Cook's Day Off

2011-04-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

2008-12-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

I tried to get Hannah to sit still but most of the pictures were blurry because she just couldn't quite sit still for me. As you can see, the green balloon came in front of the camera at one point, so she's all green!

I LIKE THIS PIC

2008-02-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

"Mike" loves you.

2007-12-06T18:38:00.000-08:00

An interesting cloud formation one evening at sunset

2007-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

2007-11-13T00:25:00.000-08:00

2007-11-13T00:19:00.000-08:00

2007-11-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

I did this with Sandy's "Knock at my door" occasional series in mind...haha...we were just goofing around with paints.

2007-11-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

A2Z 2gether

A2Z Monday ..Arthur's Artichoke

2007-11-11T23:07:00.000-08:00

This is what happened. I decided to draw an artichoke for my A picture. Sandy took quite a while to get inspired to draw something but then decided to draw a dog and name him Arthur. After I did my painting I asked her what she thought I could put in my background. She suggested that her Arthur come into my drawing because he really likes artichokes, so there he is. So now Arthur may become a regular in our A2Z drawings just because we like him. He has lots of unique likes and dislikes and seems to want to hang around for a while. (This is getting posted an hour before Monday, but I think it's close enough as to not require me to do another one for tomorrow.) By the way, I was going to do a simple, quick sketch but it turned into an all day project, using gaouche (sp.) paints which I may have used years ago and only once. All I know is some tubes had been opened.

2007-11-10T23:03:00.000-08:00

These are different angles...the bottom one I shot through the stained window glass in the front door.

2007-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

From my balcony at home the night before I left to come here to Sandy's. It was getting very close to sunset and the formations were just amazing to me. And the clouds were in constant motion, so I took several pictures. Here are two for now.

2007-11-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

A drawing from the night before I headed to Sandy's

2007-11-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

I have to put this up...Erin let Hannah pick her outfit today, and this is what she chose to wear. It was given to her by a friend of her daddy's family and it now just fits her. She was so excited to wear it and when I brought out the camera she just kept posing with a big grin on her face.

2007-11-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

I mentioned below I want to do more drawing in colored pencils on a black background.

2007-11-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

I have a dim memory of maybe having posted these in the not too distant past, but I don't feel like going through the archives to find out. But the point is that I love to draw very colorful pictures on the black paper. I'd like to try a series of plants and fruits on black...hey, that way the "blackground" is taken care of!

2007-11-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

This is a drawing in colored pencils that I did years ago. I guess it's at Sandy's because she took it and photographed it for me. Obviously the sunlight was from her picture taking...I like it. Then she manipulated the image, turned it around and cropped it and put a frame on it for me. I'm glad she did because I had forgotten about doing this one. When I first tried any form of art, I used colored pencils exclusively.

2007-11-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

I saw this ad with Liz Taylor when she was a lot younger. They're using it for her White Diamonds campaign. It was nice and big, so I really wanted to attempt it.

2007-11-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

Digging through old pictures...these birds were done with acrylics. This was several years ago, but I can't recall how long ago.

2007-11-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

2007-11-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd toss up a few more photos from Montana de Oro.

2007-11-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

A late night drawing...using Nicole Kidman's picture in the L.A. Times.

2007-11-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

An ear turns into a rose. I worked on that ear and got BORED with it and, also, didn't want to keep erasing and trying to get it right...so I tore out the page, crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash. I am a failure! I failed the ear challenge. So be it. So just to get something drawn, I used some colored ink pens and did this. It's simple and colorful and much more satisfying than somebody's ear to draw. haha

2007-11-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is an oil on canvas board that I did from a picture of Holly when she was first born. I just discovered this in some pictures I have.

2007-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

One thing I've found...with my poor eyesight drawings look better in person...softer ... and with digital cameras every little stroke and every tiny dot shows up and they don't look quite as good because I guess one can see it too well...haha. Anyway, this is the last of the portraits I've tried and I'm putting it up anyway. Robert Goulet just died recently,and I saw this photo of him in a magazine and thought I'd give it a try.

2007-11-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Misjudging the power of the waves...a moment later he was all wet!

