Friends

Friends
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

I used the newly alcohol inked brochure paper for this one.

Blue and Gold

Blue and Gold
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

Here is the blue background done up with some red alcohol ink and gold mixative. I used the tiny photo-backed pieces that I had put gold mixative on and another different alcohol ink strip. Because the gold rubs off the photo paper, I had to laminate this.

North Woods

North Woods
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

Slightly to the left of the small cedar and back into the woods, two does are just getting up and preening themselves. I caught this picture this morning.

Alcohol Ink 1

Alcohol Ink 1
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This was inked on top of a magazine (Estates and Homes) page

Alcohol Ink 2

Alcohol Ink 2
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This was inked onto a white glossy brochure paper.

Backyard in the Snow

Backyard in the Snow
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This obviously is not this year and maybe not even last year. I love this scene because it looks so quiet and peaceful, something we need after the hectic pre-Christmas rush.

The Girls

The Girls
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

These are our almost daily visitors. They sleep in the woods north of the house and we watch them 2 or 3 times a week while we eat breakfast. This photo is east of the house and the girls are headed for the pond for their morning drink of water.

Christmas Centerpiece

Christmas Centerpiece
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This small arrangement graced our table at Christmas dinner. We were blessed to have sharing dinner with us our granddaughter, our son, his friend, and her nine year old daughter.

Christmas Tree - '07

Christmas Tree - '07
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This is our tree we put up in the living room this year. Since 1992 our 9 foot tree has been in the loft to be seen from the entry hall, so this is a big change.

Christmas

Christmas
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Rusty

rusty.jpg
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

Merry Christmas, sister. I thought you'd enjoy seeing Rusty's picture online. He's a most handsome Australian Cattledog, for sure.

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas to all!
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

From our house to your house go our best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy, safe new year!

sunflower

sunflower
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

One of my favorite art classes was with a local artist, a self-taught watercolorist and WWII veteran. He brought a picture he had taken of a sunflower for us to draw and paint.

Red Barn

Red Barn
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This is the third attempt at the same painting. I think I like this one best, so I guess there won't be a #4. This is a scene on the James River.

Mitzi

Mitzi
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

I finally got my connections right and am able to post my photos. Here is the long promised photo of Mitzi.

Blue Ridge scene

Blue Ridge scene
Originally uploaded by hastingshall2

This is a watercolor I made today.

Proud Granma

The g'daughter has heard from 4 of her 5 courses at W&M and the grades are outstanding. She has 2 A's and 2 A-'s. Yet to hear from one classs, where 1/2 the grade was the final paper.

Granddaughter's Art

Check out my blog for a picture of my granddaughter's iris folding of a cat.
http://360.yahoo.com/hastingshall2

Holiday Dinner

Last night some friends drove from their home an hour and a half away to come and have dinner with us. It was so great to be with them and to enjoy the holidays together. My dh made a delicious pork roast with currant sauce. Yummy! I made Heavenly Green Beans from my university cookbook recipe, my "world-famous" corn pudding, salad, baked potatoes, rolls, and a scrumptious deep dish apple pie. But better than the food was being with our friends again. We gals are crafters/artists and the guys are both avid fishermen and go steelhead fishing together a couple of times a year.

Today our beautiful, smart, wonderful granddaughter is coming for a visit. My dh has gone to get her from college. We always look forward to being with her.


SHE'S HERE!!!
Granddaughter got here with MUCH luggage. (Maybe dirty clothes to be washed???) I can hear her up in the guest room playing the trumpet. She is practicing Christmas carols and putting all sorts of wonderful sounds into the house.

Cantata

Yesterday our church choir presented a cantata The Winter Rose by Joseph Martin. Each singer wore a white tux shirt and black pants. Very nice. The music was beautifully done. I understand that it was more difficult than some of their other cantatas. The church is normally decorated at this time of year with rows of poinsettias, given in memory or in honor of someone. This year the flowers all were white. It was an awesome look. A poinsettia painting I did several years ago is at http://360.yahoo.com/hastingshall2.

Christmas Season is Here!

Such a lot of hustle-bustle around here. We set up the Christmas tree, artificial now for a number of years. For the first 37 or so years we had a live tree. Then one Christmas we had a lively surprise. Evidently some aphids had laid eggs in our real tree and when there was enough house heat, they all hatched out. After that event with all the vacuuming baby aphids, we decided on an artificial tree. This year we downsized to a small artificial one.

If anyone is wondering: Where is the art???, well, I am still trying to get Blogger to accept my photos. So far I can't post any.

Salute to Mitzi

This blog is dedicated to my good friend Mitzi, who lived almost 15 years and who brought much joy and laughter to our family.