Boo!!

Boo!! Did I scare you? Happy Halloween everyone! I'm wearing a most unusual costume as I write this....many of you will be shocked and surprised at my creativity but what the heck....ok, ok, I'll tell you. I'm wearing my jammies!

Now down to some serious business! A couple of days ago I mentioned that I was in a Black Cat swap, that I received my cat but couldn't get a photo because my camera broke.

HB to the rescue!! He brought the other camera home and I was able to get a photo of my little black cat.



It was difficult to get a good photo since it was dark last night by the time HB got home. Plus the fabric has sparkles that don't show up in the photo. Just take my word for it....the cat is cute, and soft, and cuddly, and sparkley, and I love it. Thanks again, Kai!!

Tonight we aren't doing the candy thing. For the past few years we buy candy and then get one or two trick or treaters so this year I'm just not doing it. HB goes to bed early and I don't want the doorbell to disturb him, and I doubt we'd have more than the usual couple of kids so this year there will be no treats at our house. I hope there are no tricks either!!

I think most of the kids in our neighborhood are older and have parties or other things to do on Halloween. Plus many of the malls and stores do treats for the kids. It just isn't very exciting around here on Halloween!!

Are you giving out treats? If so, what kind of goodies? Maybe I'll stop by and trick or treat at your house!!

Better Late Than Never....

I'm very very very late doing this....I was tagged by Louise just about the time I took my blogging break! I'm just now getting around to doing it! This was a fun tag to do.

Which brings me to this subject....I have been tagged numerous times to do that tag where you tell six or seven weird/unusual/odd things about yourself but I've already done this tag so many times in the past that I can't think of anything else to add. So with this tag today I'm calling for an end to tags on this blog. I love doing them when they're new and different but I can't usually think of interesting answers. So I am asking to please be let off the hook on future tags. Thanks!!



image from here

1. What are your nicknames?
In high school I was Jake, I've been called Jan, HB calls me "Ja-neigh"....sort of French sounding but mostly just plain Janet is what everyone calls me.

2. What game show and/or reality show would you like to be on?
I don't watch game shows or reality shows except for Dancing With the Stars and I definitely would NOT want to be on there!!

3. What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD?
I have absolutely no idea! I don't usually buy movies....VHS or DVD.

4. What is your favorite scent?
I like jasmine and gardenia flowery smells, but then I also like the smell of coffee brewing, and just about anything baking.

5. If you had a million dollars that you could only spend on yourself, what would you do with it?
I'd buy a small house and build a huge art studio out back, then fill it with every kind of art supply there is, along with books, books, and more books! And I'd take every art class I could find.

6. What one place have you visited that you can't forget and want to go back to?
Yosemite....it's one of my most favorite places ever.

7. Do you trust easily?
That depends. If my gut instinct tells me it's ok then I do but if not then I don't.

8. Do you think before you act, or act before you think?
I do both at different times. I can be very spontaneous and just jump right in but then I'm also very cautious at times and think about things too much!

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
Not really. Except maybe for the current financial mess.

10. Do you have a good body image?
The image I have is great....but reality isn't! What's in my head doesn't match what I see in the mirror!!

11. What is your favorite fruit?
Oh, that's tough to single out just one. I love fruit. Watermelon is one of my favorites, or most any other melons....and berries....strawberries, blackberries, blueberries. Yum!

12. What websites do you visit daily?
Not many unless you include blogs....then it would be too many to list here!

13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
I'm not sure I have any real addictions....except buying books and art supplies!!

14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
Vivacious, creative, friendly, and down-to-earth.

15. What's the last song that got stuck in your head?
Probably some commercial jingle.

16. What's your favorite item of clothing?
My purple jacket and my Dansko shoes.

17. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
That's an odd question! But, yes, I like Rice Krispies.

18. What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?
If there was no other person around that could have dropped it, I'd probably pick it up. Actually when HB and I were on a trip once, he got out to make a phone call at a pay phone (cell was dead) during a huge rainstorm and he looked down and there was $200 laying on the ground!! The phone was in a fairly remote area and there was nothing and no one around. We did a few extra things on that trip!!

19. What items could you not go without during the day?
Ice cold water, my glasses, and books.

20. What should you be doing right now?
Since I'm doing this after HB has gone to bed (last night) absolutely nothing!! This is "my" time.

I hope no one is offended by what I said about not wanting to do any more tags right now.

A Black Cat and a Question....

I mentioned in my last post that my little point and shoot camera has quit working. It's the one I use most of the time. We have the Rebel XTi but HB uses that one because I don't have much luck with all the dials and settings that it requires! I'm the kind of person that wants to just pick up the camera and click a button and that's all! Oh, I know, I don't get the best photos that way but I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to cameras.

You're probably asking why this makes any difference right now....I was recently in a black cat swap and my black cat arrived yesterday afternoon. I meant to have HB take a photo of it when he got home but I forgot. And wouldn't you know, today he took the camera with him to work! He does that sometimes....you remember the photos of the wind farm.


image from the internet

So I have this adorable little black cat that I received from Kai and I have no photo to show you today....that's why I put the image from the internet up there! But as soon as I get one I'll show you 'cause my black cat is much cuter than that picture above!! Thanks, Kai! I love it. Now I just have to put it up high enough to keep it away from Harley and LuLu!!

