My Son Jay, is now officially working at Georges' Restaurant in Wayne, along with his younger brother Danny, who is the bar manager.

Jay is living the dream, working in the kitchen with Chef Joe Frost. He has been hired as a saucier, which means that he'll be working along side of Chef Perrier, who is the master of all master sauciers.

How exciting, we're so proud of him--congratulations Jay!

The image above is of my sons Jay and Danny, (Jay is on the left) that I took two years ago. Both sporting their whites, Jay with the All-Clad pan and Danny with the Kershaw knife. Adorable aren't they?

Sean Akers has started a "book cover club" of sorts, where we meet and design book covers of books we've read, want to read, or even write. It's a real stretch and very intimidating for me, mainly because I have no real interest in it and have more than enough stuff on my plate already. I'm more about images on a book cover, not the details that go into putting one together. However, I really enjoyed my first meeting. What I find most fascinating is seeing how others handle this aspect of the creative process. There's real value in it for me, because it takes me out of my comfort zone, both physically and mentally and puts me in an extremely challenging area where I have no experience whatsoever. Sean gave us an assignment to consider three different books that we would like to design covers for.

Mine were "Watership Down", which I always thought was a military story, but it's a book about rabbits that I'm reading now. The other two are "The Memory Keepers Daughter", which has a strong photography content and I just finished it and finally "The Egg and I" which I've never read, but for obvious reasons would love to illustrate. While doing some research today on the book, I found an article from "Food and Wine" magazine entitled "The Egg & I". Here's the link for it http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/the-egg-and-i

Amazingly, it's about one of my most-admired chefs, Thomas Keller and how one of his favorite things to cook is an egg. That, along with the fact that he uses the same kind of eggs that my chickens lay, which are known as Easter Eggs, because they come in pastel colors, settled my choice for the book cover, so I ordered the movie to crash course the story since the cover is due soon. If you have any ideas you'd like to share, I'm all about it. I'll post the cover when I'm finished.

With all of the holiday craziness I've been wanting to tell you this story, but I keep getting distracted. It was a few weeks ago, actually, the first week in December when the weather was sunny and warmer. I let the chickens out for their daily exercise and foraging and left to go to the hardware store. When I came home, our rooster was squawking and very upset. He was sounding his alarm noise, so I started looking around for trouble and the hens, while I was still in the car. I couldn't see any of the hens. Finally, I looked to my left and saw our youngest hen there in the driveway and so continued to scan for Frida and Flavia, our older Ameraucana hens...but still couldn't find them. Something registered in my brain at that point and I realized that the little hen looked strange, when I did my double take on her, I realized that it wasn't her, but a male red-tailed hawk! Not only that, he had Flavia pinned down, with his talons wrapped around her throat and there was a pool of blood under and around her. For sure she was dead. I was so shocked, and he didn't even budge. Then I saw her wing try to flap and I got out of the car and yelled at the hawk and he flew off of her, but she didn't move. I got her, she was still alive, but barely, so I put her in a warm, safe place to let her die in peace. Next I went searching for the other two hens. I circled the property twice and looked under every shrub and tree. I called them, but they didn't come out or even make a sound. On the third time around I was calling to them and heard a tiny cluck... they were both hiding in a bucket. They were squeezed in so tight that they couldn't get out. To make an even longer story not so long, an hour later Flavia was standing, so I brought her into the studio. We babied her for over a week and now she's fully recovered and back out with the other chickens. They're all confined now 24/7. They'd be happier if they could get out and about to scratch, but they'll have to wait until the new portable pen arrives. I've never had a hawk attack a full-grown chicken. He must have been trying to impress the female that was waiting in a nearby tree. It's great to be able to say that it was such a joyful ending. Events like that rarely end that way. Yesterday I made a batch of homemade, blood orange cello. They are so beautiful and delicious. The color and flavor of the juice is just incredible. The oranges are easier to peel than the lemons and they also go a lot further since they're bigger. You could smell the fragrance all over the house by the time I was finished. I got them from http://www.theorangestore.com/ and I'm very happy with them. If you'd like my recipe for orange or limoncello, just ask. I only use Meyer lemons or blood oranges. Karen the orchardess from http://www.lemonladies.com/ sent us a case of Meyer lemons at Thanksgiving. When I opened the box it was just like the diner scene from "Pulp Fiction", where they open up the briefcase. The glowing, golden lemons, the sweet fragrance, like flowers...I think I heard the heavenly hosts singing. Thank you once again Karen. I have a few paintings started, but far from finished, so tonight I'll share with you something that my friend Wendy Paul sent to me from "Youtube" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5lN96dgt_Y It's truly amazing...

My oldest grandchild Gabriel, turned 8 years old on the 21st of December and my youngest child/son Danny, turned 26 on the 22nd of December.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS! I love both of you so much.

Gabriel was just amazing in his school play. He did a terrific job as the Angel Gabriel, very authoritative, but with a smile in his voice. He had an X-Men/Wolverine birthday party. Wolverine is our favorite superhero. Jonah, as one of the "Heavenly Hosts", was just too cute for words, with his crooked halo and yawns.

