The New Year is just a few hours away, with it will bring us all many, many good things.

I am looking forward to having my hubby home in just a couple of months now!!

Cao, you inspired me to bless everyone’s ears with some tunes (and I’ll take it off tomorrow), so I hope you all enjoy it and didn’t have your volume up too loud upon entry.

Gina, thank you for stopping in and leaving your mark! You are welcome anytime, join the fun! It will keep your mind busy while your hubby is away as well.

Have a wonderful evening, and a hopeful and forward looking morning tomorrow!!

Today’s entry painstakingly brought to you by Home Fashion Timber Series #94507, WD4018, Run GY.

By 9PM CST Wednesday, I had relocated our dining room into my Studio (like that ours/mine thing? heh!), moved the laundry room and furnace room contents into our bedroom, and swept the floors.

I woke up yesterday and began pacing! The Floor Guy (said in a deep commanding superhero tone) was not due to arrive until mid-afternoon. Here I am, prepared to pace for a good 4 hours, and there’s a knock on the door just after 10AM!

You know what I really like about Floor Guy , he kinda looks like Tim McGraw. Ok I know he ISN’T Tim McGraw, but I can just think so, that’s ok, right? Ooh, bonus, he’s a Conservative Imitation!

He decided that he would just tear out the dining room first, and come back to do the kitchen and laundry/furnace rooms. By 1:30PM, Floor Guy was on his way, scheduled to return next Monday or Tuesday.

Then it was my turn.

The leveling job he did created more work than I had anticipated! I spent a few hours just knocking back ledges and lumps and ridges, wet sanding. Ug. Once that was dry though, I marked my center and started a-peelin’ and a-stickin’, all night long!

I finished around 10:30 lastnight, and ended my day with a nice warm Turkey-grilled cheese, cheddar chips and a tall glass of Blackberry Merlot. And a shower. Peeee-uuuu!

Here’s some pics, before/during & after!

I’m standing in the doorway of the studio, gazing at this gigantic Viola, studying it. Where am I going to begin, blending colors in my mind, selecting brushes and all those things that I think about before I start a painting session.

Suddenly, Caitlin and Jayden are singing along, loudly, to Jay’s new Care Bear trike. Squealing and giggling between pressing it, again and again and again. “Care Bears are coming to your town, they’ll lift you up when you’re feeling down, they’re watching you from up above, filling your days with caring and LooooOOOooove!” Yes I already know the words. Good grief.

They tire of the bike - 40 minutes later - and now Caitlin has composed a variety of melodies that she is humming at the top of her little 8 year old lungs, while creating a new mess on the table. The melody she’s got going right now is taking me back about 20 years, I can’t quite put my finger on it, oh yea! It’s similar to the chia-pet commercial tune. You know, the one that resonates even louder in your brain and just starts making your ears go ‘thud-thud-thud’. Yes, that’s the one.

Either they are especially noisy, knowing that I am trying to concentrate, or my ears are hyper-sensitive today.

I will wait for the peace and quiet that I enjoy after 8PM to get back to the studio. This piece requires a lot of attention to detail, architecturally speaking. I want it to be perfect.

I’ll be back and let you know when I start!

Change of plans, the floor guy is coming over tomorrow to tear up our kitchen & dining room floors & underlayment! Probably not a good idea to have a wet painting collecting dust and junk. I’ll be laying the floor myself (yes I’m a dandy handy girl), and I’ll work on Antoinette after that project is complete. It’s gonna be a fun one!

This beauty!

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, ya know. I know that you’re having trouble trying to figure out what to get for your favorite artist so I’ll give you just one teenie hint (see above). If you need more of a hint, I can put a paypal “donate” button in here! See how desperate I am, I’m even categorizing this to promote early acquisition. I know, you all have all kinds of money just lying around, just like me. :P

Speaking of which, I better go clean out under the couch cushions.

Back later.

/drooling over high-tech uber cool toys and gadgets!

Here’s the underpainting for my newest piece, I’ve titled it Antoinette. :)

It’s been a week now since I completed my last piece, and it’s time to get back to the studio!

I’ve been planning this piece for a few weeks, it is large at 18×24 and on the big easel. A few people have seen what it is, for the rest of you - well, you can watch and guess!

It shouldn’t take too long to work in the underpainting, so I’ll get started in just a little bit. I’m going to grab a bite to eat and load the CD for this painting, which will probably be the soundtrack to Kate & Leopold, if that gives you any hints as to what I’m working on.

The webcam is on! I’ve linked to it now in the left column, right under the calendar. Neat, huh? Well I thought so!

Here’s my list of 10 things I’ve learned in 2004:

1. I learned that no matter how many times you click your heels together, you can’t bring your loved one home from Iraq.

2. I’ve learned that no amount of treadmilling will completely melt away your love handles.

3. I’ve learned that over 90% of the time, I end everything I write in an exclamation point!

4. I’ve learned that overusing exclamation points can sometimes be a bad, bad thing.

5. I’ve learned how to calculate square footage from measuring in inches.

6. I’ve learned that sometimes, being a launching pad for someone else’s dreams can be really really cool.

7. I’ve learned that being under my own microscope is pretty tough. Being under someone else’s is just plain annoying.

8. I’ve learned that good friends are a treasure, and they should be kept under lock and key in your heart.

9. I’ve learned that stress makes time fly.

10. I’ve learned that every moment you get to spend with someone you love is a precious, precious gift and should never be taken for granted.

So? What’s on your list?

I just received this pic from Lisa, this is her man, Chris, standing beside Talis & Meowface (who arrived in perfect timing on Christmas Eve, thank you USPS!).

Thanks, Chris, for allowing me to share! Your painting looks fab against the brick!

I’ve got a few portraits out there that were given as Christmas gifts, anyone have photos to share of their recipients with their paintings? I would love to put them up here for everyone to see (or just see them myself)! The Christmas feedback I get just warms my heart, to know that what I do touches someone else’s heart in such a positive way through the thoughtfulness of my clients, really, I couldn’t have asked for a better “job”.

Thank you all for being here for us this year. I can’t express in words how much I appreciate your support and presence.

Special thanks to those of you who sent along beautiful and heartfelt cards, I will treasure them.

Merry Christmas!
Much much love,
Leanne & family