PAKART Alaska

7 Things You May Not Know About Me

2009-12-13T17:22:00.005-09:00

I was challenged by Soulbrush to list 7 things you may not know about me so here goes:

I lived on a 40 ft sailboat from the age of 14 to 17 - we sailed from Florida through the Bahamas, Caribbean and Panama Canal, up the west coast of Central America, Mexico, the Western United States and Canada and all the way back to Alaska.

I am the middle child in a family of 5 girls.

I love my pets - I have three dogs and an aquarium at the moment.

I've been married for coming up on 26 years. We have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren...so far.

I enjoy drawing, painting, crafting, and writing but I HATE sewing. It makes me cranky.

I am a Christian which is central to my life.

I was born and raised in Alaska - I want to live somewhere else. Somewhere warmer.

I missed Cactus Monday again! Bummer!

Sunday Sketching

2009-12-13T13:58:00.003-09:00

Meet Aimee. She's a young lady that looks very different from the picture I sketched! I feel like I'm losing my touch....it's so much easier to draw people with distinct features such as a large hooked nose, or muttonchop sideburns, or glasses. When they are young and smooth faced it's harder to figure out what distinguishes them from every other young lady in the room. It's good practice though - I'm reminding myself about lots of things I learned way back in my high school art classes. Perspective, reference points, shading, etc.

Frosty Fence

2009-12-12T11:59:00.003-09:00

We've had several days of ice fog. The result is that the trees, fences, and just about everything is covered in this beautiful frost.

Sunday Sketching

2009-12-06T15:12:00.004-09:00

Here's my subject today. This is Paul, he's one of our Deacons. There is something a little off about the sketch but I haven't quite figured out what. I see Paul here, but it's not exactly right. I'd have to study him more to find the problem....I think it's in the nose/eye joining area. Plus he is ALWAYS laughing and smiling and catching him just staring ahead is not his normal pose.

I look OLD!

2009-12-05T17:52:00.002-09:00

Today I woke with a headache. I had so many things planned to get done. I hate that I have migraines on my days off. I think they should only come during work days so that I can call in sick!

After taking my medication and going back to bed I awoke to a telemarketer at 10:00am. I made myself get in the shower and work on Christmas cards and getting packages ready to mail. At about 1:00 pm I left the house.

Now remember, I wasn't feeling well this morning so although I showered, I didn't fix my hair. I pulled on stretchy ugly pants that are too short and threw a loose fleece shirt over my top. I'm not exactly a picture of beauty today.

Even though I knew I didn't look my best, I went out into the world anyways. I was leaving WalMart and walked past the Salvation Army bell ringer (with a basket of candy canes) who was very cheerful and wished me a Merry Christmas. I smiled at him and then he added the dreadful words I didn't want to hear...."Do you have grandchildren you'd like to take a candy cane too?" My first thought was, "how sweet" and I replied, "Thanks anyways, but my grandkids don't live here." My next thought was, "How did he know I have grandchildren?"

Do I look that obvious? My hair is starting to gray, but I still have mostly brown. Granted, I was wearing dumpy clothes, but that doesn't make one a grandma. I stewed about my looks for the next minute or so. When I look in the mirror I don't see an older women. I see me and I'm young!

Or not. I'm over it now. I think.

Friday!

2009-12-04T18:02:00.003-09:00

Even with Wednesday off, this week was l-o-n-g! Ever since I came back from vacation I am having a hard time with the realities of my life....work. I do not want to get up to go to work, I do not want to be at work and I do not want to do my work. It's really gotten bad.

So, I need to figure out a way for me (and sweetie) to have enough money to retire MUCH sooner than originally planned in 12 years. At this moment, if I knew I was going to retire in 7 years, I think I can force myself to go to work everyday. Just knocking 5 years off, that's not so bad!

Here are my ideas so far:

Write the next major novel and become a #1 selling author.
Develop a way to paint quicker, more accurately, and more beautifully and sell my art for millions of dollars.
Invent something spectacular that everyone wants and needs.
Find a new job that pays the same, BUT will have no employee issues. (ha ha ha ha)
Inherit money from long lost family member. (I'm kind of related to Amelia Earheart)
Win a lottery.
Encourage my kids to become movie stars so they will fork over some money to me.
Become a movie star myself.

So am I living in la la land? I think so. This too shall pass.

Good News, Bad News

2009-12-02T10:12:00.002-09:00

The good news is that my exercise machine is finally starting to get regular workouts.....

The bad news is that it is my sweetie, not me. Although I did get quite a vigorous stretching workout this morning as I clipped my toenails.

Cactus Monday

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-09:00

Little Boy Blue

Come blow your horn!
The sheeps in the cactus,

The cow's in the corn.

Oh dear, what a mess.

Happy Cactus Monday to you all! To see more cactus creations click here.

