Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Design is about cleaning up after yourself

Design, painting, illustration, and writing  is all about making a mess of a first draft, then cleaning it up later.


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Apples

Spring is here. So last weekend I did some googling to see how I should trim my apple trees. After some clipping and chopping I think my orchard is ready for the summer. (All three small trees).

While I was at it, I took care of my vineyard (two vines).

Last year one of my grapevines did really well. (It produced about four bunches of grapes.) One Saturday afternoon I picked a sample to see if they were ready. Ellen and I both agreed that they needed a few more days. A couple more days passed and I checked again. Every single grape was gone. Critters...

I don't mind sharing, but hopefully this fall I'll be like this guy with some apples to inspect.


Friday, March 20, 2015

Baseball Season

I hear that some folks are playing preseason baseball in Florida.

When I was a young lad, I played baseball for two seasons on a pony league team. I think it was the summer after my seventh and eighth grade years.

I played in the right field (when I played), long before I knew why some kids were always put in the right field. I remember standing in the field, trying to say the chants that all real baseball players new how to say. Something like, "Come-batta-batta-batta." Seemed pretty silly to me.

When I wasn't sitting on the bench, or in the right field (trying to pay attention), I occasionally got a chance to bat. My batting average was consistent, and easy to remember...zero, 0, also know as .000.

Fortunately I learned to do other things with my life. But I do wish I could be in Florida for spring training. (I would skip the baseball.)


Monday, March 16, 2015

Walking a dog.

Walking a dog. I hear it’s good to do. If you have a dog.

We don’t have a dog. But we have been dog-sitters before. And at those times, I walked a dog.

Actually, my family had a dog when I was a kid. And sometimes we would take her for a walk. She was a beagle. She constantly wanted to tear off after every little distraction she saw. Not at all like the dog pictured here. The pup pictured here looks thrilled to be out and about, though it does not appear that the guy in the coat feels the same way.


Saturday, March 07, 2015

Sipping coffee*

Drinking a cup of coffee. The screw-top lid not quite secure. A bit dribbles quickly down my chin and into my open collar. My cologne for the day.

 *Author's note. The cups in this picture do not have lids. I learned to make short hair dots on the sides of their heads from Joe Glorioso. Thanks Joe.


Thursday, March 05, 2015

Gh Trucking

I suppose I could try a different career. Driving a moving truck for example. But that would mean lifting boxes and furniture. And probably a bit of packing up of other people's stuff.

I don't like to lift heaving things. Except maybe when I lift myself up from my chair to go home from work. But I was impressed when I saw some guys installing a new washing machine. They had these strap contraptions that went over their shoulders and down under the machine. They then just had to stand up from a slight crouching position and walk it into place. Cool invention.

Another thing I like is those disk things you can get at a hardware store. You put them under the legs of heavy furniture. Then, all you have to do is slide the piece to the new place you want it.

I think I will stick to drawing heavy things.


Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Making dough with dough

Another drawing, another post. Making designs with my pictures.

I like baked goods.


Sunday, March 01, 2015

Things you shouldn't do

Fortunately the wise designers of the power outlet made the plug area smaller than fingertips. Otherwise, boys might try to insert fingers. Unfortunately, boys will try to find other items that do fit. Nobody got hurt, just a scorch mark on the wall. Don't tell anyone.