2007-11-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here's my bird for the challenge...I used colored pencils

2007-11-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

It's pretty wild in this area and the waves come crashing across these outcroppings ...they took Ken by surprise and he got soaked. Also, some kind of movie was being filmed on this little beach ... could've even have been a video or modeling shoot going on. We didn't ask...we didn't bother them and they didn't bother us! ;)

2007-11-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

Back to some photos of the drive we took and the beach we stopped at. To get to the beach you drive through this eucaplyptus grove and it's very much like being in mountains. But then you look out to your right after you drive through this area...and behold the sea!

2007-11-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

CC posted a story about Maya on CC's blog, which I loved reading, and it gave me the idea to go search for a picture of her. After talking to DD, turns out we had the same idea and went to the exact same picture of her. I don't think DD has had a chance to draw or paint it yet, but I'm looking forward to it when she does because I know she will use color and possible Corel to enhance it. I, however, do not have that program and don't feel like learning something new! I don't have time.

2007-11-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

If this is up here, then my comments on it will be in the comment section since I've written out a long, wordy thing and I don't think it posted.

2007-11-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Lala's favorite picture in the windowseat.

2007-11-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Also a different crop of the same picture. DD and CC...wanna try to paint or draw the one bird below as a little project? I'm gonna try it tonight if I have a chance.

2007-11-04T09:21:00.001-08:00

This is a cropped version of the photo below.

2007-11-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

This little inlet was covered with moss and a lot of birds hung out there. I love it when I can get a bird in flight!

2007-11-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

We took a drive to the beach at Montana de Oro yesterday...it was warmer there than inland because of the high that has settled in for a day or two. I got some great pictures there...then we headed back inland for a game of golf...it was sunny and humid inland. Then we ate dinner out and headed home. At home it was completely fogged in and COLD! It was like three different weather zones in the course of about 35 miles! Today it's literally dripping all over right here in our neighborhood from the thick, thick fog, but inland it's probably sunny and warm. I took this picture from the car.

2007-11-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to try a hand and an arm...well, ya gotta start somewhere, right?

2007-11-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Katie has the widest smile, so her face is difficult for me to capture. Her face is actually narrower than this, but that smile and teeth...not that easy for me to get.

2007-11-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here's my little scribble ink drawing...using Hannah's pics in the wagon as my inspiration. Of course, that is not and does not look like Hannah....it's just a little kid.

2007-11-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

My daily drawing. DD posted a whimsical painting today, and I happened to draw one in colored pens last night but haven't photographed it yet. I think my drawing would be considered a cartoon...just a bit of scribbling with a limited number of colored pens. Maybe tomorrow I'll have time to photograph it and put it up.

2007-10-31T15:19:00.000-07:00

I believe I did this one a couple weeks ago and forgot about it. It was right after she was crying on her show about the dog she had adopted.

2007-10-31T15:14:00.000-07:00

Let's just say I used that picture of Hunt as my guide to drawing a little boy in front of a fence. I have tried many times to draw Hunter and I can't capture him the way I want to...but it was fun trying.

2007-10-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

This is my drawing for the day...supposed to be Meryl Streep but I keep seeing Faye Dunaway, so obviously it's not that good. But I just want to keep my hand in drawing.

2007-10-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

I want to share these two pictures of Hunter because, number one, I think he's beautiful, inside and out; and number two, I'm thinking his gramma might want to save these off to her pictures; and number three, he is so sweet for a five-year-old. I hadn't seen him in almost a year and I could see changes in his face...his face is longer and narrower...he's growing up!

2007-10-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

2007-10-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

2007-10-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 6:30 this morning and read the paper and decided to try a drawing of Hannah with pea juice in her hair...a photo I had taken one day while feeding her.

2007-10-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Queen Latifa...it wasn't a very good photo for detail and her eyes were nearly closed, but I did want to attempt a drawing of her.

Posting some photos I got of Hannah

2007-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

Thought I would put them here if that's okay....They were so adorable..

2007-10-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

2007-10-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

2007-10-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Look who came to visit!

2007-10-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hannah is a doggy for Halloween and she has a tail, which she loves!

2007-10-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

2007-10-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

These were taken before the smoke from the fires came to town. We do have a lot of smoke here from probably the Santa Barbara fire(s).

2007-10-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

Not sure which lighting and background I like best.

2007-10-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

George Clooney...again, I made his eyes too big. I can't help myself!

2007-10-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

And, of course, she was reading at 4 months old...hahaha

2007-10-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Remember this one? 4 months old and at the tennis court with us. hahaha

2007-10-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Sandy, since you got a pic of Cayden at four months old (because Kenzie is almost that age) I thought I'd look for one of Hannah at the same age. It's fun to look back and see how far they've come and how much they changed and grown!

2007-10-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is from a picture of Joaquin Phoenix...he's the one who played Johnny Cash in the movie "Walk the Line."

2007-10-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, this was a "perfect" looking, airbrushed model in an add...how boring! So I elongated her face, her nose, enlarged her eyes and lips and tried to make more of an ethnic look for her.

2007-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

A nighttime visitor in Sandy's "at my door" series.

2007-10-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

2007-10-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Some days are just too beautiful to even take it in, in person. You know you should deeply appreciate it, but it's almost too much!

2007-10-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

2007-10-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

This isn't anyone anybody would know.

2007-10-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is a very small little town built on hills right at the beach.

2007-10-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Dry dock and a house on a hill in Avila. I've always wanted to get a picture of this. We walked through the whole town, up hill and down.

2007-10-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Another day...a walk in Avila and a playground that's just right for Hannah.

2007-10-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is a caricature (I'm just not sure of the spelling, but I know I've been spelling it wrong) of...oh, what's her name...shoot! I have to get up and go find out. It's right on the tip of my tongue...but ... well, wait a sec, ok?

Cameron Diaz...sorry about that mental lapse. It happens sometimes.

2007-10-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Gotta throw something up today (wink) so I thought I'd post this one...Paris Hilton from one of those entertainment magazines.

2007-10-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

In the mid 90's Ken and I actually stayed at this hotel...but we were there to move Erin's things out of a storage unit and it was during an El Nino year where the rain was not only slanted across everything, but the wind was strong and everything was flooding! We stayed in the end room at the top and there was a fireplace in the room. It was so cozy...but we didn't realize how beautiful the grounds were because of the storm.

This was just a lucky shot. The Monarch butterflies are coming back to the area for a few months. We were walking in front of that hotel on the sidewalk by the street when I suddenly saw several of these butterflies. I took four shots, but this is the only one that turned out clear.

2007-10-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

2007-10-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

This view looking back toward Pismo was taken from the grounds of the hotel in the picture below...and that is where we took a pathway on a walk which led out to the gazebo on the cliffs.

2007-10-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

My tries at Jolie, Pitt ... I had worked on them during the time I couldn't post, so I'm throwing up now.

2007-10-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

2007-10-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

A cartoon of Hannah and her balloons and the back door

2007-10-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

I just tried another picture and it went into draft and didn't post

2007-10-17T13:04:00.001-07:00

2007-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

It must be a meeting place for the birds.

2007-10-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Also testing...thanks DD

testing on my end as CM

2007-10-17T12:45:00.001-07:00

testing on my end

2007-10-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

as a blog author

2007-10-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

2007-10-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

A little grin...a cat not to be trusted.

AGAIN..I can't get pictures to either of my blogs!!!

2007-10-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

2007-10-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

A quickly sketched (scribbled?) self portrait I did last week before I suddenly became unable to post. I meant it as a cartoon by the way.

2007-10-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Blogger and Picasa together are not working for me

2007-10-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

No pictures will post, and I think I'm on the second day of this problem. So I'm out of commission until it's working for me again.

2007-10-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

The two pictures below show the hotel grounds we walked through along the cliffs to get over to the park area.

2007-10-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

There are so many choices here for nice walks with great views.

2007-10-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

Monday Show and Tell

2007-10-07T23:17:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to get Holly and Cayden, so these are my best attempts so far...but still not quite there. The third one is a younger Holly.

2007-10-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

That gazebo is a great place to sit and look at the view.

2007-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

DD...this is all behind the Shore Cliff hotel. Those are fishermen down there on the first picture.

2007-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

2007-10-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Erin and Hannah walking ahead of us towards the park which is located on the cliffs across the water on the left side of the picture. We cut through hotel grounds so we could see the views.

2007-10-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

These are good shots to show where we actually live. Looking back at the Pismo Beach pier, across the sand on the other side of the pier, and then behind the palm tree on the left there is a hill with a neighborhood on the hill. It's 1.8 miles from the house to the beach.

2007-10-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures from a long walk we took this week...approaching Dinosaur park from down by the hotels in Pismo, over a mile walk one way. I'd never taken this particular walk before, so had some new angle, at least, to photograph this area.