Ahhh Autumn...

The cool breeze, the sun casting long shadows in the late afternoon, the vegetable garden starting to turn from green to warm shades of gold. Football. Oh sorry, did I ruin it for you with the "F" word? ;-) oh I like football alright which is probably a good thing because as my sister says we become football widows in the fall. That's ok it gives me time to work on things like this!

Awhile back I started re-illustrating a book my sister wrote. As I evolve as a painter/illustrator I find things I once did seem subpar and I'm fine with that but I really feel this little book of ours is special and it deserves my best. So I've started over. This was the first page and I'm just about done with the first chapter. It feels amazing and since the first chapter is about autumn I wanted to share this. 

I always keep a book close by that inspires me. It reminds me that with dedication and hard work anything is possible. Your dreams will come true!

I also recorded the fact that my water is pretty clean...that almost never happens!

I keep this photo on my phone as a screen saver, to remind me what is waiting for me when I get home from work. My lovely paints and my opportunity to get lost in a dream! 

I hope you all have a dream you can get lost in! Even if it's a book, spending time out in nature, knitting something cozy, or being with the people you love. 

Till next time! :-)

-Shelly

A Game of Random Blogging

Hello! Let me first warn you this post is going to be a pot luck. Just a little bit of everything. Honestly this post could be broken into a few but I'm feeling like sharing! :-) 

Ok...on your mark, get set, totally random stuff!

I'm totally addicted to these spicy California rolls from Luckys Market! I'm eating them at least 3 times a week for lunch. When I'm not eating these I'm trying to eat this...

Fruit salad, hummus and crackers, a cheese stick. I've been using the My Fitness Pal app. It's really helping me track my calories!

You know, so I can eat stuff like this.

Next bit of randomness...

My sweet husband got new glasses. I think he looks very handsome! I love a man in glasses.

Look at all these crunchy leaves! It looks like fall. This picture was also an excuse to show you my new shoes! I love them! They're Swedish Hasbeens...they are very comfy!

Look at that lighting! We've had loads of rain the last few days...we needed it as evident from the crunchy leaves!

Scary!

Oops, I mopped the kitchen floor and forgot to bring the mop and bucket in. Just look at that mess from the storm!

Ok now...just so we're really keeping this post random, I thought I'd show you what's been growing in the parking lot at work. A zucchini and a tomato! How wild is that! No pun intended . ;-)

Ok that's all the random I've got for now. Hope you are all amazing and as excited about fall as I am! Talk to you soon!

Summers Best

It's hard to believe its summer. We have the windows open and I almost need a sweater! I thought I'd show you a few pictures from the garden. I didn't plant anything till it was almost to late, but I'm glad I finally did...I think we'll be able to at least enjoy some late summer goodies!

We've also been enjoying picking some of natures finest for indoor enjoyment! 

Off to work I go, hope you are enjoying your weekend wherever you are! Hope your weather is as wonderful as it is here in the Bluegrass. 

Oh I almost forgot, the Fancy Farm Picnic is this weekend. Mitch and Allison will be facing off. I have to tell you I love the Fancy Farm Picinic for one simple reason. It's so very American. The parts I love...white painted fences, old fashioned red white and blue bunting, and BBQ. It almost makes you forget there is something political happening! ;-)

Root Beer Floats & Hot Summer Days

There are two things I love on a hot summer day. 

1. Watermelon

2. Root Beer Floats

Obviously number one would be the healthy choice but you see hubby and I took a trip to Ikea. There were these cute little white glasses. Once we got them home I realized they would be so cute for root beer floats. You see it's all about aesthetics, not dessert, not about making a healthy choice. It's about what looks good and using the things you have. Yes. Aesthetics.

Speaking of what looks good. We also got a new desk!

I'm hoping for a new sofa soon as well. Unfortunately our TV bit the dust so that was a purchase that is now delaying the sofa. But in time! 

Hope you are all well and soaking up this wonderful summer!

Shelly

A Few Lovely Days

I don't talk too much about my job but I really enjoy it and lucky for me I don't dread going. Have you ever had that job? The one where the thought of going was awful. I once had a job I hated so much that I would leave 15 minutes early just so I could drive by it and pretend I was just going to keep going and never show up again! Of course I'm way to responsible for that and I always turned around and went in. We'll I don't have that problem now but I do enjoy my time off. Unfortunately we had a small fire at work earlier in the week and will be unable to work while cleanup is happening. Fortunately I have wonderful bosses and their insurance covered everyone's pay. While I have this little bit of time I'm getting caught up on some things around the house and spending some time with my husband. We've worked in the yard, strolled through used book stores and had wonderful meals outside enjoying the beautiful weather. 

