This could be the last post until after the holidays. If I have time to get in here, I will, but I already feel like I'm light years from being ready for Christmas. 

Some wonderful things happening; paintings being sold at the cafe', my new rooster "Chanticleer" is getting the "job" done just in time. My black copper Marans are laying those very dark eggs and they seem to be getting darker by the day. Very exciting stuff. I finished painting the image for our Christmas card and got the order in today. I won't post it since I don't want you to see it until you get it in the mail.....if I don't have your address, and you want one, just email your address to me and I'll send one to you. I had dinner with my good friend Sue Silenzi tonight. We went to Christopher's for an easy dinner and lots of catching up. Felt good to see her.

The painting is of the vegetable and flower garden across the street from the French Laundry in the late afternoon. The bench was so inviting. I did take a photo of the fam on it, but didn't paint it that way. I haven't hung this painting at the cafe' yet. Hopefully tomorrow. "French Laundry Garden", oil on linen board, 10"x8", $250., framed.SOLD

If I don't get back before then, here's to your best holidays ever, despite the economy!

I pretty bummed tonight. Vincent is on his way to Arizona and I miss him already. I totally have seller's remorse. Maybe the woman who bought him won't like him and send him back. I hope so.

I was 3/4s of the way finished a painting of a cow and calf last night and Danny and Jay told me not to finish it, so I painted over it. My brother Pat told me it's called seeing the south side of a cow who's headed north. So it's history. I do have a sheep painting that's finished, but I redid it and didn't photograph it yet.

I've been working on family photos for Christmas gifts tonight and thought I'd show you this one. It's of (left to right) my son Jay, his wife Celeste, my grandson Gabriel and my son Danny. Just before this shot they were hand-feeding the chickens...."you can dress them up".....to add to the irony they were all decked out to go to Le Bec Fin for dinner. I love my family.

This was a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everything was without a hassle, the traffic to and from Maryland, dinner prep and the company. Krista and I laughed like fools over our "Goldfinger" turkey and Salvador Dali digital meat thermometer. The skin on the turkey went from a golden, Goldfinger crisp, to a George Hamilton very dark leather. Simply because she didn't take my advice and tent the turkey. But the best part was that Krista didn't know that you can't put a digital thermometer in the oven and let it stay in there while the bird cooks. It was great when we took it out and it looked like something Dali would have painted. Even with all of that, the food was just delicious and  we were ready two hours ahead of time. It was nice to relax before everyone arrived. Poor little Josie had an ear infection, but you'd never have known it. She was so happy when Isabella arrived. They looked precious.

Vincent my Welsummer rooster leaves for Arizona tomorrow. I'll miss him, but he'll be living the good life out there.

I finished two of the four paintings over the weekend. This one is titled "Chanticleer Lotus",

8"x10", oil on linen board, $250., framed. sold It's a new favorite. The very early morning sun is just magical. I love it.