ninanina

New Art

2011-11-29T19:33:00.001-06:00

I wouldn't mind living here... :)

ArtByNina

2011-08-16T11:52:00.001-05:00

Let's punctuate all this dating stuff with the real purpose of this blog: Nina's art!

art 2011

2011-07-31T00:24:00.002-05:00

2011 art

2011-07-24T14:21:00.002-05:00

2011-07-17T01:16:00.000-05:00

NINA'S ART 2011

CAT YOGA

2011-07-10T00:21:00.004-05:00

Miko is a very cool kitty. I LOVE ORANGE MALE CATS. They are soooo friendly. but I can't get all the fleas off him. Not with this 2011 drought. He comes in to eat, a little pet and affection. He pretty much calls the backyard home and tolerates the chickens. Diamond and Miko have a certain affection for each other. Miko was born around april 2010. That makes him about 16 mos. He'll be around for awhile.

that's me

2011-07-03T00:10:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Carl S. for pic.

Painted furniture

2011-06-26T00:10:00.005-05:00

Been painting my furniture. I think brightly painted furniture is pretty and colorful and has lotsa character. The thought of wood, (a dull brown) just turns me off!

art 2011

2011-06-24T11:48:00.003-05:00

POSSIBLY THE COVER PAGE FOR MY 2012 CALENDAR

I am really into the primary colors right now - plus green. I have been paint furniture red/green; More pix to come.

ArtByNina

2010-09-22T23:57:00.002-05:00

Another Texas barn

ArtByNina

2010-09-12T17:21:00.003-05:00

Texas style barn. Hoping to sell some copies of this at the Texian days show... I also have cards and fridge magnets!

Another cowboy hat :)

2010-09-05T00:43:00.002-05:00

ArtByNina

Cowboy hat - Let's dance!

2010-08-29T14:45:00.003-05:00

yes in 2001 I have done some western art.... Texas oriented I suppose... I will be doing a show at George Ranch Historical park in Richmond Texas during October, so I will be posting some of this new art.

ArtByNina

2010-08-22T22:53:00.002-05:00

lots of detail! hope this is a seller at Texian days festival, george ranch park, Oct. 2010

i need to get back into blogging

2010-08-06T17:54:00.002-05:00

just saying hi to Wanda. ..a wonderful co worker at home depot. Its so good to have something to look forward to!

FRESH ART by Nina

2009-09-22T00:13:00.003-05:00

pen and ink pointellism. A cypress tree trunk in Hill country, Tx.

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-06-05T22:53:00.001-05:00

my dog DIAMOND

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-05-20T11:05:00.003-05:00

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-04-24T13:31:00.002-05:00

Pen and ink 8" X 11" this took a coupleweeks. Instead of reading in bed before sleep I draw in bed ........

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-04-10T11:50:00.003-05:00

THE FRIENDSHIP TREE!

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-03-29T20:17:00.002-05:00

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-03-18T11:19:00.001-05:00

"Jason" at home depot

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-03-06T23:26:00.002-06:00

marks dog shasta

FRESH ART BY NINA

2009-02-25T11:48:00.003-06:00

a cute girl at work

Fresh Art By Nina

2009-02-18T23:56:00.001-06:00

Sled and sled dog!

Fresh Art By Nina

2009-02-10T22:11:00.002-06:00

For me, its all about chickens.. I have 18 hens right now and they need a rooster :)

Fresh Art By Nina

2009-02-02T16:05:00.003-06:00

I usually get an amaryllis every Christmas and it glorifies the house for about 6 weeks.. So I got around to drawing it! I may yet add a pale green tint to the lace in the background and a red tint to the flowers. Art is good.

Fresh Art By Nina

2009-01-23T22:58:00.001-06:00

starting 2009 on good footing

2009-01-05T18:33:00.001-06:00

This is dedicated to my new special friend Lucas

namaste!

2008-12-24T21:16:00.004-06:00

I don't paint very much but I love to paint on circles.... back in art school I think my teacher called a circle painting a "tondo".
This is a Christmas & birthday gift for my hub Saini... it conveys the word OM and 6 of the major God manifestations in the hindu religion.
NAMASTE!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-10-19T11:57:00.003-05:00

A nice lady "Ashley" at work asked me to do her portrait.... she was very happy with this.

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-10-04T19:41:00.002-05:00

my best buddy

2008-09-25T16:30:00.002-05:00

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-09-22T11:39:00.002-05:00

I love chickens. Check my chicken blog too!

Post Hurricane ArtByNina

2008-09-15T02:06:00.000-05:00

day lilies, I think....

