I am an eclectic artist in that I have many loves with the first being photography. My trusty Sony A800 is always at my side as I explore this world. Then there is oil painting, whether on canvas, saw blade, farm tool or what ever attracts my attention. I love the ease of expressing myself with oils or transposing my photos into painted works of art. Just recently I revisited my love of sketching, something I haven’t done since the early 1990s. So with a new sketch pad and Graphite pencils close at hand, I am exploring my world in that format as well. Then there is the domestic side of me that shows in my knitting, crochet and cooking with an occasional poem escaping my fingers. This blog will be a collection of all of these. Come take a stroll with me and learn who I am through my art.
Visit my professional photography website http://www.imagesbydonnau.com
- Watercolor artI’m really loving watercolors and have done several over the last few months. It’s easy, not messy, and I can… Read more: Watercolor art
- Oh my time fliesHas it really been over 7 months since my last post? Life is speeding by just living it, nevermine attempts… Read more: Oh my time flies
- I love deep shades of blue and purpleOctober 30, 2007, I took one of those random online surveys. It really amazes me how they can be so… Read more: I love deep shades of blue and purple
- Been a minute… I’m still hereIt’s been around four months since my last post, and I do apologize for the lapse. While I have been… Read more: Been a minute… I’m still here
- Hamish..… the Hairy Highland Coo is now complete. I am so in awe of the ease of using oil free… Read more: Hamish..
- Fancy Blue Eyes………was the name of my registered albino palomino racking mare. Although I loved every horse I owned, she was my… Read more: Fancy Blue Eyes…
- Art from my heartTwo of my latest sketches. This portrait of Max, a six year old shitzu, was delivered today to my best… Read more: Art from my heart
- Finally!Finally, it’s time to use our new jar of natural, no crappy soy/corn oil mayo! It is SO DELICIOUS simply… Read more: Finally!
- A touch of classWe are in full blown southern summer time heat in our little mountain home. Yet life carries on no matter… Read more: A touch of class
- Italian creationYes, I have a tiny bit of Italian in my dna along with the Scot-Irish, German, Wales, and English. My… Read more: Italian creation
- Black capped chickadeeBlack capped chickadee sketch compliments of a photo by a friends hubby, who is a super fellow photographer. The little… Read more: Black capped chickadee
- What’s good for the goose……..is good for the gander. My husband takes an early morning walk before I rise for the day. It’s good… Read more: What’s good for the goose
- Morning walksAre good for the soul. Completely regenerates me to be out in nature communing with God.
- Horse of a different colorI’m still sketching when I can. I’ve completed several birds and decided to attempt another animal species. I’ve always had… Read more: Horse of a different color
- Grandfather clockWe love clocks in our home. There is an old simple Mission style long case clock my brother gifted me… Read more: Grandfather clock
- PeppermintI’m always looking for natural ingredients for hot teas. It is wonderful when one of my long-time favorite ingredients is… Read more: Peppermint
- Little bit of fall 🍁……little bit of summer ☀️. That’s the weather around here today. Rain and clouds, mid 60 temps with a bit… Read more: Little bit of fall 🍁…
- Cardinal’s MateI continue to progress in decreasing the learning curve of more life like sketches to the point of adding more… Read more: Cardinal’s Mate
- The anatomy of a cardinalI decided several months ago to brush up on the art form of pencil sketching. I had sketched quite often… Read more: The anatomy of a cardinal
- Another cold day experimentCold days always end with me in the kitchen at some point baking something. Today, I realized that I had… Read more: Another cold day experiment
- When you get a hankering..For some good old-fashioned chicken and dumplings but you want to keep it healthy. There is a long debate on… Read more: When you get a hankering..
- Christmas projectsI can now post about two protects I worked on this year for Christmas presents. I had to keep quiet… Read more: Christmas projects
- It’s been a minute.Here we are in a brand new year, and I have been a bit remiss in posting. But I shall… Read more: It’s been a minute.
- A walk in the woodsWe have dealt with either very cold or dreary rainy days or both the last several weeks. Yesterday I walked… Read more: A walk in the woods
- Remember all those strawberries….That I froze whole last spring? We are now beginning to enjoy the fruits of that labor. Tonight dinner was… Read more: Remember all those strawberries….
- Not your granny’s leftoversIt has been years since I had to deal with leftovers at Thanksgiving. The last many years since the kids… Read more: Not your granny’s leftovers
- Cornbread..a southern favoriteIf you have ever lived in or visited the south you would be amiss if you never tried good old… Read more: Cornbread..a southern favorite
- So much goodness in such a small package!I have been craving a peanut butter cookie for a while now. They are pretty healthy unless they call for… Read more: So much goodness in such a small package!
