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Good Morning All:

With the warm summer mornings and brutally hot days we've had this last week, it takes my mind back to some of the family road trips we took through the 1990s and early 2000s.

We traveled back and forth between Northwest Arkansas and Southern California many times during the summers when our kids were little. For whatever unfortunate reason, no matter what vehicle we owned at the time, it was inevitable: our air-conditioner would go bonkers as soon as we started off across the long, parched desert roads. I can remember it being so miserable and stuffy in our van that we had wet towels wrapped around our necks. We would soak the towels in the ice chest and get them good and icy cold and wrap them around our shoulders and necks. The kids would literally put them over their entire heads!! It was miserable at the time, but looking back, it made great memories.

On one of our many trips, my daughter, who was about 6 at the time, was coming down with a cold and had a fever on our first day on the road. She was lying down in the back seat and I was sitting next to her. She looked at me, said, "uh-oh, sorry" and launched her breakfast all over both of us. We stopped at a restaurant and cleaned up. She felt better the rest of the day, but honestly, we were foul smelling until we made it to the hotel in Grants, New Mexico.

This trip became so common place for us, that my husband, who was the driver extraordinaire, had the trip down to a science. What should have been a nice, leisurely 3 day 2 night trip, became a whirl-wind one-nighter. Two long days on the road and one night. We always stayed at the same Days Inn in Grants New Mexico.

Through our journeys, we made some awesome discoveries. Not only cool discoveries along the roadside, but discoveries about ourselves and our strength and perseverance.

One of the most beautiful sights that we found on the roadside was this gorgeous and abandoned church in Cuervo, New Mexico:





I had often admired it from Interstate 40, but getting my husband off the beaten path was not easy. The last trip we made, he pulled off of I-40 and onto old Route 66 so that I could get some pictures of my often admired church. We didn't get out of the car, but I managed to snap some nice photos. I have always intended to use this church in a 5" x 7" collage someday.

Our trips were never luxurious or even very pleasant, but looking back, I can see how important they were. It taught my kids patience and appreciation of roadside sights. We endured heat and exhaustion and the stench of a very huge cattle ranch in the Texas panhandle. We have boxes of photos from these trips that are now classified as my personal treasures.

It's doubtful that we'll make that trip across the great American highway again. At least not without air-conditioning. But I wouldn't trade my memories of those long and stuffy days, packed in our van with 3 kids for any amount of money.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Oh how I love these damp and gloomy but warmish June mornings. Perfect for sipping coffee outdoors. There's a certain look in the air on mornings like this. All of the colors in my garden seem to pop in an almost surreal way ~~





There's a luscious smell of earth and mold and lavender~~



My roses are in full bloom, and in this filtered and hazy light, they are almost vulgar in their brightness. Let's see what will happen if I take a picture of them in sepia~~



Alright...I think I like it. Now, let's see what happens when I take a picture of them in cyan~~



The smell outside is heavenly, like a warm summer morning in the South. Today, my garden smells like Arkansas. It makes me want to dig a little nook under the daylilies and fall into it. To breath so deeply that I can't draw in any more air. I'll let the air out and start all over again. Quietly rolled up in my little nook, just breathing in deeply and smelling the smell of an earthy Southern morning.

So...here I am, slap, in the middle of the Southern California desert. Struggling to keep this curious cottage garden full of life. Watching as my water bill soars with each passing dry, summer day. But you see, mornings like this make it all worth the effort and cost. The simple smells of growth and life and soil. The pop of vulgar color and layers of blossoms....This is my life.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Another Monday is upon us. A fresh start, or a new beginning, whichever you like. Either way, it's nothing more than a psychological way to put events from the previous days behind us and look forward to, what we hope will be better days! Well...that's how I feel today, anyway, as last week was not filled with softness or glee!!

Today is a new opportunity to start afresh, and I am hopeful to have a week without any dead birds, law enforcement or lost bank cards.

I have had a quiet sort of morning, as it was chilly enough to keep me indoors, although the sun is making it's presence known at last. I found myself just sort of wandering around my house. Appreciating my bits and pieces that sit quietly on the hutches and shelves:

Humpty Dumpty Flower Pot Sitter


Vintage Oval Print and Assorted Nests


I am a brave gal today as I am going to boldly put my bathing suit on and catch some sun with my daughter in the backyard. While I'm relaxing, I'll close my eyes and pretend that I'm here:



I haven't been to the beach yet this year, but starting next week, there will be weekly trips!!

