Santa Mouse Ornament

I found this wood, acorn shaped ornament at Michael's and painted this mouse face on it. For more wooden ornaments I have painted, see last year's posts.

Ceramic Mice Sleeping

Digital Photo

Here are two of my favorite Christmas decorations. My mom hand painted and glazed the single mouse sleeping for me 30 years ago.

Christmas Dinner in a Tea Pot

Digital Photo

Just one of our Christmas decorations we put out each year.

The Kiss

Digital Photo

I wanted to take a pic of this mouse ornament my mom bought me last year. I was gonna make a silly face in its mirror like surface when suddenly my wife kissed me. It turned out much better than my sillly face.

Christmas Decorations

Digital Photos

Today I took some photos of my favorite Christmas decorations. I took these photos in my down stairs bathroom under no special lighting conditions. I like the red and green complimentary colors of Christmas.

Follow Me Daddy

Digital Photo

During one of our morning walks, my daughter Michaiah took the lead.

Tree along Pond Bank

Digital Photo

Hungry Marmot

Digital Photos

First the cat woke me up at 4am., fed her and let her outside. Then Jo woke up at 7am., and wanted to eat Halloween candy. Then I looked out the back window and saw the Marmot waiting for me at his usual spot. So, at 7:15 this morning I fed him a pear, (I got scolded by my wife later because I gave it a "good pear", the bad pears were in the drawer), then some Chex cereal, then some Puffin cereal, and finally an apple. He's gotta fatten up for hibernation I guess.

Meadow Vole!

What fun. Normally our cat Cricket will bring me a bird or a mouse. Most of the time the animals are not hurt. Today, my sister in-law was over and I heard her yelling ," that stupid mouse bit me." Right then Cricket ran past me with the Vole in paw giving chase. I caught it with a net and photographed it in my downstairs bathroom that has brightly painted walls. Then after I let it go, I photographed again. I have never seen a live Vole before. So I enjoyed it.

Winding Road

Digital Photo

Pond

Digital Photo

I'll be posting a few pics that never got around to being painted.

Michaiah at the Botanical Gardens

Our Amish Friend

My wife and I had the pleasure to take our Amish friend up into the Gateway Arch. We also went to the Botanical Gardens. This pic is of her looking up at the arch. Later, for lunch , we ate at a Chinese buffet. She has never tasted Chinese food before. She refers to those who are not Amish as Englishmen and that our sterptypes of them are mostly wrong. Her family does not play or listen to any music with instruments in it...they sing acapala at church...well, I just had to throw a Anything Box cd in the car cd player and let her hear some electronic synthpop. With a big grin on her face she told me she, "actually liked it." We had a good time.

Morning Lake

Digital Photo

Morning Walk

Digital Photo

I like this pic because I think it is a good example of how color becomes more saturated in overcast light

Natural Tree Sculptures

On the Bank of Stouts Creek, Ironton Mo.

Tree and Roots

Digital Photo

I've known this tree for 30 years. Located along the bank of Stouts creek, Ironton Mo. Also see June post for similiar painting.

My first Real Interior Design Project

Digital Photo

Now when we bought our house my wife gave me permission to decorate the downstairs bath anyway I wanted to. This bathroom contains 3 painted mouse holes, a mouse book collection, a mouse figuerine collection, original oil paintings and many other mouse related objects. Creating art is living a life. And what can be better than enjoying art while doing your business...well except for all those mice watching you.

Pear Cactus Grove

Digital Photo

I came across this pear grove growing wild a few years back.

Anybody There?

Digital Photo

Just for fun...came across this image today.

Praying Mantis

Digital Photo

This morning I woke up, got out out the gas trimmer, trimmed some grass, raked leaves and then I started not to feel so good. Out of breath, I walked towards my house up the south side by the Koi pond. I caught a glimpse of this Praying Mantis on my dwarf, weeping, Japanese Maple Tree. I watched him drink the dew off the leaves for a while then grabbed my camera. Then I began to feel better.

Playing Amish

Digital Photo

My mom has an Amish pen-pal. She sent my kids some Amish clothes to play dress up in. After my mom showed her friend this photo she wrote back and said. " hate to tell you but they have their dresses on backwards- the buttons should be on their back side. Ooops.

Mouse on Log

Digital Photo

I was just having fun with color saturations with this photo.

Mouse Exploring New Habitat

Digital Photo

This was one of the many photos I took as a preparation for a Christmas themed oil painting. Iris Vincent now owns that painting. I still need to post it here.

Barn in Morning Mist

Digital Photo

Here is a picture of my barn.

Trees in the Mist

Digital Photo

I have now decided to post other art mediums on this blog besides Oil Paintings. Here is a photo I took one misty morning from my backyard.

Bridge and Club House

The Bridge is finished, and here is what the inside of the club house looks like.

White Cliff Manor B&B

A very inspiring place to visit inside and out. If you are an artist or love nature, I would especially recommend a stay here. It is like living and walking in a work of art. White Cliff Manor Bed and Breakfast is located in St. Marys, Missouri in Ste Genevieve county.

I am in the process of building a bridge to go over our drainage creek. I bought two 1x6 treated boards and the rest of the wood was scrap woood. It would cost a small forture to buy good wood for the decking. I cut 1" plywood into strips. Just gotta stain it.

My spring and summer art project has been doing fun practicle home improvements. Here is our barn, with many up dates, from gutters to a club house for the kids.