Sunday Sketching

2009-11-29T13:11:00.004-09:00

Today I had a hard time getting myself up and going but I did make it to church about 15 minutes late. Not to worry, they were still singing. Unfortunately, coming into church late left me with limited seating and not enough time to pick a strategic spot for sketching unsuspecting church goers. The usher was trying to get me seated quickly (of course, he doesn't know about my sketching plans!).

We had a substitute speaker today too. I was just thinking about pulling out the sketchbook and pencil when he said, "And now, let's close in prayer." Too late. No sketching today!

Here's one I did a couple weeks ago before I moved on to a more interesting person. The book holders on the backs of the pews are surprisingly harder to sketch than I thought they would be. Too many angles and curves. Oh well, it's just a sketch.

Here's another picture of that baby moose from yesterday. After my shower it had lightened up a bit and I was able to take a better picture of him.

Natural pruning

2009-11-28T09:08:00.005-09:00

My rose bush was naturally pruned today...by a moose. So were my lilac bushes and then he moved on to my neighbor's house. They lost a rose trellis due to the moose rooting around in the ground and then it moved to their backyard where they have a variety of vegetables and other plants.

This is actually a very young moose - probably just a yearling. It's 9:30 am and still dusk so I'm not getting good pictures. He ended up laying down for a nap in the neighbors yard. My dogs are going crazy so I haven't opened the door again to try for another picture.

Still snowing

2009-11-27T12:28:00.003-09:00

I woke up to more snow today and still snowing. I decided to skip the whole Black Friday shopping thing and am planning to stay home all day...except for a little trip up to the grocery store and Walgreens.

Our temps are in the low 30's which is really nice temperature wise but not so good for roads. It has gotten a little above freezing druring the daytime which allows the top layers on roads to melt and then when it refreezes at night it creates very slippery roads the next morning.

Thanksgiving Snow

2009-11-26T10:09:00.003-09:00

We woke up to a beautiful white winter wonderland. I always hate for winter to come, but once the temperatures start dipping below freezing, I want snow. If I'm going to be cold, I might as well have beautiful white snow to look at.

Sweetie is out clearing the driveway before we head over to my sister's for dinner.

Thanksgiving menu

2009-11-25T06:05:00.003-09:00

So what's on the menu for Thanksgiving at your house?

We are having turkey, gravy, stuffings, and mashed potatos. Those are the staples; can't live without those on the menu. Then we are also having a delicious baked greenbean salad, baked yams, fruit, and a strawberry jello salad (the kind with the pretzel bottom).

For dessert there is a choice of little pastries, cranberry cake w/sauce and pumpkin pie.

I think we have 12 adults and two kids coming....maybe more. Our family is very relaxed about who comes, everyone is welcome.

The big event is being held at my sister's house so I don't have to clean at all. That's a good Thanksgiving! Alicia - do we have rolls? Do I need to bring chairs?

Cactus Monday

2009-11-23T08:00:00.001-09:00

Old Mother Hubbard

went to the cupboard
to get her poor dog a bone,

But when she got there,

the cupboard was....

filled with cactus.

I'm sorry it doesn't rhyme but that's the way cactus fairy tales are....sometimes they just don't make sense at all!

Happy Cactus Monday! To see more cactus art, go here.

Sunday Sketching

2009-11-22T15:15:00.004-09:00

Today I almost got caught sketching in church. This lady, Rita, was sitting next to her husband who looked back at me a couple times....maybe he could feel eyes looking at him and his wife? I lifted my book quickly and pasted my eyes on the preacher. Until he turned back to the front, then I started sketching again.

I'm a wee bit fascinated by ears....they are all so funky looking. And they are not all the same. Some have lobes that hang, others are attached to the face. Some have deep cavernous curves, others have less. It's all very interesting when you are peering at them in church. I've also found that I listen quite well while I'm drawing - in fact, drawing helps to keep me awake if I'm having one of those sleepy days.

On another note, I was interviewed by a fellow blogger for her site Down to the Core where she presents interviews with various authors. She interviewed me on November 19 - if you'd be interested in learning more see Heather Paye's site.

I have not been feeling very thankful this past week. Too cold, too dark, too much work, irritating co-workers, blah, blah, blah.

I'm done. I will focus on all the wonderful good things in my life from now on.

Zero

2009-11-19T06:21:00.002-09:00

Zero degrees? You have GOT to be kidding!

My husband pulled my box of winter stuff out from the shed. That nice winter coat? I forgot it was missing so many buttons....there is only one across the belly. Still not enough coat for the weather. I must go shopping this weekend.

Winter blues

2009-11-17T06:15:00.003-09:00

Winter in Alaska is dark and cold. I get up and go to work in the dark, I come home in the dark and at my house it is MINUS FIVE degrees today! My winter coat is still out in the shed. I want to hibernate. I don't want to go to work.

I'm struggling to get back into the swing of my real life. Did you know it was mid-60's in Norfolk, where I just was? And I had grandbabies to snuggle.

Home

2009-11-15T13:15:00.000-09:00

There's no place like home...there's no place like home....there's no place like home. I slept in my own bed last night. I love my bed. I love my shower. I love my non-sticky floor.

