So Busy

There is nothing that can set a fire under your " tail feathers", like inviting family & friends to your house for a party ! That will get you moving. And help motivate you to finish & do projects that you really want to get done. So, next weekend, we will be celebrating Gabriel's Graduation from high school, with a "crab feast"! I love hosting party's. And, this one will be a great way to kick off the summer. Yummy !
So, I have been buzzing around here like a "kookoo bird" : D !
But, I wanted to drop in show you the portrait I just finished. These two sweet dogs have been best friends since they were pups. But, Brecca's ( the smaller dog) Mom is moving to St. Louise. So, Jackson's Mom, had me do this portrait of the two of them as a going away gift. When I showed it to her, she said , "oh, she is going to cry when she sees this." That's what we are aiming for, "happy tears".

Best Friend's Forever

So, I should get back on blogging schedule after the kids are out for the summer. But, till then, I will be pretty "hit n miss" about it. I am really looking forward to the long summer days.
Amy

Deep Breath !

Oh my, it has been awhile since my last post. I have had to stay away from the computer, because I just have not had the time. Much has been going on. Finishing up the school year (still not done), but getting closer. Finishing up the school year with 4 children is.....CRAZY ! Run here, be there, help with this.....NUTTY !.....But, it must be done : ).
And my oldest, Gabriel, is graduating this year ! Announcements and a party to plan.
Then there were three dance recitals , with rehearsals.
Then we finally made time to plant our garden.
A couple commissions , yeah!
I made a sale in my etsy shop, yeah ! ! : ).
Not to mention all the stuff that needs to happen, that just count as "everyday life".
Oh boy, I have felt a bit panicy. No, Really ! My head has been spinning lately.

I am so looking forward to SUMMER !!!!

O.K. Take a Deep Breath Amy and Keep On
Going !

Mom's Day

Ian on his 3 rd. Birthday ! Horse lover from the beginning. I do not ride horses(I have never been on such a large horse, ever!) my husband does not ride. This passion for horses is coming from somewhere in our past.But, the first time he saw a horse.... he was in love.
I thought when I started this post I was going to talk about my Mom's Day. But, it changed. Becus, in the end, Ian was not well this weekend. He has, those teeth, the kind that are unforgiving. He has had more work done on them than a movie star. And, my Brother-in-Law is a Dentist.(we get a discount)It does not seem to matter how hard we try. They will act up when ever they want. Putting my Ian Bird in pain, (Ian Bird is his nick name). That is a portrait of him
playing in the birdbath over to the side, in the My Art Section. He loves being outside, allways has. Loves all animals. Cried when his little white mouse" Monjarah" died, he had him for almost two years. Ian with A BLACK Arabian Baby Horse. This baby was a dream come true, for Ian's friend Dee, Arabian's are her life time passion. Dee is in her 70's now. Ian was her stable guy. They are good friends and Ian has spent alot of time in her stables. They have a wonderful friendship. I am very thankful to Dee, but she tells me she is thankful for Ian.

But, honestly, he is just one of the most beautiful young men you would ever want to meet.
Today, we made our way to the Endodontist. His pretty face all swollen. I was able to give him antibiotic over the weekend & Advil. A great deal of the weekend was spent with his head on my lap , so I could rub his face & hair. He is a cuddly guy. Will he hate me for writing this, I do not think so.
Anyway, he had an infection where the root canal he had done last year was. It was under the tooth, so it was in his jaw bone. OMG. At any rate. It had to be fixed & now. Hopefully , she was able to make it right. Unfortunately, my son is all to used to the dentist chair, he thought she had done a good job, (she numbed his mouth well). Well, all I can say is that "The Mikado" paid for this .
I have been planting my art seeds any where I can, since I left being master scenic (weekly paycheck). This was going to be my harvest month, small, but, fruitful all the same.
Well, Thank Goodness!!!!

O.K. A Very Good Recipe
It was part of our Mothers Day Dinner_

Here is the recipe: You will love it !
Rhubarb Casserole
6 Cups rhbarb, cut in 1/2 pieces
2 eggs , lightly beaten
1 lemon slice
2 whole cloves ( I used fresh nutmeg )
1 tbsp. butter ( I used more : () )
1 1/2 Cups sugar
1/4 Cups flour
Combine sugar & flour. Add rhubarb & stir till well coated. Add eggs, stir in, batter well form, this is where I added fresh ground nutmeg.
Pour into buttered 2 qt. casserole. Place lemon slice on top & stod with cloves, ( i spinkled fresh nutmeg) over lemon. Dot with butter. Bake at 325 for 1 hour, till it all thickens.
This was on the side on our plate, like cranberry's would be used.
It is very pretty & yummy.
Try it , easy & GOOOOOD !

Happy Mothers Day

I would like to wish all the Mom's and Mommy's to be , out there in blogland "A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!"

This is a pastel painting of me & my daughter Hannah. I am pregnant with my last child Rowan. She was born 2 days before my 40th birthday.

I am getting a swing set for my Mothers Day ! I got the same gift for Mom's Day 11 years ago, when my older kids were little.
So, Rowan & I have been designing a simple yet charming set. It is good to be married to a cabinetmaker .
All you Moms & Mom's to be, out there have a lovely day. Amy Sullivan

An Ordinary Thursday? NOT!

This morning I didn't say a word about it. Got everyone off to school. I dropped the girls off at their two schools , then dropped my husband off at work,(all in my jammys). Getting 4 kids out the door can be tricky.
But, today as soon as I got home , I got myself together & back out the door I went to pick up the girls . What a surprise! I love that... it is good to turn an ordinary Thursday into something special.

We got to the theatre just in time for the 10:30 , morning mattinee, to see Peter Pan at the Theatre where I was the master scenic.
It was wonderful! And, yes magical. Ford, who plays Peter , well....he is Peter Pan. A very talented actor. I am a huge fan of taking children to the theatre. Both girls had LARGE smiles while watching the show. We then went to the resterant on the corner called "Comfort" and had a yummy lunch. This resterant is owned by some dear friends of mine. And it is all the name says it is , Comfort food.
The theatre is in downtown Richmond, Theatre IV.
What a great Thursday!
as always have a lovely day, Amy

small portraits

I have been working on these small portraits. They are only 7"x9". I am enjoying them very much.
As always, I take bad pictures. So , please , click on the picture to see the line work. I have made this my habit , when I visit an artists sight, it is really amazing what you miss if you don't click. It is a really fun tool. (up close and personal & all)
These two are on their way to my etsy shop. I have really been a poor etsy artist & want to change that. It is, just that most of my art is still face to face. I will never want to change that .
But, I have felt guilty, with my poor attention to my little store there.
I will sale these as originals, I am still undecided about making prints of them. ....What do you think ? As always, "Have a Lovely Day", amy

May Day

RABBIT , RABBIT !!!
Happy May Day! Spring is in the air... happy, happy, joy,joy!
I have been working hard and loving it.
Feeling soooo much better than i did last week.
I will be doing some of the above next week.
Marbleizing.
I have perfected my technique. I don't do as much as I used too. But, there was a time, aside from all the marbleizing i have done for scene painting. When I had quite the little business, marbleizing
in peoples homes, fireplaces, columns, walls...
Anyway, i was asked to do some columns next week. It will be fun.
o.k. enjoy yourself. amy