A chilly day of productivity...

This morning, while researching and googling the Dog Whisperer, my husband called, asking me to bring some important materials, down to his office, for a meeting.  I put my research on hold, loaded up Izzy in the car, and off we went...

After leaving my husband's work, I drove over to the Honda dealership to have my battery checked.  Lately, my car has been slow to start.  Sure enough, it tested low and they replaced for me.  Got the car washed too.

My sister told me I best get busy and finish Hearts and Flowers, because she was sick and tired of me talking about it...I'm embarrassed to say, it has been two months since my sister last visited, when I started the project!  Izzy was all over the place investigating my garage studio.  She found something green and proceeded to chew it.  I got it away from her, but still have no idea what it was...

This is not a very good picture of Hearts and Flowers... hopefully, you can see it.  I cut out various hearts and  flower pics out of magazines, and then Hodge-Podged the pics to a 12 X 12 canvas, that I had painted.

Originally, I planned on pasting pics all around the sides, but decided to just leave it, as I liked the texture I put on the canvas.

The thin magazine paper is a pain to work with, I like the heavier scrapping
paper better...

I had seen an article on Bristlecone Pine Trees in the newspaper today. They live an average of 1000 years and grow in Nevada , Utah and California. They can be found near the tree line between 10,000 and 11,000 feet above sea level. The article stated these trees are slow growers, but were thriving in the higher temps.

The picture in the paper had a gnarly looking tree, that appeared to be split open.  Possibly it was from lightening or from a larger branch of the tree breaking off from strong winds. I liked the colors inside the tree from the split, and was motivated to paint it with watercolor.

I am in the "wait and see" mode.  I sit it in my studio and then move the painting around, looking at it from various angles, to determine if I am done, or need to mess with it some more...

I saw a picture of a woman exploring some caves in Utah, and the picture caught my eye and gave me an interesting idea to paint.  I plan on doing it tomorrow, and then I will post it, and you will see what I mean...

I brought Izzy's toys into the studio and made her a little bed.  She finally got the idea she was suppose to cooperate, like she does when I am typing on my computer...

She would come over beside me and look up, as if to say, "Can we go for a walk when you're done, Mom?"

It was almost 4pm when I finished, which gave us about an hour before dusk...I don't like walking in the dark, due to recent Coyote sightings around the neighborhood...

It was FREEZING!  I needed a jacket, but did not want to go back in the house. I figured we would just walk quicker to warm up.

One of my neighbors drove by and offered us a ride home, telling me I was "nuts" to be out walking without warmer clothing.  I declined the ride, but we wasted no time in finishing our walk.  When I stepped inside our house, which is 67 degrees, it felt like it was summer. Oh man, it felt so deliciously warm and toasty inside!  My nose felt frozen, and I could barely move my fingers, to unwrap Izzy's leash from around my wrist. Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Izzy has a pink and grey sweater to wear on nippy days such as these... but she turns around and tries to tear it off... She'll consent to wearing it if we are going out of doors, guess it is too warm inside, and her patience wears out by the time I get myself together...

She  is not ignoring me in this picture, she was keeping an eye on my husband...

They are getting along better, she even jumped upon the bed, with him laying it in and stayed there!  That is progress!!

I have my husband asleep on the couch to my left, and Izzy asleep to my right...

I can feel my eyelids growing heavy and tomorrow is another day for productivity... and putting up some Christmas lights...