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-08-29T23:02:00.003-05:00

I revamped an old drawing that was taken from a photo of my Mom knitting!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-08-16T18:38:00.002-05:00

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-08-08T18:49:00.002-05:00

I LOVE ROOSTERS~!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-08-03T03:11:00.002-05:00

a feisty rat terrier!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-07-25T22:29:00.001-05:00

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-07-19T18:54:00.002-05:00

WEEKEND ART BY Nina

2008-07-12T18:13:00.002-05:00

WEEKEND ArtByNina

2008-07-05T04:33:00.002-05:00

I worked on a few nudes recently. Here's one of a series of four...

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-06-28T18:15:00.004-05:00

This is a drawing of Keshar Saini. He was born in New Delhi, India.

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-06-21T20:19:00.005-05:00

I DREW THIS VERY RECENTLY. ITS FROM AN IMAGE FROM FLOOT'S BLOG.
"FLOOTS playing the FLUTE"!

A lot of hours, al ot of detail and relaxation. Except these days I am getting carpal tunnel sydrome so I am on a drawing sabbatical right now.

me on the job

2008-06-13T20:19:00.004-05:00

A co worker took this pic of me today. I am really enjoying my job.... I make up small signs for merchandise using the store computers and then I draw and design large signs for merchandise, promotions and store events. I much prefer this from selling appliances and respect my managers for recognising "talent" and recommending me for this job.

I am underpaid but the Home Depot is 4 miles from my house so not a lot of ga$. I'd much rather work at my location than commute to a higher paying job and pay too much $ for ga$.

Life is good and I definitely don't sweat the small stuff, especially in retail. If ya did, it would kill you!

the community bed

2008-06-07T23:06:00.001-05:00

Most days, this is what I come home to....

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2008-06-01T13:22:00.009-05:00

This weekend, I thought I'd post drawings of my 2 cats, Sassy and Ferghie. I have quite a few, because the 2 cats are 13 and 11 years old. Cheers to all!

FINALLY ART

2008-05-24T17:49:00.004-05:00

Its good to be back but my comp is still misbehaving and I will be buying a new laptop in a couple weeks CANT' WAIT!
HELLO TO ALL

very cool site

2008-05-09T19:22:00.001-05:00

Now we can identify the breeds in our mutt and mix dogs:

http://www.wisdompanel.com/

fresh art

2008-04-12T12:59:00.002-05:00

Debbie. Such beauty but hard life.

THE LAND

2008-04-10T18:55:00.005-05:00

I was very excited when my brother Rick sent this picture. This is the site in Fairbanks, AK where my cabin will be!

too much $

2008-04-08T19:23:00.001-05:00

My office

2008-04-05T17:02:00.004-05:00

This is my Orifice of an office. Hey its the first office I have ever had.... I have always worked in open groups, labs and studios. Maybe 4 people at any given time get "personal space" at Home Depot so this is as good as it gets. I design banners and posters for the store... and it keep me pretty busy! I am enjoying my job right now.

Ron Paul for president

2008-04-02T10:39:00.002-05:00

MY CHOICE OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

“Not Yours to Give”
One day in the House of Representatives a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in its support. The speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:
“Mr. Speaker–I have as much respect for the memory of the deceased, and as much sympathy for the suffering of the living, if there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for part of the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go into an argument to prove that Congress has not the power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member on this floor knows it.
We have the right as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have been made to us upon the ground that it is a debt due the deceased. Mr. Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in office to the day of his death, and I ever heard that the government was in arrears to him.

What the Price of Gold is Telling Us
by Ron Paul, Dr.
One of the characteristics of commodity money– one that originated naturally in the marketplace– is that it must serve as a store of value. Gold and silver meet that test– paper does not. Because of this profound difference, the incentive and wisdom of holding emergency funds in the form of gold becomes attractive when the official currency is being devalued. It’s more attractive than trying to save wealth in the form of a fiat currency, even when earning some nominal interest. The lack of earned interest on gold is not a problem once people realize the purchasing power of their currency is declining faster than the interest rates they might earn. The purchasing power of gold can rise even faster than increases in the cost of living.

Statement on Competing Currencies
by Ron Paul, Dr.
The prospect of American citizens turning away from the dollar towards alternate currencies will provide the necessary impetus to the US government to regain control of the dollar and halt its downward spiral. Restoring soundness to the dollar will remove the government’s ability and incentive to inflate the currency, and keep us from launching unconstitutional wars that burden our economy to excess. With a sound currency, everyone is better off, not just those who control the monetary system.
]
“Campaign Finance Reform” Muzzles Political Dissent
by Ron Paul, Dr.
In a devastating blow to political speech, the Supreme Court recently upheld most of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill passed by Congress last year. The legislation will do nothing to curb special interest power or reduce corruption in Washington, but it will make it harder for average Americans to influence government. We need to get money out of government; only then will money not be important in politics. Big government and big campaign money go hand-in-hand.

The Case for Defending America
by Ron Paul, Dr.
One of the key responsibilities of the federal government in providing for national defense is protection of liberty here at home. Fear and insecurity must not drive our policies. What we have done so far since last September is not very reassuring. Involving ourselves in every complex conflict around the globe hardly enhances our national security.

