General Chat November - December 2009

Judy, I'm so happy to hear that your hand is doing so well. Sounds like the operations were a success.

Glad to hear everything's on the mend, Judy. Good way to start the new year

For your entertainment I added some more emoticons. Some of them are really funny. If you find an emoticon that you would like added just let me know. Couldn't resist using one of the new ones.

Go ahead - feed my addiction!!!

I'm ready for the new year. Judy

Glad to hear you're healing well, Judy.

Callie and Judy, too funny. I'll have to find more emoticons when I have some time. They're so fun. Hmmm I guess I should start painting soon. I did a few swatches today. I just got home from the hairdressers. I got a spiral perm and it took about 4 hours. Christmas party tomorrow so I'll probably be out of touch most of day and evening.

Janet - On your next emoticon hunt - see if you can find a "thumbs up".
(Never mind, just found what I wanted )

I think my hairdresser would shoot me if I told her I wanted a spiral perm - that takes a lot of patience (for you and her). You should post a party pic!
I should be painting, but I've been trawling the inter-webs looking for one more photo for the January challenge.

Callie, I'll see if I can get some good pics at the party. I expect the lighting won't be great and I'll need to bring my small camera so it fits in my handbag. I'm still working on those swatches but I think I'll give them a rest for a bit. I'll try to squeeze one of the challenge paintings next week. Working with a palette knife to do the swatches makes me want to give it a try on a painting maybe the landscape. I think it would be fun to try but might end up in the down the drain thread.

Janet - have a good time tonight!

If you try a palette knife painting, you might want to start with a toned canvas, or by brushing on some background color first, then switch to the knife. You'll save a lot of paint doing it like that (unless you're using a very small panel - then it doesn't matter).

There was a small earthquake (3.1) south of here yesterday along the New Madrid fault line. That's around Dawn's neck of the woods. Is that strong enough to feel anything?

Callie, I did have a great time! Thank you for the tip on using the palette knife. I wonder if the black gessoed canvas would work well.

Here's a chart I found for earthquakes and their effects. From what this shows 3.1 is often felt but thankfully rarely causes damage.

Less than 2.0 Micro Microearthquakes, not felt.
2.0-2.9 Minor Generally not felt, but recorded.
3.0-3.9 Often felt, but rarely causes damage. 49,000 per year (est.)
4.0-4.9 Light Noticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises. Significant damage
5.0-5.9 Moderate Can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions. At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.
6.0-6.9 Strong Can be destructive in areas up to about 160 kilometres (100 mi) across in populated areas.
7.0-7.9 Major Can cause serious damage over larger areas.
8.0-8.9 Great Can cause serious damage in areas several hundred miles across.
9.0-9.9 Devastating in areas several thousand miles across.

I did not feel a thing here thank goodness, one bad thing a year is all I can take ! We were in the house a week when that may storm hit and we are still cleaning up from it, if an earthquake hits and does damage I am so out of here!!!

I'm glad it was a little one! We had the effects of one here (actual quake was in Kentucky or maybe Tennessee) around 2 years ago. Around 3am, woke up because the bed was shaking, then heard all the glasses and dishes rattling
Fortunately, that's all it did!

Janet - Glad you had a good time! Thanks for the earthquake info.

I added a few photos of horses, I have a lot so if anyone is looking for something specific give a yell and I will see what I have. I tend to take pictures with how I want a painting to look in mind so they may not be for everyone. I will also post flowers when I get a chance.

I was wondering if we could have a wish list, maybe in the reference section, I would love some images of cows close ups

Dawn, I'm glad you didn't feel anything. I saw the reference photos you added to the RIL. They're great! Wonderful detail and clarity. Thank you! I'll try and get some close ups of cows. Not sure when I'll be traveling in farm areas next but next time I do I'll do my best to get some closeups of cows.

Their was an earthquake here in 2000 which after looking it up was a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. I remember things shaking in the house but nothing major.

Dawn,
The horses are great. Thanks. A Wish List sounds good. I'll set one up in the RIL.
Judy

It sure is quiet in here! Is everyone out Christmas shopping?

Horses? Did someone say horses? Galloping off to the RIL.

Other than that - tomorrow will be spent cooking and cleaning. I'll be arranging the family Christmas dinner.

Leena

Callie, I was christmas shopping with my daughter. All finished. The crowds were crazy. People really lose some of their manners around christmas. I'm 5 foot 1 inches and about 100 pounds soak and wet so trying to plunge through those crowds becomes a wee bit tricky.

Leena, I'm so glad Dawn contributed some photos of horses. I find it so difficult to get good photos of horses. I've tried and they all look terrible. Good luck with the Christmas dinner. How many people will be attending your chirstmas dinner?

So is everyone finished their Christmas shopping.

I am almost done, my husbands sister and kids are coming so we are doing stockings, girls are all done they were easy but I need a few more things for the boys. It will be different, his sister and 4 college age kids !!!! I am thinking I had better stock up on food!!!

College kids and boys at that. I'd say lots of food. I always find it more difficult to buy for boys then girls. Sounds like your almost done your Christmas shopping.

All that is left is the wrapping and fixing a few things for the dinner at my son's house.

Judy

So far, I've managed to avoid the last minute mobs (glad you survived it, Janet). I'll only need to go out for food (and drink ). I haven't got any family and my husband's parents find anything that breaks their normal routine too stressful to bother with, so we usually go out by ourselves for dinner on Xmas eve. It would be fun to have a big holiday dinner, but for just the 2 of us - we can't be bothered.
Dawn - I hope you have lots of fridge/freezer space!

Judy, I still need to wrap the presents as well. I usually do it Christmas Eve. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Yes I'm a procrastinator.

Callie, I survived but every year I vow to do my shopping earlier after having to deal with the crowds but it never seems to work out that way. We have dinner with my family on christmas and my husbands family on boxing day. I'm not much of a cook and my family knows it so the idea of having christmas dinner at my house never comes up for good reasons. Take out isn't always available on christmas day.