Ces And Her Dishes

Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi

2012-02-02T06:42:00.000-06:00

Pen and ink drawing of Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi (Hickel & A. Camus) Chun ex Q. F. Zheng, Fl. Fujian. 1: 404. 1982. 饭甑青冈 fan zeng qing gang, on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol board. Plant Distribution: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam]. Additional reading here. This acorn is an orange colored acorn! Are you reminded of something when viewing this oak?

Quercus suber

2012-02-01T01:24:00.000-06:00

Quercus suber. Oak cork. Pen and ink on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol board

If you prefer wine and champagne bottles sealed with cork, then you will like or appreciate this oak, Quercus suber or Cork Oak. This tree is native to the countries of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Tunisia and France. Quercus suber is known for the renewable resource it provides, cork. The cork is derived from the thick outer layer of the bark which is harvested from the tree first at 25 years of age and then every nine to twelve years thereafter. Here is a very informative article on Quercus suber from Ecology.info. In it, you will find an excellent photograph of Quercus suber showing the harvested sites of the tree. Here is another excellent tree specimen image. Cork has been used since ancient times for many reasons, among them, for sealing jars, making beehives and roofing. The use of cork to seal wine bottles was introduced by the Benidictine monk, Dom Perignon (1636-1715). He was cellar master at the Benidictine abbey in Hautvillers.

The leaves of the Quercus suber are evergreen and oval with a pointed apex, rounded base,wavy margins with very shallow spiny lobes, adaxially glabrous, blue green, densely pubescent abaxially. It has a hairy petiole between 0.8-1.5 centimeters long.

The acorn is 1.5-3 centimeters long, ovoid, enclosed almost 1/2 by cup, conical, with long spreading scales, maturing in 1 year.

A note about the direction of my blog:

I have been posting a lot of acorns and leaves lately. This is a personal project mine. There are over 600 oak species and varieties. I am attempting to draw as many acorns and oak leaves, as I can. Please don't ask me why I am drawing these, I am not able to give you a concrete reason, except that I am still enjoying it, but mostly, it is because they are small (ATC-sized) and portable that they fit my busy work schedule. I draw most of these acorns and leaves when I need a mental break from my hectic schedule and stressful and mentally taxing job. The posts are scheduled, so please do not feel obligated to leave a comment. I am leaving the comment section open to save those who wish to leave me inquiries related to my posts and drawing, from writing emails. Many of you have sent me emails, letters and gifts. Thank you for your generosity. I appreciate your kind gestures, words and gifts. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ces

Cyclobalanopsis kiukiangensis

2012-01-31T22:34:00.001-06:00

Cyclobalanopsis kiukiangensis Y. T. Chang ex Y. C. Hsu & H. W. Jen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 14(2): 85. 1976. 俅江青冈 qiu jiang qing gang. Pen and ink on 3.5" x 2.5 Bristol board. Here is a full description of this 30-meter (98.425 ft) tall tree.

A Bit Too Forward...

2012-01-29T17:15:00.000-06:00

Please pardon me, if lately, I appear to be a bit too forward with my nuts. Can you blame me? Look at them? It is my great luck that I happen to love the genus Quercus and Cyclobalanopsis, and to be gifted by the diversity of these beautiful members of the Kingdom Plantae. Sigh! What glorious nuts!!! I delight in squiggling them everyday. It is my desire to draw as many species as I can this year. Therefore, I don't blame you of you run out of things to say. After all, a nut is a nut, right? Maybe. But if you just take a look...these are oak leaves and pubescent and mature acorns!!!

Quercus mysinifolia

Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi

Cyclobalanopsis hui

Cyclobalanopsis litoralis

Cyclobalanopsis albicaulis

台湾窄叶青冈

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-06:00

Cyclobalanopsis stenophylloides (Hayata), 台湾窄叶青冈, wan zhai ye qing gang, also known as Cyclobalanopsis stenophylla(Blume) Schottky var. stenophylloides (Hayata) J. C. Liao; Q. salicina Blume var. stenophylloides(Hayata) S. S. Ying; Q. stenophylla (Blume) Makino var. stenophylloides (Hayata) A. Camus. Pen and ink drawing on ATC-sized Bristol board.

This is an oak from Taiwan; up to 17 meters tall (55.77 ft) with grey slender branches. This is the description of the leaf and acorn from http://www.efloras.org: "Petiole 1.5-2 cm, glabrous; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, 7-12 × 1.5-3.5 cm, leathery, abaxially farinose and with prostrate simple hairs but usually glabrescent, adaxially green, base narrowly acute to rounded, margin with short, awnlike serrations, apex acuminate to caudate; secondary veins 11-13 on each side of midvein, extending into serration; tertiary veins abaxially inconspicuous to obscure. Female inflorescences 2-2.5 cm, cupules 6 or 7. Cupule cupular, 1-1.5 × ca. 1.2 cm, enclosing ca. 1/2 or less of nut, outside and inside grayish velutinous, wall less than 1 mm thick; bracts in 6 or 8 rings, margin dentate. Nut ellipsoid, 1.7-2 × ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous; scar ca. 5 mm in diam., flat; stylopodium persistent, conspicuous, 3-ringed. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Sep-Oct of following year.* Broad-leaved evergreen forests in mountains; (500)1100-2600 m. C to N Taiwan"

One of the reasons that attract me to the literature of science (Botany, Zoology, Anatomy, or just every professional endeavor) is the terminology. I am constantly forced to open the dictionary. Take a look at my simple illustrations. They are described using the following terms: glabrous, lanceolate, abaxial, farinose, prostrate, glabrescent, adaxial, acuminate, awn, caudate, velutinous, dentate, ellipsoid, stylopodium...

Whew!!! Then I look for the meaning and I picture this beautiful oak and my illustrations look like weak attempts to capture its essence. Sigh*

At any rate, my sidebar contains a Glossary of terms. Oh and one more thing, doesn't the cup of the acorn remind you of the cups at oriental restaurants? :) Of course I have several of those cups. I keep thinking of rice while drawing these acorns. I think, if we look around, we can emulate nature in designing our wares.

P.S. It is Saturday in Kirimati, Kiribati

Lithocarpus densiflorus

2012-01-27T12:01:00.000-06:00

Lithocarpus densiflorus, Tanbark oak. Pen and ink on 3.5"X2.5" Bristol board

Lithocarpus densiflorus, aka Tanoak or Tanbark-oak is considered a link between the chestnut (Castanea) and the oak (Quercus). It has flowers like the chestnut and acorns like the oak. It is found in Oregon, California and Nevada.

Quercus dunnii - Dunn Oak, Palmer Oak

2012-01-26T08:44:00.000-06:00

Quercus dunnii, Dunn Oak, Palmer Oak. Pen and Ink on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol board

Quercus dunnii is a native of California, Baja California and Arizona. It is usually an evergreen shrub.

The leaf of the Quercus dunnii is 1.2-5 x 1-3 cm; elliptic or rounded; leathery; not convex; with wavy margins , sometimes rolled backward or downward or rolled at the tip of the margins (revolute). It is the spiniest of the oak species with 3-9 sharp teeth each side. It is grey green and glabrous adaxially; yellowish green tomentose abaxially, with prominent veins; no stellate hairs below; 3-8 vein pairs; petiole 2-5 mm, round in cross section;

Acorn 2-3 cm long; oblong to spindle-shaped; having an abruptly projecting point (mucronate); enclosed 1/4 by cup; cup sessile or nearly so, thin, wider than nut, scales covered with orange tinged glandular hairs; maturing in 2 years, from August to October

Ref: http://oaks.of.the.world.free.fr/quercus_palmeri.htm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL!!!

2012-01-25T03:25:00.000-06:00

Sarah Ebarkins swinging through the vines, a ballpoint drawing study on my Moleskine notebook for a story my daughter wrote when she was 5 years old. I love this story because she then gave me strict instructions to type the words exactly as she wrote them. Here is the original post.

The Adventures of the Blue Ring
By Em

One day a little girl named Sarah Ebarkins bought a blue ring. The next day she swung on a vine. While she was swinging her ring came OFF! It dropped into a river into the waterfall cascade. In the waterfall cascade there were vines hanging in the cave. The ring got caught on a VINE then a big wave came and SPLASH! making the ring drop into the river again PLOP! Then a light shone on the ring and there shone...the sun! Then Sarah Ebarkins went out and ran to where she had swung and lost her ring. But she decided to make her own ring by her talent and put insects on it. But when she wore it outside her house a bird snatched it right out of her hands. But when she went to her house and went to her bedroom she saw the ring sitting on her table.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, intelligent, wonderful, bright, charming, talented, funny, terrific, awesome daughter!!!

We love you!!!

My daughter used to sneak notes on my Moleskine notebook when she was in grade school. Later, I would respond to her notes by drawing around her messages. My daughter is 16 years old today. She is a beautiful, smart and talented young lady. She has been twice a recipient of the President's Academic Award; a member of the Junior National Honor Society and now the National Honor Society. She loves history, literature, theater, music and art. She is an avid reader. As much as she tries to escape Science Fair and science projects (she does not like it with a passion :)), she gets selected to represent her school every year. Again this year, she has been selected to the district competition. She came home with a frown on her face saying "Mom, I got selected to represent the district." I replied "Aaaawwww, I am sorry." (but I am also happy and proud of her being selected and so I just had to giggle.) We both laughed. I told her to just have fun. I do not understand her grades. She gets 103% grades, huh? Per centum is per one hundred. It cannot be 103, but there it is. Oh, and she is even on the Spanish Honor Society. What?! There is a Spanish Honor Society? Do you think I am proud of her? Can you blame me? Ah, she makes life beautiful! I love you Em. Tsup!

