Summer's end

Hello! Thanks for inviting me to join this blog. I've been enjoying reading what's been posted here and getting an idea on what each one is about and hope this will be fun for all of us.
Well, here we are at the end of Summer already! Officially we still have a little time left, but as far as I'm concerned, when school starts Summer is over.
My son and grandkids have consistently desecrated my sacred work space these past 3 months by running through it, interrupting my work with shrieks of laughter, arguments over who has who's stuff, who won't give someone else their stuff, noises from the video games in the next room or complaints because the game time was over with, and declarations of hunger, thirst, or boredom, etc. Then there were the continuous questions - "is it time for the swim lessons yet?", "can we just go swimming?"," biking, or walking with the dog?", and, "will you play with us"? Five days a week, all Summer long, I had them write in their journals, practice on the guitar or piano, and read a book and we all have a bunch of great shared memories to look back on now. But, all that came to a screeching halt by Monday morning. The grandkids are back with their parents and all the kids are back in school. My sacred work space is mine once again and the peaceful quietness has been deafening all week long. Yes! I miss the kids and everything that goes with them! Thank God for my second shadow - my dog- and the radio!
On the up side, I can totally focus on my work again. I'm an artist. I paint paintings and love it! In this world of political chaos and ecological destruction I feel the need to paint things that will stir positive emotions in people. I'm a strong believer in karma as well and feel that the way we treat others and the things we do will all come back to us sooner or later. In other words, think kind thoughts of your brother, even if he is an extreme rightist and positive energy will be what returns to you. I enjoy painting scenes of the West, although some of my works are just slices of life to enjoy "as is". I'd like to think that they also bring some kind of joy to the heavy heart, a bit of peace to the world weary, and a little hope to those who have lost their reason for being. Yeah. Sounds really sappy, but, that's me. Right now, the painting that's bringing joy to my heart is one that was inspired by my son and one of our dogs called, "Roping Practice". Sorry, can't get the picture to post yet. I'm new to blogging.
We moved to Texas about 14 years ago and were introduced to the world of snakes here - which is a little phobia of mine. I went right out and bought cowboy boots for the entire family and insisted that the kids wear them every time they went outside. Before long, my (then very young) son was wearing his shorts with his little cowboy boots and hat. My husband teased him about it, but I thought he was the cutest little cowboy I'd ever seen! I did have a bit of a hang up about him going out in public in shorts and boots but that ended after people started coming up to me telling me stories of how their kids used to do the same thing and then they'd walk away with sweet, nostalgic smiles on their faces. Is that a Texas thing- the boots and shorts? I think it's adorable when kids do it.
Shortly after we moved to Texas came the addition of dogs to our family. Someone dumped them off near our place in the country - obviously intended as a gift to us- which we gratefully accepted. Both of the dogs were really terrific. One completely attached himself to our son (and later our grandson) and they were best of buddies. Several years rolled by and one day I glanced out the back window to check up on things, I saw our son standing on top of the dog house, wearing his shorts, cowboy boots, and hat, trying to rope the dog and, both my son AND our normally brilliant dog, looked like they were having the best of times. I was afraid for our dog's life and confiscated the rope, but, my son proved to be some kind of master magician pulling all kinds of rope out of thin air too many times to count, so I sat down and showed him how to tie the rope so the dog wouldn't be strangled and let him do it only when he asked me first. Who was I to try and thwart the next Lone Ranger? I stood at that window many hours watching him and our dogs playing together. One day long after that phase had passed, I came across the favorite rope that our son had used and all those memories flooded back - so I painted it. The boy in the painting is not my son, although they have the same sandy colored hair, and the landscape I made up, but that awesome dog was ours. That dog also inspired the painting, "Man's best Friend". If you'd like to see some of my work feel free to check it out at: http://www.TerrieLeytonGallery.com.
I grew up watching and helping my artist Mom and loved the creative process. At age 18 I left home and didn't paint again until ... well, 10 years ago when I came across a television show one Saturday morning with Jerry Yarnell doing an entire painting in 1 or 2 shows. I bought some paints and brushes and started painting along with him to see if I could do it and the rest is history. One thing led to another and here I am- joining all of you on this blog - in my childless work space, with my ever faithful 2nd shadow beside me (the son of the dog in the paintings). Maybe we'll pay a visit to the grandkids this weekend! Here's to blogging with you!