define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature » Blog

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  • House Finch

    March
    12
    2006

    We spent the entire day outside yesterday, enjoying 70-degree weather, getting a 5 hour upper body workout (raking and weeding for 5 hours burns 2,082 calories, don’tchyaknow?) making our yard purdiful for spring. We’ll be planting more wildflower seed, some watermelon and pumpkin, some forever pink hydrangea, heuchera, blazing star, monarda and penstemon for our hummingbirds.

    I photographed this house finch (not to be confused with a purple finch, which looks pretty much identical, so it’s beyond me if I’ve identified him correctly or not), he and his striped ladyfriend were feeding on the thistle socks. (Yes I put the feeders back up when I saw the goldfinch, I couldn’t stop myself!) I had so many good shots of this guy it was hard to pick one, so I let the monkey do it.

    (Yes, I’ll be painting both of ’em, I think!)

    We made some steak fajitas (easy recipe forthcoming), some nachos, and we invited Ben & Jerry over after dinner. It was a nice spring day, I can’t wait for more of them!

    We’ll spend a good chunk of the day outside again today. It’s cooler, of course, and I hear it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I’ll be taking advantage of the mini-spring (tease) as long as it sticks around.

    How’s the weather by you? Got a few spare bedrooms, say, four of ’em? Or a spare house to rent out?

    If you have the right temp, we just may show up at your place.

    The Image Game

    March
    12
    2006

    MommaK and Monty are doin’ this thing, and it looks kinda neat, so I thought I’d join in. (ME? Join IN? It must be cool.)


    Them’s the rules:
    1. Choose a search engine (I use Google Images) and click on “Images”
    2. Choose a 5 random blogfriends (or not random, your choice)
    3. Think of a word that you feel best describes your blogfriend
    4. Do an IMAGE SEARCH on that word
    5. Pick the image that best fits your pal & post it.

    Them’s the ones I picked:
    1. Shelli : Caring
    2. MommaK : Scintillating
    3. Lisa : Cerebral
    4. Plain Jane : Introspective
    5. Mrs. Fun : Maternal



    Your turn. Would you like to play along? Yes?
    Great- leave me your link and I’ll post it below.
    Playin’ Along:
    MommaK
    Aka_Monty
    Shelli
    YellowRose
    Pumpkin
    Kat


    Angelic Goldfinch

    March
    11
    2006

    I’d love to enter this photograph into a contest, or something. She’s beautiful. The photos I captured of the other side of her wee little head tell a sad story, she’s suffering from conjuntivitis. I tried to find someone around here that might be willing to treat her, but no luck.

    Knowing her future, it makes this photograph even more spectacular to me, because she looks awfully angelic, doesn’t she? Like she should have a faint glow of a halo around her head. Awwwww. Pretty birdie.

    MmmMMm Good!

    March
    10
    2006

    Chicken Club Brunch Ring

    • 1/2 c. fat free mayo
    • 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
    • 2 tsp honey dijon mustard
    • 1-1/2 tsp finely chopped onion
    • 1-3/4 c. cubed cooked chicken breast
    • 2 bacon strips, cooked & crumbled (optional)
    • 1 c. reduced-fat shredded swiss cheese
    • 2 tubes reduced-fat crescent rolls
    • 2 plum tomatoes
    • 2 c. shredded lettuce

    Keep reading »

    JtGND – Inspiring Blog Design

    March
    9
    2006

    During the creation of the main theme for Nicole’s website, we explored the option of using an image other than the one I illustrated for her blog. Ultimately, I was able to work up a design incorporating that illustration – but at the same time she fell in love with the second concept and decided to go for both. So, that’s what she’s got, both!

    I just love how celestial, peaceful and heavenly this design looks on her website. I think it fits with her calm and loving nature. Stop over and have a look at the full-sized live version, and let her know how you like it!


    If you would like to inquire about a custom illustration, blog or website design, please place your inquiry/order through E.Webscapes. Thank you!

    Thursday Thirteen #24

    March
    9
    2006

     

    Thirteen Things about Leanne, Thursday, March 8, 2006
    My other Thirteens
    1. My latest crazy dream involved pregnancy. I was pregnant, 9 months in fact. I was having contractions, and went to the hospital, and was trying to ditch my husband because I was mad at him. Some lady with a week-old baby came up to me and apologized to me, said “I swear, if I knew I would never have done it”. You can figure the rest out all by yourselves.

    2. Another crazy dream (the night before last) involved a house fire. The roof of our home burned away to nothing leaving a big gaping hole to the sky – and it was spring, and the rains came, and it was pouring inside our house. Our bed was like a swimming pool, so I dove in and did a few laps.

