What was I thinking ???

I know, I know, more baby pictures...... Little Gracie was over yesterday with mommy and daddy. We had a sad good-bye when they left, because Tracey is on her way back to SF this week, and she won't be back until Christmas.... WAIT A MINUTE----- I woke up with a WONDERFUL IDEA !! She and I should take a little trip together, while mom and daughter are both Unemployed for awhile......

She will soon be back working, and then we wouldn't be able to pull this off, in fact, I don't know when we could EVER do this.. So we planned today. Mexico for a 2 week stay, and we'll take it from there ! And I'm going to travel the way she normally does, which is Very Cheaply..... Wish me luck, there are a FEW things that I must have in the way of amenites. but I am usually pretty LOW MAINTENENCE. ! i GUESS we'll see ?!?!?!

Retirement book

This book was compiled by one of the social studies teachers, Kim, who distributed pages, had students and faculty sign them with wonderful personal messages, and then had them bound to create a lasting memory.... Thanks, Kim, I LOVE IT !!

Here's a picture that "disappeared" before.... I'll just have to sit and figure out where things get stored, and how to retrieve them.

It did it again, the posting said that the picture was added, but then it didn't show up- weird, HELP !

"Houdini-like" postings

Can't quite figure out why my pictures that I have posted, keep DISAPPEARING. (It's like David Copperfield is visiting my blog, or something) I have had some problems since I've now got a card reader to transfer my pics (instead of the Kodak Easy Share dock), and it's hard to find them and identify them once they are transfered..... Oh Woe is Me. ! Anywho, if ANYONE out there has a suggestion, please BRING IT ON, I need all the help I can get !!!!!! tee hee......

Diane's birthday.....

We took dinner to Diane's (my daughter-in-law)for her birthday, tonight. She loves lasagna, so it was that, salad, and her favorite, French Silk Pie. Of course, the star of the show is, as always, our 2 (almost 3) month old granddaughter, Grace. So Precious- I can't seem to get pictures of anything else ! Shame on Me. !!! Anyway, we had a very nice evening, I picked out a large trellis for Diane, and some woven silver earrings. (She's not much on earrings, but, she never wants anything, so I had to come up with something !) I did make her a special folding card with compartments- like my students at school made- and made 6 individual cards for the pockets with special pictures and words for the wonderful birthday girl !! -she enjoyed all of it !

Closing this Chapter of my LIFE

For my retirement party MY CAMERA had been dropped on the cement floor at Shop n Save, and I didn't get any images. Darn...
My daughter got a few shots, I think, anywho, the people that I work with are the best ! and we have a great community that is very supportive. Some of the fun stuff was this dancing doll (I'm the one that is always dancing, even in the hallways between classes) and some signage, making me feel LOVED...... I got books, a beautiful hand-thrown vase, from the pottery and ceramics teacher, Jan. Most of my friends either got me wine, or books, which I love...... The department went together and got me a carved frog sculpture from the Botanical Gardens here in St. Louis. The "cards across the mantlepiece" is a Graeser family tradition-- but you can only leave them up there about a week (newer, Haynes family tradition)... The book was compiled by a sweet Social Studies teacher, Kim, she distributes pages for faculty and students to sign for the retiring teachers, It's very special !! Thanks to all of you ! I love you guys, and will miss you all soooooooooooooooooooooo much -----------

Sara and Marco- June 2, 2007

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Originally uploaded by bufferzone

Awesome wedding topper (by Sara)

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Sara and me

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Originally uploaded by bufferzone

Mariachi trumpeter

Originally uploaded by bufferzone

One of the members of the band at Marco and Sara's wedding yesterday.

Fun Saturday !!

What a Day !!

First- Baby and Family pictures/ follow-up photo shoot for Tracey.......

Second- The most interesting wedding I've ever attended. One of my favorite former students got married, and her new husband is Mexican. They had an 8 piece mariachi band at the church, and then later at the reception. Many there were former students of mine, including both of the bridesmaids, and the brides brother. It was a lively wedding, and very "peppy" to say the least ( as the brides mother put it)..... My daughter was able to attend with me, and hopefully I'll be able to post some of the pictures she made, later. On top of the wedding cake sat a bride and groom (made from fimo clay, by Sara, the bride) in the style of the "day of the dead" celebration from Mexico. It is looked at as a festive occasion, rather than something morbid- but the wedding topper was so delightful, with the skeleton bride and groom smiling at one another, PRICELESS... Also, my sweet Sara is going to college in Bloomington, Ill. and is studying to become a high school art teacher...... WOW ! What JOY !!

Strip Quilt (Canon Pic)- cross your fingers !!

Hopefully I can locate this picture from the catacombs of this computer now .......

The "old" Kodak camera, actually only 2 months old, is producing pictures with lines across the image. I knew it couldn't last... Oh well, my new Canon is super, with lots of bells and whistles, actually, it is SO silent, that you are not even sure you TOOK a picture. I think you can turn that sound component back on if you want.
Anyway, just installed the disc that came with it, and I think I'm IN BUSINESS, finally.......

You can either transfer the images with the USB cord- directly from camera to computer, OR with the use of the CARD READER, which I also bought..... HUMMMM, what to do???

I will try to plug in the card reader, into the correct port, wish me luck, and then transfer the pic of the quilt I just about finished this morning- Lest you think I've been totally sitting on my hands, and not being productive AT ALL !! ha

Paige and Rachel- (next portraits?)- one of me that my daughter took at The King and I Restaurant awhile back.....

Not ONE, but TWO cameras, now !!

I returned my kodak to see if it could be fixed, and I've already gotten it back... .So far, it looks like it's "back to normal" from what I can tell. Maybe it won't last, who knows???

I just received my NEW Canon PowerShot, and card, as well as service agreement for 4 years, TODAY-- Even though they had said if I didn't pay any shipping it should be 7-9 business days.... It only took 5 !!!

I'll have to read all the instructions, though, it looks a bit more complicated. My Kodak is such an Easy One to master... Wish me luck.

I like this photo, taken at the botanical gardens with my old camera--

New camera on it's way, 7-9 working days, ha !

Get Going !

Time to get painting again ! Think I'll get busy..... It's time I got some more portraits or still-lifes, or landscapes, or abstracts accomplished.....

The paints are dry, and so are the brushes. NOT A GOOD THING !

Posting more soon !

My Classroom- empty in lots of ways-

Starting down a new path....

I'm trying to start each day ( or at least 3 or 4 days a week) by exercising. I'm already sore from the first attempt, but I will survive it !!

I haven't had time to clean the studio yet, just got my school room finally cleaned, and as I locked it for the last time I reflected on just how much of my life had been spent there !

It was as if I sort of "lived"there, especially as I tried to clean out all my things, I realized this !

So much creating, helping, instructing, laughing, and enjoying went on there !!!

Camera- and Art Show, Mother's Day

Oh no!!!!!

This morning I dropped my camera, What will I do ?

I guess there is no good time, but, this seems to be the worst ! My party is tomorrow, and I don't have a camera that I am familiar with to get photos !! I guess I can use the one from school..... Hopefully I will be able to down load them...

Meanwhile, here is a picture of the artwork from the Mother's Day art show at Laumeier Park last Sunday. My hubby, Bus, said to pick out something, and it seems I had to have all three...(the largest one is only 12x12, though) Aren't they cool? They are from a young artist from Iowa named Chris Vance.. I spent a long time talking with him. He was so talented..... Some artists just have that special ability to capture the color and design, and He Was One of Them !!

More boxes !!

I'm getting ready to start on my ETSY shoppe soon..... I'll have the time after next week...

Retirement Party Friday- It"ll Be Official, after the Faculty Party, where the "Dancing" takes place !!!

Mother's Day- 2007- Sculpture Park Tradition

We have so much family fun on Mother's Day at the Sculpture Park Art Show, and Chevy's for a late lunch......

Pat Rats of the world, UNITE !!

My studio is OVERFLOWING !!! I have everything pretty (somewhat) organized, but, I keep bringing home my stuff from 20 of teaching ART !! It's unbelievable how much stuff I kept bringing, and bringing to school... It has taken me all year to sort through it all !! I tell you, it's a sickness ! HA !!

I just don't have the heart to throw it away, since I JUST MIGHT need it someday !!!

Box Artworks

I put these boxes in a little shop in Glendale, Mo. It's a darling vintage shop with lots of wonderful decorative items for the home. She has a great knack for picking the unique. Hopefully I can sell some of these "themed" assemblages...