Written by When it comes to oranges, our prompt for today, the first thing that came to mind was freshly squeezed orange juice. Admittedly, I don’t have orange juice very often, but when I do, fresh is definitely the best. Actually, I’m more likely to have this version of the juice at a hotel while traveling so it always reminds me of being on some sort of adventure. Perhaps that’s also why I have a penchant for this kind. It’s the close of a long holiday weekend break and no matter how many days off I get, it’s this point where I always fantasize about getting just one day more. Were someone to grant me my wish, however, I would simply feel the same way tomorrow, so it’s just as well I’ll be returning to work. It’s still a short week as we’ll be heading to visit family in Texas on Thursday. This is always such a busy season, but it’s filled with lots of food and lots of love so it’s my favorite one of all!
There’s so many things that I have to get done in the next three days that my head is spinning a bit. Once we’re in the tiny town in North Texas where my mother lives, also known as Burkburnett, we’ll be losing many creature comforts, like nice restaurants and a reliable internet connection. Beyond my daily post, I won’t be able to do much of anything at all on this site until we return to civilization. And if memory serves, even making the daily posts becomes a fun challenge of running outside to point my phone into just the right portion of the night sky before hitting publish. On the bright side, it’s also a chance to unwind and enjoy time with family. We only visit once a year, so we try to make the most of the time we have. And my mother has something I haven’t had for nearly a decade called cable television. So, it’s a chance to “channel surf” to find weird and random new programs to watch and see once more just how ridiculous and irritating commercials can be.
Sometimes, I find myself moving so quickly that I forget to stop and take stock of life. To pause in the moment and think about all the things that ultimately matter most. It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and all the chores and deadlines that have to be completed. But it’s so rewarding to forget all about those things for a brief moment and add up all the things that truly count. As it turns out, it’s a very short list. Life isn’t that complex after all. We can make life as difficult as we like, but in the end, it demands to be simple. Just a world filled with friends, family, and love. No matter how many things happen along the way, it always comes back to this. And that’s what makes life so amazing. It’s actually ridiculously uncomplicated. While I have a tendency to make it more complicated and convoluted than it needs to be, it always answers back with a giggle and, if I’m truly lucky that day, a glass of fresh orange juice.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Da Vinci Yellow, Benzimida Orange, Quinacridone Red, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
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Beautiful
Thanks so much, Pamela! 😃💕
I don’t have orange juice very often either, but your painting makes me want some. Thanks for the warning – we won’t panic if you disappear for a while. Have a wonderful time with your family!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 Hehe… yeah… orange juice is a rare treat. And yes, I may go dark for a bit as I scramble to find the universe, but I’ll always be back! lol
Thanks so true.
Glad you liked this, Anita! 😃💕
Love the perspective, the oranges and the glass! Yes, the simpler, basic things are best: family, friends, & love.
Always!! Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
awww, no charlie for days and days. Why do I hear that saying “when the cat’s away…”. Your orange juice looks truly delicious but really, unless it’s christmas morning and I’m making mimosas then the only way I get orange juice is by chewing the actual orange.
Hopefully the mice decide to hole up and hunker down while you’re away!
lol! I’m sure you’ll take care of things brilliantly while I’m away. And I’ll still be up for a post, but battling cell towers to make it happen! I guess that’s the true definition of a “getaway’! 😃💕
Lovely orange juice. Have a good time.
Thanks so much, Rod! 😃💕
Looks so good! You’re doing very well with painting glass too, Charlie.
Aww thanks, Violeta! 😃💕 Painting glass is one of my favorite things!
Woww….that looks real and fresh…!!!
Hey Charlie,do you know…I made a sketch of yours….just to see if I could do it or not…I have posted it in my site…..hehe…Have a nice day…!!!
Thanks so much! 😃💕 I couldn’t find a link to your site in your Doodlewash profile though. Wasn’t sure where to go! 😊
Oops!… http://www.anamika808.wordpress.com….this is my site…Have a nice day..!!!
Aww cool! Followed! And hehe… you sketched ME! You made me look so good! Thanks!! 😃💕
That’s some incredibly juicy looking juice – it’s making me SO thirsty!
Have fun in Texas!
hehe.. thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 I’m sure we’ll have a good time… it’s always an interesting adventure in Texas! lol
I don’t know a lot about it, but they say everything’s bigger there – makes sense that it’d be fun!
hehe! totally true!! 😉
I just finished my morning glass of Orange Juice and you have drawn a perfect example of it. Have a great time away and we’ll see you when you return.
Thanks so much, Kaye! 😃💕 Oh, I’ll still be rambling, painting and posting daily. hehe… I can usually manage to grab just a bit of signal for that. But yeah, I’ll be back in full force next week! hehe
Incredible orange hues.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕
I always forget how good freshly squeezed orange juice is. I had to juice 2 oranges for my cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, so I saved myself a sip or two after I added the rest. 🙂 Very true about slowing down. Some nights, even though I want to ‘get some painting done’, I find myself happiest less engaged in doing something, and more tuned into just being present and thinking or enjoying the company of my husband and cats.
Aww that’s such a wonderful scene you painted with words! 😃💕 Love that! I totally agree… sometimes, it’s that little bit of nothing in life that can end up meaning everything in the end.
Lovely composition and so vibrant! I finally caved on a good weekend deal for the Da Vinci 12 pan set. I got 6 tubes of my normal favorites as well. I’m excited to try them!
Aww cool!! Yay!! I love them… really wonderful paints and all hand-crafted which makes them even better. Let me know what you think! 😃💕
Guess what I just added to my grocery list? You got it – orange juice! Your Doodlewash is so compelling, I couldn’t resist. Was hoping maybe you could paint Phillipe at the piano – ?
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yay! There’s a brand here called Natalie’s that’s almost as good as fresh squeezed! hehe… as for painting Philippe… I just don’t do portraits well so I always avoid them. 😊
Hands over the ivories?
hehe… yes! We both play piano actually, but he’s disturbingly better at it than I am. 😊
Another good one Charlie. I just want to grab that glass and take a big gulp! I would like to take a class on how to paint glass. It’s something I’ve tried several times and never been able to master. I know it has more to do with where the negative space is, but I just can’t get it.
Thanks, Annie! 😃💕 I’ve found that glass is a lot about drawing the crazy shapes you see… and looking at it as shapes rather than the overall form. And then, adding lots more contrast than you think would be appropriate. Not too much, or it becomes chrome, but just enough to give the illusion of reflections.
Thank you Charlie.
I suddenly have a craving for freshly squeezed orange juice, or a fresh orange to enjoy!
Aww yay! Thanks so much, Delores! 😃💕