So, as I dreadfully slink into my bikini, I will leave you with a link to My Etsy Shop, where you can find my newest listing of a set of ACEO collage prints. They are from my "Beautiful Girl" series:

Beautiful Girl : Backside


Beautiful Girl : Frontside


I hope this finds all of you enjoying your day and maybe even catching a few rays.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

I'm up and about and looking forward to a new day. I'm hopeful that it will be a better day than yesterday was.

Thinking back on my day yesterday, I can find it intriguing, but in the heat of the happenings, it wasn't such an intriguing day.

It was a nice enough morning, and I found my way to the back gardens as usual. I thought I would check the strawberries for any signs of buds. Generally, I'm not a glove wearer, so I blindly stick my bare hands into the strawberries. I did find a few buds, but I also pulled out a freshly dead goldfinch with a broken neck. Seems she flew into my sliding glass door and dropped dead into the terra-cotta pot full of lush, green strawberry plants.

I didn't really think much about it, as I often come across death and rat skulls and such, in my garden. I threw her on my hill to let nature take her. I always think this is a much better option than the trash can method. So, on with my day.

Next, I'm off in my car to my daily destinations. Driving on a street that I'm familiar with, but has unrecognizable construction work going on. Part of the street was roped off and I needed to make a left turn onto a smaller street. I did manage to make my left turn, but in doing so, I absolutely cut off a police officer. Just like that. I saw him across from me, but I wasn't sure if he had a stop sign because of all the construction hullabaloo. Like the "polite" person that I am, I look directly at him, put my hand up in a little wave and mouth "sorry" to him. Well...of course, he pulled me over. From that point on it was just surreal. I had never been pulled over before!! It really was just like the show "Cops". He asked me to turn off my vehicle and if I had any weapons or drugs in my car or on my person, and asked if I had any outstanding warrants. I showed him my driver's license, which I had to fetch from my purse, which, of course, was in the backseat. I knew enough not to reach behind me without first asking him. So, I had to turn my car back on, roll down the back window so that he could "get a visual" on my purse, and then he allowed me to reach back and get it. He took my license and "ran" it through wherever they "run" it through. Then, he came back, handed me my license and said to slow down a little and have a good day. What??? No ticket?? Thankful of the outcome, I was on my way.

Well...as I'm carefully driving on to the bank, probably a little too carefully, I decide to take a backstreet that goes through some horse property. There's a charming old barn and hundred year old Cacti. So, I'm driving along and in a simple heartbeat, a bird flies right into the front of my car. He hit with enough force to kill him instantly and fall to the side of the road. Two dead birds in one day. What the heck is going on? I continue on, as there's nothing I can do for the bird. I find my way to the bank, although slightly shaken and a little confused. Once inside, I'm immediately helped. I sit down to get my paperwork together. I open my wallet to grab my debit card....it's gone. Yep, gone. I think to myself "What the heck is going on?" I looked through every nook and cranny of my wallet. Emptied my purse. Checked my pockets. Nothing. My debit card had vanished. I finished my banking and carefully, very carefully journeyed home.

I spent the rest of yesterday mentally backtracking my steps. Trying to figure out when the last time was that I used my bank card. Needless to say, I haven't found it yet...

All in all, it was an odd and curious day yesterday. I seriously hope that today is calm and predictible.

I'll leave you with a few photos today. A picture of the progress of the garden path, a few pictures of our herbs and edibles and...yet another picture of my sweet Jr. doing what he does best....

Jr. staring at "ground fairies"


Making progress on my garden path


My daughter's kitchen garden


Cinnamon Basil


Yellow Crook Neck Squash


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

It's May 30th in the Southern California desert and I'm wearing a jacket!! There's a Spring chill in the air that has me wishing I could crawl back in bed. The sun has played peek-a-boo with me for the last 30 minutes but it looks like it's finally here to stay.

I have a busy day ahead. Grocery shopping with my mom is at the top of the list. She'll buy only what she truly needs, but it will take several hours to accomplish. A slow pace and lots of browsing will take place. I must admit, as my mom has aged, I have learned a lesson in patience. These weekly shopping trips are just as difficult or just as enjoyable as I make them. I chose, long ago, to make them as enjoyable as possible.

