Monkey business...

 I've been trying to collect photos of the friends and family I've made sock monkeys for... 

This is the most recent... John has been through a lot in recent months with health issues.  "Sir Monk" arrived the other day and the two started together with a nap... The photo isn't the best quality, but I love it!  There is a "mood" here... I'm loving what I see!  

I had to draw with this... Here are my own special effects on the photo... 

This is our granddaughter with her monkey! They are both ten years old!

Draw Something... FESTIVUS!

Before and after... 

Who has more fun on their iPad than me?

Sock Monkey 101

I have made dozens of sock monkeys over the years... 

Here is my method, captured as I went!  Enjoy!

Don't forget to sew the bottom edge too!

Stuffing at the top is my innovation..

Makes the legs so much more stable and strong!

A Memorial to Bill...

Bill... Big brother, Billy Boy, SWOGIII (Sir William of Grogan the Third), BBB... And as many of his friends called him, Grogan.  Bill had more stitches, broken bones, black eyes and bizarre accidents than anyone I know.  Memories of a long lost nick name pops up... and that is Wild Bill!

When Bill was 9, he had four little sisters buzzing around... How relieved he must have been to finally get a brother!  I don't think it was everything he hoped for as there is nothing four little girls like better than to have a real live baby doll!  Yet Bill survived, as did Tom!

Bill was quite a character. I'm sure we all have stories to share to prove that.  He was one of those guys who could make conversation with anyone, any age.  He delighted the little kids with his duck quacks... Which I doubt could be duplicated by anyone here.  Bill held many degrees from the University... And many, many more from his life experiences.  Like mom, Bill was very thoughtful and kind.  And like dad, Bill enjoyed math problems, word games and deep discussions.... And just like dad, he found himself an amazing woman.  Judi... You will always be a part of the Grogan family. 

My last visit with Bill was about a month ago.  He and Judi brought me a box of gourds that they had grown and put in one of their sheds to dry.  On Monday, I opened the box to look at Bill's final gift to me.  I was amazed at what I found.  I had given Bill & Judi some seeds for miniature gourds called "spinners" a few years ago.  I never heard anything about them, and assumed they never planted them, or that they failed to grow.  In the box, there were several big round gourds and then dozens and dozens of miniature "spinners" spilled out. I washed them up, marveling at the sturdy little gourds.  I thought about painting them as gifts, and then quickly became fascinated with the beautiful spots and shading that had formed on them as they dried.  The aging of these little gourds had colored them differently... Each unique and quite spectacular, not unlike Bill.  

I offered those at my borther's memorial to pIck a little gourd from my basket.  Each had been marked with a little "bee" of the bottom.  Friends were told to keep it as it is, paint it, or crack it open and plant the seeds to see if they could get it to "Grow-again."  I think Bill and Judi would like that... 

Bill Grogan. April 6, 1947 - August 30, 2014

Rest in a glorious peace!

Blocked!

I don't know what,s gotten into me this year... As much as I love to draw and love my iPad, I have not been creating much new art this year.  Artist's Block?  Maybe! 

I accomplished 2013's Resolution... A drawing a day!  First time I've ever followed through on a Resolution!  I enjoyed my challenge and never had to "force" myself to do it.  If I got stuck for an idea, I thought back on my day and picked a moment... And Facebook birthdays!  Wow!  I have a LOT of birthday drawings in my stash!

I think 2014 has found me in some sort of funk.  I haven't been sewing, crocheting, baking... Zip!  I'm looking for something to kick me back on track.  Open for suggestions....  

Meanwhile, here are some random drawings influenced by life experiences in 2013:

The day I burned both arms...

The day I had a bad cold...

The day I slid down the driveway taking out the trash...

The day Ya modeled her new dress with the 'valentine' cut out...

I must have been having a horrible, terribly rotten and nasty day here... LOL!  Even the cat looks upset!

Even Gracie has her problems... They don't make boxes as big as they used to!

....enough!  :-)

Another New Orchid!

Our oldest and very best friends brought this beautiful new orchid last night.  

It has ten open blooms and 13 or more buds.  It holds special meaning to me... Larry and Carolyn know why!  My heart hurts... The love they have always given us helps ease the pain.  Thank you, dear... DEAR friends!

New Orchid

I was able to get this orchid to re-bloom!  It was beautiful for 82 days!  Now it's at rest... I'm hoping it will bloom again!

My friend Lynn gave me a new orchid... Since my desk looked so bare without the other one!  It makes me smile and wonder at all the things God created!

I have two othe orchids "at rest" but showing signs of life.  I will probably bore you with news of their life cycle too... :-)

 

Grrrr-upmy!

