Grocery Store Repetition

Well Turkey Day is upon us and I am scrambling to get it together.  I went to the store Friday intending to get milk and garlic bread for our weekend to the cabin, instead my Thanksgiving list was screaming at me for the opportunity to get-er-done!  So about $250 later my car was STUFFED and it was already stuffed with art supplies I purchased on Thursday at Zieglar's because of their one day Pre-Black Friday Sale!  I hardly had room to drive.  Still, my car is empty of groceries yet still full of art supplies.  I can't decide if I want to take them to the office art space or inside the house art space.  If I take them to the office that means lugging the crap upstairs and I DON'T want to do that.  Oh bother!  Back to Turkey Day.  I then again went to the store on Sunday for steaks and more milk for the house in town and ended up spending $200 more because I was informed we needed toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, Zantac and the few other things I realized we still needed for Thursday.  YET, I have to go back because I forgot sour cream and plastic cups.  Good Grief, that grocery store likes to see me coming!

Saturday Catch Up

My week has been SOOOOoooooOOOooo busy and I'm glad it is over, but all is good.  It was our first real week at the new offices and all went very well.  I love, love, love my windows.  It seems to rejuvenate me, even though we've only had one sunshiny day this week.  Enough with the cloudy days already! 

I did get a day at the easel in art class and boy what a day I had.  I finished two commission works and a fun painting.  I have another commission I'm not looking forward to doing but will tackle soon.  I really do NOT want to be known as a dog painter but that seems to be all I'm doing lately.  They are very fun and I'm getting better.  

This one is for my friend Carol who already owns six or seven of my paintings.  This sweet face is Tally Ho.  

This one was a challenge, not because of difficulty but difficulty of the pictures given to me to try and paint from.  Good grief, one was the backside of the dog with her child.  Really.  Finally, one came that I could work with and I did this one in less than an hour.  I'm happy with it too. 

Now on to fun stuff.  We have a friend who takes the most amazing photos at the cabin area and in fact is putting together a wildlife calendar.  She has given me permission to paint ANY of the photos she takes!  YIPPEE!  In the spirit of the holiday season I titled this one "Do You Hear What I Hear".  

Speaking of holiday season, I am so very behind in present stuff.  I did get Afton and Nick's stuff ready and wrapped and we have it all packed up in a box to hit the postal ways on Monday morning (I hope).  Have got to find the packing tape!  The nieces and nephews are sadly going to get a card with money this year as that is all I have time for.  The Hubby wanted to do Christmas cards this year in the business and personal which translates to ME doing all the Christmas cards.  I've been busy addressing and addressing and ADDRESSING cards.  So far I've got most of the personal ones done which was about 150 and have started on the business which might be between 150-500.  I have my work cut out for me.  He also wants to have an open house, NOT the Christmas season but before April 1.  That is a lot of planning on a huge scale and I will totally need Bri to help.  This weekend is her Alliday Show and when she gets to rest up on Monday we will hit the ground running with it all.  So very much to look forward to getting accomplished this next year.   

I haven't gone to Bri's Alliday Show because my part of helping was watching little missy.  I had her Thursday morning while her momma did a bit of publicity on television and got to play with her hair.  It braids beautifully but is so very fine and slick it won't stay but what fun.  Yesterday I got her about 11 am and took her to lunch at our usual Friday hangout.  She loved pad thai and spring rolls.  Then I we got gas and she was intrigued but the guy washing our windows (yes I did full service).  Next stop was Hobby Lobby for more yarn.  I have presents to make.  I've discovered a thing called arm knitting.  I'm kind of obsessed with it.  Anyway, we made our way to the yarn section and since her new favorite thing is PINK we bought pink yarn to make her something.   

After that trip we headed home and I tried and tried to entice her into a nap but it was a NO!  She has only had one in a couple of weeks and goodness sometimes she needs it.  Really though she was a jewel.  I took her to her house because I was to keep her until around 11 pm last night.  She fought and fought going down for bed but that girl she was tired.  When it did get quite I looked on her little monitor and I could see something weaving and bouncing but was not sure what it was.  I sneaked down the hall and peaked and there she was sitting with her back against the back of the crib sound asleep but fighting the urge to actually lay down.  The bobbing and weaving was her head lolling back and forth.  Poor baby!  I reached in and gently laid her down and she was OUT!  We had a long day of sight seeing, shopping, gas getting, hide-n-seek, chocolate ice cream...just what granny's and granddaughters do.  

P.S.  Daddy also called last night to kind of give me a dig that I need to come check up on him because he fell hitting his head Thursday morning.  GOOD GRIEF!  He said it just would not stop bleeding and he had not cleaned it because of that (blood thinners).  By the end of the conversation I think I gathered that he really didn't fall all the way that he kind scrapped or barked his forehead against the wall while cleaning the kitty litter.  I told him I would be down Sunday morning and then sent texts to Bro and Sis who both said they would go today to check up on him.  Yes, I have been absent but goodness I have been so busy these past couple of weeks with no time for anything.  Guilty conscience.