Federal Intelligence and Terrorism
by Ron Paul, Dr.
Since September 11th we have heard predictable calls for vastly increasing the budgets of those agencies charged with intelligence gathering- including the CIA, FBI, ATF, INS, DIA, and NSA- but perhaps those agencies need to consolidate rather than expand their efforts. The current system involves too many bureaucrats, too much overlap, too many turf battles, too little information sharing, and no clear accountability. Why do we insist on perpetuating failed agencies and policies, throwing more and more money at problems that stem from bureaucratic culture rather than funding problems? Why do we think $60 or $80 billion will change what $40 billion could not?

Congressional Control of Health Care is Dangerous for Children
by Ron Paul, Dr.
Many parents have very valid concerns about the drugs to which a child labeled as “suicidal” or “depressed,” or even ADHD, could be subjected. Of further concern is the subjectivity of diagnosis of mental health disorders. The symptoms of ADHD are strikingly similar to indications that a child is gifted, and bored in an unchallenging classroom. In fact, these programs, and many of the syndromes they attempt to screen for, are highly questionable. Parents are wise to question them.

‘Plunge Protection,’ Fiat Money, and the Fed
by Ron Paul, Dr.
From the Hearings on Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy Committee on Financial Services, the U.S. House of Representatives July 20, 2006, Washington, D.C.

Affordability of Child Health Care
by Ron Paul, Dr.
As an OB-GYN who has had the privilege of delivering more than four thousand babies, I know how important it is that parents have the resources to provide adequate health care for their children. The inability of many working Americans to provide health care for their children is rooted in one of the great inequities of the tax code: Congress’ failure to allow individuals the same ability to deduct health care costs that it grants to businesses. As a direct result of Congress’ refusal to provide individuals with health care related tax credits, parents whose employers do not provide health insurance have to struggle to provide health care for their

Blame Congress for HMOs
by Ron Paul, Dr.
The story behind the creation of the HMOs is a classic illustration of how the unintended consequences of government policies provide a justification for further expansions of government power. During the early seventies, Congress embraced HMOs in order to address concerns about rapidly escalating health care costs. However, it was Congress which had caused health care costs to spiral by removing control over the health care dollar from consumers and thus eliminating any incentive for consumers to pay attention to costs when selecting health care.
Twila Brase, a registered nurse and President of the Citizens’ Council on Health Care, reveals how HMOs were fostered on the American people by the federal government for the express purpose of rationing care.

Constitutional Responses to Terrorism
by Ron Paul, Dr.
It has been over 6 years since the atrocities of September 11 were committed and there are still some very basic measures that need to be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice and make America safer. I have proposed legislation to help with these efforts and will continue to fight in Congress for the safety and security of the American people.

Politics and Judicial Activism
by Ron Paul, Dr.
Federal judges were never meant to wield the tremendous power that they do in modern America. Our Founders would find it inconceivable that a handful of unelected, unaccountable federal judges can decide social policy for the entire nation. With the federal judiciary focused more on legislating social policy than upholding the rule of law, Americans find themselves increasingly governed by men they did not elect and cannot remove from office. Unless and until Congress asserts itself by limiting federal court jurisdiction, judges will continue to act as de facto lawmakers.

On Foreign Entanglements: The Ties that Strangle
by Ron Paul, Dr.
Our founding fathers knew a better way to talk with our neighbors, do honest business with them, cultivate friendship, allow travel and open communication. We should neither initiate violence, nor take sides in conflicts that are none of our business.

Statement Introducing the Free Competition in Currency Act
by Ron Paul, Dr.
As a proponent of competition in currencies, I believe that the American people should be free to choose the type of currency they prefer to use. The ability of consumers to adopt alternative currencies can help to keep the government and the Federal Reserve honest, as the threat that further inflation will cause more and more people to opt out of using the dollar may restrain the government from debasing the currency. As monopolists, however, the Federal Reserve and the Mint fear competition, and would rather force competitors out using the federal court system and the threat of asset forfeiture than compete in the market.

Stop the NAIS
by Ron Paul, Dr.
NAIS means more government, more regulations, more fees, more federal spending, less privacy, and diminished property rights. It’s exactly the kind of federal program every conservative, civil libertarian, animal lover, businessman, farmer, and rancher should oppose.

Foreign Policy, Monetary Policy, and Gas Prices
by Ron Paul, Dr.
The burning issue in Washington today is high gas prices, and it won’t go away anytime soon. Americans are not happy about paying $3 per gallon at the pump, and they want something done about it.
But price controls won’t work, and allegations of price gouging and “windfall profits” amount to nothing more than congressional grandstanding. No government official or politician is fit to define a “fair” price for gas or a “fair” profit for oil companies. This is not the Soviet Union. The last thing we need is centralized government planning when it comes to our precious energy supplies.