    Then we left to go buy a new refrigerator, because I’ve always wanted a side-by-side.

    3. Okay so I got a new credit card. It’s a Disney credit card. Guess which character I picked for my card?

    4. I’ve been using a lot of new skin care products lately. Trying things out. The ones I’m having the most success with are Dove (thanks Jeanette!) and a ProActiv knockoff that I found that has a clarifier and toner in it. Only problem with that one – it’s turned my white facial sponge orange. Hm. I wonder what’s in that stuff?

    5. We recently made a rather large purchase, a Bowflex from the second-hand exercise equipment store. I am determined to use the dang thing every single day, and so is our daughter. It is now her new “puttin’ my shoes on ma!” bench. Hey, at least it’s not storing our laundry…yet.

    6. I doodled that self-portrait in my header and colored myself in the other night. I had doodled several girlies and decided that this is going to be my ‘toon style. It was a true stretch for me to doodle something less-than-realistic, so it’s probably very shocking to those of you who have been around me and my work and my doodles for a long time.

    7. My sister (and I) thought of a new series that I could paint for my exhibition next spring. I’ll save the title of it as a surprise, but I’d like to ask you a favor – name your favorite bite-sized eatable. It doesn’t have to be a candy, just has to be bite sized, small’ish.

    8. My cholesterol is 141! Yay! Blood sugar is 87, yay again! I guess – I don’t understand blood sugar levels but I’ve been told this is an acceptable number.

    9. Did I tell you that I’ve developed a cool-pool-swimming-anxiety? Yes I am a freak of nature. If there are more than 2 people per lane, I can’t breathe or paddle my little legs through the water, and I may as well be on a respirator. I’m not going to the cool pool to have a heart attack, I was going to make my back feel better. Now my back is starting to hate me again, and the SUV Swimmer is probably pleased as punch with her lane hogging dog paddling self.

    10. The last time I went swimming, my suit was nearly elasto-bare and I pitched it in the trash on the way out. Why didn’t someone tell me I was shedding rubber?

    11. We have a 26×30’ish sized carport attached to our garage. The roof of the carport is flat. It constantly needs to be re-roofed, which is a pain in the patootie. We recently got a bid to either (a) demolish the damn thing or (b) peel off the roof and build a pitch, shingling it for longer durability. Guess which one is more expensive? Which one do you think we’ll be doing?

    12. I get catalogs from a place called Venus USA. I’m not sure how they found me, or why they assumed I had the body of a Playboy bunny, but I get these things every month and I’m forced to look at these cutsey tiny pieces of clothing modeled by women who I doubt ever gave birth in a catalog with sizes only available up to size 10. (I checked the measurements, and if they think an XL will fit a normal 12, they’re nuts.) Why? Why me? They mock me. I hate them.

    13. I’m buying my bikini out of that stupid catalog this year if it kills me. Should I start my liposuction fundrasier now?


    Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
    The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
    View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

    TECHNORATI TAG: Thursday Thirteen

    All Shot Up

    March
    8
    2006

    Fake Bullet Holes : Fun, or Irresponsible?
    (see samples here)


    (image from bullet-hole-decals.com)

    Do you think these decals on cars are entertaining? Do you think they should be banned? Do you think that they give the impression that the neighborhood that the decorated car is from is one that you wouldn’t choose for your family, let alone for your family van? If the owner of one of these decorated vehicles stopped to ask you directions – would you feel uneasy? Or is this something you don’t even think about when you’re around a car that’s seen “gunfire”?

    Lie To Me a Little

    March
    8
    2006

    Please tell me how nutritious this is for me. How because there’s orange and cranberry in it that it negates all 13 grams of fat. Tell me that the first ingredient, sugar, is dissolved and eradicated when immediately followed by a drink.

    Tell me that Weight Watchers would only score this at a measly 2 points, and that it’s okay if I polish this whole thing off with a pot of fresh black coffee because I did my lower body workout on the bowflex this morning.

    Tell me I deserve a little indulgence because I just had my annual boob sqwashing appointment. That I’m excused due to cramping and/or PMS. Or that it’s “free” because I plan to paint it, and still-life food is always “free”.

    Tell me anything… just don’t tell me that this is going straight to my hips, because I will have to virtually slap you silly.

    New Cat Portraits!

    March
    7
    2006

    Littles (the larger 8×8 canvas) and Joey (the small 4×4) are two kitties I’ll be painting (in oils) over the next week or so. I’ve got them sketched onto the canvas and will start working on their underpaintings tomorrow.

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