Do Not Judge An Oak By Its Leaf

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

L to R: Cyclobalanopsis chungii; Cyclobalanopsis phanera; Cyclobalanopsis stenophylloides

L to R: Cyclobalanopsis chevalieri; Cyclobalanopsis morii; Lithocarpus densiflorus

L to R: Cyclobalanopsis astro-glauca; Cyclobalanopsis lamellosa; Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi

Coming tomorrow, their acorns...

Quercus falcata - Southern Red Oak

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

Quercus falcata, Michx. 1801. Southern Red Oak, Spanish Oak, Swamp Red Oak

Literally, thousands of twirls and rotations of my pen nib create miniature circles and swirls to complete this illustrated 10"x8" double cut board, matting the 3.5"x2.5"ATC illustration of the Quercus falcata acorn. This is the second oak decorated mat I have drawn. I did the first one last year, also on January, 2011, shown left.

Quercus virgiliana - Roverella

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

Quercus virgiliana, Ten. 1835, pubescence, acorn, leaf. Pen and ink on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol board. I had a difficult time capturing the scales of this acorn; a lot of patterns and texture.

I chanced upon this almost perfectly ovoid acorn, Quercus virgiliana because I made a typographical error in searching for interesting facts about Quercus virginiana. What a magnificent discovery! This acorn is produced by the most beautiful and largest heritage oak trees in Southern Europe, East Corsica, Italy to the Black Sea. Quercus vigiliana or Roverella. There appears to be quite extensive documentation of heritage specimen throughout Italy. Check out these beautiful acorn images here and the majestic 1000 year old tree, the largest in Italy; a 250-300 year old specimen here and an estimated 400 year old tree here.

The leaf of the Quercus virgiliana is broadly oboval, 10-16 cm., flat with a rounded or cordate base. It has 5 to 7 pairs of often rounded lobes. It is woolly beneath. The petiole measures 1.5-2.5 cm.. The acorn is 3-4 cm in diameter, on a short peduncle, almost sessile; the cup has flat , lanceolate, reflexed scales. Ref: Oaks of the World

Quercus virginiana - Live Oak

2012-01-21T00:20:00.002-06:00

Quercus virginiana. Live Oak. Colored pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol board.

Quercus virginiana. Live Oak on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol boards and live oak acorn specimen on my work desk.

The acorn of Quercus virginina.

The acorn of Quercus virginiana is barrel-shaped; mucronate at the apex. The stalk is 1-2 cm long. It is enclosed by a grayish cup with slightly tomentose scales.

The leaves are semi-evergreen, lanceolate to oboval (obovate, ovate - with narrow end at the base); leathery, rounded apex sometimes acute; cuneate (triangular and tapering to a point) base; entire margin, rarely toothed, often rolled under; dark shiny green above, densely pubescent beneath; petiole 0.2 - 1.3 cm long.

The oldest live oak tree in the U.S. is the Angel Oak in John's Island, South Carolina, believed to be in excess of 1,500 years. It is named after its previous owners Martha and Justin Angel.

What's Inside My Purse...

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-06:00

Of course, what did you expect? :)

Quercus Infectoria - Aleppo Oak

2012-01-19T00:05:00.000-06:00

Quercus infectoria, pigment ink on 3.5"x2.5" Bristol board.

Quercus infectoria Olivier. Taxonomic rank: Species. Genus: Quercus; Family: Fagaceae; Subfamily: Fagoideae. Common name(s) Aleppo Oak.Taxonomy ref.

Quercus infectoria is native to Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Greece

The leaves of the Quercus infectoria measure 3-8 x 1.5.-5 cm; leathery, oblong with a rounded, sometimes cordate base with dentate margins of 4 to 9 pairs of teeth or crenate-dentate often wavy lobed. It is shiny above, paler beneath, glaucous, glabrous or with stellate hairs, polymorphous, leaves at the base of the twigs are often entire; 5-11 vein pairs; intercalary veins present; 1 cm. cylindrical petiole. Oaks of the World.

The 2-3.5 cm x 1.8 cm acorn is mucronate, ovoid, elongated, shiny light brown, glabrous; the peduncle is as long as the petiole; enclosed by 1/5 hemispheric or subconical cup with lanceolate, appressed, tomentose scales. Oaks of the World.

Quercus douglasii - Blue Oak

2012-01-18T08:48:00.000-06:00

Quercus douglasii, pigment ink on 3.5"x2.5" smooth Bristol board.

TAXONOMY:

Blue Oak, scientific name: Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn. (Fagaceae). It is in the white oak (Lepidobalanus) subgenus [72,114,134,157,239]. USDA Forest Service Fire Effects information System, Tree Index

Quercus douglasii; Blue Oak; Mountain White Oak, Iron Oak, is named after its discoverer, David Douglas (1798-1834), the Scottish botanical explorer. The tree is recognized by its bluish foliage, and stands 20 - 60 feet. It has a short leaning trunk up to 1 foot diameter, light gray scaly bark; short stout branches, broad rounded crown; yellowish brittle twigs which are hairy at first, becoming glabrous. It is mainly used for fuel.

The leaves are fall and drought deciduous but may be retained when planted on moist sites; oblong or elliptical leaves are 1 1/4 - 4"wide long and 3/4 to 1 3/4", stiff with 4-5 lobes, sometimes dentate, dark blue green above, pale yellow green beneath, small stellate trichomes. The petiole is 0.3-1.2 cm and is blue green.

The fruit (acorn) is abundant, 3/4-1 1/4 " elliptical, broad or narrow with shallow warty cup. The kernel is sweet and matures in one year; eaten by livestock and wildlife.

REFERENCES, ADDITIONAL READING:

Oaks of the World
National Audubon Society, Filed Guide to Trees, Western Region. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2000
USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information System - Quercus douglasii
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/

An Oak A Day...

2012-01-17T23:59:00.000-06:00

Just like that... starting today.

Quercus stellata (Post Oak). Colored pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board.

A new series, An Oak A Day.

Guaranteed to increase brain power :).

Every day I draw acorns and leaves.

Just because...

Tomentous versus Glabrous

2012-01-14T17:02:00.004-06:00

Thirty five and counting...

Which nut are you? Tomentous or glabrous? I am loving this little project of mine. It is an activity I decided to undertake to keep me drawing while I tend to life's more important tasks, like say, laundry?

Today is laundry day. Do you know why it is good to wash clothes on Saturday? Have you ever noticed that no matter what the weather may be; be it stormy, the sun will always do its best to take a peek. Observe that. I have, since I was little girl. When I was nine years old, I spent summer with my cousin's family. Her mother, my aunt and my mother's only sister lived with them. One afternoon she asked me to hang the clothes on the line. In the afternoon when the clothes were dry, I gathered them up. My aunt was very upset with me. Apparently I failed to shake off the wrinkles! I thought to myself, "How in the world can I shake them off?" The following day there was laundry to be line dried again. This time my aunt taught me to remove the wrinkles. When the clothes are wet and before I hang them on the line I had to quickly snap or shake in the air each piece of clothing. We called it "tapion mo anay." My mother and my sisters did the same thing when they did laundry. However, since I was a young clumsy girl, I ended up soaking wet. You know, that worked. To this day, I perform that motion when I line dry my clothes. My aunt passed away on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2011. She was 97. My sisters, brothers and I called her "Mama." We all loved her very much.

It's a slow pace for this project because some oaks have limited photographic reference and so I have to rely on botanical specifications. However, I am having so much fun getting acquainted with these nuts, also called fruits. They may be tomentous, tomentoes, glabrous, glabrescent, cuneate, denticulate, obovoid, ovoid, ellipsoidal, elliptical, subsessile, pilous, stellate... (all of which, the Blogger spellcheck does not recognize! Grrr...)

As for the Asian oaks, the Philippines only has one oak specie, in Palawan and a shrub at that. Read more information on Oaks of the World. Below, Quercus merrillii; the infructescence and leaf illustrations are not the same scale.

Quercus merrillii

The Asians Are Coming!!!

2012-01-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

Coming Soon!!!

A New Collection of Exquisite, Exotic, Fascinating and Captivating Acorns

of the Cyclobalanopsis Genus.

Left to right: Cyclobalanopsis kerrii, C.phanera, C. lamellosa.

Left to Right: Cyclobalanospis pachyloma, C. austro-glauca, C. fleuryi

Ah, dear friends and visitors. A new year and lots of talk about new hope, new promises. I have nothing against it, except I am still trying to keep going with what I started last year, mainly my project commitments at work. Believe it or not, the last quarter of the year and summer are the busiest periods for our already busy and full work schedule. So, I am barely here. However, I just wanted to give you a sneak peek of what I am trying to do to relax when I find the time.

This is not an exaggeration when I say that I am the most surprised and awed with what I am discovering about the oaks of Asia. These are the acorns of the genus Cyclobalanopsis, of the family Fagacaea, the same family that the genus Quercus (American and European oaks) belong. Oh my. They are exquisite, exotic and downright fascinating! Here is a photograph of Cyclobalanopsis fleuryi.

I hope to return soon with these "cessified" nuts.

Hanging Out With The Asians

2012-01-09T06:34:00.001-06:00

Some oaks of the Orient. Family Fagaceae, Genus Cyclobalanopsis

Left to Right: Cyclobalanopsis kerrii; Cyclobalanopsis pachyloma and Cyclobalanopsis lamellosa.

