Happy Halloween Me Hearty

"Ahoy, me folks now be at port with ther' great grand landfarin' furner ship! Me buccaneer pappy turns 81 today and me sweet swashbucklin' ma be turnin' 79 in th' week." 

"Aye, what fun lovin' landlubbers, the 'ole farts be too! Blow me down me hearty, it be an excitin' Countdown to Halloween filled w' plenty hearty piratude cheer 'round here!" 

"An' here' be a special shot fer me Witchy Wiccan friends . . ." 

"And fer all ya cat lovers out yonder too . . . "

"ERRR, me an' me mates be a makin' some freaky fruity shrunk'n heads 'ere . . . "

"Aye. . .  but maybe me sprogs be leavin' 'em in me oven a bit too long thar! Ya think? oh 'ell. . . "

"Avast, an' shiver me timbers ya scallywags! Th' Countdown to Halloween still be continuin' all th' while 'ere, ERRRR!! Jus' checkin' in w' a big AHOY THERE MATEY from me playfully, piratey piney woods port, ARRRGH. . . "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There comes a time in every rightly constructed kid's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."  ~ Mark Twain

"It is never too late to have a happy childhood."  ~ Tom Robbins

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older."  ~ Tom Stoppard 

Kirby's Mill Apple Festival ~ Saturday, October 8th 2011

I've spent the week sorting, shooting, matting, framing, planning, packing and getting ready for my first art show of the season .  . . AND . . . . Y A Y . . .  No rain in the forecast!! I am thrilled and very thankful! Last year it was cold and damp with some drizzle in the afternoon. The year before was the same, but in 2008, what a fine day it was!! People were out enjoying the beautiful Fall weather and the work of artists and craftspeople selling Handmade In America, one- of-a-kind works.

Of course, the Apple Festival is also about the apples too.  It doesn't have a whole lot of variety, food wise, except for the apples. It's apples galore, from cider donuts and apple pies, to cider and apple ice cream. It's a Mecca for apple lovers of all ages.

License This Image From My iStock Portfolio

On a nice day, I've seen people come out in droves to the Kirby's Mill Apple Festival. There's live entertainment, demonstrations and tours of the mill.  It's unique, meandering, country setting gives the festival a nice relaxed vibe. I really need to lighten my load, especially since I only had one show last year.  I'm doing some sales and specials. If you need art, now's the best time to get the best selection and price from me. My print special , Buy Two, Get One Free, is a darn good deal. Christmas is creeping up on us pretty fast this year. I always feel better if I start thinking about it before Thanksgiving. So get out of the house tomorrow, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air! Come to Kirby's Mill, in Medford, NJ. Walk, relax, eat and do a little shopping. If you mention that you saw this blog post or you read about it on Facebook, I will give you 20% off any originals' price.

Kirby's Mill Apple Festival - 2008

This could be my first and last show of 2011, as it was in 2010. You never know what the weather's going to do this time of year, or any time of the year these days.

Cranberry Festival - 2008

Now,  two days of warm, sunny beautiful weather for next weekend's show, the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival would be another truly amazing blessing.

R. I. P. Steve Jobs

"Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011, was an American computer entrepreneur and inventor. He was co-founder,chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc."

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, May 31, 2007

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come." ~ Bill Gates

 "Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips." ~ Steven Spielberg

"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world." ~ Barack Obama

Jobs at the 2008 Macworld Conference & Expo

Rufous Hummingbirds Still Here in NJ

As of this morning, there was still at least one Rufous Hummingbird here at The Sandarosa in Southern NJ. I estimate that there are (or were) at least four individuals that have had a few days lay over here in Hummer Land. I tried to get some shots of the buggers, but they are so fast, they put the Ruby-Throats to shame.  They are very shy and only seem to come to the feeders in low light; very early morning or dusk. They barely hover. They zip into the feeder, sit and rest, drink for a few minutes and then lickety-split, they are gone again! I bet that there are a lot of them coming this far East these days, it's just that people haven't noticed them yet. They are just so secretive!

