Roses, Kiddos and Fish

Thought I would touch base here.  Since my life, and everyone else's, is pretty much at a standstill, I can't report much in my world.  Just painting and grandkiddos.

Remember last weekend I picked a some peonies and roses at our cabin.  It was a beautiful weekend!  Last weekend I started this painting and yesterday finished it.  I am so very please with how it turned out. 

"Reflections" oil 16x20

Back to the weekend.  We finally, FINALLY got to spend time with Snicklefritz and we had such a fun weekend, even thought it turned chilly.  There was a bit of warmth and sunshine that The Hubby got to take her fishing.  She also got to drive the golf cart.  We played a lot of Uno, read books and played hair salon.

My goodness I have missed this little munchkin.  It was good to get one of her hugs and kisses. 

More news...

This little family, our youngest, hubby and little Smiley, are moving home to be close to family!!!  Since they live in LA the music scene is pretty much non-existent for them and it made more sense to move here, closer to us.  We are over the moon to have both my girls here, close and their families!!!!!  I can't tell you how happy we are. 

Weekend Getaway's

We've taken every opportunity on the weekends to jet away to our home away from home.  It is so beautiful this time of year in Northeast Oklahoma.  Enjoy the photos and maybe some will become paintings.  In fact the first one is on my easel at this time.

We've refurbished the outdoor screen porch the past few months with a new outdoor fireplace, re-staining the floor and a new ceiling with new can lights.  We also took out a pole that was smack in the middle of the room and put a beam across for holding up the ceiling.  

The yard also is full of beauty with peonies, iris, and roses.  The white peonies remind me of my momma 

Just Paintings

 Not much to say, just painting...and time goes on...

Cows and Clouds
11x14 oil

Bedtime Stories
9x12 oil

Safer At Home Update

I trust all are well during this ongoing pandemic.  It seems as if it will never ends sometimes but I know in my heart it will.  Things may be different for awhile but all things do go back to normal, eventually.  

I'm continuing to paint at home but hope to transition back to the studio at some point.  I thought I might this week but if I listen to the doomsayers then we are in for the worst this week.  I just don't know.  

On to happier times, painting...Easter...granddaughters!

"Sunset on Cedar Crest"

 The bunnies have already found a new home, at least when they are dry.

"Hoppy Easter"

Baby Donald found it's way to Snicklefritz's Easter bag from me.

 We again headed to the cabin for the weekend.  It does get boring looking at the same four walls and we just decided to find another four walls to stare at.  Actually, it's kind of nice because it is very quiet and we had a nice fire in the fireplace and it rained last night.  The sound on the metal roof is very pleasing.  I have been cooking a nice breakfast Saturday mornings for The Hubby but I told him not to get used to it...lol!

We girls we able to have social hour again Friday and Saturday evenings on our golf carts, all at a very safe distance.  It's weird and we kind of have to yell a bit but I'll take it. 

We also, as a family had a nearly 2 hour ZOOM phone call/video call.  It was wonderful to see everyone.  

Captive Life

Day a million of isolation.  I don't want to know the real count cause that may make me NUTS!  I'm still painting at home but plan on transitioning back to the studio next week.  The light is just better.  Although if I have to use the bathroom, I will go home as our bathroom is utilized by the entire building!!! YIKES!  So will paint a bit then bathroom break.  HaHaHa...

I've been to the office a few times to keep up with everything.  I had to get the quarter end stuff to the accountant today but that was easy.  I walked into their front entry where there was a table to drop stuff off.  Easy-peasy.  I went to the post office and the bank drive-thru where I clorox wiped the devil out of the container before and after I touched.  I ordered boos from the liquor store by phone with payment and 20 minutes later I pulled up, opened the trunk, called them and they put it in my car and off I went on my merry way.  I ordered groceries this morning that will be delivered tomorrow morning.  