What Congress Can Do About Soaring Gas Prices
by Ron Paul, Dr.
Gasoline prices are soaring and the people are screaming. And they want something done about it—now!

A Free Market in Gasoline
by Ron Paul, Dr.
We must understand that high oil prices are not the result of an unregulated free market. On the contrary, the oil industry is among the most regulated and most subsidized of U.S. industries. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves whether too much government involvement in the oil markets, rather than too little regulation, has kept the supply of refined gasoline artificially low.

Fresh Art by Nina

2008-03-29T18:52:00.001-05:00

THE LATEST..."Jessie"

THE ROOST

2008-03-25T20:19:00.005-05:00

This is where my chickens sleep every night. It is also a very inspiring photo for a drawing which I may do in the near future...

Sassy Domina

2008-03-19T10:14:00.010-05:00

Sassy today

pictures from 1995-1997

Well my black cat Sassy turned 13 just about today. I have had her since she was a little kitten.

One day in Calgary Alberta, my 8 year old daughter picked her out of a pet store...and SASSY became our forever kitty. Sarah was 8 and it was 1995.

Sassy has seen me through a lot of life and that is when animals become special to us. They are constant, they are always THERE aren't they ? From being a puny kitten, Sassy has "hung in there" for me during my divorce, and migration down to Texas while meowing ferociously during the harrowing 2400 mile U haul ride.

Sassy explored our first apartment in Sugar Land Tx, survived my Dad's house while I took care of my ailing Mom in 97-98; She stuck by me during my dad's last years in 01/02.

Sassy has put up with various additions, especially Ferghie, my himalayan cat and Diamond dog. I will never forget Chester the cat during Sassy's early years, and later on Sonny the cat and Ivory dog who didn't work out in the mix. Sassy has had to tolerate more than enough numerous finches, canaries, doves, lovebirds and parakeets. And of course THE CHICKENS!

Sassy moved out here with me 6 years ago and has been very happy in my cottage. She is still purring along and very healthy! She will move up to Alaska with me next year! We have already moved five times, but she has never been on a plane.

Sassy is feisty and dominant over my dog Diamond, and she wins every battle and won't take any shit from anybody!

Fresh Art !

2008-03-14T19:47:00.005-05:00

OK I don't know about this one. I may give it a tint of color.

I am looking forward to July and Aug. In July I have a weekend art show which will take me to Rockport Tx. That means, hotel, food and fun. A vacation I suppose.... and MAKE MONEY!

alaska countdown

2008-03-12T09:34:00.010-05:00

THIS is my chosen cabin............................. >

Well, around April or May 2009 I am planning to move to Alaska; I already have a buyer for my house (my roomie) and my 2 Alaskan brothers are giving up a small slice of their land so I can build. I will be moving just outside of Fairbanks where my brothers own about 20 acres on a small mountainside. Its not exactly suburbia but heavily wooded with a home perhaps every 1/4 or 1/2 mile. The raods are gravel. My house will be about 500 yards from my brothers (Rick) home, and about one mile from my other brother, John.

I will be buying a small log cabin from a good outlet in Palmer, Alaska... It is 20X24' with a loft.... My brothers have already picked out a spot where my cabin would face the mountains and be amonsgt a thick standing of birch and poplar trees. (of course we have to clear some trees and dig a septic tank before the cabin gets built) The cabin kit is all pre cut and costs about $24000. It includes everything from logs, windows, tin roof, and insulation plus stairs, amd foundation. Basically, by winter 2009 I should be living in my cosy cabin with the "bare minimum" ie sink, commode, hotplate, fridge, electricity and a woodstove. Then I'll get to work on kitchen cabinets, shelving and small appliances, and shower.

The structure itself will be fairly easly to put up, maybe it will take a week or two for the three of us. These cabins are "pre built" and then taken apart and ALL the components are numbered. There are no nails or screws involved... Its all "tongue and grrove" just like how the Amish build their wonderful durable dwellings.

For now I am saving and enjoying my final year in Texas. I am sure Diamond dog will be right at home around my brother's sled dogs. When the time comes, I am planning to transfer to the Fairbanks Home Depot or work as a substitute teacher or teachers aide. Fairbanks (pop:30,000) is 7 miles from my brothers land.

I searched far and wide for cabins. Ebay actually has a wonderful store with a good variety of pre built cabins but it would be about $4000 to ship the package to Alaska...so I decided to buy in Alaska.

Above are some of my favorite and most practical designs. My favorite is the barn (gambriel roof) design. Smaller is best and 500 sq feet is practical to heat in a very cold climate.... my cabin will be about 480 sq feet with a 240 sq. loft. and has STAIRS not a ladder :)

Fresh Art By Nina

2008-03-08T18:54:00.002-06:00

This is a portrait of Larry, a really nice guy from work. His wife recently died of cancer, and I was afraid to give him a copy of this because he looks so joyful in this portrait. Maybe someday soon......

jumpin' for food

2008-03-04T20:28:00.005-06:00

Here's some pix I took of my dog diamond.... caught in "MID ACTION" These pix are miracles because my camera is old and has a slow shutter speed.