In the meantime, any great suggestions on a really good point and shoot camera? My old one was a Kodak. Also I have a "technical" question for any of you. I don't know anything about this kind of thing, as you'll see from my question....I have most of my photos stored in the Kodak program that came with the camera. If I buy another brand of camera and install that program will I still be able to open those Kodak photos? And if I buy another Kodak and install the new program will it erase the old one along with any photos that are stored there?

I'm such a dunce when it comes to stuff like this!

A Little of This and a Pinch of That....

Even though I'm "technically" back from my blog break I still haven't had much to say. Anyone who knows me will find that hard to believe!! I usually talk a mile a minute.

But I did see something on another blog that I wanted to pass on to you for consideration. The first is from Kathy and it's for a good cause....knitting or crocheting a scarf for The Special Olympics. You can read about the specifics here. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or intricate but it does have to be done in Delft blue and white....the colors of The Special Olympics. So if you can knit or crochet please consider this worthwhile project.

Another thing I saw was on Serena's blog and it was one of my favorite things....a quiz thingie!! Here's my result....

You Need Some Purple in Your Life

Purple will make you feel ambitious, independent, and creative. And with a little purple, you will project an aura of individuality. If you want more extravagance, you've got to get a little purple in your life! For extra punch: Combine purple with green or orange The downside of purple: It can evoke sad feelings The consequences of more purple in your life: You will feel an increase in your artistic abilities You will find balance in the most chaotic parts of your life You will feel calm and will be hard to disturb

What Color Do You Need?

What a perfect color to need more of!! You all know I'm a purple gal anyway so this was just icing on the cake.

And last but definitely not least, I won a giveaway over on Vallen's blog. Go there to see a much better photo as mine is from the scanner....my little point and shoot camera bit the dust! Here's what I won....



The pretty, fuzzy brooch was the giveaway but Vallen is so generous....she included the wonderful felt necklace plus some yummy drawing paper for me. I can't wait for sweater weather so I can wear my new brooch. Thanks, Vallen....I know I'm really late posting about this so please forgive me!

I'm still making the rounds of blogs so be patient with me....I'll get by to visit as soon as possible.

Ready or Not Here I Am!!

I had a nice loooong post all ready to go but Blogger ate it!! And I had "saved" it but it isn't here now. What gives??

I guess you'll get the short and sweet version so here goes....I enjoyed my time away from the blog but didn't get much done. I've learned something about myself and that is whatever I have to do, I'll use whatever amount of time I have to do it! So with all that "extra" time not spent on blogging, I just spread my other chores out over that time.

My painting classes are great and I'm having fun although all I've painted so far are a couple of backgrounds and laid down the gesso for a face on one of them. I have drawn a lot of faces (they're over on Artopia) and kept up with "The Big Draw" so that's good.

One afternoon last week, I had some time to play in the studio. That was the day I put down the gesso for a face....and I got all my face colors mixed up and was ready to go when the phone rang. It was my son calling from Alaska!!....so the paints sat there and dried up.


(image of Alaska from the internet)

He called with great news....he'll arrive on Nov 2 and be able to stay through the holidays!! We're all happy about that....plus he'll be here for his birthday, too.

While he's here I'm going to try to lure him back into art. As a kid he was a member of a young artist's group, and he continued on with art, taking some graphic art classes in college. But I don't think he's done anything art related in years. So I'm giving him free rein in the studio and we'll see what happens.

Ok, that's about all I can remember from my original post. And just so you know it's really me I've included one of those quiz thingies! For some reason it won't load up any closer so you might have to scroll down a bit.

You Are 84% Interesting

Believe it or not, you are a very fascinating person. You're probably too busy being interesting to realize exactly how interesting you are. You have a rich, full life. You are curious about the world, and you are very open to new experiences. You have a lot to talk about, and people find you to be an amazing conversationalist. And most importantly, you are truly interested in other people. How could anyone find that boring? You truly listen and learn from others. You're not self absorbed or shallow.

Are You Boring or Interesting?

I'm Usually Not Political on Here....

I'm not sure what your political views might be but my cousin sent me a link to a blog written by an 80+ year old woman who has a wicked sense of humor, a quick wit, and definitely a way with words....and some of them are not for everyone. Be warned! She might be offensive to some people but I found it hilarious and worth reading. Apparently I'm not alone as she is getting hundreds, and sometimes thousands of comments! If you're a McCain/Palin person you might not enjoy it as much but otherwise give it a peek at MargaretandHelen.

So Many Special People....

I've been enjoying my time away from my blog but I miss everyone! I have been by to visit a few blogs when I've had the time and I've even left a few comments. But mostly I've been swooning over the cool weather we're finally having here. I'm in heaven....it almost feels like autumn!

Now since I've been away, I've received some blog awards! Maybe I should take a break more often!! Just kidding!

One of the awards went to my art blog....the first one it's received!! Go on over and check it out! Then Renea gave me a gold card award on this blog. Thank you, Renea!!



The other award came from Angela and it's an award for friendship. Thanks, Angela.



I always appreciate the awards that are given to me but I hate to single out people to pass them on to. Everyone who visits my blogs is special to me and they all deserve these awards. So once again I'm going to say....I give these two awards to each and everyone who visits here. Feel free to take them and display them on your blog.

A Quick Little Post....

Just popping in to say that I've been posting some drawings over on my art blog. I'm still taking a break but I'm also doing my class and I'm participating in The Big Draw so I'm doing a little art. I miss everyone and I'll be back soon.