Potty Chair - EDM #30 - Draw a Chair

Journaling:

This is not your grandmother's potty chair. It has sensors in the bowl that detect wetness and play a tune. Alas, nothing but silence today. It also has a flush handle, toilet paper holder and a clear blue plastic lid. Potty chairs have come a long way since my day.

I'm guessing this is the only potty chair in all the chairs that have ever been drawn for this EDM challenge.

Potting training attempts with the triplets go something like this:

(6 hours since last wet diaper; plus cup of juice, cup of milk and a nap.)

Do you need to tee-tee?
Nooooooooo......

(30 minutes later)

Do you need to tee-tee?
Nooooooooo.......

(30 minutes later)

Let's go try to tee-tee. Listen....listen....listen for the tee-tee.

(10 minutes of sitting on the potty chair)

Did you tee-tee? Do you need to tee-tee?
Nooooooooo........

sigh
OK then, let's pull up your big girl panties.

(3 minutes later = 3 wet Pull-ups)

Apparently somebody doesn't grasp the concept, but I'm not sure if it's the babies or the adults. Hummmm.....

Out on the Porch - EDM #27 - Draw a Book

Journaling:

Was feeling rather uninspired with this challenge since I seem to be drawing lots of square boxy things lately. Found this book and thought about my grandmother.

As a kid I would porch sit with her in the early evenings sipping sweet tea from heavy, chunky glasses. Her wide porch spanned the entire front of her house. The squeaky porch swing was on one end, a row of white rockers on the other, and lush ferns hung along the length.

The western end was protected from the scorching sun by a stand of kudzu she carefully cultivated and trained up several strands of cotton clothesline rope hanging from the eave.

She would call out to the evening walkers passing by. "Hiya! How y'all doin'? Care for some tea?" Usually no takers on the tea as they had just finished supper, but many would come up the walk, plant a foot on the bottom step, and chat about things for a while. As darkness fell and the skeeters descended, they would say their goodbyes and continue on.

Other times we would just sit and swing, listening to the sounds of sticky summer...tree frogs, katydids, crickets, children playing somewhere in the distance.

When the lightning bugs appeared and the street lights came on I knew I had to go home.

Wisteria - EDM #26 - Draw Anything You Like

Journaling:

Poppy wanted some wisteria clippings to plant in his yard. I thought he was crazy. That stuff is invasive like kudzu.

Oh well, it's his yard.

These are his clippings rooting in a vase.

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Process notes:
I picked this little scene to draw because of all the reflective surfaces. Once upon a time I would have shied away from something so challenging, but lately I seem to seek out tough draws just to see what I can make of them. Willingness to suck, that's what it is. I like it.

Monkeytoes - EDM #23 - Draw Your Foot

Journaling:

I have big ol' long monkey toes that I can move independently. It's rather disturbing looking now that I think about it.

I can pick up almost anything off the floor without having to bend over. That's come in very handy as I've gotten older.

I also have impossibly high arches. Never have found a pair of cowboy boots that fit correctly.

Nana told me today that one of the triplets was sitting on the floor and picked up a Froot Loop with her toes and put it in her mouth with her toes.

That monkey toe thing definitely runs in the family.

EDM #22 - Draw a Piece of Clothing

Journaling:

My Nightshirt

I think this was my grandmother's originally. It showed up in the massive yard sale we had after the final clean-out of her house.

It looked brand new so I snatched it up and have been wearing it ever since*. Got a matching one in blue too.

Yes, I'm pitiful, wearing my dead grandma's hand-me-downs.

*Ever since - My 10th grade English teacher just cringed.

Kitchen Radio - EDM #21 - Draw Something Vintage

Journaling:

These "Draw Something Old" challenges are killing me since I've gotten rid of almost all my old stuff. Had to draw this one from memory.

This radio sat on the kitchen counter for eons getting all fly-specked and thick with grunge. I attempted to scrub it once when I was a teenager but it didn't look any better.

I'm guessing Mom and Dad bought it early on in their marriage, probably with S&H Green Stamps.

The only time I remember it being on was early in the morning on school days when the weather was bad.