The grocery store thing has been sometimes a bit of a challenge.  My usual store, Reasor's where I've been ordering groceries online for at least a couple of years I find it extremely hard to find a time to pick up.  The slots are always full so I looked for different options.  Around here we have Shipt and Instacart and on Amazon I can order from Whole Foods and they will deliver to my door but they only have a few things I usually use.  You can't get like Cascade for the dishwasher or Tide for clothes washing.  So I started using Shipt and I really like it.  If it's over a certain amount then the delivery is free and the next time you log on you can tip the delivery person and I tip well!!!  Plus they will text when they are going to the store and text while in the store to check on the stuff you wanted that may not be there, and will substitute but only if you okay it first.  Then they text to see if there is anything else you need to add to your list.  They text when checking out and on the way to your house.  And finally text when they deliver. So super fantastic.  I haven't used Instacart yet.  Shipt does Reasor's, our local store and Instacart does Sprouts and Fresh Market here in town.  There are tons of options for all of this and I'm not unhappy about it.  Oh and Shipt you can continue adding to your order pretty close to before they start shopping.  I HATE going to the store and the only thing I really need to go for is for meats and possibly veggies but really that hasn't been a problem so far.  This has been my "new normal" for awhile and will continue to be long after this pandemic thing has died down.

I finished these lovely sunflowers yesterday and posted them on Facebook on various art pages and the response has never ever been this huge.  Does a lot for the ego.  

"Isolation Sunflowers"  11x14 oil on linen

Plus I'm continuing on with my writing letters and small notes to friends, old and new to just reach out during this pandemic and crisis in our world.  I want to let them know they are thought of fondly with love and care.  Just a few a day but I will continue

Hope all are well during this time and continue to be.

Still Healthy

Still healthy, so far.  I can say that and not be too scared, so far.  I've pretty much been holed up at home with an occasional trips to the office, bank or post office.  I also had to make a run to the vet to get Clayton's meds filled.  I was afraid they might close and he would be in bad shape.  Mostly he has issues with arthritis I believe and one of his pills helps that a lot.

The easel has been set up in the kitchen and I've completed a few paintings and then this one I started and finished.  I'm not sure I like it even though it's signed.  It may need a tweek here and there at some point.  Having a hard finding something that inspires me to paint and my picture folders are getting very boring at this point.  

Not too keen on this, but tomorrow I HAVE to go and take my dad to the hearing aid doctor to pick up his repaired hearing aids.  It's pretty essential that he has them so he can hear the television and the whole neighborhood doesn't have to hear it too.  I won't lie, I'm scared about doing it but it is a must and I really need to pay his bills.  So I will put on the mask and gloves, carry Clorox wipes and make a run for it.   

I've been making some little videos on Facebook but haven't figured out how to save the darn things so I can share.  It's mainly to talk about painting and what I'm doing trying to NOT LOSE MY MIND.  Honestly it's not too bad as I stay home alone a lot anyway.  The sticker is cooking every single meal, cleaning up, coming up with meals...EGAD!  I am a bit tired of that but I'm managing to be pretty creative with what I have in my pantry.  

This past weekend we headed to the cabin.  I hadn't been there for a couple of weeks and I was in NEED of it and my new outdoor fireplace.  The Carolina jasmine was stunning when we pulled up and the fragrance was amazing.  It was also loaded with bees, bumble and honey bees.  Love that.  Kind of scary that several of the cabinite people have the virus.  The ones that have been infected all attended a dinner party on the 13th.  It's funny that some of their spouses/partners aren't sick or barely and some have been very sick.  This virus is a strange one.  

My backyard is beautiful too.  The Japanese Kierra in the corner (have one at the cabin too) is breathtaking.  

Check out all the mirrors we have.  Makes the flowers double in mass. 

Stay healthy my friends and enjoy the backyard beauty!

Keeping Busy

In this pandemic crisis where we are all confined it may truly be hard on some people who are used to going and interacting with people or places.  I get it, I understand.  Plus you are probably cooped up with loved ones and they will start to grate on your nerves.  My advice on that part is separate rooms at times or corners.  Silence maybe.  We are lucky here because we have an office/shop where The Hubby can go or we have our lake place.  He can go and tinker and piddle like he needs.  He's one of those who cannot sit still but he has projects, lots of projects that keep him busy.  

