Welcome To November 2025

Under a partly cloudy sky, the 1st day of November has a crisp and chilly vibe that goes well with hot tea and apple cider donuts.

This is the start of Branch Season. What to do with pencil sketched landscapes all around? There is snow in the mountains, leaves on the ground and birds eager to see the feeders back out. 

I’m thinking organizing photos, changing passwords, reading about cyber security, and such is a plan worthy of being top of a November to do list.

For artists, and everyone who has ever thought or said I can’t draw, putting together an art tote is a good idea: sketchbook. pencils, sharpener, eraser and 2 pens. That is basic sketch set up to have handy whether outdoors or in a waiting room. 

Sketching trees to research the botanical names can be an interesting goal to pursue.

Pick up a yard of fabric to use for hand sewing while listening to audio books. 

Take advantage of that concentration, by learning a new language from an audio course.

November to me is the month of being comfy, cooking and creating. 

Summer Updates

Inking lines has begun

Updates on current artwork has a Monday morning type of going to be a fun week vibe. Malaise had been grabbing me aside whenever it wants to. I have been very hesitant to select which lines to ink because in this style of drawing, mistakes can mean starting over completely. 

The second ink and watercolor drawing is a go with the flow with no or very little planning. It is more relaxing to do because I can play with mistakes to turn them into successes.

Abstract drawing in progress

Elsewhere…

Last week the side of my left leg banged into something sharp. I don’t remember what it was. When the plum size bruise is noticed, I start looking for things at that level. Trying to match up a bruise with an object is probably one of the weirdest experiences of my summer thus far. 

The object might be my iron framed coffee table. If I was getting off the sofa, the leg could have made contact then. 

I have been careful this summer to avoid (most) injuries, wear sunscreen and use bug spray. I think I’ve had one mosquito bite early in the season. 

The weather here has been dry or downpour season, an indoors or maybe outdoors kind of summer. 

I missed the county fair due to a calendar mishap. I wrote down the wrong dates. 

A particular derp depression slump left me with widespread catching up to do. 

How is your summer going?