Train Stop Lovin' Part Two

With Spring the fog breaks,

The misty remains fall to the earth

Smote by the palest sunlight

The tracks become clear,

The path is no longer blurred by questions.

Long straights pointing South

(I knew it all along as I strode these Northern hills)

But suddenly the curve is upon me.

The redwoods beckon

And I have given my answer.

Train Stop Lovin'

I feel like life has been moving at express train speed.

I've so much to say, to share, to show but those wheel just keep on turning.

Thank God for grabbing tall, dark and handsome you plant a big one on in a train yard, eh?

At any rate, we're hitting the road in just a few hours for another whirlwind blitz to Northern California and back. I'm well stocked with raw veggies, my crochet hook and about 15 balls o' yarn (just WAIT till you see the yarny lust I've been struck with) and a slew of long talks BC and I need to chew over slowly. Like I said, so much to say...

I miss you.

But I'll be back next week.

Carry on little steam engine.

I supposed you'd like a winner, huh?

Sometime after the stroke of midnight, I sat myself down for a little blog count and a visit to the random number generator site. I numbered out every post, every tweet, every lovely little comment you left me. I let my finger hover for a few seconds over the "generate" button while I thought quietly, may this painting go to the person who most needs her, most connects with her, then with a quick click I had the wining number right there on my screen. Not yet the name I'd be writing across the package within which "Come Spring" would travel to her new owner with great flourish (I hadn't yet checked the winning number with the winning person), not yet the person I'd get to announce today as the winner, but just a random little number.

Truth be told it was kinda anti-climatic.

The number just pops up. That's all.

And I can't do that to you.

I like to get my kicks.

I went with my randomly generated number without question (who am I to get in the way of fate) and I'm THRILLED to announce a winner. And then I got really excited and picked two more random numbers because, well, shoot, we all like prizes and I figured there were two more sassy lasses out there who needed some UmberDove lovin'.

But when I told Thai who won, he wanted to play announcer, and I really couldn't argue because I have raised two quite self-entitled kitty boys with whom I share a rather codependent relationship. So I made him a cape which he proudly wore for his photoshoot.

Miss Little Jeans,

CONGRATULATIONS!

I'll be bundling up and shipping out "Come Spring" with loads of love and bubble wrap just for you!

AND

To my next two randomly generated ladies,

Trista Anodei

and

Elaine

CONGRATS TO YOU TWO TOO!

I would love to send you each a print of your choosing from my little shop, so drop me an email at

kclarkstudios@gmail.com

letting me know what print you would like and what address you would like me to ship it to and I'll chop right to it!

To EVERYONE who commented and shared the love in this last week,

THANK YOU!

I appreciate you each so much it makes my heart give a little flutter and my toes give a little tingle every time I think of you.

You really are the best.

I mean it.

Holy Mother of Post-tivities!

Well I'm back on my computer after it decided quite testily that it needed to visit the Apple Doctor. It's amazing how long 30 hours sans computer can be (and really, a bit too revealing of my computer addiction). That said,

WOW!

You friendlies are amazing! I've been blown away reading all your comments (and visiting blogs, facebook pages and the like) and would love to respond to every single one of you!

But for now, know that I appreciate you so and my heart will be warmed while I get all domestic goddess around the house in anticipation of my parents arrival (in just a few short hours).

And if you haven't yet entered the giveaway, what are you waiting for?!?

Bring it on Spring, I'm ready for my GIVEAWAY!

SO.

As much as I know you love listening to me chatter on about silly matters regarding the state of the lichen in my backyard and the afternoon light on the ridge causing the most beautiful sunflare, or my cocktail of choice last night at 5:00pm (pomegranate liquor, straight up) , or what tune I've had stuck in my head for days now to BC's bane (Chances by Jill Barber, I'm done with you now. Thanks for the good times. Now go and please do not leave Sweet Home Alabama in your wake AGAIN) I'll try to spare you the details and cut to the chase.

We've got a giveaway on our hands here, and I mean to deliver.

"But cool your heels" I hear you say, "We need proper Introductions first!"

Ahem.

This, my friends, is "Come Spring." Oh I know a GRIP of you out there are dealing with snowdrifts to the knees but here in the Pacific Northwest we're experiencing a Faux Spring. I return home from my runs and lay flat on my back in the grass, allow the still-chill wind to dance over me while I soak up the watery rays of sun and the heady scent of soil slowly warming. The birds are simply beside themselves, chattering on about their good luck and rich prospects. This faux Spring still manages to bring a bounty, and if nothing else, a little renewed hope.

Come Spring

Oil on Canvas 4" x 4"

- On To The Details of how "Come Spring" could come and live with YOU -

I had a long talk with the boys and they agreed to let me use a random number generator to determine the winner, so please leave a separate comment for each of the checkpoints below (it's just like more raffle tickets and who doesn't like a whole fistful of bright red raffle tickets?)

1. Just leave me a regular-o comment, say cheers or howdy-hey, or what's crackin' or... yeah, whatever's on your mind. = 1 red raffle ticket!

2. Leave a comment if you follow my blog (there's a button somewhere over here on the right side). = 1 red raffle ticket!

3. Become a Facebook fan of UmberDove (again, there is a terribly conveniently located button just to the right - I do like to make life easy for you). = 1 red raffle ticket!

4. If you proudly sport an UmberDove item - or several - woo! (be it purchased from my UmberDoveStudios.Etsy shop OR my UmberDove.Etsy shop) leave me a comment (because I appreciate you so!). = 1 red raffle ticket

5. For everywhere you post news of this giveaway with a link to my blog, be it on your own blog, your facebook, your twitter, wherever your webular steps lead, leave me a comment with a link to your post. = 1 red raffle ticket PER post

And there you go, so many amazing ways to earn yourselves fistfuls of red raffle tickets! But remember to post up a comment for each way you spread the UmberDove love. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm PST on Wednesday February 17th and I'll be declaring a winner on Thursday February 18th so get crackin'!

Best of the Best Luck to You!

Credit where credit is due: I must say I've been so inspired by the rampant generosity of some bloggy friends of late - it really must be that Spring is in the air - and I just want to say thank you to YOU, Miss for the idea for this format. Cheers!