STRESSSSSSSS!!!! A very busy January! I will be occupying work to meet deadlines, testing events, project implementations and the homefront for annual medical appointments, birthdays, christenings, school programmes. To start it all, I am on 24-hour call today and have four more on-call days for January. I wish the best for everyone. Please pardon me for not visiting regularly. I am drawing acorns since I don't smoke, drink, gamble, shop, etc... or whatever people do to relieve stress.

Good morning! Wake up, It's your Birthday...

2012-01-08T15:44:00.002-06:00

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 10:27 AM

Good night Nene Cecil. Thank you for everything. I have two meetings tomorrow, a criminal case in the afternoon, and a deadline for the Supreme Court. Good night.

Happy Birthday, Son and Inday Leah

From the "Shed A Tear" collection.

My mind is agitated and my heart is healing and then breaking and then healing and then breaking.

Today, nineteen years ago, I was hanging from a trapeze. The obstetrician and nurses were running out of options and before they took out the big gadgets and the last option of rushing me to the operating room, they let me hang from a trapeze, the way the Indians did long ago, so I can deliver my baby. It did not work. My obstetrician told my husband that our son's heart and brain waves were strong and healthy, so they were avoiding an emergency cesarean section. They will use some gadgets and do some bedside procedures and if they don't work, then they have to rush me to the operating room. I have been in labor for 17 hours. My epidural anesthesia has worn off hours ago and I finally prayed that I would not die for I would feel horrible leaving my husband with a newborn. I felt a huge sucking sensation. My obstetrician used the vacuum, the forceps and performed a fourth degree episiotomy that prevented me from sitting down for two months after delivery. My son was born. I was so exhausted I could not even lift my arms to touch him nor turn my head towards to kiss him. My husband said our son was so alert and just looking around. For nineteen years he has put me on the edge. He is the most loving, faithful, loyal and protective young man I know. When he was young, he did not want me to stand in the driveway in the evening because he was worried that people will drive by and hurt me. I listened to him so he would stop worrying. He makes me proud and happy.

Today, he shares his birthday with my sister Leah. True to her word and promise, my sister Leah celebrated Christmas with my sister Mercedes and then her birthday today. I could not call because I could not get an international line. I could not call her because she could not talk to me. She continues to struggle with cancer.

My heart is bursting with pain. Sometimes tears fall like a mountain cataract because I am so angry that the kindest, most altruistic, most intelligent, brilliant and smartest of my siblings has been deprived of her brilliant mind. I am so sad. Dammit. I am sorry for cursing, but my heart aches. My heart cannot contain my love for my sister. It is the same with my other sisters and brothers and my sisterfriend. It is the same for my husband and my children. So here I am. I am so happy that my son and all of us here have come a long way from the growing pains and yet my anguished mind and my breaking heart is blinding me with tears.

No amount of squiggling can relieve that sensation. I suppose I should be honored and grateful for I am awake and can write this... my sister cannot.

I really wish that love had real power...

P.S. When my son was a baby, I used to play Ella Fitzgerald's songbooks and I danced to this song while I carried my son and held his face next to mine.

Grounded

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

Autumn #3. Part of the original Seasons Series. I gave away this drawing. Unfortunately, I did not scan it. This is a photograph of the 9"x12" pen and ink drawing on Bristol Board. I have been trying to redraw this image and I cannot do it, something always changes. I know that the facial features are very simple but somehow I want to recapture that. I cannot even explain why it appeals to me very much. There is something very personal about this drawing and I miss it! I drew this right after I bought my motorcycle boots. :) As for "grounded" I cannot come up with any idea. I can unequivocally say, my mind is full of nuts.

Unfinished Business

2012-01-03T22:26:00.000-06:00

A grove of American basswood in the Blue Ridge mountains.

A row of Populus tremuloides or Quaking Aspens, Rocky mountains.

Quercus virginiana at the Alamo Shrine and gardens. San Antonio.

Bald cypress trees along the Atchafalaya Swamp Freeway, Louisiana.

Here are some images from a project I did not finish because of my carpal tunnel syndrome, and later because I forgot about them.

Tonight I found two memory cards with thousands of images!!!

Not Just Dishes

2012-01-01T09:28:00.001-06:00

It was wonderful to meet you all last year! This is going to be an exciting year. The air is full of uncertainty. That always offers many great opportunities. There will be predators and opportunists as usual. As for 2012, I hope the Mayans were wrong.

Onward!

Every right imposes some obligation on others. My right to freedom is borne by the brave and self-sacrificing soldiers, by the martyrs and patriots of this country who were willing to die than live without liberty. I believe in productivity, of living in our own effort and not give or receive the undeserved, in working for merits, of honoring achievement and rejecting envy; the philosophy of rational individualism.

You will not see me in an Occupy protest. I will be working whatever job I can find. You will not see me in the picket lines, I will cross the barriers and staff the trauma center. I abhor socialism and socialist agenda. I will not pay dues to someone or some group who will pretend to speak for me and uphold my rights while paying politicians to uphold the bureaucracy. I believe in the capacity of humans as noble and capable individuals. I reject the demagoguery of those who think they care for others by making them dependent and incapable, then brag about how they save others. It is modern day slavery. There is no honor in dependency and slavery.

This philosophy is not contradictory with kindness.

I am a Registered Nurse. I was also a speech and language therapist for autistic children and children with cerebral palsy. I worked as a trauma and emergency nurse in two of the nation's busiest trauma centers. I am now a clinical analyst developing clinical decision support rule programs . My home is my refuge. I am married to the man I love and we have two beautiful children. We have two dogs, one very smart and the other loves to eat. We have a five year old rabbit that the dogs respect and fear when she thumps!

My childhood was blessed with industrious, lovingl and intelligent parents who emphasized the importance of education, hard work and self-reliance. I am blessed with gifted and loving sisters and brothers. My sister Leah, a good lawyer, is battling lung cancer; that makes me very sad. She continues to inspire me. She used to read my blog everyday until she lost her eyesight.

The people I love are my inspiration. I have met many good and beloved friends through blogging. I coined the term sisterfriend for the most beloved. I cannot stand sycophants and do not suffer fools gladly. I have strong opinions and express them. I cannot pretend to like things and people just to appear inclusive, progressive and appealing. I find that quite disingenuous and appalling. I detest profane and vulgar language. I do not find that cute nor courageous, instead, it evinces a limited vocabulary. I relish getting awed by outstanding and talented artists but I love to witness the effort, struggle and hard work of the creative mind. I cheer for the neophyte.

Thank you for your visit.

I oil paint and draw for leisure.

I will use the sidebar to share ideas and topics that provoke and interest me. There are also new pages on my blog. I tried to post summaries of my painterly and illustration endeavors. This year, I hope again to finish two drawing projects I started a while back, the first was started three years ago and the other, two years a go.

I was twelve years old when I read Atlas Shrugged. I did not understand it then.

More Than Highlights...

2011-12-30T21:26:00.000-06:00

Snowscape. Micro pigment ink on 11"x14" on Bristol Board.

2011 was a period of punctuated equilibrium.

Here's to 2012.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Malipayon Nga Bag-ong Tuig!!!

May your life be filled with

people you love and who love you.

May you occupy industry, diligence and success.

May you be of good health.

May healing take place.

May your life be filled with celebrations.

May America heal and be strong again.

May the governments be effective, efficient and honest.

May the laws be fair.

May the world be filled with peace.

May women be treated equally and with respect everywhere around the world.

May the men be brave and strong.

May the children be safe and happy.

May families be strong.

May you be productive.

May you prosper.

May you love and be loved.

May you create fabulous art.

May you get enough sleep and rest.

May you find time to listen to music, dance and read.

May you reap honors and distinction.

May you never get lost or astray.

But if you do, may you find your way.

May your home be a refuge.

Pray.

Give thanks.

Amen.

Tsup!

These are the last acorns and leaves I will be drawing for 2011:

L to R above and below: Quercus glaucoides (Lacey Oak), Quercus nigra (Water Oak), Quercus arkansana (Arkansas Oak)

Quercus chapmanii (Chapman Oak) in progress...

(Oops! I lied about the acorns. I have drawn nine more, last night and still drawing...)

See you next year!!!

Tsup!

Quercus Macrocarpa or Bur Oak

2011-12-30T02:44:00.000-06:00

I am seriously contemplating of joining the oak society. Yes, there is such a thing. I am thinking...thinking...gotta pay the membership fee...seriously thinking... In the meantime, this is the Quercus macrocarpa, also known as Bur Oak, Mossycup Oak or Mossy overcup oak. And to everyone who has access to oak acorn and leaf specimen, tell me about them and I will illustrate them. If you send me acorn and leaf specimen I will appreciate that very much. Thank you! Thank you Rick Forrestal for reminding me of the Bur Oak which I have actually illustrated several times in the past, here and here.

Archival black and colored micropigment ink on 2.5"x3.5 Bristol Board. Below, the ATC are set on black archival acide-free mat boards. Drawing the colored leaf required 12 different colored pigment pens because unlike water colors or colored pencils, pigment ink do not blend well.

Quercus macrocarpa

Family Fagaceae

The Bur Oak is a tree with very large acorns, stout trunk, and broad, rounded open crown of stout, often crooked spreading branches but sometimes it is grown as a shrub. Height: 50 to 80 feet. Diameter: 2-4 feet. The large acorns, 3/4 to 2 inches, have very deep fringed cups, the largest of all native oaks. The name describes the cup of the acorn which resembles the bur of Chestnut. The Bur Oak is the northernmost New World oak. In the west it is a pioneer tree, bordering and invading prairie grasslands. It is planted for shade, ornament and shelterbelts. The leaves are 4 to 10 inches long and 2 to 5 inches wide. Wow! That's a big leaf! It is obovate, broadest beyond the middle, lower half deeply divided into 2 to 3 lobes on each side. It turns yellow or brown in the fall.

