Pencil Drawings of Women

The longer haired drawing was based on a photo of a relative and some random 70's movie stars combined. The shorter haired drawing was of a famous artists painting of a girl and some random movie star ladies. Of course none of these drawings look like anything I set out to draw, but still I find it fun to try. :-) Maybe one day I will have some extra money saved and find a good art class to take, but for now I am relying on books to help me.

"Things I Care About Most" - Papercutting Artwork

The idea from Inspire Me Thursday (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/09/25/papercut/) was "Paper Cutting". I tried my hand at it tonight and this is what I came up with. It was relaxing doing this. I would need some fancy scissors to be able to cut intricately. I found that out even on this simple design. Plus one would have to be very careful in cutting and it really is a challenge. I saw some neat designs at google by typing in Paper Cutting. There sure are some fancy designs to say the least.

Vegetarian Dessert - Homemade Applesauce Day

A friend brought over some apples today and I made some applesauce. I took about 10 apples, peeled, cored and chopped them up. Then put them in a big pot just covering them with filtered water. I also added some cinnamon, too. I just cooked them until they were still a little chunky, but soft chunks (and it looked like applesauce then, too). Then I added about a half of a cup of organic sugar. It turned out nice tasting. I used to add some kinds of artificial sweeteners, but I no longer want to use that stuff. I feel it just isn't healthy at all for me or my kids. So adding a little organic sugar I think is better, even though I rarely have sugary stuff that much anymore. But when I do have something sweet, it sure tastes good. I am not always this ambitious with cooking, so thought I ought to mention it here on my blog. Oh, and this recipe is approved by teenagers, too. :-)

Fort Bragg, California Trees in Downtown Area

Went for a walk the other day and took some photos of trees around the downtown residential area. So many different kinds growing around town. These are just a few of them.

Cat Today

I read that one of the most common things to post on your blog is your family pet. So in honor of that, here again is a photo of my big male tuxedo cat (and you can barely see his eyes, but that happens often in his photos unless I use flash and he hates that. Don't want to get him upset!)Because he is probably one of the biggest and toughest cats I have ever had.

When he wants to be nice, he can be very nice though, but when he wants to be evil, watch out! He is a fun personality to have around. I love cats!

The vet did say he was one out of ten thousand cats that gets very upset and throws a fit when he gets his shots. Nice to know I have a one in ten thousand cat. He jumped off the table once at the vets and hissed and put up a fit after the vet gave him his shot. In order to get him back in his carrier they had to put on full arm length leather gloves. It wasn't funny at the time, but it is kind of funny now when I relay the story. I guess it is just natural for a tough cat to get tough when someone sticks him with a needle. :-)

Today Yard Sale and Thrift Store

Well, today I went to a little yard sale. I managed to pick up a couple birthday presents and some candles. And at the thrift store I got some clothes I needed. So for under $20.00 I did good for today. At first I was going to buy this jacket for $12.50, but when I tried it on it reminded me of this obnoxious gal who had a similar jacket and she was very mean to one of my friends. So I took it off and put it back on the rack. (Since it was a thrift store I was wondering if it might have been hers, too, and I wouldn't want that!)

I also can't believe the thrift store putting such high prices on used clothing. It really bothers me. Most of the good jackets I saw had $25.00 on them and one had $75.00 on it! That really is messed up! I could get a brand new jacket for that price or less on sale days at most any bargain stores. I don't know how a thrift store can think they can get away with that. But I do like that $75.00 jacket and I hope they reduce the price. I will keep my eye on it over the next week or so and see if they lowered the price.

