I Ventured Out

Even though today was the first day the NFL Draft is on in Green Bay and way more people than usual showed up I ventured out. DS texted this morning that he was brewing and did I want to come visit. Of course I did. I figured that I wouldn't have to go anywhere near the stadium neighborhood so I wouldn't run into the extra traffic and it worked out. The traffic on the crosstown street that's the detour around the stadium is a little heavier but not unbearable. DS was making Yard Games IPA. He keeps meticulous records of his brews on a clipboard, noting every stage and measurement so that things go right. And he gave me a taste of the Peeps Blond Ale that one of the Brewers For a Day made. It wasn't half bad. For beer.

 

Just as I was getting home a big rainstorm showed up over the city. It poured rain for about half an hour and then tapered off. Within a couple hours the sun was shining and it got up to 71 degrees this afternoon. Naturally the temps are supposed to drop tomorrow and they're predicting a 40% chance of rain all day tomorrow. That's going to put a crimp in the Draft festivities since the main stage is outside. There's a roof over it but still, it's outside.  

I turned to a page in Sketchbook Challenge that said Something Hot. I have a ceramic fish candleholder so I drew it. I had to use different colors because it's brown and blue, which aren't warm colors but I think it turned out pretty okay.

 

And I'm very pleased with the way today's watercolor turned out. I was dreading this one because it looked complicated but I took my time and did the steps and it turned out fine. I needed a win because the last two paintings haven't been very pleasing to me.

 

Just because I can here's another picture from the front of the house. It's a hyacinth and I like the blueish purple color of it with the green of the leaves.

 

I snapped a picture of a squirrel on the suet cakes this morning. For once it had its head turned in my direction instead of its tail so you can see the crumbs of suet cake on its face. It dropped a lot of crumbs on the ground too so it spent some times cleaning that up after it jumped down.

 

 After supper (and Jeopardy! I didn't get the Final) I came back here and rewrote one of the last scenes in the book. It needed some more action and dialogue. I need more scenes at the end and have to expand the ones I have.

I got an email from my audiobook producer today saying how much she likes Spies Don't Retire. She didn't want it to end. That's a compliment! She had a couple questions that I had to clarify and then she'll record the 15 minute sample soon, I'll approve it, and she'll do the rest. Of course, there's the paying part that isn't so exciting but can't be avoided. I'd rather pay her and have a human voice than have an AI recording through Amazon.

--Barbara