Crazy ass dog :)

WAY TO GO SARAH!

2008-02-27T21:47:00.024-06:00

HERE is a very bizarre photo from 1948. It is of

Mom's

class in

Belgrade,

Yugoslavia;

My Mom

was a radiologist.

That's my Mom checking out

the skull on the right. She was about Sarah's age, 21. The picture is so POISED and staged........... very interesting photo depicting a scene in a bygone era. I have it framed here right by my computer monitor. COOL HUH ?

THE GOOD NEWS IS that Sarah (MY DAUGHTER) just passed her MCAT, the entrance test for medical school. She is also about to graduate college at the young age of 21. With her 3.8 average she should get into a great medical facility!

fresh art by Nina

2008-02-22T15:57:00.004-06:00

- just finished
this one
of my 2 doves.
They keep on mating
and laying eggs,
but no babies yet!

fresh art by Nina

2008-02-16T21:15:00.002-06:00

I just finished this.

"SUSAN", a kitchen

designer from

work :)

bad eggs?

2008-02-13T22:37:00.005-06:00

Well its been a while since my last dove post. No good news as far as baby doves being born. I took some of the eggs away and now they are STILL SITTING on 2 eggs. One egg doesn't look promising and the other I am unsure about. I thought I would just post a follow up but NO ACTION: But my pair of doves keep sitting, Sitting, and SITTING!

Roxana

2008-02-11T14:40:00.000-06:00

Roxana
here I go.........This AM I finally got around to sweeping leaves. I cleaned up my parking lot and much of the back and some of the front yard. I must have loaded nearly 20 wheelbarrow loads and threw the leaves onto the back path for mulch. I am still very sweaty and dirty but its good honest work! As I was working, My cop friend pulled up so we chatted for a few minutes; as he started pulling away he added "Why don't you get one of those leaf blowers?" So I replied "I'd rather live simply, with less expense and BS, save money so next year I'll be able to move to Alaska and buy a log cabin!"Anyway, I was almost through with my yardwork and a small girl approached. I have seen her before and have always thought she had cerebral palsy. She walks with a limp and hardly has any use of her left arm and hand. She keeps her damaged arm close to her body like she is protecting it. She looks like a little dove with a broken wing. She told me she needs my help and that she is hungry and very sleepy. She added that she is terrified because she found this very morning out she is pregnant. She related that she is too afraid to go to her father's home with the pregnancy news...and that she needs a place to stay. I replied that I have no room for her but she is welcome to visit. She waited while I scooped up my last wheelbarrow load for leaves and thought about whether it was a good idea to invite this sweet faced, stunted girl into my home. But as I picked up my last bunch of leaves, it started pouring!Her name is Roxana. She is 24 but looks about 19 because she is only about 4'11". Emotionally, I would say that little Roxana is about 15, and I don't know if she finished highschool. This morning, Roxana had walked all the way to the doctor (where she was informed that her pregnancy test was positive) and then she had walked to her boyfriend's house, where she has informed him of her early pregnancy. She had probably walked over 5 miles with her laborious, crooked walk. I asked Roxana many questions. She told me that her boyfriend is much older, probably 40 because his hair is grey. She told me he is OK regarding the news of her pregnancy but does not wish to live with her because his trailer is too small. She kept stressing that she is simply terrified of her father being angry about her pregnancy because he already has diabetes and is strapped for money.So I fed her some fruit and apple sauce and we shared some hot chocolate. After I fed her, she told me she was exhausted and wanted to sleep; so I have allowed her to sleep on my couch. I made the couch more comfortable and tucked her in. What is scary is that she has scabies but is treating it with cream. She told me that recently 2 local highschool boys had raped her. They had used condoms but had given her the scabies. She scratches herself alot but I am not too paranoid of her having scabies since I know how to treat bugs and am constantly bombarded with fleas from my dog and 2 cats and lice from the chickens. I constantly seem to be debugging my house! Little Roxana is sure that her baby belongs to her 'boyfriend" because he does not use condoms. I really do hope he marries her.I tried counselling Roxana and told her if the boyfriend is an older man, and a real MAN - that he needs to approach her father and tell him that his intentions are to marry Roxana and take care of their baby: but first he needs to prove himself by getting a larger trailer. Roxana told me he intends to get a bigger home when he receives his tax return. I do hope so.Roxana is a sweet faced, damaged little soul. She is also the mother of a 6 year old girl called "Precious Angel". This birth was the result of poor Roxana being raped by her OWN brother and uncle. How atrocious.
I am willing to be Roxana' friend, and occasionally feed and counsel her. I told her that I will buy her some vitamins for her pregnancy. SO I will! I plan to walk her home tonight, maybe that will give her the courage and confidence she will need to break the pregnancy news to here father. I am sure I will have more visits from Roxana since she lives in my neighbors' low income apartment complex which is practically next door to me. I have to stress to her that I work alot and am only home at certain times so she does not disturb me or my room mate. I really wish the best for this young women. She has already had a tough life.
Where is Roxana right now? Still too scared to go talk to her father, and is still sleeping on my couch. Yes I know she has scabies but I can't turn her away. Her biological mother lives in the same town but they are not close. Roxana's older sister raises her 7 year old daughter who is apparently healthy and in the 3rd grade.My big hope is that Roxana's "boyfriend" is a good man and stands before Roxana's father and pledges that he will marry and take care of little Roxana and raise the baby. I hope is that this happens soon. My hope is that the nasty neighborhood boys stay way from this innocent, disabled little girl. I may not have much time between my job, my roommate and animals, but I choose to be Roxana's friend.

