acrylic on panel, 4×4, animals
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This is the last one of a series of three.

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I think it’s because of the new year, but I had the urge to make some changes here on my website. First off, I changed how my subscriber emails are sent out, so if it looks different to you, there is no need to email me about it. I already know, and I changed it on purpose, which I’ll explain in an upcoming post..whenever I get time to write it.

Secondly, a new profile pic has been uploaded..aww, Sweet Pea and me. Every time I see that photo, I’m going to imagine her purring loudly, and that will make me happy. 🙂

Last but not least, I decided to close comments here on my blog. I’ve actually been thinking about doing this for sometime now, probably about a year, but obviously, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. I’ve tried to write about it several times, but never could get the words right. Instead, a quick Bing search found some bloggers who said it better than me, such as this post written by Seth Godin. He seems to have a way with words that I don’t. Here’s what he wrote..

I think comments are terrific, and they are the key attraction for some blogs and some bloggers. Not for me, though. First, I feel compelled to clarify or to answer every objection or to point out every flaw in reasoning. Second, it takes way too much of my time to even think about them, never mind curate them. And finally, and most important for you, it permanently changes the way I write. Instead of writing for everyone, I find myself writing in anticipation of the commenters. I’m already itching to rewrite my traffic post below. So, given a choice between a blog with comments or no blog at all, I think I’d have to choose the latter. So, bloggers who like comments, blog on. Commenters, feel free. But not here. Sorry.

I also found this blog post by Kelly Rae Roberts about the pressure of writing for an audience, and why she closed her comments. You’ll have to scroll about half way down the page to read it.

Like Seth, I think comments are great (for the most part), but, he’s right..I always have the commenters in mind as I’m writing my posts. Unfortunately, when you approach blogging this way, day after day, you begin to lose little pieces of yourself in the process. It starts to be more like “what will they say?” instead of “what will I say?” Like Kelly Rae, I want this space to be my sanctuary. It is my daily art/life journal after all. If I allow any stranger with internet access to weigh in with their thoughts and opinions about my online business, and personal life, it doesn’t feel like a sanctuary to me.

I hope you understand and respect my decision. Please note that if you ever want to send me a private message, the contact form is available here on my site. I usually get back to everyone without 24 hours.

acrylic on panel, 6×6, animals
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Small to large prints available here

Every time it snows, my husband turns into an excited little kid. Funny part is..he doesn’t even like snow. I do, but I’m not 6 anymore, so it’s easier for me to deal with my emotions. I’m happy to watch the magic happen from indoors, but the one who hates snow is like..”c’mon..let’s gooooo!! Don’t you want to go out and take pictures of it?”, and I’m like, “eh? Speak up. I can’t hear you over the howling wind, freezing cold temperature (wind chill was 3F yesterday), and the scary, unplowed roads.”

After he repeated himself because he actually believed I didn’t hear him, I looked at him with the youmustbejoking, didyouwakeupwithoutyourbraintoday suspicious look, and said..”you know what? I think I’m good. I saw the snow yesterday out the window, and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t changed all that much. It’s still white, still freezing cold, and it still stings when it’s hurled into your face by the ferocious wind. But, you go ahead, dear, and do whatever you want.” Then I went back to watching the winter storm warnings on tv. 

We’ve been together 10 years, and this story repeats itself often, from one storm to the next, from one year to the next. After this long, you’d think he’d know what my answer is going to be, but no. I’ll just have to keep letting him down gently. 😉