Challenging myself

To try drawing new things. I had done a commissioned dog before but this time tried a pug. Had gotten most of the way (almost entirely) done and then lost the drawing due to Java trying to update. One problem with digital art. Though I keep coming back to it because I truly enjoy it. I need to do more non-digital paintings and drawings. I have found some methods I can apply to my paintings that I use in digital art so not all bad. ;) 

 Crab that I did today. Not 100 percent on this one but it was a challenge and I enjoyed it. I also discovered crabs aren't so easily done digitally. Some things I could have done better on paper are the bumps and details in the shell as well as the facial features. It is easier to control what you are doing. When I am drawing digitally sometimes the details are really harder to accomplish than you would think. You can't just make say little dots. It doesn't always put them down (you have to tap several times) and it doesn't make a dot it makes more like a tiny line which you must then build into a dot using the colors around it. *I.E. it can be a pain* I think that was why I always liked my pen and pencil and such is I could make those tiny details no problem. In any case I am trying to push myself a bit in that area. As well as with my exercising. I am working past the point where I am tired and don't want to continue to where it will get easier at that point and then push a bit further. On another note I lucked out the other day. My youngest came bursting in the door after school and was all excited telling me to grab the camera and come outside fast! I was like Oh Gawd what is it LOL So I am trying to rush after her and she is telling me there is an eagle in the tree. I found out it was a hawk instead but still pretty awesome I managed to get some good pics of it and she was super thrilled. 

This hawk was in the 50ft cotton wood tree behind our house :) 

Loving the warmer weather (Mostly Just a photo blog) Tecumseh Lake

Went by Tecumseh lake after my youngest's dr appt. It was a nice day for it. Was surprised to find gulls and that the lake was partially frozen over. Beautiful though. Wish these pics showed up a bit bigger they look better enlarged. Also I had a smudge I guess on my lens. Cleaned it and will see how it comes out next time around. 

Again smudges on my camera lens. One of the gulls in flight though. 

There were currents running through where the ice had thawed some.

One of my faves because of the way they looked like a mirror image of each other almost. 

Where the ice ended

 They would fly in to check it out when the kids threw a small pebble or something and then would fly back out to sit on the ice. 

Just playing around with the camera.

 Ground was covered in tracks. Not sure what the deeper ones were they were pretty big. Large egret maybe? or there are geese too.

The water flowing next to the ice. 

Rock my son found

Rocks out on the ice

Normally I don't add pics of my kids since this is a public blog but I thought this was cute. I had asked her if she wanted to come take a pic and she runs in there says something about wanting Daddy to take a pic of something (can't remember what it was) then drops this face and leaves. She is good at that. 

 My son. He was amused at me LOL I was taking pics of something else and he was standing there so I turned and got one of him too LOL :) 

 Just thought this was cool 

Can we skip the cold winter months?

 I mean the plants and such seem to agree. :D ;) *my white rose bush getting some buds and new leaves*

 *Slippery Elm with buds

Over by the nursing home some of the trees are heavily budded out and trying to pop out into the blooms you usually see more into like March or so. Meanwhile it is freezing cold here right now. *ICK* I hate the cold myself. I know it is a necessary thing in a way to keep the mosquitoes and such at bay but still. I don't have to like it. ;) I am looking forward to starting to go to the lake again, going for walks, and doing some gardening and outside projects.

