Renovation and Sketching

Good morning.  It's been a minute for sure.  Just seems like it is just one thing after another lately.  The saga that is our home rejuvenation is still ongoing.  The last post was the water in the offices and it was the day we had our new garage door installed.  By the way, the office flooding, all is good.  The computer and printer are all up and running fine.  Thank goodness.  This week it has been the installation of all new windows mostly in the front of the house and some side windows.  That was an entire week process and I was not entirely happy about it, still aren't in some aspects.  I'm not happy because I have to come up with window coverings, my most unfavorite thing to do.  AND, it means that I lose my beloved plantation shutters, maybe. We were able to keep the ones in the front room, his office, even though he says they don't let enough light in.  Bull.  He just doesn't like them.  I do, they are like a white picket fence for me and I want them.  In our bedroom we had a full window of them but now it is a sheet.  When I said I really wanted them he said they were too expensive.  After I've slept on this I was like, "HEY, wait a minute..."  After all this expense of new garage door, new windows, and this next week new awning curtains and awning over porch AND a new A/C-Heater unit, plantation shutters are too expensive and that is what YOU wanted...No F....king Way!!!  I'm getting ready to do battle.  Watch me.  Also, the painter still has to come in and paint the trim and the outside areas like over the garage door to match.

Old

New

New doors too.  He wanted just plain clear class, all of it.  I put the brakes on that idea and it's got texture.

See how nice these shutters look, and all the LIGHT!  

It really does look pretty now.

I've also spent the past couple of weeks doing a lot of just plain sketching and really enjoying it.  

My Greatgranny, and yes she had that kind of big nose, I have it too.

Daddy and Susie

Today I am preparing to write a letter to my friend.  She calls me her best friend but she and I need to talk, via letter.  More later.

Rain Rain Don't Go Away...BUT

 Today!  Today has been a MONDAY!!!  A Monday from hell.  First of all the wonderful rain last night was great.  Our rain gauge said 4"!!! That was fantastic.  Let me back up a smidge.  This weekend was his 50th class reunion.  It was Thursday-Sunday and it was quite fun and exhausting.  I'm glad it is over and now we look forward to mine next month.  

So I was up around 4:30 this morning, again.  This pattern is getting old.  The weekend I was so tired that Sunday I slept in till 7:30, that was awesome.  But up I was and waited for him to arise.  The garage door peeps were to be here to install our new garage door.  I can't remember if I have shared but we purchased a new one in MAY!  There were supposed to install it last month.  Two weeks before they were to install our current door broke.  He spent two weeks lifting and lowering the door if I needed to leave or come home, until he called a contractor we used to do business with.  That guy just so happened to take two garage door openers off of a job and they were the exact ones that ours was.  Ours there were no replacement parts anymore so he was able to get parts off of those and repair ours till they installed today.  They installed today because the one from last month when they went to put on the truck they saw it was damaged and broken.  So we were looking at another month of lifting and lowering if it had not been for our friend.  So new garage door today.

First, my car, the tires are acting up.  Friday night, when the temperatures cooled a bit, the tire pressures went wonky.  They still are acting up today but if I drive around they correct.  Hoping it's just the drastic temperature changes.  Today it was both tires on the drivers side.  

I didn't want to hang around for that and headed to my studio to do a bit of work and get my folder for a lunch meeting I had today.  I was presenting our new reconfigured bylaws that I have been working on for months.  I walked in the door and saw water, water, water.  Another back up...Friday we had roofers there to repair the guttering.  They took the old gutter off and were going to remake it to reinstall later.  No one thought we would get 4" of rain in one day in AUGUST!  The water wicked in over my desk, my computer, the printer and some of my beautiful watercolor Christmas cards I did last year.  OH MY GOD!  I was so upset.  PLUS, my folder that had the bylaws in it was soaked.  My printer had water in it, I couldn't get my computer to come on.  It was a nightmare.  I called him and he was knee-deep dealing with the garage door people and couldn't leave.  He wanted me to stay while the roofers might show up SOMETIME during the day.  I told him I could not, I had my meeting, I was presenting, and I was driving a person who does not drive!  Turns out the roofers did not show up until nearly 4 in the afternoon.  I spent a couple of hours this morning drying what I could in my folder, my desk, throwing away tons of stuff that was soaked.  My desk is water damaged.  When we closed our books of the business last year I purchased a couple hundred dollars worth of postage stamps (write off), they were soaked, all of them.  They are laid around everywhere drying out.  The printer, probably is no hope but you never know.  The roofer said to get up a list of the damaged stuff.  At first he said he'd knock off $500 of the quote...uh, NO! 

