After

Lael had her surgery on Monday and has been a fabulous little trouper!  The 'Day Of' was tough on us, and on her, but you'd hardly know she had surgery right now.  She took one dose of pain medicine that day because we wanted it to get her through the first night.  But, when she awoke Tuesday (and ever since) she has had no complaints and has not taken another dosing.  Hooray!

She has been wrapped in a soft cast to prevent thumb sucking and to protect it.  That will come off on Dec. 31st at which point I think it may bother her a bit more- the wound will still be healing and the scar will be tender.  In the cast, she has no movement, and I wonder if bending it will cause discomfort.  But, for now, she is doing amazingly!

We did have one challenge- clothes!  Leaving the hospital, Eric went to put her long sleeved shirt back on, and it wouldn't fit!  Neither would her coat.  I ran to the Goodwill and bought a few warm things that I don't mind cutting the arm on.  That cute coat in the picture won't be worn after the cast comes off since I hacked off the left sleeve.  But, I think the ability to allow Lael outside in winter for these two weeks will have been well worth the $7.99.

Saying that, though, is a laugh.  Today, we're having a warm spell and no coats are necessary.  We went from snow last Friday to 65F today!

Prints

For some time now, I've been scanning in my artwork to keep as a portfolio.  Often enough, I give things as gifts or sell pieces and I want to have them to look back on.  This week, for the first time, I placed an order with a print shop for some glossy prints of these originals and was rather pleased with the result.  I think they are a great addition to the Etsy shop for anyone who wants a splash of color without breaking the bank.  In fact, the same day I listed a print of "Red Tulips", it sold.  Yay!  Tack one to your corkboard, cut it up for use in collage, or cover a book.  Of course, they can also be framed- but that is the obvious choice.  So, I'm offering them on Etsy for $12+shipping, and will be selling them at Mamamade for $10.

The painting I finished today, "Dogwood", is already scanned in.

9x12" 

Yarka pan watercolor on Strathmore (594-1) watercolor paper

The stunning blooms on our dogwood tree in the front yard were my inspiration.  I never stop being amazed at how simple, and beautiful they are.  We also have another dogwood on the side yard that produces pink blooms, but they haven't burst open yet.  Last year, we had a late frost that killed the blooms shortly after they opened, leaving horrible black-brown shriveled foliage hanging from the branches.  Apparently, we aren't yet out of the woods this year, because some pretty cold weather is headed our way tonight.  In fact, some mutterings about snow flurries were circulating yesterday.  And that comes on the heels of 81 degree weather from a few days ago!  Seriously, Nashville?  Come on.

School Cancelled!

Hooray!  I'm very excited for Grant and for myself that he does not have to go to school today.  I love having him home, and with blustery weather outside and a chance of snow, it should be especially fun.  I'm about to get to work on a "special breakfast" of their choosing (waffles, pancakes, muffins, or french toast- basically anything that takes longer than I'm normally willing to make on a school morning).  We'll do some reading, some Valentine's prep, and maybe an experiment out of his Kitchen Chemistry set that he got from Aunt Angie and Uncle Tim this Christmas (highly recommended kit- super fun and super smart!).  Oh, and cocoa is a must!  Yay!