05-18-10
hey! I know I know, its been forever. Almost a whole year even...I am slacking. My excuse for not updating is that I was pissed I broke my camera so was in a 'picture taking rut'...and didnt feel like posting without pictures, because that is just lame right? So anyway, thanks to my AMAZING inlaws...i am now the owner of something I have wanted forever!!! A really awesome super nice digital camera!!
So there it is!! An EOS Canon Rebel XSi...with both an EFS 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses!! Amazing I know, and i love love love and thank them for it! :) I feel so spoiled. So anyway...I've been taking random pictures here and there, which i usually upload to facebook in the album "random pictures with new camera"...if you want to have a looksies.
Clicky here for pictures
Anyway...so, funny story time..First off, let me explain. The boys have toys they have shredded all over the house. Thats what the damn dogs do. They take a cute innocent toy and tear the life out of it, leaving pieces all over the house. A good toy they particurlarly do this with is these rope type toys?
They play tug of war with them (as seen) and, again, leave pieces all over the house.
So I woke up yesterday...and the day was just like any other of my days off. I was walking around, feeding the dogs, getting dressed whatever.
I see this thing on the ground and think nothing of it...walk past if at least 30 times that morning. Because there is crap that looks like that everywhere, from the shredded toys, right? Then while walking by later...I notice it looks a little weird. Well...turns out..
Its a nasty ass gopher. In my bedroom....sick.
I suspect it was one of the cats...bringing their prized trophy inside to show mom and dad. Well...we are proud of them, really are. But jeez guys, leave this crap outside. mkay?
Anyway, in other news...I started painting the living room! Its actually almost done.
hopefully it turns out okay...it was kind of a spontaneous decision to start it. Although i have been thinking of colors for a while now...its kind of tricky! I'd hate to have to redo the walls because I hate them...This color is really pretty though, so I think it will be okay
Tykey absolutely LOVES swimming in the pool. Any time we walk near it, he tries to climb up our legs and starts whining to be put in. It's adorable. I got some videos, they are way too cute. Check em out.
And here's some recent pictures of the kids :)
Tyke - getting some sun
Bullet - all wet and fuzzy after his swimming exercises (gotta work that leg a little bit :)
Dakota - giving the puppy eyes begging to come inside. She made that hole in the screen herself...
Princess Rylie - doing what she does best
Dont have one a recent of Dexter, I'll have to get one and get back to you. Bad mom...
july 17, 2009
This is my newest painting. A little more "rugged" than the other ones I've done. It's looking a little gory even. Just taking a short break from all the commissions that I have been getting and having some fun. Although its awesome to have so many people want a piece of my artwork, it gets tiresome doing only what others want and therefore not being able to use my creativity to the fullest. Then again...it may be for the best that I'm not using it, lol. You be the judge....
So there it is. It's a medium size painting. 20 x 24. Acrylic on canvas. Finished it in 1 day, took about 3 hours total (acrylic is SO much faster than oil, I just love it sometimes).
And here are some side view shots, I was playing around with this structural gel that sorta feels like glue, but gives the painting some thickness and texture. Kinda cool right?
Look for it on my Etsy site if you're interested: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27770863
June 29, 2009
Finished another painting and sent it off with it's new owner today. This one was a commissioned piece for a friend I went to high school with. To make is more personalized, she wanted to squeeze 4 little people in there - her family, so I made them as little silhouettes walking on the beach. I am pretty happy with this one. The cables aren't perfect (I used a pizza cutter to make them- and it was extremely difficult) but I had to accept the fact that it wasn't going to be perfect before I went crazy. This one is 3 canvases all 12 x 24. The painting took about a month to finish, probably around 20 hours of work.
Then I didnt realize that I never posted a final picture of the beach painting. This one I actually still have (sorry Julie!!! - I'll have to mail it to you since it looks like Sheila won't get it down there for a few more weeks...) But this one is 2 12 x 24, and 1 - 20 x 24 canvases. I finished it in May and it probably took around 4 months to finish...off and on, about 10 hours or so? of work. Oil again of course, although, I have been experimenting with acrylics which I will try to use more often.
Then I also did this one for a friend I work with. She just had a baby and this painting is going in the baby's room :) This painting is probably one of my favorites (if not THE favorite). For some reason, I just love the bright colors and animation of it, although I probably wouldn't hang it in my living room, it's definitely fit for a kids room. It didn't take long at all to make either, about 4 days and maybe 6 hours of work? 24 x 20
Then this one is just something silly I did one afternoon. It's painted on a piece of foam board (like packing foam type stuff). The painting took about 15 minutes - ACRYLLIC!! yay! I know...for some reason, I just feel more comfortable with oil, I am having a hard time switching. I should have started the other way around. But anyway...so painting on foam board...
