Trees, cats, coffee, and books.

Have had my two youngins since Wednesday so not much art has been getting done. I know this is an art blog, and as much as I love creating, I love my kids more. Yesterday we put up the tree and a few other decorations such as an inflatable bear and mechanical lighted reindeer outside. I am against the commercialization of Christmas but my wife likes it and I haven't found a kid yet that doesn't, so I joined in.

It is Wildflecken and Bindlach type of cold outside! Coffee and a book is the best thing to do today. (Wildflicken and Bindlach are two cities in northern Germany for the un-geographically educated) So as I sit here with my daily ration of coffee I am getting ready to start re-reading Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. Long live Rand al'Thor, the Dragon reborn!

For the longest time after my cardiac condition was diagnosed I didn't drink coffee at all. I used to drink a pot and a a half daily. To much stress on my heart now because of the caffeine. Since the doc told me to abandon hope about getting better I have allowed myself one, just one cup each morning. If I am not getting better, then what does it matter? I won't drink enough to give a chance to a chemically induced tachycardia which was the initial concern. At least this way I get some of my 'beany-goodness.'

I woke up this morning around 0600 as I normally do, and thought I would play in my corner studio before the kids got up at 0800 for church. As I settle myself down at my desk I notice my cat, Panterra, is on the desk also. Knowing I am going to use my watercolors (I wanted to practice mixing greys and blacks; I really do need to make some color swaths) I ask her politely if I may have my paper towels. She told me no. It was a soft pillow and she was safe from Gracie, my poodle mix, up there. I told her I really needed them. Below is her reply:

This is what I did today.