BigRudy saves the day!

In a bid to kick things back into gear, I am re-fluffing my illustration website. Brushing away the dust and putting some brand new artwork up on my website walls.

This always results in the most tiresome days spent trawling through the million zillion folders on my computer. Even when my artwork turns out awkward and ugly and embarrassing, I find it hard to let go of since I put time and affection in to every thing that I draw. Kinda like my old sock box (because who's to say I won't wake up one morning with an urge to wear the sock with a hole in the toe! Y'know?). On the upside, the occasional treasure of a forgotten memory is always waiting around the next corner to cheer me up and cheer me on. I just found this sweet little compilation of RudyFaces. I don't remember why I made it or what it was intended for, but today it provoked a much-needed giggle from my temporarily serious self. BigRudy, with the gift of a face that never stops giving!

Day Five of the Food Fest

My collection of salami is becoming impressive. I have an entire fridge drawer dedicated to this current obsession. Presumably it's a just phase. But seriously, gimme a bagel, cream cheese and some black pepper and we are talking serious business. Don't judge.

I don't know how the dogs keep creeping into every post....they are sneaky like that!

Today is a run-day (uh-oh).

There is no denying that I am currently in the half-hearted stage of half-marathon training. I still eat too much before I run. I yawn and fall out of bed into my shoes and onto the road without a thought about stretching. I worry about what the dogs eat before I have my own face-off with the breakfast bagel (or even worse, cinnamon toast. horrifying, I'm sure). One of these days I'll have it all figured out. I'll shake hands with my bowl of bran and give a wink to the protein shake on the side. But until then, just slide the chocolate spread and toast and in my direction and I'll figure out the consequences later. You want my melon slices? I'm not in the mood. And put the coffee on would you? I'll be needing it. I always do.

Oh but today I ate lobster. Mainly because I love the word crustaceans. Crusteceans. Ooh.

Day Three. Eat up!

Two months ago there was a heated discussion between myself and the hubby about the purchase of this mug (yes, life is that exciting!). I said '$18 is much too pricey darling honey favorite one, what- are we made of money?' but Forrest insisted 'wifey, treasure, dearest heart, I see what you mean but I really must have it'. I think that's roughly how it went... Well, I relented because I am super-nice. Anyways, two weeks after this item joined our already sprawling collection of coffee cups, Forrest deployed to Afghanistan.

Now I have used this mug every single day since he left. And I enjoy it. So this is me eating my words (which, by the way, taste better with coffee...).

We are going back to Gatlinburg when Forrest is home for R&R in November. I will buy my own mug. It will sit proudly and expensively next to Forrest's, and there will be no more talk of it. (Maybe after an initial personality clash and a few awkward jokes they'll fall in love and get married. It happens to the best of us).

Aside from coffee cups, I had some of my favorite company for dinner. My friend Lesley the worker-bee needs to be lured away from her study-notes with sangria from time to time. I do my best to oblige. Plus, my dogs are in LOVE with her, so it's a win win when she comes over.

In all, an exciting day for food! high fives and a clear-ish conscience. (incase you hadn't noticed, we are ignoring the breakfast cookie and the thirty one m&ms. oh and the sangria. Who mentioned pizza? Yikes)

Foodstuff. Day Two.

We admired the asparagus. It was beautiful. I ate it.

Nashville Farmers Market has a lot to answer for. Purple Peppers. My addiction to handmade soap. A considerably depleted bank account. On the upside, I guess I'm healthier, cleaner, but alas, still poorer....

Felix surveyed unfolding events whilst tap-dancing in the kitchen and staring down the roast beef, eyes as wide as saucers. That was my day. Oh, and learning how to 'stay'....(hooray!)

Every Last Morsel.

Sunday is Day 1.

Give me a game, I will play it. Paper, I will draw on it. Dog? I will walk it. Food, I will cook it (then eat it). I am one of those people....I have to be doing something, always. (I sleep well at night).

I could use a bit of focus though. I need a map. A mentor. a GPS. Something to say go this way for more than 2 minutes. Otherwise you never get very far. Y'know? I do.

So my plan for the week is this: (and oh it is simple. Delicious and simple. Did I mention delicious? And simple. Ok). I'm doing a food diary. Something 1000 people before me have done, but I jump onto the bandwagon with enthusiasm and a shrug. I bet we all eat different things, after all. If somebody else drew 'Betty Jo's Hot Slaw' in their food blog, then knock me down with a feather- and feed me my own words. 'Til then, I present to you Day One of this challenge. And it actually IS a challenge, when I'm faced with a cookie that I want to eat (very badly, for I am a piglet) but must draw it first.....

I'm trying to keep it all about the food, but other things creep in. Hi Bob the Turtle. There was also an interesting storm cloud and I only just managed to hold back on a picture of the dogs.....

So that's day one. Simple, delicious....ever so slightly fatty.

oh, and also.....

The previous post is only half the story. I was very fortunate when I moved to the US a year ago. The very best people chose to befriend me, including my (crazy 'Auntie') Linda- the funniest, most charismatic, caring person that ever there was. She and Rudydog have been the best of friends since the day they met (he was about 12 wks old) and I’m really just a bystander in their dog/human mutual appreciation situation. Auntie Linda wasted no time in inviting me and Rudy and Felix (and my sister, Kate) to stay at her house (coincidentally our old house!) for the duration of our visit to Southern Alabama. I say the duration…naturally we had to nip off to Florida to say hi to the beach, where I sampled my first ever bowl of gumbo, slept for an undisturbed night in a hotel without the dogs (love them, but bliss!) and swam and sunbathed and chatted and giggled until I really felt like I’d exhaled for the first time in a while. The photos sum it up rather well, I think!

I also strive to fulfill the role of a thoughtful wife, and went on an enthusiastic shell-search along the Florida shoreline, so that the desk of my lovely husband in Afghanistan can be brightened up with a jar of said treasures. Found some cool ones too! Check. It. Out!! Paperweight?