Quick update of the past few days...

I spent all day yesterday with my mom. It was great--we went gallivanting in the rain into the valleys of Greene County which she had no idea existed, and which secretly are part of the reason I love this place so much. We stopped at Dinky's for a moment, but I saw too many things that I knew I would bid on, so we just came home. I sold a bunch of my work to her, so she's now my best customer, and life is a little better knowing some money is coming to me.

On Wednesday I went down to the University in order to get some works ready to submit to their annual juried student art show. This is the last time I'm eligible, so I'm a nervous wreck about getting in. I matted work from 12-6:30, and by the time I got home I had blisters on my feet because they were so swollen (thanks to the kid that's inside me), and I had a heck of a time getting my socks off my oversized feet. Needless to say Thursday was a resting day.

The painting professor was a life saver though, she went out of her way to help me make sure my paintings got into the show. Heck if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have even known that the show was next week. She is somebody all professors should strive to be. An amazing teacher, role model, and above all friend to all the students that are in the art program. If she only knew how much she meant to me these past few semesters.

That brings me to today--I think I'm going to venture up to the studio today and ATTEMPT to tidy it a bit in order to maybe paint with some acrylics next week. The Rosie painting is asking to be painted whether it's a girl in my belly or not. So I'll let you know how that goes. Plus, the gallery opening is on Tuesday so wish me luck on getting something into the show!

Projects to do if this kid is a GIRL...

I know it's selfish, but secretly I'm hoping this little rolling, tiny ball inside me is female. Not because I think little boys are gross and dirty--because, believe me, I DO NOT want a girlie-girl. I want a rough-and-tumble tomboy who is an all American Farm Girl like I was. No I think the reason I want a girl is mostly to decorate her room. If this kid is a boy I'm going to be clueless on how to make a cool 'boy's room'--BUT--I have tons of ideas for a really neat 'girl's room'--for instance:

I found this project on Two Brunettes' Blog:



Easy enough--just a butterfly punch and magazines to punch from and a frame to put them in when you've punched enough of them--quite a statement.

The second project is to paint yet another "Rosie the Riveter" (since I gave the first one I did to a friend) because I feel it's important to let your kid know from an early age that they can do ANYTHING they can dream of if they just push themselves--to see my monochromatic original "Rosie" painting that I did scroll down a few posts below this one.

The Orchard has been Ordered.

Last night we ordered what will be the start of our orchard.

2 Apple Trees
2 Peach Trees
2 Grape Vines
4 Blueberry Bushes
3 Raspberry Bushes
25 Strawberry Plants

In the coming years we'll add Apricots, Cherries, Plums, and Pears to the orchard too.

I'm really excited!

At Dinky's on Friday there were a lot of kid goats. Makes a girl wish she had one of her own. It's hard to take a chance on one at the auction because they rarely show them suckle a bottle, and guaranteed the one I would buy would end up not wanting to take a bottle. There were a couple that were weaning size (which actually go cheaper than the "cute" bottle babies, but are a lot less risky), but I don't want to spring one on my husband just yet. The chicks are still 1-2 bucks a piece, so I didn't buy anything but some rabbit feeders that went really cheap.

Second Trimester and a Chance to Refocus

This is a painting I did of Rosie the Riveter

I always liked the slogan "We Can Do It!"

It helps remind me that

I can make this business, and

my dreams work as long as I keep moving forward.

Next week will push me into the second trimester--I'm already a third of the way through this pregnancy! With the end of my first trimester I'm hoping there will also be an end to the fatigue, nausea, and the overall blah feeling. I've got to get refocused and start moving forward again. I've sort of slowed to a snail's pace since I've gotten pregnant, but now that I'm feeling human again I've got to speed back up.

First, is getting out of this house and gallivanting to small towns and such like I said I was going to. Second, is to get more things listed on etsy, AND get my name out there for people to see. Third, is to continue to blog on here and let all of you know what I'm up to.