"Gone Fishin"

Since I will be gone for 5 days to San Francisco, I thought I'd just leave a pic from a couple of years ago up- for the duration...... This is one of the most magnificent places I've ever seen, so unspoiled and beautiful.... til later-

Graciekins

We'll be off to San Francisco for a couple of days, meanwhile here's a few shots of my Grandbaby from my babysitting today. She is almost sitting up, and shows so much interest in the things around her. We just play all day, she is so much fun...

Buff

Back to the old method. I was beginning to think I'd "lost" it !

I started on the Tracey pic, trying to improve the facial tones and shadow areas . Can you believe that this girl was born with black hair, that fell out, and it came in blonde, and through the years it has darkened. It is absolutely black in the photo I was working from. Also, MANY, MANY, WONDERFUL CURLS...... Her hair is so amazingly thick and curly, I'm Jealous, Buff.

(She picked up the nickname, Buffy when she was about 2 years old, and wore her hair in little pigtails like the little girl, Buffy, on "Family Affair"- with Buffy, Jodie, their Dad, Brian Keith, and Sebastion Cabot, as Mr. French)

KC Fun.....

We went to Kansas City with my sister and her husband to visit my nephew and his wife this weekend, and take in the big art show at the Country Club Plaza. Friday night an unexpected rain drenched us, while at the show, but Saturday was beautiful, and the crowds were out of this world. Since the show was in the middle of a very diverse shopping district, it was fun to shop, look at the art, eat a bite, and get lattes, as well as enjoy the "people watching", which I love. I managed to make a few photos of the people and events, as well as some of my wonderful family, too !!

If it's not broke, DON'T FIX IT...

I experimented with a formula in mixing my oil paints. I'm not sure why, but I thought I needed the paints to dry more slowly... I knew I was using the paints thinly, and I thought it would help to have them stay workable longer. I remember my mother painting in oils and using the little two-compartment containers, one for turpentine, and one for linseed oil. I thought that she just dipped in one, and then the other, and then combined it with the paint. The knowledgeable guy at the Art Mart gave me his mixture, which he puts directly with the paint. I bought all 3 bottles, and look them home, combining them as he had said, and got started with my painting. WELL. it was impossible to control, and as I tried to apply the colors, one over another, the original paints just WIPED off the canvas- what a mess...

So, it's back to the old method, which I should have realized was the best from the start.. Why do we always seem to think that we need to change things-- It's not always better !

Here's a pic of Tracey in Nepal (I think) that one of her friends, Ron took.. I never saw it before, and while cleaning off the desktop I ran across it..... OMGoodness, how happy you look.

Latoria, again, only better

Here's a second picture of my student, Latoria. She graduated last year. Latoria has a 2 year old daughter named Mykala. Latoria was in my Applied Design class, and was also in my A.N.P. for four years.....Here is the finished portrait

Rams Football- tailgate-ing in 2006,2007

We have a lot of fun on football Sundays, tailgateing with our good friends. We have been doing it for the past 12 seasons. Here are a few of the images that make up a typical Rams parking lot event, and the rest of the festivities !! (the football part is only PART of the fun!)

Here are some pictures that Pat just gave us (she forgot to develop the film) from Last Years tailgates.....

(CLICK on any picture to enlarge the collage)

Art Coop "Noh Way" show in Upper Central West End

Friday night was the opening of the "Noh Way" art show , and Linda and I both put in 3 paintings. The opening was fun, and we met and talked to many interesting people in the St. Louis art scene..... We hope to get involved in a lot more shows, and I am constantly inspired being around creative people. Already I am thinking about some new paintings, which will maybe lots bigger, and more abstract. Lin's friends, Mi Mi and Leo drove all the way from Eureka to see the show and visit.... That was so sweet of them !

Millie or Milly ?

Here is the final painting of little Milly, who will be one year old next month... How the time flies ! ( that is such an old fashioned name, plus, it is the name of my mother's best friend!, which was actually Mildred )

....... My sweet son, Jim, oh, what a blessing you are to me, and to all of us.....

Last Baby Quilt (for awhile, anyway)

This was going to be a "quickie" quilt, cause I had lots of strips left over from Tracey's quilt, and I was just going to make a quilt for Weston (Ted's very old, dear friend, Steve had his first baby recently).
Well, much to my surprise, it has taken a few "turns" and become a major deal.... The reason is, I decided that the cool colors of the original quilt (at the bottom) needed a warm additional color, to bring them out.....
If you look at the color wheel, you will remember from art class, that warm colors, red,yellow, and orange, (fire, sun, heat) are on one side of the color wheel, and blue, violet, and green (ice, water, snow) are on the opposite side of the wheel.


So, I added the salmon color, and merrily sewed the additional strips in, well, LO and BEHOLD- nothing matched up !!! and I had to proceed to take every last seam out, reposition them, and restitch... well, by that time, I was pretty tired of looking at the whole thing, and I set it aside for a week.....
I finished it this morning, and will take it to the ladies over at the Quilting group at Cur of Ars church, to be quilted...... Yes!- NOW I can get back to my PAINTS- hooray !

Simple coffeecake ! Simply delicious

A good friend of mine, Wayne (or the Wayner, as I call him) is an excellent cook. He always makes the best tailgate food, trying new recipes and "wow-ing" us with his expertise....

He gave me this simple recipe, and I've had the best time making it, and impressing people.. They think it must have taken lots of time and effort, but to your amazement, IT DOESN'T !

It was from the cook, Paula Deen on the Food Channel, and it's fantastic !

I plan on making it tonight as a thank you to the nice man, Mike, at the bookstore, who found a poem I described to him that I have been looking for for 25 YEARS ! The poem was from a poetry volumne of a set of books for young people that my mother and her sister had growing up. My grandmother, Dodie, was a poet herself, writing poetry all of her life. When we grew up, we memorized favorite poems, and my mother would recite many for us that she had learned as a child....

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE FOUND THAT POEM !! I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT IT ! THANK YOU, MIKE, THAT WAS SO NICE OF YOU ! Oh, also, I even had the Name of the poem, wrong-- I thought it was called "Hildegarde", when the actual name was "The Dead Dolly"- so how he was able to track it down, I do not know !

Anyway, on to the recipe:

Ultimate Coffee Cake

16 to 18 unbaked frozen dinner rolls ( Rhodes brand)

1 (3-ounce) package regular butterscotch pudding mix, not instant

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

The night before place frozen rolls in well greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle dry pudding mix over rolls. Sprinkle brown sugar over pudding mix. Sprinkle chopped pecans over brown sugar. Pour melted butter over all. To prevent the dough from forming a hard crust while its rising overnight, cover with a damp towel or tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Let rise overnight at room temperature, about 8 to 10 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Turn pan over onto a serving platter to remove. Serve by pulling apart chunks with forks.

DELICIOUS

September 11, 2001

On the anniversary of that day when we were attacked, let us remember those innocent people who were lost. My daughter Tracey was in New York that day, and was taking pictures of the events around her. She later became part of a project in the SoHo area called."Here is New York", where amateur photographers posted their pictures of the attack. The storefront gallery gave the people of New York a place to share their feelings and thoughts, as well as the pictures they had taken. Copies of the pictures were available for sale, with the proceeds going to the families who lost loved ones. A book of many of those images was published, and 4 of them are my daughters. These are a few from that book, and from another book by professional photographers of the Magnum Photographers group.

An all round great day !

My buddy Kris and I spent the day sipping Starbucks, shopping, laughing and eating. We had so much fun being silly and enjoying our time off and all the people we met. We had a spontaneous day, and we loved it. We talked to wonderful people, and hopefully gave them a laugh or two..... We made a few "serious purchases" to boot! We both are getting ready for fall with big new shiny crockpots, complete with new cookbooks full of recipes so we can make some special meals for the cooler weather. (Both of us still have the old crockpots we have had for 30 years) I finally can complete my dust ruffle, since my ruffler finally works after the fourth try! A big thank you to the patient lady at the Fenton Sew n Vac store...... Last but not least, I snagged a video picture frame which shows a slide show ,with the 20% off coupon Kris had from Linens and Things.. thanks, Kris..
We plan on playing often, now that we are both "ladies of leisure"

Rockin Girl Blogger Award- The Graeser Girls

My darling sister has nominated me for the "Rockin Girl Blogger" award- That sweetie !

I'm not much for "surfin the net" looking for blogs, but I'm required, as an award recipient, to post blogs that others can visit and find interesting and inspirational... WELL, I've gone to some and they are so amazing... I feel that my feeble little images and posts look rather "sad", but oh well, anyway, here are a couple that I was totally enamored with: http://www.tatterededge.blogspot.com and http://www.pamgarrison.typepad.com

also http://www.somethingsublime.typepad.com (for magnificent jewelry) Take a look at http://www.lkperrella.com for her wonderful treat of a blog. So inspiring !

In a different vein- check out these creative people- http://www.duanekeiser.blogspot.com (he creates a painting a day, and is fantastic)

http://www.postcardfrompuniho.blogspot.com the paintings from New Zealand artist, Paul Hutchison....wow

also, I love to check in on http://www.acollageaday.blogspot.com for some fun-- his tiny collages sell like hotcakes, too - 25. each ! They measure 4 x 4 inches!

I hope these links work! I feel like a stoneage blogger here with my limited computer savvy...

All of these sights are definately more "polished" and sophisticated, I guess they have had them designed by pros.... They have links everywhere, and have images that scroll and change ! Really fun to see !!

Thanks to my sis, Big Linnie, for again making me get outside my comfort zone and try some new stuff that I found really fun and exciting..... (It's 4:15 in the am, and I've been at this for about an hour and a half)

the ayes have it.....

I'm never lonely in my studio these days, even when I'm alone, cause it seems as if I have company. Honestly I feel as though my "peeps" are with me.... tee hee.... what joy.

another Castor pic

This pic didn't upload the first time. Hard to get him standing still ... HA

Jim and Castor, always on the go !

Jimmy and his dog Castor joined us for dinner last night. Castor loves to run in the yard, he's so full of energy. He has calmed down a bit,slightly maturing from "puppyhood", but is still very hard to control around the kitchen and food. He has a bad habit of standing up, where he can reach the kitchen counter, and seeing what he can find.... Last night we was licking the butter before we got to him, yuck.... He is a great companion, though, and keeps Jim busy and keeps him company. He is loyal, and very handsome, as well ..... just like his dad....

Scan this !!

My next challenge was to scan and image and try to blog it.... Hallelujah ! I got it to work. I put it into Picasa, and altered it, and was able to add it to the blog. I guess lots of this stuff is simply trial and error ! ha !!
This is a photobooth shot of my sis and I the night of the Ditty Bop concert at Mad Art Gallery in Soulard. It was fun, and the Ditty Bops were amazing. ( They sing harmony, and write all their own funky songs.. GREAT )

Mexican collage

Last night my sister and I were playing on the computer, and she was showing me some ways to alter and enhance my photos. I was working with some of the ones from Mexico to see what I could do with them.. I sharpened them, increased the color and the highlights and shadows. It was fun getting different effects, and good practice of the options in my picasa software program. I created this collage, what do you think??

a little bitmore and a little bit more.......

Here are some cute shots of my grandbaby, Gracie!!!! Look at that face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graceful Thursday !

I honestly don't blog just so I can show pictures of my granddaughter, really !! (My sister DID say it would be awesome being a Grammie, and she as usual, was right) Being with Gracie, the day just FLIES by !! I love you so !!

New Fabric!

My sister gave me the idea of putting together fabric combinations that are quite daring!

I've selected these for some article of clothing, for who I don 't know yet !

What do you think?

Also, I've been "taken" by this red and blue-black print with the border for a skirt of some kind. Patterns were on sale for 1.99- imagine that !

Dinner with Teacher Buddies !

Tonight is the "first Wednesday" meeting of the retired, and some not retired, teacher group. They get together once a month for food, and catching up on all the latest news !

I decided to join in the fun. It was nice getting to see old friends and finding out what everyone's been up to....

Babies, Babies, Babies !

It seems that a "baby boom" of sorts is going on !

What excitement with all the new babies... This calls for MORE QUILTS !!

I've gotten back into the stash of scraps and come up with enough "starts" to complete 2 new baby quilts. These, I believe, I will have machine quilted, to save a little time. (One baby is due in November, and the other is already here!)

They are both boys, so I'm in luck with my pre-determined color schemes ! he he...