the end of may...

 had to do an iris

onions..beautifully odd plants

old one...think I started it 1..2 years ago?..anyway..done with it now.

Not sure about light or dark backgrounds..fun playing with it tho

Spray day...

 Still lots of glare that I'm not crazy about, will do a second spray later..but first 2 in my long threatened series of florals finished !

These are in graphite on 19x 24 bristol

not sure where I'm going with this one yet...

Next...

Glare ..haha..guess I have to dig up my matte spray soon..just interesting for me to see unfinished pics here. Guess I'll post the finished ones later.  Below is named 'Twins' not sure what this is called yet...

In progress....

ya..awful glare..but what I've been working on..maybe I'll do a series...would ask for thoughts, but I turned comments off the blog cuz of our stalker/ex-tenants really childish crude sexual comments..such a waste of energy and time.  Can email me tho...
And btw - our house is still very much for sale...just not in a rush about it anymore..and because of that, price went up. Its still one fantastic building for the right person.

Information about our home for sale

Some FAQ regarding our home for sale.
The building is..simply great, I just can't say any more then that.. its ..fantastic, living here is.. wonderful. 

That said..here's some info a few folks have asked for. 

Utilities: 

City water, sewer, gas and trash bill which averages 100.00 monthly - we went with a small dumpster which is 32.00 per month vs the regular trash cart at 12.00
Our electric bill averages about 60. per month

Our highest heating bill (gas) was 350.00 when we had all 3 floors going, we 'live' on the 3rd floor now, so only heat that.

Heating: Gas fireplaces, Elec heaters. 1st floor is half below ground so temps have never fallen below 40 (without heat) in coldest winters

2 on demand gas hot water systems

Air: Some window units..about 30 ceiling fans and 11ft ceilings - we hardly use air.

All walls interior and exterior are 18 inches thick, brick and concrete.

All floors are concrete with steel trusses

All water lines above the 1st floor and to the street are new.

All new gas lines. All done to code.

About 80% new elec. 

Main roof is tar and ballast on top of foam - we do maintenance about every 2 years on the flat area of roof, re-applying a fibreted roof sealer.. cost averages 200.00 
Roof maintaince was just completed this past week. May 2017.

The building was built while they blasting dynamite about a 1/2 away at a rock quarry. Its solid and amazingly quiet for such a large building - no creaks !

Window glass is 1/4 + thick, broken panes we replace with equal thickness of plexiglass.

No lead paint

Asbestos report showed none except some floor tiling that was broken and need to be sealed or removed which was done.

Volunteer fire department.

The are no zoning restrictions, local codes or inspectors so we go went by state code.

Town ordnance on pets/livestock/poultry: Dogs leashed or penned ( like everywhere...theres a few who pay no attention to this), no pigs allowed within town limits ( except as pets) 7 horses per acre... kinda very laid back - basically just be responsible and considerate to your animals, neighbors and pets.

There is a Post office, City Hall and church in town.

Mail is delivered to home mailboxes or P.O boxes

Closest hospital, grocery store, hair, etc is in Fairfax, about a 18 minute drive

Ponca City has the Walmart, shopping centers, - about 20 miles west

Pioneer Woman Mercantile/Restaurant in Pawhusha is about 20 miles east - world known and pretty packed all the time.

Area is well known for it fishing Kaw Lake, hunting seasons and history.

Mostly very friendly people in town and surrounding areas that would help neighbors out without a second thought.

We have hosted several parties here,  had a small town bar/cafe,  guests, and halloween events.

Ok..about the building - we will disclose everything.  It has had its problems - when we bought it from the city they did not disclose that the basement flooded - every spring - for as long as anyone around who went to school here could remember. 

We had just finished that floor  - 4 days before we were to have our first guests, walked downstairs into 3 inches of water - over the freshly done shiny new floor ! 

It took us years to find and fix the multiple causes, unsealed cistern pipes in back of the building,  bad roof drainage and the biggie...which took another few years to stop because the city refused to believe it was caused by a broken water line running in front of the building that led to the Alumni building. Three years ago that line was finally shut down and blocked off and for the first time in 8 years we had NO water come in. 
Not a drop. 
We monitored and waited 3 more years to make sure , finally kiltzed and re-painted the walls last summer. We have not had any water in the building since that line was closed off. ..this will be the 4th summer now.
The cafeteria and gym floor do need replacement due to the past water damage, the foundation is a cement floor. We had planned on removing the old tile and refinishing/staining then sealing.
May 2017 Update on water : We had LOTS of rain - the ground was saturated and we did get some water in the basement hall this last rain we found that when we had the location of the dumpster out back moved recently, the rain pipe diverting roof water away from the building in that area had been displaced and broken,  we diverted it back and had no issues during the last of the heavy rain days.

We have done no work in the auditorium which had roof leaks ( we repaired ) Due to the roof leaks previous years the ceiling needs replacement tiles and lots of the plaster on the bricks is falling off, we are slowly removing it to leave and seal the exposed brick.

Most of the electric on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors has been replaced or has the new electric lines in place to fish and replace.

As of this writing there is only one room left on the 2nd floor which has not been re-plastered, painted .. we have taken down most of the dropped ceiling and old insulation.

There were several leaks coming from missing mortar on the north side of the building that was repointed last year. Ceiling below that area in the back entrance hall needs to be repaired now.

We have used no pesticides or chemicals on the property, so for anyone interested in organic growing its all clean.

I really can't think of anything else.  Most of the work thats left is pretty easy if you are a do it yourself person.

It would make a great home or B&B with organic gardens.. hunting/fishing lodge..winery... the possibilities are endless in that direction.

As a home..unbelievable room for all the relatives !!!

