SPRING!

LOOKIE, LOOKIE, LOOKIE what I found in Daddy's front yard!  Spring has sprung.  Momma's sweet crocus's popping up by his front step.  

Happy Birhday Momma

Today Momma would have been 78 years old.  Here's to my sweet Momma!

Art Workshop

Thursday and Friday I spent in a art workshop with fellow artist and our instructor Kelli Folsom.  It was still life and landscape but because of the STUPID weather it was only still life.  I'm not much for doing stuff outside anyway so that was just fine.  I actually got to work on three different still life's, signing one.  It was so much fun.  I learned different ways to hold my brush, technique and mediums.  I worked with different colors I had not used before.  Last night I just couldn't let it go and I was painting in my dreams.  I would dream and during the dream I would be looking around to find something to paint in that moment.  Funny.  I had ordered different kinds of boards and canvas to paint on, new paints and brushes.  Unfortunately, the brushes didn't arrive until yesterday, AFTER the class.  No problem, will have fun using them on my on creations of still life.    There is another workshop in April for three days that I HOPE I can take.  It's a different instructor so different techniques.  

Random 5 Friday

Friday has rolled around yet again and so I have to contribute to the Random 5 Friday hosted by Nancy at A Rural Journal.

1.  I was kind in the news a bit this week, not only in printed material (Tulsa Lifestyle Magazine) but on Wednesday, The Hubby and I were out to lunch at a new deli called Lassalles.  We were enjoying some New Orleans type food  when I noticed a news crew from a local station.  They were filming a quick bit for the noon show about it being Fat Tuesday and guess what, I was caught stuffing my face and licking my fingers...mmm good!  I totally forgot that there was a film crew there, obviously.  A friend saw it and sent me a message so there you go!

2.   Spent all day in an art workshop and today will be day two.  It was so fun and definitely out of my comfort zone of painting techniques.

3.  Thinking a lot about putting in my garden.  I actually got it tilled and ready.  The Burpee seed catalog arrived, I ordered, they delivered and now I wait.  Next week I HAVE to get potatoes and onions to put in.  Oh come on spring!

4. Listening to Wally Lamb's book We Are Water in the car.  Have you read it.  Oh my, it's good and I can't wait to get in my car and just drive around to listen to it.  Very, very long.

5.  Daylight Savings Time starts again this weekend.  Wow, seems to have popped up way soon.  Don't forget to SPRING FOWARD!

A Painting Sort of Way

I have been a bit quite here this week but that doesn't mean life is not barreling along for me.  We had yet ANOTHER snow here the past weekend which kind of shut stuff down Monday and Tuesday.  Even though I knew my desk was piled with invoicing at the office on Monday I decided that I was NOT going out.  I actually did not even leave my house from Saturday to Monday.  That was quite nice I must say.  I spent that time painting!  

This one I just had to paint.  It is NOT finished yet, just blocked in with a bit of color.  I've got to fix Mondo's inside eye.  Anyway, this is our little Rio and her best friend Mondo.  I just love the photo of her hugging his neck.  The Hubby, when I showed it to him said, "It's the back of her head." I replied, "Yes, because painting the back of a head than painting the front."

This one looks sort of like another one I painted but a tad bigger and I LOVE sunflowers or daisies (whatever they are).  This one is not quite finished here. 

Was kind of in an abstract state of mind here.   

But mostly, I enjoyed the sun that was streaming through my window.

(Yes the classes are crooked mostly because a paperclip is holding the earpiece on and my ears are a bit lopsided I think!  Anyway, SUNSHINE!!!!!!  That is contentment on my face.

Star Student

How excited was I yesterday when one of my friends, actually several of my friends, sent messages about this article in a local magazine called Tulsa Lifestyle Magazine.  I was interviewed a month or so ago for an piece about being a "Star Student."  I had NO idea it would be in the same issue as PS Gordon, a nationally known artist, among a few others.  Locally he is a big deal too, and a customer of our electrical business.  Anyway, my mail had not arrived yet, but I was hoping my copy would arrive soon and sure enough I heard the mail slot clang.  I was painting but finished what I was doing, signing a painting, and then went to see the publication laying in the mail basket.

Oooooo, so excited to read it.  