Mom and I would listen for the announcement that school was cancelled, but first we had to endure the Farm Report and Swap-N-Shop. People would call in telling what they had for sale, wanted to give away (lots of puppies and kittens), or what they were hoping to buy. It was the 1960's version of Craigslist.

All the little pointy arrow notes:

-Bakelite case
-Institutional mint green walls (HA-TED them)
-Masking tape repair (to the cord)
-Brown cloth cord
-No tuning dial window
-Only picked up the local A.M. station that went off the air at dusk

Lunch Bucket - EDM #20 - Draw Something "Dad"

Journaling:

I love this old school photo of Daddy, circa 1934. He's so cute with his big, innocent eyes and faded overalls. I'm guessing he probably doesn't have on shoes.

I have Daddy's eyes, a babypoop brownish-green color.

Daddy always signed cards and emails like this--> DaD; big D, little A, big D.

Daddy's Lunch Bucket, 1950-1982

Daddy carried this lunchbox with him every day for 30+ years. The finish on the top and around the latches was worn shiny from use.

The black plastic handle broke so he milled a new one from a strip of aluminum.

His ID badge was riveted to the end. It was lime green with his ID# engraved in red numbers.

The lunch bucket lived on the dryer by the back door for my entire lifetime.

Daddy always called this his lunch bucket, not lunchbox. That's probably a throwback to his childhood when he took his lunch to school in an actual bucket.

EDM #19 - Draw Something You've Made

Journaling:

It was tough to find something I had made that wasn't two-dimensional arty stuff or dinner related. Then I spied this old basket tucked in the bookcase.

I remember making it. A lady I worked with conned me into taking a basketmaking workshop her friend was hosting. I really didn't want to learn how to make baskets, but I went, had fun, and bought some split oak to make more at home. I don't know what became of the others, I remember one was an egg basket. Haven't seen it in decades.

I was trying to remember when I made this basket, then I turned it over. I had signed and dated it (1984) along with the location and the note, "My First Basket!" (Had to laugh at that. How very typically anal-retentive of me.)

I hang on to this basket because it keeps me in touch with the survival skills of my ancestors. I figure if I survive the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, basketmaking might be a handy skill to have.

Giant Lunar Moth

Journaling:

Cheezburger the Porch Cat brought me a hunting trophy - a giant brown moth. And my little brain went immediately to this futuristic scene with it.

I brought the moth inside to study.

Cheezy was hot.

Today's EDM Challenge was "Draw the view from a window of your house, apartment, office, etc." I should have titled this post as such and let people wonder about me.

I ain't right.

EDM #17 - Draw a Musical Instrument

Journaling:

This guitar showed up the the corner of the living room about three weeks ago and hasn't moved since then. I'm kind of afraid to ask why. Sometimes it's better not to know what Hubby is up to.

Hummm.....

I've been doing very well with the Every Day in May challenge. I've drawn something every day this month! (happy dance) Only 14 more days to go.

However, I've fallen behind on the Every Day Matters challenges I was supposed to be drawing for the Every Day in May challenge. OK, that all sounds very confusing.

Anyway, I was busy drawing and painting other stuff on the 13th through the 16th and didn't draw the EDM challenges for those days. I decided to skip them for now and keep up with the group. It's more fun when everyone is drawing on the same challenge on the same day.

Happy as a Clam

Journaling:

After three days out of the house drawing multiple detailed sketches, I was ready to stay home and draw something quick and easy. Carol C. (cacollieotr) inadvertently became my muse.

Under my Relay for Life sketch I wrote, "I and my little introverted self retreated to the solitude of the high bleachers with Implements of Sketchification while my extroverted playmates worked the crowd on the field."

Carol commented, "I can see you in my mind, huddled up in the bleachers, happy as a clam!"

Yes, yes, yes! I could see it too, the clam part I mean. Had to draw.

Clam is such a fitting description of little ol' introverted me hiding behind a sketchbook. Thank you Carol for the inspiration!

Decided to add the iconic Speck pigtails and red striped shirt.

World Wide Sketchcrawl #27

Today was World Wide SketchCrawl #27 where sketchers across the globe get together and sketch their little piece of the world. This sketchcrawl I didn't have to fly solo and drag poor Hubby along. I had the pleasure of the company of the intrepid Miz Dee, my new-found sketching buddy. Yippeeeee!!!!