Just My Opinion Ma'am

Well, here we are and it is Thursday morning.  The sun is hiding this morning and that's okay.  It's still hot and the air blows hot, hot, hot.  I like the hot as you know and know it will be gone before you know it.  I've spent three days at the studio doing a bit of office work and sketching.  I finally moved all of my drawing stuff and watercolor back there.  There is nothing here at the house except for a travel sketchbook in my purse.  It feels good to have it all in one place, although it is a bit disorganized at the moment.  I did set up my drawing stuff at the drafting table we still have.  Unfortunately it is very tall and I am short.  He had a chair there but it is fake leather and I have a big ass.  First, I could hardly climb up on the seat.  Second, it is very high and SMALL.  Third, once I am up on the damn thing my ass slides right off and my legs dangle, dragging me off of it.  I realized my usual painting chair lifts and is bigger.  I found that it is the exact height as the other chair when I raise it, and fits my big ba-donk-a-donk!  The problem is the legs dangling still pull me down.  So I need a little step stool to get up to the height to sit my butt down and to be able to set my feet on it.  I'm on the lookout for something.  I did spend some time sketching on this one some more.  I am finding such a love for the sketching/drawing part.  Painting is fun but this drawing thing 💗!  

Today is the beginning of REUNION WEEKEND, his, not mine.  Mine is next month.  Tonight is karaoke at the Moose Lodge and he WANTS me to be there, because I can sing!  The thing is I have my own reunion thing happening, a meeting I have got to attend.  It's at 5:30 and his thing is 7 so I think I can make it but I REALLY don't want to meet him, I would like to come home and go with him but I don't think that is going to happen.  It's in a part of town I'm not sure about and in order for to actually get up and sing, I need a drink or two and I don't want to drive.  Oh, I'll figure it out and but my big girl pants on and just DO IT!  

I've been reading a really good book for book club by Kristen Hannah, one of my FAVORITE authors called Summer Island.  It's all about relationships, especially mother and daughter.   Excellent book and well worth the read.  

Stepping on

SOAP BOX

Now, that I've written fluff crap, I'm on to what has been wracking my brain lately.  This damn election.  I was happy to see who K picked for her running mate.  I like him and I have felt a sigh of relief.  Honestly I cannot understand how some of my friends and family could vote for the R-Party right now.  How can logical and moral people really fall for the crap that comes out of their mouths.  How can you fall in line for liars, for unfaithfulness, in more than marriage.  How can you let the bigotry and the bullying be a part of all of this.  You are supposed to not bully, that is what we are supposed to be teaching our children in school, but how can we teach and expect our children to not bully when it is done in the political arena day in and day out.  The name calling, the slander, the LIES that are spouted and our children see it and think, well if he can, I can.  I don't care if you think the R-Party is better for what you think is your bottom dollar, money is not everything, people are, truth, love, not hate, bigotry, unfaithfulness.  Taking away our right to vote, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, book banning, wanting to TRACK WOMEN'S MENTRUSAL CYCLES!  AND teaching the bible in school, that's what church is for, not public education!!!!!  To me that is what the R-Party is and I will not stand for it.

Now on to local crap.  Our state superintendent is a first class joke and I'm surprised someone has not taken this teaching the bible in school to the courts but oh wait T fixed a lot of that by filling the judgeships with a ton of his cronies who are BIASED!!!!!   How in the world did we get to this point.  I want to throw up.

Weekend Fun

The weekend was fantastic.  We scooted off on Thursday because we can...RETIRED!  Most of our hang-with-group weren't attendance for various reasons.  One is on a cruise in Alaska, others just didn't want to deal with the heat.  As you know I love summer so it wasn't a problem.  Even The Hubby sat on the porch with me most of the weekend not complaining.  Honestly it wasn't too bad with the fans on.  

We took golf cart rides all three evenings and got to visit with others as they passed on their golf carts.  I was able to get some fantastic photos on the ride out and about.  We drove around on the backside of the lake/dam which I haven't done in years.  It's been pretty inaccessible for a few years due to seasonal flooding and the "horse bridge" being under water.  The water in the creek is the lowest I've seen it in the 23 years we've been there and boy does it stink and look green.  They say it's because of the chicken poop pollution from upstream.

On this backside is the original entrance from the 1920's.  The road went right over the dam.  

Parts of the roads back in there were so overgrown you could hardly see the path.  Plus it is a bit creepy.  Back off in the corner is a huge gate that was built about 10 years ago with a combination lock on it.  The fence attached is hardly a fence being broken and pushed down in so many places.  I have heard that the "locals" come in that way and we've had some issues with trespassers.  That is scary for a girl who likes to go up by herself and stay.  

Around us the cabin across the road is in full construction swing.  It has an older part, the original cabin, and it was added on to.  Unfortunately, it has had water in it many times since it sits on the waters edge.  The owner had the cabins split again and moved the old part out, raising it and building a new middle.  It is going to be spectacular but has taken a few years and a whole lot of money, at least $500,000.  That makes our property go up in value, and property taxes! The cabin next door to us was torn down a few years ago and finally the lot sold.  I wished we had purchased it but he just couldn't dive off on that idea, it was his in the first place.  The new owner started building his cabin this weekend and it's going to be a 2 story, obstructing my view of the sunset.  Not very happy about that but it is what it is.  He's a nice guy and will live there full time which I'm okay with that.  

I almost forgot that Saturday I co-hosted a ladies brunch at our cabin.  We met on the porch and it was fantastic.  I did an easy scrambled egg casserole, bacon, bagels and cream cheese.  Sarah brought fruit and a mimosa bar.  It was such a nice day and the temperatures stayed perfect with our fans.  A nap later in the day and my weekend was perfect.  

Woke up this morning to a text of a video.  It was our sweet Max taking his first steps.  He is 19 months old today and finally taking his first steps.  It was the best news ever.  The video was precious.  He is doing so good and is the happiest boy ever.  

School is getting ready to start for the grands.  Min will start Pre-K and she is so excited.  Snicklefritz starts 6th grade.  Where does the time go.  She is growing like a weed and is little lady now, all grown up.  

 

I'm Back...Again - Maybe

I'm going to try this "I'm Back" thing again.  I shut my blog down after getting over 600 likes on one post and this happened because I asked a question about you know, that highway kind of word.  It scared the crap out of me to think bots or something nefarious was out there watching me.  I'm just a regular ole' joe just tip-tapping away on my keyboard with my own life, my own opinions.  

So, yes, I've been absent since the first of June sometime.  Life has rambled on with not much happening except the usual summer stuff, grandkiddos, food, painting, cabin life and the world happenings.  I'll try to update a bit here I hope.  

It's hot, but what can you expect, it's summer and it's Oklahoma.  I'm okay with the hot but the weather people are ridiculous in their reporting like it's doomsday.  IT'S SUMMER you numb-nuts!  Global warming and all that but what can we do except keep working on the emissions and what not, our fine government in action or at least trying.  If we let the Orange-Slice in and his Orange-peel factions, we might be more doomed sooner than later.  (Soapbox opinions!)

Painting, yes I have been back to painting again and a lot of sketching.  I'm working on a project so the sketching is where I'm spending most of my artistic time as of late.  It's really fun and takes me back to some roots that I have needed to hone again.  

