Does not? compute

The Clearing

I just finished a painting that I'd like to share.  It's for a marriage retreat lodge that will soon be built near Brenham called "The Clearing."  

I was contacted by my friend Lori a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in doing an illustration for one of their clients.  I did a brochure for her employer, Texas Log Homes, last fall and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to do some more work for them.  That, and I'd like to transition into illustrating children's so I was really interested in a paying gig that would allow me to practice.

The drawback was that there was nothing in existence for me to work from except an architect's elevation drawing. Oh, and they wanted it with just a little more than three weeks turnaround.

So I got to work drawing.  Trying to draw a building that doesn't exist from a straight-on drawing and trying to show depth and size is actually pretty tough.  After several starts, I finally got a sketch that I likes and that I thought was decent enough to proceed.  So I scanned it and began working with it in Photoshop.  

Then I got some voicemails and an e-mail on Friday from the owners of The Clearing.  They wanted the art early for a brochure.  I wasn't ready to give it to them, but I promised that I would have it by the end of the weekend.

After several hours of work, I took a look at it and realized that my perspective was all off.  It didn't become clear until it was painted how bad it was.  It was like MC Escher got together with Salvador Dali and decided to build a log cabin.  This is the first version:

So on Sunday morning, I started over.  Sitting in the living room drinking my coffee with Kristi, I began sketching.  What miraculously appeared was what I originally envisioned, but somehow abandoned.  So I scanned it and began working feverishly.  Having just done all this the day before, it went pretty quickly.

I fixed a few things that I didn't like from the first draft and experimented with some different ways of doing some things.  I worked most of the day, with a 2-hour break to go to the Scarecrow Festival in Chappell Hill with the family.  Finally, at about 7pm, I finished.  Here's the final result:

I think you'll agree that it's much better.

Darn Tootin'!

I'm sitting on the couch working, James and Kayci are in the office playing tic tac toe and visiting (I'm so enjoying hearing their conversation drifting through the little green house, btw).  Anyway, a while ago a car drove by, honking like crazy.  Whenever that happens, I always wonder who's saying "hi."  (We live on a busy street, so usually the honking is a friend driving by).  

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Sherri texts...it was them driving by.  So James and I are talking across the house, he's reading her texts and texting back.  And so it goes.  We tell her to tell Brad that he needs to come up with a tune for the honking, so we know it's them.  And, James jokes, so he doesn't shoot.

Text back:  "Brad's not worried..."

James stopped there.  I said, "not worried about what?"  

He reads the rest...  "he's seen you shoot."   Hee hee.  Poor James, but that's typical Sherri and Brad--they ALWAYS make us laugh!

So, those of you who honk your hellos, next time, see if we can name that tune!

BONUS VIDEO of Noble laughing

At story time this week, Noble thought a pig puppet was HILARIOUS!  Here's a quick video clip of him belly laughing at the librarian and the pig puppet.

Mobile Noble

Noble started scooting this week. Over the course of the week, he has gotten so good at "inchworming" that he can now get just about anywhere he wants... which means that it's time to babyproof down low. Yesterday, he had scooted over to the buffett and was trying to remove a couple of wine bottle that were down low - that just a week ago were of no danger to anyone.

He's also started learning that if you scoot under something, it's easy to bump your head. It's tough being a Bubby.

Anyway, here are two videos - one shot earlier in the week showing how he was just starting to scoot and one shot this morning showing how quick he's gotten already.

Weird Week

We've been pretty quiet this week for a reason...our internet went out (we thought because of a big storm late Monday/early Tuesday) and we're just now back online.  You'd think it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I WORK online, so it's been a long few days, man.  

Just a reminder--if you want to order from Bitty's fundraiser, tomorrow's the deadline.  Scroll down to the post with directions, links, etc.  No biggie--thanks to Kristin for supporting Krause!

I'll leave with a quick pic.  Yesterday was the beginning of the newest Region 4 cycle, for which I'm the Cyber Coordinator.  A big, big workday for me and of course several emergencies popped up before 9:00.  So, after Noble's nap he and I packed up and headed to Starbucks so I could work for as long as he could stand it (he was running a temp of 101.5, God love him!).  Anyway, he was just wonderful...he sat in his rarely-used stroller and looked out the window, played with his toys, flirted with the ladies...and finally, fell asleep.  Sweet boy!

Weekend Highlights

It was a quiet weekend, considering the ear infections. James told me this morning as he headed out for San Antonio that he downloaded the pics, so I'll go ahead and toss them out there for you guys. This is truly a hodgepodge, nothing exciting but some pretty pics of the Bitty.

What you see...Kayci at Gander Mountain hunting giraffes, Noble trying out Daddy's hat, Kayci lounging--we had a PJ day yesterday, her completed 300 piece puzzle (her first!), and the kids dressed as Scarecrows for Awana (Kayci earned her book & vest last night!).

Here's to a great week!

Farmer McCrow

This is Kayci's class scarecrow...if you come to Brenham this month, vote for #33!!

P.S.

P.S.  One visit to Dr. Draehn later, it's official:  both kiddos have ear infections.  Both in the left ear, oddly.  Interesting tidbit--Kayci's tubes came out a while back but have been just laying there in her ear canal.  Today the left one was out enough that Dr. Draehn could loop it...it was bigger than I thought, and nastier as it was encased in who knows how old ear wax.  But it was cool!  My drama queen informed me at Wal-Mart that I needed to speak up, as her left ear doesn't hear so well now that the tube is out.  Sigh.  

All through the night...

Last night started out pretty promising...both kids fell asleep on the way home from College Station, and so we thought we were ahead of the game.  Then, at 1 AM, Noble woke up screaming and was so exhausted but SOOOOOOO hard to get back down.  With that accomplished, we hopefully went back to sleep...only to wake up an hour later to Kayci crying in the next room.  Her ear hurt--by the way, why does it ONLY happen on Friday nights?  So I went in there to cuddle with her.  That lasted for a couple of hours, until Nobley woke up again at 4, unable to breathe for all of the snot.  Sorry, it's the truth.  He was so fussy, I finally got up and took him outside around 5 for a change of scene.  We came back in to watch the news at 5:30, and he finally fell asleep on the couch with me about 6.  And then, of course, at 6:19 Kayci came out of her room, crying.  Anyone relate to this?  

The silver lining--we got to cuddle in bed and watch our new favorite family show, "Opportunity Knocks."  We've got a call in to the doctor and have cancelled our Fair on the Square plans (darn it!).  Daddy took pity on Kayci and went to the donut store to pick up breakfast, and now we're all piled in our bed again, watching "Camp Rock."  Hopefully at least a couple of us will be able to take a nap this morning.  Sigh.  Well, gotta run--time for our Saturday morning Skype call to the kids.  Hope everyone's well where you are!