Ultimately, I try to imagine myself in her place. Will I be slow and a little adled when I'm almost 80? I'd like to think not, but truth is brutal and chances are, I WILL be slow and a bit adled by the time I reach 80, IF I reach 80! Will I have someone to take me shopping and lavish me with patience and understanding and share my slow pace? I hope so... but honestly, I can't bear to think about my senior years. I am fearful and almost sickened by it. Isn't that terrible? I remember a time when I thought that those days would be calm and almost sweet. Then, I witnessed my dad die in my home on hospice. I participated in his care and comfort, and now, I have a dis-gruntled fear and loathing of age that is probably out of proportion.

I enjoy talking to my mom on the phone. She still sounds the same as when I was a little girl. I can't see her through the phone. It's the visual that hurts. And, to be honest, I'm selfish too. I don't want to go through hospice with her and I don't want to take her to the Dr. appointments or tests. I just want to talk to her on the phone.

I'm guessing the reason that all of this has come gushing out is the fact that I've been looking through old photos, hoping to find one to use in a new collage. The beautiful photos of mom in the 40's freshly married, wearing her "I Love Lucy" dresses. She was so young and had her dreams in front of her. Now, in what seems like a blink of an eye, she's in the late winter of her life. My dad's gone and my mom lives in a senior apartment. Yet...I have daily access to images on old photo paper that proves otherwise. Youth and hope and life are captured within a rectangular piece of paper. Stored away in a box, only to be brought out on certain occasions.

So, I'll take mom shopping today and, thankfully, she's alive to shop. I'll make sure to get her home in time to go down stairs in her apartment building, and play pokeno. I know that she needs and absolutely deserves every ounce of patience and understanding that I can give her. And...I have every intention of giving her all that I can. I'll do my best to leave my fear and loathing of age at home. This journey should be joyful...and I will try my best to make it that way.

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I listed a set of 3 ACEO prints in My Etsy Shop
today. The first 2 collage ACEO prints are my mom and dad:

"Happy Desert Couple #1" My mom and dad


"Happy Desert Couple #2" My mom and dad


"Happy Desert Neighbors" A vintage photo image of some strangers that I thought would make handsome and attractive neighbors in this collage series


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Okay...here's the deal. Take a look at the picture of the cookies above. Count them and then leave your answer in the comment section of this blog entry. Whoever guesses the correct number of cookies on the platter, or comes the closest, WINS !! The contest will be open until 8 O'clock pst.

Once the winner has been established, I will contact them and they will be asked to got to My Etsy Shop and choose one print. Any size print will do, as long as it isn't an original. My prints range in size from ACEO 2.5" x 3.5", 4" x 6" and 5" x 7". Once the winner has made a choice, I will send the print. Pretty simple, huh?

I hope everyone enjoys the contest. I always have lots of fun on my contest days!!

Good Luck:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Just a quick little blog this morning. I'm signing off for the Memorial Day weekend. But...I thought I would pop in to let you know that I'll be back on Tuesday with another CONTEST!!

Check back here on Tuesday morning for the instructions. The winner will be asked to go to my My Etsy Shop and choose any one print from my store. It doesn't matter what size or price range as long as it's a print.

I hope this finds everyone ready for a fun weekend and ready to ring in the summer!!

Until Tuesday
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Another warm and comforting day is upon us, as well as another Friday.

I was hopeful that I would wake up feeling inspired to write about something worthwhile, but alas, my recent lack of focus seems to be over-staying it's welcome. The moment that I sit down to create a string of words that might hold someone's interest, I go blank. Empty-headed. I must admit, this isn't the first time that I've lost my "flair" for words. It's always been an up and down process for me. I wrote poetry and journals all through my high school years, and there were plenty of dry spells throughout. This, evidentally, is one of my many dry spells.

I so enjoy blogging and find that it helps to clear my thoughts and my heart. So, as I wade through this flood of empty words, I will be patient, as I hope that you will be also! And...on a morning in the future, I'll sit here, before my computer, and the words will find me again. Until then, I shall continue to pull from my scant sources of unfascinating daily happenings, in hopes that your loyalty will hold you here until I can, once again, find words to hold a reader's attention.

