Week 49

"Joy is the oxygen for doing hard things."
~ Kay Bowler, No Cure for Being Human

Back to our regularly scheduled programming, for a minute. The week started off normal and then COVID happened. All is well it's just messing up schedules. So, I've been taking more walks lately and capturing the end of autumn around here. It's definitely helping with my sanity this time of year.

Waiting for brother to get out of school.

This adorable tiny human slays me. 

Strollering up and down the street. 

This was his idea and was then scared we were about to crash the whole time. 

We didn't.

I love these flowers that bloom out of these Echeveria's

 

Out walking and shooting leaves before the storm.

Maple tree branches 

The sun came out after the rain and gave me pretty drops on leaves.

Playing with stamp brushes and the clipping mask in Procreate.

I actually gasped when I came across this one.

I am still deciding which one I like more. 

Week 45

"We need joy as we need air.

We need love as we need water.

We need each other as we need 

the earth we share."

~ Maya Angelou

Such a busy and fun week with the Diaz Family home. It's been a long four years since they were here last. The cousins had a blast together, we celebrated Melissa's birthday with dinner at El Tap + a pumpkin cheesecake, and we were invited to a 49er game where we got to watch our son-in-law parachute into the stadium with the Army Black Knights. 

Yes, I did!

All together!

Little pilots. We took a trip to the Oakland Aviation Museum. 

Mini-Air Traffic control tower.

Flight controller.

Cousin buddies.

Joy = All four of my grandchildren together. 

Oldest and youngest.

Blurry and beautiful!

Another blurry one, but so adorable.

Going for a ride on Uncle Jesse's OneWheel.

We got to go to a 49er game at Levi Stadium.

Melissa on the Jumbotron!

The "hometown hero" SSG Devin Diaz dropping into Levi Stadium.

Devin nailed it!

Perfect 50-yard line landing.

Week 44

“Always remember, it’s simply not an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.”

― Sarah Ban Breathnach

Replace dragons with dinosaurs. It is the holiday season. I'm not saying the holidays are dragons or dinosaurs, but this time of year is a lot. I hope to be caught up here before the end of the year. 

In case I forget...

Happy HallweenBirthdayThanksgivingBirthdayChristmasAnniversaryNewYear!!

And away we go!

She was done with her dinner and ready to get her costume on

and go trick-or-treating.

Must have some candy before we head out. Right?

"Clark" corralling the kiddos.

Fierce Dilophosaurus

Adorable Minnie!

We tried. They were already hoped up on candy.

Bring on the storms. Thankfully it waiting until after Halloween.

Waiting at a stop light. I love this trestle.

I could practice this all day long.

Ready to roast, then puree for Southwest Chicken Soup.

Week 43

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, 

is a way to make your soul grow. 

So do it."

~ Kurt Vonnegut

I was so surprised and giddy by all the goodies I received with the watercolor set that

I ordered from Josie Lewis Art. EVERYTHING Rainbow!!

Couldn't wait to try out these beauties.

My experiment failed, but the colors are pretty Note; kosher salt does not work for this project. 

Also, I had too much water on my brush. 

She is electrifying!

Hey there, cutie!

Purple ball-type Dahlia.

A Trader Joe's bouquet in the morning light.

First costume of the night - Sulky Spiderman. 

Second costume for the block party - Fiesty Dilophosaurus.

Mamma Snake plant and her third offspring.

Week 41

There is magic in the recollection of simple, everyday moments. 
~ Dani Dipirro @positivelypresent

 

A pumpkin in the wild - an escapee from a neighborhood garden. 

On our morning walk, we passed this yard with painted rocks, again. 

This one is my favorite. 

Blue potato bush. Was the person who named it color-blind?

My iPhone lock screen. I want to pay less attention to my phone and more to life.

My morning scene this week; journals, books, pens, and paints. 

Procreate pumpkin brush stamps and a neon color palette FTW. 

Miss Cleo in her new happy place. 

Chorizo, potato, bell pepper, onion hash with avocado, and an egg for breakfast. YUM-OH!

It was a super bright and cool morning for 

swinging in the neighbor's front yard.

He immediately took possession of the Costco delivery boxes 

and turned them into caves for him and his dinosaurs.