Weekly art creation

2008-02-08T19:49:00.000-06:00

I recently did this pen and ink portrait of my friend Johnnie.

work story

2008-02-06T12:02:00.001-06:00

As my Indian roomie would say: "Too much work touching".
This is a story about getting tough. I am a peace maker, a middle child and used to be pushover.

Case2: Very recently, my immediate co worker (who was new) was standing rather close to me (we are forced to stand close because of the layout of the computer kiosk which really does not agree with me). HE was speaking with a customer and asked me for my advice/opinion. When I started giving him information, the customer overheard me and redirected their attention to me. HE didn't like this so he started smashing down my small little pinkie with all his might to "shut me up".... IT HURT! I was shocked and started saying to him "What the fuck are you doing?" and I walked alway to take my lunch. Later, he apologised but he may as well have been yelling out random numbers into the air if you know what I mean.
Three days later HE WAS fired! My faith in the store was somewhat restored.
Next time someone touches me at work there will be a LAWSUIT; I don't make much money at this job but I could get rich if people keep touching my poor worn out 50 year old hands. I need them for my beautiful drawings dude.
The good news is, I have recently got a lateral job move. This suits me just fine. No more kiosk, no more managers presiding over me...or me having to bear the brunt of lousy delivery and installation foibles, or bearing the wrath of many a frustrated customer! I GOT "promoted" to be store sign maker tada-tadaaaa! Its about as artistic as you can get at my corporation. The best part is that I get my own little private nook for mass producing my hand written store signs. I can put up photos of my dog, my daughter, and my dream cabin in Alaska. I can have my own coffee pot and cd player. Well I better not get too carried away.
Things are going OK. I still have my hands to make store signs.

fresh weekly art

2008-01-30T20:10:00.000-06:00

I re-did

this

& added

fall colors.

I am much

happier with it!

NINA ART 2008

2008-01-24T13:40:00.000-06:00

fresh
from
my
pen!

dove love

2008-01-22T00:28:00.000-06:00

OK! for the last 11 days I have had a pair of ringneck doves sitting on eggs waiting to become parents. they are nursing THREE eggs; Usually doves have 2 eggs! The male puts in 50/50 of sitting time and is supposd to be an active part of rearing the young. I figure the eggs will hatch on thursday or friday since incubation takes about 14 days;

So very soon, I will report back to this blog and post photos of "baby progress" I LOVE BIRDS and am very excited about this.

This year I also plan to post ONE new art drawing per week. I think I have exhausted my old art on this blog... so I will only post one new piece per week that is fresh from my pen. Feel free to critique.

Look forward to sharing with you!

"saini", good cook!

2008-01-17T16:21:00.000-06:00

I now rent out my front room to a hindu man. He is also a vegetarian. Roomie works nights and comes home when I get up. His dinner is my breakfast. Roomie is a great cook. He serves me a warm soupy concoction of garlic cloves, onion, garbanzos (plus other potent beans) and egg whites in a rather hot curry sauce. I have to soak it all in yoghurt because it is so hot. On the side he serves sliced turnip and egg whites, plus warm naan bread. Very tasty!
Its nice to have extra money so I can save for my move to Alaska in 2009.

NEW ART By Nina

2008-01-09T12:34:00.000-06:00

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-12-29T10:15:00.000-06:00

microbes, roast duck, melted spatula, clone kid.

2007-12-25T00:17:00.000-06:00

WWW.GIANTMICROBES.COM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAwww!!!

BLAUGH!

Hilarious! You can actually buy these cute stuffed animals on line, they come in the shape of various venereal diseases, pests and parasites, viruses and bacteria~

HERPES

cute little buggers!

So nice to get 3 paid days at Christmas.... but Home Depot will punish me with having to work new years eve AND new years day.

