I'm ready for the next power outage! I found my paperback books!

Including this one from Mark Twain, one of my all-time favorite authors.

Pretty appropriate title, huh?

A not-to-be-missed video:

Penguins on a Plane

My Mountain Lake Mini Notebook

is featured in Xoxopapergems'

super new Etsy treasury.

The storms knocked out the power in my neighborhood for 26 hours. A very long 26 hours indeed.

It was like the Stone Age. No TV. No computer. No Internet.

No lights. No matter how many times you hit the light switches out of habit, uh-uh, they're not coming on.

Fortunately I had a couple of camping lanterns. So I got my flashlight, and went looking for the batteries for the lanterns.

Then I had light, but nothing to read. I've got some paperback books somewhere. Couldn't find them.

I moved the cheese from the fridge to the freezer. (Gotta save the cheese.)

I remembered my cell phone. Smart phones! The world in the palm of your hand! The battery was running low, so I braved the storm long enough to use the car recharger. That bought me enough time to check the news headlines ("Winter Storm Knocks Out Power!" No kidding?).

When the power finally came back on, I celebrated by making toast. Ahh, the things we take for granted.

New in my Etsy Store!

Terrier Playing the Piano Journal.

Yup. Those little dogs really are that smart.

Available at my Etsy store.

Fine Art America Tree Painting Contest Winners

Here are the top three winners:

First Place: Murphy Lake by Sandra Strohschein
Second Place: Blue Autumn by Ketti Peeva
Third Place: Tree by Sorin Apostolescu

Here are the rest of the winners in the Top Twenty:

Blossom by Evelina Popilian
That Special Place by Marco Antonio Aguilar
Sunset Palm by Jenn Holmberg
Lonely Olive Tree by Elise Palmigiani
Autunno Nei Boschi by Guido Borelli
Birch and Beech and Other Trees by Conrad Mieschke
Birch Buddies by Richard T Pranke
Rockville Roots by Gary Gowans
Think Spring by Carol Wisniewski
Winter Impression by Ana Maria Edulescu
Birch Trees Near a Lake Michigan Dune by Michelle Calkins
Fade Out by Ganev Smallwood
Reborn by Kalib Anglin
Winter Reflections by Mikki Alhart
Tree of Life by Rae Chichilnitsky
Black and White Trees by Suzanne Granger
Exposed by Kristin Hartman

Congratulations to all of the winners, and a sincere "thank you" to all of the talented artists who participated in this contest.

New Journals!

This handcrafted journal features my original painting, "Exhilaration".

Available at my Etsy store.

Congratulations to The Great Outdoors Art Contest Winners!

Here are the winners of The Great Outdoors Art Contest on Fine Art America:

First Place: Early in the Morning by Sorin Apostolescu
Second Place: Abyss by Sorin Apostolescu
Third Place: Fishermen by Arvind T. Akki

Honorable mention for the other talented artists in the Top Twenty:

Sunlight in the Valley by Elise Palmigiani
At First Light by Marco Antonio Aguilar
Autumn in the forest by Sorin Apostolescu
Comes the Dawn by Debra Mickelson
Coolblue Water by Mary Scott
La Danse des Oliviers by by Elise Palmigiani
A Sunny Day in Provence by Elise Palmigiani
Sunny River by Karen Ilari
Peaceful Moments by Marco Antonio Aguilar
Sunset Poppies by Ana Maria Edulescu
Winter Impression by Ana Maria Edulsecu
Fall Scene by Wahleyah Black
Half Dome Yosemite by Maryann Schigur
The Old Wooden Boat by James Neeley
Down In The Valley by John Cocoris
Trout Calling by John D Mabry
Goldeye Woods by Madeleine Arnett

My new Fine Art America art contest, Tree Paintings, is now accepting submissions. The deadline for entering your artwork is Friday, March 11, 2011, at 1:46 a.m. EST. Voting will be open to the general public as well as FAA members.