What to Do? Paint, clean house, bowl, play cards?

I have been going, going, going! What a busy life here in Vegas. Here is my latest painting. This one I did the Saran Wrap in wet paint technique. It looks kind of crooked but I layed the mat on crooked when I took the pic. OOPS! It was a fun painting to do and the first painting I drew myself. Yea Me!

The Imposter

What's that lurking in the Pumpkin Patch? I realized that once I had the painting done, the biggest pumpkin was in the center of the painting. I wanted to draw your eye away from the center. Did I succeed? Today was painting day for the group and they did great!

Floral Dollie

When I was a little girl, I used to make dolls out of Hollyhock flowers. I will always love Hollyhocks! This is my latest painting. I love the pink. I used Permanent Rose in several values.

Jim's first painting

Here it is! For those of you that requested a pic of Jim's first painting. I think he did a great job! We are going to paint again today.

My Little Shack in the Woods

Today DH and I painted together. He did well, although he thinks he didn't. This painting is for my Aug-Sept Challenge for the Yahoo group Watercolorlessonsbycia.

New Floral

I painted this yesterday morning from The Watercolor Flower Painter's A to Z by Adelene Fletcher. I had a really fun time painting the many colors in the white flowers. I still have a few touch up's to do but for the most part, it's done. I will sign it soon.

Flowers at Ceasar's Palace

I took this photo at Ceasar's Palace. I had to straighten it a bit. I am going to paint it. All watercolor enthusiasts are welcome to the picture.

Michele's Visit

Michele came to visit from Wednesday night to Sunday. We have a wonderful time! We went to Mt Charleston for lunch where it rained and sleeted mushy sleet and we took lots of pics. We went to the strip and to some neighborhood casinos where we lost $$$ and then won at all back. Yea Us! I miss my baby but my heart is good from her being here.

We Love Watercolors!

Yesterday was our first meeting of the Watercolor Group of Las Vegas at my house. It felt so good to have my first house guests and to paint with my new friends! We talked about paper, paints, and misc equipment. A year from now, we will have great painters among us! Our next meeting is September 9th at 10:30.

I have been painting

Here are my latest two paintings. I'm thinking that landscapes are my "thing". I love the detail in them. Both of these are guided paintings from my many watercolor books. I got lost for awhile there.

Michele will be here tomorrow and I am so excited. She will stay until Sunday. Kate and Dave are in town also but they are doing their "Las Vegas:" thing and we will see them on Sunday for Brunch. Have fun Kate and Dave!

Living in the Desert

Yes, the first picture is one of my thermostat in my van, less you wouldn't believe me, lol. The second one is a cactus at the Sahara library. There are painting opportunities everywhere! I am going to attempt to paint the cactus. To my painting friends: Please feel free to use any of my photos for painting. I would be proud to see the photography in watercolors!

My Busy, Busy Week

Finally, I am making new friends. Wednesday I played Canasta with a wonderful group of women from my Newcomers club. Thursday I played Spite and Malace with a differerent group from Newcomers. Some of the women were the same so I got to know them even better and I really love these women! It's so different than in Indiana. Thursday night DH and I went out to dinner with new friends and had a wonderful time! Friday I stayed home and made curtains. Saturday DH and I Played pinochle with the same new friends. I was pretty much clueless but I had a nice time. I am determined to learn this! Today we are meeting new friends at Red Rock Casino for brunch. I have only met her on the phone but I like her already.

I am not used to all this activity and I'm tired but a good tired! Note to self: Pace myself.

The ultimate in Thriftiness

For those of you who really know me, I love a bargain! I bought a brand new king sized bed skirt at Salvation Army and made these headers. I paid $1.00!!!! There are three headers for my kitchen. That make them .33 1/3 cent apiece! Yea. I made them on my wonderful little Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine that my wonderful sister, Barbara, gave me for my bithday several years ago. Thanks you Barbara!

Learning How to Live Your Life

...is like peeling an onion...With each layer you cry. It's something like that. Jim say's his job is like peeling an onion. So....I painted this for him.

Foliage Picture

If anything gave me fits, it was this one. It is not finished. Well, maybe I am. The foliage gave me no trouble. The rest did. I may go back to it. Right now I am working on my next painting. Guess what that is? An Onion! We will see how that goes.