So..if your interested contact Carol Insley or Craig Thomassen on FB, or send an email - insley.art@gmail.com or call Craig at 580-716-2883

Rough outline of property, have exact survey & warranty deed, will copy/upload..mon.

Playing

Ok..so I haven't repainted the 3rd floor bathroom floor yet..or plastered up the 2nd floor ceiling..or even worked in the last room left there or done anything in the wildly overgrown weedy yard.....but - I did master lemon marmalade....

and jalapeno/necterine jam

and some healthy fruit and nut bars...

Jam time

Our neighbors had an over-ripe crate of nectarines..so ...quick easy raw jam. Fun to make..freezes up to a year..

Almost...

Only the floor to do now..thinking of a silver glaze on it..not sure.. maybe some trim around the tub surround too..little stuff.
Moving onto the second floor starting tomorrow..so will decide later - but...just about finished.

Eggrolls, fried rice and (non-soy) soy sauce

 

 yes..I remember.. in New Orleans..product manager at Arc..was in the restaurant area watching the news as it happened. unreal.

Pictures, rambles and feathered pigs

 

Seems like Fall came early this year. Cool morning breezes and long golden afternoon sunsets. 

 

always seems so magical

 

and perfect for the fairy circle on the front lawn

 This is King Arthur

 

and Guinevere. They are the rare Bielefelder chickens from Germany. He's about 15 lbs now,  9 months old now and she is the sweetest bird. They make the perfect couple, he holds food while calling her and she takes it from his beak..gotta get a picture of that

 

These's guys are the rock stars, Hermie, Wolf , Feather and Sparrow..Favorelles from France..showy birds. They are about 6 months now and starting to get along in the the big girls pen. 

 

Not sure how but we are up to 11 chickens,  (lovingly refereed to as feathered pigs).

ok..back to the garden..

Vegan Patty-burgers and Chocolate/banana milk shakes

Ok..so I have no computer..fritzed.. I have no Photoshop, which means I have no job, which means I get to play and go crazy..so..

 

 serious yum

Summer days

Starting to cool off just a bit, the morning and afternoon breezes are wonderful.
Might take the camera out tomorrow..
Ah..and I survived (so far) a rattlesnake bite to my ankle..was kinda painful...and scary.
Tuckpointing on the north side of building is almost complete

rose garden wreath...

Almost August

Time flies..Lots of work on the building going on this summer. The Niche room is all painted and ready for the new electric and fan.
We are clearing out the entire 1st floor, everything goes..cept for a new workroom down there - which means..the last room on the second floor (current workroom) should be finished..maybe by October??? Cross fingers!
But the big thing is - the tuckpointing on the west and north sides of the building is finally getting finished!
And in the kitchen today.. ketchup, pizza sauce and mayo..made with our spoiled chickens eggs!

Spring I guess..

Just not the same with Hawk gone.

and..

19x24

pencil on bristol

Little pizzas

Ok, I'm not a great cook - but I make yummy veggie pizzas that even meat eaters love.
try it.

For the the dough:

Put this in a mixing bowl - in this order
1 Tbs salt
1 heaping Tbs baking powder
2 Tbs sugar ( must use to activate yeast, I use unbleached raw cane sugar)
1 Tbs instant yeast
2  cups of hot water (not too hot about dishwater temp)
 it will bubble once you add the water
then add
5 cups of flour
mix with dough hook if using mixer or by hand, if it too sticky you might need to sprinkle on a bit more flour if using mixer when its all mixed( about 2 min).
Remove from bowl and kneed by hand till its as smooth as a babys butt. If your mixing/kneading all by hand should take about 15 minutes - its a great arm workout.
Then..
Put the dough in bowl twice its size, cover and let sit at room temperature for 3 - 4 hours.
Then, it ready - you have pizza dough for the week.
Break off a piece ( baseball size or a bit smaller for individual pizzas) the rest goes in the fridge in covered (airtight bowl) till you want to use it, can last a week or so.

For the sauce:

in a processer -
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
a few sun dried tomato halves
a few handfuls of spanish peanuts and or pine nuts
1-3 Tbs of basil - depending on personal taste
1 Tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 Tbs chopped garlic
6 oz coconut oil, peanut oil or water  - your pick
Red pepper if you like
Italian seasoning if you like
some sugar - 1 Tbs or whatever sweetener you prefer..honey,stevia..to taste

process it all till smooth, spoon it into a glass jar, lasts about 2 weeks in fridge - can add any spices you like to taste - - this is depending on personal likes.
If you used coconut or water you will need to let this sit outside of fridge to soften enough before spreading it on the dough, kinda like butter.

The Pizzas !
Sprinkle a pizza pan with corn meal or polenta ( keeps pizza from sticking)
Make baseball size balls with dough ( or a bit smaller)
Sprinkle flour on table and roll them out

 place dough on pan and spread with pizza sauce - be generous, its yummy

 

put a layer of spanish cheese on - I use a Queso Cotija from goat milk for this layer -  its a mexican grated cheese that melts beautifully into the sauce. Also goat milk is naturally homogenized, meaning its smooth and consistent without it undergoing a man-made process, contains less lactose which makes it easier to digest , has about  89% less Alpha s1 casein  - which is the protein most are allergic to., and on the average it has less fat, less calories, less sugars and more iron, calcium and vitamins.

For vegans - just leave the cheese out,  great pizza without any too, the spanish nuts in the sauce give it a bit of cheese texture.

heap diced tomatoes on - fresh from garden is best, anything but store bought hot house tomatoes

sprinkle on red and yellow diced onions
sprinkle on red pepper, salt and pepper to taste

add mushrooms, roasted peppers, olives - whatever you like - heap on the veggies

sprinkle on mozzerrla cheese (if you like)

bake at 350 for 15-20 min, till chesse starts to lightly brown.

enjoy.
xxx
Thanks to Bliss for being my model.