34" of Belly

My friend who gave birth to twins noticed that at some point in her pregnancy the circumference of her belly was equal to her height. I have about 2.5 months left before my due date and my belly is now 34" around. Here it is in the abstract.

Abstract Monday "Sunday Afternoon with Annalee"

I was quite tired this weekend, and needed lots of rest. I have 3 months left till the end of the pregnancy and it seems that I can't get a night of uninterrupted sleep. I have trouble being kind to myself when I need rest. There was one moment on Sunday when I sat down and painted with my daughter. I felt great joy to be with her, painting with her. I felt calm and hopeful. I had some lingering sadness over my tired state, so I drew some of the rainbow above the smile and some below. I explained the painting to my daughter. Later that day she painted one more painting, of her smile and mine, with rainbows all around. It was awesome.

First Day of Kindergarten

I dropped my daughter off for her first day of kindergarten this morning. Texas is full day kindergarten (7:45-2:45 my goodness). It has been an emotional day for me and many of my friends. There is a beautiful Dar Williams song called "End of Summer," one line that I keep thinking of today: "It's the end of summer, when you send your children to the moon..."

As I shopped for school clothes for my daughter that seemed unnecessary because in Texas it's still 100 degrees and summer clothes will do just fine, I thought of the many trips to the outlets with my mom, sister, best friend Stacy, and her mom, picking out every color Levi's cords they had and sweaters lots of sweaters, readying for the cold RI fall to come.

The older my daughter gets the more I appreciate and understand all that my parents did for me growing up. My mom could walk and drive then, I'm grateful for the memory of her as young and independent.

I had a lovely end of summer, one trip to the California mountains and one to Rhode Island, both with family. This is my "Abstract Monday" for this first day of kindergarten, the end of summer.

Tired as All Getout

Sometimes, when I'm super tired and have things that need doing, it feels like my happy parts and doing parts are being held down by something heavy. A nap is usually the answer, even if for a mere 2 minutes, and occasionally some tea.

Girl or Boy

We found out yesterday that we are having a girl. I had a little guessing contest on facebook for a free abstract to one right guesser. My friend Ly Ann won.

Sequoia Lake, Sequoia National Park, CA

We are just back from a week at YMCA Family Camp Sequoia with my husband's side of the family. It was lovely and fun, and it's hard to be back in the Texas summer heat.

Late vs. Early

Diamonds as Best Friends

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend" wiki says, "The song was listed as the 12th most important movie song of all time by the American Film Institute."

Abstract Monday, Secret Abstract

It's abstract Monday. Any idea what this one is about?

Austin Train Bridge, Big Texas, Little Painting

I went to the little beach yesterday morning and painted two more tiny paintings. This one is 2" x 4." There were red ants all over one part of the beach, the part I sat on the first time, so I moved slightly to the right and just in front of the tree they were busy with. That seemed to do the trick. The tree I sat under weeps and drops acorns, the cicadas were making their electronic music, and it was hot, but a little cooler by the lake. My husband brought me some cold water.

The Monarch, Train Bridge, and Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas

The train bridge in Austin, where it crosses the Lake is quite a site. I set out today hoping to get a good painting in from beneath the bridge, I aimed for my usual spot and found it completely filled in with all manner of vegetation. I searched around just a bit and found what felt like my own private one person beach, which I will call Kimma Beach. I sat down on my towel on the sand with lake waves lapping up next to me and painted this 20 x 20" painting for 2.5 hours. It was the first time in all these free days that I didn't feel rushed. The train came by twice, so I was able to place it in the painting. The Monarch Condo across the way is beautiful but a complete pain to paint.

The Secret to Happiness

It's abstract Monday again, and here is my abstract piece of art for the day. It's called "The Secret to Happiness." I'm personally happiest when I live in the now. What you are seeing: one line of music, the infinity sign, the "you are here" dot from maps, and the repeat sign. Happiness, done.

360 Condo, Seaholm, Frost, Austin, Texas

I made some time to paint today. I sat by the Lamar bridge in the Austin summer sun, heat index 105, for one hour, and managed one larger painting 20 x 20 of the scene I've been studying in the smaller paintings.

Sun Rainbow Repeat

My daughter includes a rainbow in all her art and they always look great. So I'm following her lead.

Austin, Texas, Skyline from Lamar Bridge

This is a watercolor of the Austin skyline. Watercolors ad their own atmosphere to a painting, but when you mess up there is little you can do to fix it.

Pregnant Lady Good Day

Here's a bit of news, I'm 11 weeks pregnant and due on 1/1/11. Here is a little abstract painting based on that. The baby is 5.4cm and already has arms, legs, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Most importantly the doctor said, "A little butt and big head. " Funny.

Abstract Monday, Calm Confrontation

Monday is such a strange day, that I will post my abstracts on Monday. This one is called calm confrontation. It's the visual for how one might feel when trying stay calm during a disagreement.

Austin, Texas 360 Condo from Auditorium Shores, Mini Painting

Here is the other mini painting I worked on from Thursday's outing at Auditorium shores. These mini paintings are so small that they are more fun in person.

Austin, Texas from Auditorium Shores, Mini Painting

I found the cutest tiny canvases on Wednesday and painted two of them with my tiniest brush yesterday morning. I found a new spot, under the blue gazebo at Auditorium Shores. Nice and shady, with a great view of the condos and the water. One squirrel was a bit friendlier than expected, but I survived. This canvas is 2" x 3". My husband says I should market these tiny paintings as cubicle desk paintings. He may be right, because I like seeing them on my desk.

360 Condo, Austin, Texas, Close Up

Here is another painting from yesterday's outing. I will head out later this morning to work on some others. I bought these tiny little 1" canvases, I'm dying to see if I can actually get a painting on them.
I'm also working on my Etsy store, so it should be simpler soon to buy any paintings you may fancy.