Construction, Art and Holiday Woes

A week out from the reunion and honestly I'm at a loss for my brain.  It has been so much on my mind for months that there is a void in my thinking and planning.  It's okay, I'm ready to have it done but wow.  This weekend we scooted off to the cabin on Thursday morning and it was a very long four days of sitting around.  Oh, I'm okay with the sitting around but I sensed he was antsy.  He's just not used to sitting around.  He was also anxious with what was going on around our house.  The last of the fixin'-up was going on and he was so excited to see it happening but we needed to leave.  I'll explain.  Our back patio, walks, driveway are all stained and he's spent the past couple of weeks re-staining the back squares of the patio.  Then the painter was coming to seal it all.  That meant we couldn't even walk outside or drive on the driveway for a couple of days, so cabin life it was.  He was so intriqued by the process he kept getting on the cameras to watch.  So funny, my guy.  His heart is not too far from construction that's for sure.  

This weekend and a couple of weekends ago I set up a Painting in the Wigwam for cabin life peeps.  The first weekend it was just one who showed up and this weekend it was two.  That's okay, I got a couple of nice paintings out of it and time spent with ladies visiting.  This next weekend we are going to do it at our cabin so if it's just me, then okay, it's just me.  

It was a quiet weekend too as not many were there, well there were but some had company and others, eat up with college football..blech.  Not my thing for sure.  It's so dry there too, so much so that it's just dusty.  The new house is going up next door and it is a hoss I can tell you.  It is a house, not a cabin and dwarfs our place.  

I'm continuing the daily sketches and they have really taken a life all their own.  Every time I talk to people they always make mention of them and go on and on about how much they enjoy them, especially when I add a story with them.  

Today is I was having a pretty good day, until...I got an email, we, as a family got an email.  I saw it was from one of his brothers, the oldest saying they are hosting Thanksgiving.  WHAT!  WHAT THE HECK!  Thanksgiving is MINE!  I've done it for so many years now, except last year when we have Covid!  I was so upset, I mean cussing upset, outside, big BAD words.  I was pissed.  I didn't even get heads up.  I ranted and raved to him, to the youngest on the phone.  Man I was so mad and upset to the point of tears.  I feel like everything is changing from my norm and I am having a hard time with this change.  The more I thought about it I realized that probably the reason why they want to host is because he is in bad health and if they come to our house, which is a trek from Eufaula, she would have to drive.  This would mean she couldn't see her kids for Thanksgiving.  I think I get it now but dang it, dang it, dang it!!!  It's hard enough on me that Thanksgiving wasn't like it used to be, food wise because of the vegan and vegetarian part of the day, but we had that kind of worked out.  I miss cooking a turkey, really miss it and two years in a row I won't be doing that.  You know what I plan on doing, a couple of things here.  I decided that I would embrace Christmas Day dinner.  I always have the other bro-in-law and his hubby and my kiddos and their entourage but I will extend to my brother and maybe my sisters hubby and their kiddos.  I don't expect them to come but I will extend.  I don't know if I'll do a turkey and may save that to New Year's Day.  Oh, it's just swimming around in my head.  I'll figure it out, I always do.  For now, I'll let that torch pass to Dave, for now.  

Tornados and Covid

This is a weird morning with tornado sirens first thing.  We're all okay but a squall line with potential for tornados went through and the peace and quiet of a soft rain was interrupted. 

I'm here, just not much to say or not in a place to get the words out.  Things are just clicking along with the kids, grandkids, retirement, just life.  I've hardly had time to paint what with just not being in the studio for various reasons.  This past week we had Min a couple of days and night because Mighty Max was in the hospital with Covid.  The middle of the night I believe Monday his momma took him to the hospital while Nick stayed home with Min, then he brought her to me.  He went to the hospital to relieve Af so she could go home and rest, she had Covid too.  Min and Nick were negative but we think Min had it first, just not a bad case.  Max only had to be in overnight after they gave him some steroids and did an echo on his heart to make sure all was well.  He was and is good, and now home.  He's still a bit croupy but much much better and all are negative.  

He sucks his blanket like a pacifier.

All is right in their world now. 

I did get a bit of painting done with mostly watercolors with Min and at the studio to finish up an oil I started a couple of weeks ago. 