" Sunflower Envy"  11x14 oil

I find solace sitting at home either painting, reading, napping, or if the weather is good sitting outside and soaking up the rays.  This week we've had a lot of rain so I opted to sit at my kitchen table with the sliding door open and listen to the rain as I created.  I could go to my studio as that is isolated but I just wanted to stay put, and I did.  The Hubby even decided to head to the cabin this weekend but I thought it best he go and I stay here and enjoy my time by myself.  Not everyone has options like we have here in our household. 

It's nice to get lost in a book or a movie where you can forget all that is going on in the world right now.  It's actually extremely healthy to take your mind away from all of that.  Lately I've actually been on the verge of panic attacks and I DON'T have those but I can sense my breathing getting shallow, my heart beating harder, my blood pressure going up.  I take deep breaths and do those things that take my mind off of it all, stay busy.

"Little Blue Bird" 8x10 oil

I will not lie I am scared.  I wake up every morning and my first thought is Covid 19.  I do NOT want to get sick and I don't want my family to get sick.  What I'm more afraid of right now is the panic, the hoarding, the fear of no money, no work and the panic that is starting to bubble for some people.  Our kiddos in California are terrified and I want to assure them to stay calm.  It's a day by day thing but they may be coming here to stay at some point.  Don't get me wrong I would love to have them in T-town, permanently but not this fast, not this way.  

So I will continue my mostly stay alone times with painting, reading and some work at the office, by myself.  Take care of yourselves and BRING ON THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER!  

Coronavirus

Coronavirus...wish I had NEVER heard of this damn virus.  It is very scary if you watch non-stop the media; i.e. Facebook, television...

My girls are in an absolute panic and are terrified for themselves, their families, and The Hubby and myself, as we are in the age bracket that is higher risk  Especially me since I've had pneumonia a couple of times.  And frankly, I'm afraid too, but the media is making it so totally worse.  Yes, I know it's bad, I know, I KNOW!  But non-stop coverage is making everyone crazy and on edge, and my stomach is in knots.  I can't imagine what my girls are feeling.  I hate to tell them but I HAVE to go to my father's and pay his bills and check on him.  My siblings will do their part too but they ALL are extremely high risk with COPD and my father is 84 years old (my mother-in-law is 93.)  I'm probably the healthiest of us.

How I manage this no-contact, isolation thing, which I do most of the time anyway is:

I order groceries online.  I pull up to the store, call their number, they come out with my groceries, load them in my trunk, close the lid and I'm off to the house.  

Work, I'm in an office that is mostly me, The Hubby and our daughter.  We have employees but they rarely come in when I'm there.  

My art studio and studio partner are rarely in their together and lately she's been gone a lot.  Plus, we both have our separate rooms.  

Honestly, I've been practicing this sort of isolation thing for at least a couple of years, especially with the flu stuff.  

But, for now, I've got food, lots of books to read and will go to the studio to paint or bring it home if I need.  I've canceled a lot of my usual stuff, dental cleaning, book club, luncheons...

I'm good with being home but at some point life will have to go on as people will need to make money to eat, pay their bills, take care of life as we know it.  We need to put the remote down for a bit and only watch like the morning news or evening and then stop, STOP!  Just do what you need and this will pass.  

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

I've been gone, yes I know.  I just didn't feel I had anything to say here.  

 I start off this post with a cutie-pie...Little Miss M is now 5 months old and she just makes my heart sing.  Last weekend I had Snicklefritz for the night and what a smart fun little girl.  I tell you being a Granny is what life's all about.  

"Repose"  16x20 oil on panel

The painting thing is going, slowly.  

"Patsy" 18x24 oil on panel

There are a few shows coming up but because I was on the landscape thing I'm a few ahead, I hope.  I really need to get back to the portrait paintings.

This one I hope to get back to but for some reason a recent update on my IPad has hidden the reference photo. 