Oh my gosh, I had tears of happiness and joy in my eyes as I read the words.  It was a great article, although she mentioned something about me painting an eagle which I was not.  Not sure where she got that from.  

HAPPY IS MY MIDDLE NAME!

Pouch Food

Pouch food.

 Do you know what I'm talking about?  It's the new convenient way mommies can transition their babies to grownup food.  

The other night some of my girl friends came by and we were chatting before going to dinner.  These ladies work at the day school at our church, one of them is the director.  Anyway, they were discussing some of the problems with a few of the children being extremely picky eaters.  The picky eaters, they went on to say, were fed almost exclusively pouch food.  These little ones were 3-4 years old and real food still freaked them out.  My friends went on to say that there are several problems with pouch food from the picky stuff to speech impediment problems.  Oh my goodness I had no idea but had my worries about the over use of these said pouches.

Since we have a sweet little granddaughter this pouch food thing caught my attention.  Thank goodness Rio has transitioned right on to real food, not this pureed stuff.  I just found this topic of discussion very interesting and validated my concerns for the stuff.  As I've read, it should be only used for convince for travel or on the go, not for every single meal as I think some families are choosing to use.  Caution for sure.

Random 5 Friday

It's that time of the week for the Random 5 Friday hosted by A Rural Journal.  Here's my contribution for the day.

1.  Don't you just hate it when you have to pee in the middle of the night but you just can't wake up to go and the urge invades your dream.  If that happened when I was a young girl I might actually pee in the bed...true!

2.  Mammogram last week.  Was a bit nervous because it's a MAMMOGRAM, and second, because I was about 6 months late getting this years done, or last years, or whatever.  Letter came and I'm good!  Whew!!!!

3.  Please DON'T let me encounter a Girl Scout selling cookies.....NOOOOOO..... I will eat them all!

4.  Old man winter is not through with us yet...here he comes again.

5.  Clayton, our sweet boy. Isn't he handsome!

Messy vs Neat

They call me "Messy Marvin"

 (my closet)

They call him "Neat Nick"

(his closet)

Opposites attract!

Random 5 Friday

Times flies when you're having fun...

Random 5 Friday is here again!

1.  Sleep can be overrated, yet I NEED it! This week I had another of those sleepless nights.  Is it because I'm older, much older.  I see those commercials and magazine articles saying that it's a real problem for OLD women!  Hey, I'm not OLD!

2.  Had a neat experience while in art class this week.  I was painting away on my 4'x 6' project "Sunrise" when some guy walked through and came around my easel saying he just had to see what was on the other side.  He gasped and started saying how much he loved it and the colors and that it would look perfect on his wall in his home in Dallas.  I had to to tell him that it was sold and he wanted to see some of my impressionist flowers I do.  He gave me his card and wants to possibly paint him another HUGE painting like this...(this is not finished yet).  The whole room, including my instructor became quiet listening to our exchange of cost and stuff.  WHAT!

3.  Think my tiller is going to get a workout tomorrow afternoon.  Paint in the morning and till in the afternoon!  

4.  Cuteness = Rio

5.  Thinking of finding a spa to go to again.  The Hubby is going to Australia in a few months and the last time he took a big trip (Africa) I went to Lake Austin Spa!  Spa time!

Wordless Wednesday

Sing Out Loud 2

See I did it.  The boa is NOT around my neck but around the microphone stand.

Sing Out Loud

A quick post because I'm still bit tipsy this morning and had such an awesome time last night I don't want to forget it.  

We were in attendance at The Wigwam (our cabinites gathering place) at a pig roast and karaoke party last night.  The pig thing was okay and let me tell you I DID NOT like seeing the face of said pig laying on the platter, but it was yummy.  A friend, a cabinite person had won the party at a charity auction and had to share the fun.  The food was scrumptious and plenty and then the karaoke machine began.  

Here comes confession time.  

I started drinking champagne (and finished the whole bottle myself) to try to find a bit of courage because I WANTED to get up and sing.  I've been faced throughout my lifetime with opportunities to sing in public but have half scared out of my mind.  In fact, I was supposed to sing a solo in the church choir many years ago for a Christmas program and had practiced and practiced (that was scary in itself).  Well, the week of I came down with pneumonia and could not sing.  I think I actually made myself sick so I didn't have to sing. Another example was in high school when I got all the courage I could muster to try out for what we called our high school talent show, Pow Wow.  I tried out and I nearly passed out from the fear and shaking I was doing.  I found out that I actually made it but the fear was so great that I never showed up for practices. 