 icy out

This is the mockingbird that follows me all over the yard. I was taking pics of him eating berries and he couldn't quite decide what I was up to so he flew up in the top of this tree.  For now though til I warms up I am keeping busy with my knitting, art, and other projects. I am working out every evening and following myfitnesspal religiously (I am also on mapmyfitness and runkeeper etc they are all intergrated with myfitnesspal)  Even my hubby is working out some now. (My son comes in and just grins at me and walks off LOL He humors me with a cup of coffee sometimes LOL He does like to take walks though as does my youngest but still too cold)  I find my old stand by of belly dance is still good for me because while I have some good aerobics/strength training dvds and such it is too hard on my feet with having trouble with stress fractures and my knee soooo..... I stick with my belly dance because it is fun and it still works your stomach (some moves like the camel actually works them as much or more than a crunch or sit up), arm muscles, and hips, and thighs where I need the most work as well as just burning calories (if you do it right you can burn as many as an aerobics work out w/out stressing your knees and feet). Also they use Yoga with some of it. I try to make sure I don't eat back any of the calories I burned which is where I had so much success before before I fell into that rut. Plus another thing that helps now is I actually have a space to do this stuff where I don't have to wait on anyone else if I want to do it . I can just go do it. (that was one thing making it difficult as well) Still going strong so far though ;) I am noticing the difference in a loss of inches in upper arms, thighs, hips, and stomach and even neck. Anyway I also am doing my karaoke. Something else I am working on is getting more into my photography. I have found my favorite brand of camera (Kodak Easyshare really any of the models due to the ability to best capture the color of what you are photographing) and yeah it is a point and shoot but it fits my needs and I have exactly what I am wanting right now. I am excited about getting out and taking pics when the weather warms up. My son is getting that itch to go to the local lake and I kinda am too but waiting til it is warm enough to be enjoyable. (maybe this weekend?)

All in all life is pretty good right now. I worry about some of my friends and family who are going through hard times. I hope that this year starts to go much smoother for them. Several of them are going to be starting new parts of their lives this year. Moving, weddings, babies, new jobs, schooling all that sort of thing. 

(all the previous was old blog that I had started and not finished though it is recent so here is the new parts...) 

It looks like we are getting some of the warmer weather I was hoping for. At least for several days but you can bet I will be enjoying it. I am hoping to make it to the lake this weekend while it is nice. My youngest is sick (seems to have a sinus cold ...every time they always say allergies and every time they turn out to be wrong we shall see what they say this time) I hate that she got sick as it starts getting nice out. Though I am glad that this year we only had to battle one really major illness that I can think of with her which was hand foot and mouth. She was miserable. Last year we were all sick a lot. I think this year I feel very lucky. This warmer weather hopefully means a day or two I can clean up the carport some. Sweep out some leaves and such. 

 I've all ready posted this on my feed but this is a drawing I am currently working on. (Digital drawing) 

 There is actually a newer version where I'd started flowers but still have a ways to go. May go work on those here in just a few. I have my music going and I tend to get absorbed in that when I draw. :) I will do another blog soon and while this one isn't exactly much of anything I still wanted to finish it and post it. :)

2014 review last half

July: This is the month I finally got referred back to a foot dr. who determined that I have stress fractures most likely in both feet. The right one though is really bad and is not healing. He put me in a boot which promptly ate a hole in my leg the size of a half dollar. So he switched me to basically horse dressings which he said worked better than sports tape (which it does) I am still having to use it some now. I was also put into physical therapy which I can still refer back to at home though I've been dismissed from it since. I was told it was likely a mix of my serious D deficiency, the type of shoes I had didn't help (I got rid of those immediately soon as they told me this) etc and that the bones were basically bending upwards and trying to snap and were full of fissures. No wonder it was so painful but have been working to keep my D vitamin intake up to fix that, doing my PT at home still, and continuing to wrap when I need to and have better shoes. 

 July brings with it a burst of color for us.

 I have gotten to where I love planting flowers in our yard that will come back yearly. The cannas were given to me by a neighbor. :) They look tropical and exotic to me.

 The local school gets decked out too. My youngest will be going there next year so we should be taking more walks both morning and afternoon and maybe evening too :D

 The local school gets geckos on the walls now. I called a university that deals in this and found out they were  new to our area. They are not native to here at all but they had started out being brought in to Shawnee in flower pots and established a colony and the colony on the school in Tecumseh is a new one that we enjoy watching. They are usually out when we start our night walks.

Stargazer lilly that I gave my mom in the glass I etched. She enjoyed the fresh flowers in her house. I would like to get her some kind of plant that will do well inside. I look forward to the stargazers blooming.

 A local building that had been damaged some in a past earthquake (older building) just couldn't continue holding up and so discussions started about taking it down for safety...this was in July...still there for now :) 

We watched the fireworks displays both at the air show in Shawnee and at Firelake in Shawnee (not the grand just the regular by the grocery store) These were actually pretty peaceful and good times for us. 

 I had yellow cannas this year

 My tomato plants were putting out an abundance of tomatoes and I enjoyed every last one of them. Peppers, tomatoes, etc but no squash as the wild rabbits thought that was for them.