So, I will share a few pictures with you today. Simple pictures of the stuff that daily life is made from:

A beautiful Chitalpa Tree blossom in my backyard



My miniature Schnauzer, Jr. who spends large amounts of time staring at the ground



And again, Jr. staring at the ground



Agapanthus: (always a sign that spring is firmly in place and summer is just around the corner)



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The good news: I've finally finished the collage that I've been working on for who knows how long. I'm happy with the results, but sad that I'm done. As any of you know that visit here daily, my fascination with the photo in this collage has been a source of daily curiosity for me.



If any of my blog readers would like to purchase a print of this collage, you can order directly through my blog. Just go to my profile and click on the handy-dandy email button. I am selling them for $10.00 each on Etsy plus shipping and handling. If you are one of my blog readers and purchase through my blog, I'll give you free shipping!

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

First of all, let me just give a hearty "Thank You" to all of my blog friends. You have continued to stop by and read and leave comments, even though I haven't had time to keep up with my end of the deal this past week. I can't really put my finger on why things have been so busy and hectic here, but I haven't been able to keep up with blogging, listing, and reading other's blogs. It's true, as we all know, that sometimes "real life" gets in the way of computer time! So...that being said, I think I've got things on a more manageable schedule and I have high hopes of visiting all of my favorite blogs that I have missed so much.

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As the spring season progresses, the lovely warm weather is becoming more joyfully predictable. I'm so looking forward to laying my garden walkway this weekend. In the meantime, I found this lovely Clematis that I intend to plant this afternoon:



And I received a pleasant package in the mail yesterday. All the way from England, no less! I've been looking forward to this package for a few days, and I was absolutely NOT disappointed. I purchased a lovely and whimsical print from artandghosts last week. Not only did I receive the stunning rabbit print that I bought, but also included was an extra goody!! I am excited and so very happy with these 2 prints.



Another pleasant surprise came my way this week. My dear neighbors across the street came knocking on my door with an unexpected gift. A vintage set of green enamel wear.



I am planning on using them to store some of my art supplies on my desk. Isn't this a beautiful vintage set of enamel wear? I must say, this has been a nice week so far. Filled with unexpected goodies and treats.

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I've listed 2 new prints this morning in My Etsy Shop. For whatever reason, I like crows! Many of my collages include crows and I guess I was in a somewhat crow-y mood today. So, I listed 2 of my crow pieces:

Pesky Crows (ACEO)


A Crow In The Desert (5" x 7")


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Another heartfelt "Thank You" goes out to Sarah at http://fortheloveofbirds.blogspot.com for featuring my collage "A Crow In The Desert" on her blog today.


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

It's a drizzly morning and, for me, a welcome sight. The dampness of my backyard smells heavenly and the subdued light always brings out the pinks in my garden. I must admit, Ava and I skipped our walk this morning, using the piddly amount of rain as an excuse. In reality, we simply wanted to take a break. To sit quietly by the open window and breath in the delight of the wet concrete and musty smelling soil.

The house is cool-ish enough to wear a light jacket, but, I'm sure that by noon I will have stripped it off to find my typical Old Navy undershirt as today's wardrobe.

I have purposely left my calendar empty this week. I have no real plans, and I am so looking forward to a week of "whatever". Oh, I do have my usual chores and such to attend to, and I always have the best intentions to work in my studio... So, as I look forward to the upcoming days, I will savour todays rainy smells and subtle light, with hopes of a calm and thoughtful tomorrow.

*************************************************************

I listed two new ACEO collage prints in My Etsy Shop this morning. The first one is entitled: "June Bride". I thought it appropriate to list this at the end of May in the hopes that someone might want to purchase one as a simple, little wedding gift. I just completed a special order for 10 of these ACEO prints. A bride that I know ordered them and framed each one to give as gifts to her attendants. If anyone is interested in this, or any of my art, and you don't have an Etsy account, you can order directly from me. Just click my blog profile and you can email me there.

June Bride


The second ACEO collage print is entitled: "Cool Cat Picnic". This one is just a fun and whimsical piece meant to do nothing more than make someone scratch their head and smile!