Textbook

Good morning.  Yes it has been a minute since I've been here.  I've just been mentally absent from most social media.  Can't STAND the political crap going on so I am just staying off, except to see grands or post an art pic here and there.  We've been hanging around town a lot because of a lot of dance stuff and I just choose not to go to the cabin by myself lately.  There are times, it's true, that I need to be alone, but lately, I'm enjoying his company, quirks and all.  There is a reason we've been married 48 years.  I mean you HAVE to know that when you sign up for the long haul, you accept the quirks, the idiosyncrasies that person has.  They may drive you a bit nuts but you HAVE to just get over it.  They belong to the person you have chosen to love forever.  With that little soapbox thing, my brother and his lovely celebrated 45 years last weekend and our oldest and her hubby celebrated 16 years yesterday.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

"Purple Majesty"

14x11 oil

This little gem of a painting I finished yesterday.  I started it in my little art group on Thursday.  The reference photo I took when I walked into my doctor's office building on Tuesday.  It was on the reception desk and it just stopped me in my tracks with such beauty.  I just knew I wanted to paint it, and so here we are.  I went to the studio EARLY yesterday morning, 7 am with this NEED to finish it, which  I did.  So very please with it and it really makes the eyes happy, at least my eyes.  

I finished these two last week and have already entered them in an online show.

"Pop"

12x9 oil

"Pink in a Bottle"

7x5 oil

(Reference photo by my oldest)

Now, speaking of my doctor, I went in on Tuesday, mostly to check my thyroid, physical is in September.  You know I have a slight problem with the "white coat syndrome" going in but I steeled myself, gathered my confidence and was ready for him.  I honestly have not felt better, health wise in a very long time.  I'm moving much easier, my hair is nearly to my butt, my nails and skin are looking great, and my insides are working so very well.  I feel great and I wanted to show him I did.  He's pushed the diet shot at least three times and I was NOT going to let him get me this time, I was ready for a fight if need be.  Turns out he did not even mention it!  I did see the damned scale go up 5 pounds which kind of deflated me but I was not going to let it get to me.  I still held my head up high and went in the room to have my BP taken.  I was shocked when he said it was TEXTBOOK!  That was absolutely awesome.  I knew it!  I felt it!!!  So I will really knuckle down and continue the OsteoStrong, building muscle, which is I think what is happening.  Hopefully, the scale will start showing some progress along with my better eating.  

Watercolors, Baby and Food

Just a little catch up from the past week.  I gathered up all the watercolor notecards that I've done so far and packed up the watercolors for a brief bit.  I needed to clean up the front room to ready for Christmas decor.  I'm very please with how all have turned out but my mind is still whirring with new ideas.  This weekend I may get it all out again.  

At the studio, what limited time that I've gone in, I produced these three, in oils.  I cannot get Christmas out of my head so I am just going with it.

These may be gifts...

This past week I also got to watch Mighty Max for the very first time.  It was only for a little over an hour but exciting and SCARY!  He still has a feeding tube and a heart monitor which scares the bejeeszus out of me, but we managed.  He was quite happy watching Miss Rachel until he wasn't happy.  I could see it in his eyes, sleepy.  So I picked him up, put him on the couch beside me to change his diaper.  Do you know how long it has been since I have changed a little boys diaper, probably 40-50 years!  I was very quick though because he got upset very fast and held his breath crying, setting off the monitor!  YIKES!  I finished and hoisted him on my shoulder and shooshed and hummed, patting his backside and he was asleep in seconds.  Whew!  But, my poor arms.  He is a hefty 27+ pounds and I have bursitis in my right arm, prohibiting me from lifting him or holding for long.  Just don't have the strength.  Af said I could put him in his bed but I could not stand with 27 pounds of dead weight and grab his feeding bag and monitor to get him in there so we just stayed put.  I wasn't too sad about that.  He is so sweet and cuddly.  The big guy has a mouthful of teeth and today has started cutting a molar!  He may be delayed a bit in some milestones but not in growth.  Plus he's actually eating small bits of food which is a big deal.  

The weekend we finally jetted off to the cabin and hosted Saturday evening's dinner with our little group.  I asked what The Hubby wanted to fix and he said beef tenderloins.  Okay, so off to Fresh Market to get two beautiful tenderloins and make my credit card SCREAM!  They are not cheap but usually what we do once a year for the group, our Christmas present to them.

I also needed to decorate a bit because in a couple of weeks we are one of the host cabins for the progressive cocktail party.  I've never decorated for Christmas at the cabin before.  I purchased a small tree and went through my ornaments that I thought would be great for the cabin vibe, kind of rustic.  It turned out so sweet.