If I Had To Draw Only One Thing...

2011-12-29T02:45:00.000-06:00

Above, the acorns of Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak), Quercus lyrata (Overcup oak), Quercus marilandica (Blackjack Oak) and below, their leaves.

Above, the acorns of Quercus falcata (Southern Red Oak), Quercus prinus (Chestnut Oak) and Quercus laevis (American Turkey Oak) and below, their leaves.

Above, the acorns of Quercus virginiana (Live Oak), Cyclobalanopsis blakei, Quercus robur (English Oak) and below, their leaves.

Pigment ink on 2.5"x3.5" Bristol Boards. They look better when matted and framed as a set. Otherwise, I shuffle them like playing cards.

If I had to draw only one thing, it would be the oak. It's not surprising that my first drawing this year was an ATC/ACEO with an illustrated mat depicting a specimen of Quercus laevis (left) and then I end the year with a set of drawings of acorns and their leaves. When I run out of ideas or just want to draw something leisurely, I draw oak which gives you the idea that I am frequently out of ideas.

Drawing acorns and leaves is a soothing activity.

I will be happy drawing oak for the rest of my life. I wonder if there is a job out there for an acorn illustrator that will provide retirement benefits, health and dental insurance? Say, a six figure income to go along with the other benefits? If you know of one, please let me know or provide a good word about me. Tell them you know someone who loves to draw nuts. When I was searching for images of Quercus laevis acorn and leaf, look what came up... my own illustration. You know that tickles me a bit. I wish I studied botany or forestry. Wouldn't that be nice? Oh never mind. There may be snakes on the trees and forest floor. Here's another search outcome for cyclobalanopsis bella:

They are my specimen drawings of Cyclobalanopsis bella (first and fifth) and an illustration of Bella Sinclair as an oak nymph :) Here's a fact:

There are three more days left before the beginning of the new year. I may draw something else. Happy New Year to all of you!

2011, I Shall Remember...

2011-12-26T09:18:00.000-06:00

Give thanks for your life, your gifts, your blessings!!!

If you find no reason to give thanks, change your friends. Seriously. One cannot change one's family; but friends, you can exchange. Exchange them with those who will help you find meaning and reason to get up and love life, appreciate the sun or the rain, smile at your brother or friend who constantly tags you with every blurred photograph they post. Give thanks that they consider you important in their lives.

Laugh.

Smile.

Love. Truly love with all your heart. There is a difference. Love until it makes you quiver, even your dog.

Cry and feel sadness. It is an honor to feel sadness and loss.

Celebrate. Anything and everything. Celebrate especially your loved one's birthdays, no matter how quiet. Honor them and give thanks for them. They enrich your life.

Celebrate your heroes. They inspire.

Give. Share.

Say "please" and "thank you." It is that simple.

Parents, love your children. You will affect their lives until the very end.

Make something. Create something. Make yourself useful. Stop fooling yourself with meaningless blather about self-actualization, of empty dreams, of sharing, when you do not do anything useful for the greater good.

Occupy work and industry.

Do not envy.

Achieve!!!

2011 is a mixed blessing. There was healing, growing, achieving, a lot of struggling and loving. My sister Leah was diagnosed with lung cancer this year. She continues to battle this dreadful disease. Directly below, is my favorite drawing. At her request, I completed that drawing in a period of four days in the Philippines. I drew day and night and while I accompanied her on doctor's visits. She loves that drawing. I gave the 11"x14" pen and ink drawing to her a couple of days before I flew back to the US. Three days after I arrived in the the US, my sister became very ill. I flew back once more to the Philippines. This is the last of my drawings that she saw for she became blind from complications of her treatment. One day while rummaging through a packet of CT Scans, MRIs and x-ray films, my sister Freah found this drawing and another drawing (right) which was my sister's first favorite, tucked between the films. Leah is very much loved by many. To everyone who help us care for her and pray for her, thank you.

The other day, in a group dynamic exercise, the speaker asked us to think of two people, dead or alive, whom we admire. It took me less than a millisecond to think of mine. I think the people who have followed me throughout my blog journey know that there is nothing more important to me than my family and my parents, though long gone, yet continue to inspire and guide me. From my son and daughter, my husband, sisters and brothers, nephews and nieces and the very closest friends whom I consider family, I am blessed over and over again. They make my paintbrushes and pen glide on canvas and paper freely. In the end, the people you love and who love you in turn are all that matters. They help you do things and give them meaning and significance. All the selfish things one pursues are meaningless when one turns around and finds no one or can't think of anyone with whom to share. So love your family or the friends who are your family.

To all my friends and visitors who accompany me on my journey here, thank you for all your kindness. May your life be prosperous, happy and meaningful.

Tsup!

These are some of over one hundred eighty five illustrations I did this year. As you can see I only completed four oil paintings. I am not including the intentionally ugly art illustrations I did earlier this year nor the over one hundred acorn ATC/ACEO I drew and gave away.

2010

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-26T00:16:00.000-06:00

Today is Boxing Day, literally...

This morning I woke up very early. I wanted to set up the new Bose Wave music system that my husband gave me for Christmas. The old Bose wave radio intermittently works so he decided to get me a new one. The new one can hold 4 discs so that will provide me an entire day of listening pleasure. Today it is classical music. I took Daisy and Weezy outside, brewed coffee and did some cleaning in the kitchen. It was awfully quiet in the living room so I figured the dogs must have gone back to sleep. I went to the living room and...

NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Weezy was chewing the new Bose Wave radio power cord!!! I was so mad I yelled at him and it awakened my family. We were all scolding him. Weezy did the only thing he thought would help. He checked himself into his crate. He refused to get out of it even though the door is open. Every time I passed by his crate he looked at me, hoping I had a change of heart. I even asked him to get out and eat. He finally did, reluctantly. After eating he went right back to his crate. I think he felt safe in there.

I decided to check out the old Bose player and miraculously it is working without a hitch. So I am playing Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole. I wonder if Weezy will associate classical music with his self imposed boxing. That alborada del graciosa has some torturous sounding refrain. You know, I thought about this whole incident. First of all, I should have put the cord away from his reach. I actually thought about the possibility of this incident yesterday and I was hoping he would not reach over the coffee table. I also thought about how he checked himself into his crate, realizing he has done something wrong. It is more than I can say for some humans.

As for the cord, I called Bose and they told me I can replace it with a new cord from Radio Shack. As for Weezy, he is falling asleep to Dukas's Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:07:00.000-06:00

Weezy, The Christmas Gift Eater

"Hah! She thinks putting up the presents on the coffee table instead of putting them under the tree will save them from me!"

Seriously, this pup is changing our Christmas celebration tradition. He started chewing the boxes! Naughty dog! This is Wheezy, a stray dog rescued by my son when he was a puppy. He was an ugly puppy. He had two scars on his thigh and abdomen from knife cuts. He was encrusted with ant bites all over his body. He had parvovirus that required a week of hospitalization and steep veterinarian fees!!! Still he was a happy puppy who sought human company. He chewed my Ethan Allen love seat, chewed my packaging paper rolls, ate the welcome mat, literally... You think he would have been better served at the pound, but he is ours now. He is a very happy dog. He is quite good looking now. This is his first Christmas. He keeps me company in the kitchen. He knows where the food source is located. Daisy is not amused.

This Christmas, I am going to use the Spode Blue Room pattern. I feel like a little girl playing with dishes!

On the left is a Christmas photograph from the past. It is a photograph of my sisters Rebecca and Leah, taken on Christmas Day. This was before I was born. The house was on Smith Street and it burned down when the city was engulfed by fire. The only thing that was saved was my mother's Singer sewing machine. My family lost everything else. For two months, my family lived in a school that was converted to a shelter. My sister Freah celebrated her second birthday at the shelter.

I grew up in a family with strong and long Christmas traditions. My parents made them so happy, even though I don't remember so many presents. I remembered I always had a new dress and a new pair of shoes. I looked forward to that new pair of shoes. I remember the midnight masses. I loved it when the church bells tolled. My family occupied the entire pew. There were ten of us. We always had a family photograph taken at midnight as the calendar turned January 1st. My father was a photographer. I continue that tradition, albeit, I am not very strict about the midnight schedule and we are so underdressed. I remembered the food, we were all gathered in the kitchen cooking or just playing. I loved grating the cheese for the macaroni fruit salad.

I spent most of yesterday in the kitchen after my husband and I went to breakfast and then grocery shopping. Our family pretty much lingered in the kitchen yesterday. Today, I woke up at four in the morning and baked an apple pie. I love Christmas. I am so grateful that it is peaceful and our home is warm. I want to be happy and for the most part I am happy, but I am also heartbroken and sad. I miss my sisters and brothers and I am so sad for my sister Leah, struggling with lung cancer. I feel so sad that I am so far away and cannot render nursing care. I think about the Filipinos who lost their homes in the flood. I know how that feels, to be without a home. I think of my sisterfriend Deborah and her husband, also stricken with lung cancer. I pray to a merciful and kind God. Please, let there be not so much suffering.

I called my sisters and brothers yesterday. They are all gathered at my sisters' home. I did not talk to Leah. She can't speak.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Message

2011-12-23T20:01:00.000-06:00

The Messenger. A series of ATC/ACEO pen and ink illustrations on Bristol Board.

