bonnieeverett-hawkes.com

Whew was I busy!!
Current mood:  creative

It seems like I am always returning to my blog at the end of summer and saying,
“Whew where did summer go?”
I am so sorry I have been away so long, but this summer was a particularly busy summer for me.
I was busy illustrating three books this summer for three different authors and I barely had a moment to spare. So my blog had to be put on the bottom of my priority list. Now I know there are many of you who are so faithful in writing in your blogs and journal every single day, but me I just am not the type who can make the room in my schedule to do so.
Summer was ushered in with the arrival of a new lamb at our house. A tremendous joy for us here at Rustic Ridge Ranch only to be short lived as two months later her mama died after eating poisonous plants.
We sold all of our precious sheep shortly after Milly the mama ewe died as we did not want any more of our dear sheep who had become our sweet friends to also die. We were able to find them wonderful homes.
Soon after this sadness Jesse, our old Standard bred buggy horse made his exit over to the Rainbow Bridge too. It was a very sad day that day. The Farm was seemingly very lonely and empty in their absence.
Living on a farm with animals is bitter sweet, but well worth the risks of loss.

Rio a beautiful 5 year old gelding soon came to live with us and has made a wonderful companion for Breeze our other horse who was very lonely ever since Jesse passed over.  We added 25 chicks in March to our chicken coop who have now grown into adult hens and about 7 roosters. You should hear the crowing rivalry at dawn and sometimes various times of the day.
Then in July I bought a delightful little critter, a baby raccoon, we named Daisy. I had to obtain a permit to own her  and she was bought from a breeder. What a pure joy she has been to our family! She is now 12 weeks old. I recently bought her a Little Tykes piano and she has played it constantly. I think I have a natural on my hands…LOL!!
ON the illustrating scene…
Be watching for Willy the hard of hearing duck series by Rita Hestand illustrated by me to be released by Guardian Angel Publishing soon. I finished book three this summer titled “Maebelle’s Hat” the first two books were previously available at www.readerseden.com as e-books (”Willy and the Spider” and “Poor Mo”), but will now be available as print books. I am now working on book four in the series “Trick or Teet?”.
Also be looking for the second book I illustrated this summer, “Heavenly Animals” by Kate McGill, publisher and release date to be announced.
A great addition to the Hawaiian book I illustrated “Old Nene’s Book of Hawaiian Nursery Rhymes” by Nalani Scharsch Hao is a companion coloring book completed this summer soon to be released.
I signed with Best selling author Russ Michael to illustrate his blockbuster children’s series “Twinkle Top” and have begun illustrating the first book in the series. Mr. Michaels books have been on the best seller lists for over 35 years so be watching for his children’s series to be a big hit too. I am excited about them for sure.
Just finished the other day with a really fun Blog Talk radio interview with MJ Gillot with Red River Writers. If you missed it it is archived and you can still pick it up and listen to it. I had a lot of fun.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RedRiverWritersLive/2009/09/30/Red-River-Writers-Live

Had a very successful book signing at North Vernon, IN. Perfect Day Cafe On Sept 4. Sold 25 books! What a great turn out too.

So between my farm with all it’s inspirational critters and their antics and my illustrating
Whew I have been busy! But looks like the pace won’t slow down for me for awhile.
Later gaters…

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are suppose to write a note containing 25 random facts about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you,

(To do this, go to “notes” in your applications menu, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, age 25 people—in the right hand corner of the app—then click publish.)

1. I do not normally do this sort of thing. It goes against my make up. I am not one to bare my feelings on my sleeve for the world to see. I do not document my inner most thoughts in a journal or blog for family, friends or strangers to read. I have always felt this was sort of creepy. I do blog, but not to spill out my guts. I think it is unsafe, for one thing, but no one, not even my husband of 41 years knows my inner most thoughts. Only God and the spirits surrounding me have I shared such things with. But I feel I will make a small exception this time because some of you have expressed a desire to know me better.

2. It was a hot June night in the small, ratty town of Trona, California. A car pulled up in front of the tiny local hospital, the door swung open and a very pregnant woman struggled to get out. A man’s voice could be heard shouting; “I’ll see you in the morning!” She picked up her small overnight bag and waddled toward the hospital entrance. The car spun away and carried the man to his American legion meeting. He would return to the hospital the next morning and inquire about his 7th child, which had now arrived. He would find out the baby was yet another girl which brought his family total to six girls and one boy. His only comment was “Another Split Tail!” Thus was my introduction into this world.

3. “Dysfunctional” is a word that hardly describes my childhood. I had a troubled and difficult childhood growing up in that family of eight children. We were easy on the eyes all of us kids, not an ugly one in the bunch, gifted and talented in the arts. My parents years ahead of their time for the 50’s. My mother a woman that wanted to combine a large family with a career. She was a strong and domineering woman. My dad a passive and compassionate man, a Gourmet chef when not an Electrician. He succumbed to an alcoholic addiction, faithfully supported his family and never complained about anything. I never had a childhood. Older children raised younger siblings and took on household responsibilities.