I took a three day drawing class at the Garden Center which was where the push has helped me to get back to it.  I sort of learned some stuff but really it was there, just needed to be pulled out of my brain again, and that helped.  I've also been doing the occasional Thursday live model (nudes) drawing and did an all day Saturday one, a long pose.  Those Thursday night things are fantastic and really push me to make marks on the paper that really count.  

Then this past week I did a three day landscape oil painting workshop with the fabulous (very young) Kyle Ma.  He stuff is fantastic but honestly, he's too young.  I really didn't learn a whit from him but it was fun to watch him paint, and it goes on my art resume!  I started this hay bale painting in the workshop.  Yesterday I went back to the easel and reworked the whole thing.  I love it now.  He touched it, but only one swipe and I've already painted over the swipe in a direction I wanted to go in.

"Field of Dreams"

9x12 oil

I did finish this one a few weeks ago after the drawing class.  We went outside to take photos of flowers and I found this little area I fell in love with and had to paint it.  

That painting workshop was difficult and finally Sunday when everyone left for lunch, I went home.  Honestly the lady that sat next to me, PTO, was in a pickle.  She is so sweet, a bit dingy, and a horrible painter, just HORRIBLE!  She cannot see value, nor can she draw.  I watched her the first day trying to recreate a Monet painting of lavender fields.  The painting was all muted so it was hard to see value, especially for someone who can't.  PTO took from the same instructor I took from at Ziegler's for years and that instructor basically only taught retired ladies (some men) who wanted to paint in their free time.  He didn't really teach the stuff you need to know so when the students got stuck he would sit down and paint on their paintings.  They would then take the finished paintings home and present them to their family and friends art that THEY CREATED!  In fact, it was all the instructors paintings.  PTO was one of those people.  The whole workshop Kyle would sit at her easel and just look at it, confused.  He would try to make marks but there was no helping it.  By Saturday afternoon he just sat there and then said she needed to learn values, to draw.  She proceeded to show him all kinds of "her" paintings (privately telling me one was a BLUE RIBBON painting!)  He finally said, "I don't know what you want me to say."  He got up and walked away.  

You see, our previous instructor did a disservice to PTO and all of his students who couldn't paint.  I know he is just trying to make a living but it is lying and then you end up with PTO just devastated and humiliated but what happened Saturday to her.  She was embarrassed and mortified by the whole thing and I could hardly sit and watch it.  Then my friend, who NOW teaches since our former instructor has moved to Florida, is perpetuating these lies so she can make a buck.  I have a hard time with that kind of lying.  It's just not fair and has really made my heart hurt for PTO and the others. 

Okay, enough already of my venting.  I've been away too long.  

I'm Back...

 Hi.  Yes, I've been gone for a bit and I kind of shut down the blog after a simple question I asked on my last post caused the BOTS to go rogue.  I usually have a few look-sees but the last post had 668!!!  WTF!  That creeped me out.  So I put hold on it for a bit.  We will see what happens.  

Not much has happened in our world except my birthday!  It was great spending time with my family and I had a great day earlier with a pedicure and massage! It was nice.  We've been spending time at the cabin, dealing with a broken A/C unit here at home and the usual things that keep breaking down.  Kind of crazy all the gadgets going on the fritz, new roof, just usual things of a homeowner/property owner.  I've been voraciously reading and already am 7 books ahead of my yearly goal of 60.  My big challenge I've decided to task myself with this summer is the challenge of reading Gone With The Wind!  I've never read it and I want to.  

So really not much I want to say here as I'm afraid I'll set off the bots and what I want to say will piss some off maybe.  The election shit is most of it and is wrecking my sleep lately.  I have to stop watching the news, reading Insta of FB.  I am only trying to watch painting videos or cooking videos or the grandkiddo's videos.  Next week I'm going to a drawing class for the next 3 Monday's and looking forward to that.  I've also started going to the Life Drawing class on Thursday evenings again, sporadically.  It's great practice.  Next month I'll go to a workshop with the ultra talented Kyle Ma!  THAT is exciting.  