For years, the atheists, anti-God, anti-Christians, anti-religion, secularists and anti-Christmas have successfully waged war against Christmas. They have made it a secular celebration, devoid of its cultural and spiritual significance and protesting its symbols . They are so afraid to say Christmas, instead calling it "Holiday" thinking that it is more inclusive and not offensive. Christmas offensive!? They turned it into secular holiday celebrated with material things and carnal celebrations. It is no wonder that so many people find it noisy, meaningless and empty. Christmas, foremost is a spiritual holiday, with religious and cultural significance. Denying it is like like celebrating Hanukkah by buying a menorah for decorative purposes, or a politician lighting it because his ratings among the Jews have significantly dropped. Christmas devoid of its meaning is like buying a statue of Ganesh because it is exotic, or buying a statue of Buddha and rubbing its belly because it is believed to bring material wealth. These are all the wrong reasons. Instead of attacking Christmas, perhaps they should question themselves and their motives. One cannot pretend to celebrate Christmas without recognizing that it is the celebration of the birth of Christ. On the other hand, it is alright if one does not celebrate or chooses not to celebrate Christmas.

As for sharing Christmas around the world, here is a true leader who says what he believes; is not afraid to say it and does not do something only because it will be good in the polls or increase his chances for reelection, a leader with conviction who does not mince words and speaks without a teleprompter. Perhaps, other leaders could learn a thing or two from him. Prime Minister Netanyahu dares to say "Merry Christmas" and means it.

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

To all my blog friends, followers and visitors,

Merry Christmas!!!

Thank you for your friendship, visits, kind words, support , inspiration and encouragement.

Thank you for your prayers for my sister Leah who continues to do battle with cancer. Your prayers, support and love, bring comfort and healing.

Thank you!

It is just as well that my blog is titled Ces And Her Dishes. I draw in the kitchen when I have the time. I work long days as a full time clinical analyst. This year I did more than 185 pen and ink illustrations and completed three 30"x40" oil paintings and one 16"x20" oil painting. I often draw under a magnifying glass, in the kitchen surrounded by my family: my husband, our son and daughter, our two dogs and yes, sometimes my daughter brings in our rabbit, Snowflake. Sometimes Daisy sits on a chair next to me. Oftentimes, my daughter does her homework across the table, my son prepares his barbecue while I draw. Sometimes I cook while I draw. Sometimes, we just gather in the kitchen to tell stories and jokes or play with Daisy and Weezy, and I draw. Sometimes we move to the living room. I do not have a studio. My oil painting easel is in our living room. Always, I find great pleasure, peace and happiness in the company of my family; with my thoughts filled with sweet memories and my heart filled with longing for my loved ones far away.

Thank you for sharing with me.

May God bless you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Ces

Tsup!!!

HELP!!!

2011-12-17T23:30:00.000-06:00

Hello friends. I did not realize the extent of the flood damage in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. The death toll has exceeded 400, hundreds more are missing and thousands are displaced. People were washed away in their sleep. I want to help and if you will help me help the people, I will appreciate it very much. There is always a reason to keep or save our money and mind our own business and needs during these tough times. I for one should be focusing on my sister's cancer treatment expenses. But looking at these photos is so heartbreaking and devastating. Worse, it is difficult to send help to these people without the funds being siphoned by scrupulous individuals and corrupt agencies. Be wary of online scams. I am sorry, I sound cynical but I am just being careful. I will try to figure out a way where we can help and truly make the funds reach the affected people. I have contacted the American Red Cross and inquired if we can individually make a donation directly to the American Red Cross but designate our donations for the Philippine flood victims. Stay tuned.

Save a certain amount for now. Do not send me money. The need will be beyond the coming days and weeks. Even if we just buy school supplies for the surviving children when they rebuild the schools. The worst news I heard this morning is that they ran out of coffins for children. What an awful Christmas.

Thank you very much and may you and your family have a safe and blessed Christmas.

Photos copied from Internet news agencies.

Update: As of 12/18/2011, the American Red Cross has not designated the Typhoon Sendong Disaster as a donation target through the American Red Cross donation site. The Philippine Red Cross accepts monetary donations but it is in pesos. It has dollar donations but only through international electronic bank transfers. I am not advising anyone to do the latter. You local bank transfer fees may be steep and cost more than your intended amount. At this time I just encourage anyone to help through your local Red Cross and indicate where the need is greatest. (It may not necessarily be the Philippines) but the American Red Cross does help in international disasters. Thank you.

Winners!!! Winners!!!

2011-12-17T01:35:00.002-06:00

First, I changed my mind about the new Blogger post editor, I like it and it has many positive improvements and features especially related to image uploads. I already had the opportunity to use this uploader on my sky-watching blog last year. The only drawback is that I cannot edit the photo sizes using HTML.

And now for the WINNERS of the ATC print sets giveaway. The winners were unknowingly picked by my fellow analyst at work by giving me two random numbers. I printed the comment section of the original giveaway post and assigned numbers to each comment (excluding mine, of course!). Oh, I previously asked my brother-in-law, who is also a fellow analyst but had to negate his choices. True to form, like his brother, he gave me 1.5 and 3.75. Ugh!!! Then he argued that I was not specific enough, I should have specified whether I wanted whole, prime, fractions, odd, even, rational, irrational... Sigh***

Congratulations to the beautiful Lakhsmita Indira of Illustration Poetry for winning these ATC-sized prints of oak leaves. These prints were part of the "Blemished" and "Autumn Leaves" series. They are printed on 2.5"x3.5" Sommerset velvet archival paper.

Congratulations to Steve! Steveroni my favorite "Peep"-eroni, concert violinist and poet, who always leaves me kind comments and goodwill. Steve will receive a set of archival black and acorn prints also on Sommerset velvet paper.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for participating. I will have more give-aways of original and prints as I blog along.

Be safe.

Merry Christmas!!!

How To Sink Someone A Week Before Christmas

2011-12-16T20:21:00.000-06:00

India ink, pigment ink on 2.5"x3.5" Bristol board on single mat.

Ugh! What happened? I have this new Blogger interfaced editor I did not want and it is not very user friendly. How can I get my old post editor back? Yes, there are many features but it is not flexible at all. I am sinking here!

The Meaning And Definition Of Tsup! Tsup!!!

2011-12-13T16:42:00.012-06:00

"Tsup!" (work in progress) Part of the Windows and Doors Series of 2.5"x3.5" ATCs on illustrated mat boards. My giveaway is still going on. Please leave a comment here to join. Tsup!!!

The leaves have nothing to do with Tsup! I just love color. ATC-sized prints of these leaves are part of the give-away.

Below is a discussion at Bird Anonymous' blog on February 2008. In my opinion, there is no blog like Bird Anonymous. It was laughter everyday in her comment section. I met very many colorful, talented and artistic bloggers there including Joy Eliz, Elizadeath, Baronnes with a Teacup, Catnapping, Princess Pepper Cloud, Red Mojo, Homo Sapien, Boiled Egg on a Deck Chair and of course Bimbimbie and Baino. It was a different form of "commentating" which somehow Bella, Renee and I later continued to practice. Here's a discussion on the meaning and definition of "Tsup"

"Tsup" is also demonstrated above, left, an ATC illustration which is a part of the Windows and Doors Series. These are my Mother's first five children. This was before I was born. My eldest sister Ched is giving my elder sister Freah a kiss. If this was a comic book illustration there would be a label "Tsup! to indicate the sound of the kiss. Isn't it interesting that the person who would ask me again for the meaning of "Tsup", Ted Blackman, likes to draw comics. I saw "Tsup" for the first time in a Filipino komiks in the 60's.

25 Comments

Anonymous said...

Love and peace even between Miners and Mynas :)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

RED MOJO said...

Yo, love and peace everyone! WTF is Tsup?

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

OMMMM Red Mojo, you were YELLING! We all have to wait for Ces to give the definition of 'Tsup' because as I said, she is the expert ... shame she's so busy today Hhahhahaaaa :)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Miladysa said...

Awwr those birdies are really enjoying their dip!

Forgive poor Debra because she knows not what she does...

... from one who used to feed bread to the ducks... *sob*

Peace and Love

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't have given a ruddy love and peace tag to Debra if I wasn't meditating on her forgiveness Miladysa ;) I feel like I'm dipping NOW with all your sobbing!

OMMMMM Peace and Love.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

simon said...

love and peace?? oh no! I want to argue! ;o))

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

That's why you're getting a twist on each ear and an extra viscious !HONK! on your beak Simon! MWHAHHAHHAAAA Besides, the birds can't hear you because have water in their ears OMMMMMM ....

Thursday, February 21, 2008

tsduff said...

Ah - Magpie made my day :) Peace and love to you all down under ;)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

Knew you'd love Mr Magpie TsDuff, everyone else has IGNORED him! We're meditating Peace and Love Down Under ... IT'S NOT EASY, rather hot down here! Ommmmm ...

Thursday, February 21, 2008

simon said...

ahahahhah!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

!!OMMMMMMMMMMM!!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ces said...

Oh for heaven's sakes. I had to take my work home because I was not able to finish and I decided to take a break. In the meantime my "Tsup" Tsup" which is an onomateopoeia for a kiss has been associated with WTF (What The Feather!" Okay, "Tsup" is the sound when you pucker your lips and suck the air in, the same motion you do when you give a baby or a child a kiss. So here's a a big "tsup" to everyone.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ces said...

