And This Happened

I hope everyone had a good day yesterday.  It was good and a bit weird for us here.  We had the whole crew at the house, my side of the family and his side.  Of course Daddy showed up 2 hours early as usual.  Don't understand that but it's okay.  I was a bit on edge because the niece is back in town and that can usually spell trouble, and she did not let us down.  Sis and her family walked in WITHOUT the niece and someone asked where she was.  Well, Sis unloaded, very publicly and it was not pretty.  The niece has been in California since last fall in rehab, yet again, and seemed to be doing well.  She left about a month ago to go to West Virginia with "a guy", (Sis didn't even know his name).  Apparently she came back here because of a sick friend or something and was home.  Well, Sis said they kicked her out Saturday and she was on a bus as they spoke back to WV.  She stole $300 from Sis's purse, her Transfund card and the keys to their Camero and drove to QuikTrip to pull more money out and then USED again.  Oh Good Grief!  Sis said that was it she was done and doesn't care if she sees her again.  Oh my, I don't even know how I feel about it all.  I would be so torn because it's my kid but I can see how you have to do the tough love thing.  Would make me so sick inside but they still have a child at home, an impressionable child, a GOOD child.  He is awesome so I see it.  I have to say that Sis doesn't forgive well and if you get on her bad side, you are out!  It is heartbreaking.  But then, she turns around and comes up to me to show me her new fancy bauble.  She bought a new diamond ring, the second in the past 6 months and I was under the impression they were broke and she took permanent disability from work.  What gives.  Oh well, I will never EVER understand her.

Easter in it's entirety was nice and finally the sun came out for the kids to hunt eggs.  

Let's SPINNNNNNNNN

It's WAY TOO Early!

I'm awake.  Yes, at 3:39 a.m. Clayton woke up shaking his head which in turn jingled his collar, then my bladder started insisting and then the brain woke up.  I'm awake this Saturday morning and I want to be asleep.  Good grief why can't I sleep in just once.  Maybe tomorrow.  My body is so used to getting up that it has a hard time staying in bed.  It's really kind of frustrating and an endless cycle starts where I'm up early and of course I'm heading towards the bedroom by 7:30 or 8 every evening.  EGAD!

UPDATE on my niece.  Sis sent me a text asking if I had firmed up the plans on our father's 80th birthday celebration and I told her yes.  I also asked about The Niece, wanting to know how the jail thing was going.  She said she was still in jail.  That was the middle of the week and finally, seven days later I see on Facebook, she's out.  She posted:   

"And.... Seven days later and I'm finally free again. **pd don't play around for nothing. They just be bored as hell. I sat for seven days over a failure to appear! That's all. But its okay, as much as it sucked n would never wish it on anyone ever, it definitely gave me plenty of time to think about the areas I need to refocus and work on the areas in life I'm slacking in. I'm learning even in the shittiest of situations. God knows what he is doing and I trust in Him always. Greatful to be"

So she may have gotten it now.  I certainly hope so. 

I'm a Ramblin'

This pocket used to adorn my hip-hugger jeans of bygone days.

Hello again.  It just takes me longer and longer to finally post anything here lately.  Life has been a whirlwind for months now and I get bits and pieces of down time.  

Of course work, work, work.  In fact, work has been oddly very slow and we attribute that to the fact that we have an abundance of clients that are in the oil business around here.  So since the price of oil is so wonky they are holding off spending any kind of money.  We are usually so busy in the summer that we hardly have time to turn around but that is just not happening and is incredibly weird.  I so hope things turn around soon, we have a building loan to pay off...hahahaha! :( 

Before good stuff, some bad stuff.  Yesterday as I was walking into my house from art I received a call from my niece.  Not good!  She asked me for a favor because she could not reach (bad cell service) her mother because they were at the lake at her uncles, fishing.  She had been picked up on warrants and wanted me to bail her out.  I asked if she had her uncles phone number and she said no.  I totally lied, but I responded that we were almost to our cabin and that I couldn't help.  My gut wrenched for lying but you know she has burned me and I just don't know if she is on the up and up yet.  She said her mother was going to flip out.  I asked her what she was doing to get arrested and she said walking.  Hmmmmm.   I just could not let my stomach rest so I sent a text to my Bro and he responded, "BS!  Call Sis." He was probably right.  So I called her and she answered on the second ring.  I asked where she was and she said, "home." EGAD!  Duped.  I told Sis about the conversation and her response was to let her stay in jail over the weekend, if she was telling the truth.  And that was a possibility, the truth.  What if I said sure and then how do I go about bailing you out.  She might have come back with meet my friend somewhere with the money.  Yup, could happen, then she would have the money and I would be labeled soft touch.  Even still I could bail her out and she would skip and I would be out.  Probably not much money but NOT MY PLACE OR CHILD!  It's just too bad that if she is on the up and up, still sober and still working to make her life right then THIS is the time to help her.  Sis would be doing the TOUGH LOVE thing too late in the game.  Who knows.  NOT MY PLACE OR CHILD!  Still breaks my heart.

