Eating... Painting... Sanding

EATING:  The New Year is almost hear folks and I'm sad to report I'm 10 lbs heavier than I was 3 months ago!  ARRGG.  Really I'm 5 lbs lighter than I was last year at this time.  I lost 15 lbs earlier this year and since the end of Oct I've gain 10 back.  Bizcochito's are the reason why!!!  Well for sure one of the reasons.  They are my demise, they are addictive, they are almost gone!  Since I'm from New Mexico we make these every year before Christmas as it is a long held tradition in my family and they are one of my favorite holiday cookies.  

Bizcochito's

Bizcochito or biscochito is a crispy butter or lard based cookie flavored with anise and cinnamon. It was developed by residents of New Mexico over the centuries from the first Spanish colonists of New Mexico.

PAINTING:  I couldn't take the sanding anymore so yesterday I started a watercolor painting - this afternoon I completed it.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of leaving the paper white for light.   I love painting Iris ~ my mom was an iris breeder in her spare time and so there were many gorgeous ones to pick from.  You should see her garden in the spring time.

SANDING:  Today I have been working on a "MODERN" fireplace screen that I really shouldn't of excepted doing for someone.  1st Reason is I don't do this type of work, 2nd I don't do MODERN!  All day I've been sanding this thing (I'll post when I'm done).  It's actually fairly simple, but it's so not what I do.  Note to Self:  Don't except work you're not excited about. 

Iris Weaved Hearts & The 12 Days of Christmas

 

I just finished a really fun project.  I saw weaved metal online and thought it was so beautiful, so I tried it.  It was challenging and I didn't get it exactly straight, but I guess everything I do is never perfect ~ I like flaws.  The iris was fun trying to make it look real.  I used a purple patina on the final flower and red patina for the weave.

This will be the last project I'll be working on until after the holidays.  It's time for baking, shopping, cleaning & decorating.  Yes I am that behind!  Yikes!

Merry Christmas to all 

and may Santa bring you Abundance

in

Love, Blessings, Kindness, Understanding

&

Compassion

or may he bring you just what you need

12 Days of Christmas..... explained

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Starving Artist or Not?

Sometimes I feel starved for ideas

starved for knowledge and training,

starved for a connection, starved for social interaction,

starved for attention and understanding.

I'm starved for inspiration, 

I'm starved for time and energy.

But, if truth be told... I'm full,

satiated,

appeased ... truly.

I don't make a living at this craft I've chosen,

but I do make a life at it.

So that Question?? of starving ... is definitely questionable

at least in this Artist.

The burro is a pretty bird,

and loves to dine on shirts,

But for a midday luncheon,

Prefers to eat old skirts,

old petticoats and bloomers

Appraise his appetite

While crinoline and corset

Fill him with delight

Once in while a kind monk comes

to her stable and brings

a pear, but more

than that,

He looks into her eyes and rubs her ears

and for a few seconds the burro is free

and even seems to laugh

because love does that

Love Frees

Crow caw from the fields

sun slants through old bottles of

brown, green claret, clear