Then turned into ART...or a jewlery hanger. Thanks Sheila for the idea! :)
June 29, 2009
She is so smart!!! Check out this video. This was after about a half hour of persistent work and she finally caught on! This dog will do just about anything for a cookie
She is getting so big! and such a pretty girl - in this picture she is about 3 1/2 months old, weighing about 25 pounds.
Since she is finally old enough to take out to the park, having gotten all of her puppy vaccines, it is now her new favorite place! She loves the dog park! This is her best friend Missy - who luckily is always at the park for her to play with too.
Tyke and Dakody taking a break after all the running around at the park
Poor B-dog doesn't get to come to the park. I took him once with is bum leg and it just stressed/depressed him to watch all the other dogs run around while he had to stay put :(
So for now, he and his bum leg get to be lazy on the couch. He is getting better at taking it easy on his leg. I just hope that once the leg is all healed up he will snap out of lazy mode!
June 28, 2009
YES, we finally did it !! We finally moved! Captain Picard house is all ours! haha, we are loving it so much, and the animals are loving it even more. The backyard is like heaven for them. Even the cats want to be outside all day.
Here is a picture of the house again. I just think it is the cutest thing ever :)
The backyard where the dog dogs will be spending most of the summer!
Lee loooooooves his new garage. He's already got most of his work area set up now. He'll be spending much time out there with friends working on motorcycles and cars etc.
Graduating at the same time as the move really helped us out...even though it was VERY hectic. We moved into the house on Thursday, and family started showing up on Friday, then graduation was on Saturday. It really was NUTS! but we were able to get a few nice things for the house which worked out great.
This was a graduation gift from my Dad and Karin, Thanks Dad!! I love it so much, it's so peaceful to read or just hang out outside. Perfect gift :)
Lee loves the swing too :) This is his new nap spot (as long at it's not too hot! - like today)
The Hulsey family (Linda and Milton) gave us some money for my graduation/house warming gifts, which was amazing! because right after we moved our dryer broke. So we were able to spend the money they gave us to get a really nice one! It looks pretty funny next to the 40 year old hand-me-down washer, but oh well. At least they both work now!
And I know, I'm a dork, but I just LOOOVE all the trees and plants in the front/backyard! These trees are in the front yard, and there is more in the back. Arent they gorgeous?! The flowers are so tropical looking! I have no idea what kind they are (let me know if you do), but I love em!
That was the greatest thing about this house is that it was soooo well maintained, which makes it so easy for us. Especially since we had family visiting so soon after we moved in...(the next day, lol). Everything was ready to go, no work required! We are so lucky we found this one :)
However, our first big project was the pool. It was doing fine, we even used it a few times before tearing it apart, but there were a few holes in the liner, whose patches were failing to hold, which caused the water level to fall around 3-5 inches a day! So we decided to just get a new one. Big thanks to everyone who sent cards and $$ for my graduation. This is where the money went :).
This is the liner being torn out. That last bit of water took all day to scoop out with buckets. It was pretty nasty and about 105 degrees outside :(
But here is the new liner being put in. My best bud Casssandra actually helped me do this part, while we filled the pool with water, I had to get in and smooth out all the wrinkles. It was hard work!! - - as you can see, lol. it was basically like a giant slip and slide. fun fun, haha
and here is the pool now!! all ready to go for the summer!! The only bad thing, which I noticed today is since the pool is a little smaller, the water gets so warm!! It was 110 today!!! But still, I was so incredibly glad we had the pool for afternoon dips. It's great.
The doggies have their own pool too :) This picture of Dakota chilling in the pool was actually taken today. Since it was so hot - this is where she was most of the day.
And of course the two boys enjoying their time in the pool too. They have to take turns, since Kody is so big. haha
Thats about it for now! We are pretty much all settled in and completely loving life right now. Life all around is going great for us here in Turlock.
June 28, 2009
so, wow. A lot has happened since my last post!
Graduation!! I am now officially OFFICIALLY done with school. Never to go back there again...unless it's a relaxing walk through campus with the dogs and/or husband
Well, I actually technically graduated in February, but for my family to be able to celebrate, I went through the ceremony in June. I was hesitant at first, thinking it would be lame...but it was actually really fun and a great excuse to have all of my family up!
Here is myself and good friend Arianna - my walking buddy :) who was at the time and still currently is pregnant. (I tell everyone because I think it's the coolest thing ever...) but Ari and I are both Sociology majors, worked together at the animal hospital together, we found out that both of our husbands worked at circuit city together, AND we got married on the same day. Weirdness. Anyway, we goofed off most of the time, it was fun.
Here's me with el presendente getting my awesome certificate - which later will be my diploma...when I get it in the mail sometime soon
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And a few family photos - This one is all of the girls. I just love it. From left to right - Sister Amanda, Mom, Sisters - Sheila, myself, Corinne and Kristen.
Me and dad
me and mom
Hulsey family - Linda, John, Grandma, Lee and I
Its a nasty ass gopher. In my bedroom....sick.
