Me and My Mom

I am missing my Mom today.....I miss her everyday...but somedays I will see a photo...or read something in one of my journals..or do something that we both loved...,and the pain of missing her will be in my heart ten-fold.....Today it was looking through some of my old journals and coming across this photo...and reading these words of Thanks to her....
1.for making birthdays special.
2. teaching me that men and women are equals...that women have minds of their own...and never put up with "any crap" from a man.
3. for babysitting for me....alot.
4. crying with me at sad movies...sad times...or sad books.
5.your smile.
6. your beautiful young looking skin.
7. letting me wear your clothes and shoes.
8. saving all the cards I made for you.
9. laughing with me...always.
10. telling me stories about our family.
11. being "cool" and not stuffy.
12. getting the giggles with me.
13. teaching me how to cook..and making the best rice pudding.
14.how to be generous and compassionate.
15.about peonies and roses.
16. about babies.
17. about rosaries and Italy...:"the romance of it".
18. how to keep my eyebrows perfect.
19. for getting my long hair untangled from the beaters full of frosting.
20. the importance of family.
21. the spirit of Christmas...(that you loved so).
22. about God and prayer.
23. for calling me "Sis" with affection.
24. for sitting on my bed with me and listening to opera.
25. for bringing me breakfast and 7-up in bed when I didn't feel good.
Thank-you so much Mom...for all of these things and hundreds more!

Pages from my journal for my Mom....

The weekly art deck challenge card. 3 of Diamonds...theme is "white".

The Month of April

This is the April page for Barb's calendar.

The Month of December

This is one of my calendar pages for the month of December. This one is for Barb's calendar.This is a RR I'm in with my Creative Journey's Group. There are seven of us doing this...we each do 2 pages in each others calendar.

He's Watching You!

Z is for Zoo

Here is the final atc in the alphabet deck! These were fun! I have calendar pages to do...some atc's for a personal swap....some swap-bot things to get ready....and....
I am making progress on the studio...today is "go to the post office day".....and who knows what else! Wednesday already!!!!!!!!!!

Y is for Yellow

Yesterday was a whirlwind of stuff...running errands...grocery shopping...and Andy and I spending over 2 hours at the Vet's....Toby still has ear infections...the Vet told us his one ear-drum is so swollen that she can't even see that far in there to make sure there is no fox-tail! So...we have 2 different kinds of ear-drops to give him...plus antibiotics. The last time it cost us over 100.00...this time it was 200.00. It has been one thing after another with the animals...they are keeping us broke! He has to go back Friday for a check-up. Before this it was our cat with the tubes...that was 400.00. I guess we can't really complain...neither one of them had been to the Vet for years (except for the normal shots and all)....lets just hope this is it now for awhile!
Our TV blew up on Sunday night! I was right in the middle of watching the Emmy Awards..Geez! My favorite show is on tonight so I'll have to think of something! ( I can't miss Rock-Star)!
AND YES!!!! (Beth and Maryellen) I am still cleaning the art room....it does take me forever...by the time I figure out where to put everything!....maybe since I have those new storage bins things will go faster! SURE! I'm going to work on some calendar pages today...and I'm making a meat loaf for dinner... we can have meatloaf sandwiches with the left-overs...which is one of my favorite things! Hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday!!!!!

Morning Flowers

W is for Wedding

Morning Around the House....

Sunday morning around the house photos......Mother Nature is so awesome! I spotted this moth on one of the sunflowers....he is so beautiful! I'm in the middle of cleaning the studio...(still)...BUT...right now we are getting ready to take a drive down to my sister's in Cameron Park....(gotta remember to take the camera).....hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!!!!!

Pink Lily....and my boy.

"Morning Blue"

I call this one "Morning Light"

The figs are almost ripe! and the morning glories are glorious!

V is for Victoria

14,000 things to be happy about.

This is the title of a book I have by Barbara Ann Kipper. It was published over 15 years ago. But...every single Happy thing in it...still holds true today.....starting with:
1. A stream-of-consciousness list
2. pajamas at breakfast
3. reed-fringed lagoons
4. the feel of a rug under bare feet
5. seeing the moon rise
6. sweet fresh corn and tender baby green lima beans, drenched with cream
7. the "snuggle right in" feeling
8. a lake catching the last flecks of sunlight coming in over the pines
9. the position of your head as you bite into a taco
10. shadows cast by shudders against shiny white walls

I'll try to post at least 10 things to be happy about every Friday.....(after all... it IS friday) and my BIG thing to be happy about today is......Getting invited to go to the Elton John concert in September at Arco Arena in Sacramento!!!!!!*******************
Please feel free to comment on something that made you VERY...VERY....HAPPY TODAY!

U is for Uncle

Tylene Mae

A Good Way To Remember the Planets!!!!!!

Andy said a good way to remember the planets .... is to memorize this sentence:
My Very Elderly Mother Just Sold Us 9 Pizzas....the capitals standing for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune, and Pluto. But.....since Pluto is not a "regular" planet anymore...but a dwarf planet because it is so small. We need to change the sentence to: My Very Elderly Mother Just Sold Us 9 Dwarf Pizzas......So there! Now we are politically correct!************************************

Tis for Tomboy

S is for School

The weeks just fly by...today it's a doctor's appt. for me...at 9am.... Toby goes to the vet to have his ears checked at 3....I feel much better today. I think I needed a good nights sleep! I did make the chicken tacos last night....and got all my errands done..the grocery store...the post office...and...I did watch the rockstar elimination show last night. It was Patrice...GOOD! She seemed like a really nice person...but I didn't think she was "rock star" material....I didn't care for her voice...plus I thought she was dull on stage... there are only 6 or 7 more rockers left... just hope Lukas or Storm don't win.....the rest I don't care...although I hope it's Dilana!
Also managed to get some more alphabet atc's done... only have 5 more to do....got Barb's calendar in the mail...I'll work on that today, and mail it off....Oh! also got my music CD in the mail from Kristen which I LOVE...lots of great music on it!
Remember me saying I needed to clean the studio???? Well...guess what! It STILL NEEDS CLEANED! So....just maybe I can get a start on that today! Keep your fingers crossed....and don't hold your breath!
I read an article last night about a painter who is 91 years old...his name is Alan Post...He sold his first painting during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and whose expressionistic landscapes, human-figures and still-life scenes have been turning collectors into addicts ever since. He still creates art despite cataract surgery, macular degeneration and a slightly shakier hand....I LOVE reading stories like this....talk about INSPIRATION....
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There's no retirement for an artist; it's your way of living, so there's no end to it.------ HenryMoore,sculptor
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R is for Rose

Today is "one of those days".....a blue day! I just can't seem to get motivated...I have to go to the store...the post office, and here I sit...still in my nightie, and slippers...just looking at the computer screen...like a zombie! Okay....after sitting here for a good 10 minutes...doing nothing..I'm going to go get dressed...get in the car and go! I'll let you know how the day is going later******************************ps..I just decided to make chicken tacos tonight for dinner...and watch the elimination show from Rockstar last night! (I'm starting to feel a little better already)!!!!!!

Q is for Quote

The Tall...and not so Tall.....

Not too long ago...Andy's sisters were visiting....we all went to lunch at "The Haven"...here is a pic from that day....and NO!!!! I am NOT TOO Short!!!! It's that all of Andy's family is TALL!!!! All of them (including the girls) are 6ft. and over....I always get teased for being the shrimp in the family!
From left to right...Missy....Dan...Carole...Andy...and the shrimp in front is yours truly.....

This is the weekly challenge card...theme is "circles".....two of diamonds.
I am going to be cleaning...cleaning...cleaning....the art room today! I can't even walk through it! Paper all over the floor....my desk is so crammed with stuff on it... I can't even find one tiny little space to work on... piles of paper and cards...and whatever piled in stacks...baskets that I bought to organize stuff in...are just stacked up...sitting on the floor...it's a mess! I can't stand it any longer! I can at least clean it up...then start all over again! So....this is going to be what I do today!!! I'm also going to take more photos ...I'll do a before and after photo!
It is simply beautiful outside ....weather is perfect! The heat is supposed to return mid-week...another very good reason to clean that room!

P is for Poodle

Sunday morning.....I got up early...then went back to bed and started reading a new book...then drifted back to sleep...how wonderful! I never get a chance to sleep in! It's going to be a cooler day today...perfect! An and I went up to the little book store...and the thrift store yesterday...I got 3 books...and at the thrift store I bought a brand new rubber stamp for 1.00...a bunch of hangers that I needed...a roll of vintage wallpaper...and I found the perfect brand new mug for a "tea swap" that I'm in.....all of it was less than 4.00...I didn't see anything REALLY exciting this time...besides I'm trying to be more selective about what I do buy...I have so much stuff! We worked out in the yard for awhile...I did more raking...then we had burritos for dinner...all in all...it was a lovely day....I even managed to finish 2 more alphabet cards last night!

O is for Opera

Getting ready to go to the Farmers Market.....Have a superb Saturday!

N is for Nude

M is for moon.....
Another "Free-day" is upon us!!!! The week has gone by so fast! I must take Toby to the Vet today for a re-check...remember last week I had to take him in for a fox-tail???? They didn't find a fox-tail...but told me both of his ears were infected...gave me medicine to put in them, and today they want to check him again to make sure everything is okay....I really don't feel like going...I feel lousy...don't know why...I just feel really tired...the only time I feel good is when I get up in the morning....and by 3 o-clock I am so tired I can hardly stand it...last time I was at the Doc's he said I was low on Potassium..so..I've been taking potassium pills that he prescribed for me....I thought this might help...maybe I'm just not use to them yet????
Yesterday I spent most of the day raking! I raked little silkies...and pine needles into 2 huge piles for burning when Fall comes...it already feels like Fall at night...although it's warming up during the day. I might take a trip up to my favorite little book store today ...(that will no doubt make me feel better)...of course, on the way to the book store is the thrift store!!! I still have birthday money that's been burning a hole in my pocket...just waiting for the right book... art supply....or antique.....I am bound and determined that I'm NOT going to spend that money on the house...or groceries...which is usually what happens!
Hope YOU have a marvelous Friday***********************

L is for Lasso

This atc was fun!!! I'm on M next!!!!!! I cannot believe that it's Thursday...and that September is just around the corner...I'm not even going to go there....Ty is back in school....and the nights are alot cooler...I do know that the HOT weather will be back! I'm going to bake some banana bread today...speaking of baking...I found a yummy site for cakes....http://www.sacredcake.blogspot.com/ They post some luscious looking cakes! I watched my favorite show on TV last night..."Supernova" Rock Star....I think they made the right choice...they eliminated Zyeda....she has a nice voice...and some of her outfits were outrageous...but I don't think she would have been right for the band...she just wasn't "rock" enough! I liked Ryan's performance of a Phil Collin's song.."Comin in the Air Tonight"......but...my favorite is Delana..I'm sure I'm not spelling the names right...but whoever watches the show knows what I'm talking about. I don't have to go anywhere today..yippee! so it's puttering all over the house...working outside...and doing some more atc's!

K is for Kiss

J is for July.....

A Love Affair with Books.....

I love many things in this life...my greatest passion is ART...I am one of the lucky ones that was born with this passion. Another great passion of mine...is BOOKS!!!! Books...Books....Books...I am crazy about them! I have them everywhere....piled high in stacks in the bedroom (never enough shelves)....piled high in stacks in the hallway...three deep on the bookshelves I do have... tons of cookbooks in the kitchen....books in the living room...I NEVER can get enough books! I always say to myself that I will finish every single one of them before I leave this earth. I love old books...new books...big books...little books...on every subject...it doesn't matter...I love anything or any place having to do with books...libraries...used or new book stores...other people's books...books I get as gifts...one of my favorite things in life is to discover a "new" book...one that you know you are going to love before you even open it...one that grabs you from the very first page...one that keeps you awake at night...one that you reach for from your nightstand first thing in the morning..this is the kind of book that I'm reading right now...I discovered this book in a little gift shop in Camino...which is a tiny little town up the road from where I live...in the very back of the shop there is a small (I mean small) room that is crammed with books...wonderful books! and CHEAP! I found a beautiful Andrew Wyeth art book there last week (coffee table size) for seven dollars.
I also found this book..I had never heard of this book before...but it was one of those books that reached out and said "You have to have me"....
I am almost finished reading it now...looking forward to seeing how it will end...and... sad at the same time because I will be done with it. It is a wonderful book...that's why I am sharing it with you...my blogging pals...I know you will LOVE it!

"When we read we may not only be kings and live in castles, but, what is far better, we may transport ourselves to the mountains or the seashore, and visit the most beautiful parts of the earth, without fatigue, inconvenience, or expense". John Lubbock

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A small breakfast-room adjoined the drawing-room. I slipped in there. It contained a bookcase; I soon possessed myself of a volume, taking care that it should be one stored with pictures. I mounted into the window-seat: gathering up my feet, I sat cross-legged, like a Turk; and, having drawn the red moreen curtain nearly closed, I was shrined in double retirement.

Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view to the right hand ; to the left were the clear panes of glass, protecting, but not separating me from the dear November day. At intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast. Charlotte Bronte...Jane Eyre.

Calendar Cover 2007

This is my calendar cover for the swap I'm in at Creative Journeys....this is a round robin, and I'll be sending it out today to Kristen....

I is for Italy

Another atc for the alphabet deck.....

The Ending..and Beginning of the Journey......

The first photo here is actually the end of the journey...on our way home...coming up our driveway!!!!! The rest of the photos are along the country back roads...
I LOVE doing this....grabbing the camera and going for a drive...I'm yelling at Andy to "STOP"!!! every time I see a potential photo...it's not always easy for him to pull over...but we manage! This is what we came across yesterday...beautiful huh?! I LOVE sharing these photos with you.....now today...MONDAY..back to work and all that good stuff...I have lots of errands to run today...paying bills...and going to the grocery store....post office....etc. Maybe, if time permits I can sneak into the studio and work on some art projects.....

Red Hot Pokers.....Love these!

Mr. and Mrs. Duckers and where they live.....

I love this photo..the colors...and who could not stop for this tree with the hole in it????

"Sunnies" on a sunny day...and beautiful colors of green!

The beauty of America!!!! and of course my always favorite photos...are of water!