I just received and approved the product I ordered for the upcoming juried bird show. I have some product going to both the shows I’m involved in next weekend.
Some product will be with me on May 6th when I paint LIVE on First Friday at Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard. I’m taking some products to advertise the bird show that happens First Saturday May 7th at Lost Pines Art Center.
Join me at ether or both events.
I received heavy denim cosmetic and pencil bags, silk scarfs, tea towels and hand signed paper prints, all with my bird images on them.
Trying to stage photos in tiny living is freaking hard. Lol. So please come see me in person at these events. It’s going to be a great weekend next week. Come join me!
Hand signed paper prints with plastic sleeve and backing $20Waiting for this moment to be free – Tea towel with cabinet pull strap. $28Always Root For The Little Gal – Tea towel with cabinet pull strap. $28Always Root for the Little Gal -silk Scarf 16×16 inches. $30 exclusively at Lost Pine Art CenterAlways Root for the Little Gal – Heavy zipper – heavy denim Pencil bag $25
Waiting for the moment to be Free – Heavy zipper, heavy denim evening or cosmetic bag $25
We left one car at the Colorado River Refuge and one at Fisherman’s Park, and then we dropped our little tube rig in the river.
We learned that drifting in plastic tubes will take at least eight hours to go six miles, which is going from Fisherman’s Park to the Colorado River Refuge in the Tahitian Village where our other car was waiting.
Thank God for our AirBnB host Andy for letting us pull out of the river early at the Zen River House. We were done after five hours of drifting exceptionally since we only brought enough beer for two hours of drifting. Lol
But even getting out early was fun. Andy took our our dumb asses and all our tubing rig to our car in his groovy Polaris. (That will cost my husband like $20k because now I want one lol)
What a fun adventure! Thank you Andy for helping us.
When we try it again we will just put in here at the Harmony House and float to the Refuge. That’s more up our alley as that will only take two to three hours to go two miles.
So there you have it guys. That is how slow the river flows around these parts.
I’m shocked we don’t see more tiny sail boats to capture the power of the winds that we have around here on some days.
AirBnB check out the Harmony House. It’s a rare find and it’s so much fun!
Well, it’s official. We are River Ratz now. We played on the Colorado river yesterday for our 28th anniversary.
So here goes River Ratz lesson #1: Learn to hold your raft in place on a moving river.
Note to self: buy a boat anchor.
You only need a 25 lb round bottom anchor and you’ll be able to hold still on a moving river. You need three floats. One float for each fat person plus the two skinny Italian greyhounds, and one for a cooler full of beer. Score!
I’ve got to buy another float for the beer now. Lol.
Our floating devices waiting us to figure out the anchor situation. lol
On our next day off we’re going to put a car down-river at the refuse, but then drop in back at the Zen River House (our AirBnB) and then float back down to our car at the refuse. We’ll drop anchor there and hang out. Lol
Twenty eight years went by in a blink, but I feel we’ve spent a lifetime learning the mind of Christ together to understand how to properly do this thang we call Human Life. AND SO…we are preparing for our future.
I’m grateful to be on this journey with you, MY amazing husband, my LOVE, and my family.
Grateful. I get this beauty for six more weeks here at the Harmony House on the Colorado River.
Sissi Grace loves it here.
I’m so grateful today because I know where I’ll be for the next six months, and that’s a good day.
It was a complete answer to prayer. We received it seconds before signing a lease on a way-too-expensive place. My prayer was this: to continue living here and learning about tiny living; to learn if we dig it, which we do so far; to do it in a way we can well afford so we can prepare for our next adventure, which is to build a tiny something to live in on a gorgeous piece of land with fabulous outdoor living spaces, complete with all the fun toys we could ever want (like a boat and hot tub and an electric bike, or a Polaris off-road vehicle), and of course a screened-in porch. Oh yeah, and a groovy space to create.
A golf course hotel converted to tiny living apartmentsThe view from my front door starting May 15, 2022. I take possession May 1st so I can prepare it for move in.
It continues to be so exciting as we are learning that God only promises us one day at a time, and we are to ride the Grace Pipeline that He maintains between Himself and Believers in Christ. He promises us safety and provision inside the pipeline. We’ve learned that we will never be tested beyond what we can handle when we reside there. His righteousness cannot accept anything less than His own absolute righteousness, and as Believers, we are credited with possessing the Righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why we are promised Blessings. It’s just like a dedicated pipeline to the Father.
2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB1995
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
But honestly, I never dreamed I’d be pushed to the edge by not knowing what tomorrow would bring. That’s what our life has been since Aug 25, 2021, and today I’m grateful for the lesson. It’s one I know so many of you have already learned.
We’ve been blessed with a little pressure release as today we know where we will hang our hats next – if only for a bit of time.
We all are in an invisible conflict, kiddos. Which team are you on? The road ahead is a bumpy one.
We’ve learned that life can be lived with joy, even during uncertain times, or it can be hell. We’ve learned it’s about our attitude toward life and learning more about the Word, which is The Mind of Christ. It’s what and how we think that determines which way we will go.
Love and peace to all.
Hill country beauty, even near the H-E-B parking lot.
This region had the greatest need for Store Director within the H-E-B company, so they put us here in Bastrop. Kevin will travel to various stores around this area for probably a year, or forever until they determine which store will be his.
That’s good news because we like it here.
We will probably need to rent a place in Bastrop for six months or so, maybe even a year.
Let the search begin. I wish I could just paint a place for us to live like I’m doing for my Monster High Doll. She’s a lucky girl.
I’m painting a bedroom for Monster High Doll to sit in.Reference photo for her floor lamp.
