. . . Will sign.

I'm down in south Florida for a couple days doing some book signings. 

I was here last year and have been invited back by the owners of a few independent book stores, which was very nice.

Wishing all of you a great weekend and I'll see you here next time..............

No, no......not you!  That's the name of the new mobile dog grooming service that I'm now using.

Owning a Scottish Terrier and a Cockapoo means they have to be groomed about every 6 to 7 weeks.  We've been going into Chiefland to get this done.  We'd drop the dogs around 10, do some shopping, go for lunch and sometimes still had to kill an hour while we waited for them. 

But recently a new business opened in my area and she comes right to your home!  Everything is in her van to give your doggie the spa treatment.  She came into the house to meet Duncan and Brie first, and I was pleased to see it's obvious she loves dogs.  And they seemed to like her too.

We carried them out to her van.......Brie went willingly into the cage, but Duncan balked a little.  Poor guy....I think maybe he thought I was giving him to her and she was driving away with them.  But he went in his cage and she told me to "go vacuum or something."  I think she could tell I was nervous.  Yeah, I won't lie.....I worry about my babies.

So I made myself some coffee, and sat on the porch sketching.  And yup.....once or twice I tiptoed to the door to peer out at the van.  I realized all was quiet so figured all was going well.

And two and half hours later, she came to the front door with them on leashes.......looking like brand new doggies!  They were calm, happy and quite spiffy.  I was really pleased.  Brie's cut was pretty similar to what she'd had, but Duncan......wow!  Really for the first time he got a "true" Scottie cut.  He now has very distinctive eyebrows and his beard looks supper.  What do you think?

Is my boy handsome, or what?  He informed me he'd now prefer to be called "Sir Duncan."  And here they both are.........

So having the doggie spa come to us was a great experience and we'll see her again in 6 or 7 weeks.

See you here next time.........

Last Thursday and Friday I took my first art class.....ever.  Oh sure, I loved coloring as a child.  Could do it for hours.  But drawing?  Hmm, I never felt competent to even attempt it.  But when you live in an artsy community like I do, with a wonderful Arts Center right downtown, something happens and all of a sudden you feel drawn to give it a try.  Give it a try, I did and ended up surprising myself that I was capable of way more than I'd ever thought. (When it comes to creativity on this island,  itmakes me think osmosis might enter into it)

Now, of course, most of this credit must be given to Joyce (above in blue) our excellent art instructor for the pen and ink classes.  She explained basic concepts in such a way that I understood immediately.  She encouraged us and came around giving individual assistance.  I learned about shadow and how light falls on a subject.  I came away learning much more than I thought I would.  We were told we'd all be drawing wine glasses, a bottle of wine, a candle and a rose.  We could be original with our choice of red or white wine, the shape of the candle, etc.  We practiced with pencil the first day and then progressed on with the Micron pen. 

And TA DAAAAA...........here's my finished work.......

Not bad for somebody that is in the category of lower than beginner/amateur.  I won't lie......I was pretty pleased with my finished piece.  And rather proud.  I'm going to mat it and frame it and hang it here in my writer's studio.  It'll serve to prove to me once again that.......even if you don't think you can......you can.

And since the class ended, I'm been a sketching fool.  I got out the Beginners Sketching book that I bought on Amazon last year and I have all my "toys"......watercolors, pens, sketch pads, erasers, etc.  And I've been having so much fun learning even more.  I'll share a page or two with you soon.

Joyce will be doing one more class on March 8 and I'm really looking forward to returning.  In the meantime, you'll find me sketching away.

See you here next time..........