IT'S GETTING COLD OUTSIDE.

It rained on and off yesterday.

Not hard rain, just drizzles and spurts.

There was a cool wind that started to turn cold.

I worked a double, but it was OK,
not a lot of boarders so I got to spend more one on one time with the dogs

and a big sweet black diabetic cat.

Just a slow day.

Sometimes a person needs that.

A day to take it slow and catch your breath.

I couldn't leave early because of the diabetic cat. His insulin needed to be spaced out.

So when I left work, it was dark and windy.

There was a light rain.
Leaves were swirling a bit but then as it rained more, they would stick to the pavement and make it slick.

I'm glad there wasn't much traffic because I really had to concentrate on the black wet road.

It did seem magical, driving through the night and over the government bridge.

The clanging of metal against metal as I crossed it. The rhythm of it, like a song.

Rolling towards home.

I've been unhappy with my hometown but last night I had glimpses of what I used to like about it.

I liked the song on my radio and I felt peaceful as my vehicle came down road from the bridge into my city.

To the left of me is the renovated building that used to be the Illinois Electric Company.
Now it's pretty, and made into upscale apartments.

Ahead of me I  could see the cars at the stoplight. I'm always cautious at that stoplight because I've seen semi trucks take wide turns into the side lanes before.

Right on clue a huge semi rounded the corner and swung way into the lane.

It barely missed the cars at the light and I think that was because they quickly steered to the right.

The truck driver must have seen how close he came to clipping them because as if in slow motion, I could see him turn hard out of the wide curve he had made.
But that caused him to slide for a moment on the wet pavement towards me.
The side of the truck cab and the huge double tires were right there, in my peripheral vision.

It was just a moment.

A quick instant and he was past me.

I let out my breathe, I hadn't really realized I had been holding it.
Really, my only thought was - I hope this doesn't hurt.

Inktense and Prints

I did 2 little illustrations for Fall.

They are originally on watercolor paper and done in ink pen and Inktense pencils.

If you aren't familiar with Inktense, They first appear to be watercolor pencils but they are not.

It's ink and it's permanent.
Unlike watercolor, you can layer over it and it won't get muddy.
Not that I know anything about watercolors but...

What you do is, or at least what I do, is to color it in then go over it with water. 

I learned by watching a YouTube video.

Rather than a traditional brush and water, I use a water brush.

The water is in the handle and dispenses as you go.

Maybe everyone knows about this and it's nothing new but I discovered them both last year and I love it.

I still use acrylics and papers and things in most of my paintings but these two were done in just ink and Inktense.

I will now get prints of them and sell them at the clinic and eventually online.

I always think the problem with prints is that then you have to find the proper frame.

Well, not mine!

I've mounted my prints on canvas that have the sides painted black and
sealed the whole thing with several coats of gloss finish.
It doesn't really show it in the photos of course, but they have a nice smooth "feel" to them.

Here are a few that I did and are now hanging up at the clinic.

I ordered the prints from two different sources.

One puts a border around the print and does it in a more matte finish.

The other does no border and only gloss unless I want to wait several days.

So far different people like different looks.

I prefer one but I won't say yet.

Do YOU prefer one over another?

Anyway, I think I'm really on to something!

I also decided on the "NAME" of my Art business!!!!!

But I'll share that later.

xoxo

BODY HEAT

I've been really looking forward to Fall.

I love the Autumn colors 

and the cooler temperatures.

Yesterday when I woke up it was 58 degrees in the house

and 39 outside!

I refused to turn on the heat.

I grew up with a Dad who would say -

"Put another sweater on if you're cold!"

So we toughed it out because temps are supposed to climb a little bit.

In the meantime, the critters were using body heat to stay comfy.

Hattie is in the back, Raini in the middle and Louie snoozing in the front.

Then Ghost crawled in...

Pretty soon Mimsy walked up,

"Is there room for me?"

"NO!" they all grumbled.

"Sure there is!" exclaimed Mimsy

She climbed in - "I'll just sort of circle in right over here..."

"Oh Lord! This is ridiculous! I'm outta here!" said Ghost

Mimsy smirked with satisfaction as Hattie noticed the camera and posed.

Louie woke up "I can't breathe! Someone's on top of me,!"

Raini sat up, saw Nora and said "OH NO!" 

"I'm leaving before SHE tries to get in here!"

And then I said "Want to go outside?"

and everyone except the cats did.