Let the Fun Begin!

A Lucy & Sweetie Pie Christmas
5x7 Watercolor on Strathmore 140#©BEDeuel Bronson Hill Arts 2014

The leftovers are in the refrigerators & care packages are dispersed among the family members. The cats are exhausted from all the activity this past week, between preparing the house & meal and all the people here to enjoy said meal! Thanksgiving was a quiet & fun day full of love and grace, too. We had a tremendous amount for which to be happy this year.

A lot of people are working today. Too many people are shopping for the "deals". Some of us are just trying to get our gears moving to carry us through the next few weeks. 

Yes, the latter would be me!

I've been off the grid the last few weeks for a few reasons. With something of routine again rising on the horizon, hopefully I'll be back fairly regularly. And, very much looking forward to all the beautiful holiday goodies being created.

I was fortunate enough to actually receive a couple of commissions for personalized pet portraits and have completed the one posted at the top of the page, A Lucy & Sweetie Pie Christmas. 

It was commissioned as a tribute from Stephanie of Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry Designs to a couple of her fur babies. Sadly, she & her family lost Sweetie Pie, the kitty, this past year after a few years of his battling cancer. She will be using them as her seasonal cards, obviously. But I am very grateful for the opportunity to design this special tribute for her and her family, human and furry.

The next one in the works is for a friend looking for a Christmas gift for a friend of hers. I'll keep you posted on that one, too.

What are you planning to create this season? Anything special for holiday gifts? Commissioned or for friends and/or family? I'd love to hear from you!

Stop on by our Etsy page to see the listings for the Pet Portraits. We'll be running a special for Cyber Monday, as well as continuing our donation program with the Note Cards & Digital Pet Portraits.

Meanwhile, Baby & Buddy are setting the example of how to spend the rest of the weekend!

Generations

Family Tangle
Ink on Smooth Bristol©BEDeuel Bronson Hill Arts

This month we had our annual family reunion. 

The gathering was started as a graduation celebrating our oldest daughter when she finished high school. It was such a wonderful experience, the decision to create an annual gathering was made.

It's not just a reunion though: it's a way to connect to a large, semi-scattered group of people who are intimately tied to each other by blood or marriage or less "traditional" relationships. And, even though we only really bring this many of the limbs of the family tree together one time a year, you realize that they are all a part of you and the course that your life has taken.

Gatherings like these make us whole. And remind us that our family will only continue to grow.

Seeing my children playing and fawning over my great-nieces and nephews, makes it clear that they want that connection. The great-nieces & great-nephews of varying ages taking care of each other, just naturally bonding, shows how much they belong together. And it is amazing. Listening to family stories and adventures brings the proverbial laughter and tears and, mostly, understanding.

We realize we are family, quirks and all. We belong to each other and we love each other.

Capacity

Filled to Capacity
Permanent Marker on 6x6 Smooth Bristol Paper
©BEDeuel/Bronson Hill Arts

Today was one of those just-good days: Lots of chatting and laughing with my hubby into the early hours of the morning, a birthday phone call to an awesome friend, an early dinner with my wonderful parents, a great night of bowling with good people, and a surprise visit with one of the daughters which culminated in a late-night dinner.

Only hitch is that, well, we're definitely "filled to capacity". The stomachs may not really look like this guy's belly, but, boy, do they feel like it!

Hope your day was at least half as good and that you have an equally fantastic week!