We had Danny's favorite birthday dinner; soft-shelled crabs with a side of spaghetti and proscuitto and a side of brocoli rabe. His dinner was on the 23rd. He and Jay Jr. went to Termini's Bakery to get an Italian Rum birthday cake. Some things never change and that cake is one of them. Thank God. It was a great night. I made Limoncello that morning. It's already beautiful, steeping in the bottle.

On Christmas Eve we went to my cousin Nicky's, his wife Leanne's and their gorgeous daughter Gabriella's house for the fishes. I believe we had 12 or 13 different choices. My favorite was the linguine and clams on the half shell. It was a very good time. We got home around 3:30 am if that's any indication. Nicky's homemade Limoncello and port were outstanding. We went to bed about 5 am.

It's a good thing our kids are grown, because there was no early morning, opening presents. I was the first one up at noon to get the the Italian wedding/holiday soup and the meatballs going, so that Jay Jr. could get in the kitchen and start the "gravy" and manicotti.

When I went out to give the chickens and rabbits their special Christmas treats, I found a little pullet egg from the Ameraucana hen that I hatched out in the incubator late last May or early June. A beautiful elongated, light olive green egg. I plan on it being included in my next painting.

Asser and Laura came early for dinner and Said and Hadidja stopped in later for dessert. It was a very casual, relaxed (probably because we were so overly tired), day with everything you could want for Christmas. Fantastic food, family and friends. The calls from my brother Pat, his son, Jeanie, Derek and the kids from California, along with Krista and Josie (who was so excited about getting a play kitchen) made the day complete. I'm so blessed. Thank you God.

I hope that your Christmas, or the holiday that you celebrate, was also truly meaningful with all of the richest blessings you could want. Remember to share with someone less fortunate.

The image today is of the Christmas card that I painted and sent out this year. It's titled "THREE FRENCH HENS", and is 7"x5", oil on linen, framed. $50. SOLD--thank you Betty.

There is no text on the actual painting.

The show is still going on at the Gryphon Cafe' in Wayne, PA. I'm just thrilled with the outcome so far, since I'm pretty sure that more than 30 paintings have already been sold. I'll have to get to work on marking them here on the blog and site after the show ends on the 5th of January. Enjoy your night.

You're right, I forgot to continue with the "Outsider Art" last post.

So, as I said, I submitted a couple of paintings to-

http://www.outsiderart.info/

a few days later I got an email from John...here it is, edited:

"Jeanie, Sorry for the delay. Thanks for your interest in my site and for showing me your work. I've tried to ignore your art but can't. And it's odd that the image you sent was of the ethereal eggs because they caught me when I first looked at your page ..... But the flowers and vegetables had a sinister motive...I'm not sure if its the colors you punch together or your chunks of paint arranged softly or what, but I keep looking at them. And now I've discovered what an amazing draftswoman you are in the landscapes and nature work. I'm writing way too much here but that sometimes happens. Clearly, there is an unforgiving quality to your art that pulls from you most of what you see but keeps from us some of what you think.

Like I said, thanks for showing me the art. I'd be honored to exhibit your work on my site. John........

P.S. Hope to hear back but if not....keep up what you do."

How great is that? I love this guy, I think...after all, he did try to ignore my art....(I'm smiling)...that's OK, he's not the first. At least he saw the error of his ways and reconsidered. I have to get some of the work that's not already sold from the cafe' and send it to him. It's a very interesting site and I'm excited about my work being shown there.

I finished another painting today, but it's for my Christmas card and you can't see it until after I send the cards out. If I don't have your address and you'd like one, send it to me in an email and I'll send one to you.

The painting for today's post was finished on Monday. It's from Chester County. My son Jay, another artist and I were talking at the reception on Sunday night about our favorite paintings. We all agreed that our latest work was usually our favorite and that holds true for this painting. "Autumn Pasture", Chester County, 14"x11", oil on deep, gallery-wrapped linen, $350., framed. SOLD.

I hope you like it too. Let me know what you think.

When Jay was driving I spotted these longhorns in the pasture with the maple tree ablaze behind them. The warm, golden, late

afternoon sun was rim-lighting them. This made the cow's belly on the right luminous like it was lit from within. It's one of the things that I love that about this painting.

I'll be going to Maryland tomorrow, for Gabriel and Jonah's Christmas program, in which Gabriel has the lead part as the Angel Gabriel. I doubt that I'll be able to post. Be careful driving with the icy weather that's predicted.

Yesterday was my artist's reception at the Gryphon Cafe' in Wayne. The exhibit will remain up until January 5th, 2008.

I am very pleased with yesterday's outcome. The majority of the paintings di giorno have already been sold. The turnout was very impressive despite the torrential rain. I am very grateful for the show of support with the attendance. I know how busy everyone is this time of year, especially on a Sunday evening when there's work and school the next day. The purchases are a real shot in the arm. Your affirmation is a big deal. Thank you so much to everyone for sharing a very important evening with me.

I can't forget to mention the outstanding music that Jay and his students provided. Thank you also for making the event even more special with your gifts of musical talent. Everyone just raved about it.