Here are some photos from our breakfast at The North End Cafe. I had Peach Blueberry Cobbler Pancakes and hubs had Orange Spice French Toast! Deliciousness!!! Hope you have all had a wonderful Fourth of July Holiday!

R&R

What an amazing day. Yes it's hot but I don't care. I spent the entire day with my husband (we rarely have the same days off) and it could not have been better! We  started off with breakfast at a cute little cafe then spent the afternoon shopping. I picked up a little Kate Spade case for my phone...pooka dots...I love me some pooka dots, then relaxed the rest of the evening. Also, I painted my toenails red.

New Bird Feeder!

I know...that's not a bird feeder, it's a colander full of kidney beans. I just wanted to say something about kidney beans before I get to the bird feeder. Umm, they are so pretty I think they deserve a new name. Kidney beans makes them sounds like gross organ meat that kids across the land would not touch with a ten foot fork. I make a motion that we rename the kidney bean! If you have any suggestions please share!

 



 

OK, now on to matters of bird feeders. I picked up this bird feeder over the winter and am just now getting around to putting it out. I've stalled on putting it out because it's so cute (I think it looks like a tiny modern house) and I don't want the squirrels to mess it up. I know they have to eat too, but they completely destroy every feeder I put out. It makes no sense to not put it out, but I had to wait till I was mentally prepared to have my new feeder turn to chewed, clawed lumps of plastic.

Alright! So far so good, the birdies are enjoying it, the "squirrel baffler" that it's hanging from appears to be working! Maybe the shape of this one is not interesting to them! This is awesome!
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Well, it was cute while it lasted...OK that squirrel is pretty cute too. Have a lovely day lovely people! I'll talk to you soon!

-Shelly

The Way of the Kentuckian

There are two things I've learned since moving to Kentucky.
1. GO CATS!
2. Sweet Tea is a given.

As for number one, as far as I'm concerned a cat is a domestic animal that does what it wants so much so that we even let it do it's "business" indoors. What other furry animal can say that? As for number 2, sweet tea, it's just something I cannot get on board with. It amazed me that when I first moved to Kentucky I had to specify that I wanted "Un-sweet tea", then the server would repeat back to me "you want un-swait tay?" with a very judgmental look in their eyes. There is however another drink that seems to be acceptable...BIG RED. I give you a true southern mess of a meal...

Oh my, I think I love Kentucky. This meal provided by Marks Feed Store. What an appropriate name. Because what you're doing when you're there is FEEDING. Shoving amazing BBQ in your face and washing it down with BIG RED. Don't even think about eating the fries, there fine, but you won't have room for dessert. Honestly, if you eat the entire sandwich you won't have room, but somehow we tried.

Did I mention what dessert was? Some crazy thing I had never eaten before called Buttermilk Pie. Holy Cow, it's amazing. 2-3 bites is more than enough, after the BIG RED your teeth will curl up and run for cover.

I love Kentucky.

I think Pippa wants some BBQ.

Wishing for things today...

I think I'm getting sick (scratchy throat) so I'm really just wishing I didn't have to go to work today because all day long I talk to people and this feeling in my throat is the feeling I get when laryngitis sets in. I wish I could just be quiet and domestic today...Here are some photos of my former domestic life. I'm longing for doing just one of these things today.



Baking Amish white bread...then eating the ends with butter.

Doing some needlework or knitting.



Snuggling with my two favorite girls.

Playing in the garden.

Painting cups of tea.

Picking strawberries.



Airing out the quilts.

Spirituality Over Rice Cereal

Every so often I get a letter from my very dear friend Beth. Beth is a missionary and she has to fundraise for her own salary every year. Can you imagine doing this? I suppose I take for granted that I can just show up at my job, do what they ask and I'm guaranteed a check at the end of the week...no worries.

Beth and I don't have the same views about religious matters or political matters but it has never mattered in the 20+ years that we've been friends. I love getting her newsletter and seeing the work she is doing because I know how important it is to her. I know it is filling up her spiritual cup. I think we as a human race all have a need and a curiosity to know what is beyond. It's in our blood, it's part of our nature. How could we watch the cycle of life year after year and not have this be part of us? I only wish people could be accepting of others and how they choose to seek out these answers. Or respect that many people choose not to go searching and just live every day for what it is. I'm awake, I'm breathing in fresh air, and I'm going to make the very best of this day that I've been given by God by Nature, by whatever. Oops...there went the laundry buzzer...I'll be right back.

