sunday sketches :: summertime

I would say this is a self-portrait but I don’t get out in the sun so much anymore. Not after a scare last summer.

I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my lip. I just thought it was a zit that wouldn’t go away! It took about 12 stitches and there’s a scar from my nose to the top of my lip. So in order to avoid more scars – I’m staying out of the sun!

Just give me a foo foo drink and I’ll stay indoors!

My first week at the new job went really well. In the summer, we work four 10-hour days. I love Fridays off but those long days are killer. I miss my afternoon naps. And real shoes hurt my feet. No more sandals or bare feet. They really frown on that!

Sharing this week at Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: puppy practice

This week for Sunday Sketches, I’ll share some sketches I’ve been working on. I wrote a story about a cute dog, so naturally, I used my dog as the inspiration for this sweet pup!

Do stop by Alexandra’s blog to check out other Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: lily on the bookshelf

“Well, now. How do I get down?” That’s what is going through this little troublemaker’s mind!

I’ve been making more and more time to sketch and paint lately. It feels good.

Mostly I have to study the weather and plan when I can mow the grass. It grows so darn fast! I have to work around rain and extreme heat. Who knew it would be such a challenge!

I’m 58 and never had to cut my own grass. In my defense, I grew up with 4 brothers and that was their job. Later on, I lived in a series of apartments and townhouses where the yard work was part of the rent. Then when I married, that was something that Bob enjoyed doing. But now…it’s my job. My dad came to visit and taught me how to do it. I do believe I’ve lost a little weight. It can be a good workout!

This week, the string on the trimmer/edger ran out so I had to figure how to get it working again. I watched a video, refilled the cartridge and was back to work in no time! What did we do before YouTube?

I hope your weekend is good. Me? I plan to stay indoors today where it’s nice and cool. A good day to catch up on my fellow bloggers!

Do stop by Alexandra’s site to check out other Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: where’s lily

I haven’t done a Lily drawing in a while. She’s not a very good hider! A good sleeper, yes!!

Sharing my Lily painting on Sunday Sketches. Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!

sunday sketches :: cat in the garden doodle

Thanks to everyone who left comments on my last post. I hope you don’t think that I felt good about “borrowing” someone else’s work. To this day, it bothers me!! I can’t believe I didn’t confess. I probably should have and taken the “F” I deserved rather than live with the anguish of it all these years!! Ah, well, ancient history.

I’m slowly making time for more painting and drawing even if it’s only silly doodles like this one. It’s been almost 2 months since my husband passed away and I still miss him so much. Every morning I wake up and he’s the first thought in my head. And the last thought before I sleep at night.

I guess I am making progress though. At least I can now go to the grocery store without crying. Well, most of the time. It’s silly little things like seeing a cookie that he liked, then crying right there in the snack aisle.

Both of my grandmothers lost their husbands in their late 50s. One lived until she was 86. The other is 102 and still going. I come from strong women so I know I will get through this. Just wish I didn’t have to.

Sorry for dragging you down this sad path with me. It’s a nice spring day. The rain has stopped. So I think I’ll get out and grab some sunshine. That might help.

Do stop by Alexandra’s site to check out other Sunday Sketches. I’m sure you’ll find some cheerier posts there!! But thanks for letting me unload.

sunday sketches :: brave lily

Here is another sketch of my cat, Lily. This will give you an idea of her personality. Our dog is actually much bigger than tiny Lily but I never worry about those two together. Lily can take care of herself!! The poor dog is always the one who backs away when the fighting gets a little too real.

Sharing my Lily painting on Sunday Sketches. Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!

sunday sketches :: lily is hiding

I was busy yesterday and finished two paintings with Lily. She is great inspiration. Lily is usually hiding in wait for our other cat to walk by. Always ready to pounce.

Or like this illo below, she loves to hide in boxes. I know she loves a good Amazon box as much as I do but for very different reasons!

Do stop by Alexandra’s site to check out other Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: no lily!!

Another painting of Lily doing what she does best – get into trouble!!

Today, I’m going to work on a sketch for Scribble Picnic. The first theme is “Octopus” and the due date is coming soon. Join us!!

Sharing my Lily painting on Sunday Sketches. Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!

sunday sketches :: hello lily

Continuing on with more Lily drawings. Here is Lily sitting in the window watching the world go by.

I’m trying to keep the palette simple for this series. Maybe I’m in a Blue mood … who knows?

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: play lily

Another sketch of Lily. You never know what’s going to happen when you take in a stray. We got lucky with this one. She’s a character!!

She’s demanding when her food bowl is empty. Or full. Or somewhere in between.

She’s cuddly. When she wants to be.

She’s playful with everyone. Especially the dog.

But she’s also a bit crazy. Well, more like a lot crazy.

She howls during the night. Is some alien Mothership calling her??

She runs like a lunatic through the house every morning. Is some imaginary dog chasing her?

She likes to sleep on my head. Always has. It drives me bananas! I chase her away and she comes right back. Why does she do this?

Anyway, in spite of all her craziness, we do love her a bunch.