According to the map,  they now are "infrequently" wintering in the South-Eastern US. See a map here. With lots of folks getting into the hummingbird habit, there's a lot more food sources out there for the little cuties than there used to be. So all you Eastern Hummer Lovers, beware! Keep your feeders filled, your binoculars and cameras handy and eyes peeled! Those travelers at your feeders may be juvenile Rufous Hummingbirds that have just flown in from as far away as British Columbia or the Rocky Mountains! You peeps in the Southern States may just get some resident winter snowbirds if you treat them right!! Here's another article on the newly discovered Eastern  distribution of the Rufous Hummingbird. I am posting a few of my terrible photos here, taken through my window, just to prove that I am not making this up.

A Rufous Hummingbird in NJ

OMG! Just had to tell someone . . . I'm so excited because I just saw a Rufous Hummingbird here in Southern NJ!! Normally, east of the Mississippi, only Ruby -Throated Hummingbirds are seen. He looked just like this little guy I found on Wikimedia Commons! Some other unusual looking ones are zooming around here today but I haven't gotten a chance to get a close-up look at any.  They really are a bunch of wild ones!! They are not coming to my feeders or plants very much but I can see and hear them in the trees, bushes, flowers and on the edge of the woods. It's obvious that they are gorging themselves on tiny bugs! I hope they eat mosquitos!

October First ~ Let The Fall Fun Begin!

Most of my flowers and hummingbirds of summer have come and gone.

There are a few hearty souls in my yard that are thriving.

Bubba bird has departed, yet there are several others still lingering.

Cooler weather has seemingly given some plants revived strength.

And the flowers and decorations of the new season are starting to appear.

October is the time for me to go into soup making mode.

We love soup, salad and a good crusty bread for delicious hearty meal and so do my friends and family. I just made a big pot of this Ham and Broccoli Soup yesterday and served it to my hubby and sister-in-law, Patty, who is visiting us from California. They both loved it. She asked for the recipe, so here it is. I always follow soup recipes VERY loosely and rarely measure the ingredients. Instead of a recipe, it is more like a suggestive guide. This is a very tasty and easy one to start with. I always make a huge amount and and freeze some in plastic quart containers. (I use the ones that take-out Chinese soup comes in.) You can write the date and description on the lid with a sharpie marker. That way, I always have a nice variety of quick meals in the freezer. Just put a little water in a pot with the soup block and simmer slowly until it's hot.YUMMM! I do not add the noodles to the soup as suggested in this recipe, but cook them separately and add them to individual bowls before serving. This way, the soup doesn't get all starchy and mushy. Also, if you freeze the soup, do it without the starch! You can add potatoes, noodles or rice for more variety when you defrost it.

And aye, ahoy me hearties, blow me down, me ol' pal Cap'n Hook has come to spend October with meself and me whole scurvy scallywaggin' crew!

So, Yo Ho-Ho, and a bottle of rum, hope yer plannin' to be joinin' this sea wench here and all the fun-lovin' sea fairin' and landlubbin' witches, goblins and buccaneers who'll be celebratin' the Countdown to Halloween 2011. Have yerself a fun filled fall day matey! ARRRRR!!

Aye, A Whole Month Of Halloween!!

ARRRR, Ahoy, me just discovered that a landlubber lassie by the name of Danni from The Whimsical Cottage Blog will be hostin' a month long celebration of me favorite holiday! Aye, matey, ye better git yer keester oer there and check out the fun! What with posts by witches, gobblins, scurvy scallywags, ghosts an' buccaneer sea wenches, I bet there'll be lots of shenanigans and mischief for all ye salty dogs to gnaw on. Hey, Ho, blow me down en' check out me link at the top of this blog The Countdown to Halloween! ERRRRRAGH!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day ~ September 19th Every Year

Ahoy Matey, Blow me down! International Talk Like A Pirate Day has come and gone without havin' me sorry keester utter a single pirate word!

Meself and th' captian back in th' good ole' days , ARRRRR!

ERRRR, , Hey Ho, sure could fancy meself lettin' off some steam by makin' some scurvy scallywag walk th'plank, early in the morning!

Me swashbucklin' crew ready to set sail.

