31 Days of Thankfulness

Last day, I saved the best for last - today I am thankful for those of you who visit this blog.  My posts are not as often as I would like...except for this month, which have been EVERY single day...but I THANK YOU dear reader for stopping by to check out 'dusting off the butterfly'.  As stated in my 'banner' above, I write about LIVING AS AN ARTIST IN KANSAS.
So you get art, but you get 'life here - FOR ME', as well.

Thankful for Warmth

Today, I am thankful for the same warm bed to sleep in each night, a bed that I know the mattress and the pillow for optimum rest and the warmth of the blankets - and the warmth of my DH and my critters 

that sleep with me. When I go places, I often take MY pillow. 

I am thankful for the chance to be cozy all night long,

and I know this is taken for granted by many of us...

because just think of those who DON'T have this.  

It makes my heart ache.

"Chaco Dreams"

6" x 8"

on Raymar canvasboard

P.S. - Don't forget to visit my Etsy shop - click on ETSY in the sidebar.

Thankful for Scarlett

I was there when MY granddaughter, Scarlett, 

was born in NYC in August of 2007.  

We all rode the subway into the city to the hospital the morning after my daughter's water had broken (on the subway).  It was all a thrilling adventure that any grandparent would find exciting.  I was in the room when she came into the world.  It was as special as my own daughter's birth.

Time to Celebrate

Today I am thankful for those times when LIFE is celebrated - that include, but aren't specific to - birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, passages, remembrances, and life changes.

(DH and his new granddaughter a few years ago.)

Well....well water...

Today I am thankful that I have a good bottle and/or a way to filter good drinking water.  We can't drink water straight from our well, it isn't safe to drink, but love a cold glass of the filtered or R.O. kind.

This is day 27 of thankfulness for me..and I am stretching here....

Where I Stand Sunday and Thankfulness

Don't do this often, but have done so today.  I have been sporadically working on this afghan...football games have kept me seated and watching - sometimes it's a little mindless, so I picked up my crochet 

and haven't been able to put it down.  

Today I am thankful (and I am sorry I didn't get a photo of it ) for the beautiful sunrise...and the ability to stand on the porch step and view it.

Today is All About MOM

Today, my mom would have been 85 years young.  

She passed away after a 3 year bout with cancer in 

July of 2011.  

Shopping DONE!

Today, I am thankful for the internet. I'm not doing much Christmas shopping this year - grandkids mainly, 

but it's done all the same, on the internet yesterday.

Each morning the internet allows me to be in touch with others - friends, family and new friends - artists who are like minded and not so like minded.  

I start my day being online, for inspiration, ideas, and the gentle nudging it gives me to 'sail on' through the day.

Today I start a new commission.  I am excited!

"Chaco"

charcoal/pastel drawing on black pastel paper

Thankful for YOU

Today, I am thankful that there are readers of my blog.  I know you come by, because I keep track of the stats, 

although not many of you leave comments or messages...

that's OK, thanks for stopping by - glad to know you have been here.  

I write for you - and me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thankfulness in the Kitchen

Today I am thankful (hopefully) that my oven works and will be able and willing to cook my Thanksgiving meal tomorrow.  ONE YEAR, my oven wasn't up to it (self-cleaning operation cooked some 'sensor'), and I didn't know it until the day before and company was coming...got it fixed...just in time!

I was thankful then, too!

Brushes

Thankful for my art brushes today.

Thankful for Time

I feel lucky and fortunate. 

Today, I am grateful for the time that 

I have each day to do what I want to do.  

Being an artist has never been a JOB for me...

it is a destiny, 

a distance that I travel each day, 

 a time that allows me to make mistakes, 

try it again, 

solve the problems as they arise, 

take time out to ponder and plan and design, 

to research, 

to let the muse come to visit - 

("Downs Celebration")

but most of all time to live 'being an artist'.

Day 19 on Being Thankful and Where I Stand Sunday

Standing isn't as comfortable as it was a few days ago, guess I have to take the good days with the NOT so good days. However, I am standing with two of my favorites in the world..my dogs, Chaco (red Dachshund) 

and Bailey (gray Weimaraner).

On chilly, breezy days, they have the enclosed back porch to be in.  Bailey loves the extra warmth when the sun heats up the area.  

I don't know what I would do without my dogs.  I love them dearly..they entertain, keep us company, and are just the thing that complete our everyday living.  They are good alarms and alarm clocks.  

They love to snuggle...like lots of attention (what pet doesn't?).  

 I am thankful that we have them and life affords us the opportunity to care for them and love them the way we do.

Today I have finished a commission and I am going to post it, as the recipient would never visit here and see it.  

"The Pike"

9" x 12"

acrylic on black gessoboard

Seasons

Today - I am thankful for the sun in the morning and the moon at night...the change of the seasons that appear where I live.  