 



How convenient was that? Things were starting to get heavy. OK so above is photo of a mala necklace I just made. Not only a fun little craft project but it has turned out to be a great tool for meditating. I'm new to meditation but I know a few people who do it and they are always encouraging me to give a try. I've tried in the past but honestly my brain has about 5 hamsters running on the same wheel so trying to calm it down is really difficult. A mala necklace is a beaded necklace used for meditation or prayer. There are 108 beads, you start at the end where the head is and use each bead to say your mantra or prayer and when you get to the head you go back the other direction. This has been wonderful for calming my mind. This may sound crazy, but allowing my mind to relax is making me feel more awake during the day. Even if I wake and am very sleepy, after 20 minutes of meditation I feel wide awake. Amazing. I got everything to make the necklace at JoAnne Fabrics (even the little Buddha head). The beads are made from shell and the red string is just embroidery floss.

So since we are on the topic of spirituality I wanted to share my new favorite hymn. My husband and I were so lucky to see Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Edie Brickell last week. Hope you get a good laugh and enjoy this!

One more thing, if you would like to learn more about my friend Beth and give you can visit her page with One Mission Society here http://www.onemissionsociety.org/give/bethjordal .

-Shelly

 

http://youtu.be/wogta8alHiU

Has it really been almost a month?

Well, I suppose it has. Hard to believe. Lucky for me I don't have to work today. So catching up on laundry is the name of the game. I was hoping to get outside and work in the yard but this little boo boo is making a huge baby out of me....the slightest little tap and it hurts.

My finger met a hammer. Somehow I've evaded ever smacking my thumb or finger with a hammer despite the fact that over the last 15 years I've hung hundreds, maybe thousands of pieces of art at work. I guess I was due for a whack. Ok I'll stop complaining and move on to something fun.

How about our new bedroom wall color?!

The color is Porter Paints "Elusive Blue". I'm in love with it. In some light it looks blue and in other light is looks lavender. I really wanted something that would make me think of a cool ocean breeze and I think this did it! I still have to find window treatments, paint the baseboards, put a second coat on the closet doors, replace the outlet covers, and figure out what type of art I want above the bed.  The new things I added were the large tray I hung on the wall from Target, as well as the little lamp on my folding table  that I'm using for a nightstand till I find something cute. I love that little lamp, it reminds me of sea glass. I also went to Home Goods and picked up the little sea shell frame and blue bowl that are on the dresser. Just in case you're wondering about the bedding. We normally have a white duvet and down comforter on the bed but it's starting to get too warm for the comforter so we put a white sheet on top of the regular sheet and blanket. The dogs sleep in the bed with us so it's easy to just toss in the wash and keep everything clean.

Lets move on to the garden. I just wanted to share some of the booms in the garden. I'm so happy it's warm out and winter is finally behind us.

I hope you are enjoying your weather wherever you are! See you soon!

New Website!!!

I have a new website! Feel free to check it out but make sure to come back here to see the cutest little chipmunk that's been perched on a pumpkin in our back yard!

www.shellydowell.com

Are you back?  It really feels great to have the site done and live! I felt that I really needed to put together a professional website since interest in my art has been picking up. I also felt it was a must if I'm going to seriously pursue licensing/publishing my images. Something I'm still looking into but if I see something that interests me I suppose it's better to be prepared.  OK on to that chipmunk.


 
 

How cute is that?! I was taking the photo from inside the screen door so I was a far away hence the fuzziness but I still think it's so cute! It may be my next painting. Speaking of paintings....Here is the little wren in my "D" that I told you I was going to do.

If you can't tell these plants are completely made up. That's one of the things I love about painting, you can make up whatever you want! Not that mother nature doesn't do a perfect job on her own, but there are no rules in this realm so why not? On to my next painting where I'm breaking all the rules! haha. (Let's hope sarcasm is detectable.)  ;-)

I'm painting a little Holstein calf with a chickadee perched on it's head holding a clover in it's beak. Have you ever seen a chickadee with a clover perch on a cow? I bet not...see totally breakin the rules! It's getting crazy around here. I'm really looking forward to working on this one through the week. But first things first, I'll be on pinterest for I'm sure what will be wayyyy too long today. I need to find a dessert to take to our family gathering Easter Sunday. There are so many amazing ideas it will be hard to choose what to do! Will you be celebrating Easter? I'm really looking forward to it this year as I will finally get to see my cousins two little ones for the first time! My family is so spread out so it's always a treat when we get to see one another!

Hope you have a wonderful day, it's very chilly here today. The weatherman said something about flurries. I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear him!