Thanks for the peace. I am sure to spread them because I also got one from Diana Evans. I think Zari originated this peace sign. She is from Lebanon I think and she once mentioned about my Moleskine drawings. I wanted to send her some Moleskine notebooks but I forgot about the thought. In the meantime, while this is peace, I would like to know the meaning of the Arabic message. What does it mean? You might think me paranoid but I cannot spread anything unless I understand what it means,so tomorrow, I have to ask my friends from Morroco and Lebanon when I go to work. Tsup! Tsup!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

*bowing to the great expert on TSUPING* Ces, you just knocked us all over! HAHHAHAAA Thanks for taking the time, *OH my GLASSES are BROKEN*

Ces, if you click on the image it takes you to Zari's place who originated the image and tag. Perhaps she can tell you what the writing says, you just broke my glasses so I am BLIND NOW! Love and Peace OMMMMMMM ....

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ces said...

Ommmmmm! Will be back soon.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

Thanks for fetching the First Aide Kit Ces :) Love and Peace OMMMMM ...

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Bimbimbie said...

Ah now I know what I'm saying when I go outside, seed in hand and calling to my feathered friends with my puckering lips.
Peace and Love Tsup*!* Tsup*!*

...I think your peaceful Noisy Miner was in awe of that Myna's wingstroke

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

HAHA!! Peace, Love and Tsup*!* Tsup*!* back again Bimimbie and welcome back :) Thankyou for pointing out the Miner's awe of Myna's wingstroke, it's unsettling for a Noisy Miner to be peaceful about anything but a very pleasant change :)

Now we know the Myna's secret ANYONE who wishes for peace may wingstoke my feathers ;) OMMMMMM ....

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Zari said...

hello!!
this is such a great blog!...love this constant communication is going on here!

i want to thank you for your help spreading the word...

I created this meme on February 14, a day for Love everywhere in the world, but a day for political conflicts and manifestations is Lebanon...the arabic text you see in the background is from the 1st page of a Lebanese newspaper from that day, full of bad news as usual...but i covered it with colors and a little peace dove...hoping all the thoghts and prayers it could collect around the world could help change the situation here and in all those countries facing trouble...

that's all : )

ah! Ces...thanks for thinking of sending me a moleskine...you are so sweet just for thinking so :)

bye bye

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Miladysa said...

Glasses? You wear glasses? So you are not soooo anonymous any more! Ha!

And....

Ruddy
Ruddy
Ruddy!

Ha!

;-D

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

Hi Zari, thanks so much for taking the time to visit and telling us about the story of your design and meme! We love your peace dove and what it represents :) Love and Peace. Ommmmmmm .... ;)

I was ruddy ruddy ruddy pretending Ces broke my ruddy pretend sunglasses Miladysa! *sigh* The ones which make me even MORE anonymous because so huge you can't see my face and very dark so you can't see where I'm looking! Heehee. !HONK! on your beak (you wouldn't have seen that coming if my glasses weren't broken)

Peace and Love. OMMMMMMM....

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Melissa said...

LOL -- tsup! I like "mwah!" too for that air kissing stuff.

And I love these photos ... it's like he's building up to the water flinging. "Are you watching, Anon ... okay ... ready ... ready ... SPLASH!"

I will say it's all the Anon birds' fault this summer when I get in the kiddie pool and commence to wing about like a bird and soak everyone within ten feet. :)

Thursday, February 21, 2008 Ces said...

Ces said...

TSUP to all of you. I am still swammped but manged to sneak in a visit to my favorite birdie poo. TSUP to all of you again. I can't get my program to work. I am hungry and exhausted. TSUP TSUP Mwahh!

So nice to see Zari here to explain the peace sign. Peace - OHMMMMMMMM.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Miladysa said...

Good Ruddy Morning to you and the twitters Anon ;-D

Friday, February 22, 2008

Anonymous said...

!TSUP! and !MWAH! Melissa! I can see you right now flipping, flopping, and waving your wings about while the rest of the family are hiding in the bushes with waterproof cameras ;) Love and Peace. OMMMMMMM ....

TSUP Ces! This birdie is NO poo thankyou! I do hope you have eaten and slept since all your TSUPING and have more energy for Love and Peace and OMMMMMM today :)

HAHHAHHAAA it is indeed Miladysa! PEACE AND LOVE. !!!OMMMMM!!!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Windows and Doors; Looking In Looking Out and a Giveaway

2011-12-11T21:27:00.001-06:00

Above and the three images directly below are part of a Windows and Doors Series: ATC or ACEO on illustrated mats. The art cards done in pen and ink measure 2.5"x3.5" and the double mats measure 8"x10". I plan to give these as presents to friends and family but no telling when I am going to finish them because as with any project, I tend to overdo it as I go along. Sigh. So I don't know when I will finish!

These are matted Art Trading Cards (ATC) which I am not really trading so I guess they are Art Cards, Editions or Originals (ACEO). Art cards are small measuring 2.5"x3.5" inches. So what to you do with these? I mat the ones I draw before I give them as gifts. One day, I thought the mats were so boring so I decided to draw on the mats early this year (below), which inspired me to do the above.

I like to group my ATCs and ACEOs by matting them as a set like the two examples below:

This was a set of ACEOs I drew during a family vacation in South Carolina and then gave to my friend. The images were scenes around the area.

This is a set of acorns I drew as an auction item for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure fundraising event. Below, are examples of how matted and framed ACEOs look like on the wall. The double mats measure 16"x20" and may be purchased from art supply stores.

SOMETHING FOR YOU!!!

When I was cleaning a table today, I discovered three sets of ACEO prints. These are two sets of colored oak leaves and a set of black and white prints of acorns and oak twigs. There are nine in each sets and perfect for framing. Are you interested in them? I will raffle a set (9 ACEO prints) of colored oak leaves and a set of black and white acorns. These are printed on archival Sommerset enhanced velvet paper. However, since I do not have mats available for these sets, I will only be giving away the card prints. Just leave a comment and let me know if you want to be included in the raffle.

Update: 12/12/2011: Aaaaaawwww!!! Everybody and anybody may join. I am not choosing the two winners. I am having my co-workers choose two numbers between a range. They won't know why I am asking them to choose. They will just give me two numbers. Karen is No. 1 and Audrey is no. 2 and so on. I don't care if you comment once or twice. I am assigning numbers to each comment in order. It's that simple. Of course I am exempting myself. Hehehe!

I hope you are ready for Christmas. I am not. I have not started shopping and I am working until the very eve!!! Relax, it happens every year, besides, I have no money, so I can't go shopping, so my friends and family have to settle for drawings, paintings or socks. Seriously :)

Separated and Living in Tra-La-La Land

2011-12-09T11:31:00.005-06:00

The Deceptively Charming and Despicable Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg And His Pet Horned Screamer. A horned screamer, although it looks like a turkey, actually belongs to the duck and geese family. Pen and India and pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board.

Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg* is long on name but short on stature. He did not have a happy childhood, although he thought he did. Something always happened in his adult life that made him over analyze his past. He did not feel whole**, instead fractionated**. He is the epitome of mediocrity but believes he is special.

The fact is, Mr. Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg is a stifling bore. The only reason his wife stays married to him is because she has a fear of abandonment and is addicted to collecting exotic reptiles; snakes she keeps in glass cages in their bedroom and big lizards which she allows to roam freely in their home, spreading salmonella. This has made them a pariah of the neighborhood. They recently acquired a Gabon viper and Burmese crate****. Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg sleeps in his study, surrounded by trophies he acquired when he used to compete in karate tournaments as a young boy.

Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg is an awful husband, selfish, prevaricating, manipulative bore, although I must say, he is quite a charmer, but liars are charmers. This rotund, obtuse man thinks he is Numero Uno as he walks his pet horned screamer at night. Nothing more evinces hypocrisy than when Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg proselytizes about caring for others when he never helps without making a big propaganda of it.

Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg may look round**, but rounded he is not. He is an odd** man, not even**-tempered. He is not rational** at all, in fact quite irrational**. He is past his prime**. He weighs twenty-four stones.

Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg's birth name was John Edward Lester Stilton which he changed to Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg. He stinks. He attracts people and then bores them with tales of self-exploit. It isn't so much that Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg is a braggart but rather, he knows and believes so much that isn't so. He lives an imaginary** life, separated from reality, most of the time.

*I was so tickled by Froggie's IF entry of a cheese-wheel boy named Little Stevie Jarlsberg. By the way, I love Jarlsberg and Stilton cheeses.

** Are you getting my train of thought!? Yeah!

***This was originally drawn for "Round." I think Mr. Jacob Klinghoffermesiterlongbottom-Jarlsberg's is more appropriate for "Separated from Reality."

****Can you guess the television shows I have been watching recently?

Have a stress-free holiday!!!

Not Much Happening, I Wish...

2011-12-08T15:26:00.008-06:00

You know those Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)? They are small at 2.5"x3.5". What does one do with them anyway? Use them as playing cards? I decided I should mat these ones I am drawing for a new series, Windows, (if I can maintain my enthusiasm). The mats measure 8"x10". I decided to draw on the mats! To all those who won the giveaway, I hope you receive your packets soon. They were mailed this past Monday. I hope you like them. I hope this post finds you well. May your Christmas season be blessed and happy. Tsup!

A Morning Quickie And An Interrobang

2011-12-04T10:29:00.012-06:00

Just a couple of morning quickies. I woke up today thinking what this artistic expression, yes, expression (not journey) means and trying to find the significance of everything I have done this year. I am not calling this a journey because if I do, I would be very tired considering I have been drawing since I can remember. I do not want to think I have to arrive at some place, and then what? Drawing and painting to me is like smoking, drinking and gambling. Anyway, it's been quite a struggle this week when I realized I have painted and drawn over one hundred eighty two pieces this year and then right before me is the big question,

WHY!?

Original Artist Card. 2.5"x3.5" on Bristol Board on 8"x10" "high quality" (according to the manufacturer) archival acid-free double mat.

