Family Reunion

Yes we hosted an impromptu family reunion at the cabin this weekend.  Daddy's nephew and his wife were in town so we quickly put it together.  After the storms on Friday night in Oklahoma City I was afraid it would not be possible but the turned out great for us.  

We gathered.  We chatted.  We ate.  We

 laughed.  We took tons of pictures. 

My sis and her lovely family. 

Daddy's nephew Dennis and The Hubby touring the grounds. 

Nephew (my cousin) Dennis and Vickie!  When Daddy went to Arizona a few years ago, this is who he stayed with.  Dennis's mother Aunt Dee is Daddy's sis and still living with them.  Her health doesn't let her travel so the siblings often visit her.  

Daddy and his sister GiGi and sweet Rio!

Siblings minus two.  

They were lucky enough to catch sight of a deer.

it 

The rains have caused the area to begin the spring floods.  By then end of the weekend the dam was almost completely under water.

We also celebrated a semi-birthday for little Rio.  She was 8 months old on Saturday.  Can't believe how time flies. 

More chit-chatting with cousins, aunts and uncles. 

Awwwww, we let had to get in on the picture thing! 

This kiddo is just so photogenic...

Mondo was racing around her he was so excited to be in the meadow. 

Whew, a breather. 

There's that little beauty!

Poppy (The Hubby) and Rio 

May Showers

May Showers!

Good morning!  Yes, good morning, even though the skies are grey and stormy outside.  Good grief, I'm so tired of the rain and stormies.  Although what is going on weather-wise here in Oklahoma right now reminds me of summer about 1969 here in Oklahoma.  I remember it being quite rainy that summer, so much so that through June we could hardly even swim because of the storms.  I know that it will pass but I'm getting quite tired of it.  We've had some pretty awesome days lately but I so need more.  I'm home this morning and want to paint but it's hard to get inspired when it is dreary outside. 

I've had some successful luck in creating lately and want to continue.  This past weekend I took this photo (previous post) and so have started painting it.  So far, I like.  I also invested in some watercolor paints to continue that avenue of experience.  Just haven't gotten them out of the store bag yet, need inspiration. 

(Yesterday I got to keep the little princess again and boy what fun did we have.  She is so AWESOME!)

Happy Memorial Day

Good Memorial Day morning all!  Thought I would drop in to say hello.  Lots of stuff going on lately.  Of course, Mother's Day has passed and I kind of let it slide by here.  I just didn't want to go there but we did celebrate at the mother-in-law's and it was B's first one.

Life has been a lot of work at the office and not much painting except I did piddle around with a bit of watercolor paper and Sharpie to create a small painting that I posted on Facebook and immediately sold!

How exciting is that!  I was thrilled.  The first picture at the top I took this weekend and I can't decide if I just want to frame it or paint it,  I may just do both.  I love it.  I took it on Harrie's deck from a pot she had planted.  Stunning flowers.  

This next weekend we are hosting a small impromptu family reunion on my Dad's side at the cabin.  I'm not sure if I excited about it at all but I am doing something when no one else but my aunt would do.  I'm getting my turn out of the way.  It will be a challenge because one of he sister's (my aunt) has a jerk of a husband that NO ONE likes and they haven't been to a family function for quite some time because the last one he attended he called one of the sisters a whore, not once but three times and thought it was Ha-Ha funny.  NOT FUNNY!  When it was brought up to the sister/aunt that it was not funny or appropriate they quit coming to any family function, until now.  Not sure how I feel about them attending the one I'm throwing but we will see.  It's just an afternoon of "fun" and then they go home and we go to a fish fry at another cabin!!!!!!!

Baby girl Rio is changing and growing by leaps and bounds.  Two teeth, foods, crawling and just this weekend she pulled herself up in her crib to stand for a full 5 minutes.  Oh gosh, they grow so very quickly.  She will be 8 months old on June 1.  Where does the time go.  She had her first zoo outing yesterday and I am curious how she enjoyed it.  They have a lot more first to come with this precious little package.

Abstract Art is Freeing

I may be silent here lately but I've been productive for sure.  For Mother's Day B gave me an online art class.  One of the options was an abstract class which I've been viewing all week long.  So I've been playing in paint again.  Black Sharpie and watercolor to be exact.  

