I’ve been meaning to put these up for you guys to see for over a week now! Kris and Clara both have tremendous artful eyes, and shared some of their work with me! It is definitely good eye candy!

First, Kris, who thought she wasn’t good enough. Hah! I laugh! I set up a fruit still life with my new dimpled silver dish that came with a lotion set (Christmas gift), and challenged her by sending her the photograph of it. This is one of a few, the gal actually painted it 4 times in different medium and tones. I liked this one the best, it caught my attention first! Nice work, Kris!!

Then Clara, who in my personal opinion should be a pro-photographer, or perhaps she was one in another life (if you believe in that kind of thing!). Ever since I saw the images she’s able to capture and the moods she sets with her subjects, I’ve bugged her to go further with it. Lucky gal, now her hubby seems to be encouraging it too! He just bought her a new Canon she’s been drooling over, so I’m really looking forward to seeing many more great photos from her! Out of a bundle of pics she sent me, I picked this one because it sucked me in, made me feel like I was either flying or just up on top of a mountain looking out, right there in the moment. What beautiful scenery!!

Please help me encourage these two to push forward! So much talent, so little time…

Can you spot the imposter in this photo?

This one is for Daddy:

Mark was awarded a Purple Heart yesterday for injuries he sustained from an IED (improvised explosive device) attack on his team in December.

For some reason, saying “congratulations” for an award like this seems really awkward. “Thank you” doesn’t say enough, “I’m so proud” is accurate, but only partial.

I’m so grateful, and thankful, that he is alive to receive that recognition of service. It is just proof that our guys put their lives on the line for us every single day.

(This pic is a screenshot from our webcam chat, live from Iraq.)

Today I’ll show you what’s happening weather-wise here in the upper midwest. Put on your spiked slickers! I’ll add more as the icicles grow and things start really sparkling from the coating of ice on everything.

Frozen Glory:

Iced Birdhouse:

Slippery Slide:

Frozen Fence:

Glazed Post:

Hey! Today’s uh, over. How did that happen? I got up, we went to the grocery store, I started mucking with this neat program and getting my gallery images ready to go!

So I’d show you my progress on the new layout, but it’s really hush-hush right now. It’s a top-secret design that no-one anywhere has, I thought it up all by myself in the shower one day. No, I was driving. No, wait, I was feeding the dog. Yes, feeding the dog. Anyway I thought it up, and Lisa snaped it into position, and now I’m mucking! Fun!

No, I did not paint today. I will not paint tomorrow. I will paint on Tuesday! The Floor Guy is scheduled for tomorrow, which means I’ll be peeling & sticking again. The guy is like Linus, I swear, a cloud of dirt around him wherever he goes. Yes, he’s a dirty conservative Tim McGraw lookalike. So?? Is that really such a bad thing???

Alright sorry about that, I’ve missed you today, or I’m a little wound up from reading code. heh!

DAY TWO
Today’s Walk
Time: 30.02 min
Dist.: 1.68 mi.
MPH: 3.4
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Finish Line
March 5, 2005
GOAL: 128 mi.
Gone: 3.24 mi.
To Go: 124.76 mi.

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

About 5 years ago, I worked with a gal who was getting ready to move. Her husband had told her that he was planning on dragging the piano out the back door, break it up and turn it into firewood. Can you imagine? I told her I couldn’t let that happen, and hired a moving company to go get it and bring it to me.

Now every family event I have at my house brings my mom (hi mom!) who plays rather well. It’s really cool to have mom over and sit in the family room and listen to her play. We had both pianos and an organ when I was growing up, so I fiddle with the ivories from time to time. 😉

Now my little 8 year old is playing it by ear. She’s got the genes! I was talking with Aunt T lastnight about getting Miss Caitlin piano lessons for Christmas. This morning I contacted a tuner, who will be out next Monday to tune it and fix a couple of sticky keys, and he will bring a list of piano teachers that will come here to give her lessons.

Neat gift for an 8 year old, eh? She’ll be outplaying me in no time!

I am dead tired today. I am going to prep my next commission at some point today, and taking a nap is also on my list of things to do! ::YAWN::