My Year In Review...

What a huge year we've all had around here.  I guess first things first, the new granddaughter.  Oh my what a blessing.  I was there for the birth and that absolutely made my life.  It was truly magical.  And to be able to be there for the birth I had to conquer a fear and FLY BY MYSELF!  That was such a big thing for me but I knew I had to do it and I can't wait to go again.

The little miss is now 3 months old and I cannot believe how time flies.  She is growing like a weed. 

This weekend they will fly into town so everyone else in the family and friends will get to meet the new addition.  Plus I will be able to get a photo of both of my beautiful granddaughters, TOGETHER!  I'm truly blessed.  

It's been a busy year with work and my new profession, art.  I've taken a couple of workshops and continued to enter in some national shows.  One of my goals was to finally be juried into one and guess what, it happened twice!  

My "Morning Glories" juried into the Allied Artist show that was held in the Salmangundi Club!  THAT was a big deal.  Then... 

I found out that "Pink Is The New Black" juried into the Arkansas national show.   

Of course I didn't win anything but getting in was awesome and gets my name out there.  

I then started on a self-portrait path.  It's still there but my drive has slowed down on it.  I'm hoping to get them finished by September for a show in the Broken Arrow Historical Museum.  

On a sad note was the passing of one of our dear art friends, Charlotte.  It was sudden and a huge shock that rocked everyone's world, including mine.  She was a mother figure and a friend so it hit me on all sides, taking me to memories of Gail dying and my mother.  So to help with the saddness I again turned to my art that pulled me out out of the darkness once before.   

" Remembering Charlotte"

Now Christmas is here and the New Year is upon us, 2020.  Hard to believe it's going to be 2020.  Boggles the mind for sure.  It's been a really nice quiet Christmas season, although rushed and busy, yet calm.  The Hubby and I really didn't buy anything for each other, we never really do but I did get him a book and a sweater.  He got me a new fireplace built in the screened porch at the cabin that I've been wanting for years.  Plus I'm getting a new car this next week when it arrives.  He was concerned that I didn't have anything under the tree to unwrap but I told him that was okay, but I would like to have a new parakeet.  He went shopping and we now have Frenchie in our living room entertaining us.  Plus he did have a card under the tree for me.  OMG, I almost cried, it was truly beautiful and today I got flowers for no reason.  He is really a thoughtful guy, most of the time...LOL...

Next month we celebrate 44 years of marriage...WOW! 

'Twas The Week Before Christmas...

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house...

OH, losing that week between Christmas and Thanksgiving I feel like I can't seem to catch up, but there's always time for a little Nutcracker.  I won four tickets in a charity auction and thought it would be perfect for a girls event.  Of course I had to take Snicklefritz and her momma and my dear 92 year old mother-in-law.   

It was a matinee performance so lunch before was the plan.  My MIL lives in an assisted living (actually hers is independent living) and recently gave up her car!  She was so excited to get out and see other people and other places.  We picked her up and took the long way downtown via Riverside Drive and by The Gathering Place.  She kept remembering so many places that are long gone.  Lunch was a different place for her too as Snicklefritz and her momma like to go to Yokozuna, a sushi place.  I wasn't worried but my MIL said she didn't want to eat anything raw.  I assured her there were plenty of options that weren't raw.  She had miso soup, pork spring roll (cough and sputtered with a huge dab of chili sauce), a piece of a veggie roll, edamame and banana split.  Didn't complain and ate right up.   

It was a fantastic day and I know that her being 92 there won't be that many opportunities to share with her and the generations.  

Last weekend Snicklefritz stayed all weekend and we went went out to dinner to the Celebrity Club for the third year in a row.  We wrapped presents, finished decorating the Christmas tree and made fruitcake.   I posted it on Facebook and my page blew up with interest and people wanting the recipe.  I even had people wanting to buy the cake (hmmmm, business opportunity!)  I gave the cake to many and the recipe too.  I even turned fruitcake haters into lovers to those who sampled it.  It will truly change your mind about fruitcake, guaranteed.

Since it was the end of the year and bonus time it was also time for sharing a little Christmas food (Olive Garden) with our faithful employees.  We have a fantastic crew that makes our business hum like a well oiled machine.  

Of course I can't close out the final post for the year...maybe final post...without sharing this sweet little dumpling.  Her father took this picture and it is without a doubt a beautiful Christmas card picture.  

"While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..."

To all my bloggy friends, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season...

It is that time yet again that Christmas is pulled out of the attic or closet.  I am so dragging my feet on doing it this year.  My kiddos are way ahead of me in that respect, but slowly, it will happen.  So today I did open that dreaded closet and drag it all out but that's as far as I got.  It sits in the front room and hopefully during the week I will start the decorating.  It will surely put me in a better mood when I see the sparkle and let the magic begin.  

On a really good note, these three will be here after Christmas!!!!  Can't wait to smooch on those baby cheeks.  Plus I can get a photo of both of my granddaughters in one photo!!!!

I haven't been idle at the easel the past few weeks.  After losing Charlotte, I took time to remember her and morn leaving this world.  I titled this one "Remembering Charlotte". 

