Little Gray Donkey (a.k.a. Hee Haw)

How about that funny little fuzzy face!
His/her winter coat made him/her look pretty scruffy.

One day when my daughter was about three years old, we were coloring, and she said, "Mom, I know how to tell if it's a girl or a boy."  
I'm sure my heart raced and my eyes widened. I wondered what had she learned at preschool and asked, "Oh, how's that?" 
" Well, you just look at their eyelashes."
Ha ha ha ha...
Well, this one sure does have pretty eyelashes!

The day after Christmas, we went for a drive into the country.  I had my camera ready, and we were on the lookout for old barns, curious cows hanging out near their fences, or anything that I might turn into a painting.  But... that didn't work out. About the time we got onto rural roads, the fog came down.  We saw white... a lot of white... for a long time... 

Ron wanted to take me to a little breakfast cafe he discovered on his last motorcycle trip.

You just never know where you'll find a place worth driving back to.  

If you ever find yourself hungry in the middle of nowhere Northwest Arkansas,  maybe you'll come to the Oark General Store and Cafe.  


Delicious!
Fabulous country breakfast of bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy!

Oh, and on the way home, we did find this little gray donkey that didn't mind letting me take a few pictures of him/her.



Original Oil Painting on 11"x 14" Canvas
[SOLD]

Teddy, The Horse That Loved Peppermints

Teddy, the Horse Who Loved Peppermints

The story of how this painting came to be begins with another painting.
Three years ago, I painted a little peppermint around Christmastime, and I got to enjoy seeing it hang on my own wall for a couple of years.
When it sold in springtime, I thought it was a little odd... until the person who purchased it explained the reason...
It was a gift for her friend who had recently lost her beloved horse who loved getting a peppermint for a treat.
How thoughtful... it warmed my heart.
I assumed that was the last I'd ever hear about the little peppermint painting.
... But no...
A few weeks ago I got a message. "We received as a gift one of your pictures of a starlight mint.  Our beloved horse Teddy loved them...  I was wondering if you'd be able to painting a picture of his face... so we could hang them together..."
What an honor!
What an absolute honor!

I told Wendy that I knew the story of the paintings, but she knew the story of Teddy.  I asked her if she'd be willing share that.  I know you'll smile as you read her words below.

8:54pm EST

Message: 

Teddy, the Horse Who Loved Peppermints 

Teddy.....the friend a middle school girl had when she felt abandoned by her peers.....he’d listen and walk and trot and gallop and take walks through the woods of Camp YNoah. 17 hands tall. Great for adults and gentle enough for children, so he was used a lot. We leased him for her 13th birthday and bought him when it was time for him to retire from camp work. We moved him to Merestead Farm where he had a stall to stay warm in the winter and got special food because of his needs. He lived out the rest of his life being cared for and pampered with his friends Shrek, Glenda , and Ellie. When turned out, he would start to walk away even if you would call out for him to come back. Start to open a starlight mint, and he would stop in his tracks and turn.......silly boy. Silly wonderful gentle Teddy. Loved and missed dearly.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]