New Sketch with Color

My new fancy colored pencils arrived today and I had to color something in. Here it is:

Library Camp-In

Our public library had a No-TV week for children. If they made the pledge and managed to not watch TV for a whole week, then they could participate in the Library Camp-In. My daughter did it and she had to bring a parent--Me! I was so excited. I mean, an all-nighter at a library, a place where one should read. Could life get better? There were kids crafts during the evening, all of which were a little too young for my 12 year old. But that's okay, we wandered around, played a paper game and then entered the auditorium about 8:00 p.m. for the storyteller, Will Hornyak. I've heard him before and he is great. Door prizes followed Will, then off to brush teeth, get in pajamas and go to our sleeping area. It's a big library and there were over 100 campers. Although the children were a little wild after the show, I wasn't worried because I knew the lights went out at 10 p.m. and we were all supposed to bring flashlights, which I assumed were for reading while in your sleeping bag. That's what Hannah and I used them for. But there were still a lot of kids running around after the lights went out. So, I've discovered I get grumpy when I don't get sleep, even grumpier when parents assume it's okay with everyone else that their children run around wherever for however long. To be fair, there were a lot of campers and for the most part even those running around weren't THAT noisy. I guess I just looked forward to reading--and sleeping--in the quiet library. (I may not do it again but for the one time it was fun).

And My Illustrator Friend is....

I should have mentioned the name of my illustrator friend who's teaching me to add color to my sketches. She is Andrea Fitcha and her website is: www.andreafitcha.com

Learning to Add Color

My illustrator friend is teaching me to add color to my pictures. Up to now, I've only been brave enough to sketch using a pencil with an eraser. Adding color seems so permanent. Well, I guess I'll get over my fears a step at a time.

The Battle of the Shed

I knew I was going in under the harshest of conditions. I knew it might be a futile attempt. But it had to be done and I was the one to do it. "Courage is not the absence of fear..." And I was very afraid.

For armor, I wore a long-sleeved, thick shirt, heavy jeans, and barn boots. I brought in reinforcements--the large garbage can and empty boxes. I arranged the troops around the door and then burst it open. I fought near the door for over an hour, striking and retreating and striking again. The garbage can was at its peak as it gobbled up the enemy. Empty boxes kept prisoners that would later be recycled or taken to HQ for re-filing. Books, notebooks and memorabilia were thrown at me. Vermin had ruined some of the books; those were tossed to Garbage Detail. Obsolete papers were ripped out of notebooks and given to Recycling Detail.

Finally, I had a corner, established a base camp, and moved further into enemy territory from there. But the garbage can was full and had to retreat. An overlarge box stepped in to take its place. Suddenly I was surrounded by boxes full of...nevermind what they were full of. I had to strike again and again. I was wearing down. The words of FDR filled my mind: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." I had to advance, not retreat. And suddenly, it was the calvary! Chris, my right hand man, arrived, fresh for the fight. He burst in through the shed on the opposite side, through the large doors. He flung sticks out the door, swept (literally) through a whole section, and reached me in time to back the enemy into a corner.

We rushed out of there and locked it up. The shed was still standing but so were we. Another day, we will return, and we will NOT FAIL!

Red Lines

The 20,000 word book I wrote has returned from an editor. So many red lines; so little time.