Horse Drawn Wagon

 Mom and I visited Jamesport, and we found plenty of Amish at the local market.  Buggies were parked, awaiting their riders, while others dotted the roads and shops in town.  It wad a lovely day to be out, and fun to share this place with Mom.  She's been wanting to come up here for years!  Painting number 4984 in 4984 days. 

Cardinal

 

We've had so many cardinals out in the snow  - so I just HAD to paint one!  So many were sitting on the ground under the feeders, gathering seeds dropped by other birds.  The north side was sheltered from the wind, and they shared the space with other feathered friends.  Perhaps I'll paint a few of them tomorrow!  Painting number 4771 in 4771 days. 

Winter Cardinal

We have so many cardinals frequenting the bird feeders, and I love to watch them and sketch them!  The light snow overnight left a perfect dusting on branches to add that winter magic!  So far, the new kittens are only watching the birds, and occasionally climbing the trees to get near them!  Our cats have always gotten along with the birds through the years, and I hope that continues!  Painting number 4765 in 4765 days. 

Our Coop

 

These sweet chickens are constant entertainment for the whole family - and I'm so happy to get to paint them!  We're preparing for a new horse to arrive, so our days are full of farm work.  We've got two wood piles burning as I clear dead branches from the woods around the chicken coop.  Travis was out to help Mike with fencing, and Michaela and her family joined, too.  Finishing after dark, we came in for calico bean soup,Yahtzee and a game of Kings on the Corner.  Of course, Mom joined us for the games!  We've been playing cards a lot while Mike has had so many days off for the holidays. I love these quiet winter days full of progress and family fun!  Painting number 4749 in 4749 days. 

Our Chicks

 

There's always enough time to paint our chicks, after spending time giving them treats!  It's been a full day of trying to catch up on chores, and now we're enjoying the grandkids by the campfire!  It's warmed up a bit and there is no wind, so Nolan, Quinn and Layne helped pick up sticks to build the fire.  I love spending time outside, even in the cold of winter.  Painting number 4746 in 4746 days. 

Winter Chickies

 

It was a lovely morning spent outside until those north winds started to blow.  I enjoyed a hot mug of tea early, barefoot on the porch, before starting the chores of the day.  I wrapped a few tree trunks in burlap, hanging shiny ornaments from their topmost bough, to protect them from the deer.  We dug a few more post holes for the new fence, trying to get ready for the horse. I squeezed in some indoor gardening between tasks, and the temperature dropped every hour.  I spent a lot of time tending to the chickens, even rubbing Vaseline on the tall combed girls!  Last super cold day, we had a few with tiny bits of frostbite, so I'm hoping to prevent that this time.  We're supposed to go to 13 degrees after a warm 64 degree start. Thankfully,  the girls don't seem to mind the cold! Painting number 4744 in 4744 days. 

TWSBI Fountain Pens!

 

We're doing something new and fun at Urban Sketchers KC!  Fountain Pen Friday! Here's my first sketch to kick off the fun!  I'd you'd like to join the fun, post and use the hashtag #urbansketcherskc and #fountainpenfriday!  This idea popped up during our planning meeting yesterday for the Urban Sketchers KC 2026 calendar.  So, for our initial post, I grabbed a few of my newest pens loaded and unloaded, to sketch!  Once I fill with an ink in a matching color, I stand them in the tea box, nib up. Those new ones are laying on their sides, waiting for my attention.  So, THIS is the perfect in process sketch!  Painting number 4721 in 4721 days. 

Wild Turkeys

 

Wild Turkeys seemed too be the perfect subject on this holiday!  We had most of the family out for our Thanksgiving celebration, and Bill and Evelyn joined us, too.  They are normally in Arizona by now, but they aren't leaving until next week.  It's always like running a race to get everything ready, but so nice once the work is done.  It's great to visit and play with the grandkids! I'm so thankful for every day, and each person in my life!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Painting number 4713 in 4713 days. 

Union Station KC MO

 

I posted yesterday's Union Station painting in the evening, and this morning it sold before i could leave the house!  So, in a mad dash to come up with another that would match my inventory for Powell Gardens,  I put this one in it's place.  Union Station is a favorite place to paint this time of year, and I hope to get there a few more times while the halls are decked!  This painting and 7 other are now showing at Powell Gardens. Be there first to get your choice!  Painting number 4697 in 4697 days. 

Union Station KC

SOLD

 

This is one of 8 paintings going into the Powell Gardens gallery for the holidays!  I have a special collection of winter and holiday paintings to install tomorrow,  and this is the only Union Station one.  I love painting here during the holidays, when the Station is decked out with it's iconic tree, companion trees and garland. This place holds a special place in my heart!  Painting number 4696 in 4696 days.  Come early to get first pick! 

