A Heartfelt Sentiment

I just saw that requests for dog licenses has skyrocketed in DC. I'm not surprised because we see so many of them in our neighborhood and it has been said if you want a friend in Washington - get a dog. This town is also a lot tougher to live in than many others. It's very different from Milwaukee in so many ways! Last week I received an unexpected email from someone I did a custom pet portrait for last year. "I wanted to thank u again for doing our dog, Kota's picture....the yellow lab....he passed away this morning...im glad i had u do it - u captured him perfectly...i was just looking at the picture....i really do love it....so does my husband....we really appreciate it..." Two dogs have graced our family - a golden retriever and a Borzoi. And it's so tough to see them go. I suppose that's why I really enjoy creating pet portraits. Since we no longer have one of our own it sort of fulfills the need. And when I get an unexpected note like this it makes me feel even better. 

Artwork Sold on Fine Art America - Pixels.com

I have been sketching on my iPad since I got the first device about four years ago. I wouldn't leave the house until it arrived. Since that time I opened an Etsy shop and Fine Art America website to name just two to showcase my digital art. I do a lot of custom pet portraits, but also scenes from holidays and places we travel - Iran, England, France, Copenhagen. And of course Washington DC has inspired quite a few images as well as three children's books. But it is always so exciting to get a notice when someone purchases one of these scenes - this time it was a Nowruz haft-sin - from someone in Los Angeles. The notice comes via email and it can be shared on social network sites. It's really pleasing to know someone appreciates what you produce and share or display it in some way. It is the highest form of flattery for any artist. Additionally, sometimes fellow artists comment on the purchased artwork and I always thank them for noticing. That makes it even better! Thanks for looking at my Fine Art America/pixels.com website. I really appreciate it!

Exposed - the Secret Life of Roots at the US Botanical Garden

It's always a good time to stop at the US Botanical Garden on a Monday morning. And so we did - to see the new exhibit "Exposed - the secret life of roots." Before we reached the roots area, we quickly ran through the orchids and succulents sections. Passing by the pools of water surrounded by citrus trees, the Christmas trains exhibit area has been replaced with two huge walls of roots. It is a sight to behold. Most of the roots were taller than us - a lot taller. It reminded me - in height anyway - of the red ant tunnels that my FSU biology professor has written, photographed, and casted so much about. On the exit glass door facing the Capitol Building are decals of vegetables that represent what soon will be growing in the gardens outside all around the building itself. Or maybe they serve as reminders about what to think about growing in your own garden. This is one of my favorite places to visit as the seasons change because there is always something different to see. It's so bright and pleasant, but a little warm when you're still wearing winter coats. After our stop here we headed out to the Mall and back to our favorite breakfast spot. It's a nice way to start the week and sure beats going to work. 

Spring on DC - Dinner Boats, Tourists, Rowing, Road Repairs, and Cherry Blossoms

We had to wait until Memorial Day to plant flowers in the garden in Milwaukee. I'm hoping that is not the case here because the past couple of winters have felt more like Milwaukee than a place a little more south. But the signs of the season suggest otherwise. The rowers are out in full swing along the Potomac. The garden and mulch trucks are all over. And of course, road repairs begin as soon as possible especially because of all the pot holes. The huge dinner tourist boat was sailing under Memorial Bridge right near the cherry blossom field that within weeks will be magnificent. Just a hint of green is showing in the trees and the geese are still hanging around. The rugby teams are out by the monuments, and the tourists are scurrying about near the tidal basin seeking a tiny blossom or two. The air and space museum is always crowded, and traffic is getting more congested with tour and sightseeing buses as the days pass. I would say that this time of the year seems to be busier than any other. It is particularly pretty. We have worn our winter coats to see the cherry blossoms on more than one occasion. In spite of what's going on around us, I have a feeling I better not put it away quite yet. 

A Rainy Day at Costco Beats the Total Wine Store and Macy's

We were thinking about getting our wine restocked and look for some pants to wear around the house when our friend called to say she was making a run to Costco. We became members in November and haven't been back since because we have such a tiny space and the stuff lasts for quite some time. We have toothpaste and razors to last for two years! But since it was a lousy day and we wanted to get a few things anyway, we decided to go. The Christmas decor has all been replaced with spring goods - Easter chocolate bunnies and eggs replaced the Christmas trees and ornaments. I was running out of ink for my printer and decided to get some cartridges, and the wine was selected without difficulty. I could spend a lot of time checking out all the other stuff there, but we needed to be back home for a house appointment. Probably the best part of this outing (aside from the wonderful company) was finding our favorite cheese - P'tit basque. On the way to the check out we noticed a slew of pants just waiting to be taken. So we sorted through them and found two pair. At that price you simply can't go wrong. The parking lot seemed a lot busier than the amount of activity in the place and by the time we got out it was relatively quiet compared to Christmas time. So we are once again well stocked with napkins and Kleenex - and pants! - but need to remember to bring our own bags the next time. One of these days we will get the hang of it. 

How Many Digital Devices Do You Have?

It started with a desktop computer and that was all we had in our "office space" in Milwaukee. A laptop joined it soon after. When we moved to DC, we got a new and reliable Toshiba laptop. We surely didn't have an office space in a 500 square foot apartment. How things have changed! My Kyocera smartphone was changed to an iPhone. Then my husband's hand held device was changed to another iPhone. We needed another laptop so each if us could use our own - or at least one was more reliable than the other. Oh- I forgot to mention the iPod we got for all my music before the iPhone.  Once the iPad came around, things really changed. I got the very first iPad as soon as it was available. I waited by the window for it to be delivered - and I was thrilled! I just knew it would be the next generation of easy and useful. In between that I got one for my elderly mom, who uses it for email and for reading. I convinced my sister she needed one. We sent one to our friends in England. I replaced my iPad with an iPad two, and gave mine to my husband. Our iPhones have been updated to a four and a five. I'm itching to get the 6 - just because I rely so much on my social media connections and my digital art and these devices make life so much easier - or do they? This past November I got the latest iPad Air and it is used primarily for my art. All my art is created on the iPad. I paint my portraits using a stylus rather than a brush. It's so much neater than watercolor and pastels, and my studio travels with me. I still use my iPad two as a backup. My ten year old laptop was dying and replaced with a touchscreen Toshiba laptop last year because there are still some things I can only do with a laptop. I'm still attached to windows and haven't been able to warm up to the Apple laptop line. I'm not sure where it all ends, but I really like gadgets. Can you tell? I wonder what will happen when the TV crashes?

The Anniversary Wish

We have been married a lot longer than twenty years - almost forty! But the official twenty year mark was this past weekend. We usually don't make a lot out of most holidays or landmarks. That may seem odd to most everyone - but we try to treat every day like a holiday or celebration - mentally anyway. So it is always an extra treat to be reminded when someone else thinks about it. Our neighbors from Milwaukee always remember. And it's really touching to know that. So we just want them to know how grateful we are to have kept up the friendship even after we moved here several years ago. In this town it's especially nice to still have friends from elsewhere because it can be difficult to make them here for a lot of reasons.