Well, last night I was ready to sing in front of my peers.  I think The Hubby went around to one of the karaoke guys because he came up to me and said he could tell I could sing and encouraged me to sing.  My first song was Ain't No Mountain High Enough and so it came on over the speakers and I found myself jumping up and getting in front of the microphone.  I was quickly joined by some of  my lady friends to sing back up (thank you).   If you know the song it is a lot more talking than anything which I think helped.  I took the opportunity to make sure to look out in the audience and make eye contact even thought it was terrifying to look into a familiar face.  I was trying to find The Hubby's face for comfort but couldn't.  I think I saw him at the side taking video...we'll see.  I sang loud and hopefully on key and it was a BLAST!

When done everyone came up to me to tell me I could really sing that I was great.  The Hubby told me he was proud of me and that I did an awesome job.  I have been flying high ever since I can tell you.  

My next song was Band of Gold and that one I really got to sing.  I can not tell you what a thrill it was and I so had fun.  I wasn't sure I was on tune because I could NOT hear myself but I tried and I know it was a success.  

Hey, I think I have done a bucket list thing for me.  Sing in front of my peers without fear, or at least not as much fear.

Random 5 Friday

It's that time again for the Random 5 Friday at A Rural Journal this fine Friday.  

1.  Happy Valentine's Day!

1.  Shirley Temple passed away...awwww, I so loved her.

3.  I'm not fond of chocolate...now caramel...would die for caramel!

4.  I love sunshine and warmer temperatures.  Yeah, the sun is shining and I have a happy smile on my face!  Bring on the spring.

5.  Finally have gotten the reading bug back...FINALLY!  It happens every year that all of a sudden I can barely read a paragraph or even the newspaper then...WHAM...it's back and I read, read, read.  When that time strikes it's not good if I'm reading something I'm already having trouble getting through, which is why I have a few books with markers in them for years.  Can't seem to pick them up again.  

Cuteness

Okay the title is a bit misleading from this photo...no wait...we are cute!  Briana and I were in attendance at the annual My Furry Valentine.  She has been on the board and part of Street Cats, a local cat rescue for several years.  My Furry Valentine is the their huge fund raiser event and it was Sunday.

Saturday night we again kept Rio.  I was a bit scared it was going to be rough with the sleeping thing but was had a great time with her only waking once in the night for about 5 minutes.  She did through a hissy fit at bedtime but once down, she was down! 

This was morning breakfast with waffle and banana!

Don't you LOVE this little jeans vest.  It belonged to her mother.  I can't remember who gave it to us but I think my mother bought it for Briana.  I dug it out of the trunk for Rio and it is darling on her.

She found her little shelf that has her puzzles and books.  She loves books, PERFECT, we do too! 

"Alan Harper" Invades My Dreams

Get your imagination caps on all.  

I have been watching some online art classes on Craftsy and one of the classes I started last night was a color mixing class.  This morning The Hubby got up about 6 am to feed Clayton and I stayed in bed to catch some extra z's.  The Hubby has a very bad habit, mainly because HE CAN'T HEAR, to turn up the television.  So I was sleeping away and dreaming, dreaming about going to a color mixing class.  It was a big deal in my dream and I was running late trying to get all my stuff together when all of a sudden a door opens and Alan Harper aka Jon Cryer jumps in the room.  Hi is proud of himself and smiling that toothy smile he has.  He is completely covered with tool belts of every kind, from head to toe, that are full of huge tubes of paint and paint brushes.  He was going to the color mixing class with me.  I'm not sure if it was a bad dream but I suddenly woke up and realized that the reason that Alan Harper aka Jon Cryer was in my dreams was because the television was loud, very loud and The Hubby was watching the DVR list of recorded show, Two and a Half Men!

Random 5 Friday

It's that time again...Random 5 Friday!

1.  Wednesday I made a delicious and low cal dinner.  It really started out as a marinade for a Spicy Roasted Cauliflower but it was suggested in the recipe that the marinade could be used for other veggies or meats...chicken!