Way Hey, it all started by two blokes back in the good 'ole days of 1995. In 2002, humorist, Dave Barry, started promotin' th'holiday, ARRRR! See th'history of how it started here. Aye, if yer feelin' rusty or a little lily-livered, ye can just start by growlin' at store clerks and answerin' the phone with "Ahoy matey"!  Or ye can be like this drunkin' sea wench and brush up on Pirattitude lingo with th' Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy. Aye, with October 31st on the horizon, avast, me hearty, all ye drunkin scallywag buccaneers be gettin' a second chance to talk like a pirate for the day, ERRRR!

Ahoy, view the international Talk Like A Pirate Day map and see what Wikipedia has to say about International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Learn how to be speakin' like a pirate here.

Aye, just one of me new pirate pictures available for a mere booty of a few shiny doubloons to all ye scallywags and sea hags. With me Jolly Roger flyin' high, Yo-ho-ho, shiver me timbers, I bet ye'll not be wonderin' what this salty landlubber lass be up to around Halloween time, ARRRRGAH!!

A VERY VERY BAD HAIR DAY

After a cut and color (highlights and lowlights) from my usual hairdresser, she styled it and I thought it looked so good when I left. 

But look what I woke up to yesterday morning!! O M G !!

I don't know what she was thinking!! She said she has A.D.D., so I guess we shouldn't have been talking so much.  It was cut so short and wierd in the back! It was as long or longer than those long strands on the sides and I only requested a TRIM! It looks like a man's cut or worse. I had spent the last six months growing it long enough to style it the way I wanted it and now it is shorter than ever!

I thought the hair stylist was just taking a little off the top and around the ears like I requested! I even had brought photos of myself with the style I wanted!! Surprisingly, she doesn't want to see the photos of it, so I am posting them here for her and the world to see. Now I know why she didn't show me the back when I was there! Look how uneven, spotted and blotchy the color is and how choppy the cut is.

After emailing photos and getting advice from my sister in Florida, who's a hair dresser, I had my other sister, Denise, who is an artist, come over and paint in more highlights and lowlights in the back, above the ears and through the top. She also did some trimming to try to fix the back and break up the terrible, cheetah spots and squared off, sheep sheared look. She spent over five hours with me here yesterday. Meticulasly painting tiny strands of hair and working in stages, she was trying her best to blend the color and help me out. She did a great job and got it to look decent enough that I can now go out in public without feeling terribly ugly and extremely self conscious.

I know that this is really a very small, insignificant matter in the big scheme of things. I also know that I will be uncomfortable and a little bummed out about this for quite some time to come. 

Thank God for sisters though! I would be freaking out without their help. Thank you Gaile for your advice and Denise for your patience and artistry! I really owe you one!!

"Helping one another is part of the religion of sisterhood."  ~ Louisa May Alcott

"Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize.  Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks.  Borrow.  Break.  Monopolize the bathroom.  Are always underfoot.  But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there.  Defending you against all comers."  ~ Pam Brown

"Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends."  ~ Author Unknown

"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other."  ~ Carol Saline

Bubba Birds

These photos were taken yesterday through my studio window.

This "Bubba Bird" has definitely by far,

got to be the fattest hummer I have ever seen!

And believe me, I have seen a lot of hummingbirds.

I've still got a half a dozen or more very active and vocal

juvenile male hummingbirds stirring things up here.

This guy is guarding three feeders right outside my studio porch.

Extremely aggressive, this Bubba Bird must have

an overload of hormones rushing through his veins.

Bubba's a great hunter. I've watched him successfully pluck

countless tiny insects from the air. He seems much more

concerned with stuffing his face with protein than sugar water.

I have a feeling he's a regular that was hatched here.

I bet he will be the very last one to give up

his claim to the digs this year in Hummer Land.

Arr Ha Ha Har! (Or However JD Would Laugh/Snarl/Growl)

I just finished my 2011 Jersey Devil Series minutes ago. Woo Hoo! Pictured here in working mats, you can see the similar color scheme and value patterns.  I used Alizarin Crimson and Viridian Green mixed together for 90% of the painting. A list of my colors and painting supplies can be viewed at the bottom of my workshop page. Better photos are coming soon. Right now, I'm feeling the satisfaction of the completion of a project. Check it off the list, it's done, honey. It's a good feeling, isn't it? Just had to brag and pat myself on the back for finishing this set a month ahead of deadline.  I'm eager to keep the momentum going though, so on to the next project!

