Life Outside the Studio Window

Kali Thinks We Got Her a Boy For Christmas...

2010-01-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

Jeff gets the best overhead shots of everyone!

Kali looks like she's denying any participation in the hillside dig...with a muddy snout.

Austin puts his whole body into a job

Look what I found!!!

Anybody hungry?

Car and driver ran outta gas!

Angel likes it when Austin share's the covers.

Eclipse Kali Phare Pound Puppy

2009-09-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

we adopted a new pound puppy. The animal control officers named her Eclipse, but since it doesn't roll easily off the tongue we call her Kali (pronounced like the nickname for California). She is smart, mellow and mostly obedient. I'd hoped she could be a jogging buddy but she doesn't last for a 3 mile walk/run interval training. Actually she plops down in the middle of a leisurely 3 mile walk and refuses to budge until we've had a short rest...what is she going to do when I get the puppy back pack? Anyway, the walk wears her out but after a nap she's ready to go again!

Kali in Profile

Hubby chills with Kali in the shade.

Alley Arts Festival

2009-08-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

2ndSat. ArtWalk: Alley Arts Festival in Midtown, Sacramento

Hosted by: KevinLSCKevinLSC

When: Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM PDT

Description

KLSCstudio, BridgeToArt.com, Doolittle Properties, and JungleSupplyCo.com host:

2ndSat. ArtWalk: ALLEY ARTS FESTIVAL in Midtown, Sacramento
in the ALLEY between 18/19 & "I"/J Streets on a HUGE PARKING LOT.

Saturday, August 8, 2009
6-10PM

featuring:

12 Fine Artists &

LIVE MUSIC with Sacramento's own:

"Low Down Dirty Dogs"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP8x_rqCWno&feature=player_embedded
&
The Red Hot "Jenn Rogar"

FREE TO ATTEND, OPEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

A Teacup Full of Sunshine and Love

2009-08-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

It was a great vacation in Tennessee. All day playing with grandchildren and all night partying with GI's. What a whole lot of fun fun fun. But now I'm home and its great to see my ol' man, my chickies and my garden. I've a lot of work to do on my master's project before I'm ready for graduation in December and I really really really need to get back into the exercise routine.

Grandson Austin's mother met us in the driveway when we returned from the Airport. Austin was pleasantly surprised. He loves his dad and stister but he really missed his mother and california siblings. We had a wonderful relaxing sunday hanging out on the bench near the apple tree; sipping tea and munching on fresh picked blackberries.

Just behind the apple tree you can see a white picket fence. Just on the other side of the picket fence is a creek. A blackberry bush grows over the creek; you can see it behind the bench. The creek passes an organic nursery so the water is probably full of natural fertilizer which contributes to the plump juiceyness of the giant berries that grow there.

While Jel and I sipped tea by the apple tree I started filling my empty teacup with the fat ripe berries I could easily reach. Baby Julian and Jalissa, Austin's half siblings, joyfully ate those berries one by one...

Today I went back out and gathered several cups worth of plumb ripe blackberries and baked them into a scrumptious pie. As soon as it was cool enough to cut Jeff and I filled up on giant slices with yummy French vanilla icecream.

The blackberry pie started the party in my tummy...

Long Time No Update

2009-06-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

So I get so busy with school, especially now that I'm working on my masters project, that I don't have time even for a momentary diversion...but there have been a few things happening in the backyard sanctuary. Many birds have migrated through, a few have stayed. Roosters crow, hens lay and a few manage to hatch a brood or two. Our sweet little squatter Bunny Rabbit passed away, she had a long life for a wild bunny, 4 years. Her mate left, there's grass everywhere and no reason to stay here and be a lonely buck. Remember you can click on any photo to see it larger.

Backyard Squatters

The Three Graces

Pretty Tailfeathers

an ancient cock

lots of new peeps running around the back yard

and an accidental video of sushi in the backyard taken when I thought I was shooting a photo.

Bye Bye Muffin

2008-11-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

Sad to say that Muffin the Goose passed away last month. Today I thought of her as I tossed out fruit scraps, melon rinds and melon seeds. Normally I would have given them to her. She had a long life. Can't say it was the happiest life as she spent the last few years alone after her mate died. I suppose the chickens kept her company, they didn't show up until a couple of days after her mate died. I do remember the oddest look in her eyes when some frightened chicks ran under her to hide; she looked terrified that she might step on one of them and gave me a look that said help...

Muffin the Goose
Drypoint Intaglio 4x6"

Muffin

2008-05-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Muffin is the Goose that has come into our care.

Muffin belonged to our neighbors. They rarely took care of Muffin when they lived next door.

We usually made sure she had plenty of water and fed her daily.

Then the neighbors moved away and left her behind.

You would think that Muffin appreciated our care...no she is very mean and demanding.

Still we feed her and make sure that she has a pool full of water when the creek is low. We give her old fruit and veggies as a treat. On really hot days I will give her a shower with the hose which she loves.

But I don't dare to cross the picket fence that separates the front half of our back yard from the creek. (Muffin lives on the creek side). Believe me it's no fun getting goosed by an irascible goose!

Next posting the Bunny Family.

The Art Distracting Views

2008-04-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Views from the deck studio: North East, East, and South East, click on pictures to enlarge.

I am easily distracted by the goings on in my backyard. Since my studio is on the deck that overlooks the backyard new artworks take a long long time to be completed. I thought I may as well share these silly distractions with others since entries to my art blog depend on my making art. This is for all you others who enjoy silly distractions from their own passions.

I guess this first distracting blog entry should be an introduction to my distracting backyard and the beings whose daily dramas have become my zen...

This is the Hummingbird feeder that hangs from the North East corner of the deck eave.

This the shepherd's crook that holds the finch feeders. Its north of the birdbath in the center of the picket fence half of the back

This is a closeup of the Finch Feeders. It also attracts doves, bunnies, chickens, squirrels and redwing blackbirds who like to pick up the seed the finches scatter on the ground. Occassionally a neighborhood cat will try to pounce the feeders but quickly it learns that the fence underneath is no fun to land on...
This is the 5lb feeder that hangs from the Apple tree that grows to this side of the picket fence that cuts the yard in half at the creek. It attracts a myriad of birds and beasts who feed on the seed, the apples, a suet cake and any worms in the tree.

This is the Modesto Ash tree that's about 10-12 feet from the south east corner of the deck. It holds the platform feeder and suet cakes that attract squirrels, nuthatches, jays and woodpeckers.

Next entry I will introduce you to the creatures that inhabit the yard. They are the biggest distractions to making art...