Closing Time

Imagine my shock this weekend when someone told me they thought the women's clothing store Coldwater Creek was CLOSING!  I just couldn't believe it but I received an email this morning from CC and it is true.  Oh my goodness I am heartsick as this is one of the main places I buy my clothes.  Where am I to shop now.  It was the only reason I went to the mall a few times a year.  

I guess I HAVE to go to the store sometime SOON and see what is on sale.  Sob.

A Splash of Paint

During this extended time spent inside from the snow I got busy this weekend and finished "Little Pimmy".  She was Bri's sweet kitty that passed this year.  Bri had this awesome closeup picture of her and I just HAD to paint it.  I think it turned out really well.  Of course, the painting will go to Bri, if she wants it.  I'm quite pleased and it was fun to paint.

Time spent inside has given me the time to paint. Then I shopped a bit online and played gin on ClubPogo to pass more time.  While perusing the Internet I sipped a bit of hot tea out of one of my many, MANY tea cups that seem to keep being left to me.  I have so many of these little jewels I decided to start using them instead of letting them sit in a closed cabinet gathering dust.  Isn't this one lovely.  I have them from my greatgranny, granny, mother, grandmother and mother-in-law, I HAVE TONS!

I forgot to post this one.  While Afton was home I wanted to go see my painting at the Philbrook Festival of Trees.  I was so excited to see it hanging on the walls.  As far as I know it is still unsold as are most of the paintings, gingerbread houses and trees, for a fundraiser, not good.  Of course, it has been a couple of weeks since I was there and there is still a week to go!  Keep your fingers crossed.  It was fun to take Rio to Philbrook for the very first time of her life.  My granny took us when we were children once and in her stack of old pictures there was one of the front of Philbrook, either before it was a museum or just as it was turned into one.  

Oh, and in January I have another opportunity for a quick art show for a weekend.  Will give details soon.

To Shoe Or Not To Shoe, That Is The Question

Dang it..it's 4:11 a.m. and I am a awake!  I don't know why I sometimes just wake up and the more I toss and turn and try to go back to sleep the more uncomfortable I get, so I just get up.  The mind clicks on and then I'm in trouble.  I will probably have to take a quick catnap this afternoon, or not.  

Yesterday I took the DAY OFF!  That's right I took the day for ME!  Of course I took Tuesday too!  But yesterday I got up knowing that I was going to a total ME day of fun.  The first thing was of course my workout, a must!  Then home to shower and ready for the big day.  No makeup as it was a day of facial, massage and reflexology.  But first I had to mail out another painting, a commission work that I finished.  I've sold a couple of paintings lately, one old one and a brand new commission.  So exciting and I got another commission that I will be working on this weekend.

Since I had a lot of time to kill before my appointments in the afternoon I wanted to go shoe shopping.  Yes you heard me right, shoe shopping.  I hate shoe shopping and generally hate shoes but it was time I replaced my walking shoes.  The workout shoes are fine but I get tired of wearing them all the time and since sandal time is nearing the end for the year, walking shoes it is.  I went to the store I knew best at the mall, parked, then walked all the way inside to find the thing had closed well over 6 months ago.  Well, it has been awhile since I have been at the mall that is very clear.  Now what to do.  Well, I decided to go to a local store called Flemings.  They have some nice shoes and I like to buy local when I can so back in the car I go.  Wow, they had expanded since I was last there (told you I HATE to shoe shop).  I was thrilled to find sandals 50% off so I got a couple pair for next summer and will toss the ones I've been wearing for a couple of years and are falling apart!  Next I found a couple of fabulous walking shoes and then my eye spied a couple pair of pumps.  Now, these are shoes I really hate as my feet hate them but oh they were cute and when I put them on they were were like butter on my feet.  WOW!  I bought them too.  So this "I hate shoe shopping girl" came home with 6 pairs of shoes yesterday!  My credit card is screaming but I am happy.  

So happy I was that I took myself out to eat, all by myself and I was good.  I wanted a burger but opted for no bun and a small coleslaw!  Then it was off to my beauty day.  Ahhhh, life is grand.

Mum's The Word

I'm still here I promise.  For some reason I have been quite mum with my writing lately.  I haven't even written in my hand journals.  I kind of blame it on my need to pull into myself this time of year, a form of hibernating when it turns winter.  The feeling is trying to take hold of me this year harder than the past few years.  It is so important for me to keep with my exercise routine and stay busy or I can get really depressed.  I HATE the cold and winter.  I HATE when the trees look like skeletons in the dark and grey sky.  So depressing for me.  

I do love Christmas music playing in the stores and enjoy singing along as I do my shopping, that is grocery shopping.  I have not been to the big mall one time this season!  Most of my Christmas shopping as been online, smaller Mom-n-Pop stores, and of course The Alliday Show.  Gift cards are the bulk of my presents this year too.  A isn't coming home for Christmas this year and as of today have still not put anything in the mail to her.  I'm so bad.  

Since before Thanksgiving and my knee surgery I've been off, real off.  The holidays seem to have just flown by and left me no time to think.  Didn't help we had our HUGE party and then The Alliday Show to occupy most of my time.  Next year, no party and I'm going to actually do Christmas cards again.  For years I had my cards ready before Thanksgiving, and sent tons of them.  The past couple of years the task has fallen by the wayside.  This is just not like me but I can't seem to get motivated.  Oh I can't let the dreary season called winter to get hold of me.  

