Inside my sketchbook … issue 6 ...

Oh dear … I just realised that the month is within hours of being over and I've only delved inside my sketchbook once so far in February.

So in an effort to remedy this terribly bad showing I decided to hustle up a quick post.

Now if you've read any of this blog before … in particular the drawing/painting/arty type posts … you'll understand that I feel "challenged" by the portrait.  Which is exactly why I feel the need to keep drawing/painting/artying portraits.  I am determined to improve … or die trying.

This also means I need to find myself fresh blood in the form of subjects … and nobody is safe … nobody … so beware!

I've been working on a few paintings over the last week or so … just simple acrylics on paper … nothing fancy.  I never spend more than a few hours on a painting either … otherwise I end up "working" it to death … because I simply do not know when to stop.

Now …  I have thought long and hard about sharing the results this time around.  I know the sketches I did of the boys went down like the proverbial lead balloon with them.  And the last thing I want to do is offend anyone else with an appalling representation of themselves.

But if I don't put it out there … I can't actually know if I got it right or not … so here goes.

Heartfelt apologies to the subjects if they are horrified by what they see … but if you like them … cool!!!

The gorgeous Vix …

the gorgeous Curtise …

and last … but not least … the gorgeous Sandra …

They're quick … they're far from perfect … but I do hope you like them … just a little bit.

PS  If any of you lovely ladies would like the original … then just email me your address and I'd be happy to send it off to you … but HONESTLY don't feel obliged … I fully understand if you'd just as soon never lay eyes on it again ;0)

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down ...

Every three months a special event occurs in our home.

Worming day.

Not for me … or even the kids … it's Buster that is the lucky recipient of this extra special bit of TLC.

Now over time he has wised up to this procedure … and even though the packaging ensures me that the tablets have a "palatable liver flavour" … Buster remains unconvinced.  We are now at the stage where I only have to approach the doggy medicine drawer … and he immediately performs a credible impersonation of Harry Houdini.

But surely I can outsmart a little dog … what, with me being a fully grown adult human being with a high school education … and him being … well  … a dog.

So I gathered together the necessary supplies for this little subterfuge.

One worming tablet … broken into quarters … with only three quarters to be administered … and half a pig.  Not a live pig … more a deceased, smoked and sliced pig … picked up by the kilo from the delicatessen.

And then it was time to put my brilliant … though somewhat evil … plan into action.

Firstly I tempted Buster out of hiding with the offer of some delicious hammy tidbits.  It didn't take too long before he took the baconny bait … and decided that today marked a distinct upturn and improvement on the usual gastronomical offerings.

I may have enjoyed an evil laugh at this point … as they say … the plan was all coming together.

Now that I had him lulled into an entirely false sense of security I introduced my carefully prepared little porky parcels of pleasure.  Pieces of ham carefully rolled up into little bite sized morsels … and hidden carefully within three randomly selected parcels … were the three tiny little pieces of his worming tablet.

As a plan …  it was surely a foolproof stroke of utter genius.

I watched Buster hoover those meaty morsels into oblivion … let out a satisfied belch … lick his lips … and step back replete with satisfaction.

Nothing remained of that piggy offering … nothing at all … except three little pieces of worming tablet.

Back to the drawing board for me!

I'm thinking there may be blender involved in Plan B.

A fantabulous way to waste time ...

If anyone out there is looking for an absorbing … time consuming … and utterly useless way of passing the time … then this one is for YOU ...

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover/

Meet Joprah … highly influential talk show queen … okay, okay  just queen of talking … no real influence on anyone.

And Jonnifer Aniston … subject of male fantasies the world over … in her own imagination.  Reputed to have had steamy affair with Gerard Butler … in her own imagination.

Critically acclaimed …  record breaking recording artist … in the shower … Joyonce.

Meet Jofia Vergara … stunning Colombian television star … never actually been to Columbia … disappointingly Australian accent too.

Finally the perfect little pop princess Joty Perry … very fond of cherry chapsticks … and changing her hair colour.

regularly …

Now … off to do something I SHOULD be doing.

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 8

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 47:  A trip to the nursery … in the rain.

Day 48:  The sun puts in a brief appearance.

Day 49:  Pick a card … any card.

Day 50:  Homeward bound … in the wet and wild conditions.

Day 51:  The world's most spoilt dog makes a carefully considered toy selection.

Day 52:  Snags on the barbie.

Day 53:  Happy Birthday Nanna.

Joining in with Em … at The Beetle Shack.

Up close and personal … with Buster …

My name is Buster … and I am an Australian Silky Terrorist.

I was born on the 10th of the 10th of the 10th … so there are no excuses for forgetting my birthday.

I came to live with my people when I was 12 weeks old.

I've been ruling the roost ever since.

I enjoy driving in the car …

and taking long walks … though I reserve the right to be carried home if I consider the walk too long.

I enjoy sleeping in MY spot on the sofa … even if it's your spot … and you're already in it.

Sometimes I wear different outfits.

My favourite hobby is to sniff out hidden cat poos … exhume them … and smear them over my entire body.

I like mud … my favourite colour is dirt.

I like to remove every single one of my toys from the toy box … distribute them throughout the entire house … and NOT play with them.  If anyone packs them away I immediately repeat this process.

I like to eat anything … as long as it is yours … and not mine.

My people put up baby gates to contain me during my "naughty puppy stage" … three years later and they're still there!

I like to sleep in bed … your bed.

I do not like birds, cats or dogs … I do not like people walking past my house.

I dislike the groomer … and I HATE the vet.

I like to run … away if possible.

I follow Mum everywhere … even the toilet.

I like to hunt lizards … sometimes I catch them.

If I need to vomit … I prefer to do so on the cream carpet.

I like to bark at things no one else can see.

I disembowel ALL my toys.

When I feel like it … I perform tricks … it seems to give my people a thrill … they're simple folk.

I like to find dead worms … and roll on them.

If I think you want something … I steal it … if you don't care … I couldn't be bothered.

It's lucky I'm cute … very lucky indeed.

What a wonderful weekend ...

We had a fantastic weekend in these parts … and not because we did anything exciting … but because it rained.

It was overcast … and dreary … and showery … and we loved every second of it.

Why Hubby was so overcome with giddy excitement at the precipitation that he grabbed my camera and decided to capture it … for history's sake.

Now please take extra special note.  

Hubby wants everyone to be aware that HE took these pictures … and when they go viral … and receive millions of hits … and a fortune in commercial endorsements  … he must receive ALL the credit.

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 7 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 40:  The Sydney Opera House in all her glory.

Day 41:  Master 13 … home from school … and feeling poorly.

Day 42:  Wow … I actually turned on the sewing machine … and I actually sewed something too!

Day 43:  BEWARE … Guard Dog on Duty … Enter at Your Own Risk

Day 44:  I treated myself to a professional pedicure … that's big news in these parts.

Day 45:  Happy Valentines Day to me.

Day 46:  Rain … Hallelujah it's RAINING!

Joining in with Em … at The Beetle Shack.