 We got a few visitors at night. This guy and an opossum that likes to come hang out

 one of my youngest daughters favorite library programs. Tommy Terrific. Geared for the younger crowd but was really a cute and funny show :) 

 My roses continued to put out beautiful blooms all summer

 I got a nice surprise when I got more gladiolas. They had mixed colors.

 These started sprouting up in front of my moms giving her something to see when she comes outside :)

 The wisteria only get fuller and prettier through the season

 My youngest picked these out to plant.

 The last program of the season. 

 This was from the Oklahoma herpetology group he came to show the snakes. I later joined them. :) My youngest got to hold a snake. 

 Lots of trips to the local park. 

August: This was the busiest month for us there was so much going on (good things) so there are lots of pics 

 My lil grand baby continue to grow so fast (still is) and got to spend time with family and friends a lot. 

 Lots more trips to the local lake. 

 School was starting and this was their theme. My youngest takes after her brother in her love of lego games and such (the actual blocks not as much) but she really loved this.  I have to admit this was very cool. 

 Hot out and birds seeking shade.

 one semi hauling two

 a bit of weather

 more lake (not so much catching anything after the one day though. 

 Persimmons

The water lillies were blooming. They are a new thing (or I've never seen them at Tecumseh lake) and I LOVE them. 

 We checked out the other side of the lake and the other building that we'd never seen it before. It was pretty cool.

 Old chimney on it.

 Dragon fly (was released post photo)

 Loved the contrast of this

 Different shades of persimmons (now I know where to find them though my dad brought me some and I can plant the seeds around here)

 and of course an Oklahoma novelty in the summer. Working the fields but need to stop by and pick something up on the way home? Yep. :D

 This was my 2nd trip to see my Rheumy so my son got to go this time to the museum. 

 It was a great trip :) 

 The kids really enjoyed it.

 The scenery on the way was nice

 I was feeling okay enough to stop in at Thunderbird to the wildlife area on the way back. There were a bunch of wild turkeys at the entrance and we tried and tried to wake my youngest up and she was OUT. Finally she saw them on the way back out when we left. 

 Purple Thistle

Goldenrod

Thunderbird We want to try again next summer

 out on the dock. 

My MIL got to see the grandbaby for the first time and my oldest for the first time in awhile. :)  August was my  mom's birthday month too. It was just a great month in all. 

September: My birth month I turned 39. It is also my youngest son's birth month. He passed at birth with Trisomy 18 but we celebrate his birthday every year by doing a stepping stone. Now we have a special place to put them. It is not a dark day at all just a day to remember him and honor him. Every September I look forward to the Pott. county fair and the Frontier days celebration. This year we all decided to enter something in the fair. We plan on doing it again this coming year.

 My son thought these were cool. This pic does not do them justice. He stands at least 5'6 I think and they came up pretty high on him.

 My youngest loved this pony

 This was a fave. of mine too cute.

Of course this was awesome too.

My youngest entered the coloring contest.

My son didn't want to go on this but my youngest did it :) Maybe next year we can get my son to do it too LOL 

This guy was posing

This is the type of chicken I want. Mille Fleur 

 My husbands entry the headpiece and necklace on the mannequin head. (we got a pair of these to use in our crafts) 

 My youngest made this bracelet. She likes beading (so does my son) 

 It was raining out so no rides really but the did get to do a little. The indoor water thing worked out great.

 I entered and got first prize. Very excited about that still :) I have plans for next year. 

My son entered a duct tape satchel he made. He is very good with crafting things like that. I couldn't find the pic but I do have a pic elsewhere in my blogs somewhere of it. 

 We like to use glow sticks at night when walking they created a game with them.

 Impromptu library function. Origami. 

 Some beautiful storm clouds as the weather changes a bit. 

Visits from the praying mantis' as they look for mates.

 Local frontier days parade. It was hot but fun. The only thing that bothers me is if you watch the parade stuff is practically closed down before you can enjoy it. (the booths and such) 

largest flag

 My youngest was excited about the band. She was telling us how they came to her school.

 

 The had a bear this year for people to take pics with. They had a wall of plexi glass between the people and him.

 My youngest loves the ponys. Won't be much longer she will be small enough to ride.

 She got this puppet poodle there. We need to fix the strings but won't be hard. It is really cool. 