Cool Cat Picnic


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

The morning has slipped by without a warning. We're freshly back from Church and on to the task of making an early dinner. My mom will join us for our favorite meal of homemade Chicken Pot Pie, fresh green beans, corn on the cob, a nice big salad and a warm pan of cornbread. Desert will be mom's "famous" Strawberry Shortcake.

My Chicken Pot Pie

I love these early-ish Sunday dinners and the memories that they can create. It's a time to be together and enjoy the simple act of sharing a meal.

In the meantime, Gary and my youngest son, Brayden, have gone to pick up the last load of stones for my garden path. We need 120 stones altogether. We brought 63 home yesterday and today they have gone back to get the remaining 57. This will truly be a task, but one that will be worth the labor.

Garden Stones


Yesterday was a very busy and hectic Saturday, and as a result, I wasn't able to visit here, although I did list 2 collage prints in My Etsy Shop.

"Simple Bird #13" Collage ACEO Print


"Happy Glamour Girl" 4" x 6" Collage Print


I hope this finds all of you having a relaxing Sunday with hopes for a smashing week ahead!!

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

A lovely Friday is upon us and the sun is warm. This weekend will be the official start of laying our pathway stones. I'm looking forward to starting the job, but looking more forward to it being finished.

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I've been looking through boxes of my orphaned vintage photos and some of my gracious neighbor's old photos as well. These photos always take me back to a place in time that only my imagination can explore. I wonder, what ultimately happened to the people that are only a black and white image now? Did they have a happy life? Where did their path lead them? There are so many sad faces stored in these musty, water-stained cardboard boxes. I've come across dozens of photos of already dead children, sitting, propped up as though they were posing for the camera. Often times, these sad yet fascinating photos are accompanied by locks of hair and hand-written memorial books. Sometimes, there are little pieces of fabric hidden in the memorial books. Most likely a piece of the dress or gown that they were buried in.

Through the years, I have purhased and been given hundreds of other people's memories. I have spent countless hours scanning and cutting and creating new worlds for these lost and orphaned photos. Every once in a while, I come across a picture that absolutely stirs me. Sometimes it's because I feel a sadness in a forced smile. Other times, it may be a curious look in the eyes of a long ago child, posing with a toy. For whatever reason, no other photos has ever "spoken" to me like this one:


I am fascinated and curious all at once. I've been working on a collage based on this photo for a month or so. I'm almost finished....

but each time I sit down to apply the last details, my mind wanders. Who are these two girls and how in the world did they ever come to have their picture taken together? The African American girl has such long fingers and she is wearing a ring on her middle finger. The "Flapper" girl is wearing very cool shoes and she looks a bit like Drew Barrymore with dark and frizzy hair. Who are they and what are they to each other?

There is no date on the back of the picture, but this is what it says: "How do you like my new sister. They say it is luck. I only hope so and that it won't be long until I see you". It is signed "May". Is that gorgeous little African American girl sort of being made sport of? I just crave to know the intimate details. My hope is that they were happy and loved. But alas....I suppose I will never know.

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For any of you who are fans of "Pan's Labyrinth", it came out on DVD Tuesday. It is indeed one of the most attractive movies I've ever watched. If you get a chance, check out the Pan's Labyrinth Website. It is truly gorgeous, moving and chilling.

********************************************

And....here we go: my two newest prints listed in My Etsy Shop. One is a 5" x 7" and the other is a 6" x 6" art2 (art squared).


A Flying Chimp and the Beautiful Actress



A Bird In The Hand?



Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Here it is, 4:30 in the afternoon and I've just now had a moment to sit down and blog. It's been another one of those whirlwind days that seem to be the norm lately!

So, let me begin by saying "I loathe traffic"!! I long for the days when I was a young girl and I walked to the store each day with my mom. You see, my mom didn't know how to drive. She still doesn't, and she has found her way in life without a vehicle. When I was a little girl, I would walk with my mom to "Johnny's" market each day to purchase fresh food for dinner every night. Sometimes I would bring my dolly buggy along. Other times, my mom would let me bring a friend. They loved walking with my mom and me to the store. They actually considered it a treat. We would do our little bit of shopping and carry it home in brown paper bags. Mom always had her purse locked on to one arm and a grocery bag or two balanced on her hips. When I was old enough and strong enough, she would let me carry a bag too.