So much has been going on nationally, voting in the primary and this dang coronavirus thing.  I really don't feel at risk with it as I don't get out to see many people, I order and pick up groceries, and not in contact with peeps that have traveled outside the country.  I think with the warmer temps coming it will fade away.  

I just keep my nose busy with painting, a bit of work, and reading at the cabin.  I'm actually way, WAY ahead on my reading goal this year.  I've already read 21 books this year to my goal of 50!  One I recently read (in the photo) I highly recommend.  It's "The Flight Girls" by Noelle Salazar.  OMG, that was an awesome book and I absolutely inhaled it in one day.  

Also spent a bit of time yesterday organizing my pantry.  My copy of  Pioneer Woman magazine came and she showed her organizied pantry with links to baskets, both wire and wicker and I was totally inspired.  My pantry just gets out of hand so quickly and trust me it was a horrible mess.  You know those wheat bug moths, well I found the source of a ton of  (thankfully) dead ones...blech!  Vacumn, dust, organize, toss, TOSS and TOSS, I filled three full trash bags.  I also found that I have an over abundance of vinegars, various kinds of vinegars.  That top picture, the basket not only has those three bottles of vinegar but the ENTIRE basket is vinegar.  I also have four containers of black pepper and four of table salt.  GOOD GRIEF!  I don't use that much salt, pepper yes.   

And the cookbooks, well don't get me started on those.  That's just a few of the cookbooks I own.  I absolutely LOVE cookbooks, love to read them, but in reality I rarely use one.  I might use them as a guide, for reference but really don't use them.  I need to cul the collection but can't seem to make myself do it.  I am thinking of having a garage sale and purge a ton of my dishes, cookbooks, regular books and maybe some clothes.  

Almost forgot that on Instagram last Thursday one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand had a quick contest where you answered in once sentence what was your favorite summer inbetween I believe 1993 and 201? something and at random she would pick I believe 10 and give away an advance copy of her new book "28 Summers."  Well, less than 5 minutes after I answered that I couldn't pick a favorite summer as all summers are my favorite I see someone congratulate me and I see I have a direct message (DM) from ELIN HILDERBRAND saying I indeed won of the books to send her my address.  I did that and she FOLLOWED me back on Instagram.  WOW, WOW, WOW!  Then we went to the cabin for the weekend and I totally forgot about it when on Sunday I get back and there is a package with an autographed copy of her advance copy book!  So very exciting.  I actually now have three autographed books from her.  

Art Pause

Springtime in Northeast Oklahoma
9x12 oil on linen panel

The past couple of weeks my local art world has given me pause.  You see, I recently said, "YES" to take on a position in the local organization as newsletter editor.  I like doing newsletters and have taken classes on writing them.  My skills at writing are a bit rusty but I will depend on my English major daughter to critique them!!!  Win on my part there.

There have been two board meetings since the first of the year and last week I sucessfully got out the first edition of the newsletter.  That all is not a problem at all and I think everyone was quite happy with the newsletter.  The issue are the board meetings, in particular the last one.  We had a discussion on a project that we've done for about three years now, the first one I was a part of.  It was a film project with students from a local high school where the students make films about artists and they're posted on YouTube. I loved mine but it's a film that I must promote myself from their YouTube channel.  Our organization funded the projects, well, not really funded but supported financially and it has gotten out of hand money wise, money we, as a group really don't have. Oh, we want to support the students and the program and want to do the films but one of our art members has facilitated the project, setting it up to where WE, the group actually pay the students and I have a problem with that.  The thing is a class project and should not be a "paid" project.  At the last board meeting, after lots of discussion I made a motion that we not support the project financially for the year 2021, but that if the students needed people to interview and make films then by all means we are there, just not monetarily.  But truly, the last year the person faciltating the project could NOT even get participants.  She had to beg and plead people to send in their applications so the teacher (if the teacher was even choosing) could choose the next subjects.