 We had lost all our fish the summer before when the pumps quit working. We still had our supplies and got a hold of a bigger fish tank for like $5 or $10 so we put it to use with the supplies we all ready had and got some gold fish. :) Really enjoy it. 

 Apparently these are called red spider lillies. They come out as a sign of fall coming. Beautiful flowers. 

 and here is a red spider to go with them :) (fly catcher) 

Wild life and insects getting ready for the seasons to change 

 The stepping stone we did. 

October: Halloween is a favorite holiday of ours. This was also the month that my 2nd oldest came back home to Oklahoma to stay. Got a job really quickly after months of searching where she was and has as this point gotten a raise once and is due for a 2nd one. Got a vehicle and soon to get a place of their own. Has been engaged but made it official :) Planning a wedding for this coming year. Very happy for her. She has a really wonderful fiance and I think she is doing great. Had a get together shortly after she came back and even my dad came and he and my mom also met my grand baby for the first time. 

 Spiders coming in as the weather changes. I think Momma wolf spider can keep that coupon. We scooped her up and put her back out. 

 The skies change

 and change again.

Lovely bout with hand foot and mouth. It really affected her little toe. She was super sick with it. It really gives them a sore throat too. We thought she had strep til the rash showed up on the hands and feet and I knew but we took her in anyway to confirm which they did. 

 Downtown Trick or treat we met up with my oldest and my friend and her kids and my grand baby and went around down town with them and then went out trick or treating on our own later that eve. Kids had a blast. My youngest outlasted my son LOL My son was ready to go home.

November: Thanksgiving of course. My 2nd oldest turned 19. Family get togethers.

 Not the prettiest cake but her younger sister picked out the colors. The inside was blue.

Just as the fall skies were. We thought it funny how this jet trail bent. It was rather windy out.

 Other parts of the sky appeared silver almost

 Set this up for the outdoor cat to use and he wound up going over to my Mom's and this opossum decided it was his.

 Popcorn cakes. Very good when you can't have wheat though not something to get too often.

 We got some snow that meant the schools were out for a few days.

 My first non-loom knitted crocheted hat. This was for my grand baby and I made another for my youngest. I am making other hates and such mostly loom knitted for family members at this time.

and this brings us to December: 

The other non-loom knitted hat

 We met up with my two older girls at the Christmas gala (well the last half of it) and spent a lil time there. 

 Beautiful sunsets

 On the way to Walmart saw these lights at the Grand and had to stop and take pics. 

 The cats took our tree down 3x before we secured it to the wall really good. LOL This is what it looked like after. :) They left it alone til after Christmas and now have decide it is time for to come down. It looks pretty sad now LOL :D

 My son made this for his girlfriend he even wrote out the design first. :) (he has a really awesome girlfriend by the way ) 

 Birds on the power lines

 This spider was on the side of the car and was too cold to move much it wasn't dead. My youngest accidentally put her hand on it and it tried to hang on to her but was thankfully too sluggish to do anything. We moved it off the car.

 Hat and scarf for my MIL. I love loom knitting.

 My youngest had a Christmas program before school let out for break. They sang and while she had left her group during another program because she saw us and ran to us this time she did great. :) These are gingerbread houses the classes made.

 They  had a party post program.

 Cute

 This guy followed me around the yard one day watching me. Seemed he was confused about the cold snap.

 Enjoyed the one day of sunshine we had out of so many dark and dreary days. The lack of sun has me wanting to hibernate and worrying a bit about my D vitamin levels dropping too much again. This was a nice day though.

 hat for my mom (it is red not orange though the back ground makes it appear that way)

 these 3 pines have been through a lot from the tornado, to the drought, windstorms etc. The first two had snapped off midway up (they were pretty tall) and we were worried about the last as it had a narrow space to fall in which it would not mess with the power lines. I found out just a couple of days ago it did just that. Fell between the space so didn't hit any power lines.  Very grateful. We had a wonderful Christmas. The best in a long time and I managed to get the girls gifts to them today. We were supposed to visit but it didn't work out that way which may not be a bad thing as I haven't been feeling good today but hoping as the weather warms we'll have lots more opportunities. This has all in all been a good year. :) Hoping every one else's was too :D Here is hoping next year is just as wonderful if not even more so :D