Charter TV is 100% digital... Which means we have SNOW on each tv without one of their digital boxes... (Makes me grumpy)

I know... I understand digital broadcasting is an FCC mandate... And Charter has fought it for years...  They could have done a better job planning to keep customers and a fair pricing plan.  The way they've promoted this "upgrade" has been an insult... You are not "giving us better service, more choices..."  You are charging more... And that's not fooling anyone.  

We're surviving ... Life goes on... And I won't be grumpy forever!

Meow

Tired Much?

I guess this sums up how I,ve been feeling lately... 

Don't worry... I'm fine, just enjoying "down time" like crazy!

Good Times... Never forgotten!

We've been friends with Larry our whole adult lives.... He celebrated a birthday yesterday, and this was my tribute to him!  Before digital cameras, there was film... And when there didn't happen to be a camera around, enter my memory and drawing skills!  Way back in the 70's... A pizza dinner turned into chatter about life as roommates in the dorms at Platteville... Followed by a dare and then a re-enactment.. No alcohol involved... Just youthful fun!  

Those were the days....

Birthday Time!

Today is a SPECIAL birthday!  I'm missing a few dogs, cats and  family... But this captures some of her passions.  Ellen is a wonderful person, and I'm so lucky to call her FRIEND!

It's Okay!

I know it's not good manners for a dog to jump up on people.  After such a long, cold, snowy winter, everyone is a little excited to see friends and neighbors as we finally get back outside!  Improper exuberance whole-heartedly accepted!

Tis the Season!

I've been worse.... 

And I've been better.  Hopefully this cold won't last too much longer!

And hopefully THIS cold won't last too much longer either... Supposed to be 41 by Monday!  Get out the lawn chairs! :-)

Inspiration...

What to draw?  If I get stuck for an idea,  I think back on my day... 

I can't help but think of a friend who is in Hawaii, sending beautiful photos of life there, and this is me:

Schools are closed, my office is closed... And yet we braced the snowy roads to drive 20 miles to an appointment with the acupuncture doctor... What we don't do for love... And pain relief! :-)  my biggest concern?  Getting back up our "driveway from hell" when we got home!  

This was inspired by the dress one granddaughter loves... And the oversized Hoodie of the other... Drawn on "Valentines Eve."  Oh! I have been drawing with a stylus...this is "scribble style!"

Guess what inspired this... And what I'm off to do now!   Good night!

Enjoy it...

Because there isn't much we can do about it.

We've been much more fortunate here in Wisconsin than the folks east of us,  Six more weeks... Hang in there and try to enjoy!  

Groundhog-ness!

Our family has celebrated Groundhog Day for 50+ years.  It started when my youngest siblings came up with the idea.  Dad was the only member at the time... He paid his "dues" in nickels.  Somewhere along the way, mom created meatloaf shaped as a groundhog.  Improvements happened each year... Olives created realistic eyes... Shredded wheat as his bed and raw spaghetti as whiskers. The celebration grew and grew!

It was coincidental that I ended up in Sun Prairie, the official Groundhog Capital of the world!  At one time Sun Prairie had a large groundhog cut-out welcoming people to town.  It was "kidnapped" many times by a neighboring high school and eventually was retired.  There is a ball each year (I've never attended) and a huge gathering on G'hog Day!  Jimmy's prediction end is whispered into the mayor's ear...  He relays the official word to the semi-frozen, yet always enthusiastic crowd.  The celebration in town has taken on many personalities... And is always a good time!  Yes, it's hard to get up so early and face the cold... And, yes!  It's always worth it.  

If the Grogan clan doesn't party each year together, we continue to hold the holiday as a special event. We start watching for signs of spring, always taking Jimmy's prognostication seriously!

Jimmy and me

Hope sees her shadow!

Jimmy, looking quite dapper

I used to be afraid of all animals... Yet here I am cuddled up to Jimmy!

Puppy love!

Meet three ADORABLE couch potatoes!  These are the sweetest little fur balls on earth!

I worked from photos Mary sent me to create these three images... My work doesn't begin to do them justice!  

This little guy is blind in one eye... He was rescued from a puppy mill... Sweet!  His "mommy" is teaching in South Korea this year, so he is camping out with his aunt and grandparents!

This is Abby... I'm most disappointed in this drawing... It doesn't begin to show how adorable she is!

Ladybug... I Love her eyes... And her spots... And her curly ears!  She stayed closer to me than the other two... I think she liked me best!   

There is Lily, the cat... I'll save her for tomorrow... I'm too full of pups to draw a calico tonight! :-)