Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Yule

Just another day of warm temperatures and high humidity. The tomato plants seem to be loving the weather.They are growing like crazy. Plenty of fruit now just to see them ripen. My mouth is watering for a nice tomato sandwich. That is a sign to me of real summer food.

Picked an abundance of green yellow and purple beams today. More to come by the looks of it in the next few days.

Looked up the planting chart and it's still not to late to plant beets, parsnips, turnips, second crop beans, and of course radishes. So maybe I'll get the grand girls to help with some fall and winter planting. If I can find some broccoli and Brussels sprouts to transplant I'll give them a go.

Thinking about root crops brings winter to my mind and fresh roasted roots with caramelized onions.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Saturday, July 28 , 2912

Lughnasadh

Great day to do a bit of vegetable shopping for tomorrow. Let's see what we can find now that the rain has passed through. Yesterday was another wonderful downpour of rain followed by a magnificent full arched rainbow. Sorry no photos but we did see the pot of gold. Oh, wait it was the Firekeepers Casino!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tremendous set of thunderstorms passed through last night. Everythin looks refreshed and green for a change. It's remarkable how fresh rain brings the brown grass back to green. Thought it would be cooler today. No such luck. Continues to be hot but now we have the addition of humidity. Well it is summer. I remember these as the days when you waited for the evening baseball games to come on the radio so you could just sit and sweat with your eyes close as you imagined the field.

Samhain

The dark stormy sky remains today and with the winds of last night still in my memory I think of the fall days surrounding Halloween. My posting today is of the calendar drawing for Samhain. A bit spooky but so is today's sky.

Today is also St. Anne's day here is some country lore in regard's to St Anne's day.

• St. Anne's clear and pure, the grain will soon be recovered.
• St. Anne is not over until the morning comes and brings cooling.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Jakobustag - St James the elder brother of John.  Weather is cloudy but pleasant good day for mowing lawns and watering gardens. That should make tomorrow's weeding and garden cleaning easier. Weather man predicting rain. Well bring it on. Pool water still 92 degrees and almost too warm.

Work progressing on the drawing number three in the bedtime series, Now time to select the next German drawing for the Berlin series.

Mabon

 Here is abit of country wisdom about Jakobustag -

• "Jacob's hot - it is worth toil and hard work."
• "Jacob's clear and pure, Christ's festival will be chilly."

Well, back to work on the drawing.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Monday, July 23, 2012

Extremely warm today! Had a small downpour early this morning to refresh things. However, the heat has now brought back a few steps. Will try to work on my final drawing in the Bedtime Series getting it inked as far as line. All of the pencil work went really well and fairly fast. It was one of those drawings that just seemed to fall in place.

Got the inking completed to the line stage. Will begin to add depth and values next. Below you will see the firs completed drawing in the Bedtime Series called "the Sandman" - he sprinkles the stardust in your eyes so you can have a pleasant sleep and dream. The second in the series is "the Guardian Angels" - they watch over you as you sleep. And the third is " the Dreamers Dream" - apleasant night it is as we sail away to the stars with all friends around.

The Sandman

The Guardian Angels

line drawing -The Dreamers Dream

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thursday, July 19. 2012

Finally a little relief from the summer heat and little rain. We could still use more the Village looks a bit greener from the rains in the last two days. Not enough to relieve the drought conditions but enough to bring a well sought drink.

Ritterstrasse 11, Berlin, Germany

photo of brick color

                Finished the Ritterstrasse 11 drawing, the first in series based on my trip to Germany, Berlin and Koserow in particular. This one has some creative adaption on my part to make it a possible candidate for print material. A long tall format something I don't usually do. Completed in ink and colored pencil. The remarkable thing about this specific building is the color of the bricks and stone used in it's construction. Some of the coloring is the aging of the building but do note the brick colors. I will include a photo of the building along with my drawing so you can see the detailed coloring.

Fell in love with it at first sight. Ritterstrasse translated is knight street, another reason I loved this building.

Wednsday, July 18, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Midsummer

Accomplished a bit today on the new Bedtime drawing and finished up the Ritterstrasse drawing.

Waiting for rain that still didn't materialize. Will water tomorrow just to keep basic plane investments alive and well. Not necessarily happy, but surviving.

Will post more tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Monday, July 17, 2012

Beltaine

Another scorching hot day, on my way to the pool for some cooling and than back to work on my drawings.

