Guit-autograph

 

Labor of Love

I posted this in takingitforaspin, but I wanted to post a higher resolution image here for your enjoyment.  There are a few notable signatures here including Al DiMeola, Graham Nash, Junior Brown, James Cotton and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.

The Blues

 

I been framed!

I wanted to share this with you.  This is a piece in my studio done by a long time friend of mine, Mike.  It depicts the blues and history of performers. Looking closer, you can see the names of many great and influential blues musicians.

 

Close up view.

Also take notice of the meticulous detail in Mike's style used to create the blue and back bands around the body of the guitar.  Many hours went into this work and I am proud to have it hanging in my studio.

Blissful Brilliant Beauty Blankets El Dorado Park!

View down my street

Striking trees!

Incredible trees!

View of the alleyway

Waking up this morning with no power, I took to the outdoors with my camera for some old fashioned entertainment.  The views were all spectactular!  I probably took around 75 pictures of my neighbourhood and was hard pressed to pick just 4 from them all to post and share.  The temperature was just at or above the freezing mark by now and the falling snow had tapered off to a few stray flurries, leaving us with between 10 and 12 inches of wet, gloppy snow. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I did taking them. 

Winter Wonderland

I'm not lopsided, I'm dancin'!

My wife's first snowman!

Children enjoying the snow.

Adults enjoy the snow, too!

Well, it's almost dinner time and the snow is still falling.  We've got about 4 inches now and more on the way.  I convinced my wife to build a snow man and walked her through the highly technical processes involved.  He looks a little lopsided to me, but she insists it's artistic flair and the he is dancing (apparently this snow man is gender specific, however I don't see any obvious signs...).
Meanwhile, down the street, neighbours are playing in the snow as well.  It seems like, for this short span, people are happy and having fun. Really big flakes have started falling...I wonder if my wife has ever been driving in the snow at speed...you know...how the snow makes it look like you are zooming along at the speed of light? It's a bit like what I imagine a passenger on the millenium falcon might experience if they were to look out the front window.

Fluffy Stuff

Snow discover covering the moon!

Chilly Chiminae.

My nephew and niece.

Tree-mendous!

Here's a few pictures I took this morning of the current weather conditions in Plano.  I am always struck by the beauty that snow adds to any environment.  I may post a few more later...we're expecting 2-6 more inches with 3 inches on the ground already!  I get excited about snow because I grew up with it, but here in Texas it's a bit rare.  We usually get a few flurries now and then in the metroplex, so this amount is a treat!
Snowball fight, anyone?

Gifted

Sometimes I am simply amazed by the talents hidden around us.  I wanted to share a couple images (see below) of the work produced by an artist by the name of "Retro_Nym".  I've posted a painting of Bacchus, god of wine I believe and another of a particularly worried looking individual.  Both images are contemplative.  The expression of their moods comes across strong and makes you wonder what exactly they are thinking.  Nice work, Retro_Nym!
Enjoy!

Mandolin

Someone's mandolin found the lens at the NTGC BBQ last night. Fran took loads of pictures and I've been going over them today and picking some out to post on our group website. There's a lot of good shots. The NTGC are a friendly group all said. We had a few beers, ate some good grilling and played a lot of music. Folk, country, jazz, blues, rock, swing were all represented at one time or another and the night was capped with the classic Happy Trails. It's always a great time on Jam nights and this was a double dose since David and Sandy opened their home and campfire to our group and were excellent hosts. They also have a 'hobby farm'. This added a nice rural touch to the night with the goat and the chickens shuffling around. Oh, and the duck pond was kind cool too. Well, we've set the bar for next year. A special thank you goes out to Judy for making all the arrangements. I hope David and Sandy invite us back!