I had a hard time leaving VA though - it's very hard to say goodbye to these two precious grandbabies and my daughter. I only get to see them about once or twice per year and that is just not enough time!

The trip was wonderful, but it's good to be home. I had a stop over in DC so had arranged previously to meet up with one of my blogger friends who lives there. That was so wonderful to get to meet her in person! She is full of joy and I enjoyed spending a few moments with her and finding out more about her life. China, I forgot to give you the magnets I brought - I'll pop them in the mail!

On my way

2009-11-04T22:38:00.002-09:00

I'm leaving for Virginia to visit my daughter and her family which includes two very cute grandbabies. I'll be away from my computer for about 10 days....I wonder if I will get withdrawel symptoms?

Proud American

2009-11-03T21:46:00.004-09:00

This is my nephew JoJo. When he was small, around 3 years old, he was fascinated by vacuum cleaners. He could pick them out in newspaper ads and the yellow pages. We all thought he was going to be a vacuum salesman when he grew up.

Then he went through a long super-hero phase. He was into Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. But mostly Spiderman.

Recently he's switched over to anything in uniform. He wants to be a Green Marine, Army Man, Policeman, Emergency Medical Technician or in the FBI. He is also fascinated by the US flag and salutes it whenever he sees one. I was driving with him to the fair this past summer and realized he was also saluting passing police cars. My sister took him to the mall where all the military recruiters are and he went through each office picking up all their brochures.

He also likes to draw badges that he might wear someday. I printed a whole sheet of his portrait so he could glue them onto his badges. He spent the night with us and when he saw our flag he requested his picture be taken in front of it.

For Halloween he was an Army man. Notice the homemade gold trim on the shoulders that he made himself. We are very proud of him.

Cactus Monday

2009-11-02T06:08:00.000-09:00

Run, run as fast as you can,

You can't catch me,

I'm the Cactus Man!

To see more Cactus Monday cactuteers and their art, visit Teri's blog. Happy Cactus Monday!

Sunday sketch

2009-11-01T16:03:00.003-09:00

I took everyone's advise and no, I didn't tell Don last week or even show the picture except for here. I think I like the anonymity; plus no one will be worried to sit near me for fear I might sketch them.

This is Enrique. I looked around and Don was nearby but I'd already sketched him, so this was the next closest person that still presented a side view. I may have to move around in church and find a different pew as soon as all the likely suspects near me have been sketched!

Heart and Liver

2009-10-31T20:17:00.002-08:00

If a co-worker comes to you and says, "I bought a side of beef but don't want the heart and liver, do you want it?" just say no. It's easy. NO.

I made the mistake of saying "no" but I followed that with, "although Tim really likes that kind of stuff." So the co-worker went to my husband and asked him and voila, I had a beef heart and liver delivered to work.

Sweetie brought it home and I got to cut it up. To his credit he sharpened a knife for me....I usually use my old Ginsu's that I got about 20 years ago at the fair. His last words were, "be careful, that knife is very sharp. Don't cut yourself." I promptly cut myself.

After I got that all cleaned up and a band-aid on I finished cutting the meat. Liver is very bloody....ick. And it has holes running through the thicker part. Double ick.

Then the heart is HUGE. And it's full of tunnels and white fingerlings and white frilly root-like thingies. It's very icky. I carefully cut away all that stuff and sliced it up. It's all in the freezer waiting for my sweetie to cook it up while I'm gone to visit the grandbabies. We had liver the night it came home and believe it or not, I have no desire to eat anymore of it.

I hope he enjoys it.

Week recapped

2009-10-30T17:14:00.002-08:00

Monday - very busy at work, got overtime - random angry thoughts about helpless co-workers. Had errors in payroll, didn't get it closed. RATS!
Tuesday - very busy at work, came in early to close out payroll. Got overtime - wore out!
Wednesday - very busy at work.....getting close to snapping at co-workers. The chili cook-off (which I planned) went off very well and we raised $307.70 for Bean's Cafe, a soup kitchen where homeless people can get a meal and nights rest. Very noisy evening with 11 little children at church. I can't stand the noise.
Thursday - very busy at work. Snapping at co-workers on the tip of my tongue, but I resisted. Payroll clerk is back! YAY! Getting a bad headache.
Friday - Woke up with bad headache. Busy at work but I left 2 hours EARLY! My co-workers are wonderful! Life is good! I'm free!

Sketching in Church

2009-10-25T13:59:00.004-08:00

I decided to try sketching in church after seeing Teri's blog. What's nice about sketching while sitting in church is that the people hold still (for the most part), you can do it inconspicuously and still listen to the sermon. I like it and plan to do more.

This is Don. He's one of the Deacons in our church. He wears lambchops which I find so outdated but it's sooooo Don. If you knew him, you wouldn't be able to imagine him without. He was sitting in the pew in front of me with his whole attention on the speaker so I was able to draw him in some detail without him being aware.

So, here's the question. Do you let people know you've drawn them after you've done it? Or do you keep it anonymous?