Checked out the veggie garden today and gathered another zuchini. It's one of those vegetables that one or two plants are all you need to realize the miracle of gardening. Radishes and peppers are also being harvested and the tomatoes seem to be very happy with the hot weather and the humidity. Anxiously waiting for the first harvest and those fresh ice cold tomato slices on home baked bread. Always a delicious summer sandwich.

Remember my grandmother slicing them sprinkling lightly with sugar and serving them to us for lunch on those hot days when you didn't want to cook. She would also splash on a little vinegar to add tang.

The pool beckons and i must answer if I'm going to start that final drawing of the Bedtime series.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Monday, July 16, 2012

Well just another Manic Monday - really it's pretty calm not much going on . It's to darn hot and the day just seems to be lingering. Extremely quiet for a summer day. No one really out and about.

Got some rough sketches down for drawing 3 and will now begin to work on the details. Next drawing in the Berlin series needs to be formalized. Will begin to work on adding color to Ritterstrasse.

Pagan Calendar - center

Did some gardening before the heat started and it looks like tomorrow will the day to clean up the lawn.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Earth - Element

Sunday, July 15, 2012 - One my two favorite Son-in-Laws celebrates hie fortieth today!

Got up late and took a leisurely morning wake up with coffee and fruit laden Muesli. Got in the pool and did a few laps until the Thunder scared us out.

Love that thunder as it brought some nice rain- well needed here. Things should experience a growth spurt now. Will be checking the CG to see how those Zuchini are doing!

Large Pasta salad with a myriad of great ad exotic vegetables for supper. Can't wait to chow down.

Finished the inking on Ritterstrasse and now will begin to work out details for the final Bedtime series.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Air - Element

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Saturday is the day we usually head to PH for our weekly or in the summer biweekly shopping. Check out sales, pick up the items we can't get in Bean County, and head to our favorite grocery source Meijer.

Today we hit Kohl's, B&N, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Lowes, Meijer, and GFS. All in a matter of four hours.

Ate at the Coney Island for a vegetarian NewYork Rueben sandwich, that's coleslaw and Swiss grilled. Decided to get a Slim Jim next time hold the Ham. Had an order of onion rings on the side.

The sky was overcast but no rain materialized. Perhaps tomorrow.

Returned home played 7 Little Words with my honey and worked on my Ritterstrasse drawing. Hope to have the inking completed tomorrow and then begin sketching ideas for the last of the Bedtime drawings

Friday , July13, 2012

Friday, July 13, 2012

Fire -Element

"Ein ganz normaler Freitag", just another normal Friday, accomplished a few things today while waiting for the 20% chance of rain thunderstorm. Hasn't arrived yet!

Got some ideas flowing for the third Bedtime series drawing. Will begin to work on the sketches for it soon. Made some progress on the Ritterstrasse 11 drawing, hope to make some more before the night is complete.

Took a leisurely ride through the countryside today. Amish road and stopping at two Amish farms on the route. Saw kids playing and thoughts of Pennsylvania came to mind. The simplicity of the farm buildings and homes bring out the abstract views you find in a painting by Andrew Wyeth. Simple basic shapes for the buildings, blocks of color with slight variations and the lack of complexity brings out a realism so true to the simple joy of living. And a sky so lit up with high clouds in a sea of blue.

Sitting back now and listening to an ITunes Genius mix of folk and alternative. Iron and Wine, Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter, and Neko Case are just a few of the selections.

Thursday Night - July 12, 2012

Astrological Element - Water

 Thursday Evening - July 12. 2012


Just "ein ganzer normaler Donnerstag" here in Cville. Was a warm day, 88 degrees, and did the mowing of the lawn early in the day and then took a swim of 140 laps in the pool. Worked on my Ritterstrasse 11 drawing until the pointalism hurt my eyes. This will be the first of a series of drawings from my trip to Berlin, Germany.

Watered the Community Garden and am impressed with the growth there, in spite of the lack of rain. This is our first year and I think it is turning out better than expected. Hopefully, we get the word out and have some expansion next year.

Found myself in deep thought about ideas for a new series of drawing to compete with my Astrological Elements series and my Pagan Calender series, and tried to come with the third drawing for my Children's Bedtime series. So far I have the Sandman and the Guardian Angels. Thinking there has got to be something other than the Bogeyman for the third.

They are paving the Main street, a state trunk line and the driving within the 1 mile of or Village has slowed to even slower snails pace. You know the locals because they take the back route to avoid the traffic delay. This has caused a need to brine the back route. Got to keep the dust down in this old dusty town.

Sitting here now watching my virus checker going through my files, playing 7 words with my lady, and listening to Capercaille.

Life is good!