When All Else Fails...

Well, when you're in a funk that won't lift no matter what you do, bake something sugary and fattening and eat! That's always been my sure-fire cure-all...so, there's a pineapple pie in the oven, and I will probably stuff myself later. I feel better already!

Lost....

The only ducks we usually see here at the creek are mud ducks and in the winter. But I've noticed this mallard couple swimming by for the past few days. This morning I saw them pacing between the neighbor's house and my house. It appears they got out of the creek further down where there's a mud bank, and now they can't quite figure out how to get back in the flow of things. They would stop, look at the water, and pace some more. That's kind of how I've been feeling for the past few days--somehow I managed to find myself "out of the flow", and I can't quite figure out how to get back in. Dumpy...like the ducks I feel my self rather "lost"...I suspect the necessary change will come, and I will find myself in the flow again, but it sure feels rotten for the moment wondering how the heck I wound up here, and wondering whether I will be able to find my way back in or not?

Waiting for Hummingbirds...

It's been a quiet day. I've been painting all day, and never got around to taking a photo. I was sitting on the couch and the evening sun hit this bird feeder a few moments ago and really sparkled it. I waited too long to get up and take the picture, but that's ok...this is my reminder that the hummingbirds sometimes come back in April, so I need to get the feeder cleaned up and ready and have some food on hand. BTW, today's my daughter-in-law's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!

Lunch at the Local

You know, my mom and I really like going out to eat. That's a bonus for Jim since she's living here with us. He would rather eat at home, but with her here,my eating out bug gets taken care of pretty often now-adays, it seems. There are two of these delicious bushes planted by the door at The Local in downtown Lake Jackson. Don't know what the heck they are, but they are scrumptious! Beautiful vivid red, and wonderful soft texture. Would love to have branches cut and in a vase in my living room! Think they would notice?
And I've just always thought this drink display was really great with all the color, so I took a photo. Seemed like the thing to do!

A Day with Mother

I've kind of neglected Mother all week, and both of us were feeling a little dumpy the last couple of days, so we took a day off to "go" and see. She had heard that a replica of the Nina was in Baytown, so I looked and sure enough, it was docked at the Marina. She's a history buff, so off we went. She was thrilled to get to go on it and to listen to the history talk, and to just imagine Columbus and his crew of 25 + animals and passengers on a little boat like this. We figured either he and the folks with him were brave--or a little crazy! Her biggest wonder was how 25 men could sleep on the deck with all the snoring, belching, farting, etc...:) We are both very private people who enjoy our quiet, and this was just a little too close quarters for us!
After Baytown Marina, we headed toward Texas City to see the art exhibit hanging there (including two of my paintings), and we happened on Tookies, Jim's favorite hamburger place, so we stopped for a "bean burger". They're fabulous--big juicy beef burgers, refried beans, and crushed fritos! To die for! And Tookie's is a lot of atmosphere! You get the picture? We had a really good day, and I think it did us both a lot of good!

Meet Oscar!

Meet the newest member of our family--grandpuppy Oscar Garmon! Or at least he will be by the end of next week--he's with Mike and Laura and the boys for a week on a trial basis. But I highy suspect he will fit right in. He seems to get along famously with David and Eddy and he rides in Mike's lap while Mike drives. :) Every boy needs a dog--even big boys. :)

Friday, March 24, 2007 Workshop Over

Today was the last day of our weeklong workshow with Ken Hosmer, so Tina presented him with a little memento of us...
a tee-shirt from Kitty's Purple Cow, in Surfside. Earlier in the week, he had painted a bull, and he dumped this incredible green right in the cow's rump, and it blew Tina away. Green's her favorite color, but--on a bull??? So we've been telling him all week that cows were purple, not green, and now he knows. If you take a close look, you can answer his question: Where's the center of interest?

I don't "do" flowers--I love the, but I have a horrible time painting them, so I determined to do flowers this week. I did one last summer, and two this workshop--I've doubled my flower production!
Not great, but at least they're done, and I "saved my whites" better than last year. :) Hopefully Ken will be back with us next January or February.

Remember March 7th's Post???

Remember the "signs of Spring" post of March 7? These little green snippits of buds have become full-blown leaves!
I've been cooped up inside all week with the workshop, but just happened to have enough brain juice left to realize: Wow! That tree has really leafed out--seems like just this week, while I haven't been looking! Seen through the screen in my kitchen window!

The Teacher Teaches

Meet Ken Hosmer, a watercolorist like no other! My first workshop was with him last year. He is the best teacher! He got so much knowledge, and a real gift for sharing that knowledge. He gives wonderful lectures them does magical demos. See the gorgeous yellow roses in the background?? He "demo'd" those for us yesterday. He's a very fast painter. I love to watch him work and to listen to him as he talks to himself. He demo'd cows for us Tuesday, roses yesterday and then today...
an absolutely lovely grandma hugging a puppy. He uses awesome colors that blow us away--and yet wind up looking "real"? He uses a different technique--he paints from dark to light. Watercolor us usually from light to dark with lots of layers, but he developed "backward" painting that's supposed to help keep the darks from getting muddy. Makes for very bold color. Tomorrow we get "critiqued", so maybe I'll have some shots of some of the paintings being done by the class. Although, you must remember--this is a painting style very different from what most of us have learned, so we'll all starting out very, very beginner. :)

Dinner at Giavonni's

Some of us got together tonight at Giavonni's for Italian food. Meet (from left to right: my mother Millie, me, Gay (her guy Richard is between us, but you can't see anything but his head behind me!), Sally, Nancy, Kay, Joan, Ken, and Jeanette. We went for Italian food, but Mother and I had steak, and it was wonderful!

Monday, March 20, Watercolor Workshop with Ken Hosmer - 1st Day

I took my first watercolor workshop from Ken Hosmer last year in Kerrville. He's a wonderful teacher--gifted in TEACHING--not just a wonderful artist, but he's able to convey the idea to the student and he knows so much! He took his first wc workshop in 1969--so, while I was busy having babies, he was painting. :) He was the first to introduce backward painting--watercolor painting from dark to lights, instead of layering color. He begins with a unique way to do the value studies with ink sketches, so that's what we did yesterday. I'm determined to do a floral, since they intimidate me so much. That's what I worked on today, but I got so involved that I didn't even think about taking a photo until I got home. I did the two florals yesterday in class and the figure sketch this morning about 6. That's my favorite time to do anything that takes brain work! :) If you are interested in doing wc, he's a wonderful teacher, and I recommend him highly. And it seems the others in the class are enjoying him as well.

Sounds of Silence

There is something magical about this time of day—holy, sacred. As I sit outside with my coffee, the world begins to wake up, and the hush is palpable, as crickets and a few distant birds begin their song.

How did we ever decide that the place to meet God was inside a building? That amazes me…it may be a good place to meet fellow sojourners and seekers, but “worship” is so spontaneous outside in Mother Nature’s cathedral.

There is a slight chill in the air this morning—a slightly damp chill—and the sky is what my Mother calls a “buttermilk sky”—little puffs of clouds that allow the stars to keep peeping through so that I don’t forget they’re there.

I think this is a holy time of day—it’s not night time, but day hasn’t come yet. It’s not dark, but it’s not light, either. It’s that “in-between time”…like stepping over a threshold from one time and space into another. I’m not here anymore, but I’m not there yet, either. I’ve experienced that in-between moment often in my life, and it seems to be when transformation is most likely to happen.

I thought I would post pictures today of the busy-ness of my day: helping hang the People’s Choice show at the Gallery this afternoon or helping set up the room for our week-long watercolor workshop featuring one of my favorite artists, Ken Hosmer. But as I sat this morning, listening to the cacophony of nature's song, I felt instead that THIS is the intention I’m setting for my day: peace and stillness underneath all the noise of a busy life.

Saturday, March 17, People's Choice Take-In

Meet the ladies who greeted me at the studio. I entered 3 paintings in our local People's Choice show. When I walked through the doors about 2:30 yesterday these ladies signed me up and put my paintings with over 60 others. Who knows how many more came in by 5:00. Meet, from back to front and from left to right: Adalia, Peggy, Norma, Marjorie, Theresa, Carol, and Joan--an effecient, well-oiled machine they are!

It was also the take-in day for the Texas City show, a "juried" show. I've entered a couple of paintings in that one, as have several other artists from our area. So, we'll wait and see how well we did, and how many of us get paintings in. We're a good group, so we should do well. I'll let you know!

Bridge to Serenity

My friend Jana and her husband have been working on their new home since the Fall, and I went today to see how they're coming along. They're doing the work themselves--and living in the midst of what's been chaos. But it's finally coming to a place of enjoyment. They still have a lot of work to do, but IT'S FINALLY A HOUSE!
I loved the walls that met me when I walked in--wooden walls that have been painted a soft mossy green, then distressed. This is the "great room", and it feels really great, since they haven't gotten the cabinets in yet, but they're coming! They're scheduled to begin cabinet work in two weeks--so they won't be washing dishes in the bathroom sink much longer. BUT they now have ROOM to spread out! And Jana was so relaxed. She's here at the coffee bar, while our mutual friend Susan (Red) looks on approvingly. Susan helped Jana paint and sand the walls. It looks so good, so fresh and soft!
Later we went for a ride and came upon "the bull"--apparently this big guy finds Red interesting, but he seemed a little intimidated by the buggy today! He's one BIG DUDE! Jana and hubby Morris have quite a spread--something like 400 acres! Lots of room for cows and bulls and buggies to "mud hog" through. We didn't mud hog, but we could have after all the rain we've had!

But today was lovely--warm, blue skies, and good friends. This is "fairy lane"--I swear you can almost see the little fairies flit through the trees, and you can almost hear them laughing and saying, "Catch me if you can!"
Red was driving the buggy, and seeme to have a difficult time getting into reverse! It was funny!
Here's Jana (on the arm of the chair) and Red back inside Jana's little house. Lots of windows, and lots of comfort!

Pictures are out of order, so now we're at the back of the property, where we discover that Varner Creek is out of its banks--the water is high. We park for a while and just listen to the birds and the sounds of a beautiful spring day in the country.
More cows. They don't belong to Jana and Morris, but they range on their land. They seem to find US curious! :)
I loved this beautiful old tree. Bridge to Serenity is a wonderful place with lots of charm and very good energy. It was a restful day, and it felt good to just relax and "be" with good friends. Jana, I love your house and your place, and I'm so glad "the end's in sight". Blessed Be!

Rain----------and more rain!

It started raining here Sunday evening--storms all night, rain a lot Monday--then yesterday was nice and we thought it was over. But along came last night, with storms all night. Jim's in Holland, so I'm home by myself, and I'm kind of a baby during storms, so I put in my ear plugs, and turned up my two fans to make noise, and slept through most all of the storms during the night. Woke up this morning to nearly 3" in the rain gauge and the beautiful sky below.
I wondered--is the sky trying to clear? Are those patches of blue a promise of hope, or is all that gray a promise of more to come?
This afternoon, when I got home from the Studio, we had added another almost 2 inches, and baby, it's pouring outside. I put out weed and feed Sunday on my lawn. Wonder if it's been "watered in" as directed, or if all of it has watered out into my ditches? :)

BTW, I got a lot of wonderful definitions of "Beauty". Watch for them in the coming days!

Create a Quote Day

Sometimes I wake up with "snapshot" pictures in my head...this morning I woke up with this "blog photo" and knew I wanted to see how my friends define "beauty". I love collecting quotes, and I happen to think I have some of the wisest friends history has ever birthed, so let me know how YOU define "beauty", and I'll use those quotes for my "quote of the day" for a while.

A Vist With Ellen

Meet dear friend Ellen! Such a sweetie! She's a new teacher--first year--so she's off for spring break, and she gave me an afternoon! What a treat! Ellen and I have been friends for years. And we have a little bit in common--her daughter's name is Sheila, and my granddaughter's name is Ellen. It was a tad confusing a long time ago, but we finally get it. Ellen, I'm glad you came over. Come see me again soon...