Everyone, EVERYONE in that meeting voted to accept my motion, there were NO nays, not a one. Since the board meeting one of the board members went back to the project creator and told her I WAS THE ONE who made the motion and that we were not going to back the project again.  The proverbial S**T hit the fan this week.  OH MY GOSH, now the person who went tattling is planning on coming back to the next meeting and having us RESCEND the vote and vote again, that she has more than 2/3 of the board on her side, all being prompted by the offended creator of the project.  I really doubt that is true but we will see.  The problem with that little scenario is that our president went to the teacher and told him everything, every email, that has taken place and guess what, he doesn't want the crazy either.  He told the president that he wouldn't take a million dollars to do the project with us anymore.  So, the rescend the motion, re-vote and all the hoopla is a moot point.  It is done, finished, over!

Then this morning I saw on Facebook that the creator of the project, a person of which I am in two groups with, has unfriended me.  Really, I don't care but GOOD GRIEF!  Let's be vindictive why don't we.  She is taking this all so personally and the bottom line is that WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY as a group to continue doing the project. There are accusations that the treasurer has stolen some of the donated money (we have donators for the project sometime) and that is going to go over like a lead balloon in the next meeting.  If that happened it is possible that it is just a coding mistake, easily fixed but truly, not that many people have donated money to the project.  We could possibly have the treasurer, president, vice president and me, newsletter editor walk out the door.  And, now that our organization is a 501C3 or 5013C organization we could have problems with all that.  It has taken a terrible turn and frankly I don't need it.  I am voluntering my time as is everyone on the board to make this 90 year old organization do what it is intended, bring art to the world, share art.  It is not a self-promoting group, we are not going to feed these egos that seem to prevail in the art world.

I am just going to paint and try to ignore the stupidity of all this crap.  Please enjoy my paintings and ignore my ramble that I had to get off my chest so I COULD paint!

My Painting World

The weekend is here...YEAH!  Honestly the week just seemed to creep by and I'm not sure why, probably because of the nasty snow.  I am NOT a snow or winter person at all and that may explain my desire to paint green, lots and lots of green lately.

Red House in the Country

Fishin' Hole

It's funny that I felt stuck with my art stuff but I think it's evolving because look what I've been doing lately.  Of course, lots of green but look closely, it's kind of more impressionism than realism and it's landscapes.  I'm finding myself drawn to create them lately.   

Hay Time

My studio partner, Linda and I have a show coming up this September in Broken Arrow and I felt I needed some collections, sets, a focus.  It's always been flowers before and I know I'll do that but I think I've already got a collection going here!!!  I just realized that this morning when I was looking at what I've created lately, and I am going to continue, if I can find some more pictures to work on.   

Moss Mountain Farm

 Hoping this spring will give me tons of stuff to do and MAYBE I just might get outside and actually plein air paint!!!!

Remembering Charlotte

 I will continue the portrait stuff but I'm struggling on those and need to find a portrait class to take.  Actually, Linda is going to teach one and I told her I am first on her list!!!

Plus this spring we will take a workshop in Tulsa from a guy named Patrick Saunders.  I'm not sure who got him to come to Tulsa but I am VERY happy about that. 

Gotta run and PAINT!

Dieting, YET AGAIN!

Finally the holidays are over, the Christmas decorations are stowed away till next year and the new year is a month in.  Now I'm look at working on the weight plan since CLEARLY I've fallen off the cliff in that area.

Last summer I really was doing great with the Nutrisystem and was nearly 20 pounds down but after being in New York, LA, all the holiday goings-on I've put 10 back on, real quick. 

Monday I had a physical and even though I'm still down (doctor is happy) and my blood pressure was awesome I need to get back with it.  My doctor, my kind helpful SKINNY doctor proceeded to go on and on about this NOOM app that he uses to lose weight.  Right there I wanted to hit him but I listened.  I decided to try it out along with my Nutrisystem.  I'm using both the apps along with the food and have taken a month off from workout because I have to focus on one thing right now.  My whole issue is fast food and I know it.  I'm easily swayed at lunch time if I don't plan and have my food with me to just swing by a fast food place because it's easy.  So if I can have my lunches ready to go then the rest of my day and meals are easy.  I try to cook very good for dinner and have no issue, mostly in that department.  It's like last night for dinner I cooked salmon fillets with 1/2 cup of brown rice and steamed spinach.  It was delicious and I was quite satisfied.  Tonight will be grilled chicken and a veggie of some kind and maybe pan roasted sweet potatoes.  See, I can cook well and lean.  Even going out to dinner I mostly choose well from the menu, salad, lean fish or chicken but occasionally I want a steak and baked potato with all the fixin's and that's okay.  