These two I posted but hadn't signed them because I just didn't feel that they were done.  So I splish-splashed some more paint and fine tuned them.  I'm satisfied. 

Finished this one too.  

Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte

I am absolutely heartbroken to find out that my dear friend and and one of my art buddies passed away suddenly last night.  Just saw her at two meetings this week and talked to her on Wednesday on the phone.  She was a dedicated artist and worked tirelessly in two different art groups to make all happen.  I've been in many art classes and workshops across the country with this dynamic lady.  I am just in such shock that I can't seem to focus today.  

Fall Happenings

Halloween has come and gone and now on to Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS!  Where in the heck has time gone this year.  It's like the year is on a speeding locomotive.  Please slow down and let me enjoy time please.  

I still feel a bit discombobulated since getting back home from traveling coast to coast in September/October.  And in that time this little pumpkin turned a month old.  Oh my where has the time gone.   

The other little ball-o-fire totally enjoyed Halloween as a martin, yes martin as in weasel.  Goodness, that daughter of mine is a miracle worker with a sewing machine and the imagination of Snicklefritz in wanting to BE A MARTIN!  All I can say is WOW!

October was also filled with a couple of new people in our lives.  Snicklefritz got to experience what it was like to host an exchange student.  

There was a gob of students from Columbia, and Maria was their guest for the month.  There was another girl, Valeria, that stayed with another family but was around a good part of the time.  What a joy it was for everyone involved to get to know these young ladies and experience them in their lives and for sharing their time with us.  They were a delight and fit right into our lives very quickly.  I must say that Columbian spanish is fast, really fast as they conversed to each other but their English was excellent too.  It was awesome for Snicklefritz to be able to use some of her Spanish that Bri has taught her and opened up a door for foreign language to all involved.  We took them to the cabin for an over-nighter.   They got to experience fall in northeast Oklahoma, a fire in the fire pit, rides on golf carts and then just before leaving Tulsa to head home, Halloween and trick-or-treating.  And top off their visit the weather changed and they got to see a few snowflakes.  Their area of Columbia only gets around 48 degrees at its coldest so they were ecstatic to see "SNOW!"  

I've not been dawdling around because last weekend was the HUGE Plein Air Tulsa event and WHEW, am I glad it's over.  No idea if anyone will take it over next year from Linda because it is a lot of work and she does the brunt of it all.  Oh it's a lot of work for the worker-bees but usually that's only one weekend.  I am her assistant but my part is minimal, except the Sunday of the show and sale, of which I'm in charge of setting up the panels to show the art and getting it all hung.  Needless I was POOPED, but it was an awesome show.  On to next year, maybe.

I've also churned out a bit of art with the finish of the sunflowers, which is already sold and then with the shoulder giving me fits still I decided to try some left-handed painting.  

It was a challenge but I found that I slowed down and was more deliberate with my strokes, plus it was quite fun.  May have to try some more of these.

Until next time my friends...

Fall Is Upon Us

The weekend finally took us to the cabin and also to find that the creek is STILL flooded.  We've gone most of the spring, ALL of the summer and now fall without being able to access our beloved creek.  The Corp of Engineers has kept the water levels up for a stuck barge or something like that and it is effecting our property values and our enjoyment of our home away from home.  I so hope they figure this thing out before next summer because we will not have a creek anymore if the water stays up.  

We did enjoy the fall colors beginning and can't wait to see more but will be away from the cabin a lot this fall.  Just so busy with plein air events, birthday parties, and soon Thanksgiving.  It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas is upon us so quickly.  Time just moves too fast.  I need, NEED it to slow down, just a tad.  

This precious little nugget is 3 weeks old today and look at that milk-drunk-sleepy smile.  How can you resist!!!  I miss her so much and can't wait to snuggle and kiss those sweet cheeks again, soon!!!!

Painting has been slow to get started again but did take a photo while in LA of some sunflowers.  Of course I LOVE TO PAINT FLOWERS so here you go. 

I have got to get back to the self portrait stuff but since I've been away the steam that drove me to sketch them in the first place is waning.

Have a great day my friends.

Miss Mini, Part 2

You will just have to bear with me as I flood this blog with photos of granddaughter #2, Miss Mini.  She is darling and now I'm back home many, many miles away from her.  It was hard to leave her behind, and daughter and son-in-law but it was a must for my life to move ahead and them to step into the next phase of their lives.

Mini

It started with this...

and progressed to this... 

I arrived a couple of days before the due date to make sure and be around for the birth.  We waited and waited.  We played cards, put jigsaw puzzles together and even went to see Downton Abbey...we waited and waited...

Finally, the evening of September 30 (my sweet mother-in-laws 92nd birthday) and things started happening.  A contraction here and there but nothing.  Tuesday, October 1 (Snicklefritz's 7th birthday!) she called the doctor and they said come to the hospital and see if you are in labor and since it was past the due date they would probably keep her.  All through the night she labored and most of the next day, October 2.  Then finally Miss Mini made her way into our world, our hearts, our lives. 

7 lbs 15 oz, 21 inches long and such a beautiful little spirit already.  She doesn't get overly upset and quiets really fast. 

Our lives are so enriched by the addition of sweet Mini into our lives and completes this little family.