Well, hope to do some chores and maybe go for a camera walk. Take care all who read this posting. :-)

My Vegetarian Potato and Broccoli Casserole

This afternoon I just made up a potato casserole recipe and it turned out great. I cut up some green onions and fried them with 6 to 7 potatoes (sliced a little thicker than potato chips) in a little canola oil for a few minutes. Then I put those aside in a pan. After that I fried up some veggie ground round. Then I took a oiled casserole and layered the potatoes, then a layer of fried veggie ground round, then some veggie cheese, then some frozen broccoli pieces then a final layer of potatoes. I poured some vanilla soy milk over it all and dotted a little oil over the top and sprinkled paprika over it. I baked it in the oven covered with foil at 375 for one hour. Then for about 3 minutes I broiled it without the foil to get it a little more brown. I didn't put it on the top rack, just the center rack for the broiling. And it turned out great. This is my made up recipe for today. The seasonings I used were: Garlic Salt, Seasoning Salt, Pepper, Cayenne Pepper and Paprika. I love experimenting with vegetarian food and just using stuff on hand to make up recipes. Sometimes my made up stuff doesn't work, but it is still fun trying new things. This recipe I just shared is teenager approved, too. :-)

Cats Indoors Today

I had to keep my cats indoors today (due to some re-paving of our street and roadwork) and they put up such a fit by meowing and hissing. But now they are both fine as they can go out now and both stayed out for about 5 hours afterward, LOL, before coming back. They have been indoor/outdoor cats both for about 8 to 9 years now, so there is no turning back to convert them to indoor cats and they both sure let us know today! Whew, I am so glad this day is over with and it is peaceful now.

Today's Fort Bragg, California Flower Photos by me

One of my favorite pastimes is going for a camera walk and taking photos. Here are today's photos of flowers. Even though it is now officially fall, it is still nice to see flowers growing around town and even butterflies fluttering about.

Sunflowers and Cat

Just a little creation I made this morning. Playing with sunflower photos was fun to do on this fall day.

Great Opera Singer - Neal E Boyd

I watched him sing on the show "America's Got Talent". He did such a great job. Had to have him on my blog as I love great singers and he is a great one! Love his story too about how he was raised and had a loving mom and even though they didn't have much money they still had a good life. I hope he goes far with his singing. Seems like a kind young man, too. We need more of those kind of men in this world. Go Neal!

By The Ocean At Spring Photo by Me

This is how it looks at spring by the ocean near where I live in Fort Bragg, California. This is one of the cliff areas near Glass Beach. As fall is coming upon us and the temperature is dropping, I just thought I would post a spring photo to get a bit cheered up.

Todays Thoughts

Well, I had a quiet weekend. Watched some movies, did some laundry, did some drawing and just surfed the net a bit. I also clipped some grocery coupons from our Sunday paper. I am trying to save the coupons for one month before using them (as long as they don't expire.) I read that if you wait a month, the items usually will go on sale and then when you use the coupons you get an even better discount. I clipped grocery coupons a long time ago and I did save money at the supermarket. So I am trying it again. I only use coupons on things we use. Then I save all the other ones and if I see one of those products on sale, sometimes I will buy it with the coupon as it is a big discount. Especially if it looks like something we could use.

I kind of feel like I am really cheap lately, but it is all paying off and I am able to keep things going here especially with things going up in price more and more. So I could be known as a cheap person, but at least I am able to keep this ship going. I am sure being called cheap is much better than some things a person could call someone, LOL

I have found lots of free things to do, too. I love the local library. That is where I am getting all my drawing books from. I get to try out all the different varieties. Other free things I do are to follow our "What's Happening" section of our paper and check out free local events. I have participated in some fun events over the summer due to that.

One thing I used to do was to send away for free stuff offered over the internet. I don't do that much anymore, but it was fun for a bit getting free things in the mail. Might start it up again sometime. Usually just visit sites that offer free samples and send away for the samples.

Well, that is it from today. So far in this nice rental home the lights work, the water runs, we have heat, even have tv and computers going. So I do have much to be grateful for here. So even if I am cheap, we still are living okay and that is a lot to be grateful for.

My Practice Drawing Of A Woman

This is my practice drawing lesson from the book "Drawing A Likeness" by Douglas R. Graves. I changed the hairstyle and from looking at this I changed much more, too, as it doesn't look like his image, LOL. Still it was fun doing this. :-)

My Practice Drawing Of A Man

This is a practice drawing of a man that I did from the book "Drawing A Likeness" by Douglas A Graves. Of course mine doesn't look anything like his drawing, but it is fun doing this anyway. It is a nice way to spend a quiet time.

