Home Town Press

Coming full circle - wow that's a strange feeling. The article and interview came out in the Greer Citizen this weeks. It's a good piece (except they got Kenny's name as Tim - where did that come from??) and got my mom's name spelled wrong - Valeda - it's Veleda but other than that I am very proud of it. And of course, my mom and dad are on cloud nine. We also went to the Beluga 9th anniversary party last night and we're celebrating me singing there 8 years this month too. Where does the time go? It's still hard to believe I did a gig there and thought it might be a couple of weeks - 8 years later and still going strong! It was a nice party and I told everyone that wanted me to sing to come back tonight! Still hot and only 4 more weeks until we can go on vacation - hope I have to wear coat! HA

I'll try and post the article later.....

Best of My Day - Being part of Beluga Martini Bar for 8 years!

Finally - Below 100 Degrees

It's still hot and muggy but at least it's been raining and in the 80's. I love to watch the rain and pretend it's a cold 40 degrees with a chance of snow! Of course, when I had to go to the grocery store it was pouring and very humid! But I made homemade soup anyway to continue the pretending of winter. I read yesterday we are suposed to have a colder than normal winter and I can't wait. And I hope and hope for snow this year. I want to run in the snow with Matilda and Tatiana and fall down and make snow angels. Of course, I'll have to be able to raise my arm by then! Just last week I thought OK my shoulder is healing and then today it has hurt all day. Maybe it's the rain but I doubt it. I painted a little yesterday on some cigar boxes and that is probably what did it. I go back to physical therapy tomorrow but I'm not telling that I painted! Kenny and I are so looking forward to our vacation starting September 23rd. We're going to Myrtle Beach and have a condo for 7 blissfull nights! I don't we are going to do anything at all except sleep and eat and sit on the balcony and watch the sea! OK, let's go back to winter! I'm looking forward to turning the fireplace on, wearing coats and hats and putting cute little sweaters on Matilda and Tatiana! So, that's all I have to say today - WINTER......

The Vintage Jewelry

My Art in my Home Town!!!! Greer, SC

I'm very excited about having my art featured in My Vintage Jewelry and now hope some of it sells!!!!

Here is the article in the paper......

Claiborne-Well Traveled Artist originally from Greer finally has show at The Vintage Jewelry
reader submitted story -->
Reader submitted story
Published: Monday, August 20, 2007 - 2:00 am
Claiborne Hemphill-Trinklein, a native of Greer, began her art career in 1996 after winding down a ten year stint as a singer-entertainer in Las Vegas. Claiborne's Original Oil Paintings range from Landscapes, Still Lifes and , her favorite, Figures in Life.Claiborne now resides in Atlanta, Georgia where she studies art with Shane McDonald Studio. Her greatest influences come from the old masters of impressionism. She has traveled abroad to study the old masters and their approaches to light and color. In the last ten years she has established herself as a popular artist by hosting her "One-Woman Art Shows" in a variety of venues. Her work can be found in homes and businesses all over the U.S. and as far away as Europe and Australia.Claiborne recalls fond childhood memories of trips to the Rexall Drug Store (now "The Vintage Jewelry" store) with her mother.
"I remember standing on the sidewalk right in front of the drug store watching the Christmas Parade and marching down Trade Street as a majorette for Byrnes High School. I am so proud to now have my Original Oil Paintings hanging on those walls of the old Rexall Drug Store, now the home of the fantastic "The Vintage Jewelry" store. My memories of such a great place and so many people are rekindled as I return to Greer only to meet new friendly people and reconnect with old friends."

The Best of my Day: Sketching in a painting with my right hand! I can't paint yet but I have two ready to start! Oh and Crockpot Mac and Cheese - this is for you Christy!

The Break In

I know it's just "stuff" but when someone takes it it becomes more of a violation. Our cottage was broken into in Columbus a week after my surgery. We knew they took the TV's, Microwave, etc, but it was when we got here this week that we realized all the "little" things that were taken. Some of it was just silly stuff from the Thrift Store like all the silverware, pots and pans, lamps, etc but other things like my English Teapot and cups is what really made me sad. I always try to make a House a "Home" and now it just looks like a empty place. And I don't even want to replace the things that I know may be taken again. I just have to rant a little about this because some lazy no good SOB took our things just because they wanted to. The good thing is that we now have new fencing (with barbed wire), burglar bars and a swing gate with a bolt lock! We now call it "The Compound" and that's what it will look like when we are finished! And Pat did have a deck built on the cottage like the one on the house and it's sooooo nice not to have to sit in the dirt! So there is lots to be thankful for - like nothing that was stolen was ir-replaceable and we were not here and my babies were not here. We all could have been hurt or worse. I fell safer now here though and hope that who ever did it is gone by now. And today the whole band is going to cook out on the deck and we'll rehearse a new song! That will be fun!

