Aussie girls

Here are two new portraits that I just finished of my friend, Marlene's grandbabies... They live in Australia, so I wasn't able to take my own photos. That makes it more difficult, because I have something particular in mind about how the finished painting should be, and that just changes the process a bit. There are certainly times when it's just impossible, though...

Marlene will have all 4 of her grandchildren's portraits now, because last year I completed the two grandsons...

We'll miss you, Christy !

We went to a very sad funeral today for a fun-loving friend, Christy.... She was taken too soon from us all, and makes us realize how precious each and every day is ! Christy was a great mom, and a wonderful, caring wife. She was a funny, charismatic, dry witted friend. She was fun to be around, we traveled many places together, with couples, and with "the girls"
Christy, we had no time to say "goodbye"- let us all take the time to tell those that we love how important they are to us. You made our lives a little richer for knowing you ! We will miss you, Christy

Eddie (Skagetti)

Here is our wonderful, sweet, funny, entertaining, mail carrier, Eddie Tappen. He, for so many years kept the neighborhoods around Kirkwood, Glendale and Warson Woods alive with his presence. Never would a day go by without the laugh, and joke of Ed the Mailman !!! Sometimes we would kid him about talking so much to people that his route would take him extra long to deliver the mail.... He forever would tease my husband about his golfing, and then he would say to me,"I guess he's out "working"today, right?" and then laugh... The joke between the two of them would ALWAYS end up with the phrase, "Hey, man, I've Got Your Back!!!"
Well, Eddie was supposed to retire last June, but due to circumstances he was not able to, anyhoo, I had taken a photo of him for a portrait, and then decided to give it to him when He Actually DID retire... well, long story short, I presented it to him for a Christmas present in 2008 ! In early February Eddie had some heart trouble, and will have to have a bypass operation. We Miss him terribly, and his smiling face !! Such a wonderful person! We all hope to see you again, soon, and wish you all the best!! You ARE the best !!
Here's Eddie with his portrait, and the painting in the process....(Eddie Skagetti is our nickname for him)

Booth 10C and 13C at the Antique Mall !!

My sissy, Linda, and I have a double booth at the Great Midwest Antique Mall in Eureka ( on the outer road next to 6 Flags ) We spend lots of time searching the sales and thrift stores for goodies that we think might sell for a bit of profit.. We usually paint, fix, glue or clean some items, and others just need a bit of TLC. It's hard to keep the booth looking great, since we don't work there all the time, but Friday we spent the day painting the walls. Roger, Lin's hubby, was nice enough to build us a shelf which goes around the booth at the top, and gives us so much more display space-- thanks, Rogie....
Anywho... we were there all day Friday, moving, painting, and rearranging our "merchandise" which spruced everything up a lot !! Then we added a few new lights, and a rug, to complete the "homey" feel... We were proud of our results, take a look !!!

Catchin' UP

Lots of happenings. A trip to Savannah, and side trips as well... A night out with the fabulous voice and visuals of the magnificent Celine Dion ! What a voice ! Other than that, just getting used to having my daughter gone again... She's found her way back to SF and sounds like she is getting settled just fine! She was even able to snag a great apartment in the same building where she resided 3 years ago ! She has many wonderful friends in San Francisco, and that gives her much joy ! Still Miss YOu, Buff !

I miss you !

My daughter has spent a year in St. Louis. (she hails from San Francisco, where, it seems she's "left her heart") She has lived with her brother, down in the Soulard area, and spent the last month or so with her ole Mum and Dad.... (I talked her into staying for the holidays, at least)
Anyhoo, she's had a bit of time getting to know her niece, Gracie, and then the little one, Kate, and has spent some quality time with both, I can assure you. (I love to watch her with the little ones) During that time she has worked as a free-lance photographer, photographing weddings for several companies, as well as for herself, and working on projects of that sort.... She has gotten her website up and running, and up to date, as well.
It has been such a fun time for me, and now I've put her in the minivan cab to take her, her bicycle in a big box, and her backpacks, to the airport to send her back to her new adventures in the Sunny state of California, once more..... While making my homemade cauliflower soup, with Vermont Cheddar cheese, last night, I missed her S O ! It was so fun to have someone to cook with, laugh at stupid stuff with, try new things with, learn stuff with, and most of all S H A R E with..... I Miss You, Buffer !!!- but I realize you must follow your dreams, and pursue the life and adventure that is such a part of you ! I love you so, and wouldn't have it any other way, but I can't help feeling a little pang of loneliness when I look at your computer and the empty chair where you spent so many hours.... Mom

Christmastime....and Thanksgiving shots, too

Somehow the pictures that Grammy takes, are usually of the little ones. Go Figure ! I do, occasionally get an adult in there, for a change. Here are a few from the gathering for the Thanksgiving feast, and the rest are Christmastime...

Holiday festivities....

Friday and Saturday were nights of great food, and fun. Will Green, Jim's brother, came in from Iowa, and we haven't seen him for years, so he wanted to get together. We truly enjoyed the great meal, and atmosphere of "Portabella" restaurant in Clayton.... The food was outstanding, and we had time to catch up on news and do some sharing. We had fun seeing Will, and finding out what he's been up to. Cindy and Jerry talked about some of their recent travels, and Judi and Paul shared a bit about all their Christmas plans with family. ---- if you go there, try the rainbow trout with pistachios, and the sauted spinach---- out of this world- everyone loved their meal !

Paul fits right in...

Judi and Paul are in St. Louis for their family gathering at Trent's house, so we all got together at our favorite restaurant, Kirkwood's Amicis--- the greatest Italian food around !! We usually try their "specials" or the tuttomare or penne vodka, and love the salad.... their pizza is great, too... We take all our friends there, and have never been disappointed..... They do an amazing business, even in this time of uncertainty in the market, etc.. I guess folks still like to go out for a great meal !!
We laughed and joked, and had a great time... We even got 4 desserts, and passed them around the table for everyone to try !!! togetherness !! ha !

2nd Annual Christmas Party--

What fun... Loads of great stuff to nibble on, Lots of funny stories to tell, Lots of things to reminisce about, and then the most fun-- The CRAZY FUN bunko game (each person provided at least 4-6 crazy, regifted, Goodwill, or White Elephant gifts to share... Some of them were acquired at the party last year !) tee hee...
After the "taking of the gifts" from one another, We circle the room with the unwrapping, one at a time...(we love to drag it out !) The Ziggy theme was Jennifer's, and we all loved our Ziggy stuff ! They get funnier every year ! Thanks, for coming and sharing your joy and laughter with me ! I had a great time, too !

Ka, Ka, Ka, Katie !

Here she is wide awake.... What a precious little bundle she is. She looks like her big sister, Gracie !

New "boys" for Christmas...

Brad and his partner Michael are back in Dallas, again... Unfortunately, Santa Fe was not the retirement "dream" they had hoped it would be, so they're back in "big D", and have adopted two new babies to keep them company. Aren't they adorable?! (Brad is hubby Bus' younger bro)
I had a dachshund when I was 12 years old, named "Gretchen" and she was the love of my life for a long time !!
These two little boys are named Cole (the black one, who weighs in at 3 pounds) and his bigger brother, Clay (the brown one, of course, who is a whopping 4 pounds) They won't get much heavier than double their current weight, and are just too darling for words... I'm glad it's not ME that has to potty train them, though. ! Good luck, guys !

Always loved to BAKE !!

I've always loved to bake.... Cookies, cupcakes, brownies and cakes, biscuits, cornbread, even coffeecake !! In all the years I've been married, though, I don't believe I've ever made my mom's recipe for Black Walnut Cake.
I run across the handwritten 3 x 5 cards every once in awhile, but never have gone to the trouble-- before yesterday, that is. For one thing, it calls for Black Walnuts, which are hard to find ( I'm not sure why) and it also specifies Cake flour, instead of regular, which I never have on hand. The third obstacle was the baking pan, which is a tube pan, but Not a bundt pan. Anyhoo, I saw the black walnuts one day at Dierbergs, and decided to take the leap.... I even purchased a special pan at Viking for the task ! Another trip back to the store for the cake flour, which I had forgotten to get, and then one final one, because I was totally out of butter, and needed a cup of it !
My grandbaby sat up in her highchair watching me mix the batter. I'd like to teach her to love to bake, too, someday.... You finish the batter by folding 4 whipped egg whites into the batter. It looked just the way I remembered it did when my mom used to make it. (She was an excellent cook in every way, I think!)
Here's the recipe. Maybe you won't wait 40 years to try it ! Ha !

Black Walnut Cake

Sift 2 cups sugar
Beat until soft 1 cup butter

Add the sugar gradually. Blend these ingredients until they are very light and creamy. Beat in one at a time:
4 egg yolks
Sift before measuring: 3 cups cake flour. Resift with 3 tea. bakingpowder. Add these ingredients in 3 parts to the butter mixture alternately with third of :
1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk
Beat the batter until it is smooth after each addition
Beat in:
1 tea. vanilla
1/2 tea. almond extract (optional) ( I put it in )
1 cup chopped nut meats
Whip until stiff but not dry:
4 egg whites
1/8 tea. salt
Fold them lightly into the cake batter. Bake the cake in greased loaf or 8 in. tube pan in a moderate oven 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or ice with carmel icing.

RBFC- girls gone wild (well, maybe not soooo wild, ha !)

-Our RBFC (Retired Best Friend's Club) was missing 2 members, Marlene, and Kris on Wednesday, but we had to carry on !!! WE MISSED you guys !
We had our usual meeting at the Bread Co. and then headed off for the St. Louis Art Museum for a little art history lesson in the contemporary galleries on the top floor. We ran out of time and have to go back to catch the Pollock and De Kooning exhibits in Sculpture Hall. Anyway, we headed to the Central West End and the B O W O O D Cafe, with the nursery attached... The cozy little restaurant has just been open for 3 months, although the Nursery part has been there for 3 years !
We had a nice lunch and shopped among the greenery. I purchased a huge Amaryllis bulb, which is beginning to sprout, and should bloom, perhaps, by Christmas. A very fun time was had by all. Here you will see Joyce, Jan, Lisa and Sandy enjoying the company, the food, and the sights !
--- Next month we planned a luncheon at the Robust restaurant, and a matinee of the movie, "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Fun out with my peeps...

We had a little birthday get together, and I got to visit with my good buddies... It's so hard to find time while you are teaching, as Julie and Suzy still do... I miss them ! We've been planning a night out for the last year to see the Celine Dion concert- Unfortunately, the diva had to cancel due to sore vocal cords...
Hey, Celine, we'll catch up with you in Feb.! Rest your voice for awhile...

B I R T H D A Y 's Aren't so bad,,,

I had one of those memorable days which add to the sum of your years !! Birthdays sometimes make you feel old, or at least older, but when you have a wonderful family like I do, they are not so bad...
I feel so blessed with a fabulous husband of 41 years, a dear and darling sister, 3 fabulous kids, the best daughter-in-law in the world, and the most lovable and precious grandbabies anywhere !! I feel so lucky the "number" for my birthday doesn't mean a thing !! Super great friends top off the list, and make me feel so special. S O B L E S S E D !

Just like "Papa"

Grace kept us "in stitches" yesterday with her antics !!
She is watching every move you make, and when Grandpa reads the paper he always wears his reading glasses. She climbed up on the couch, brought a section of the paper with her, and then promptly wanted glasses, too. I ran for the camera, and Grandpa and I got considerable fun watching.
I finally found a pair with clear glass lens, and she wore them around for half an hour, too ! Too funny !

Yes We Can, and we DID !!!!!

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After spending a day canvassing for Obama in the city on Monday, Tracey and I worked outside the polls on Tuesday. It was a beautiful, but long day giving support to our candidate by greeting voters and answering questions at the polls. We worked outside of the Meramec Elementary School with some dedicated Democrats, including Sha'Ron and Monzel... We found both of them delightful, and full of hope and enthusiasm on this day of monumental change for our country. We were able to meet so many great people, and share with them our hope for a better America to come.
Tracey was able to attend the celebration at the Chase Park Plaza. I was so tired and hungry that I went home, after the polls finally closed. While watching the election returns with my hubby, whose father was appointed to a post by Missouri Democratic Governor Warren Hearnes years ago, we celebrated along with the crowds across this nation in the choice of Barack Obama for our 44th President ! --SO INCREDIBLE --
Hopefully we will ALL work to achieve the changes we need in this country to make us strong again ! It can't help but give us all hope to see how change can occur for the better with he work of EVERY group in our nation working together !!!!

28 year friendship

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It's been a year since our old group of friends has gotten together... Judi has met and married a wonderful man named Paul, and we had the opportunity to gather and get to know him a bit. Judi's children, Trent, with wife Julie, and Trisha, with her husband Boyd, had a great party to introduce Paul to the St. Louis connection... We had so much fun, sharing grandbaby pictures, catching up with what's going on in our lives, and just generally having lots of fun and conversation... Trent's home is beautiful, and everything was so delightful. The day couldn't have been nicer. We were inside and out, and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks, guys !

"Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat..".

Halloween is getting to be such a big holiday...

Grace had more fun this year, but only went Trick or Treating to 2 houses, because some of the costumes and masks were JUST A BIT toooooo scary for her. She had fun, though in her Bunny suit (not like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story") Kate slept through the whole thing !!