We met at the Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover, Arkansas. It is part of the Arkansas State Parks system and is dedicated to the history of oil, brine and bromine production in southern Arkansas. We didn't get to wander about on the grounds because it was drizzling rain. We both decided we weren't that intrepid.

First sketch was the circus carriage of the Goat Woman of Smackover.

All the journaling down the right-hand side of the page is the story of The Goat Woman copied from the museum's website. You can read that here.

Journaling:

Dee and I spent two hours sketching this. She's as much a detail addict as I am. That was way too long. After two hours we just quit and went in search of lunch.

Journaling:

Smackover, Arkansas is out in the middle of nowhere. We asked at the front desk if there was anywhere we could go for lunch. The only three places were truck stops with day-old fried chicken. We didn't think we could handle that so we made do with stuff from the snack rack in the gift shop. Vienna Sausage is a second cousin to fried bologna, but I was desperate.

I had hoped to get four sketches done today for the sketchcrawl, but it was 1:00 pm, I was fading fast, and I only had one sketch in the book. I took a few minutes to warm up on some speed sketching with the brush pen and sketched the remains of our meager lunch.

I have *got* to quit getting so zenned out on details. My brain is happy but my back screams that I've been sitting in one spot too long!

Journaling:

Miz Dee spied this old telephone in the Horseshoe Cafe exhibit that she wanted to draw. There were actually two phones but I opted for just one and other stuff on the shelves. There was a table and chairs in there so we settled in to draw.

Part of the exhibit was an audio tape of the sounds of a cafe: low murmuring voices, the clink and rattle of dishes being cleared from a table, and a guy coughing. Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough.

After a while I felt like I was sketching in a TB ward. The tape looped about every two to three minutes and the cough started to drive me nuts. "Get that man a Ricola!"

This is one of those instances where taking the time to sketch an event will permanently imprint it on my brain. Had I merely taken a photo and continued on, I wouldn't have experienced the dreadful repetitive TB cough. Yep, I'll remember that and this day for a long time.

The lighting in the museum was dark and moody and after squinting through the gloom for four hours my eyes were beginning to ache. My spirit was willing but my body wasn't able. It's hell getting old.

At 3:00 pm I closed the sketchbook and told Miz Dee I was done for the day.

Friday Night Highlights

I actually got out of the house two whole days in a row. It's a record!

Went to the Ashley County Relay for Life event. I, of course, took Implements of Sketchification to occupy my time in the solitude of the bleachers while my companions ratted and chatted in the crowd.



I was struck by the shear number of people in the stadium. At one point you couldn't see the track surface due to all the folks walking. (I grew tired of drawing all the little stick figures, so please use your imagination to fill up the track.) It appeared that all of Ashley County had turned out in a show of support. It was pretty awesome.

I could have stayed and sketched all night. Having live, willing sketch victims still awake at 2:00 am would have been like manna from heaven. But alas, no, Hubby declared we had to leave in search of grindage.

We ended up on the town square in Hamburg, a nice spot with cool old buildings and a gazebo. I saw lots of things I wanted to draw but it was dusk, the light was fading and supper at the steakhouse beckoned.


Sawyer's Steakhouse is in a neat old building with high tin ceilings and lots of old fixtures. There was a grand mirror behind the antique marble soda fountain, along with several of grandma's fancy cake plates and parfait glasses. I could have sketched all night in there too.

We waddled out an hour later, all full as seed ticks.

I definitely want to return to the square and this restaurant for more sketching. Woot! Must dream and scheme a road trip in the near future.

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2:00 am - Still wound up from drawing today. Brain is hung up on whirled peas. Had to poop them out so I can get some sleep.

Courtyard Fountain

Journaling:

A wonderful afternoon of sketching and visiting in a quiet courtyard downtown. The weather was perfect, the company excellent, and the drawings divine!

Met Miz D. for the first time today. It was like we had known each other all our lives and just had to catch up on the last 30 years. She draws and paints beautifully but it's hard to convince her of that.

She is passionate about illustrated journaling and is trying to spread the gospel. Well, now there are two of us. "For where two or more are gathered together..."