So, isn't it funny that I drew something familiar and comforting? A quercus acorn! This is the Quercus glauca acorn or Japanese Blue Oak. Earlier this year, I drew several of these acorns as part of a giveaway for the Japanese Tsunami fundraising I did with Bella Sinclair. You know, that event was one of the nice things that happened this year. This morning I did three drawings and on two of them I added something creepy. Hahaha!

I have decided to draw several double matted nuts to give as Christmas presents. What is an interrobang? Check it out. I just showed you one. :)

Shirley's Ant Brigade

2011-12-03T10:08:00.005-06:00

Shirley's Ant Brigade. 0.2 mm line width pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board. Do you know that it takes less than twenty four hours for some Atta species of leaf cutter ants to defoliate a citrus tree? Talk about an efficient brigade, no, make that an army! On a side note, Scientists at Cornell University discovered that when an aphid is attacked, it releases an alarm pheromone but fearless aphids ignore this alarm and they get eaten by ladybugs.

Leaf cutter ants, butterflies, spiders, ladybugs and aphids, oh my!

Sometimes, I get very excited, okay, overly excited about a painter's or illustrator's work on first impression. However, it takes more than one work to keep impressing me. In fact it takes more than just the artist's work to keep me captivated. Some artists have such elan'. About three years ago, I met such an artist whose work smacked me with great nostalgia and remembrance for all the comforting and tender moments in my childhood. I was so ecstatic to learn she is a watercolor painter, a medium where I am an utter failure. Then a few months later this artist gave me the incredible honor of painting something for me. I was so shocked, thrilled and honored but also felt unworthy. I have incredible respect for this artist whose classic and natural talents require no computer magic. Last week I had a give-away. Well, let me just say that I messed up, but I am glad I did. It forced me to finally say "thank you" by drawing this original pen and ink illustration and gifting it to one of my favorite artists. I hope it is a worthy thank you gesture.

Winners and Recipients of Art Prints Giveaway

2011-12-01T10:26:00.003-06:00

Can you believe it's December? Where did the time go?

Thank you very much to everyone who sent me kind words regarding Becky. I appreciate your kind and tender thoughts. She was a beautiful person. The world is a better place because she was here.

So here are the recipients of my art prints giveaway. Some of you I have already promised a print before but got so busy and did not have time to mail them. I have the prints ready, They are stacked on the table, all wrapped nicely and neatly on acid-free, archival clear plastic envelopes with acid free backing boards. They are printed on either archival and acid-free Epson velvet cotton rag or St Cuthbert Somerset velvet cotton rag. Please send me your addresses if you have not already done so. Thank you. Merry Christmas!

Rick, Kate

Lorraine Young, Leah

Mita, Steve, Martine Alison

Barbara, Karen

Julia, Debbie, Tammie Lee

Thank you for participating. Check back for my next give-away soon!

Goodbye My Dearest Friend Becky...

2011-11-30T13:55:00.007-06:00

Becky, there is an empty space in my heart. You taught me so much. My life is more colorful than ever. Thank you for honoring my blog with your visits and words of comfort and kindness. Thank you for your grace and wisdom. May you rest in eternal peace.

I have known Becky since 2004. I met her through Mediumgreen, the Fiesta message board. I learned so much from her. She was a grand lady, a very interesting, creative and productive woman. I will miss Becky terribly. Fiesta dishes will forever be a part of my life and the wonderful people I met through them.

Becky's Blog

Love Does Not Make The World Go Round

2011-11-27T21:23:00.001-06:00

It is naive and downright irresponsible to think that love makes the world go round. It doesn't matter which premise. It's romanticization. A romantic story almost always ends in tragedy. You think I am being cynical or pessimistic? Try paying the bank for next month's mortgage with love. See what I mean?

Improbable But Not Impossible. Micro pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board. Among ornithological circles, it is highly improbable for a harpy eagle to capture an Argus pheasant in the wild. They live in different continents. I should have drawn a macaw as the prey but my son was marinating pheasant and cornish hens for barbecue. I am thinking I need to ink the background... I actually finished this drawing in graphite but I missed my ink, so I inked over it. I think is more challenging, using oo5 nib for the entire illustration.

This is my third attempt to illustrate Illustration Friday's "Round" prompt. My counsel advised me to scrap the first one. The second one, well, there was a lot of ink and while I liked it, when I wrote my post, in the end, I felt sorry for the character in my drawing.

I remembered the drawing, on the left, of the vaticinating moon many years ago. It was from Bimbimbie's photograph. When the prompt "Round" came up, I thought the drawing is very appropriate but I wanted a new illustration, so I did the above today, in between laundry, dusting, Christmas decorating, cleaning a bathroom, folding the laundry. Ah yes, I was lazy today, I just wanted to draw. What can I say.

By the way, there is still time to join my give-away. I added two more prints. The seven winners will be announced on December 1st.

Giving Thanks And A Thanksgiving Give-Away

2011-11-25T02:30:00.008-06:00

Feast. Pen and Ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board.

A Prayer of Thanks:

Thank you, Dear God, for all the gifts You have given me. For those I love who are suffering and are not well, please bless them and make them whole and do not forsake those who care for them.

Amen.

And to my blog friends, visitors and followers: Thank you very much for sharing your time with me. I would like to start the Christmas season by sharing a little something with my blog followers, friends and visitors. These are 8"x10" prints of selected illustrations on acid free, archival materials. They are printed on velvet cotton rag paper come with backing boards and plastic sleeve.

However, since I have promised a few friends at different times some prints here are some prints for Steve (Lindol. Steve, I really meant it when I said I wanted to give you Lindol.), Mita (mAlice In Wonderland), Julia (Arches), Tammie Lee (Elma, The Hen).

GIVE-AWAY:

Below, are signed prints I am going to raffle for my blog visitors and followers. I will announce the winners on December 1st. Throughout the month of December, I will raffle a print every week. Good luck, have fun and thank you very much for your valuable time spent with me.

Anomie, HumptoroD2, Come Out And Play With Me, Where are You? (Pig in the Hall) and Tsup!

Tsup!

Here are a couple of reasons why our home is more crowded:

I admit it takes a special person to find an abused and neglected dog with scars from being cut and scabs and then let him into his home. This is Weezy (Wheezy, because he was wheezing when he was a puppy). My son let him into our home this past summer. He has not left since.

Someone always wants to occupy my drawing chair. Camera-shy Daisy. Weezy and Daisy playing nice.

I admit I love any aftermath of a holiday dinner, especially the linens and napkins needing to be washed. Isn't that a colorful laundry?

Barbarians At The Gate...

2011-11-21T00:39:00.000-06:00

Damn carnivores!!!

I Love You!!!

2011-11-19T15:36:00.011-06:00

Happy Movember Birthdays

To my beloved sisters, Inday Beck and Lynette!

And to my Beloved Viking whose birthday is next week, I love you so much. You are the only man I ever loved and love, as a husband; you know, I love my brothers and loved my father and my male friends. But as far as husband, yes, the rest were nothing, even if they wanted to marry me, I don't even remember their names, who were they? Hmn... Just kidding. Hahahaha!!! No seriously, I love my husband from the very moment I looked at him from across the room at a Christmas party when I was 19 years old. He is a very good man and a good father. He loves me even if I know nothing about football but call sports talk radio programs and discuss football with he hosts. God blessed me with him. Thank you!

And to my sister who is home after having been hospitalized for more than two months, I love you so very much and I love our sisters who love you. They inspire me to be hopeful, more loving, teach me to be spiritual and remind me that is is a great honor to care even when it is hard and challenging.

I love you!

TSUP!
TSUP!!!

What I am doing today: Do you care? Hahahaha! It's okay if you don't. I am doing laundry, vacuuming, playing Words, drinking coffee, brushing my teeth... Okay. Boring. Hey, Blogging: I have over 1240 posts. This does not include the posts on the past two versions of this blog which I deleted. That's a lot of posts. I should get a life, right? As of this writing, there have been 280,785 visitors to my blog. The most popular post in my blog is the one related to "patadyong." Now and then on Sundays, several crossword puzzle solvers search for my blog like: "here we sit like birds in the wilderness" and are led to a mediocre doodle about my Brownie days. And then "quercus." Last Sunday it was "quercus marilandica." By the way, I dropped that drawing and stepped on it while I was cleaning house one day. So it has a shoe print.

Do you know what I love? Very simple things, like a piece of white Bristol Board and a very fine tip pen, a pencil and clean eraser to start the sketch and then magic... I lovelovelovelovelove inking the white surface with black ink and then creating shadows and visual texture... but it's flat. It's on a flat piece of paper but the way I move my hand or press on the same pen creates different images. I love drawing trees because they are so full of interesting features and they carry with them so much life and vines, mushrooms, and weeds !!! They are the homes of the insects, the birds, the rodents, lagomorphs, snakes! Snakes!!! Damn snakes. I do not like snakes, real or the people kind.

I started the drawing, below, last night while I was waiting for my daughter's Vivaldi concert to start, because I finished Lindol before the month ended. My daughter is in high school and last night, the high school district's varsity choirs and orchestras got together and presented a fabulous rendition of Vivaldi's Gloria. My husband and I had goosebumps. They were that good. The two female high school students who sang the arias were awesome. I felt like I was watching future opera singers. Oh my. Just wonderful. So much talent. The trumpeter and oboe players were girls. When the boys sang their chorus, my heart jumped. Wonderful baritone. Oh my, just typing this paragraph makes me so happy and quiver.