In comparison, when I go to the grocery store now, I fill up the entire back of my car with, what's probably, excessive amounts of "stuff". I drive everywhere and I buy too much. I've been feeling excessive for some time now, but recently, I just can't seem to shake that unhumbling, almost embarrased feeling I get when I study my own excessive consumerism. Funny thing is, I have so much less than most everyone I know. Well, less in the way of material property and luxurious trips, anyway. Nevertheless, I have this great personal desire to pull back. To live simpler and to abide by a stricter budget.

Looking back over the course of my married life, Gary and I have had our share of terrible lean times and financial hardships. Especially when the kids were toddlers and we lived in Northwest Arkansas. But when I think back to those times, they are the sweetest and most heart-warming times of my life. The struggles and trials aren't what stand out. I remember laughter and closeness and picnics. What more do we, as a human race, need? Do we really NEED jewels, stainless steel appliances, cars that are almost as big as the house that I grew up in, designer label purses and jeans and shoes, and so on and so on and so on....

I want off the merry-go-round. I don't ever want to forget how to smell a storm or listen for the first cricket of the season. Very few things can compare to that first bite of a tart and crunchy Fried Green Tomato. I don't want to lose my desire to dig or my love of the soil. I never, ever, not for one second, want to forget the smell of my newborn babies heads, or the squells of laughter that would overtake them as toddlers while running and reaching to catch fireflies.

These are the things that real and true and gritty life is all about. Love, faith, hope, God, family, smells, storms, trials, brown paper bags, good times, bad times and Fried Green Tomatoes. This is where my truth and my heart is and I intend to keep it this way.

As usual, here is where I include my relentless marketing plug for my newest print listed in My Etsy Shop.

This ACEO is a tribute to the traditional Hispanic families that I grew up around. They so often held tight to their history and priorities.

Jolene: Thanks for understanding my need and desire to include my familiarity to Hispanics in my collage art. I truly appreciate your awareness!!

Beautiful Mexican Girls Of Los Angeles


Thank you so very much for reading through my daily rants and writings. Here's to a calmer tomorrow

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning All:

I was up and about bright and early this morning, as I had a landscaper team coming in at 7:30 a.m. Of course, they were only here for a couple of hours, nevertheless, I had to be here to meet them. They came in to break up the dirt in my garden pathway. This isn't a huge job for guys with jackhammers, but for us, it was impossible. You see, the dirt here in this part of the world is, literally, as hard as concrete.


This dry, arid air makes for hard packed earth that no shovel can break down. So...in order to lay a path of walking stones, we first had to hire these gentlemen to come in with jackhammers to loosen the path. In just a mere few hours our pathway soil went from cement-like to something that almost resembles sand.


The soil is so loose and free that the ants have already started their tunneling and busy work.


This weekend, we will buy the stones and lay them ourselves. Through-out the next couple of weeks, I will plan the beds and ground-cover. All of this, by the way, is my Mother's Day gift from Gary and the kids. It's what I wanted! I've been waiting to get this side of my garden finished for several years now, so for me, this is huge.

I'll keep you posted on the progress of this long-awaited pathway...In the meantime, here are my two newest prints listed in My Etsy Shop.

Canine Nuptials ~ ACEO



Junior's Flood ~ 5" x 7"


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Somehow, through the passing of time and in the blink of an eye, it's Monday again. A new day and a new week.

I must say, I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. A tasty Bar-B-Que was prepared by my husband, and a lovely desert of Chocolate-Chocolate Chip muffins was a gift from my "foodie" daughter. A fun time was had by all. There are several of those delicious muffins left and I am hoping that my boys will devour them before I have a chance to sneak one into my fairly strict diet!



As usual, I have grand plans today. I have a few things that need to be attended to in my garden, and I have intentions of cleaning my studio. I have purposely made no plans for this entire week. I'm craving a simple week. The kind of 7 day period that includes lots of time at home and very little time behind the wheel!

After such a splendid Mother's Day, this new week feels full of hope. A quietness is in the air as I sit at this computer, conjuring up images for you to read. Hoping to share a little of my bliss with my electronic friends. I feel steady today. Strong and vibrant and ready to tackle my chores. So, I will leave you with a picture of my newest print listed this morning in My Etsy Shop
and hope that this day brings lots of good things your way.

