What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is upon us.  Time to think about and to give thanks!
I'm thankful I get to do what I love to make a living. 
I'm thankful I have a patient husband who is supportive and willing to help with this crazy dream of mine.
I'm thankful for my wonderful dog and her acceptance of my crazy road schedule... and will be even more thankful when her legs have healed and she is back to her active self.
I'm thankful for my family, supporting me in my life, as an artist and in general.
I'm thankful for my local friends who put up with my long absences.
I'm thankful for my art show friends who live this life along with me.
I'm thankful for my online friends who encourage and comment.
I'm thankful for the shows that have me participate.
I'm (begrudgingly sometimes) thankful for the shows that don't so I have more to aspire to.
I'm thankful for the galleries that represent me.  I do appreciate your efforts (and your enthusiasm!)
I'm thankful for my clients and fans! I couldn't be doing this without you!
I'm thankful for my muse, who sits with me day after day in my studio, providing more ideas to pursue than I'll ever have time for.
I'm thankful for my love of what I do.
And I'm thankful to know this is a wonderful thing.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! 

Something different: Mayonnaise

I had a request for a recipe from a facebook friend but wasn't sure if the actual recipe might be too long for a status report.  But, with Thanksgiving on the door step, I thought I ought to share my father-in-law's recipe.  Ruth and Bruce have been gone for a while but Ruth's wonderful family cookbook brings them both back to me every time I open it.  So, to share the mayonnaise recipe, in Ruth's words, (although Bruce was usually the maker of the wonderful sauce!):

Ingredients:
1 large egg
2 TBS vinegar or lemon juice
1 heaping tsp mustard
1 cup vegetable oil
salt and paprika to taste

Put egg yolk and white (or can use 2 yolks and no white if you want a thicker product) in blender.
Add mustard (can use dry or any kind of prepared mustard but for this we both like plain old French's ballpark kind) and vinegar.
Pour in 1/4 cup of the oil--Wesson, corn, canola--a tastefree oil os best for everyday use.
Turn on blender and count to 16.  Turn off blender for a few seconds.
Turn blender back on and slowly add the rest fo the oil--in a thin stream until all the oil has been added.  Turn off blender.
Add salt and paprika and turn blender on until the seasonings are incorporated in the mayonnaise.
Store in the refrigerator.

I know the "count to 16 and turn off"  sounds silly but that is what works.  Otherwise the stuff doesn't thicken properly.

And, my personal note:  Rees is a whiz in the kitchen--me, not so much, but I can make the mayonnaise into the thick stuff and he can only make sauce.

Also, it is very safe stuff--I think I read an article about how it was fine to eat, even if it had been on the counter a while, by Shirley Corriher , the food science lady....and it refrigerates for a long while.  That is, if you have any left by then!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Excuses, excuses.

Last year at this time, I was busy in the studio playing with my oil paints and I had a blast.  My days were exhausting and I came in from the studio just beat.  But, we've had a few distractions since my last show and I haven't yet delved into all the things I have planned for winter.  The number one issue has been our wonderful pup, JuneBug.  We thought she was suffering from severe arthritis.  But, after trying all kinds of things, we were finally sent to a specialist...an orthopedic vet in Albuquerque.  In fact, Dr. Schwarz was the same guy who fixed our last lab's elbow when she fell as a puppy.  So, after a visit from an old high school buddy, and then a week long visit from my folks,  we went back to our local vet to get the referral, waited a week for some blood work to come back, and then got to go see Dr. Schwarz.  Immediately, he knew what was wrong with Bug.  Yes, she had a bit of arthritis but she had also blown out both her achilles.  And, because we were so tardy in getting her correct diagnosis, it was too late to repair the damage.  Instead, the only thing to do was to fuse her hocks (ankles).  She got through the first 3 weeks after surgery beautifully and we hope that continues. We've moved everything we need to one floor, lay down carpets and rugs to cover all slippery surfaces,  and place her feet in plastic bags and "socks" each time we take her out.  She's doing better and she even spent a few minutes in the studio with me today.  I guess I miss having her in there sometimes.  We've got  at least 6-8 more weeks where her activity is extremely limited.   But we can do it!   So, while I haven't tackled any of my new idea tasks/projects, I am painting away.  And will try to sink back into blogging about art!    

Thanks for being patient with me!