I'm in "SHOW MODE" these days. It's an exciting and hectic time for me. Here's a picture of me at our booth this past weekend at the Smithville Octoberfest. My studio walls are bare as the paintings stay packed and ready to meet the world. Of course, Tommy is a big help with supervising the framing. Yesterday I got out all my personal hand made Thank You notes to everyone who purchased an original painting. I also got caught up on all my paper work including setting up new lease... Read Full Story

Sometimes we form attachments to objects that are man made. It could be a car, a piece of clothing, a book, a piece of furniture, etc. My first digital camera, a Nikon CoolPix 880, which I purchased over nine years ago, finally died. We had been through a lot together. With it I archived almost a decade of my work and posted many shots on the internet. We shared numerous occasions and trips, together documenting and preserving many wonderful memories. I still have the box and everything that... Read Full Story

I haven't seen any hummers here for the past couple of days. I think the last batch of birds may have left here and started on their long journey. I wish them a safe trip and await their return to me next spring. I will continue to replenish the nectar and maintain several feeders until well into fall. I have gotten travelers come through here as late as Thanksgiving before.This is another photo of one of our birds by Hummer Hound, Nancy Hinds. I love the detail of this bird's feathers in... Read Full Story

Tigger is finally resting more. This picture shows him sleeping in his favorite chair today. After wrestling him to give him his pain meds last night, I decided it wasn't worth hurting him over it. Read Full Story

We picked up Tigger yesterday. He was so happy to be home! I guess the pain meds made him forget his troubles. He was very playful and it was hard keeping him quiet. These pictures are of him playing with his favorite toy, less than 24 hours after major surgery. Animals truly are so amazing, uplifting and inspiring! Read Full Story

Hopefully we will be able to bring Tigger home today. As of yesterday evening, the report to us was that the surgery went well and the patient is doing fine. Read Full Story

There's no such thing as a free cat! The acquisition of an animal is BY FAR the least expensive thing about ownership. I have been a sucker for animals all my life. Now, my husband Jerry, is just as bad. Tigger, the young feral cat who waltzed into our home and hearts in March, is tonight at an animal surgical center an hour form here awaiting a femoral/head neck excision. Tomorrow they will remove the *neck and ball part of Tigger's right femor bone. It is costing around two grand. It is... Read Full Story

Although things are winding down here in Southern New Jersey and most of my hummingbirds have left on their fall journey, we still have a dozen or so hanging out here. They are probably transients, but several have gotten quite accustomed to me, so I'm sure they have been here for at least a couple of weeks. We also have some hummingbird enthusiasts, Nancy Hinds and Frank Goff, who have been coming every Saturday to spend time with our little treasures. I call them the Hummer Hounds. It's... Read Full Story

Have you ever heard of aerial hunting? It's a brutal practice. Wolves are shot from low-flying aircraft or chased to exhaustion, then killed at point-blank range. Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for Vice President, promotes this barbaric practice, exploiting a loophole in the Federal Airborne Hunting Act to allow private wolf killers to shoot down wolves using aircraft. To encourage the killing, she even proposed a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf! We have to... Read Full Story

I really had a great group of artists here for my workshop the past few days! I must say I was impressed by their work ethic. Frustration ran high today as students tackled two wet - in - wet florals. As I demonstrated, they tried to follow along. At times I felt sorry for them. I remember what it's like, but it is all a necessary part of the learning process. I'm fortunate. This is a determined group with an abundance of heart, tenacity and aptitude! I demoed the top painting in the... Read Full Story