Fun With Technology!

My sweet husband got me a surface tablet.  I love it.  He got it for me to use in my art room.  Although I love photos taken of cats assisting artists in their studios, my babies help me a little too much.  I don't mind having them parade in front of the screen or jump on the keyboard while I'm typing, but I prefer that they sit and stay while I'm painting.  If you know cats, you know that is not going to happen:)  The cats have complete access to the room where we have our desktop.  However, I can escape to my art room with my tablet.  I've been playing with it a little - finding reference photos on the Internet.  Now, I have to find out how to have access to our photos using my tablet.  Jim is taking a nap right now, so that will have to wait.

Last week, we went to the lodge on Mt. Charleston for lunch.  We ate out on the deck, breathing in the fresh mountain air, surrounded by pine trees and hummingbirds.  It was heavenly.

Thank you for my tablet and thank you for the awesome lunch, Baby.
 

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: