Round the Campfire - September

[rugman]

Jenna- super photos. Your farm looks so picturesque and peaceful. Beautiful colors.

Jo- So where you guys headed on your next trip? Or are staying home for a while? Visitors always welcome at my place, no need to keep it a secret

Spent the day out on prairie yesterday, and Ashley got her antelope. A nice buck and great one on one time with her away from phones, Ipods, computers, etc

Here's what I came up with for my studio area.

I purchase two unfinished base cabinets with drawers and stained to match rest of house. And built a countertop using leftover vinyl plank flooring that looks like wood.



A large portion of the countertop lifts up and there is storage for paper underneath. And on the left side of countertop is a small portion that lifts up to store stuff.




I made some small, shallow boxes to hold my pastels that stack and fit inside a drawer when Im not using them



Heres how it looks when pastels are all out



And how my studio area looks. I still need to get shorter extension cord for light and better protection from pastel dust on carpet. I do have chair and table top easels for when I want to paint sitting down. I use my computer screen most of time for painting ref, so I built a shelf next to easel for that. Now most everything is within easy reach, but can be stored away nicely with no clutter! And the lazyboy chair is not to far away either



Hi to everyone, hope your all having great weekend

[jennaboo88]

Hi everyone. Wow, the last day of September already? It feels like summer here though with beautiful sunny skies and warm temps. It's perfect weather lately.

Hi Donald. I hope you'll post some photos of the fall color in your area. I'm glad the move went well. It's a good kind of tired after accomplishing so much, isn't it?

Hi Robert. Any new big projects since "Fugue"?

Hi CK. That would be different, but I wouldn't mind seeing velvety green grass year around. Once the leaves are done here, we usually get that sad gray-brown until the snow brightens things up.

Hi DJ. Hope you and the kitty are hanging in there.

Hi Ron. Thank you! It is peaceful out here to be sure. Only about ten cars pass through this valley per day it seems. We're in the boonies. It would be nice to be a little closer to takeout food sometimes though!

Congratulations to Ashley on her antelope! How exciting for her! Do you make her dress and cut up the thing too? As a kid, my older brothers loved making me help with the dirty work of cutting the fat off their venison. And I never once wanted to hunt. The joys of being the youngest in the family - you have to do as your told even by older siblings.

Wow, what a fantastic studio you've made for yourself! I love it, Ron. You thought of everything! Looks like so much fun. Nice and roomy, yet tidy and clean. You must love it! Well done!

[Lisa M]

Hi all!
Jo-You caught my comment to Ron--funny!

Jenna--I always love your pastoral photographs. Especially the last one. Do you mind if I steal it? I might print it and put it on my office door, if you don't care. I'll print your name along the bottom.

Yes I did find a local expert to come look at Cass. Normally I would have to trailer to his place 70 miles away, but he is flying out for work and will be coming here either tomorrow morning before his flight or Wed after he returns. Lucky me! He's not a licensed practitioner, but he has a great reputation and I've already been through 2 veterinarians and a chiro-licensed DVM with no results. Cross fingers!

Meanwhile I'm having a blast on my daily bareback rides on Tess. We've forged a new partnership in her compliance to start letting the barrel and cowhorse days go, a little. . . . She still loves to run above all other speeds, which makes for the smoothest trot ever because she glides just off the bit.

Ron--When I got to your pastel drawer photos, I thought, "He's left handed!" But then I saw the rest. Your set-up would be perfect for me if the easel sat on the desk. At the same time, what you have done is amazing and it would be perfect if reversed for a lefty. I love the little stand for your laptop. I get lots of pastel dust on mine. I always vacuum it after I finish a painting.

DJ--How are you and the Dude hanging in there? Maybe the photos from the round-up will cheer you up? Must be some good reference images from around the area. You can't leave a building without seeing cowboys and cowgirls (and horses). Happy place.

CK--Funny. . . and in part because in that photo, the falling leaves have made a perfect circle around that tree, indicating an intense lack of wind. We've had that here for the past week (after hurricane force for a few solid days--more the norm), and I've noticed those odd, picturesque leaf rings around the trees. . . . We don't usually have that. . . .

Donald--Our football kicked Missouri's butt. . . . Sorry. . . . But clearly you have more important things going on! How wonderful to have your family closer. I've missed mine of late.

Hello to Catherine, Lenore, Deb, Don, everyone. . . and I hope you're enjoying the fall weather!