Sometimes ya gotta do what you have to do!

Tatiana and Matilda Mae

I know I'm not suposed to use my arm but Tatiana and Matilda Mae really needed a bath! And more than that, I needed to "Do my ROOTS"!! I got it all done and hopefully did no damage to my arm. One thing I treasure in life is bathing my dogs. So many send their babies to groomers and I know it's a lot less trouble but for me it is such a great bonding time. Sure, I never really have time to do it but when you pull the brush thru that beautiful hair, put their little bows in, tell them how pretty they are you get that special look in their eyes. We brush and kiss and brush and kiss - but no kisses when you trim the nails! That was pretty much my day and packing for Columbus. We are still breaking heat records in Atlanta and it's suposed to be worse tomorrow. At least we will leave for Columbus after dark and cooler. My garden is pretty much gone with the heat and my flowers - well, they are little sticks now! I did bring my Lemon Balm plant inside to save it and I just love the smell. So here are my darlings after their bath and I didn't take a picture of my roots!!!

Best of My Day: The smell of clean puppies!

August - uck!!!!

OK - The ONLY good thing about August is Kenny's birthday and knowing that next comes September! This hot weather is awful and I'm very tired of it. I'm also in my fourth week of physical therapy and Lucila keeps telling me do NOT move you arm. It's hard so then all you want to do lie in bed and look at the computer or read. Everytime I think of something I need to do I realize I'm not suposed to do it. I tried to paint last week and it hurt so I'm tryng to obey the Doc! I need my painting arm. So tomorrow I will cook a dinner in the crockpot and probably bathe the babies anyway because they need it! And I really need my "roots" done - I bought my color today but don't know if I can get it on - Oh, Kenny - have you ever dyed hair!!!!! I'm not sure I even want to go there. He is still emptying the dishwasher for me and I load it so we do have a "system" which is nice. We are both so zapped from all the heat in the club that we're just going to bed early. Tomorrow I've got to pack and get ready go to Columbus to perform this weekend and it's even hotter there! So, come on September, December, January - I need SNOW and fireplaces and fur hats and boots and my favorite - sweat suits!!!!

Garden Glory

I wanted to post this picture of my Garden Glory - I have enjoyed my container garden this year that Kenny built for me!

Kenny's 55th Birthday

Kenny's 55th Birthday W I'm not too good at keeping this up to date! I'm in the fourth week after my shoulder surgery and it's very boring and still can't do anything with my arm. I tried to paint a little but I think it was too soon and made it hurt! But last weekend was a wonderful Kenny "Birthday" time! We went to SC on saturday and mother had a great dinner for us (in the dining room of course) of filet, potatoes salad (we brought the tomato's) and cake and ice cream. We just had a wonderful visit with mother and daddy. Then on Sunday morning we got up and left the babies with Granny and Papa and took off for the mountains! We drove to Hendersonville and had a nice lunch and walked around downtown. There was an art show on the streets but it was very hot. We wanted to get to the Pisgah Inn and arrived about 3 pm to wonderful cool air! Our room was nice and had the porch with rocking chairs overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. We relaxed and went to dinner about 8 pm - still had to wait on a table by the windows about 45 minutes so we were starved but it was worth the wait. Fresh mountain trout! We went back to the room and just "sat" on the porch and watched the stars in that wonderful mountain air. I even had to put on a long sleeve shirt! We slept with the windows open and still had to cover up - now that is heaven in August. The next morning we went for breakfast and it was very chilly and raining. We sure hated to leave there because when we drove down the mountain the temperature went from 63 - 92 in about 20 minutes! We got to Asheville and parked and walked but way too hot. We visited a few art galleries then headed back home. We got back to mother and daddy's and kissed the babies a LOT! We missed them being with us but I think they liked being at Granny's better. We had wonderful soup and sandwches then headed home. Kenny was 55 on Monday and the night in the mountains was a great way to spend a birthday! Now, this past week we have broken records almost every day with the heat. And the air conditioner went out at Beluga on Friday so it was pretty miserable but we got through the weekend. So now it's back to physical therapy tomorrow and Wednesday - then to Columbus on Wednesday night to play at Belloo's next weekend. And I'll try and do better with this blog! The "Best" of the week: Rocking away on the porch in 60 degree weather in the quiet and looking at the starts with my "Birthday Boy"!!!!