The Lonely Ghost


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Today is Mother's Day. It is the 18th time I have celebrated this day as a mother. There have been many bouquets of flowers and lots of funny and sweet cards given to me by my 3 kids through these years. BUT...I would like to take this time to thank my husband for always making sure that not a single Mom's Day passed by without me being lavished with flowers, gifts, and cards. When the kids were too little to plan this day, it was Gary that always stepped up to the plate and made plans. Plans for me to NOT do any housework or cooking. He always made sure that I had some sort of lovely little thing to unwrap, even in our leanest times. And believe me, we had plenty of lean times!!

Now that the kids are older, they all work together. Yesterday, I had a huge and beautiful bouquet of roses delivered to the house, along with a charming box of chocolates. Today, my daughter is busy in the kitchen preparing all the food for a Bar-B-Que. She's made a double batch of Chocolate Chocolate Chip muffins (recipe courtesy of Nigella Lawson)and chopped and diced everything that needed to be. My boys will work with Gary to grill some gorgeous Filet Mignon and are always in a jolly mood on this day.

In a few hours Gary will take the 5 minute drive to pick up my mom and bring her here to be with us. As always, I have bought her an Orchid corsage, which has become a tradition. When I was growing up, my dad always bought one for my mom on Mother's Day. Now that he is gone, I have taken up that tradition and I always have a beautiful be-ribboned Orchid waiting to be pinned to her blouse.

For me, this day is always chock-full of memories from past Mother's Days. Those sweet, early times when the kids were so excited for me to open their gifts and read the cards. And through these last 18 years of Mother's Day celebrations, I have received countless cards and lush bouquets and beautifully wrapped packages. BUT, the greatest gifts are the hearts of my children.

To all moms who read this: I hope this day brings you that simple but deep love in the pit of your heart that only a child can so innocently give.

To My Dearest Friend Cindy N: You have been an inspiration to me for so many years. Through your ups and downs, happinesses and heartaches and a loss of a child, you are a strong and steadfast mom. Your perseverance and unconditional love will, in the end, always be what your children will treasure.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Here I am, back again in a rush. I'm not even going to begin to list all the commitments that I have today. All I know is that I'm running late AGAIN, and I don't like feeling overwhelmed. Just one more day of appointments and "have-tos" and then I have the whole weekend to just be. I'm hoping to clean up my desk and finish up some of the collage projects that are half way finished. Listing prints on Etsy has ultimately made me lazy, I think. I have a big inventory of my collages on my computer, therefore, if I don't finish an original, I can just list a print. Isn't that the laziest thing you've ever heard an artist say?

So, as usual, I've listed an ACEO print in My Etsy Shop this morning:

Summer Games


I've always liked this ACEO. The two little girls playing ball in the bushes have such peculiar looks on their faces and I was particularly pleased with the moon behind the saguaro.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

Looks like it's going to be another unusually hot and dry spring day. I am keeping close watch on my tender spring flowers, and there's a slight scent of summer smoke in the air from the forest fire in the county next to me. Just as my garden began to unfold, the hot and dry, lava like temperatures kicked in, only to make her struggle ever so hard to continue her beauty regimen.

However, with the invention of the suburban garden hose and my daily attention, even here in the parched and crackeled desert, my garden is proudly alive.

Would you care to take a little tour?

Welcome To My Garden


My Garden Path


My Pink Roses


My Patio Garden


Thanks ever so much for taking the time to meander my garden path.

Here is my newest 4" x 6" collage print in My Etsy Shop.

Pretty Mexican Girl At Party


Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Well, it's finally happened...I've been tagged. Not once, but twice. All in one day!! First, I was tagged by poppycatsaffron and then artandghosts

Now, the idea is to:

--List seven random facts/habits about yourself
--Choose another seven bloggers to tag and list their names in your blog
--Leave your seven tagged bloggers comments to notify them of their tagging along with directions.

Since I was tagged twice, I am going to list 14 random facts/habits about myself, but I am only going to tag 7 people. I don't even think I know 14 taggable bloggers!!

1. I play guitar and have my own Fender Telecaster.


2. When I think to myself, I sometimes visualize the words that I am thinking being typed out on a typewriter.

3. I start each morning with only 1 quarter, 1 dime, 1 nickel and 1 penny in my wallet. Everything else goes in a big jar. At the end of a year, we use the money to buy our Disneyland annual passes.

