Another Day of Painting

How can I not throw her toy for this face???? It's Matilda wanting to play!

"Doggie Nap" is very wet and I could not work on it any more - This is so hard because it's a 6x 6 - yes, 6 inches square - That is really small for me!

This is no where near finished but I took this photo of "Joe's Hands" at Belloo's this weekend

He's a friend and good customer and I love the Cigar and Brandy!

Last minute touch ups and I signed this one....

I haven't painted this much in a long time and it feels so good. I don't know how much I'm really accomplishing but I feel like I'm learning something at least. I've dropped back to small paintings and trying to "see" the lights and shadows. Some of them turn out well and some not so but I'm not trying to create masterpieces to sell - just to learn and if I can sell a few that's great. We haven't started our art group back yet and I'm so realy to do that. Hopefully, next month. I've also stayed home more this week and that feels good too. Sometimes, there is just too much going on and I need a break from that. Kenny is working very hard and I'm not seeing much of him but it has to be done. So, a good day and there is suposed to be rain tomorrow which is a good thing. I may try and paint some more but my shoulder sure is sore tonight so we'll see. Tatiana is so sweet - when I paint she wants in the Baby Bed to sleep - now Matilda on the other hand wants me to throw her toy - she brings it to me and I have to stop and throw it - kinda breaks the concentration a little! And she kept wanting to go outside and it was cold! But how can you resist that face???? I also made my "Myrtle Beach" Italian soup tonight - I think it's my all time favorite and with cornbread - Yum....









Best of My Day: Watching Matilda chase her toy in the back yard.....

A very nice weekend

Kenny T on Drums!!

Pat Juneau on Guitar

Our friend Pat Juneau was in town to work with us this weekend in Columbus. It's so funny that after all these years it still feels like yesterday playing with him. His talent is amazing and I am always amazed at him. The people loved it too in Columbus so it was very nice. I went down on Thursday and Pat and I went to the Springer Opera House to see "To Kill a Mockingbird". It was a local performance with 3 professional actors in for the production. Not only is it a moving play but all the actors were great. I miss the theatre so much and still wish this is what I could do. I did get a surprise on Friday night that the 3 pro actors showed up at Belloo's and we had a great time! Then on Sunday we had our employee "Holiday Party" - everyone brought a dish and we got hams - there was so much food and so good. We had to leave to get Pat back to the airport but fun was had by all. I'm so very tired though and going to take a xanax and read a book and try to sleep about 10 hours! I want to get some rest because I need to paint this week and you just can't do that when you are so tired. Housekeeping comes tomorrow, I got my laundry done today so if I get some sleep I'll be ready to paint, paint, paint!





Best of My Day - Sleep!!!!

Finished these Paintings

"Window Sill Pears"

6 x 12

"Lane Thru the Gate"

8 x 10

"Garden Daisies"

I took this photo in my Garden this summer...

Finally a Painting Day

I hate painting grapes but here we go again!!!

"Bird Bath"

Not sure what to do with this one!!! The bird looks funny.

The Beginning of another one of Lauren

Not finished with this one but loving it!

It was really cold but Kenny put a little heater in my studio for me and off I go - to paint! It's been too long and I'm getting back into the swing of things. I'm doing smaller paintings right now for the learning experience and enjoyng it a lot. Some of the paintings are not my "usual" but like I said I'm trying to "learn" more right now. I will be glad when the art group starts back with Shane and I'll work on my "large" paintings then. Kenny and the boys left for Columbus last night and I'm going down on Thursday (not to work but going to the Springer Play House to see "To Kill a Mockingbird") then work friday and saturday night. Got errands to do today and pack. Looks like we are going from Winter back to Spring over the weekend so that means packing two kinds of clothes - yuk. I need Winter a little longer and perhaps some more snow! The girls say yeah to that. So, I'm off today to get things done......





Best of My Day - Painting in the studio with Tatiana and Matilda right there with Mommy.

Playing in the snow

More Snow!!!!!!

Wow - more snow and we love it! Saturday morning around 10 am it started snowing really big flakes. Kenny put the car at the top of the hill and of course I woke up and never went back to sleep because I was lying in bed and watching it fall. It was beautiful quiet snow fall. I got up in the afternoon, found my snow boots and took Tatiana and Matilda Mae out in the back yard. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more - they both went crazy and ran all over the yard. I would throw snowballs and they chased them but couldn't find them - it was pretty funny. And they both had great big snowballs on their fur. I had to use the hairdryer to melt them off. We all had a great time. Then Billy tried to cancel our gig but we said we would come in with a "reduced" band - the weather people scare everyone telling them to stay in - the SOUTH - Duh! There was no ice or snow on the roads and we had a great crowd! Not a usual Saturday night but enough to certainly make it worthwhile and they stayed until the end. Now it's really cold - 19 degrees tonight so we're all cuddled up in bed and there is still snow on the ground. This is the first snow we've had in 4 years (the day we moved in this house!) and I hope we get some more - just please not on the weekends! So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The Best of my Weekend: Playing in the snow with the babies!

Our First Snow!!!!!!