Swallowtail and Pumpkin

 

I love these beautiful days in the garden - with my paints!  The butterflies have been so abundant in recent weeks, so welcome after their sparse presence earlier in the season.  This has been the first year I've noticed a decline in their numbers around our farm.  With so many wildflowers and pasture land, pollinators have been plentiful through the years. This one will be heading to Powell Gardens next week. Painting number 4636 in 4636 days. 

Damiyr at Yoga Bliss

Not available 

Yoga Bliss was such an amazing retreat weekend, I can hardly touch the surface of what it embodied.  Damiyr played at one of the concerts during that event, and his music was so powerful and heartfelt.  It was my pleasure to capture the moment in pen and ink. Painting number 4608 in 4608 days. 

Redbud Butterfly

 

Grandmother's old redbuds are blooming, and i just had to paint the butterflies drawn to their vivid pink blooms!  I have a special journal that I'm sketching much nature into, and I'm hoping to paint all is my perennial favorites. We're busy working outside before some of the family head over - and i better get back to work!  I'm transplanting lillies, phlox and dame's rocket today! Painting number 5150 in 5150 days. 

Flowing Pear

 

It's so fun to paint the blooms as they unfold on our flowering trees!  This spring has truly been one of the most beautiful ones I can remember!  All the trees seem to be in bloom at the same time - pears, plums, redbuds, and the forsythia and daffodils are at peak, too.  I think the lilacs will open tomorrow, and you know I'll have to get them painted ASAP!  It's such a busy time but I simply must make time to paint the fleeting bloom time beauty!  Too soon it will be summer, and a whole new season of bloom will be upon us!  Painting number 5145 in 5145 days. 

First Pansies

 

Today finds me in the garden for a quick pansy sketch before family come by! Yesterday's rain was a little hard on them, but they are still shining this morning.  Pansies are so sweet in early spring, and each line and brushstroke while in the garden lifts my soul.  I soon will have a couple of little helpers out here, too!  Painting number 5143 in 5143 days. 

Upper Hot Springs Trail

From the very top of the Upper Hot Springs Trail, I find my way to the edge of the cliff for this spectacular view of the landscape below.  Prominent is the Rio Grande flanked by the Chihuahuan Desert. Mexico is on the left and Texas is on the right, divided by shadow water easily crossed.  In fact, Mexicans cross daily on horseback to sell tamales and wares from Boquillas. They seem to pop over as soon as the Border Patrol drives away.  After the sketch, I reached for my oils to paint this is a slightly different composition. What an amazing perch from which to paint!  Painting number 5101 in 5101 days. 

Bee Mountain

This beauty is right out our front window view in Terlingua, Texas.  It was the very first sketch I did on site, as the sun was setting.  After a bit of research, I found the name of this one is Bee Mountain.  It was so named because of the numerous bees that would build their hives in the crevices in the sides of this mountain until settlers eventually destroyed them in collecting the honey.  My daughter took a photo of three long horned goats on the side of it as they drove by!  It is so cool to see wildlife we never see in Missouri!  Painting number 5096 in 5096 days. 

KC Arrowhead Inked

It's that time again!  As the Super Bowl approaches, I just have to wash some ink in support of our hometown boys!  The excitement around the city is palpable and i simply must get a few Chiefs paintings done before the big day!  I first sketched this with India ink, then went over those lines with a chisel tip Pitt pen.  Next, I dropped in a favorite new fountain pen ink - Grotto - by Diamine, then washed in a juicy layer barely touching the edge of that ink.  The ink moves freely into the very wet masses with a mind of it's own.  How fun it is to watch it unfold!  Painting number 5090 in 5090 days. 

Sparrows Jingle

I really enjoy watching the little birds in my yard!  The sparrows are so social, they group around the feeders and bushes, chattering in a cheerful way.  They've grown used to the jingle bells I've hung near them, so it's easy to sketch them in their habitat.  With ink and watercolor I complete this small painting, another in this year's Christmas card series.  I love my sketch time spent ioutdoors, it's so very peaceful here.  Painting number 5050 in 5050 days. 

Jingle Wren

This sweet Carolina wren is one of several that nest all around the place. I find their nests in watering cans, hanging baskets and even on my enclosed back porch when they find a way in!  I've hung a few red bells in their favorite places, and it is fun to watch their reactions!  At first, they were leary of the tinkle, but soon they got close and even pecked at them.  I'm painting these sweet birds for my Christmas cards, and choosing to do them simply, without the noise of a background to detract from the focus.  I like to get quiet and become one with my subject, and let all else fall away.  And then I finish, and the countless duties of the day are calling, and I rejoin the world once more  painting number 5042 in 5042 days.