The Wynn Hotel and Casino

This city is a mecca for photographers and artists. DH and I are picking a Hotel and Casino a week and taking pics. The Wynn is a sister hotel to the Bellagio. It's just gorgeous! We are having a great time.

Indiana Hibiscus

I finished this this morning. I'm off to work but all I want to do is paint. This is painted with my new Daniel Smith Paints. Love them!

My Little Brother

This is my little brother. He lives in Nashville and is a singer/songwriter/actor. Jim, I am proud of you and miss you. Good luck in Norway and keep in touch.

Independence Day

The 4th of July Melon. I love this pic because it has triple shadows.

My Big Brother

This is my big brother, John, standing at a river dam in Ohio. I miss him terribly. Love you John. Norena

Flowers from the Atrium at the Bellagio

Annie's Orchid

What a good weekend! Annie came for a visit and I painted this for her. It matches her tatoo! We had a really good time. We went to the Bellagio for brunch and took pictures. .

Iris in the Desert

This is painted with my new Daniel Smith Paints. Love them!

Exploring Las Vegas

DH and I are starting to explore Las Vegas on the weekend. Yesterday we found an outlet mall and I had flowers put on my fingernails and bought a pair of Crocs Mary Janes. Love my Mary Janes! Annie had a pair when she was here last weekend and I thought they were so cute and so comfortable! We had a great time even though it was 107 degrees. We are very careful about using sunscreen! It the midwesterners that get the sunburn out here. The locals know better.

Loose House not Loose Woman

I found a watercolor at the thrift store and I loved the loosness of it. So I tried it. This is the first painting I have done from my own sketch. Who knew she could sketch? I don't like the big brown blobs on the trees on the left so I will attempt to fix that.

Painting Southwestern

I do know that this is really messy but I'm going for loose and Southwestern. I learned alot on this painting that I started in Indiana and finished in Las Vegas. Maybe it is representitive of my emotions?

Spring Oak from my Childhood

This is the Oak tree in front of Smithville Elemetary School where I went to 1st grade. I am painting again and I feel like a brand new beginner all over again. It feels wonderful to splash on paint!

My Backyard

These are some of the plants in my backyard. The Gardenia is a gift from my friend Susan. I sit beside it to read and the fragrance is wonderful.

Meeting New Friends

On Tuesday I went to lunch with Susan, friend of my brother John. We went to The Cheescake Factory (No, I didn't eat Cheesecake) and had a really nice time. Susan brought me a beautiful GARDINIA PLANT for a housewarming gift. I love it! It hasn't bloomed yet but when it does, ahhhh the scent. She told me about The Golden Spoon, a frozen yogurt place that has the best non-fat yogurt! I found one right down the street from me. She was right, yummy!

Yesterday, I met some neighbors. They were on their way to California for the weekend. We had a few minutes to talk and they seemed very nice. Then I went to my first Kiwanis meeting here in Las Vegas. It was very different than my meeting in Carmel. The membership was all men, the meeting lasted for two hours and the lunch was $15.00!

I did not get any unpacking done but I needed the break! BACK TO it today.

Red Rock Canyon and Apricot Tree

Below are the pictures from our adventure yesterday. We went to beautiful Red Rock Canyon and took the tour. The desert is in bloom and the cacti are about to bloom. The desert changes often so we will go back really soon.

The apricot tree is in my front yard. I was getting in the car and looked over to see "apricots" growing on my tree. I am so excited!

It's saturday, Yea!

Yesterday, Jim and I went to the BMV (for 2 hours) and got our new Nevada license plates and drivers license. Then we went to the bank and got that all set up. This morning I am working on my computer. My address has to be changed on everything! My email address is different so I have to change that. I am still receiving email on my old address but I can't send on it. NOthing is simple!

When we were heading out yesterday, I realized that I have a apricot tree in my front/side yard. It is loaded with nearly ripe fruit. That is exciting! I haven't had a fruit tree since I was a child. Get the jelly jars ready!

Sunshine, on my shoulder, makes me happy

In my backyard, I have plants that I have yet to identify. Mollie and Maggie are very happy in their new home, as am I. The pool is almost ready to use. We had to turn on the solar heaters and get the PH to the right level. The second moving truck is supposed to arrive today. We will see.