the veg comes in

OK - here are some photos from just what we picked yesterday. The heat last week finally started the turning process. We also canned a bit of the peppers, roasted others for freezing and cooked a large batch of ratatouille. What you don't see in the photo is a pile of eggplant, squash, and some really large pumpkins still in the garden.

much better

The finger is much better today, although typing and writing are driving me crazy. Last night my entire hand was swollen, but that went down over night. Who knew gardening was such dangerous work.

I am posting some neglected photos from a recent trip to George Town. The girls love it there more than anywhere else that we go. It has a fun, spooky quality to it.

The girls all start school tomorrow. Hooray! It will be good to get them back onto a schedule. Here's to a good year.

a little thing

I spent the majority of today in the doctors office having my finger worked on. In fact, typing is very challenging at the moment.

So, as to what happened. Yesterday I was working in the garden, just pulling some weeds, nothing exciting. I notice that my right index finger is a little sore, obviously I have gotten a thorn form a weed in it. I take a look, think the thorn is out and move on.

Two-thirty AM this morning. I am woken by my finger throbbing, really red, swollen and pretty hot. Not good. Wait until after eight AM so I don't have to pay an emergency room visit. By this time, I can't even bend my finger. Appointment made, much sitting and being transfered around from one place to another. Blood pressure checked, its slightly high - shocking. X-rays taken, then finally two really painful shots to numb the nerves and the doctor was able to make a tiny incision and remove a very small thorn that was working it's way deeper into my finger.

So now I have ten days of antibiotics, still a very swollen finger, and the numbness is going away so it throbs a bit. All in all for a person who hates doing anything medical, I think I should be commended for not having to be told by my loving wife to make the appointment, did it myself and did not wait until they had to remove my finger.

a few sketches

The studio got into sketching robots last week. Here are a few that I knocked out.

update to my world

Things have been crazy as of late - shocking, I know. I have been very busy with my "career move" of excepting this VP position. It is making me really evaluate my life and what is important to me. Since my move, my creativity basically went into hibernation. It is difficult to be creative when you are faced with constant financial reviews, executive meetings and strategy sessions. Through all this, I have realized that if I am not being creative, I am miserable. If I am miserable, my family probably is too.

So, I have started writing again. I am finally actively looking for a publisher for my Mabel and Bear story. I have sat on it for far too long, honestly because I fear rejection. This is stupid, because I face rejection everyday in my job, but this is much more personnel. In any case, the shopping around and rejection letter process shall begin.

In other news, Paige has started her high school career, a bit rocky but she is pushing through it. Penny continues to do Penny like things. Generally being happy and finding the world an amazing place. Abby is Abby. Hopefully she will use all of her powers for good.

In our house Monday night has become poetry night. We have stacks of poetry books and everyone takes a turn ready one. We are also encouraged to write our own. Here is one of mine from a few weeks ago.

The animals have escaped from their books.

Boars and bears have crawled down from the shelves,

and are taking up residence in the corners of the room.

The giraffes have headed into the garden,

and the birds have flown away.

The books have been trampled and torn. Monkeys are pulling out their pages,

feeding them to the hippo behind the couch,

who eats them greedily, chomping and smacking.

The stories will never be the same without the animals to fill their pages.

Just bits of color and broken text.

Cheers

tis the season

Spent all day yesterday in the garden doing things I should have done weeks ago. It felt really good to get out there and have some solace. The garden is doing amazingly well. We have had two bad years in a row, so this is especially nice.

After some really stressful weeks, which this one is shaping up to be no different, I am trying to keep things in perspective. Everything works out in the end. Always positive.

back from the weekend

I took the weekend off from everything work related. Very needed, although I did not get the reading done that I should have.

We had a wonderful 4th. Many friends turned out and seemed to enjoy themselves. They particularly liked the Sugar Fairies cake they had prepared. The food coloring was a bit pastel, not so red, white and blue, but it worked.

For Sunday, we spent the day at the arts festival here in Denver, which is always nice. The weather was beautiful, and it was the first time I remember it not being blazingly hot and miserable. The girls had a lot of fun, and the oldest showed no sign of anxiety for such a large crowd. Two years ago, she had such a panic attack at the festival that we had to leave. This was much nicer.

Preparing for a trip to San Francisco tomorrow. I still don't have any travel arrangements, waiting for the information to come - this drives me crazy. I'm not the best at relaxing and letting things run their course.

sugar fairies

The two oldest girls have decided to go into business together. They're goal is to make sweets and sell them. They are still in some of the trial stages, but their product tastes pretty good. The name of their company is, the Sugar Fairies. Makes quite a bit of sense.