What Happens By The Fence Stays By The Fence - Cartoon Drawing by me

Inspire Me Thursday (http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/09/18/storyteller/)had the prompt of "Storytelling" and I drew this a few weeks back and thought it might fit that title.

Heart Flower Photo

Just some more playing around with the "Paint" program while listening to the Jay Leno show.

Red Rose Design Photo

Here is a design done in the "Paint" program this evening. I stumbled across that beautiful red rose this summer and had to get a photo of it.

My Little Wooden Mailbox

Here are a couple of photos of a little wooden mailbox (only six inches tall) I painted some years back. I remember having fun putting all these different colored acrylic paints on it. I have good memories of my daughter and I painting some different little wooden things together back then.

Flower Quilt Photos Of Mine

Practicing with making "flower quilts" in the Paint program. Just a fun thing to do this morning as it was cloudy out and I love looking at bright flowers on days like today. Just took some flower photos of mine and put them in Paint program. I know I could use a better graphics program to do these things, but for now this is fine as I am just playing around. :-)

Today's Musings

Well, I realized I hadn't posted to my blog in a bit, so here I am. Nothing new. Had a relaxing weekend. Oh, our street is going to have some kind of a treatment done to it so no one can park on it. So I am going to have to keep both of my indoor/outdoor cats in. I am sure they will not like that, but we will have to deal with the "meows". I don't want them tracking in whatever the coating is they are putting on the street. I got a paper about it and it said it would stain carpets. I don't want my cats little paws in that stuff. So I have the litter boxes ready and will have to just turn up the volume on my headphones if they meow too much. It is only for one whole day, so they ought to be just fine. But will I? LOL

Flower Collages on Scrapblog

Well, now I have an idea about making little scrapblogs with the flower collages. It will take time though. Here is just an example of one.

And Another Flower Collage

I may think things through more with these, but for now, just showing what I have come up with.

Purple Gladiola Collage

Just sitting around playing with flower photos today. Nice to do on a cloudy day.

Another Roses Collage

Now I am having fun making these little photo collages with my photos. It is fun to keep busy trying different creative things.

Cat and Sunflower

Well, this is going to be my "Sunny Yellow" Day. :-)

Yellow Sunflower Collage

And while I was on the topic of "Yellow" I just made this with cropping a couple sunflower photos.

Yellow Roses

Saw the word "Yellow" as the creative prompt at http://www.inspiremethursday.com and so this is what I came up with by cropping one of my yellow rose photos and in "Paint" I just layered a bunch of the cropped photos. I did want to do a little more, but not too experienced with the "Paint" program as yet. Here is another "Yellow" creative collage I made after this one: http://namesconnie.blogspot.com/2008/09/yellow-sunflower-collage.html

An Interesting Scene

I always think this looks so interesting when I walk by. Look how small that fence looks compared to all the trees in the background.

Happy Birds Photo

Yesterday I went out and heard all these birds singing happily. There were many of them. I couldn't get a photo of all of them, but here are some of the singers.

Today's Gratitudes

Being able to go and get groceries by bus and even though the ride home on Dial-a-ride was longer than usual due to work on Highway 20, I took time to notice the beautiful trees around me.

Meeting with friends in the afternoon.

Going for a walk and noticing the nature scenes around me.

Both of my kids are doing well.

My two cats are doing well, too.

For today I am in good health, knock on wood.

My belief system and my practicing patience and tolerance of others and open-mindedness to other ways of thinking than my own way.

Food, clothing, shelter.

Grateful for family and friends.

Some Think - Poem by me

Some think they know the right way
And if you don't you are wrong.
Some think their views are the best views
And if you don't believe them you are wrong.
Some think that they know just how you ought to look
And if you don't look that way you are wrong.
Some think that they know just how to talk
And if you don't talk that way you are wrong.
Some think that they know just what you ought to be doing
And if you are not doing that you are wrong.
Some think that their beliefs are the right ones
And if you don't share their belief you are wrong.
And the problem really is
They don't really think at all.