Sharing with Sunday Sketches. Sorry, I haven’t been replying to your sweet comments. I DO visit your blogs though. I hope that’s ok. Some days it gets a bit hectic here.

sunday sketches :: hey lily

Another sketch of Lily.

She likes to visit with us at the dinner table. At first, we thought it was so cute…but now she begs. When we’re not looking, she will snag a little snack off of our plates.

It’s definitely not cute anymore! But who can get mad at this little face??!

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: lily underfoot

Here is a little sketch of Lily – doing what she’s does best. Well, second best, if you count napping!

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: merry christmas

We got a little snow last night so it has really put me in the Christmas spirit.

I wrapped presents.

I may even do some baking today. I’ve been putting it off as long as I can. I tend to bake too early. Taste what I’ve baked…until they are nearly gone. Then have to start all over again! I have zero willpower.

At our house, we don’t put up a large Christmas tree. It wouldn’t last…much like this drawing! I do have 3 small trees that I keep on the hall table. They have homemade ornaments on them that I don’t care if they get destroyed. The day before yesterday, I picked up one of the trees three times … somebody (Lily, I’m sure) kept knocking it off the table.

I’m sure it was an accident. She always looks so innocent!


This might be my last post for the year. It’s going to be busy around here for the next few weeks. So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2017. See you after the new year.


Sharing with Sunday Sketches. Stop by and take a look at Alexandra’s Advent illustrations. They are adorable!

sunday sketches :: more lily drawings

More little doodles about my cat, Lily.

I don’t have curtains like this. Nothing with butterflies for her to chase!

I do have some sheer curtains with a swag. It drapes from one side of the curtain rod with a big swoop in the middle and then hangs down the other side of the window. I have to straighten it EVERY DAY as the swoop is always lopsided.

Lily must have some hang-up about things being straight and even, while I’m just the opposite and like things to be in order.

This one demonstrates how she hides. She’s not very good at it!

Sharing with Sunday Sketches. Stop by and take a look at Alexandra’s Advent illustrations. They are adorable!

sunday sketches :: winter is coming

Well, no snow. Yet. Definitely colder here.

Winter is coming. (Not the Game of Thrones “winter is coming” sense hopefully!)

I’m one of those people who hopes for a White Christmas. And that’s it. One day only!! Then we can move on to longer days and more sunshine! Anybody agree with me on that?

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: no lily!

I started working on some doodles about one of our cats. She is a darling little thing. She found her way into our house about 2 years ago. Lily is sweet but sure can be stubborn and we find that we call her “No Lily” more often than “Lily.”

We live a few blocks from major streets and have lots of hawks in the area so we don’t have outdoor cats. She will howl at the door to be let out and we always tell her “No, you’ll get lost!” but she begs at the door anyway.


With Thanksgiving behind us, I’m now in full-on Christmas mode! Today, I may even venture to the attic and bring down the decorations. It’s time to make things festive around here!

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: flower girl

I’ve been in a funk lately. Not really in the mood to paint. Hope this won’t last long.

I’ve been doing a little writing. Very little.

And this little doodle. And not much else.

Just wanted to stop in and say “hello” even though I don’t have much to share this week. Hopefully I will snap out of it soon!

Sharing with Sunday Sketches.

sunday sketches :: girl at window

It’s been one of those weeks.

I went with my husband on Tuesday to the doctor. We find that as we get older, it’s best to take a second pair of ears whenever we go to Doctors. Anyway, he’s had a cough for a couple weeks now. He coughs mostly at night, so he can’t sleep. I can’t sleep. The dog can’t sleep. It’s been a grumpy house.

They didn’t treat his cough but did send him to the emergency room straight away. Abnormal heart beat…so he was in the hospital for two long, boring days of tests and new medicines.

I’m lucky that the hospital is near our house so I could come home every few hours and let the dog out. But after a while, I didn’t know if I was coming or going!

Anyway, he is home now. Still coughing, unfortunately. More doctor appointments coming.

And just now I walked the dog. Beautiful warm sunny fall day. Then I saw a snake in the street sunning itself. It coiled itself up and I ran as fast as my legs could carry me!

I’m never walking again. Until winter anyway!


Posting this to Sunday Sketches -- hello to Alexandra in England! I missed last week, so I’ll be sure and check in with other Sunday Sketches posts this week! (Note: I don’t have Google Plus so can’t leave comments on those blogs. Unless there is some easy way to do this without upgrading that I don’t know about? Let me know.)

sunday sketches :: cat pattern

Still playing with patterns. Of course, I had to do something with cats!

I drew them, then traced them in Illustrator so I could make symbols to repeat. Still debating whether or not I should color them in. I think I like them this way though.


Posting this to Sunday Sketches -- hello to Alexandra in England!

sunday sketches :: tell me a story

This weekend was good for catching up on some reading. Of course, after a chapter or two, I doze off! But it’s been a good weekend for napping, too!!

Posting this to Sunday Sketches -- hello to Alexandra in England!