Toodles.

Mother's Day and Weekend Fun

Good morning.  It's another wet morning here but should clear a bit later.  It had better because I have errands to run.  The photo is the dam at our cabin area.  Last weeks storms and monumental rains have the creek way up, up enough to let an air boat up the creek making a lot of noise.  We headed there Thursday and had a most wonderful time sitting on the newly screened porch and the new shades.  It was even cool enough in the mornings for a fire on the porch.  

Saturday night we hosted a fajita bar.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  Yesterday was of course Mother's Day and I kind of glossed over it.  It's hard to celebrate a day when you don't have a mother to call.  Oh yes, I should CELEBRATE her, and I do in my mind, it's just that I miss her sometimes too much on that day.  I do acknowledge the other mothers in my life, my daughters, who are fantastic mommas.  My darling mother-in-law, whom I miss dearly.  My friends, who are mommas.  My dear friend, Beverly, who lost her 94 year old mother just last week.  Mother's everywhere.  

Okay, now I am going to ask a question.  I have posted here on my blog for nearly 18 years and the reader traffic has been mostly non-existent BUT lately, I've noticed that I'm getting a lot of traffic.  My posts are getting like 45-85 reads lately.  What is up with that and who are they and WHY DOESN'T anyone at least comment.  Is it bots, AI, WHAT!  Just curious what is going on.  If you're out there, maybe say something please.  I don't think I'm THAT interesting, am I.  

Fishing, Rain and PARTIES

 Good morning.  Honestly I'm thinking that since we retired I've lost my voice here.  I don't have anything to GRIPE about so no words.  My life is good, finally.  After nearly 18 years writing on this blog I've become very quiet.  Maybe I've shared all of me that I can share.  

Today I'm going to have lunch with my dear brother.  I thought about canceling because of the impending storms but those won't be here till later tonight.  So lunch it is!  We will be heading to our cabin this weekend too and can't wait.  It's been a couple of weeks and even then we will miss the next weekend because of graduation stuff.  Seems like we are busier than ever since we retired.  This weekend alone we had two parties on the same day, a Kentucky Derby party and then a Retirement party which had a live band.  It was fun.  They set up like a living room, seating arrangements in their driveway with the band in the garage playing Stones, a bit of country (blech) and good old Rock and Roll!  I opted to not drink at all at either party.  Really I'm not doing much of that which is not a bad thing.  I do like a good gin & tonic or dirty martini but just haven't been feeling it lately.  Especially since I felt like I needed to be the designated driver for the weekend.  I know HE will have a few glasses of wine regardless.  

He did get away to the cabin overnight Friday while I had Snicklefritz with us.  He met the shade guy for installation.  We had new shades put on the screened porch to cut wind, pollen and keep warmth in when we use the fireplace on cooler days.  The water is up too from all the rain with more rain to come.  

We will get up there hopefully for a nice weekend WITHOUT rain, time with friends for a build-your-own-fajita bar and a nice fire on the porch.  The temperatures are supposed to be a lot cooler, especially in the AM so I'm sure I will be sitting there enjoying.