Penny is responsible for the cake & baking parts, while Paige is handling the candy, fondant sort of things.

A few nights ago they experimented with fudge and fresh strawberries. It turned out quite nice. They are planning on making samples for our 4th of July party and passing them out to our guests. We shall see what happens.

monday morning

Another Monday is upon us. Seemed like starting the week with a post would be a good idea.

Over the weekend, we took the girls to a place called Berry Patch Farms. It is an actual working farm where you can pick certain items when in season. So we picked strawberries and had a wonderful time. The girls enjoyed all of the roosters running around, as well as a very large, pot bellied pig.

The rest of the weekend was slow, and I think the girls are going a little stir crazy. I have to find more time with them in the evenings to do some things away from the TV. Unfortunately, I am not home a whole lot this week due to my schedule. I will find a way to make it work regardless.

Time to get busy on my day and stop procrastinating.

One more note: notice Penny's wonderful red hair. It washed out in the pool yesterday, so now it is just slightly pink.

updates

Congratulations to my sister and her family on the two new additions to the family. Glad all is well.

Had a very nice fathers day. It was quiet and we worked in the garden. Did get a bit sun burned though. Later, the girls cooked me a fantastic dinner. Very nice.

As of late, I have not been sleeping well. Too much bouncing around in my head, most of it administrative work/worries. I need to get my head deeper into some sort of creative project, possibly start writing again. It is difficult after such a long break, but I know that I should just dive in and do it. I have been reading a lot of Neil Gaiman's Sandman books, and it is making me long for creative freedom. Alright, enough complaining. I know that I just need to dive back into things.

been busy

I have been very busy as of late, and have neglected this blog for far too long.

A quick re-cap of events: my sister has still not had the babies yet, they are huge. Paige is off of meds and doing exceptionally well. I was made vice president of my company, as well as maintaining my position of creative director, which is occupying the majority of my time. Crystal and I spent last week in NYC and it was fabulous, I will post pics when I have my camera with me.

It feels good to be back home, and get back into a rhythm in the studio. Now I need to make some time to actually get some things done around the house.

More soon...

have not been able to talk about things

Much has been happening lately that I have not been able to talk about. Hopefully in the next day or two that will change. Until then, the things I want to blog about will have to remain in my head.

Things I can talk about, for one, the girls are all ready to go on summer break from school, which means many evening programs. My sister is about to give birth to twins, so my thoughts are with her. We finally got the vegetable garden in lat weekend.

More soon.

have not been in the mood

I have not been in the mood to post for a while. I have been dealing with a truck load of work in the studio, as well as my constant, emotional family world. Took the day yesterday and went fishing with my seven year old and her first grade class. It seems to be what the doctor ordered. I woke this morning felling better and more at peace. Once again it is time to put my head down and get some work done, particularly finishing the Mabel artwork. That project is quickly turning into a chore that needs to be completed so I can move on, happily, to other things.

just for fun

Decided to paint an old pencil drawing.

only about 100 to go

More bits from the M&B illustrations. I only need to add about another 100 people to this one and I will be close to done. This is turning out to be a difficult task as my computer has decided that it likes to shut down at will with out so much as a "Hey, I'm hot and going to shut down now." It should not be doing this so it is going into the shop this afternoon. That leaves me with a laptop that has a much smaller screen. My eyes need all the help they can get so, not good.

On a positive note, my father got very good news on some test results, so that is a great relief.

more circus

More update, bits and pieces for the big top illustration for M&B.

Appointment for Paige went well. Regrouping now and diving into work.

circus

Here is some of the first images of the circus illustration for M& B.

update

Yes, I am still alive. I have been buried in deadlines. Just completed needed layouts for a presentation tomorrow, it was coming down to the wire, but I think we are OK now. Also trying to to finish another illustration for M&B. Trying to not let it turn into the monster the last one did. Now I am going to sit through yet another meeting, then I am fortunate enough to have a date with the dentist, joy.

a few days off

Back at it after a few days off. I took advantage of some down time and did nothing artistic. It felt really good. Now I am recharged and ready to go.

Easter was a great time with the family, although it was rainy and cold. Not my idea of what an Easter Sunday is supposed to be, but never the less, we had a good time. Much to much food. Thankfully, biking in should help burn that off.

The day today has turned out to be beautiful, still awaiting word on how the oldest has done.

Good thoughts.

a quick one

The weather has cooperated and I got to ride into the studio today. So happy. I am slammed for the next few days and probably will not be able to post.

Time to meet some deadlines.