 It's kind of fun and freeing in a way to let loose and let the mind create.  I have found that it has actually opened my mind a bit and then I decided to do this little jewel.

After I was done with it I posted this quick picture on Facebook and the hits kept coming and I had it sold within an hour!!!!!!  Yesterday the lady came and picked it up.  How cool is that!!!!!!!!!!!

A Tale of Two Papa's

Early Sunday morning we scooted back in town from the cabin to watch little Rio, helping Briana out while she worked MadeTulsa's booth at Blue Dome.  Gladly we watched Rio!  She has had a very eventful week this little sweet-pea.  Her first tooth finally erupted, she started crawling and can get from her tummy to a sitting position.  Oatmeal is also becoming a favorite thing with her favorite fruit of peaches.  My, my, my they grow up so fast.  

She did some bonding time with her Tulsa Papa and Clayton...

and then a few weeks ago time was spent with he other PawPaw!  She adores him.   

Last Weekend

I know I'm a bit late with last weekends post but better late than never!

The weekend at the cabin was wonderful.  The weather was just what the doctor ordered with fantastic temperatures and sunny skies. 

The clematis and hostas are just beautiful and the peonies, hibiscus and roses make my eyes very, very happy 

Clayton had a good time with a sudden escape on Saturday evening, luckily a short escape! 

Just what the doctor ordered for me, green scenery and warm sunshine! 

Time For Me

I'm sitting here this fine spring morning listening to the girl and her beau playing an instrumental piece that she wrote and it is perfect for the morning.  It's called Neither Here.  I'm contemplative this morning.  Sometimes when I listen to a really good book in the car, it makes me want to write.  I start thinking of all kinds of stories real or imaginative, it's when the writer wants to take hold and this music inspires me more.  I've still been dealing with a bit of winter depression even though the weekend helped me tremendously to get out of the dark hole.  (I'm listening to Barbara Kingsolver's, Flight Behavior.)  Anyway, today is a vote day and I will get out and do that, later.  This morning, when I finish here I want to paint.  I love to put paint to canvas in the morning hours.  It is the most creative time for me at home and this morning I will open the window and let the spring indoors with some wonderful soft classical music and Afton's aka Sangster - Neither Here on a repeat.  I need to be inspired to create some stuff.  I hope everyone has a fabulous day.  I will!

Gardening Muscles

I finally was able to till the garden after all the rain we've been getting.  Then it was a finding time to hit the greenhouse for tomato plants and etc.  

Tuesday, finally I headed out and probably bought more plants than were necessary, but I did it.  

Then yesterday I did it!  I got in there and played in the dirt. 

Plotted out where I wanted it all to go.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash a few herbs, I was ready to make it happen!

All done!  OUCH...this morning I got up and realized I activated the gardening muscles.  

Little Rio is now just about 7-1/2 months old and growing like a weed. 

She is teething, eating a few fruits and veggies and is Miss Personality.  She will be crawling before we know it and walking is just around the corner.  What a joy, yet sometimes a headache for her sweet mama and daddy as sleep is sometimes elusive.   

Obsessed

I'm obsessed with this video of this young boy singing...amazing.

Launched

Okay people...the girl has launched.  The girl in question is our youngest, Afton.  She has launched her Pledge Music project Sangster:  Human Becoming.  If you please take a look and if so possibly inclined you can PLEDGE!!!!!  It's so exciting.  Be sure to watch the video at the beginning.  Thanks everyone for being here and sharing my world!

Carla

Vacation In Review

We arrived in LA  for our long visit with Afton and Nick.  First on the things to do list was to fill our tummy and relax after the flight with the "kiddo's".  

The next day was a fabulous brunch with their friends Carla and Marcie at their beautiful home in the backyard.  The brunch lasted well until the evening hour because we were having such a wonderful visit.

Their gardens gave me tons of photo opportunities to add to my growing collection of painting subjects.  The most exciting thing was seeing oranges and lemons growing in their backyard!

We also spent some time in Afton and Nick's little apartment with their resident felines, Frieda and Zig.  

