on that one tomorrow and I can ship it.  ■  Late and time for bed.  Just have to get the girls off the bed.  ■

That’s my granddaughter with

  the Halloween card I sent her.  I think it’s her first card.  Libby say’s it’ll go in her baby book.  ■  This past Thursday Holly and I manned my pen & ink business booth at our chamber of commerce’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” event.  It’s a very well run event – kudos to our chamber – and I got about 50 people that showed an interest in my work.  Hopefully some of those will turn to orders.   I’m thinking next year I’ll do a little demonstrating on digital painting on my ipad.  That may generate more interest.  ■   Man, it’s late.  TFB!

Painting of a dog . . .

I think I did alright with this one. 

Finished card #1 & #2

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two cards done.  One was actually done last year, but I was requested to add their new dog Gracie to the card for this year.  ■  Finished a drawing and shipped it today.  So far 3 drawings done and lots to go.  ■ 

Afghanistan . . . . .

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Ok, we’ve gone from Kuwait to Kandahar.  He’s moved east quite a bit.  Not pleased with it, but I support his decision 100%.  And he hasn’t told us that it’s his decision, but I strongly suspect that it is/was.  ■  Now we’re just waiting for word from him..

Pen & Inks and holiday cards . . .

Working thru a list of about 10 pen and inks and 2 digital paintings.  Of the digital paintings 1 is for a Christmas card and the other of a dog – half cocker spaniel and half golden retriever.  I’ve started the Christmas card (it’s the one in this blog post), but I think I need to start it over.  I’m not happy with the relative sizes of items in the painting.  ■  Tomorrow the girls and I (Abby & Zoe) need to run to UPS to get some note cards printed and then onto an art supply store for some more 11x14 drawing paper.  ■  I also need to order some special paper from UPS for printing and framing these paintings.  That’s $80, so I’ve been putting it off.  I’ll have to order that tomorrow.  ■  TFB.  Night.

Another drawing almost done . . .

and more to go.  I’m working steadily to get all the orders done.  It’s a challenge.  ■  Not only do I have orders for pen & inks of homes, but I also have 2 digital paintings on order.  .■  Wednesday morning starts off with our Lighthouse Networking Group meeting in the morning.  I could use more sleep and it’s almost 1:00 am.  TFB.  ‘Night.

Chili Fest is over for another year . . . . .

. . . and this is the poster I used for it.  The drawing depicts Bill, Steve, Jac, and Jean working on our garage.    They’re drywalling, painting, putting in electrical and sweeping up.  The garage looks great!  It’s got to be the envy of the neighborhood.  ■  Chili Fest went great.  Good muisic, food, and friends.  And the weather was great too.  ■  I’ve had a booth/tent at our town’s farmer’s market for the past few weeks.  It’s been good for business.  I’ve earned a few orders from it.  I’ll definitely do it next year.  ■  And speaking of orders I’ve got about eight orders between pen & inks and Christmas cards – oh and one of them is of a dog – half cocker spaniel and half golden retriever.  ■  Time is flying and I’ve got to go to work in a few minutes.  ■

Snow . . . not yet . . .

The snow on the ground in this painting looks deliciously cool.  Not that I’m wishing for snow, but it was hot today.  ■  I’ve been coming down with a cold for the past few days.  I’m tired, I’ve been running a fever (just checked and is very slightly over normal right now), sweating, stuffed-up, and a never-ending headache for the past 3 days.  ■  Getting some orders in – one today from a previous client.  I drew their home a year ago, they love it and have it hanging in their in their foyer.  Love to hear from past clients.   ■  Now I’ve got a bunch to get done.  Finished one yesterday and delivered it today.  That’s one down and more to go.  ■  Chili Fest is coming up in another week.  Got to get prepared for that.  ■  TFB.  ‘Night.

Workin’. . . gettin' ready . . . . .

Lots of work going on at my house – 99% of it by Jac, Steve, & Bill.  Here Jac and Steve are putting up my parent’s old jewelry store sign.  Jac figured out how to fix it, mount it, and put lights in it.  What a job.  I’ll post more pics of it in the next post.  ■  We also bought new lights for the patio, which Jac installed (pic on right).  Thanks, Jac.  I’ve got to learn how to do some of this stuff.  ■  Just finished one drawing and already have another to on the drawing board.  Lots to do.  ■ 

Up and down . . .

A ladder today – painting our garage.  The garage has gone from one with just 2x4s to one with insulation, drywall, and now painted.  Painting was what my neighbor and I did today.  I’m sore from going up and down the ladder and I even managed to fall off of it once.  No damage – just sore.  I want to thank my neighbors and friends who not only made the garage update possible, but who also did 99% of the work.  Thanks to Steve, Jac, and Bill.  Thanks, guys.  ■  Garage:  next – clean up.  Clean-up will take awhile.  I have stuff I need to throw out, or give away, and lots of sweeping, etc. to do.  ■  I’m extremely tired and sore.  It’s TFB.  ‘Night all.

Doesn’t that look cool? . . . .

Doesn’t the painting on the right look nice and cool.  With all the heat we’ve had this summer it actually looks inviting.  When we actually get to winter I think we’ll be wishing for some warm weather.  ■  The garage is coming along beautifully.  I can’t believe all the help I’ve been given.  Most of the help I’ve been is to stay out of the way.  A big and continuing thanks to my neighbors Jac and Steve and to a friend Bill.  It’s lookin’ great, guys.   ■  Tomorrow I’ve got to open the store at noon, but I really need to go in much earlier to contact our DSL provider to get our DSL back up and running at the store.  ■  TFB. 

Onward with my Brushes paintings . . .

Yup, onward with the digital painting I’m doing with the Brushes app on my ipad.  I’ve been having fun with it, but it may turn out to be a money maker.  ■  Last Sunday I did a booth at our Cary Farmer’s Market.  While it wasn’t a whopping success, it does show potential.  I bought a canopy for it and will do it again this Sunday.   Hopefully I’ll get some more orders out of it.  ■  The dog painting on the left is a commission I received from a neighbor.  I’m pretty pleased with it.  ■  Been working on our garage – more like staying out of the way while my neighbors worked on it.  What neighbors.  Best you could ever have.  ■  Lots of drawings to get done as well as other stuff.  It’s making me a bit nervous with all I have to do.  Such is life.  ■  More coming in the next day on the garage, drawing, painting (oh, I’m planning on painting a mural in our garage.)  More later . . . . . – Now it’s TFB.  ‘Night.

Busy . . . . .

Here’s a painting of our dogs – Zoe with the red collar and Abby with the blue.  I kind of like it.  ■  Holly and I worked on getting the garage in order – at least a little better organized than it is now.  We’re in the midst of insulating and drywalling it.  My neighbors – Jac & Steve have done 98% of the work – heck maybe 99%.  The insulation is complete and some drywall is already up.  Tomorrow we’ll go and pick up the remainder of the drywall and a couple of minor things for electrical work.  I want it all done by the time chili fest rolls around.  ■  Time for bed.  ‘Night.  ■

Fire truck to the accident!