4. I am related to great Americans. I knew that the same blood flowed through my veins and this made me aspire to achieve my best. Americans such as my great –grandfather George Miller Everett, Tenn. State Legislator, Civil War Hero and Circuit Riding Preacher, Edward Everett, Statesman, Helen Keller, Asa Brooks Everett & Benjamin Holden Everett, Gospel Hymn writers, Edward Everett Hale, author, Dr. Charles Everett, Thomas Jefferson’s personal physician & neighbor, to name a few.

5. I am a forgiving and compassionate. I see good in everyone. I do not regret the hardships of my childhood or my life, but choose to be thankful for all of them. I loved my parents despite their shortcomings. Especially those of my mother. She taught me much and for this I am very grateful to her.

6. From the moment I cradled my first baby doll I knew I wanted more than anything to be a wife and mother. I met my husband when I was 15 years old in high school. It was love at first sight. I told my sister, “I am going to marry him!” She thought I was nuts. We married at 19 years old. I was committed to be his helpmate and support him” until death do us part” We have 41 years under our belts so far.

7. I have had 6 children. Three died before they were born and after difficult and life threatening pregnancies I bore and raised three beautiful children. My children have sustained my life more than the air that I breathe. I put my art, my dream of college and a career on the back burner and gave them all of me. I wanted them to shine. I wasn’t the perfect mother, but I gave them the best of me.

8. I am a survivor of heartbreak, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, cancer and arthritis. I have had 30 plus surgeries since the age of 17 years old. Including three hand surgeries, which almost threatened my ability to ever draw or paint again.

9. I love, love, love avocados! When I was a child I’d rather eat them then candy.

10. I decided to conquer my fear and learned to drive at the age of 41 years. I never felt so free.

11. I enrolled in art school when my youngest child was a senior in high school.
I graduated from art school with honors at the age of 48 years.

12. I love animals. I have scads of them. I truly believe one can analyze a person’s character by the way they interact with an animal or if they even own an animal.

13. I love the country. I live in it. I live on my childhood farm the only place where I experienced happiness in childhood, where the echoes of memories sing through the Maple and Sassafras trees, up the limestone cliffs and across the flowing creek back to my heart.

14. I love to cook. Some say I am a Gourmet cook. My father taught me to cook at the age of three. My first thing I cooked was scrambled eggs and toast. I love to entertain friends with dinner, fine wine and good conversation. I have the best friends in the world!

15. I dream of taking flying lessons some day, soaring through the clouds like a bird.

16. I dream of traveling to Europe and seeing the great works of art by the masters of old.

17. My art has been my constant companion throughout my lifetime. My truest friend. When my entire world comes crashing down—I always have my art to soothe me.

18. I believe in one God. I am a professing Christian. However, I am not a Bible thumping traditionalist nor do I believe that if you live a good life when you die you will go to a heaven, wear a halo, sit on a cloud and play a harp. Hey, my God is bigger than that. My husband has a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Theology; my brother has his Doctorate in it and speaks both Hebrew and Greek fluently. They keep me straightened out in the true interpretation of the Bible. If you believe in him or not it doesn’t change anything, He still exists.

19. I speak some French, Spanish, and a little German and know the American Sign Language for the Deaf.

20. I love comedy, be it a book, a play or a movie, especially witty ones such as movies by the Cohen Brothers. I have firmly believe that laughter is the best medicine.

21. I make homemade Maple syrup every winter, raise sheep for their wool to spin, raise chickens for their eggs. We also have pigs and a horse. Used to have a good milk cow. Looking for one now. Know of any? (We don’t eat the horse, aren’t you glad?)

22. My mother taught me to sew when I was three. The first thing I made by myself was a doll’s pleated skirt. I love to sew, crochet, spin, write, and photography is my hobby. I have made everything from coats to bathing suits. One year I crocheted a sweater for every member in my family.

23. I am a grandmother of 5, but I have never experienced being a grandmother.

24. I love auctions, thrift and junk store and collect antiques.

25. I have patience coming out of the whazoo, and am a perfectionist in all that I do. (Did that just rhyme)

It’s that time of year again, time for the Preditors and Editors Poll when you can vote for your favorite artist, writer, or Publisher etc. Join in the fun and help your favorite win. This is a fun poll for the readers to participate in and helps the artist , writer and etc get their work picked up by Google as well. Hey we all need as much promo as we can get these days.

To Vote for me in the Artist category (and I will love you so much) So far I am No 3 this year. I’d sooo love to be Number 1 y’all ( hint, hint) so get your friends to vote as well, Go to:

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/artist.shtml

1. click on the dot next to my name

2. fill in the bottom of the form

3. click on the submit button

4. don’t forget to confirm the email when it comes to your inbox.

And that’s all there is to it!

You can vote until Jan. 14, 2009.

I’d love to have that gif on my web site this year showing I am a Pred Poll winner!

Love y’all !

later gaters…..