Sometimes it just happens. I am so in love. I love the people I love so much, I cry. They make me feel so alive!!! And then I remember I have to continue doing the laundry and the cabinet surface needs dusting... Oh yes, I am alive alright. Now I need to get off my butt!!!

You know what's also amazing? Walgreen's Barcode Scanner application for Android. I scan the barcode and viola! My prescription is refilled. My, my, my!

What I Miss:

I have been so busy and occupied that sometimes, I just like to work a little harder in the kitchen and play with my dishes. I am posting these photos in the hope that I will be inspired to play with my dishes.

You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Post Is About You

2011-11-18T21:26:00.006-06:00

Lindol Rising. Pigment and India ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board. Below far left: Young Lindol. Pigment ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board. I had dental and oral surgery done while drawing the above image, can you tell?

Yes, you're so vain. Repeat "you're so vain." Notice how "you're" is spelled correctly, unlike what I read today:

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The accelerated pace of cyber courtship is getting part of the blame for an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

“You don’t have to spend a week in a bar to find somebody your comfortable with,” said St. Louis Health Director Pam Walker, “People are doing it online and they’re doing it faster.” (Of course that is not how the director said it. She said "you're" but the journalist wrote it that way.)

Walker says 90 percent of the some 400 new cases of gonorrhea and 126 new cases of chlamydia are African Americans between the ages of 15-to-24.

New numbers released today by the CDC also show 18 new cases of syphilis. Gay men who know they are HIV positive account for the all of the new syphilis cases, Walker said."

But I digress. Yes, unless you are a destructive, catastrophic, calamitous, cruel force, then I am not talking about you, but about Lindol, above. I planned to draw Lindol within a three week period, but I failed.

Oh, about online hookups and relationships, aside from sexually transmitted diseases (STD), you may also end up meeting a pervert, molester or sexual deviant. On the other hand, you may be lucky like me. I met so many wonderful gifted, talented, artistic, lovely, beautiful and utterly wonderful sisterfriends, illustrious critters, and, as Steveroni calls them, Peeps! I also met the most beautiful, charming, intelligent, interesting, elegant, sophisticated, kind, humble, generous, thoughtful, protective, gifted, artistic best sisterfriend! In fact she is so humble she is going to ignore the previous sentence.

She and they are not vain at all.

Thank you to all my friends and visitors who visit and leave thoughtful comments. You make me so happy and I appreciate your time and effort. Thank you!!!

Teeming with life: I drew a leaf entirely covered with caterpillars!!!

Day 4: It's All Been A Misunderstanding

2011-11-17T05:56:00.020-06:00

The new Benetton ads are here, just in time for the holidays. The ads are Benetton's attempt to inject political correctness into the minds of young people. It is dangerous and downright ignorant. The homoerotic ads want everyone to think that it's all been a misunderstanding, that if we just "unhate", kiss and make up, perhaps the world's problems will just disappear. I am not even going to mince words nor use fancy ones here. Young readers, THINK!

I find the ads very insulting and degrading to the many citizens of the world who are under the rule of these dictators and terroristic authoritarians. I don't think the North Koreans who are oppressed and being starved under Kim Jong Il's regime think it's because their Dear Leader and South Korea's president Pak just don't see eye to eye. Is that why North Korea shot down a Korean Air jet from the sky and bombed a South Korean submarine at sea? Neither do the Israelis think that all Bibi Netanyahu has to do is to kiss and make up with Abbas and the leaders of the surrounding terrorist states that want to annihilate Israel and the bombings will stop. Of course we have to forgive Chavez who oppresses his own people and view him with renewed understanding, after all he is terminally ill with cancer. Let's forget and forgive that he wanted the US to be erased from the map. And will we ever have fair trade with China if Hu Jintao will just kiss and make up with Obama. There's an ad image of that too. Evil, oppression and terrorism cannot be erased nor masked with simplistic gestures.

The ads have nothing to do with clothing. Young minds are vulnerable, easily swayed by flashy instant communication delivered by tweets through electronic gadgets. They easily become mobs. The mob rule mentality is best exemplified by the Occupy movement whose members have no understanding of their goals and having failed to sway public opinion through vandalism, theft, public defecation and rape are now resorting to terroristic threats during the Thanksgiving Day parade. It's all a misunderstanding. If every wall Street banker will just kiss and make up with these unkempt juveniles, perhaps we will achieve peace and economic progress. Right? Wrong!

These entries to the Political Correctness hall of fame are yet another attempt to simplify the world's problems. They are simplistic, naive, ignorant and downright stupid. Obama has already done more than kiss some of these authoritarians and dictators. He bowed to them and they still hate us and the US.

If people really want to "unhate," then become informed, not through tweets, television talk shows or blogs. Read and think, critically. Do you even know what's happening in North Korea? Venezuela? What Iran is doing? What is happening to the middle east countries who underwent an Arab Spring? How are the people doing now? Are they free? Do you know what's happening in our borders? How about your school district? Do you hear and just accept what your teacher teaches and preach? Do you care?

You should. Good morning.

Day 3: Some Scared Fish, Utterly Confused Dragonflies And One Copacetic Canine

2011-11-16T01:41:00.001-06:00

Thank you very much for all your wonderful and thoughtful comments. I am behind my visiting and commenting but did not want to miss my drawing progress update. See you soon!

Day 2: At What Point Does Slow Matter?

2011-11-15T02:13:00.003-06:00

I am deliberately being slow with this drawing which I started yesterday. One of my laments is the fact that I draw so fast; paint so fast. For the things that I love to do so much, at least I wish I could linger and savor every pen or brush stroke. I think I do, except at the speed of which I draw or paint, everything is a blur after I am done. What I remember are the stories and memories I recall, the feelings and sensations. I think a lot during painting and drawing, of things totally unrelated to what I draw sometimes, unless I am drawing a portrait or a scene depicting people I love. Drawing and painting to me are very mental, emotional and physical activities, very sensuous activities. I will not elaborate. I just wish I can linger, remember drawing or painting the lines. Sometimes I want to be technical and focus on the execution. Instead, I am on auto pilot, lost in another world...or sometimes very present, doing something totally unrelated. Do you draw in front of a washing machine or stove, or at a grocery checkout line? I have. Oh yes, remember that time I told you I was drawing while walking and I walked into a car! Thank goodness, the car was parked. And the time I lost a dozen acorn drawings because it was raining and they fell on the puddle while I ran to the car? Now why can't I be disciplined and draw only at my drawing easel? It just sits there, holding some unfinished drawing I started three years ago. I can't carry it around because it measures 20"x24". It suffers from neglect because it is unportable. If I can't take it to bed, or carry it with me, it becomes forgotten. Next time a friend asks me what I will wear, I will respond, "My drawing." That's it!

My goal is to draw this in a period of three weeks.

Have a great day!

Day 1: Sun Fun Day

2011-11-14T00:00:00.001-06:00

I actually did some drawing today. Here is a sneak peak of some very angry goddess inspired by my even-sweeter sisterfriend Bella Sinclair's narwhal maypole dance. Have a great week everyone!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTERS!!!

Rebecca and Lynette

Tsup!

Tsup!!!

How To Cook Pansit Bihon Guisado

2011-11-13T01:38:00.010-06:00

To my new visitors: I am taking a short break from posting artwork. I have thoughts of food in my brain lately. If you just want to see artwork, you may go here.

Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement on my previous post. I am well, thank you. I always wanted to share this recipe because every time I serve pansit, people ask me how to prepare it. My recipes vary depending on the season and availability of vegetables but the mainstay ingredients are pansit bihon (rice noodles), garlic, onions, green beans, carrots and cabbage. I like to use the super vegetable pechay on mine.

Ingredients:

Pansit Bihon (dried rice noodles, softened in hot water and drained, do not cut because noodles are not supposed to be cut when cooking, for long life)

Chicken breast tenders, thin sliced

Olive oil for sauteing

Garlic

Onions, julienne sliced

Green Beans, julienne sliced

Carrots, julienne sliced

Pechay, white stalks cubed and leaves, sliced

Savoy cabbage, sliced

Zuccini, julienne sliced

Green onions, sliced

Red, Green and yellow bell peppers, julienne sliced

Chicken broth or chicken bouillon

Directions:

Put drawing aside.

Sautee ingredients according to cooking time.

Start with onions, garlic and chicken.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

Do not overcook the vegetables!

See photos below:

Drain softened noodles and set aside. Slice all ingredients and set aside. Sautee the onions and garlic with the chicken breast tenders. Yes, I use a lot of garlic.

Use olive oil or canola oil.

When the onion-garlic-chicken mixture is cooked - make sure the chicken is well cooked - add the carrots, and green beans and saute until slightly tender but crisp.

Add the remaining vegetables and continue sauteing process. Add the chicken broth or chicken bouillon. This type of pansit should not be soupy or runny so just add water sparingly if you are using bouillon, just enough to moisten the mixture. There will be juices extracted from the vegetables during the cooking process. The juice will later be absorbed by the noodles.

Mix the vegetables with the noodles.

Note. This can be a messy cooking process if you are not using a properly sized pan. Determine the size of your pan based on the amount of your ingredients. When I cook pansit, I cook enough for my family and for our friends or neighbors, so I actually use my Calphalon turkey roasting pan, hah!

Serve on Fiesta dish.

You may add other spices and sauces to this such as turmeric, ground pepper, sambal asam manis or soy sauce. Some pansit dishes are served with quartered hard boiled eggs or sliced scrambled eggs. Sometimes I use shrimp instead of chicken but seafood pansit has a shorter shelf life. Chicken pansit may be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within two to three days.

Happy Birthday to my sister Inday Beck! Tsup!!!