A Day at the Creek

Jimmy watches all the action. Jim and I don't have puppies (we have grandpuppies, but none of our won), but we have all kinds of neighbor puppies. Just about the time I grabbed my camera, they all got put up, except Jimmy, and he loves it--he knows he'll get on my blog if he smiles pretty!

Bees buzz around all the flowers (weeds?)...
And ladybugs crawl in the grass--had more fun laying on my belly taking ladybug pictures! :)
And little boys fish--well, not so little, but littler than mine! :)

And I mow. This is my first time on the mower this year--Jim mowed last week. We have a "community" riding lawn mower. It belongs to Ronnie who lives across the street. We keep it running while he's in Iraq working.
After I mow, Devin next door uses it to haul, except the rope broke! Marcy takes a break and watches Devin play...
Then Carl mows--all with the same mower. We'll have to get Ronnie a new one before he gets home this summer--or at least get this one overhauled! :) I love living on the creek--what's yours is mine and vise versa! By the way, Jim put in two good days on the deck, and by golly, I think we may be pretty close to finished! Slow but steady--I think I heard that somewhere before! :)

Another Sign of Spring

I changed out the batteries on the watering system. You're supposed to do it at the beginning of the season, and this is my first time. Must have been a man who designed this thing--I had to completely disconnect the darn thing and turn it upside down? A woman would have made it convenient--but then, Jim said he didn't know many practical women. Maybe Rebecca will design one that makes it easy to replace the batteries! :)

FINALLY--back to the deck!

Yea!!! He's back at it! Meet hubby Jim. Last Summer we had our bulkhead replaced and the deck had to be partially removed. Jim got started, but then winter came, and Jim and winter don't mix. So, I've been very antsy to get the deck finished. Came home today, and he had started!!!! YEA!
See??? He's drilling holes--that's a good sign! I take what I can get! :)

My vision board

When we came back from the Land of Ease, where we watched The Secret, we came back ready to make our own vision boards, but I got side tracked last week and didn't get to do it. BUT I have spent several days now pouring over magazines trying to find specific dream to visionate. I ran out of space on one board and had to spill over onto another--and it has a little more room for all those future dreams. I had to keep reminding myself that my job isn't to figure out how or when or the financial part--my part is to dream. It was wonderful sitting for a couple of days with my little artist child within, listening to wonderful music and dreaming: the places I want to go, a passport with every page stamped, my dream studio, and still that little red volkswagon beetle--except I want the convertible top! a treehouse (believe it or not!) to live in, big cusiony furniture, light colored walls, lots of windows, color and flowers everwhere, actually selling paintings :), the whole 9 yards. If I saw a picture I liked that made me smile, I put it there. I could do this visionating thing for quite a while! I remember a day many years ago that I had quit dreaming. But it's been so interesting watching some of my dreams come true through the last few years--so now I dream quite liberally. Who knows what might happen!

Signs of Spring

We're headed into my favorite time of the year, when things begin to wake up, and all the gray turns to color. My yard needs a lot of work right now, but through the eyes of a camera, you'll never know! :)
Our lemon trees are full of buds--just what I need, more lemons! These are ponderosa lemons, and they're the size of large grapefruit when ripe. And our little tree puts out a bunch of them. One can only eat so many lemon pies!
These are babies. They won't be ready until this fall, and they'll finally be bright yellow and huge. There's a LOT of peel, but when you get to it, the lemon's really good. Jim's mom used to get three lemon pies from each lemon. I don't need more than a couple of lemon pies a year, so we give most of them away. It's a good thing you can freeze the juice and rind, but even then, I have more than I'll ever use. Makes for a good conversation, though!
And the trees will be breaking out in green in another week or two. Some of them across the creek are already light green (itty bitty leaves). This tree is full of leaf buds out my kitchen window, but couldn't get a very good picture from the ground. I love Spring and Summer, in spite of the hot. It's just a pretty time of year. There's a reason I live down South, you know!