EUREKA!  

So I marinated chicken breast in the left over marinade from the cauliflower dish and then grilled the chicken.  SO yummy!

1 Tbls veg oil

1-1/2 cups plain Greek Yogurt

1 lime, zested & juiced

2 Tbls Chili powder

1 Tbls Cumin

1 Tbls garlic powder

1 tsp curry powder (my new FAV!)

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp black pepper

2.  Finally, FINALLY I got some personal time in front of MY easel at home and finished this beauty.  It's called "Stained Glass." I've been watching some online art classes and am so ready to be creative. 

3.  Massage is good!  Facial is good!  Reflexology is good!  Mani-pedi is good!  Yes, Thursday was the day of me, Queen for the day!  Painting in the morning and then being pampered all day long, now that is what I'm talking about.  Actually, massage is good for you and I do all of these things every 4 weeks!  

4.  While laying around Thursday I began to think about the young me.  Yes, must have been wishful thinking that I could stop time while being pampered.  Anyway, I am in the middle of helping to plan for my 40th class reunion and as usual I start thinking about days past.  I thought about the kind of person I was back in the day.  I think everyone liked me.  I was a likable person and have been told that I was one of the sweetest people they knew back then...awwww.   My question that has crossed my mind many times over the years, especially in the tender-age-years is, why didn't I get asked out more.  Did I give the impression that I was stuck up, was I not popular enough, not cute enough...oh, sometimes it just makes me crazy...have to stop it!  NOW!

5.  I HATE snow...did I say that already.  

Round Whatever

It's round whatever in the snow episodes here in Oklahoma and the rest of the country.  Even though Tuesday is my day to not work at the office,  I HAD to go in.  So I bundled up my art supplies for class later, lunch for me and The Hubby and went in to do a bit of work.  Good thing because my desk was knee deep with invoicing and two days of mail.  I didn't pay any bills but I did get the invoicing done and a couple of quotes for The Hubby and a deposit and then I was off to class.  I wasn't sure anyone would be there but I called Ziegler's and they said Ross was there!!!!

So off I went.

I got lucky that the front room class was not in attendance and got a front door parking spot to haul my supplies in.  This is the view from their windows. 

By the end of the two hour class it was nearly gone and slushy.  Now we have the winds blowing in to bring the temps and wind chill down, down, down!

In fact, I am writing this very early this Wednesday morning, 3:07 AM.  I woke up about 1:30 and had to pea which sometimes gets my mind whirring, which it did.  I could NOT go back to sleep not matter how hard I tried.  So after over an hour of tossing and turning, here I am writing on my blog.  The Oklahoma winds are NOT helping either. 

Accomplished more sky on the large commission project!  Week three done.  I hope to have it completed by the end of February or first week of March.

Monday Ramblin's

Yup it's doing that nasty snowy cold stuff again.  Rio enjoyed it and actually wore her little boots.  The kid HATES shoes of any kind.  Isn't she just adorable!

Today is my usual day to watch her at the office but with the roads kind of yucky Briana was not comfortable getting a baby out so I went to their house to watch her.  I went in to the office early and got my stuff done then headed over to their house.  It was kind of fun to let her enjoy her home digs.  While there I had lap full of cats with Vera and Sammy and their black lab Mondo was just a sweet gentleman offering his paw for me to pet.  

This is Vera and I may have to paint her.  I am doing an online pet drawing class and this photo is perfect for painting.  

This was just the tip of the snowberg and today it melted off but we are in for another round tomorrow and Thursday and Friday....SNOW I am so over you, pretty or not!

Snow, Snow, Snow

We were just minding our own business at the cabin this weekend when the weather peep's starting ranting about SNOW!  They weren't kidding.  I told The Hubby that I wanted to get up early and head home so I could go see Daddy.  We were on the road by 8:30 but nearly an hour later when we hit Tulsa we were facing this...I never made it to Daddy's.

then about 20 minutes later after we got all snug inside the house I took this photo.  It's even deeper now.  GOOD GRIEF!  Enough already!  There is the threat of more on Tuesday and the end of the week.  Guess I had better keep the snow boots quite handy this week! 

And to think I was sporting these lovely shades just the first of last week.  I am a sad girl now!