MY ISSUE IS LUNCH AND FAST FOOD!!! Plain and simple.

I'm determined to get this weight off because with the 20 pounds off I felt so much better and with the 10 back on I'm already hurting again.  My body hurts, hurts, hurts and I'm tired of it.  

Happy Anniversary To US!

This past week this guy, my guy and I celebrated 44 years of marriage.  I CANNOT believe that much time has passed.  It just seems like yesterday that these very young babies, US, met, fell in love and said "I do!"

Lots of stuff has happened in those 44 years, good, bad, ugly, wonderful, magnificent...the words can go on forever.

We've forged a wonderful life together, a business together and created a fantastic family together.  Our daughters, oh our daughters.  I cannot be more proud of them and their journeys in their lives and they've given us two beautiful granddaughters that I love more than life itself.  

Happy Anniversary to my one and only...here's to another 44.

A Reading We Will Go

 Set off for the cabin this weekend with Snicklefritz in tow.  She actually gave up a sleepover with friends to hang with us old people for the weekend.  We still have pull that we are fun, helps we have a golf cart she can drive.

It's what you do on a cold Saturday morning with #1 granddaughter comes for the weekend, sit by the fire and read with a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows and a sidekick, Clayton by her side.  Snicklefritz is mastering chapter books and I could not be prouder of her.  My favorite memories are going to my great-grandparents in Jay or camping with the family at the lake and inhaling books.  Mother always said "teach a child to read and they can accomplish anything in the world they want to."  Mother was a huge advocate for reading and my siblings and I carry on the tradition of being voracious readers.  The next generation is continuing.

I read this book for book club and started yet another one so I got a lot accomplished this weekend too in the reading category!

There weren't any of the ladies on Friday night except Snicklefritz but I still fed the "guys."  I picked up Papa Murphy's pizza, an easy feed, and fed four of the hubby's friends, they were much appreciative.  Saturday, without planning on it I fixed 3-way (chili, spaghetti and beans) and had enough that I again fed the man-crew with an added couple, girl-company!  It works out pretty good, especially if I fix food for The Hubby's friends and he cleans up.  I woke up Saturday to have the kitchen sparkling!  

That dog, oh that dog.  Clayton woke up before 5 both Saturday and Sunday, yet this morning when the alarm went off, when I HAD to get up, the little bugger would not wake up.  No, he was still sleeping until just a few minutes ago, 5:30 and The Hubby HAD to wake him up to feed him.  ARGHHHH,  why can't he sleep in on the weekend when we want to.  Oh well. 

Painting In The New Year

Happy New Year...well, this new year it already flying by as it is the 11th of January.  I've been trying to play catch up with work and painting.  My studio mate and I have a show next September and I want to get several of the self-portraits done.  I've got them drawn but have been very hesitant to apply paint.  But this week I decided to conquer the fear and just do it.  So far I am please with the beginning of block-in on this one.  Skin color is so tricky!  

I did finish this one of Moss Mountain Farm.  I've painted it before in a very small version and it sold very quickly but I wanted to paint it bigger.  I'm happy with it. 

On a quick note this Saturday morning...BRRRRR...winter has blown in and of course our furnace is on the fritz.  Of course my do-it-yourself hubby is not inclined to call anyone but wants to tackle it himself.  Righhhhht...I'm cold and thank goodness most of the day I will be moving and grooving with straightening up the guest bedrooms from our company and dismantling Christmas and stowing it away, so I may even break a sweat.  Lots of blankets this evening and I should survive.  My parakeet on the other hand I will move to the bedroom area where we have a split system to keep him warm.

Sad note is that The Hubby lost two cousins yesterday.  They had both been battling cancer.