Real Friends

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "The guy with the most toys wins". Actually, it should be, "the guy with the most friends wins". Study after study shows that having friends is an important stress reliever and actually attributes to a longer, healthier life. In one UCLA Study On Friendship, for example, researchers found that people who had no friends increased their risk of death over a 6-month period. In another study, those who had the most friends over a 9-year period cut their risk of death by more than 60%. It's important to make time for your friends and not push them to the back burner, because friends are such a source of strength to each other. We nurture one another and we need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that friends do, a necessary and very healing experience.

Favorite Friendship Quotes:

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be."  ~ Douglas Pagels

"Nobody sees a flower; really. It is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe
"I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult the calendar." ~ Robert Brault
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost." ~ Charles Caleb Colton

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world."  ~ Lois Wyse

"The best time to make friends is before you need them."  ~ Ethel Barrymore

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."  ~ Mencius

"Best Friends" ~ 16" x 20" Original Watercolor  ~ Sold

Red Neck Fly Spray For Horses

The summer is over.

But the flies and mosquitos are still going strong.

My friend from the mid-West gave me this recipe for homemade horse spray.

She said it came from Tennessee and is known as "Red- Neck Fly Spray".

It's simple to make, inexpensive and IT WORKS!!

I made up a batch and it seems to work as well or better than many of the others

I currently have in my arsenal. And believe me people, living out here in bug country, 

I've got quite a collection.  I think we have pretty much tried them all

from the cheapest to the most expensive brands.

Here's the recipe. I mixed it up in a 1/2 gallon milk jug,

gave it a good shake and then poured it into my sprayers.

If you want to make a gallon at a time, 

just increase the ingredients to 1 cup instead of 1/2.

RED NECK FLY SPRAY

1/2 cup PineSol

1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol

Fill the jug with water ands shake each time before use.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BTW, these new photos of my babies are now available for licensing.

See my iStock portfolio here.

The Jersey Devil And Fall Is In The Air

This year's illustration is just off the brushes

for the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Program Book.

It's done in color, but will be in black and white for the cover.

I think the 2011 Jersey Devil is one of the scariest I've done to date

and just realized that there may have been some influence here.

Do you see any resemblance to Jerry's new sculpture?

My Wet And Soggy Sandarosa

This past week we had another little visitor that just hatched from the nest. 

This little snapping turtle was even smaller than the first one.

This is the first time, in living here over thirty years, that I have ever seen snappers.

I took him down to the old irrigation pond and released him.

I wonder if the two have met yet. 

It's been so wet and soggy here, we have been having an annoying issue with all the mosquitoes. We had to take down all the plants because they were hiding and breeding in there. Then when we would open the door to go into the house, they'd come right in with us. 

The caution tape is for the deer.

We put it up every night. So far it has worked like a charm.

The plants look a lot better hanging than on the ground.

We took all the hummingbird feeders down and sprayed the back of the house.

Several times.

Then we hung them back up 

for our frantic customers.

We still have hoards of hummers here in Hummer Land, but they won't be here much longer.

Anybody needing a hummingbird fix better get over here - El Pronto!!

The Red Canoe Vs. Mystery In Painting

I found yesterday's letter, "Notes On Paucity" by Robert Genn, very interesting. Paucity is something that many of us artists will or already have come to grips with in some way. This succinct, witty essay conveys some very important truths. With the help of a suggestion by his long time friend, Joe Bloggett, Bob decides to take the red canoe out of the painting he is working on. He goes on to explain why; "In some paintings it's best to have viewers launch their own canoes". I invite you to give Robert Genn's Twice-Weekly Letters a look if you never have. You may be missing a real gem. I've been subscribing and gleaning insights from The Painter's Keys for more than a decade! Thanks Bob, for your letters and your continued dedication to raising the bar of art and evolution.

The Red Canoe  ~ Winslow Homer 1889  /  Wikimedia Commons