We got to go to a community college to watch Nick practice for an upcoming performance with an orchestra (he's a Vibraphone player);  played pool in Santa Monica after dinner of which The Hubby left his drivers license and we didn't discover until the night before we were to fly home.  That was a 4 hour drive back and forth to get it.  We also sat in on one of their music classes that they both teach at a Montessori school.  One evening we went to one of their haunts to listen to a group of people play some David Bowie music in I think his black days.  It was so very loud that we actually LEFT!  All of us were not impressed but it was interesting.  On Thursday evening we went with them to a venue called Curve Line Space, an art gallery in Eagle Rock, CA.  Nick produces a continuing program called Elastic Hour.  He brings in different musicians to preform and just this last week was written up in the LA Weekly.  It is quite impressive.  So the week was a lot, a LOT of music, but of course that is what they do.  

One day we drove up to Solvang, California, to some wine country.  The drive was just beautiful and the orchards and orchards of oranges, lemons, limes and olive trees was breathtaking.  Unfortunately we didn't stop to take pictures off of the freeway.   

We did however enjoy a lot of wine and pack our bags with five bottles of the yummy stuff with not one broken for the flight home and a 6th for Nick for his upcoming birthday present!

Coquelicot Vineyard 

Back home after a long, long drive we ate some delicious Indian food at Clay Oven.  I think there was a bit too much tiredness going on so she played with her rice... 

and time in the car found me braiding her hair from the backseat.

Friday night before we were to leave was Nick's birthday so a PARTY was planned at their favorite hangout Left Coast Wine Bar.  

What a great venue!  The food was great, the entertainment awesome and the walls are covered in some great art.  They have open mic nights often and Afton has played there many times.  That evening we met tons of their friends which I must say made my heart strings happy.  To see our girl finding her life there and getting plugged into her world was great and the friends could not gush enough about both of them.  We are so very proud of how her life is going and to see her glowing with happiness is awesome.  She has taken a path in her life that makes her very happy and content.

Yes, yes it was Nick's birthday and boy did he bank on the wine for gifts.  They may have to invest in a wine fridge.

I have to say it was a wonderful visit but I am glad to be home.  We missed that little Rio so much and our Clayton and our BED!  

Travel Time

Just a quick note to let all know that I'm still here.  We are traveling and will be heading home tomorrow morning.  Hope to have some nice pics, mainly of flowers, but pictures from our time away.  We jetted off to see Afton in kind of sunny LA.  Really it has been nice but a bit cool.  We even had a bit of rain when we went to Solang, a wonderful little wine area for the day.  Lot's of fabulous music and time with Afton and her guy Nick.  I'm a bit nervous to fly tomorrow with the delays and all but looks like the Congress may have taken care of that little problem just before we board tomorrow.  Don't mind flying but the process, security, boarding, flights on time, that is what makes me antsy.  We only have an hour layover for the next flight in Vegas and I DON'T want to be late.  We are getting a bit desparate to see our little guy Clayton and the precious face of our little RIO!  We have missed home so very much.  Later gators...

Baby, Baby, Baby

First Kiss

Have you ever reconnected with your first kiss?  I did!  Since I do the high school reunions I'm in touch with most everyone, which is very odd if you know me.  I've been in touch with Carry for many years via Facebook and email but in the nearly 40 years since high school have only seen him once, at the 15 year reunion, with his lovely wife.  Since we are friends out of high school I invited him and his wife to come to dinner sometime and guess what, on this past Monday night he came to dinner with The Hubby and I.  His wife was with her family and Carry decided to come to town to visit his mother, so he called.  We grilled a wonderful steak and sat on our new patio, had dinner and some wonderful conversation.  I knew The Hubby and he would get along because they both love history stuff and I was right.  It's kind of weird but in prospective I was only 13 years old when I got that first kiss and we really didn't know each other. We are forging a new friendship, 40 years later.  What is weird is that I had that wide-eyed young love giddy still burning for that first kiss guy for many, many years but since I have gotten to know him as a grown-up and met him again, well, it's gone.  I used to get that little flutter when he emailed pictures of his family and grandchildren or the thought of seeing him again but the giddy and flutter is GONE!  He's just a guy from my childhood and all of that stuff is burned out.  I've got another kind of giddy and flutter that takes its place and he's called The Hubby!  Sometimes visiting the past is a bit healing, don't you think.  It's puts all of that kind of stuff in perspective for me.  I have much better memories of meeting The Hubby and our first kiss, our first touch...lots of first.  I choose to remember the first kiss from the guy that changed my life forever, The Hubby, now that's a first kiss!