Sherry Ann asked a good question, so I included it here: Is Kevin happy?
Sherry Ann, oh yes. This is an exceptional company. They want to make sure their leaders are fully immersed in their culture, and it’s a good one. H-E-B is very favorable to their workers. The money is great and the insurance is even better. Everything is great. I’m still getting over the shock that this area was not even an area where we applied for work. It’s lovely, and God must have a plan for us here. I know He does.
UPDATE:
We found our place! It’s 420 sf of living space, which is huge compared to the 300 sf we’re living in now. It’s a golf course hotel converted to apartments, I think there are 16 units. It has a floor-to-ceiling glassed-in atrium that I can see out from my bed. The ceilings are extremely tall. The bathroom sink and the kitchen sink are one and the same. Lol. Funny, tiny living is…but my pocket book is pleased, as we are hoping to build our final tiny home somewhere, some day.
Loads of beautiful outdoor living space. The guy who lives across from me built a water feature in front of his door. I can’t wait to have comfy outdoor chairs so I can listen to the lovely sounds.
Tomorrow I’m going to First Friday in Historic Downtown Bastrop to see if I can rent a studio art space in a co-op.
More stories to come about our strange, transient life. Thanks for following me!
It’s a new day. Let us be abundantly happy in it (Psa 118:24). Especially if you get to have a pet dragon in your attic.
I managed a bit more detail on her yesterday. Should we put a name tag on our pet dragon?
What would our dragon’s name be, if we did?
Now…
Lucky #MonsterHighDoll – and maybe Chloe. (BTW Nicole Sligar you have the coveted first right of refusal on this one.)
Today I get to see one of the most influential persons in my life as she prepares for her promotion, her next adventure into the other side of this deal we call human life on Earth.
It’s been 52 years since we’ve laid eyes on each other.
She saved a little dyslexic girl (me) from a lifetime of stomach ulcers and low self-esteem issues by assuring the world around me that I I wasn’t trying to be this high IQ jerk by not completing my lessons in school…that I simply didn’t think like the rest of the world.
There’s way more to this story, but i’ll leave that to another day.
So off to Kerrville, Texas we go… ❤️
Monster High Doll excited for her room to be complete!Thank you Deana. Love you girl!!In progress
This piece is close to being done. Her hands, the torch, the snake tongues all need work. I can’t stand the way the torch doesn’t overlap the book. Lol. Like I said, it needs some work still. And it needs about two weeks of me just looking at it to see what else it needs.
FYI: Her tears are printed in my blood and the fingerprints on her tablet are blood. So I guess this is mixed media. Putty, acrylic and blood.
Nathanael Chavers has first right of refusal. It was because of him that I realized its importance. It’s probably my most important work to date.
Titled: No longer viable, a cautionary tale ® 2022 Jana’s painted ArtistSecond photo shows my view from my Best Western bed; strange days we are living in.
New art I painted for Neighbor’s Kitchen and YardBrandy, the best bartender in town! Go meet her!
It’s Thank You day for the employees at Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard who tolerated my ass over the last four weeks. It’s been so much fun painting here! I can teach anyone to do this, so whatcha’ say we start an interest list? Who would like to learn to express themselves through art?
I started teaching art a few years ago in Ruidoso, NM at Jana’s Art Cave, my working studio. It became a tourist attraction for visitors looking for entertainment aside from skiing, hunting, and fishing. It was so much fun for all ages to enjoy together. If you guys are interested, I would love to do it again in Bastrop. However, I’m going to need a location.
Originals will be available soon on my new website that’s being built. You’re welcome to watch the progress at JanasPaintedArtist.com.
I hand signed the front and added a special note to each employee who assisted me over the last 4 weeks.
My Artists…you won’t believe what we are trying to build for you!
Sarah and Cameron are two really neato kids. They will rise to the top like cream in a butter churn!
The food is so good. Here is a bread-less Italian sub. It’s not on the menu but Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard aims to please!
I can teach anyone to paint what they see with a twist of fantasy. I’m collecting an interest list NOW, Bastrop Texas. I need a location, but that’s usually not a problem. If you’re looking for exact, take a photo…’cause this class ain’t for you.
Student work from a 4 week paint class full of drink and eats over at Lost Hiker Brewery, Ruidoso NM
I so wish I could just paint on the more light-hearted “A bedroom suite for my favorite Monster High doll,” she’s vintage now, and deserves a place to live in some lucky little girl’s bedroom.
But I must carry on in a dark, but not hopeless place. As so many of you have expressed interest in the piece. Nathanael Chavers gets first right to refuse her. Lol! After that it’s open game. Lol!
So I must complete it.
This part will be hard to paint. This piece that I’m calling “People desperately fleeing the USA,” is from a vision I had over seven years ago.
I feel perhaps it’s important, but ! I’ll let the world decide. For all this is “no longer viable,” but it’s a cautionary tale, if only we can stop looking for relief in all the wrong places.
Oh, some fun news today!
I can teach any of you to paint what you see with a twist of reality. If you want your art to look exactly like your scene, take a photo; this class ain’t for you. Lol. I’m looking for location to offer a class. Any ideas?
The prints of my Nieghbor’s painting are complete, thanks to the help of Bastrop Signs & Banners. Love those guys. Check ’em out local artists!
Anyway, the sun is out and I’m going to go for a run/dance and then deliver to the hard working staff these hand signed prints today. They’re now my new friends over at Neighbor’s.
I had so much fun with you all over the last month painting your scene.
Fun news: Bastrop Opera House, thank you for inviting me to help paint sets. Omg. What a blast!