Tatiana
Matilda Mae

Yeah Whoopie Hot Dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard Claiborne Hemphill January 14th, 1913

Kenny and Daddy

Remembering 95 years


Mother, Me and Daddy


Mother and Daddy

Birthday Cake

Lighting the Candles

Jane, Laura and Daddy

Daddy and Steve Hemphill

Patricia and Mick and Daddy

Laura and Daddy

How to do write about about a celebration that is so wonderful you are about to burst! We arrived in SC on Sunday night for Daddy's 95th birthday Celebration. On Monday morning we went to his favorite "Cracker Barrel" for the big birthday breakfast. My cousin Patricia and her husband Mick and my aunt Laura (Daddy's half-sister) met us there. Patricia and Mick had to drive back to Northern Virginia that day so this was our only chance to see them. I have not seen Patricia since the 70's and she has 3 (Identical triplets) who are now in college and 22 years old! We had a wonderful visit and of course a great big breakfast! We went back home to get ready for the next party! I actually tool a nap - we were going to leave at 4 PM so at 2:30 Daddy went upstairs and dressed - His black suit, new black shirt and black tie!!! He joked that we could drop him off at the mortuary after the party! We said NO way and told him he had too many more birthdays to celebrate! We went to Steak & Ale and got our big table in the room he loves. The family started to arrive, Laura and Jane, with her husband JT - Daddy's two half sisters and the only immediate family he has left. Then my cousin Karen who we have not seen in years and her friend Sharon who's father was a good friend of my Dad's. Finally, my cousin Steve and his wife Marcia. Karen is the daughter of my Dad's youngest brother Sam and Steve is the son of my Dad's brother, Milton. We dined and had some good wine - I read my poem and didn't cry! We all went back home for coffee and cake that mother had made. We had candles and sang - mother had a "95" candle on the cake and of course Daddy turned them around to say "59"!!! Then the fun began. We all talked (at the same time) and caught up and talked of old memories and family. Daddy really enjoyed this and brought our memento's from our great-grandfather Dr. Fielder and his mother, Lola Bays. We talked and laughed of Papa Hemphill and Mama Hemphill (Jane and Laura's mother). Karen's children are grown, April in Florida and Stephen in LA as a screenwriter and beginning to film his first feature with Richard Gere. Steve and Marcia have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren!!! Both are retired (I the only one NOT retired) and enjoying life. Kenny said he sat back and watched as everyone was talking and my Daddy smiling and telling stories from his youth (yes, he remembers everything). His face told it all and he was happy to be surrounded by his loved ones. Everyone left around 11 PM and Daddy said we still have an hour to celebrate. At this time Kenny promptly fell asleep in Mother's chair. There is something about this chair (everyone falls asleep in it). At the end of the day all were happy and I am still bursting with pride and love for my Daddy. It could not have been better and having the family together was so heartwarming and wonderful. I am so very blessed to have my 95 year old Daddy and love him with all my heart. I thank God for both of my parents and to have them in my life at my age. Happy Birthday Daddy and many many more......

"That's what my Daddy means to me"........

A man who read books to me before I could talk
A man who carried me before I could walk
That’s what my Daddy is to me

A man who took me to his home
A land called Virginia where we would roam
That’s what my Daddy is to me

A man who brought me a dog in his pocket
And Taught me a love I’ve never forgotten
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who built me a house in a tree
Gave me a bike and let me fly free
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who would search for rocks in New River
And carry them home so I could remember
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who wanted me to play trumpet in the band
But instead let me march with a baton in my hand
That’s what my Daddy is to me

A man who taught me all people were the same
No matter who they were or from where they came
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who really didn’t want me to date
But gave me the freedom to make my mistakes
That’s what my Daddy is to me

A man who watched not what he had planned
But followed my band throughout this land
That’s what my Daddy is to me

A man who taught me to work with my hands
A hammer, a saw: to create what I can
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who supported my dreams all along
Maybe gave up his so I could sing my songs
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

A man who said you can do anything
A song, a paintbrush, a hammer, a dream
That’s what my Daddy is to me

Today here’s a man at 95 years old
Has given me more than my heart could hold
That’s what my Daddy is to me.

Today here’s a man that I love more than life
And together with the woman he calls his wife
Have given me more than any child could ask
Today and Tomorrow, the future, the past.

A very Special Day

I'm finally over the flu and feeling better - except I'm walking in a boot! And not the fashion kind. I have a torn ligament in my ankle - back to the Doc next friday so I'm only taking one shoe (well, several but on the right ones) this weekend. Kenny rescued me yesterday for an escape and what a great one it was. We went to the High Museum of Art for the Impressionist Exhibit from Paris. There were Monets, Manets, Sisleys, Moriesett's and more but best of all Renoir's. Oh, how I love Renoir and I almost cried when I saw some of them. They were all beautiful and we both enjoyed our tour. I hobbled around and sat down a few times but it wasn't bad. I came away very inspired and can't wait to get back to painting. Then we went to Hal's for Dinner and that also was wonderful. We saw a bunch of friends from Beluga but we got to sit at a table in the corner and be by ourselves for a while. We were home around 8:00 and the girls were glad to see us but it was finally a great way to start off 2008. Going to Columbus this weekend then to SC for Daddy's big 95th birthday!

Best of my Day: Renoir's and Hal's Bread Pudding

The Flu

Now I've got it and feel pretty bad. Kenny did just make me tomato soup and fresh oranges and Gatorade. So I'm in the bed and may just stay here all weekend. I don't think I'll be able to work tomorrow night either. I used to push myself but I don't think it's worth it any more at 57 years old. So it's bed rest and sleep for me!

2008

Ah, I' m going to sleep for a month!!!!!!