The evening went FABULOUS and everyone had such a fun time.  The meal was great, the company awesome and a few gifts were even exchanged early.  

Merry Christmas

A Foggy Morning

Good morning all.  It's cool and rainy out this Sunday morning but I'm not venturing anywhere, at least for a few more days.  Remember I said The Hubby had another cold, well, it wasn't just a cold, it's COVID.  Saturday morning I woke up and I knew KNEW I didn't dodge the bullet even though I had a booster a month ago.  So here I sit unable to go to the cabin Thanksgiving this year, going to miss the PAC Tuesday evening event of Beetlejuice and may even miss Thanksgiving at his brother's.  CRAP!!!  I'm pretty sure he got it at the gun show last weekend, thanks!  I think it's not going to be a serious go around this time as it has settled in my head.  I CANNOT breathe through my nose at all.  That's what usually happens when I get a cold anyway.  I just had a cold October 14 and now this, a month later.  I've had my flu shot and the Covid booster, still I'm getting sick.  I think my first encounter with Covid a little over a year ago has messed up my immunity that has always been pretty good.  Honestly I've been sick more this year than I have been in 10 years!  Crazy.  I told The Hubby if we have to stay home I have a couple of Cornish hens in the deep freeze, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans and rolls.  I've got it covered if we are house bound, DAMMIT!  

Friday we took off for the cabin because of the cabin Thanksgiving, driving separate cars because the plan he was coming back for a dance.  I knew that wasn't going to happen, but let him dream!  So yesterday, after a night of not sleeping well I told him I wanted to be home, in my chair, in my bed, home. He was fine with that so I took off about 8:00.  I stopped around the corner from our "mountain" and snapped the beauties.  The fog was from the creek.

I should have KNOWN what was to come.  As I got to the point of the drive where Scenic Hwy412 merges with the exit of the Cherokee Turnpike I hit a WALL of fog so dense you could not see your hand.  I quickly pulled over in a area with a huge turnaround and called The Hubby.  I told him I am coming back till this stuff burns off.  It was the dangerous kind and I didn't know far it reached. I didn't want to risk.  Honestly as I was sitting there trying to make a decision, a car came charging out of the fog.  I couldn't see it until it popped out of the fog.  Nope, back I went to wait. 

This week I've painted a bit at the studio and a bit at home.   This one I painted and wiped off so many times.  I just wasn't keen on it until it appeared and I was happy.  It's oil on a wooden canvas, 10x10.  

Back at home it was watercolors again.  I've had so many people asking about them.  I'm going to really fine tune a bunch and be ready for next year.  This one I do not like the red ring/bow, but I love the tree.  Will definitely work on it.

Played with little Robin Red Breast.  When I went to save the photo to my art file, lo and behold I've done it before almost exactly like this.  Good Grief!

Later my lovelies as I hack, blow and go with this stupid virus. 

Painting Challenges

Today I thought I would talk art with a smattering of Max.

Trying to get some painting time in lately has been a great challenge.  I started this oil painting last week and this is about as far as I've gotten.  My studio partner, Linda, finally came in and we started talking and talking.  I haven't seen her since November so we had a lot to catch up on.  One interesting thing is she and another friend have gotten a workshop set up for April in Broken Arrow!!!  In fact, it's  Chantel Barber and I own one of her little paintings and have always admired her.  The thing is she is an acrylics artist and I'm not but I will try it.  That said, we signed up right then and there.  Sometimes I NEED a workshop to shift my mind and inspire me.  I think there will be another on in late summer or early fall with a young gun named Kyle Ma (sooooooo good!)  

Since the oil painting thing isn't happening much I decided to whip out the watercolors and colored pencils for a change, because they are fairly portable.

This one turned out really nice.  I started it early Sunday morning, like 6 am, sitting by the fire at the cabin.  Fun.

This one was colored pencils that my best friend from high school gave me for Christmas.  It inspired me to dig out my many boxes of colored pencils.

Now on to Mighty Max.  He's progressing well.  Today I believe they will do a small procedure to tack a part of his diaphragm.  This kind of wrinkle is not allowing his right lung to inflate properly and if they get this fixed then he will be weaned off the vent and onward to being held and eating from bottle or breast.

This, That and It's Friday

"The Road I Must Travel"

11x14 oil

Good morning.  A slow week but a bit productive in and around my life.  Of course Monday was a quick visit to the office and again on Tuesday.  Wednesday was a bit of art as I finished this little jewel.  I just love painting landscapes lately.

