California Dreaming

Is becoming a reality.  Yeppers, in January 2018 I am packing up my house and moving to San Diego. It seems to some like a quick decision, but those that really know me, know that it is not. I have tried to justify staying here in Virginia, but truth is, other than a brother that I see less than once every two years or so, there is no one here that I care about or can really count on in case of emergency.  I have several people/friends who would beg to differ, but it is because they don't want to see themselves for what they truly are. (i.e. the way I seem them, anyway)

I would have to say that in addition to an enlightening personal experience this summer, my passive/aggressive and somewhat nosy neighbors were the final push I needed to sell my properties and move to California ...where I will be with close family and where I will still be me, but won't have people making me feel that I have to prove myself or come out of my comfort zone because THEY are social, (insert nosy and gossipy)  and want ME to be less private.

I have recently learned that one neighbor hates for people to keep their blinds closed. I have another neighbor who cautions me because I sometimes leave my blinds open. I have one neighbor who is just a bee-aytch and two neighbors that are the street police and report everyone and everything. Another neighbor called me colorful, years ago when pressured to discuss/gossip about someone that they really didn't know and had nothing in common with.

I have let some of the neighbors know that I am moving and putting my house on the market, and while I am getting well wishes, as is expected, one of them surprisingly said "if you donate anything I want me and my family to have first choice".  Until she said that, I may have, but now that will not be the case. This neighbor who pointedly told me that "she knows me better than anyone"  will be surprised to realize that I have made arrangements for someone to come in and remove all items from my house that I don't ship cross country and I have made certain that no nosy neighbors get to view my house just for fun, it will be viewed by serious buyers and appointment only.

Thinking about something my sister said, there will under no circumstances be any yard sales or estate sales on my property and no nosy people just trooping through my home...I have a great realtor and he is pretty savvy, so I know I don't have to worry about that, but still.

I really am ready to start anew in Cali and am excited about the change. I just get peeved about comments that my crazy neighbors make. It's always about them.  Sheesh.

Well, that's it for now. Wish me luck and stay tuned for more rants and raves.

What's up Home Fries?

I have been busy doing art and getting a house ready to put on the market and doing all the things that go with being a responsible, conscientious adult.

It's too dark here today to do much art, even though my studio lights are more than adequate, on rainy days I prefer to read.

My Christmas decorations are up and I am just hanging around doing my thing. Other than a know it all resident of my subdivision reporting me for leaf removal, all has been as it should be.

I've rearranged my studio, getting rid of the sitting area and replacing it with a drafting table that is in front of the television, so I can draw and watch television in the studio without hunching over a coffee table and totally screwing up my back.

I've ordered a heater for the studio which should be here soon and I'm pretty much tucked in for the winter.

Here are a few of the art projects that I have done recently...

All of the above are done with alcohol inks on plastic type paper...

These two are done in pastels on a paper called Pastelmat.  It is covered with a fine emery type substance that makes the paper feel like 1000 grit wet dry sand paper. Very smooth, yet it holds multiple layers of pastel or color pencil...it's not that great for blending. 

Well, that's it for a while. Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy, both physically and emotionally. 

Take care and keep coming back!