Apple Time Photo Of Mine

I don't feel too bad if I don't make applesauce right away as we have a neighborhood raccoon who has a grand time just taking bites out of all the apples that drop, so at least they don't go to waste.

Today's Drawing - Another Woman

Well, I took some time and did this drawing this evening. I still have to practice of course. Just hoping the more I get courageous and post my beginning drawings, the more I will want to try harder to make them look a bit better each time.

Bike Ride To The Beach Day

Today I took a nice bike ride to the beach. I had gathered up all our leftover bread packages for the seagulls. It was fun to feed them today. I told them I would try to remember them more often. Thank goodness they have plenty to eat around here so I don't have to worry about them.

My Blog and Visitors

Well, today I was going to go and make comments to every single person who has made comments on my blog. But I wasn't able to do so. Just want to let all know who have visited here that I appreciate your visits. Sincerely, Connie

Another Drawing - Young woman's face

Last night I was looking at the book "Anatomy For The Artist" by Sarah Simblet with Photography by John Davis, and I saw a big photo of a woman's face in there and I drew it. My drawing didn't turn out anything like that woman's face, but I had fun doing this drawing anyhow. That book was recommended to me as a resource in learning to draw the human body.

Take A Breath Break

Breathe in fresh ocean air which is beyond compare



Or the scent of a rose with beauty rare



And let summer fruit fill the air

My Tuxedo Cat

My Tuxedo Cat - Here he is in one of his favorite poses after a long day of getting into mischief. He still needs to take a bath as you can tell by his front paw. :-)

Wednesday - A bit lazy today

Well, today was just a bit of a lazy day. Seems I had lots of stuff to do over the past few days so today I just hung out at home. I did have a friend over and that was nice. I did attempt many tries at going an hour on my exercise bike. I think I made it 20 minutes on each try, so at least that equaled to 60 minutes, so that was good.

Guess we are all entitled to a lazy day here and there. Today was mine. So I have no news to share here and nothing to write about. Unless you want to hear about how I vacuumed and did dishes, but that is not intriguing, so off I go. Hope to post something a bit more interesting soon. Just didn't want to get out of the habit of blogging. Take care all.

Tuesdays Musings

Well, I am on this diet again. Trying to limit my calories. I did really well for about 5 days and today I went a little over my limit of calories (1,200), not too bad though. Not sure how I got a little off track, but won't beat myself up for it.

Today was spent taking care of some business and then cleaning up the house a bit. I stopped to do some drawing when I ran across my drawing stuff. Then I ran across some books I just got and started reading them. So now I will just have to clean some more tomorrow and stop getting distracted with other things.

Today was the day I put on the Flea Advantage on my two cats. They were not too pleased with me, but they both were tolerant enough to not scratch me or put up too much of a fuss. I rewarded them both with a little grated cheese as a treat. They both need to be treated once a month to avoid having a tough time with fleas. That flea stuff works great on them and I am grateful because before they really were bothered by fleas by just using flea collars.

Well, sometimes the news gets me down. Especially a current big news story of a missing little three year old. I need to limit my amount of news I watch as I tend to get a bit depressed over it. Think I will just read headlines and not delve into it as much. I would rather stay more lighthearted with my thoughts.

I did my laundry, went for a walk and made a nice dinner. The nice dinner is probably why I went over my calories. I made brown rice, vegetarian chicken strips in a cream of mushroom soup sauce with spices. I served some broccoli on the side with it. It just tasted really good. Guess next time I make that I will just add a big salad and have a smaller serving of the brown rice. Live and learn I guess.

Nothing else new here. Will be looking into some new things to do to keep life interesting. Think I will follow our community events section of our paper. That is all for now. Hope any of you who stumbled across this post are doing well for today.

Sunflower Beauty

Stumbled upon this beauty today near downtown Fort Bragg area. I love how tall sunflowers grow and they are a favorite flower of mine.

Paul Bunyan Days Parade 2008

Just some of the amazing participants in our Fort Bragg Paul Bunyan Days parade this Labor Day 2008. Good job to all who participated and great audience support for everyone, too. Fun day for a parade with great weather, too. :-)