The Day After Black Friday

Good Saturday After Thanksgiving!  Did you do the Black Friday thing?  I certainly didn't.  I stayed ensconced in my nice dry and warm home as it has been raining and raining and raining, and it's cold.  I spent the day cleaning up the rest of the Thanksgiving bash that was here and then....I went to the guest room closet and pulled out Christmas!  Last year I decided that we were not going to haul all the stuff up to the attic and cleaned out the closet to store it.  What an easy day it made for me to set up the tree.  So the rest of the day I put up my tree, just in time for Snicklefritz to see it because she came to spend the night.  

It's wasn't with out a few broken ornaments though.  I haven't taken a picture of the finished tree but this will do.  It was a great feeling to get it done. 

While doing all the clean up and decorate I also put a big pot of brown beans and ham on the stove to simmer all day.  This cold dreary weather is just calling for beans and cornbread.  It was quite delicious although Snicklefritz opted for PB&J for her dinner.

I'm Still Here

I know it seems I'm not around much here but I am, just not a lot to say or maybe too much to put into words.

The cabin is still for sale and we've even showed it a few times already, without a realtor.  The Hubby did say that IF we did not get our asking price, we would NOT sell!!!!!  First time I heard that, and I am very happy about it.  I have resigned myself to the idea that we may sell, and I am okay with the decision we have both made right now.  

Life with a three year can be challenging, especially for her parents but it is so totally worth it.  Little Snicklefritz lights up my life when she is around and I can't imagine my world without her in it right now.

Life on my easel is kind of busy as I have four commissions working, one is not due till after Christmas, thank goodness.  I'm working kitties, doggies and cars.  The car is done and will ship this next week I hope.

Plus the money stuff, I'm also working on something for myself (or maybe Daddy).  This photo of Momma is one I love and was so like her.  I showed it to my instructor and he loved it too and encouraged me to paint it.

So far so good.  I should be done next week and then I want to do a large still life for a juried show in March but has to be done by January 1!  That is a lot of pressure but I can do it, I hope!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Selling, Sold, GONE?

Oh MY goodness, this selling the cabin thing is rolling faster than the speed of light.  We announced formally Friday night to our "crew" and then Tuesday I put it on our private cabin page, where only the people there see.  My Facebook Messenger BLEW UP within an hour.  We are showing it Saturday to several people.  We've sent tons of pictures out and answered tons of questions.  I have a kind of bad feeling it is going to go very, very, VERY fast.  

Feeling sad and a bit scared to let it go!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I have been silent lately as we have been dealing with some important life decisions and have kept it pretty quiet until family knows.  As many have seen here on my blog the pictures of our "second home," the cabin.  We have enjoyed this lovely slice of heaven for 13 years now but things are about to change.....

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The Hubby turned 60 this summer and my 60th is coming up in June.  Well, retirement is looking him in the face and he is obsessed with it.  It is all he thinks and talks about and even when not talking I can actually hear the squeaky wheels in his brain thinking about it, CONSTANTLY!  We....He have decided that we need to consolidate a bit, pull in as he feels stretched too thin with properties and all they entail to take care of and obviously the first to go, in his mind, is the cabin.  It WOULD NOT be my first choice but he is right we have not been going up there as much as we've been too busy with work and just stuff.  There are a lot of other reasons but those are the main reasons.  

So, reluctantly I am a partner in this 40 year relationship, we have to get on the same page, so we have officially put on the market our little slice of heaven. 

He says we may buy back in the area again but I would only want OUR cabin back, not any other.  I am really heartbroken about this decision, HEARTBROKEN! 

 

Clayton will miss the runs in the meadow.  I will miss my backdoor friends!   

It may take a few weeks or it could take a year to sell but now every time I go there I will be saying goodbye and maybe for the last time.  I am going to take it in, every single inch, every time we are there.

2nd Place

GUESS WHAT!!!!!

I took 2nd place in oils for this little gem!  I was thrilled as there were tons of paintings in the category.

Art Show

It seems since the workshop I have painting on the brain and that is as it should be.  Actually, this weekend is the art show that I usually enter.  It used to be held at TCC South but they have done away with the area we used to use so we had to find another venue.  We found an empty store at the Promenade Mall for a few days.  I like this show because it is judged and I've won ribbons before!  So I will be there tonight at least around the 6 time and then tomorrow I will be there from about 9-1 working the show.  Come visit.  

These three paintings will be there!

"Cocktail Time"

"Clayton"

"Garden Harvest"

Yesterday at the office while I was watching little Snicklefritz I tried to do the rose like in the workshop but it just wasn't happening.  I decided that an abstract would be best and I LOVE it!

"A Red Rose"

12x16 oil on canvas

AVAILABLE

This one I finished in class for the Deco Show that will be held at the Deco Museum somewhere Downtown Tulsa for the month of December-January! 

"Femme Fatale"

9x12 oil on canvas

(Will be available)