Adventures in Art Land

As many of you know, mixed media art is a favorite hobby of mine, along with container gardening, and I mostly make ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) to trade on Swapbot and Art42. I always do my best on my cards, and use the best materials I can, not because I'm noble, but because I'm obsessive. :) There is a rating system on both sites and, recently, I received a low one that I thought was very unfair. It brought my average down, which means I can't even participate in some swaps, but the most frustrating thing was that I made several courteous efforts to address the problem. I emailed the other swapper. I sent her a new card. No response.

Why am I telling you all this, you ask, as you well might? :)

Here's the lesson I learned. As upset as I was when it happened, I'm now GRATEFUL for that low rating. Why? Because when I voiced my frustration, many kind people came forward to reassure and encourage me. I was invited to join groups and I made new friends. In the end, it was a blessing, because I was reminded that while there are always a few grumps around, MOST people are doing their best to behave themselves.

"Austin" came out yesterday. YEE-HAW!!

I'm feeling much recovered from that deadly flu bug, and the new book is rolling. YEE-HAW again!

And that's the news from my house to yours.

It's "Austin" Day!!

He's out there, right now, my sexy cowboy, Austin McKettrick. Go, Austin!

I'm making this particular blog a short one, as I've got plenty of work to do and time seems to be racing by.

So it's off to Stone Creek for me. :)

More later.

AUSTIN+TOMORROW=YEEHAW!!

Tomorrow, the third story in the Texas McKettricks trilogy, "Austin", will be in the stores. I'm so excited to see this youngest brother come on stage at last, ready to ride the meanest bulls, carve out a place for himself on the family ranch, and brave all the dangers facing him and the rest of the McKettrick clan. But does he have the courage to allow himself to love fiesty Paige Remington, youngest sister of Libby ("Tate") and Julie ("Garrett")? For Austin, that might just be the scariest challenge he's ever had to face.

I'm exercising again. Getting off to a slow start, but I'm determined. It's all part of the new Get Healthy program. Once I make up my mind to do something, it's as good as done. I'll keep you posted on my progress, but as promised I'm not going to bore you to death with a lot of diet talk. (Unless it's Sadie's diet, that is. She's a svelte 30 pounds now, after a year of hard work and special training. I figure if the beagle-dog can do it, I can, too. :) )

I wrote a chapter of "A Creed in Stone Creek" on Sunday, right here at my kitchen table, on my laptop. I have a couple of new art pieces underway, and although I'm still on antibiotics, I'm definitely on the mend and gaining strength.

Last night, after calling it a day and settling down with my iPod, I watched a few episodes from season one of "Lark Rise to Candleford". I accidently came across this lovely BBC series while looking through TV programs on iTunes, and now I'm hooked. Fortunately, there's a season two, but I'm not sure if the show is still running or not. Lark Rise and Candleford are small villages, about 8 miles apart, during Victoria's reign. The stories are pretty tame--no blood, no swearing, no nudity. I find that mighty restful. :)

Mary Ann is here, ready to whip the house into shape, so I guess I'd better get busy, too.

That's the news from my kitchen table.

I Can Do This

That's what I keep telling myself. I can be non-smoker AND a slender person, at the same time. Since I promised not to talk about the diet, that's all I'm going to say for now.

Traveler is feeling a lot more chipper today, so if you've been worrying about that cayuse of mine, stop. :) I'm doing better, too--on my second round of antibiotics.

As I write this, I am admiring a bouquet of peonies, light and dark pink, in a black enamel vase from MacKenzie-Childs--it is a sight to see.

Because I've been sick so much, I'll be playing catch up on the book this weekend, but that's okay. It's a lot of fun, hanging out with this new bunch of yahoos--the Creed cousins, out of Lonesome Bend, Colorado. I'm hoping to get some container gardening in, too--I want to plant more flowers, now that the tomatoes and zuchs and the herbs are in and growing.

On Tuesday, the 29th, "Austin", the third story of the trilogy, will be out of the chute and kicking up some dust. :)

Have a good weekend, pardners. I'll see you down the trail a ways.

Day 1, The Diet

Today started off with a routine blood test, unrelated to the diet, and Traveler, my little pinto gelding, feeling less than fabulous. He seems to be better now, but we do have a call in to the vet. When one of my critters is under the weather, it really worries me.

As for the diet, well, I've got to tell you, it's almost a relief. I don't have to think a lot about food because my choices are fairly limited. I had fresh raspberries for my late breakfast, and they were delicious.

The sunshine is glorious today, and all my plants are thriving.

That said, it's time to get back to Stone Creek, where all my characters are waiting.

I promise not to talk about the diet every day. :)

That's the late news from my kitchen table.