Canning Tomatoes with Jane.

Isn't it crazy?  I'm learning how to can whole tomatoes.  I still don't understand why it's called "canning" tomatoes when the containers are clearly made of glass.  Do people ever call it "jarring" tomatoes?  Because that would make sense.

A Finished Painting.

"Snake Nest (tentative title)." 12 X 12, gouache on paper, 2012.

Smashed pennies!

I love it when my friends travel, see a smashed penny machine, and KNOW that I would appreciate the gift.  So, a big thanks to V. Farmer for the Navy pier penny and the Iowa 80 Truck Stop penny. Also, a big thanks to "Sorry Charlie" for the Iowa Hall of Pride penny and the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Factory pennies.  And last but least, thanks, E-Daz for the Omaha Zoo Seahorse Penny. 

Just Some Photos From the Garden.

My cement gorilla is master of the garden. He's very zen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrmUqqFJ3zc

I'm not sure what the flowers in the back are called but I've dubbed them "the devil's paintbrush"

Vintage Coke Bottles and a Strange Owl.

Someone enlighten me.  I have no idea what this is.  It's an antique but that's as far as I've gotten.

The coke bottle was made in 1923.  The Pepsi bottles are pretty old as well.

A broken Native American Artifact and three fossils.

This summer has been horrendously hot.  The earth is dry and the water in the river is incredibly low.  There are some perks to having the water low, things that have been hidden under the water for years and years are finally exposed.  It's a good time to be a pirate and walk the river bank looking for treasure.

And treasure is what I found. We did some cyber sleuthing and found out that the Coke Bottle is ridiculously old.  The internet says it's from around 1923 (-1931) and I always believe the internet...

Along with the vintage bottles (and fossils and arrowheads remnants), I found this really strange owl.  I have no idea what it's origins are but I'm assuming it came from a bed post.  It was pretty cool to pull it out of the water, it's quite the find.

A Painting in Progress.

I was able to work on my painting for several hours and I think it's coming along pretty nicely. 

A Painting in Progress.

"Snake Nest" 13X13, windsor and newton gouache, 2012.

I'm trying to work in a smaller format and it's extremely challenging.  I've painted in a 22 X 30 format (or around that size) for the last 5 years of my life.  This is a tough, tough, tough transition but it's always good to challenge oneself.  I'm thinking about making 12 of these smaller paintings and presenting them in a modified grid on the wall.  Sooooo, painting in progress, guys, not too shabby.

Happy Friday.

The elephant has been tagged.  Courtesy of Mustard Sucks, 2012. Stay classy, Iowa.

I own a bird dog.

No birds were harmed in the making of this photo.

While I was taking pictures of flowers, Mudd managed to slip away from me.  When I found him he was sniffing a fuzzy-something and refused to come to me when I called.  I walked closer to the dog and saw what he was snuffling.  It was a baby robin.  The bird looked hot, it's been 100 + in Iowa with no end in sight.  I picked robin up, took him out of the sun, and placed him under a shady evergreen shrub.  I assume the bird is alive and doing well.