Week 52

 "Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else."

~ Mr. Rogers

Happy 40th Anniversary to us, adios 2022, and Happy New Year!

Made some art before breakfast, while on the phone with my eldest.

Some Christmas tree bokeh right before I took the tree down and put all the decorations away.

A New Year's Eve Atmospheric River brought us a LOT of rain. 

The Walnut Creek looking north at mid-day. This is not normal.

The "Falls", as the adults that grew up here, call it. Hubs says it's the second highest he's seen it. 

This wonderful gift was delivered to us by our middle child and her Fiance.

Gotta love that you can door-dash something from Florida to California!

Cheers to the rain and our 40th Wedding Anniversary!

The Walnut Creek looking south.

On our way to dinner and thankfully the rain was about done for this day.

Tiramisu and Limoncello cake for dessert.

A tasty way to end the year.

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 46

 "Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
but it sure makes the rest of you lonely,"

~ Charles M. Schulz

The Diaz Family departed at the "butt-crack" of dawn Wednesday. It's so quiet and I already miss them and all their spirit. Unfortunately, I didn't get a lot of photos this week as I was busy enjoying the moments before they had to leave.

Having a snack while waiting for bother to get out of school.

Our last meal together before they fly back home. 

These kids had so much fun together. 

Our new photographer. Yay!!

Thursday sunrise.

Feasting American Finches.

I couldn't decide which photo I liked best.

The movie quote that keeps coming to mind here is...

"Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full."

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 39

"We are rare, not perfect...we need to soothe ourselves, not blame ourselves." ~ Mark Nepo

Walks, bike rides, art in the backyard, leaves changing color, clear sky in the west, Hurricane watch on the east coast, and these adorable grandchildren of mine. All is well and we're all okay. Thank you.

I love watching the Liquidambars change. 

Out for a morning adventure with this cutie.

Noticing.

I gave him a new pad of paper when I picked him up from school. 

He walked into the house, gathered his supplies, and went straight to work on his masterpiece.

My heart!

Straight out of my camera (phone).

Burn baby burn.

As we watched the weather channel all evening, I  made a little graphic from a screenshot.

Then we watched again the next night as Ian headed towards Melissa in SC.

Thankfully, all of our family made it through okay.

Paisley highly recommends this book. 

It is eye-opening. 

She liked my happy face Sun.

Got all three of them together. 

More Liquidambar (aka Sweetgum) leaves.

Those are some big eyes staring down at me - like I'm prey. 

This is one of the White-tailed Kites that has been hanging out at Hub's office.