You're As Young As You Feel

I have always said that I don't feel like I am whatever age I was at that time.  Today I am 58 but I certainly don't feel like I am 58, I feel more like I am still in my 40's.  I just saw a thing on AOL about aging, some kind of study about basically the phrase, "You're as young as you feel." That has been my mantra for many years and this new British study backs up that phrase, and to living longer.  My Daddy is a perfect example of that because when he hit his 50's he basically shut down his business (the oil thing did it) and sat in his chair and retired from life.  I guess he told himself that he was old.  Oh my goodness, you just can't do that, but that is what he did, and I think it took a toll on him.  Yes, yes, he will be 80 this summer but it has been an agonizingly long 30 years of him telling himself that he is old.  I still like to listen to head banging music, rock-n-roll.  I don't do roller skating or climbing mountains and stuff but I do try to stay up with current world things, like the computer, TV, the world.  I help chase around a 2 year old, I work, I read, I paint...I love life, "You're as young as you feel."  Here, here!

Also, side note, finished up the 30 painting challenge...

Good Morning

Yes, it is Monday and I am posting.  There may not be much here but I am posting.  The weekend is done and a quiet one it was.  We ventured to the cabin Saturday afternoon and I ended up in bed under the electric blanket for 3 hours snoozing even though it was quite sunny outside.  I just could not get my inner core warm.  We had dinner at J&S's Saturday night and had a most wonderful time.  Harrie and Jimbo went home earlier in the day as they have the crud and didn't want to give it to us...thank you!  I hope they are better today.  This flu thing is awful and I pray I don't get it even though I had my flu shot too.  Back home Sunday I went to see Daddy.  I tried to visit him last Sunday but he was off at his friend, Jay's, and I got tired of waiting.  Jay is his best friend from high school, 60 years ago, and Jay has a twin sister that I guess is Daddy's girlfriend.  So when he visits Jay he visits her too. Yesterday, again he was gone but I just kicked back in the chair and napped along with his sweet kitty, Susie.  She has become such a darling addition to his household.  What a lover she is.  Daddy finally came home after an hour and a half of me waiting, but that was okay as I got my cat fix.  I told The Hubby yesterday that if something happened to Daddy that she would probably come live with us!  He didn't say a thing.  Oh, did I tell you that I found a home for the zebra finches!  Yes, I was in Southern Agriculture the other day and noticed they had zebra finches and talked to a girl about them taking my birds.  I don't know if you remember but I took them in after a lady that they were given to as a gift HATED them and was going to "set them free".  They would have died here in Oklahoma.  I've had them about 3-4 years now and was tired of taking care but would have continued till they died if I had too.  I was committed.  Anyway, there were four, two boys and two girls and one of the girls died this summer.  The girl at SoAg said they would take them!  SCORE!  So last Tuesday afternoon I boxed them up and took.  I was just giving them away but I received a $15 check in the mail for them!  Again, SCORE!  Now I know they may find another good home, not mine.  Bird seed can now stay outside, at least for awhile until I get the desire for a parakeet or canary again.  Bird cages are in the attic!  

Anniversary, Painting, Food...etc!

It seems that this painting thing, life, work, Rio....all of it is consuming my life lately.  Actually, yesterday was our 39th Wedding Anniversary and I didn't even have time to blog about it.  I think my blogging days will have to be on the weekends only for a bit.  

The Hubby and I went to dinner last night at a restaurant we have never been too, Mahogany's.  It's a steak place and I think a chain.  Very upscale and very, very expensive.  We had a gift certificate from one of our suppliers but good grief we still had to pay the other half of $300 food bill.  Really, being honest, it was a nice experience but I was not all that "$300" impressed.  The past 4-5 years we've gone to Flemings and I liked it better.  We had a trio special that had steak, a bone-in rib-eye, lobster and crab legs.  All of it was split between the two of us.  The steak was yummy, the lobster over cooked, rubbery and no flavor.  The crab was better.  The spinach had a strange taste.  But I overlooked that to say the wine was yummy, seeing a very, very old friend of my sister's childhood and the FABULOUS company of my hubby made the evening special.  We had a nice evening.  

