So I can hardly believe this is the last day of January, can you?! It has gone crazy fast and it seems I don’t really have a lot to show for it. Life keeps happening though.

The mornings have been gracing us with these gorgeous sunrises. Now that it’s the last day of January, I can feel a big difference in the sun. The plants can, too.

To speed things along to even warmer days filled with flowers and plants, I bought myself this beautiful primrose. I got it at Aldi’s of all places. When they have plants, I snatch them up, they’re usually pretty cheap.

Another January buy was this luxurious dog bed. Get this, it’s got a memory foam insert and a pillow top, it really is most luxurious (I know because I got on there too!). The dog is sleeping better than I am.

I think she likes it.

She wasn’t the only one.

It’s all mine!

Even Asher wanted to be on it. I’m telling you, it is crazy comfy and so so soft.

Ma -um… he’s on my bed!

I still keep a barricade on the couch while I’m gone, but I’m not sure Zoey would leave this to lay on the couch any longer.

Think they’re comfy?

So almost midway though January we had some nice warm temperatures. Really though, I think it’s pretty typical to have a couple stray warm days. I was enjoying this 70˚ day for sure!

70 on January 12th?!

And then the very next day it was like Mother Nature was like “Oh yeah… it’s January.” and we had ice. Hah. Not funny. But hey, you know it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature! Who remembers that commercial?

ice on corkscrew weeping willow tree

Meanwhile, downstairs in my art studio… a baby is being born! My arrowhead vine plant that seems content with not nearly enough light is warming up her leaves. Kinda like me, when I get cold I just walk into my greenhouse and warm up a bit. That is if the sun is out.

baby leaf unfurling

Mayhem visits us regularly. Case in point:

I brought this partial roll of paper towels up from the studio by accident one day so I left it by the door to take back down with me the next time I went. (I get kinda nuts when it comes to paper towels, need a laugh, read this)

Asher came running in the kitchen that night while I was cooking dinner and said “I didn’t do it!” as he had a big grin on his face. My mind went instantly to the roll of paper towels. I knew they were toast.

Yep, JuJu strikes again. She has an odd affinity for paper goods.

Being awful cute has its advantages… like staying alive. Seriously, it pained me to throw out that roll. I tried to figure out how I could manage to use it somehow, I picked all the torn pieces out which left a swiss cheese like roll – but other than let it mop something up, it was no good to me. 🙁

Finally, I have an actual art related photo to show. I have been neglecting my art studio since December. It was a wreck. Paints scattered everywhere, half of all my paint brushes thrown about and empty boxes from all the painted ornaments I had made were on every flat surface I had (which isn’t nearly enough).

I’ve had a lot of inspiration hit me lately but haven’t acted on any of it yet – painting wise. So yesterday, I finally got down in the studio and cleaned it up. I actually toned several canvases and painted over one completely that just wasn’t working. It felt great. So as soon as I hit publish… I’m off to paint without having to clean first! Yay! I think it’s a great way to finish off January, don’t you?

grayed canvas on the easel

If you’re new to my blog and website have a look at my ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts in the form of expressionism.