Thursday I decided it was time to open The PACKAGE!  I ordered some new pillow shams, bed skirt and a new light weight quilt for my bed.  I've had the old comforter for over 15 years and I was absolutely SICK of it.  It was fancy-schmancy and way too heavy to put on the bed everyday.  I just got tired of manhandling it when I wanted to make my bed and that was NEVER.  I wanted a light weight, pretty quilt like we have at the cabin.  I tend to make that bed everyday while we are there.  It's easy to pull it up and fluff up a couple of throw pillows and then you have pretty.

So I've been searching everywhere for the perfect one for my eyes.  Our house is decorated in more of a manly fashion and every once in awhile I throw in a frilly, feminine touch, so on the hunt I was for that feel.  

We had tons of throw pillows that I decided we didn't need too many of.  

As it turns out the quilt I picked out is very similar to our youngest granddaughters bed stuff, and I'm okay with that.  It took me about 20 minutes to manhandle the old bed skirt out from under the hugely heavy mattress then I had to wrangle the new one back under it.  OMG, that mattress is so dang heavy.  It took me a good half hour TRYING to get it in place of which I was not so successful. It is mostly in place but will need The Hubby to help me finish.  I just lost steam and my BACK!  But, I love it, I absolutely love it.  It's warm and inviting and makes my eyes happy.  I was not about to change furniture or paint so this is the best solution to revamp my bedroom.

Oh and as I took a bit of a break I was sitting on the bed and noticed my legs in the mirror.  You can obviously see the discrepancy in the difference in the length of my legs.  Hence the pain I feel as I walk every single step.

 

Tuesday's Musings

Finally a bit of art appeared on my easel!  

"Blue Skies"

8x10 oil on linen

The sunflowers were already started 2 weeks ago so I did finish it, but with having 2 weeks since it was I changed the "way" I was painting it, not nearly so realist but a bit more impressionist.  That done I decided to do Blue Skies really impressionistic.  It felt good to just move paint around, get the cobwebs out of my brain.

"Sunshine"

9x12 oil on linen

I wanted to go on but my momentum and a stomach growl stopped me.  Today it is a brief time at the office and then I PLAN on stepping back to the self portrait thing.  It's a fine balance between my real work and my fun work (painting) and today is that balance in play.  So toodles peeps and will keep you updated as my journey seems to zig and zag a lot. 

Still Moving On

A bit of an update on this little girl.  Little or should I say "fat" Susie is well.  She spent a week at the vet getting all spa-ed with bath, flea dip, brushing, nails trimmed, lots of love and vaccinations.  Poor thing was so stressed with Daddy gone from her world and all the interlopers in her house tearing it apart that she was beside herself.  So some time away was what she needed and a plan on where she would go to live.  My girls were so upset that she might be put with a family unknown to us so the oldest has taken her in, and so far she is acclimating to her new world with a child, two dogs and another cat.  We will see how she tolerates it all.  

Also we were able to salvage these door facings from Daddy's.  They were on the facings that go from the living room to the kitchen and have recorded the growths of my siblings and myself, our children and now the great grandchildren.  We were all distraught that they might be lost forever once we sell the house because it is likely that it will be torn down.  So the bro-in-law, a trim carpenter by trade, took them down and replaced them and you can't even tell they were taken off.  He did a magnificent job.  Forgot to take a photo of the finished product.

We took the week off from the house and all that needs to be done and I took the weekend to go to the cabin on Thursday.  It was cool in the afternoon so I had to have a fire in our new fireplace.  Cheetos and a Blue Moon and I was quite content.  Some of the ladies came over later in the evening to enjoy the fire, day drink a bit and just visit.  Really needed that.

It was honestly a weird weekend but I just enjoyed time away, lots of napping and watching TV.

Saturday I did paint, trying to get the mind in a better place and I think it helped.  The nephew asked if I could paint his dog and two cats and how much.  I told him absolutely no charge but not sure when I could get to them.  So with nothing else to do I started.  

It's only blocked in.  I will finish it next weekend and then begin his kitties.

The drive home was a bit eerie because I took the route I took exactly 2 weeks ago when the hospital called me to let me know Daddy was close to the end.  

I'm still fighting the unreal feeling that both my parents are gone.  I'm just not used to that yet and I miss both of them terribly.  I know Daddy drove us crazy sometimes but I loved him and miss him.

I just took in the scenery and reflected.