A Milestone - post number 1000!

It all started on May 9th, 2008 with this; Welcome to my blog. This is a first for me, since I don't usually like these sort of things.

The first image I posted was two post later and a small illustration I did for a kayak publication;

I don't know what I really had planned for this.
I think I was hoping it would be a good platform to encourage me to do more art work.
In that sense it has work.

I started at the very beginning posting some of my cartoons for a Sherlock Holmes group I belonged. Then in May of 2009 I started an ambitious project of trying to do a tree a day for a year to improve my tree drawings.



The announcement came in this form.

It was a small tree I did in Microsoft Paint just to get going.

I guess the plan worked in many ways. Although It got spread over more than a year my trees got better and I ended up doing over 370 drawings that I ended up calling 'QS' for quick sketch.

I think, besides an avenue for my art I wanted to have the blog be somewhere I could post things I found interesting, whether it be a personal matter like family events or other artist or topics I found interesting.
My most prolific year had 207 posts, me least 105.
But the amount posted here also changed when I started two other blogs on subjects I found interesting that meant I did not post as often here.


My daughter probably got more post here than any other topic. It was a good space to catalog our 'expeditions'.
Although the blog would be in existence for almost a year before I would start posting her here.

One of the first would be her having her first high tea in London 2010

She's a little bigger now.

Social media like 'facebook' has really changed the world of blogging I would imagine.
But even though I was unsure how I would like it in the beginning I ended up loving the format.

Some times my other blogs take time away from this one, but I do try to make an appearence here at least a few times a month.

So I hope it has been as much fun for you, both my readers, as it has been for me.

See ya next time I have something to say.

Keeping summer real - Milestones.

 We tend to spend as much time outside as we can, regardless of the weather.

So Saturday we found a beach near the cabin we could play at for several hours.

 Which also provided daughter with another first for her life book.
Jumping off of a floating dock in the middle of a lake that she had to swim out to!

Air borne!

 And of course, dipping the feet in said lake from said dock.

 Good thing daddy's camera is waterproof.

 We even carried Grandma across the hot sand so see could sit by the water (or in it, as it ended up.)



We then picked tomatoes when we got home . . . .

 . . . so she could have another first.
Her own tomato stand!

She planted them, and helped pick them. They are hers to sell.

 Hard at it.

 Drumming up business.

She made $59.50 in about an hour and a half.

Milestones and sunsets. . .

 Milestone - Touching a dead frog.

Sunset at her late ball game.

Beginning of summer at high speed. . . .

 Well, we weren't satisfied with one fun thing to do all weekend, we had to go and fill up each day.
Friday started with the Zoo.. ..

 Grandma's the one that can't quite reach the whole hole.

And we had to take a picture of eveeeery animal in the zoo.

 Grandma measuring up.

Up close and personal.

 Petting the stingrays

Daughters at-the-moment favorite animal, Red Panda.

 On Phil

 With Phil

 All over Phil

 The big cats were out enjoying the day

 This one got a little upset with one of the volunteers holding a lions mane for the people to feel. And stood and watched till it was put away.

 With cousins.

 "Grandma. I need a break."

 Afterwards, pizza at Dewey's.

 Sat. up early and to the nursery . . .

 . . . to pick up plants for the garden.

 Then, get the soil ready.

 In charge of all the tomato plants this year, again.

 Almost got them all in the ground.

 Cages next.

 Then watering.

 "Nope, dad wouldn't let me stop after planting the garden. I then had to help with a cement project."

 "Workin' on my guns."

 Sunday church and saying goodbye to our pastor.

 Then remembering what the holiday is really all about.

 Hi Grandad.

 Then POOL PARTY!

 To cold for most of the adults, so I had to find someone to play with.

 Picking up Grandma on Monday, we found one strawberry already ready.

 Monday up to the farm.
Here the hundred plus year old root cellar.

Here with cousins on top.

Plenty of room for kids to play.

 Working on his fishing merit badge.

 First of nine.

 First of eleven.

 Taking a break in the shade.

 One somewhere between two and nine.

 Milestone; First time taking a fish off the hook and holding one.

 With Great Grandpa

 With Great Grandma

Picking some roses before we leave.


A fantastic start to summer!