Today Sarah came over for roast duck... it came out pretty well and the orange sauce, wild rice and green beans were good too. Plus the apple pie was tasty! I left a plastic spatula in the roasting pan while the duck roasted..... and the handle melted all over the oven. (not on the duck thank God) Other than this mishap, all went well. Sarah is studying hard for the MCAT (med school entry exam).

I'll have to buy my hypochondriac friend one of the giant microbes next Christmas ~ ha ha.

This evening, I took these photos of Sarah and I. We have the exact same profile. Heredity is amazing......!

Have a

great

holiday

week!

My holiday wishes

2007-12-18T21:24:00.000-06:00

Merry Merry Christmas!

May your gifts consist of family and friends............

and FUN!!!

May 2008 bring LOVE

...and beauty

Riches...

May you be safe

May your future be filled with security

May your year be filled with sunshine!

PRAYERS, hopes and dreams.

PHIL: may the cancer be totally cured.

TRUVEY: may you feel better.

LYNN: continue being succsssful with your art and cancer free!

MYSELF, sell my house in order to buy the wood to build a cabin in Alaska.

ART By Nina

2007-12-12T10:39:00.000-06:00

A GREAT COUPLE OF WEEKS

2007-12-07T18:31:00.000-06:00

On Nov. 25 I had my birthday party; then my brother arrived from Alaska on Nov 26... he had driven over 4,000 miles to see me! Even though I had to work alot at Home Depot we had time for laughs, antics, good coffee, meals, and great conversation. He did alot of odd jobs and repairs around my house.
I am considering moving up to Alaska in the next 18 mos or so.... depending on a couple things in my life but it all looks good for 2008 -2009. I'll be 50 late next year and it'll be a final change in life; My daughter is grown and I have a "feel" for change. By June 2008, I hope to have the $ to build a cosy cabin on my brother's land surrounded by tall birch trees. Both my brothers live less than 2 miles apart on a hillside 7 miles away from the town of Fairbanks. It is very wooded, with a view of the distant mountains and the Alaskan frontier.
Here are some pictures of Rick and I - et al. He also re met my daughter after not seeing her for over 5 years. We had a little "fire party" in my back yard with good friends. The marshmallows were tasty, and the weather has been perfect.

My marshmallow roast party with kathy and Barb

Rick and I

Dec 6/2007

Dave

Sarah

Rick

Rick with Diamond

Rick working in my back yard

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-11-30T12:16:00.000-06:00

By: Emily Dickinson

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest sea,

Yet never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

scenes from my 49th birthday party

2007-11-25T22:34:00.000-06:00

My favorite present? A hand painted acrylic original by Lynn Culp of my wonderful dog, Diamond. LOVE it. She is a professional animal painter. I went to art school with her 30 years ago & we are still greast friends! http://www.colormutts.com/ CHECK OUT HER SITE!

Truvey's baby rooster (very very tame) loves the birthday cake too...)

leroy, barb and truvey

Roscoe meets Diamond for the first time with a kiss!

Not everyone could show.... because of sickness or work.... but the company was good plus great animal entertainment. Truvey is a "chicken whisperer" and has a gift with bird life. He is the guy with the baby rooster. I plan to live another 49 years but refuse to turn 50 HA HA. The gray haired man is my dear friend Leroy, he is lucky because he gets to retire in 2 years.... and the gal is my good friend Barb.

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-11-24T21:43:00.000-06:00

Can you imagine life on Earth without birds ?

working on black friday at home depot

2007-11-22T11:57:00.000-06:00

An orange depot holiday
rather does suck
I'd rather be at home
Hearing chickens cluck.
I walk the floor
a home depot whore!
SELL SELL SELL
This 10 % off black friday
is a bustling firey hell.

Too many hours awake
I get no break.
Be nice and smile
how god damn fake!
'Cos I ache and ache,
I wish an earth quake
would swallow the store
so the customer line
would be no more.
Its the holidays
And I don't feel fine.

Be nice and smile:
"How can I help you?
if I kicked your ass
would that be a crime?
can I solve your problem?
give you a deal?
Look out for customers who steal.
I'd rather be home
eating my thankgiving meal.....
Is this for real?

Customers are rude,
I wanna say something crude!
I'd rather be in a church
cringing in the steeple -
because at home depot
TOO MANY PEOPLE!
Gotta clean up aisles,
make by quota....
DO we have profits or losses?
AVOID THE BOSSES!

Thanksgiving at work.
Today is Black Friday
I feel like a jerk,
it just ain't my day..
Breaking my neck
to make my check.
Walking the floor,
A home depot whore.
Mark down prices
Pack down stuff,
I wanna yell at customers
I wanna be gruff!

With greedy customers
I make alliances
when I sell sell sell
expensive appliances.
I set up deliveries
from this big box store!
My poor feet want no more
of the hard concrete floor.
I am so dang sore!
Sell toilets and installations
A 27 cent raise: congratulations! ?