Pride and Tornados in Oklahoma

We are well after the storms last night. The state did not fair as well I'm afraid. Heard on the news where two were killed in one of the smaller communities, one was an infant. So very sad to hear. One town, Sulphur, Oklahoma, they are still rescuing people at this moment, their downtown demolished. Tornados are just horrible but are an inevitable part of the weather system. My husbands father was in one in April 27, 1942, Pryor, Oklahoma. There were 52 killed that year. Oklahoma is not a stranger to tornados at all, Moore, Tulsa, Wagoner, Oklahoma City, too many to name really. December 1975, was the closet I've come to experiencing any kind of loss from a tornado. My husband, boyfriend at the time and I were picking up my engagement ring from the jewelers when one hit east Tulsa where his brother and family lived. We picked up his mother and tried our best to get to east Tulsa to see if the family was okay but couldn't get there. His older brother worked at the railroad in west Tulsa and drove as far as he could and then parked the car and just started running, running to his family. His wife at the time managed apartments there and they lived in one of the apartments with their two small boys. His family survived, there were no deaths that year but the damage was devasting. They absolutely lost everything they owned. Elaine and the boys sheltered in the walk-in sauna by the pool and it was the only thing left standing in the entire apartment complex. In their apartment the only thing left standing was an ironing board, with the iron still on it. Absolute miracle anyone was not killed. I'd never seen anything like it. We went the next day to try and help to recover anything but there was not much to recover. They all came to live with my mother-in-law again. Mind you this was also one month before our wedding. I actually stayed so mad at my brother-in-law for years, honestly still am mad at him for this, but my granny and granddaddy gave me a $1,000 check to give to them to help and when I offered it to Dave, he turned it down and told me they didn't accept charity. Really dude! You have NOTHING, nothing for your family. They needed that but he refused. His PRIDE got in the way and I never forgave him for that. Pride is a bad thing.

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. 

This and That Tuesday

Good MORNING!  The sun is shining, and the eclipse happened and nothing bad happened.  We're all still here.  Good grief, how can people be so bamboozled to think crap like that.  I guess some people just can't be logical about life in general.  

Onward.  yesterday was an extremely busy day.  I had a TAG meeting in the AM and it went well.  When I pulled up to the house I checked my emails and was so excited to find out that my painting, "Waiting" had juried into the Allied Artists of America Online show that runs from May 15, 2024 to May 14, 2026!  From this show it CAN, POSSIBLY jury into the 110th physical show!!!  So excited.  This is my third painting that has juried into their online shows.  I've had two in physical shows.  

Feels really good to have these affirmations in my art.  It was fun to get to share in the art group too.  Makes me feel like a real artist.

Last night then I had a class reunion meeting.  We are moving right along on the 50th and I have work to do today to get the info out since we made a lot of decisions last night.  Sadly we found out yesterday that one of our classmates had passed away that morning.  We knew she had cancer and had hospice brought in, but it's never easy.  Then two of the committee members, sitting on either side of me revealed they have cancer!  One breast cancer and one they're not sure yet.  DAMMIT!  I hate this, really hate this.  

So onward with my day and lots of good vibes to my dear friends.

Weekend Fun

Weekend fun.  Yes we headed off to the cabin after being away for a few weeks.  Just lots of stuff going on so I told him I wanted to go on Thursday after my art opening.  Frankly, the art opening, we left early because I did NOT want to run into my best friend.  My best friend that I don't consider a best friend and haven't even spoken to in probably 9 months.  So it just is what it is.

We had a nice weekend.  We left Thursday and hit the I Don't Care Bar and Grill for dinner on the way.  It was late for us and dinner, 7:15 but that was totally okay.

That meant we were on the road at dusk and it was absolutely beautiful.

Woke up Friday morning and thought I would sit on the porch with a fire but BRRRRR, just too nippy for me on Friday, but....

Saturday AM I was there and built a wonderful fire and enjoyed watching my feeders absolutely loaded with goldfinches.  

Saturday evening we hosted a few for fried fish.  We used up the last of the stripers and hybrids that were in our freezer.  I made potato salad and coleslaw and opened a couple cans of his MUST HAVE pork and beans.  There was hardly anything left, so the food was great and the conversation was a hoot.  We had such a great evening on the porch with a fire with great friends.  

Sadly it was time to head home this morning because of meetings and meeting cable peeps (since been canceled) first thing Monday.

I've got to work first thing on some reunion stuff for a meeting Monday evening, go to a meeting and will probably be driving home during the eclipse.  I'm all good.

Hoping Tuesday to get back to the easel, probably after go to the accountant to pick up taxes, FINALLY!  

Hope everyone has a great week and watch your eyes tomorrow!