Crispy Frymix

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Sold

Clovis and Henrietta contemplate their past while their future looms large. This is the most fun I'll probably have with a set of salt and pepper shakers, an egg and a box of frymix. This painting will be available on E-bay later in the week. It's still very wet.

Intermission

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Available

I've been away from the blog for a few days with the expectation of posting when my latest painting was finished but it's being a bugger. Drying time between layering is the main holdup and I just hope it's worth it. I've named it "Crispy Frymix" and it's a realistic Far Side. That's all I'll say until the unveiling.

Today is the first day of clouds for some time. Loving it. I hope it rains like crazy. We need it and I'm a rain person. Little thunder, lightning, downpours. Neato!!

Earthquake

12" x 12" Bulldog Oil on Canvas: Available

Apparently there was an earthquake this morning that shook many Michiganians awake at 5:30 am. I managed to sleep through it but found that my birds did not. There were feathers all over the place and evidence that they were quite upset early this morning. They're all fine now. I fell asleep sometime after 3:30 am. I was kept awake by howling dogs and lots of creatures stirring. It was quite unusual for this quiet country setting. I wonder if they knew something was amiss?

4:30 am

Yesterday morning I checked out a friends latest blog and had to giggle when I saw her beautiful "sunrise through the trees" photo. It was stunning and not funny in the least, but compared to my photo of a few hours earlier.... I woke up at 4:30 am to the most beautiful sight of a large amber moon across the lake. I ran for my camera and took several shots hoping one would come out. It was so dark that the shutter stayed open for what seemed an eternity. I didn't want to grope around in the dark for the tripod so I tried my best to hold still. The above photo was the best I managed to do.

To the left is one lone American flag flying high on a pole on the shoreline, the center light is the moon and the line of light on the right is the reflection on the lake from the moonlight.

You'll just have to take my word for it. It was very beautiful!!

Loony Tunes

"Limeade In A Blue Glass" 20 x 20 Oil.

I'm working on a commission of a doggie and waiting for paint to dry so... here I am.

Two years ago I was sitting in a dark upstairs studio overlooking a busy mortuary in an overcrowded suburb of Chicago. Today I'm looking out from my balcony studio at dozens of Loons bobbing in the mouth of a little bay in the country. A goose just flew over and there are birds singing like mad.

A spring evening with the windows open used to bring sounds of sirens, constant traffic or disturbing wailing from across the street. Open windows here bring in the sounds of Loons calling each other and geese flying in the dark. Something I didn't realize they did.

I'm a country girl for sure. Living in the Chicago area was interesting and exciting but I belong with the birds and fish for sure. :) .

I've always talked to myself being I'm here and ready to listen and one day I did it out loud walking down the street after a bad day at school and a worse bus ride. My mother was mortified at seeing my lips moving in public where there was obviously no one walking with me to listen to my ranting. Now many years later I'm publicly blogging. (isn't that like talking to yourself, with the possibility someone will hear you?) Life is funny!

I'm it!!

I've been tagged by Antique Cottage Rose. I can't convince my husband to try this in his clock group. :)

1. Name your two favorite Scrapbook Topics: People and Pets.

2. What are the two best places you've been to: Estes Park Colorado, Lake of The Ozarks.

3. Name two things you do every day: Meditate/Pray, Have talk time with husband.

4. Name two things that pretty much everyone knows about you: I paint, I love birds and dogs......

5. Name two places that you wish to visit: Venice, Budapest

6. Two things that you may not know about me: I daydreamed about being a professional ice skater for years, I write stories in my spare time.

7. Name two nicknames that you had at some point in your life: Charlie, Little Girl

8. Name two interesting jobs that you've had (good or bad): Gave tours through historic buildings as a kid, Worked as a PBX operator on an old cord board.

9. What are two fun things that you do after work: Fish (weather permitting), work some more (paint)

10. Name two things that you would like to learn: How to get the dishes done, bathroom cleaned, vacume, laundry, all while I'm painting or sleeping. Knitting.

11. What were the last two things that you downloaded or CDs that you bought: Songs - "The Greatest" by Cat Power and "My Moon My Man" by Feist.

12. What were the last two books that you read: "Infinite Supply" and "The Thunder of Silence" by Joel Goldsmith

13. What two TV shows or movies from your childhood do you still enjoy watching after all these years? I don't like re-runs much having seen so many as a kid, but I can watch Warner Brothers cartoons and still laugh like it's the first time.

OK, that was fun.....now let's learn about two more talented and interesting women! T. Savage - Savage Artworks, Lauren Alexander.

Congratulations!!!

Yea Kansas Jayhawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Long Winter

A blackbird flying to the bird feeder just last week during a spring snowstorm.



I'm sure I've never experienced as long a winter as this past one. Our first full winter on the lake in Michigan was very white, very cold and very long. Spring has always been my favorite season but this year it comes with whoops and hollers.... and birds singing as though they too are SO happy to see spring finally show. Today for the first time this year the ice was completely melted off the lake. Yesterday we had ducks, geese, swans, and muskrats fishing nearby. Early boaters enjoyed our balmy 65 degrees today. Hundreds of minnows, along with sunfish, bass and pike are swimming ice free.

I dared open windows and even cooked our dinner on the grill. Sunsets are back...

This week we'll have clouds, rain, and highs in the 40's. Next weekend they say we'll get more snow and rain mixed. Spring is a tease but we love her!!

Dogs of Spring

"Lucy" print available on my website: http://www.maryhughesstudio.com

There are the obvious signs of spring like all the birds singing, trees budding, flowers poking their fingers out of the ground, but I've noticed this spring a new sign. Dogs running free. The great escape!! After talking to my daughter about her dog's latest run from home, one of the neighbors dogs decided to take her own run. She's a bird dog puppy and the sheer amount of hundreds of birds in the neighborhood made for a very long chase through the streets and yards nearby. It was pouring rain but that didn't slow her down one little bit. Her human parents along with my husband and I called, pleaded, whistled, bribed...but to no avail. I'm guessing it was a good hour before she finally tired of the chase and allowed herself to be caught. She was soaked and acted as though she wanted to be home with her family all along.

A few days later on a much nicer day I heard the frantic calls of another neighbor pleading with their four legged darling to come back. A short while later Toby showed up in our yard followed by his daddy with the car and the promise of "going bye bye". It worked thank goodness.

Since then I've noticed many dogs out walking, running and sniffing, some with their family and some on their own.

So why the rash of doggie escapes? Must be spring. All the sites, smells and sounds of spring don't just excite us two legged creatures!