Dear Mr. Watterson

Last night I watched the documentary Dear Mr. Watterson; a film about the cartoonist responsible for Calvin and Hobbes. It was a fascinating account of the reclusive artist, who turned his back on a half a billion dollars in order to preserve the "art" he so carefully crafted.  I often read the Calvin and Hobbes books to my son, Christopher as a child, and he sights this as the reason he formed a lifetime love of books.

Calvin and Hobbes has been gone from the papers for 19 years now. (Boy has it really been that long?) But he is still fondly remembered. Thank you Bill Watterson.

How grows the yard?

Hi all...Pat here with an update on the yard. Well, the growing season is well under way, and the flowers and perennials that Toni planted in May are doing very well. The yard you may recall, got really beat up last winter. Therefore it is especially gratifying to see it bounce back so well.

I'll post a picture soon, promise!

Not much new to report!

Hello faithful readers. Pat here with a quick Battle Creek report. Toni and I've been working in the yard getting things back to last years standards. hard work. Had five square yards of dirt delivered, spent two days spreading the dirt to various areas that we wanted to re-plant.

Started planting the annuals, and bought a few hanging baskets. We'll get some more flowers soon. Toni continues to travel a lot these days. She's gone 2-3 days every other week.

Chris is still working hard. He's transferred over to Kalamazoo, but commutes back and fourth between brewery sites. (He likes his job, but well, you know; it's a job!)

Hopefully we'll be ready for guest in July! The yard really suffered last winter. Oh well, what can you do but try! Wow...two posts in one day, Neat!

Yes, I'm Happy! (Aren't we all?)

I know this song has been around for what seems to be forever, but I really like it and well, just thought I'd share it with you! Minions, if you please? Begin!

2 weeks worth of painting!

Hi all. Pat here with a quick update. Well, besides working around the yard fixing all that winter destroyed last year, I've been a painting fool of late. Here is my latest work. It's a return to Dungeon and Dragon's theme, and features a sorceress and a warrior, fighting a hoard of goblins! Here are the pictures of the process. As always click on them to make the pictures bigger!

How to Gogh. (Van Gogh)

Hi all. Pat here with a painting update. As you know I recently went to Paris and had a wonderful time at the art museum. So I've been dying to try my hand at replicating the masters. My latest attempt, Van Gogh.

Here is a series of pictures that show you a start to finish view! Click on the pictures to make them bigger!

A bit of Paris!

I've been sick the last couple of days. I caught a cold in Paris. It hit me on the plane ride home, got worse the next day, and now is slowly leaving my body. I am OK, except for the horse voice! Very low and gruff! Worse though, is the fact that I gave it to Toni. She seems to be a day or two behind me with symptoms. Sorry Toni. ;(

Anyway, here are a couple more pictures of Paris!