Jay and Celeste, you did me proud with the amazing food that you prepared and served. It was a huge relief for me not to have to deal with it. Thank you very much.

I have three paintings of Chester County that I've just finished but haven't posted yet. I'm thrilled with them.

One was completed tonight and I took the other two

to the cafe' last night. I'll need to go photograph them.

I'll get them on here as soon as I can.

While Jay and I were out driving through Chester County, collecting reference material for paintings, a strange thing happened. We drove into thousands of blackbirds. They just covered the area all around us. I took several photos of them. This one I converted to black and white. It seemed more effective this way.

"Blackbird Swarm", black and white photograph, 12"x8", $100.

I'll try to keep posting, but I'm way behind on all of my Christmas preparations.

Stay tuned for my Christmas card painting.

It's late, but I did get the kids delivered to their parents tonight. I could hear Isabella protesting for at least a few miles after I left her...meaning when I called Jeanie after I got back on the road. I miss them already, but am grateful for the time to concentrate on two new paintings that I started and the layout for this year's Christmas card. It's kind of weird not hearing Dora or Diego rescuing someone or something in the background. A couple of weeks ago, another artist sent me an email and called me an "Outsider Artist". Since it didn't sound like a nice thing to say, I asked him to explain himself. This is what he wrote. "Jeanie, To be brief an Outsider Artist is one who has matured to the level of expertise and knowledge to stand equal to those who have followed the institutional path of art education. Just Google Outsider Artist and I think you'll be surprised and pleased to be able to qualify as an Outsider because of all the new galleries selling only Outsider Art and new museums dedicated to the same.... The history starts a long time ago and I think it's time to blossom. Jerry" So I went ahead and googled it and found several sites, galleries and museums dedicated to it. It's very diverse, a lot of folk art would be considered "Outsider". The dark side of it would be art produced from those who are institutionalized, where art is used as therapy. Then there are those who are considered "Visionary". An Outsider like Minnie Evans from Airlee Gardens in North Carolina would fit that description. She drew pictures on notebook paper with colored pencils and crayons of the visions she saw. Just beginning my research into this, I haven't found anyone that really does work like mine, so I thought that I was outside of the "Outsiders". However, the next time I post, I'll fill you in on the exciting news.

Jay and I hung the exhibit on Sunday morning. It was tough, with the 30 plus paintings di giorno presenting the biggest challenge, but it's up. We got some breakfast after at Pattymac's in Berwyn...that's right, the place with the best ever creamed, dried beef....then came home. I worked until about 1 pm and then started to feel like I was coming down with "something", so I hit the mattress. I slept for six hours! I was supposed to go to the Clarke's holiday party. Obviously, I never made it. Not even in my dreams. I had a long dream that I was deleting "stuff" from my computer and just letting it float away into the trash can. It was a very pleasant and unburdening dream. It's a pretty safe bet that the recent deaths, stress and whatever the bug was, had gotten to me. I couldn't keep my eyes from slamming shut again at 10:30 pm so I went right back to bed. The artist's reception is this Sunday from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at the Gryphon Cafe', in Wayne. For more info just click on http://www.gryphoncafe.com There is a link for directions, or you can contact me through this site. Please feel free to bring the kids, friends and family. Jay Jr. is doing the catering and Jay Sr. and company will be providing live music. I'm really looking forward to it. I finished another Chester County painting yesterday, but didn't photograph it yet. I'll have it ready for the reception on Sunday. I've already started another. I appreciate painting more than ever during and right after a big project that keeps me from it. I'm taking the kids home tomorrow if it all works out. So, I'll fill you in on some more new happenings. If not, I'll catch you later.

During the night after Thanksgiving dinner, my cousin Bobby suddenly died. Apparently he had a reaction to a medication he was taking. He had been struggling with type I diabetes since he was 13 years old. We were three months apart and our families used to call us "the twins". I spent a lot of time at his house. He lived in northeast Philadelphia, near Pennypack Park. We spent most of our time there fishing. He actually taught me to fish for "Sunnies". We really had great times together. He was a wonderful man. Then one week later, this past Friday, my son-in-law Derek's father, Wayne, very suddenly passed away. It's just so sad. He lived in Utah, so Jeanie and Derek are there for the services. The kids are here now. Krista took care of them for the weekend, so I met up with Krista and Josie to get them this morning at the Brandywine River Museum. It was such a treat. They had a great train exhibit that brought back so many memories. The kids had a wonderful time too. The most exciting part for me was that I got to meet Victoria Wyeth. She's Andrew's granddaughter. She's very young and gives a terrific, animated, guided tour of her family's works. The article I read about her in an art magazine last spring, is where I found the quote that I use in my emails. "If you can paint an egg, you can paint anything". This was said to Andrew by his father, N.C. Wyeth. My youngest grandson Jonah, lost his sweatshirt during our visit to the gallery where Victoria was giving a guided tour. When I went back to look for it, Victoria had it. She was very gracious as I introduced myself. It was definitely a highlight. Here's a video clip of one of her guided tours. http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/video.pop.html More about happy art stuff tomorrow, if Isabella ever goes to sleep. Goodnite.