- Unexpected UpdateSo we did a thing this weekend. It wasn’t because we wanted to but we had to. Our oven went… Read more: Unexpected Update
- Completed projectI have worked on this particular throw for just under three months. It is a relaxing pattern of four different… Read more: Completed project
- Cold weather calls for comfort foodsWhile we aren’t really into traditional cold weather here in our little home on the mountain, there was a nip… Read more: Cold weather calls for comfort foods
- Fall has arrivedNormally we have warm weather near until winter and many times into mid January. This year hurricane Ian must have… Read more: Fall has arrived
- Sketch progressI am really getting into this sketching thing. It is relaxing and so consumes me that I forget about the… Read more: Sketch progress
- More chip deliciousnessI am really enjoying this dehydrating thing. It is well worth the $170ish (some places may have it for less)… Read more: More chip deliciousness
- Healthy chipsI’m so very pleased that we bit the bullet and invested in a decent countertop dehydrator. The air is blown… Read more: Healthy chips
- Because I can!It is very rare that I splurge on a sweet treat. I’m not a person that likes extremely sweet anyway.… Read more: Because I can!
- Sesame seed corn chipsWell I had planned on having fried corn for dinner last night. That didn’t work out so well because the… Read more: Sesame seed corn chips
- Trip around the world in a plateWe don’t waste food here in our little home on the mountain. It is very rare to have left overs… Read more: Trip around the world in a plate
- Cheese biscuits for the win!I’m fairly certain the Red Lobster restaurant is a nationwide chain. If there isn’t one in your area, you have… Read more: Cheese biscuits for the win!
- Deep Mediterranean roots..My maternal grandmother passed away when I was 20 years old. I always loved her olive skin tone but had… Read more: Deep Mediterranean roots..
- Another great baked good recipeI was looking for something different that we had not tried in baked goods today. There was a little time… Read more: Another great baked good recipe
- Okra… the food that keeps on givingI bought another 10 pounds of fresh picked okra this morning. I spent a couple hours canning half of it… Read more: Okra… the food that keeps on giving
- Long ago talents renewedI’ve developed a routine the last couple weeks of sitting daily to sketch something. I used to draw in the… Read more: Long ago talents renewed
- So many choices……..for someone determined to eat delicious healthy foods. Last night was a fix it quick meal. So the goto on… Read more: So many choices…
- Baked apples anyone?Here in the little house on the mountain we eat our share of apples. We love them raw, baked, grilled,… Read more: Baked apples anyone?
- Simple equals loads of flavorI’ve gone the gamut of eating and preparing all kinds of food in my life time. From spicy to sauces,… Read more: Simple equals loads of flavor
- Loving PetsPets are family and we grieve their loss as such. My cousin recently lost her sweet terrier. She wants me… Read more: Loving Pets
- Okra incoming….There is a wonderful advantage to living in the deep south. Okra is a delicious food packed with vitamins and… Read more: Okra incoming….
- Chocolate BananasOne of my favorite childhood memories involves chocolate bananas. My father was an avid Earnest Hemingway fan. His favorite book… Read more: Chocolate Bananas
- Organization is my Thing!So I have always admitted I have strong OCD tenancies. I’m not OCD but yes the tendencies are there. That… Read more: Organization is my Thing!
- When Fried is Good for youIt is very rare that I eat fried foods, especially deep fried. There is nothing healthy about saturating food coated… Read more: When Fried is Good for you
- Raspberry infused goodnessI remember images from long ago of large groups of people celebrating in a massive hall of a castle. Whether… Read more: Raspberry infused goodness
- The Scot-Irish in me….… was really jonesing for some traditional comfort food. So we headed to our favorite local Irish pub Harp &… Read more: The Scot-Irish in me….
- Another year….of canning fig preserves came to a close today. I managed 50.5 pints preserves and 6 pint syrup as the… Read more: Another year
- Productivity Feels So Good!Been a busy day here at the home on the mountain. I’m not one to sit still for long and… Read more: Productivity Feels So Good!
- As PromisedI’ve eluded to a large knit project CT in working on in a few of my previous posts. I completed… Read more: As Promised
- Anatomy of fig canningToday was extremely long, busy, and productive. I can say I’m officially tired! I started the canning process for fig… Read more: Anatomy of fig canning
- Nutrition fast and deliciousI’ll never understand why people prefer packaged processed food over fresh home-cooked. I see absolutely no advantages and this comes… Read more: Nutrition fast and delicious
- Grill time!Today has been pretty much a do nothing day. Not a bad thing. We slept in….. anything over 7.5 to… Read more: Grill time!
- River WalkIt wasn’t so stifling hot last Thursday so I took advantage and went for a short walk along the river… Read more: River Walk
- Snake Doctor……..more commonly known as a dragonfly are called a multitude of things depending on the area of the world and… Read more: Snake Doctor…
- Ready or not here they come!I knew it would be soon. I’ve been monitoring every couple days. Today was a rare moment of ME time… Read more: Ready or not here they come!
- Strawberry Goodness!Today I was in the mood for oatmeal but am running low on the preferred steel cut oats I use… Read more: Strawberry Goodness!