Jingle the bell
for retail hell
Jingle the Bell
for Home Depot Hell
JINGLE THE BELL!
FOR THIS RETAIL HELL!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-11-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

Love this dog and love that cat!

2007-11-13T23:26:00.000-06:00

This fall morning I was having a wonderful cup of coffee in my yard when I decided to take some pix of the anitics between my cat (Sassy,12) and Dog (Diamond,5) Sassy in the dominant one and Diamond loves to aggravate her. This cat can get mighty cranky... I don't need to watch comedy TV with these 2 around.

Sassy minding her business but realising that Diamond is upwind ;)

Diamond dog sniffs the air and approaches Sassy the cat.

Diamond dog just wants to "play". Sassy gets pissed off and approaches in order to swat Diamond.

SASSY MEANS BUSINESS

As usual, Sassy wins the war - yawns and takes a rest.

Diamond yawns and chills out too...

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-11-09T00:17:00.001-06:00

feathered

friends

fluttering

Sarah is 21

2007-11-07T12:07:00.001-06:00

My daughter Sarah turned 21 on Oct 20.... we finally got to visit each other and share a sushi lunch. I can't believe how time goes by.

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-11-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

One of my fave subjects - BIRDS

funny very funny

2007-10-31T15:59:00.000-05:00

I wish I had thought of this - HA HA!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-10-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

Next week: people & portraits!

not too handy but I try

2007-10-24T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today I fixed the swinging door to my chicken coop.. it was ready to fall off and looks like something from the Beverley Hillbillies.

I painted a small mural of a chicken and nailed it to the door. It is secure!

Also, here is a faded mural that I painted a few years ago on my garden shed. Its kind of colorful 'round here.

Here is an aviary that I slapped together (uh -- built) last week. I wanted a "house" for all my birds... 2 ringneck doves, 4 finches, an 2 canaries. There is now room for more! I am not too handy and don't own power tools, so I nailed the thing together and mounted it on my old drafting table :)

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-10-19T13:56:00.001-05:00

miscellaneous drawings...

more animals ...

my day job

2007-10-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

Here I am at work. I sell appliances, set up orders and deliveries, appease and please customers with good service, rebates and a smile :) no matter what kind of mood I am in! ... I sell front loader laundrey, top loaders, fridges high and low end... dishwashers, cooktops, wall ovens and stoves...& I arrange for installations. Its all about the customer and after 10 mos. I am getting to know the home depot inside and out. We don't have a quota but have to get a good sph...(sales per hour) Its hard work on my feet all day - maintaining the dept. but co workers can be loads of fun. Dealing with customers has made me a better person, more patient, better listener & I can read people more easily.... BUT ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO GET HOME TO see my dog, enjoy my house and DO ART!

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-10-11T22:36:00.000-05:00

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-10-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

MORE ANIMALS !

a fallish morning

2007-09-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Well its trying to be fall in TX. It will get up to 92 or more later but this morning was nice at 9 am: I am drinking coffee in my yard-nirvana, and watching my little wolfie dog playing "stalk, advance and charge" with the poor chickens in their coop. She can be amusing but has never figured how to get through that wire. Not in 5 years.

Right now its what I call "first fall". In Sept, Oct, the tallow leaves, acorns and pecans fall like crazy. As hurricane season starts to dwindle we have a LULL in October. In Nov, the pecan trees, ashes and oaks slowly lose their leaves... as it finally gets into the 60's out. By Jan, its the final winter sweep. Only the pin oaks and pines stay greenish as the temps get down to 40 f or less. That feels very cold, damp and miserable in Texas. I have to get my electic blankie out! Spring comes early in late March, April!

Later today, my dear old friend Leroy is coming here for dinner, we havn't seen each other in 7 weeks. Why? cos I work at the home depot!

Reality strikes, Gotta MOW later on...... gotta figure out how to refinance this little piece of heaven by Dec.... and next week I have got a dumb ass guy suing me for $4000 for his car damage that's worth $3000 or less. Wish me luck. Nothing is ever perfect :)

Yeah baby, it was my fault.

WEEKEND ART BY Nina

2007-09-27T16:39:00.001-05:00

For the next few weeks its all about critters...

recent creations in the studio

2007-09-23T23:33:00.000-05:00

My latest hair color. No more light blonde and no more brunette. I have found a happy medium and love the reddish tinge.

I made these blinds out of the annoying credit cards that the credit companies keep sending me.. I attached them together with paper clips :)

Creating art has always kept me out of trouble. Well, most of the time. Here are some masks I recently made out of 'sculpey". I used goat horns to create the "unicorn look"...

WEEKEND ART BY Nina

2007-09-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

Well that's it for architecture art. Next week I will start with animal art........

WEEKEND ART By Nina

2007-09-13T17:17:00.000-05:00

barn series, Alberta

homestead, Alaska

school house, Michigan

shack in Georgia

old weathered barn, Alberta, Canada