Christmas 2012

Santa? Nope that's Jim, my best friend and Husband.

Christmas Elf?  Nope, that's Lina

Charlie, The Christmas dog!

 Christmas when the children were little was magical.  And then the Grandchildren came and again, Magical!




Now we have young adults and it just keeps getting better.  We celebrated our Christmas last night and had such a good time.



Dinner was Ham, 7 layer Pea Salad, Waldorf Salad and Bacardi Rum cake with whipped Cream!   And.......lots of cookies!  My wonderful neighbors, Ruth, Vickie and Stella brought cookies for us and I bakes 3 kinds.  I tried to send them home with the kids but I think they left a few for us.  Yum.  I will have to pace myself.






Charlie thought that Lexi's coat was a chew toy.  It looked kind of like his fur.  It was removed in time!

Dalton 

Dalton is a welcome addition to our family.  The best hugger EVER!

John and one of his new dishes.

That's me!  I finally got in the pictures because I handed the camera to Jim.  I am holding the beautiful Bath  salts that Lina made for me.

John, my wonderful son!  He taught me how to be a good Mother.

Lexi and Damon.  I finally captured a good picture of the two of them!  Thanks Damon! 

Yes, picture # 2 of Lexi and Damon.  I got two pictures of them!

Maggie our Christmas dog #2

My New Studio

 For the first time, I have places to put my "stuff".  The cabinets are from my son, John.  The counters are the work of my wonderful Husband. I have a "stand at" height counter and a "sit at" height counter.      It's now a room that I love to be in.

I am so thankful for my family, on Thanksgiving and every other day of the year.

Jim saying"Hi".


We had a great Thanksgiving yesterday!  We ate too Much, We played Cornhole and we Enjoyed each other very much.  Damon had to leave early to have dinner with his Dad so I didn't get a Thanksgiving picture of him.  We missed you Damon. 

John not wanting to have his photo taken but I got him anyway.

My pretty Granddaughter, Lexi

Yes, That's, Mamma and Grandmama

.

The happy couple, My Granddaughter Lina and Dalton.

25 Years of Wedded Bliss

Yesterday was our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  I went to my "The Artist Way meeting and when I got home, Jim and I went to Franklin Conservatory.  I have not been there in years.  The sun was shining and it was just beautiful!  A great place for an artist date.

 Once you have "experienced a "Chahuly" glass sculpture you would know it anywhere.  I remember seeing one at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis and several in Las Vegas.

After our visit to The Franklin Conservatory  we went to dinner at  Schmidt's in German Village.  We had our first date and Schmidt's and neither of us remembered that until we arrived there.  I guess it was the smell of the Bahama Mamas that triggered the memory.  What a wonderful day with my best friend!

Oil Painting

I worked on this painting yesterday.  What does it need?  I have concluded that I do better working on several creative things at once.  Yesterday I crocheted, framed paintings, and painted.  Photos to follow.  The painting is not this dark so I may have to reshoot it.

Autumn in Ohio

 Last week we rented a cabin in Hocking Hills (Ohio) at Acorn Lodging and had a great relaxing time.  The leaves were not at peak yet but still beautiful.  We walked in the woods and listened to the crunch under our feet.  
We cooked on the back porch grill and of course, watched the debate.  The next day I woke up with the worst calf pain in my legs.  Guess who is out of shape.  

Inniswood

I took a walk in Inniswood and shot this photo.  The oil painting (8 x 10) was painted in Steven Walker's oil class at MAC.  I have started another painting for class and several at home.

All By Myself

Hi Followers!  I am taking a course called "The Artist Way" from the book by Julia Cameron.  I have had many revelations in the past 6 weeks but the one that I am  feeling the most is the need for alone time.  I have always known that I needed alone time but the course validates that I am okay with that need and not unusual.  I get in touch with my feelings by writing the "Morning Pages" in the morning (not everyday..ooops).  This photo is taken along the banks of Hoover Reservoir close to the dam.  I sat in my car and just looked at the sparkle in the water while I wrote my morning pages.  I think I will paint this.

I am in the middle of my course at Mcconnell Art Center.  The artist Way has been wonderful in many ways.  Our leader, Linda Langhorst is a supportive, selfless leader and the women that I am taking this course with are all genuine and loving and I hope to be friends with them in the future.

The purpose of this course, for me, is to connect creativity with spiritually.  Since writing my "morning Pages, I find myself being so much more creative, redefining creativity for me and feeling so much closer to my creator.

I hooked the little Santa on burlap and it will be a wall hanging for Christmas.

Last night, we went to our local Farmers Market and bought produce. One piece was this little acorn squash which I had to shoot a photo of before we eat it with maple syrup (sugarless) and pecans.  Yum.  Unlike going to the grocery, I feel like I am supporting the local economy, Getting organic produce and seeing my friends.

I want to paint this little Acorn squash so we will see how that happens.

Yes, Jim is eating popcorn.  This happens before the popcorn even comes out of the cupboard!  This is Maggie, Mollie and Charlie pretending to really love their Daddy.  We all know that it's all about food.

The Fear of Painting

I know, I have been away for awhile .  I Have been working on a gratitude journal, Painting oils, Painting watercolor postcards and going to The Artist Way classes.  The first class, the jury was out, whether or not I was going to like it but not. After three classes, I like it a lot.  On Monday, I went to the dam and read my chapter assignment then went to Tim Horton's for Hazelnut coffee.  I loved the experience and haven't done it since??? When I came home, I painted this in one session.  It needs a lot but has a good start.  As you can see, I love autumn colors.  I painted this from a lesson by Margaret Kessler on the sunporch where I have wonderful Light.


I have had the book "The Artist Way" for several years and have tried to read it but I needed help and support.  I am getting this from my class and leader at The McConnell Center in Worthington.

Somebody Has Developed a Green Thumb

My Garage sale strawberry pot.  The top plant is Cilantro.  There is salsa in my future. 

Strawberry 

Blossom

Herbs are Happy!

Jim's veggie garden.