The other day, after the rain.
Rain. We just had an another storm, this time an early morning rain. I woke up too early from coughing in my sleep. As soon as I woke up, my brain went into worry mode, so I got up and made some coffee. Unfortunately, I also woke up Don, who tried to get back to sleep. No dice. He came downstairs to join me about 15 minutes after I got up.
I am really sick of all the rain. The ground is incredibly saturated. Our new dehumidifier is fabulous and it works so hard to dry everything out, only to have it rain again and again. I don’t think I remember a summer that’s been this intensely stormy and wet. I guess we’ll say it’s “one for the books.”
I finished the second book in the Thursday Night Murder series and I’m waiting for the third to arrive at my local library. In the meantime, I’ve returned to The Deptford Trilogy. I’m reading the second book in the trilogy – The Manticore. I’m a couple of chapters ahead in the War and Peace readathon.
I’m going to sit down at the easel today and start a new painting. Speaking of which, I finally signed one of my paintings on the painting itself, rather than on the back as I had been doing with the Roseville Pottery series.
That’s due to Don. He always urges me to “sign the painting!” I finally listened to him.
The sun has come out after this morning’s rain. Hurrah!
I’m rather addicted to Landscape Artist of the Year and spend far too much time watching it! I started with the 4th season (on Amazon Prime) and now I’m on the the 2nd season. Going backwards. Then I’ll head to YouTube and watch the more recent seasons. It’s fascinating and I try to really take in all the techniques and styles. I love that there are so many different ways of “seeing” a landscape. When I’ve finished with Landscape Artist, I’ll watch Portrait Artist of the Year.
Must force myself to paint today and not get distracted by other things.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
bummer about too little sleep and too much rain for you, but glad you’re enjoying books and tv shows. and especially glad you are painting again … and signed one on the front (i agree with don)! :)
i don’t have cable tv, amazon prime or other streaming services so am limited to over-the-air tv and what i can find on youtube (am okay with that). think i’ve said this before, but i love, love, love sky arts’ “portrait artist of the year” tv show!!! the “landscape” version, too, though i’ve found far fewer episodes of that posted online. fun to watch hugely different techniques and styles, to see how three people paint the same subject … so glad you found and enjoy it, too. i’d recommend those shows for anyone into art and painting. and even if they’re not, i bet many people would like it … just as i’ve liked the “great british bake-off” even though i don’t care for cooking/baking … haha.
anyway, happy painting!
and happy friday to you, don and everyone else. stay safe!
kathy
also and unfortunately, a college two hours from here has closed after more than 180 years (money problems, basically). they’ve been having online auctions of just about anything you might think of … office, classroom and dorm furniture (desks, oak chairs, metal office files, flat files, wooden benches …), sports equipment, music instruments, art, all sorts of books, vintage record albums, vintage bikes, science equipment, tables, old and newer cameras, ring lights, lockers, etc. … lots and lots of stuff. my sister and i are watching a couple of things and the bids are quite low (how about nice old oak chairs for 25 cents each?!?) if anyone is interested, look up “iowa wesleyan college auctions” through backes auctions online. my sister and i hope to win with our bids and make a trip there soon and i’d be glad to pick up smaller-ish items for anyone not within driving distance of southeast iowa.
kathy
I’ll check it out, Kathy. Thank you!
xo
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Stay safe.
It’s nice you’re excited about your paintings, Claudia. I liked your signature, too. It took me a minute to figure it out. Clever. If only it could rain where the fires are raging. Crazy world. Hugs, Elaine
It’s what was embroidered on my gym clothes, and it’s always been a signature shorthand for me.
Stay safe, Elaine.
This has been one for the record books in terms of rain and I believe electrical storms. The one early this morning woke me up but I was able to drowse through it. It’s been costly to as I’ve had to have the scrubbage (as my dear young lawn guy calls it) Cut back from the driveway. The branches were actually beginning to form a tunnel, it was like a jungle, And several treelings Cut down. Also going to have to have the drainage system for our long dirt/gravel driveway revamped. I don’t know how anyone’s flower gardens are surviving the heavy rains. I’m hoping that we will have a glorious autumn which is usually my favorite time of the year. Big step, congratulations on signing your work on the front! I have some of my grandmothers oils and my sister actually has the lesson book that our grandmother used, but I love that she signed her initials On just about every one. You and Don take good care of yourselves and enjoy whatever sun peeks Out between the clouds!
One of our trees that was old and rotten fell – simply because of the unbelievable saturation of the ground.
Part of it fell on our neighbor’s property so we’ll have to have it removed.
Today (Saturday) is beautiful, Nora. I’m sure it is for you, too. Enjoy!
Stay safe.
YAY for signing the paintings, Claudia! Owning it!
I drove north in the worst rain I’ve seen in ages. Bad just pouring down, worse than some idiot in a semi or an SUV or truck would pass me and the spray would blind you. I pulled off for a bit. That went on for 90 minutes, then rain the rest of the way but more gentle. Today it is in the high 50s and super windy but the sun is out. I’ll hit the farm market soon.
Reading an Ann Cleves “Vera” book. I love her. And watched a good movie on Acorn last night — The Lost King about finding the body of Richard III. Home alone at the lake has its advantages!
I’m glad you pulled off the road for a bit. It’s just too stressful trying to drive in torrential rain.
Enjoy your time alone. How long will Rick be gone?
Stay safe, Jeanie.
He will be back a couple of days after Labor Day. He’ll go to Ottawa, then down through Vermont to the Berkshires and train part of the way home from there, riding the last two days. It boggles my mind.
Oh my heavens. Completely impossible for me. Bravo, Rick!
xo
Love your clever signature on the painting, Claudia.
We in NorCal may or may not be in for rain. The different weather services have different interpretations of the data from Hurricane Hilary. She will definitely affect SoCal with heavy rain as she becomes a tropical storm, but whether she heads north-west (towards me!) or north-east can’t be determined for sure yet. No big plans early next week, in case there’s heavy rain. But there’s a pile of books and two quilts-in-progress to keep me busy!
Well that was what was embroidered on every pair of gym clothes I had in school, so it’s stuck. It’s always been a kind of shorthand for me and I have t-shirts with Chill on them!
Stay safe as that storm heads your way, Wendy.
Took a minute to figure out your signature… that’s great….as well as including the year! That’ll really show your progress and interests (about your choice in painting). Nice that you got some rain, but sorry it’s more than what you wanted. We’re having cooler weather here in the Bay Area, not much rain, if any.
Mom embroidered that on all of my gym clothes and Chill has always been a sort of nickname so it seemed appropriate.
Stay safe, Barrie.
I like your signature on the painting. Very clever.
The weather all over has been strange this summer….very out of the ordinary. My heart goes out to the people of Maui….so much loss. So much devastation. I’m thinking La Haina will have to live in my memories. The island is such a beautiful place.
I’m glad you are finding some good reads, and that you are enjoying your painting. Enjoy your day! ;)
I have t-shirts with Chill on the front and my mom embroidered that on all my gym clothes. It’s always been a shorthand version of my signature so I just used it without a thought.
Stay safe, Donnamae.