Being Thankful for a Roof Over My Head

It's not snowing, but I like this photo of my house..and it works for today's 'Thankful Post'.

My Good News

Today, I am thankful that I may be on the 

downhill side of my ankle breaking accident, finally.  

Since about 6PM last night, I have been more painfree than I ever have.  I keep waiting for it to return (optimism is not a strong suit when it comes to this issue), but it hasn't.  Even as it was swollen last night and needing it's usual 'icing' and elevation, it didn't hurt like it has been for 10 months.  Boy howdy ~ am I thankful.....!!!!!

Aw, to Stand in the Shower

Today I am grateful to stand in the shower. I was having to sit on a stool (which made me feel old and decrepit) in the bathtub..but today, I decided it's time to get rid of the stool (again).

Now if I could only walk better...

Music to My Ears

Photo from Morguefile/omdur

Today I am grateful for the 'music' in the world.  In my experience, there is music that can be heard, and 'music' that can be seen - even some food could be considered 'music' as far as I am concerned...  

I thrive and survive on ALL kinds!

Thankful for This Lidded Box I Sit in Front of Everyday

Once upon a time, where I worked in the late 60's - there was a whole gigantic temperature controlled (cold) room dedicated to the "computer system".

Where I Stand Sunday (in heart and mind)

Today, I am grateful for U.S. Vets.

An Oil Painting of Canadian Geese on the Wing by Pattie Wall

"Hayden Valley Honkers"

6" x 17"

oil paint on plywood veneer

Yellowstone National Park is one of my favorite destinations.  These Canadian Geese were flying in many flocks over the marsh area of the Yellowstone River, near Hayden Valley.  It was fun to watch them as they took off over the creamy gold and green landscape.

SOLD FOR SALE at my ETSY SHOP HERE.

Thankful for a Place to Paint

Although it sometimes becomes the place where things are stored that aren't being used or have no other place to belong, or I have collected so many boxes they spill over into my space to work, it becomes so messy and topsy-turvy I get embarassed if someone sees it that way, this is the door to my studio.

Thankful for the Camera as an Artist's Tool

Ever since the ancient Chinese and Greeks used a pinhole or a lens to compose a scene, the camera has been an irreplaceable tool for 'seeing' and 'recording'.  I would be lost without this unbelievable invention.

A Floral Arrangement in Oil by Pattie Wall

"Arrangement"

6" X 6.75"

oil on black gesso treated plywood veneer

For Sale in my ETSY SHOP HERE.

Being Thankful for Jessica...

Day 8 in my Thankfulness Series...(I started a day early)..

It was a cold and icy day in Denver, many January's ago...I sat in my hospital bed being in awe of what had just happened, how my life was now forever changed, feeling the great sense of overwhelming love, honor and responsibility well up in my soul.

An Oil Painting on Wood Veneer by Pattie Wall

"End of the Road"

4" x 13.75"

oil on gessoed 

plywood veneer

Loved the sun setting in this one, so I hoped to capture it just the way it appeared.  Love the colors, the texture of the wood is interesting.  Thinking of 

leaving the edge of the plywood layers to show and creating a spot on the back for a nail on the wall.

Going to do more of this format..love it, love it, love it!!

This painting is listed for sale in my ETSY shop HERE.

Grateful for U.S. Citizen's Rights

HAVE YOU VOTED??? 
Sunday, when I viewed and heard about the length of time people in Florida stood in line to vote, I was absolutely shocked...more about the time that people actually GAVE to be a part of this election - appalled that any elected official would put such barricades in the way of well-meaning voters.

Giving Thanks - and Donating

Giving thanks today that there are many agencies helping the victims of Hurricane Sandy.  If you are like me, the situation in the eastern U.S is first and foremost on your mind.  Just think, if everyone made a small donation, or whatever they could afford, how much it would help the relief efforts.  At times, there just doesn't seem that there will be an end to the strife and suffering by the people who have been affected by this terrible storm...but HOPE is on the Horizon when other's lend a hand or donate.

Being Grateful..Where I Stand Today...

Boot off...ankle brace taking it's place, one crutch - replacing two.

Outside of some soreness and aching, everything is moving along.

Now all I need is some intensified PT to get it back strong again.

What I am thankful for today...

TWSBI and Thankfulness

Yesterday was National Fountain Pen Day!

Rocks and Other Things

OK, this task of writing about something I am grateful for ~ has me

waking up at night...thinking about what I will write the next day.  Not 'the worry', just 'the choosing'.

and another...

Thankfulness - Day Two

My life career-wise, has been a little lopsided.  I was an artist leading up to the years my daughter attended elementary school, then I went back to college (at age 37) and got a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  I spent 23 years in the elementary classroom, 7 years as a paraprofessional and 15 years as a classroom teacher. Now I have come full circle back to being an artist, once more.