My Christmas Cup - quick sketch

My Christmas Cup - quick sketch
Originally uploaded by linfrye

My dear daughter arrived yesterday -- and thank HEAVENS, Taylor was well enough to travel, and their trip was quick and quiet. They arrived in time to play with Emily and Nick, whom we were still watching as their parents did holiday shopping.

I cannot tell you what an absolute THRILL it is to see these three cousins - all about six months apart, stair-steps in size, respond, play, mother, compete, talk, laugh, care for one another!

I sat to watch their interactions - Emily (almost 4), 'mothering' Taylor (18 mos), touching her head, her face, kissing her like a doting mother, while Nick (almost 3) and the only boy in the cousin clan, found a place between them to help, share toys (or not! LOL), talk to Taylor and Emily, and all of them sitting at their wee table coloring.....

I saw how the generations of my family, from my great-grandparents I never knew, thru my grandparents whom I lost while I was under 10, my dad, whom I pray is watching this scene from his well-deserved place in heaven, my 85 year-old-mom whom, thank God still has the energy and mind and will to travel so as to participate in this rare get together, me, watching MY child, MY children, with THEIR children .... and on and on and on .... Simply Amazing ... Simply Gratifying in so many ways.....

Besides the gift of my dd and granddaughter, the mail carrier brought my Christmas gift of a set of colored pencils to be used in Kate Johnson's watercolor pencil class this February. I HAD to try out these highly regarded Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils.

After my dd went to visit her brother and we brought Emily and Nick back there as well, I had a few quiet moments before fatigue overcame me to sketch my much-needed coffee cup using those watercolor pencils. I supplemented some color with the InkTense cp pencils as well ...

I think I'm going to really enjoy learning more about these in February!! Meantime, I'm going to refill that cup with some much-needed coffee ... Today we cook in preparation of EVERYONE returning for dinner and gift-giving pandemonium tomorrow!