4. My kids are my best friends.

5. The very first collage I ever made was in first grade. It was called "yellow" and it included a duck and a tube of Vaseline hand lotion.

6. I have OCD, but I have it under control and am no longer on any meds.

7. I am saving my money to buy the complete DVD set of "Dark Shadows".

Here's my second set of 7 random facts/habits about myself:

1. I collect spotted pigs.




2. I have "Benign Positional Labyrinthitis". Basically, my ears are off balance and I take prescription Dramamine every morning so I don't get dizzy. It gets worse when the barometer is unstable.

3. I have dreams about some of the "characters" in my vintage photos.

4. When I was a very young girl, I believed a kitten lived inside the Jacaranda tree outside of my bedroom window. I can clearly remember talking quietly to the kitten in the tree.

5. I love cheese!

6. If I could go anywhere in the world on a dream vacation, it would be to Wales.

7. When I was a teen-ager, I wrote lots of suggestive poetry.

Okay, that about does it for me. After learning some of my deep, dark secrets, will you still visit my blog??

Now I have to tag 7 people. Let me say that it's quite fun to stop and take a good look at yourself, but if you truly don't want to participate, please don't feel pressured. This is just simple fun!!

I tag ~~

Blue Jude

dudadaze

Marie's Muses

mw-artco

The Blue
Cottage

Keep Your Panties On

Wild Thread Studio

Alrighty ~ there's my 7 victims !!

Enjoy

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

"Happy In A Bungalow"


Good Morning:

I've had a lovely day so far, although all I've done is work on my Etsy shop and have 2 cups of coffee. It's 11:15 and I am still in my pajamas. Isn't that a terrible thing to share with the world?

I have some gardening that needs to be attended to today, but overall, I will be working in my studio, signing and dating the ACEO prints that sold this week. I also have 7 paperdoll prints that need to be packed and readied for the post office on Monday.

"The Ghostly Owners"


I still have 9 origianl ACEOs listed in my Etsy shop. I think they get lost amidst the 20-something ACEO prints that I have listed.

"The Lonely Ghost"


So...in honor of my sadly hidden ACEO originals, I have relisted them and am offering free shipping all this weekend.

"Best Friends Forever #5"


For any of you that aren't familiar with the term ACEO: "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". ACEOs are 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" pieces of art. They can be any medium as long as they are the size of a standard trading card. Many people collect them. Some frame them, others keep them in plastic sleeves in a notebook.

So, I am off to my garden, then to my studio.

Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
Kim's Kandid Kamera

Good Morning:

It's been quite a busy morning so far. I've taken my morning walk, answered all of my emails, posted a picture on my new photo blog and collected all of my "accessories" to make iced tea.



For all of you who follow my blog, I'm sure you know by now that my daughter is a "foodie" and we cook and dabble in the kitchen on a daily basis. Most of our meals are prepared at home, as I grew up with home cooking as well. My mom is a good ol' southern cook, and I inherited her love for cooking, and evidentally, I've passed it on to my daughter. Although I must admit, I've taken my beloved southern recipes and tweaked them to make them healthier.

Well, with all this southern cooking going on, you'd think that I would have made iced tea a few times in my life, wouldn't you? Truth is, I have never made iced tea. My mom made it every summer when I was growing up, but I didn't drink it. I have since learned to like tea, and I drink plenty of the hot stuff in the winter. So today, for the first time ever, I am going to make "two big jugs of iced tea". And...as usual, I will tweak my mom's version to suit our tastes. We like mint tea, and that is what I intend to make. Mom always made one "jug" of sugared tea and one "jug" of unsugared tea. My dad liked it sweet and he chose the sugared tea. Mom served the unsweetened tea to guests and allowed them to sweeten it to their tastes. I will do this as well. I prefer my mint tea unsweetened, but others like it sweet. We don't use much sugar around here, so Splenda or Nutra-Sweet will be our choices.

Now, I'm off to boil two big pots of water and start my days project. Wish me luck!!

In honor of today's Iced Tea endeavor, I have listed an ACEO print entitled: "Afternoon Tea in Tucson", which can be found in my Etsy shop.

Afternoon Tea In Tucson



Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls