Did you know?

They make wooden keyboards.  I was complaining about my keyboard and Jim said, "Why don't you get a wooden one?"  I thought he was just making fun of me.  I like things made of wood.  I like things without motors like canoes, bicycles and push lawn mowers.  He thinks I'm from another century, so I thought he was putting me on.  It turns out that he was serious.  He found one for me.  It's made of bamboo.  I love it.  I love the way it looks.  I love the way it feels.  I love the noise it makes when I press the keys.  It even has a matching mouse.

 

Saturday

I finished my hooded oriole painting. 

We went for a nice bike ride this morning.  The weather was perfect.  I recommend bike riding if you want to feel like a kid again.  Jim says that someday he'll talk me into getting a real bike.  I want him to know that my pretty yellow bike is as real as can be.  I was born to ride a cruiser.  I like sitting upright, not hunched over the handlebars.  I like hitting the brakes with my feet, not squeezing them with my hands.  I like one gear because it's all me, Baby!  Mind you, I do hills very slowly:)  That's okay.  Jim rides around in circles waiting for me at the top:)  I'm not a snob about my pretty bike - not like some people.  You are welcome to ride with me even if you have a ten or fifteen speed bike:)

I'm serious when I say you'll feel like a kid again.  If you feel sad, bored or tired; get out that bike and go for a spin.  You see so much more than you do when you go by car.  You can stop and take pictures.  You feel the breeze on your face and smell the lovely fragrance of freshly cut grass, flowers and the desert.  You can go as fast and far or as slowly as you want.  People are friendly.  I know I'm quite a sight (hilarious) when I go cruising by.  I have my pretty yellow bike with hot pink flowers, a hot pink and white helmet and Da Brim in fluorescent yellow at a jaunty angle over my helmet.  I usually wear shorts and a fluorescent yellow or peach t-shirt.  Jim says you can't miss me.  I was thrilled because I was out by myself the other day and this British lady who walks her cocker spaniel around the neighborhood told me my hat was "smashing".  I swear I smiled for the next three miles!
 

In My Kitchen

Day two of the challenge brings a peach out of my refrigerator.  I'm not sure it's easily identifiable, but it's fun and I need the practice.  By the end of the month, my peaches will be peaches without a doubt:)  I think this will go in Jim's lunch tomorrow.

 

Hooray! I'm Painting!

I've started the September 2014 Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/.  It had been so long since I'd painted that some necessary items were buried in my art room.  I found everything and got started.  It felt great!  My theme is going to be Things (and Maybe Family Members) in My Kitchen.   With any luck, you'll be able to identify the subject of my first painting.  I'm going to have to figure out the link business and then I'll be rocking and rolling.  Day 1:

 

 

 



 

Yellow Is the Color of My True Love's Hair

When he was younger, Jim was a blonde.  Now, he's a platinum blonde as handsome as ever.

I've just started a painting of a visitor to my hummingbird feeder.  Jim actually managed to get a photo of him.  He flew away every time I tried.  He left me with some wonderful photos of the feeder with not a bird in sight:)  He was here for a couple of weeks - an amazing addition to our group of ruby throated hummingbirds, other types of  hummingbirds, finches and sparrows.  He's a hooded oriole.

And now for photos of the yellow and pink beauty that has become my new companion.

 

This summer is going to be a fun one!

No Painting, But I've Been Hiking

We went hiking in Red Rock Canyon, which is one of my favorite places in the universe.  It's only about 45 minutes from our house.  Here are some photos.

 

Have you ever tried to make your way through desert vegetation?  I'm a desert girl, so no problem:)  Isn't this place gorgeous?

 

Now, Pittman Wash is actually in town.  In Henderson, they have built this wonderful trail along the Pittman wash.  It's about 10 miles away from our house.  You can hike or bike and the people on the trail are very friendly!

 

It Has Been So Long!

It's been so long since I posted that I couldn't remember how.  Carol King, was that in any of your AARP tests?  Anyhow, I caught pneumonia, spent 5 days in the hospital and missed 3 weeks of school.  Once I got back to school, it was all I could do to keep myself from running out the door anytime a student sneezed:)  Take my advice - never ever catch pneumonia!  If you do have to go to the hospital for any reason, be sure you have a friend or family member who will smuggle food, toilet paper and Kleenex in for you.  It also helps to have someone who is mechanically inclined who can unhook you and hook you back up to whatever they have you hooked up to so you don't have to call a nurse for help all the time.  I have to say my nurses, nurse's aides, breathing therapists and doctors were fabulous and took great care of me!  Not a bad one in the bunch!  My husband and my mom were fabulous, too!

Now that I feel like writing, let's see if I can get myself to do some painting, too.  I've visited some blogs and I will be visiting some more.  You have all been doing some fabulous things while I was on vacation.