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Christmas 2011 - The Decorating

Christmas 2011 has begun and yesterday I was successful in tossing a bit of the holiday decor around our house.  This is what my music/game/formal living room looked like before...

Sunday afternoon I climbed into the attic and chose only a few items or boxes that would be necessary in this decorating process.

I decided to only get a few things out and only use part of my ornaments this year.  In fact I had almost decided not to have a tree this year but that was a scary thought.  So I jumped in and offered our humble abode for The Hubby's family gathering Christmas Eve.  We tried that a few years ago and had a huge snow storm.  Hopefully that won't happen again!

Let us begin...

Ta-Da...Isn't it beautiful! 

Now I have to finish the shopping, wrap and bake a bit and I'm ready!  This morning I've already been on a couple of websites and purchased some stuff and checked on something I purchased two weeks ago to find it will not ship until January 12!!!!! YIKES!  Not happy there!

Happy decorating everyone!

What A Day

What a day I've had.  First was the phone call from A as she finally stopped her drive home to rest in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I had just dozed off about 11 when she called not more than 15 minutes later.  Glad to hear she was safe for the evening but then I couldn't go back to sleep.  Finally about 1:30 I drifted off again to be jarred out of sleep at the usual time of 5 am.  Whew, I didn't want to get up for sure but the treadmill was calling my name.  I did the workout and readied myself for Monday.  B and I decided to go downtown and try a new restaurant, Hey Mambo, quite yummy.  We had the plan to go by the Tulsa Arts Coalition building to see if our 5x5's had sold.  It was closed, but we could see in the window that hers was still there and HOORAY, my had the sold sticker.  I'm happy.  After lunch we went to Target to get pillows for A to sleep on and a shirt for Daddy.  He has decided to go to the Pioneer Dinner this Saturday.  He has a day pass and his good friend Jay is taking him.  There's a lady that has Daddy's eye and he wanted to look good.  I found a couple of sharp shirts and a pair of leather slip-on shoes he loves.  Now if we can get his hair trimmed.  After Target we went to the Borders that is closing and perused the bookshelves for some bargains.  I LOVE bookstores and am sad it it closing.  Dropping B back at the office I went to the grocery store and then home.  The idea was a quick nap to get me through the evening while we wait for A to arrive.  I was wrong as the hearing aid place called and Daddy's broken hearing aid was ready for pick up.  Well, drat.   The lost one that they are remaking will be ready Friday.  Tomorrow and Wednesday Daddy has some important doctor appointments and I think it is imperative that he is able to hear so back in my car I go.  I picked it up and then took him the fixed hearing aid.  I ended up spending over an hour just visiting with him and the new hearing aid.  He loved the new shirts and shoes and was a Chatty-Cathy.  I so hope he gets good news at the appointments.  Tomorrow is the infectious disease doctor which Bro will attend and Wednesday is the hip doctor which I will attend.  See, what a day I've had.  Now we wait for A to breeze into town for a few days. 

Life Moves Forward

Life has calmed down now, finally, at least in my head.  As I was driving home from my 3 mile trek on the treadmill this morning I had a good feeling.  I've been in such a tizzy with all the stuff going on lately that I just couldn't calm down.  Daddy is doing well, although bored in his hospital bed, but I know he is healing and safe, and that is what counts.  Right now we don't have to mess around with any of the crap that was going on.  I have someone to clean his house next week, bought the appropiate cleaning supplies, and am now in charge of paying his bills, again.  The mail has been forwarded and the paper stopped.  All is good in that department.  I now have more pressing things to think about, like shopping for a cocktail dress for a charity gala/dance in a couple of weeks.  I am dreading the process and looking for the right shoes that won't kill my feet.  Hopefully, this weekend I will be successful in that endeavour.  (I hate shoe shopping, and shoes for that matter!)  The sun is going to shine this weekend along with warmer weather and I am a happy girl.  I can't wait to do a little painting and be creative again.  With all that has been on my mind I have not had a desire to blog or paint or even read.  I am ready now. 

Room addition has been a bit slow, real slow so not much to report.  The brick is slowly moving up the new walls but not fast enough for me but the weather has played a part in that, rain and cold.  Next week the new french doors will be here and be installed and then the brick guy will begin the glass block window.  Woo-Hoo, enclosed!  The heat/air guy has been busy this week getting the old system tied in and now we get a rough-in of plumbing and electrical, then walls!!!!!  The Hubby and I have already purchased the split-system heat/air thing, for just in case the old is not enough to handle.  We've purchased the fixtures, meaning faucets, shower heads.  On Wednesday we looked at washer and dryer sets and believe will get the Electrolux ones.  I told him, color-wise, ANYTHING but white.  He has a white Avalanche, I have a white Jeep, all of our company vans are white and I'm just sick of it.  I want color, maybe green like these, without the pedestals.  I saw a jade granite floor the other day and fell in love.  Maybe for the counter tops.  Now it is the fun stuff.  I'm excited.