I've been staying busy a lot with watching little snicklefritz which I LOVE!  She will be 3 Oct 1 and so personable and interactive now.  Last Tuesday I just told her momma to bring her by the house on her way to the office.  I decided to watch her while I cleaned out my closet and painted a bit.  It was such a fun day and I totally wore that kiddo out.  Of course she had Clayton at her side most of the time.  

I think I have figured out why she calls him Back.  We just could not understand and then Wednesday afternoon I was unloading my car with a giants supply of groceries with the garage door open and the kitchen door open.  Clayton is good to stay in the doorway and watch but occasionally he steps down and into the garage and I'm afraid he will run.  Well, he stepped and I caught myself saying, "back, back, back" to which he steps back into the doorway...BACK!  Eureka!

The weekend rolled around and B&B2 needed to go shopping for a car without Rio.  I said I would keep her overnight, which I love to do.  She loves to come to Anny's house too.  

Blueberries on baked chips!

Our patio is awesome for her to play on her "bikikle."

Her word for helicopter is "heliclopper." ADORABLE 

Again she has an almost constant shadow! 

Clayton and My Little Ponies.

In between the work and kid watching I throw in a bit of painting.  I've had several commission pieces and fun ones too.  

I love this one!

"Bentley and Banks"

Then this is for the Cattle Baron's Ball Auction:

Finally, a play piece that just came together in a couple of hours.

The Bad Seed

Monday morning pink

Well, I bit the bullet and invited Sis and her family to Thanksgiving.  I first sent an email to my Bro-in-Law and then to Mom-In-Law to ask what they thought.  The BIL because I like and wanted to know his thoughts.  The MIL because she was the recipient of the pilfering niece.  BIL said that "if you invite the melon, the seeds will follow!" I loved that response and it was so true.  Gave me a giggle too to think of my sister as the melon and the niece as the seed, THE BAD SEED!  My MIL, absolutely love my MIL.  She is a giving and loving and totally forgiving person.  She said that, "Please do not leave out any loved ones, especially family, they must be loved.  The more the Merrier."  That lady is awesome.  So I took her advice and Monday while at Daddy's I did it.  Oh, I was there paying his bills and all three of us were there trying to figure out all of the bills.  We were a unified set of siblings doing what was right and you know what, it was like old times.  We were laughing and talking and having a good time.  I'm still angry at her by her actions, a lot but she is my sister.  Also, on the loan front, well, that didn't happen she said because apparently she is on some stuff of her daughters and those were defaulted on, BAD CREDIT DEMONS.  Too bad but frankly I'm glad because I didn't want to be hauled into that mess.

Rainy Days and Saturday's

Yes, this morning it is raining.  A soft Saturday rain this AM and I'm loving it.  Sadly it's not at the cabin but that is okay, I'm okay with that.  It has been a very, VERY busy couple of weeks, as is the norm lately.  Sleep has been a bit lacking but this morning I slept in to 9!  That was GREAT!

 I did take time out on Sunday to go by and see Daddy, pay some of his bills and get some quality lap time with his new baby.  Her name is Susie!  What a little beauty and he is just thrilled to have her in his world.  He took her from living under his house the day before his surgery to his vet and we had her spayed, shots and they kept her for a couple of weeks.  It was good to give her the calm INSIDE life before we brought her home.  She will forever be safe and sound in his house now.  The vet said she is only about 6 months old and unfortunately when he got in there to spay her she was, in his words, "EXTREMELY pregnant." So sad but it might have killed her to even have the kittens because she was so young and thin.  She is the sweetest little thing and Daddy is happy he has company.  

This week has been doctor appointments for Daddy which Bro has taken one and I took one.  Both, Dr. Hippy and Dr. Heart were fabulous.  They were very pleased with his progress.  YEAH!  He's even back to driving again.  Amazing man really.  

I've also been doing my fair share of watching little Snicklefritz while B&B2 get their NEW house ready to move into.  They've been painting fools and carpet pulling up nuts.  There is still a lot of painting to do, mainly the walls now.  The dang place was full of painted trim and that is what has taken so long.  The walls will be a snap to get finished.  They have this week left to finish as they close on their old house and MOVE next weekend.  This morning new carpet is being laid in the bedrooms and during the week the new bamboo floors will be laid in the living room, front room and hall.  The peel and stick tile will be laid in the workroom/laundry room too.  While all this is taking place we have all been working during the day, me babysitting, and then working at night, me babysitting.  We all look forward to just sitting and saying, "WHEW!" 

Side note on the niece that has so many troubles.  She posted on Facebook that she was going to rehab for 40-60 days in Michigan.  I was skeptical but texted Sis and she said it was true that the niece set it all up herself and one of the last post on FB was she was getting on the plane.  Wow.  So glad and I hope it works.  This kid.  I pray it works for everyone's sake.  

Lastly, I've been working on the 30 Day paint challenge and today is day six.  It has been a challenge (duh) but I've enjoyed it and hope I can continue.  I have even sold one of them, the "Wishing Well." Wow, did not expect that but I will take it.  It is great practice for me.  

_____________________________________

Day 5 

"A Longing and Winding Road"

11x14 oil on gesso board

$ 100