- A Necessary RantI just have to discuss this issue that seems to be growing. I honestly will never understand the need of… Read more: A Necessary Rant
- Spontaneous Road TripBetween the heat, the soaring gas prices and the crazies creating havoc all over the country we have sorely decreased… Read more: Spontaneous Road Trip
- Another Hot Day….….in the deep south. This type of extreme hot and humid, which actually is NOT normal for the area, much… Read more: Another Hot Day….
- Happy Independence DayI miss this wonderful man and great patriot. We watched him on television regularly when I was a child. With… Read more: Happy Independence Day
- Summer time in the countrySummer time was special growing up. While we lived in the burbs, we had aunts and uncles that lived on… Read more: Summer time in the country
- Salad timeWe haven’t had a fresh green salad in several days so this was a great night for one. All the… Read more: Salad time
- YES! We can have shortbread!My Scot DNA is doing the happy dance! I found this recipe and have been eager to try it. I… Read more: YES! We can have shortbread!
- Harvest MultitaskingToday was grocery day since the rain held off. I’m in process of filling the freezer for this winter when… Read more: Harvest Multitasking
- Left overs done rightWe had brocoli soup left from last night to have again tonight. Since it is Sunday, that was wonderful because… Read more: Left overs done right
- Waste not, want notI was raised knowing you never waste things. If it could be repaired, it was repaired. We got creative with… Read more: Waste not, want not
- For the love of Strawberries!I have loved strawberries all of my life. There is even a poem floating about that my father wrote when… Read more: For the love of Strawberries!
- Yogurt pancakes!No photos tonight. I didn’t think about it until the meal had been consumed. It has been a rushed crazy… Read more: Yogurt pancakes!
- Father’s DayAnother day of celebrating Father’s has come and gone. We had a marvelously low humidity, breezy evening yesterday to just… Read more: Father’s Day
- For the love of hairy coos🤎Oh my Scotland, my Scotland how I miss you. Such beautiful landscape and amazing livestock. Sheep and pheasants and sea… Read more: For the love of hairy coos🤎
- The reds have it!Anyone that knows me even a little, knows I LOVE seafood! One of my all time favorites is boiled shrimp… Read more: The reds have it!
- Fresh Produce plus FiberWe are fortunate to live in an area that has what we call “Veggie” stands…… small businesses run by farmers… Read more: Fresh Produce plus Fiber
- Scottish FantasyI’ve been told I am not your average female because I never have been a shopper and never ever an… Read more: Scottish Fantasy
- Deep south comfort foods meets healthy upgradeI was raised in the deep south with all that entails including lots of comfort foods. We ate our fill… Read more: Deep south comfort foods meets healthy upgrade
- When the heat kicks in… cold meals are abundant. The deep south gets hot and humid early in the year and it hasn’t disappointed… Read more: When the heat kicks in
- Summer time mealIt seems summer has sprung here in the deep south and that leads, more often than not, to less concentration… Read more: Summer time meal
- 3 Loves in 1As my home page states, I have many loves. Today I am combining 3 of them because it is a… Read more: 3 Loves in 1
- Mary ToddI have always loved gardening and house plants and have several very large indoor plants from many years ago. These… Read more: Mary Todd
- Who doesn’t Love asparagus!I have grown a lot of fruits and vegetables in my lifetime. One I never have tried is asparagus simply… Read more: Who doesn’t Love asparagus!
- Healthy fish choicesI have always loved fish of all varieties. Must be in my Scot, Irish and British genes. Having been raised… Read more: Healthy fish choices
- Some Gave AllMemorial Day is set aside to remember and honor all those brave soldiers that gave all they had, including life,… Read more: Some Gave All
- Healthy plus fast and satisfyingNothing says southern comfort food like breakfast for dinner. Many days I simply don’t want to cook a meal that… Read more: Healthy plus fast and satisfying
- Blue heron and friendsOne of the advantages of living near a river is the abundance of places to hike and catch a glimpse… Read more: Blue heron and friends
- Buckwheat for the WinWhen I’m learning to cook with a new item and I don’t realize half a cup is all that’s needed… Read more: Buckwheat for the Win
- Photography meets OilsMy most favorite pastime is immersing myself in this beautiful world God has provided for us while capturing what I… Read more: Photography meets Oils
- KashaMy meal experiment for this evenings dinner involved using ground Kasha as a side dish rather than creating flour for… Read more: Kasha
- Healthy eatingIn keeping with my healthy eating lifestyle, we had homemade buckwheat pancakes with homemade fig syrup and black coffee for… Read more: Healthy eating
- on foodIn my quest to eat even more healthy than I already do, I’m learning about better ways to bake. Enriched… Read more: on food
- Revisited memoriesMonday is our 24th wedding anniversary. With impending bad weather predictions, we decided to go a restaurant we haven’t visited… Read more: Revisited memories
My World 