I am also reflecting this morning on the loss of one of The Hubby's aunts, well into her 90's.  Actually, she was married to one of his favorite uncles, who is still kicking.  They were married, gosh probably over 60 years or more.  Then a friend, an old high school friend lost her husband to cancer a few days ago.  They were married over 40 years.  Loss is inevitable but still sad and hurts.  We've just got started having fun!

Started watching Rio again while her mother is teaching this week.  We painted and painted.  That kid loves to paint her watercolors and I will have to buy her some more and little canvas's.  She holds up her picture to show me her "bird".  I know it's because I paint a lot of birds.  She is darling.

(Gotta try and paint this!)

Here's some of the latest paintings.

Ain't Life Grand

Looks like blogging will be a bit slow this year.  I've been very busy doing this 30 Day Painting Challenge and as you can tell, I'm ready for spring!  Lots of birds and flowers.

Hummingbird 

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$ 75

Daffodil

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$50

Downtown View

8x10 oil on canvas

$100

Purple Finch

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$50

Woodpecker

8x10 oil on canvas

SOLD

Winter Goldfinch

5x7 oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Yesterday was such a lovely January day that I sat on our brick wall around the patio and sipped bubbly with frozen raspberries and soaked up the sunshine.  I spied the daffodils popping up the green all ready for spring! 

Decided to take a quick pic of MEEEEE... in one of the many mirrors we have around the yard.  Yes I never got out of my lounging clothes yesterday! 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Clean Up

The days are getting so messed up with the holidays and NO SUN.  It was weird that I could not make sense yesterday that it was Friday.  Usually we are heading to the cabin but opted to stay in town because of this nasty wet, cold, NO SUN weather.  I took time to paint a bit for the 30 day challenge as I have to every morning.  I decided to paint a little spring with the birdies.  

"Bluebird"

"Scarlet Tanager"

After a painting session I was off to take Christmas 2014 down and put away for next year.  That also meant cleaning out a closet, yet again.  Oh my gosh what a mess but I was able to even get this all back plus all the Christmas decorations and the TREE, with room to spare.  Just reshuffled a bit and trashed a bit.  

That done it was to the showers to wash my dusty self and de-grease the hair.  While reshuffling the closet I found jigsaw puzzles.  I LOVE jigsaw puzzles and haven't done them in years.  They bring back wonderful memories for me.  It was something we always did as a family during the winter months.  Especially on snowy days when school was called off and we couldn't (or wouldn't) go outside.  I posted this picture on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yesterday and a guy from high school commented, "You gotta good start there, just 998 more to go". What a funny guy, made me laugh out loud.  

Today it's more time at the easel, jigsaw puzzle, listen to the first book of 2015, out to dinner with friends.  Bringing in the new year right.  

Ringing in 2015

The new year came in last night with us staying home to watch little Snicklefritz while her parents threw a New Year's party.  Her momma said that bedtime would probably early but it was not the case.  She is absolutely obsessed with "Anny's" (Granny) bed.  All she wanted to do was get in my bed without me in it.  I finally talked her into letting me in my bed after about an hour.  She insisted it was RiRo's bed (as she calls herself).  For dinner she wolfed down two pieces of pizza, cottage cheese and blueberries, her favorite.  Unfortunately I had to make her cry when I finally insisted she sleep in HER bed.  Oh gosh, made me hurt to hear her cry for "Anny, Anny, Anny..." Finally, about 10:30 I went in for the 3rd time and she held her arms for me to hold her as she swiftly went to sleep on my shoulder.  This morning she is still asleep (it's 8 am).  I've painted and accomplished Day 1 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge that I'm doing AGAIN!  

Day 1 is of our sweet little Clayton.  I've had this picture for awhile and have wanted to paint him but just could not get it right but today...

I have Day 1 of the Painting Challenge under my belt.

Day 1 - "Clayton"

8x10 oil on senso linen canvas 

This sweet picture is one of the last Bri had of her little Opal BeBe.  I loved it and painted it for her for Christmas.

"Opal BeBe"

10x10 oil on canvas