Squee! We might be on to something big! Woot!

EDM #12 - Draw Your Dinner

Journaling:

Cranberry Glazed Pork Loin

• Slab o' pork loin w/ cranberry, apple & BBQ glaze
• Yukon Gold mashed taters -n- gravy
• Greek seasoned French-cut green beans
• Sourdough garlic toast
• Salad with lettuce, tomato, croutons, cashews, and Ranch dressing
• Pepsi

It was Experimental Cooking Night at our house. My sister sent me the recipe and I've been planning, discussing and dreaming about this meal for days.

Hubby inhaled it without taking a breath, then started talking about all the possibilities for leftovers.

It was a big hit!

You bet I drew this from a photo. I wasn't waiting around letting it get cold while I sketched it!

EDM #11 - Draw Your Glasses

Journaling:

#1 - The Distance Pair

- stylish, sleek, slitty
- bifocals
- expensive

Can't see for sh*t wearing them. Discovered they give me headaches.

#2 - The Reading Pair

- clunky
- single vision
- cheap; $40 total

Love these and wear them 98% of the day. I can see the TV across the room better with these. That ain't right!

I kept telling myself that I just needed a little more time to get adjusted to the new bifocals, but I'm pretty sure something is just wrong with them.

I sit about twelve feet from a big screen TV and the scrolling channel guide lettering is fuzzy. I don't think I should be squinting to see that. Plus, if I wear them more than an hour I get a headache.

I should have painted them yellow because they are lemons.

Argggghhhh!!!

EDM #10 - Draw Some Hands

These are the hands of my triplet great-nieces who just turned 2-years-old. Their little hands are into everything these days!

Gratuitous triplet pic:

The girls need some little gay minions to help them out with hair and wardrobe, doncha think??? Those dog ears could use some product.

EDM # 9 - Organized Chaos

Journaling:

Computer Nest - Art Space - Business Office - Supply Closet

When you live in a little bitty house, all spaces must be multi-functional, and they must be organized.

This is the most chaotic spot in the house. Everywhere else is spartan by comparison.

There was so much stuff in there I got tired of drawing and left things out. Then I got tired of painting and just called it done. Sheesh!

The St. Christopher Saga - EDM #8

EDM #8 - Draw your watch or other piece of jewelry

Journaling:

In idle conversation with my mother-in-law (she seems to make an appearance in my journal quite often, doesn't she?) I mentioned I was looking for a St. Christopher necklace but couldn't find one I liked. They were all small with delicate, dainty chains. I would destroy a dainty chain in a matter of days because I'm hard on my jewelry.

The next time I was at the farm, Mammaw Speck said she had a surprise for me.

Squee! A beautiful, chunky St. Christopher!

That night I took off my new St. Christopher when I took my bath and left it by the sink in the bathroom. That was the end of my new St. Christopher.

Mammaw Speck noticed I wasn't wearing it the next time she saw me. She was worried I didn't like it.

"Oh no," I said, "I liked it just fine. It's hanging around your son's neck. He stole it from me the day you gave it to me and he won't give it back."

...and she smiled a little smile I didn't understand at the time.

A few weeks later she said she had another surprise for me. Squee! Another St. Christopher! This one was larger and more intricate.

She told me she had liked this one better but her buddy had talked her out of it, saying it was too large for a girl.

She was most happy to have a reason to go back and get it.

I put it on right then and haven't taken it off since*. Hubby's not getting his hands on this one.

*Except to draw it tonight. Hubby is safely in bed.

EDM #7 - Draw a Bottle, Jar or Tin from the Kitchen

Journaling:

Looked for something interesting to draw. Most of the stuff in my kitchen was boring.

Found the olive oil in the back of the top cabinet. I don't use it much for cooking, only for making salad dressing. When I cook with it the food has a weird taste that just seems wrong. Maybe it's the cook that's wrong, not the olive oil.

Next to the olive oil I found this little squeeze bottle of honey. Oy vey. I have no idea how long it's been up there. I have no idea how it got in my cabinet either. That's a scary thought.

It's going to live in the trash can now.

If I revisit the EDM challenges each year, I'll work back around to this one and clean out my pantry cabinets on a regular basis. A win-win situation.