Seven hours of Painting

Matilda is going to chase you down and eat you Mr. Squirrel!!!!

I'm tired but it was great - one of those days when you don't eat, sit down, or even pee! I got started and kept going. I'm working on a couple of pieces right now and when you MoJo is working it is the best feeling in the world. Now, I didn't finish anything but got a great start. Everyone will just have to wait - I'm not to post "un-finished" yet. This is the second day this week I've painted - that's more than I've done in a while and it was the best thing for me. The weekend is already here so I know I won't get anymore done now. And we are going to SC on Sunday, home on Monday night and before I can unpack and repack we'll be going to Columbus. We had some great rain today too and I even went out about 8:30, sat in my wet swing and watched Matilda play in the rain! She was soooo wet and of course, Princess Tatiana said no way and I getting wet! Kenny even went and got us Pizza and Salad so I could keep painting too -and like I said I didn't eat so it was really good. Billy called today and said he would pay for L - the sax player so whoopie - I've got a seven piece band this weekend. Now that's some fun! So I'll put another bandaid on my blister on my big toe - put on those new purple shoes and have some fun! Oh, I did get the funny picture of the squirrel in my bird feeder out my studio window.......



Best of My Day: Colors and Stokes coming together bringing a canvas to Life....

Coming back to Life

This is for Christy - loved them so much got them in purple and black! Now, I have to buy an outfit for the purple ones!!!!

It seems to take longer and longer to re-cupe from a weekend. Late nights, not enough sleep, lots of scotch, and heat heat heat - Yuk...But I'm back and thank God for Housekeepers - the house is clean, laundry done, grocery shopped, chicken cooked for puppies and I painted today! I had worked on some canvas last week so I started more cigar boxes today. When I got to Columbus on Friday all my boxes had sold so that was great news. The "cigar box" money is my play money and boy do I enjoy playing with it. One new outfit and 3 pair of shoes and still have money left! Yesterday I also picked my first "big" tomato out of the garden and split a "mater" sandwich with Kenny - Yum - we have lots of greeen ones so I can't wait for them to get ripe. I can live on Tomato Sandwiches (with Duke's Mayo and lots of salt and pepper). I did talk to my Mom today and Daddy went to the "Heart Doc" for a check up. Basically, the Doc told him not to do anything - his heart is just getting weaker and weaker and to keep his little pills ready to go under his tongue. I can't think about this now - I shed a few tears and I have to put it out of my mind or I'll go crazier than I already am. I Love him too much and we are going for a visit next week so Tomorrow is Another Day and I'll have my Daddy. (Is my name Scarlett????) Oh, those moments when you wish you had your camera .......Matilda wants to play everyday in the yard - throw the toy for her to chase. I was watering and throwing and she climbed onto the brick next to the garden - got on her tippy toes - and put her front feet on the bird bath and had a drink!!!! It was so damn cute and I of course did not have my camera. I know better - I should always carry it in my pocket but it was so quick I would probably have missed it. But maybe she will do it again. Tatiana will go with me to feed the birds then she comes back in the studio - she really does not like it outside. But she did wonderful on the ride Sunday from Columbus and today it thundered (but got no rain) and she was scared but not as bad as usual so I think the "meds" are helping some. I've had my shower to get the oil paint off everywhere and going to read my book now. Went to Libray yesterday and got a whole new group of books so I'm set for a bit. I think I rambled a bit but that's just the way this ole mind is working right now.......

Best of My Day: Matilda drinking from the "Bird Bath" on Tippy Toes.....

Maggie and the portrait

Just got these from Deb - love them!!!!

Finally I can Post it.........

Our Friends Deb and her painting

Maggie loving on Tatiana

The "Discovery" of the Painting

There's my "Uncle Kenny"

I love this - Adam and Deb

The Star!!

Gathering in the Garden

Now there is a pair!!

Adam and Maggie

After the much anticipated visit from Deb, Adam and Maggie I can now post the "Pass it Forward" painting. After our visit to Fl and meeting Adam and Maggie this painting just "poured" out o me! Deb is a treasured friend and we share out love of yorkies - we got Mellie and Chloe the same day. I took a few photos in Fl and really did not want to ship this so they came by our house on their way back from NY in the "House on Wheels". After the exciting discovery of the painting hanging on the wall! The pics are priceless....we had a wonderful visit..See, Kenny and I (Uncle Kenny and Aunt Claiborne) have added another "Grandchild" to our herd. We ran and played and picked tomatoes and cucumbers and ran and played some more (I honestly don't know how Deb does it!) I had purchased a few little items - coloring books and crayons, books to read, stickers, stuffed animals, etc. and put them on Maggie's bed. Of course, the first thing she did was open the closet doors and there was the "real" treasure - a huge tub of "stage high heels". That did it - no need for toys or books or anything. Then her little eyes spotted the "stage dresses"! We put a orange "dress" on her and of course had to go downstairs to find just the right hat to complete her outfit. And don't forget feather boas - a must! What a cutie. She finally found a pair of high heel boots she could actually walk in - probably better than me! And Adam - oh my - I had 3 Yorkies' in my house - heaven!!!! This really tug my heart strings - I would have a dozen if I could. He is a precious little boy the sight of him running thru the backyard at full speed and diving onto Matilda!! Matilda just squealed a lot but Tatiana actually liked having him around! Deb and I did get to go a nice lunch. Her cousin Tiernan is on the trip with her back home to be "Mommy's Helper" for a couple of weeks so she and Uncle Kenny looked after Maggie and the puppies for a little while. Tiernan is a great 16 year old - not many of those around! And just what IS it about "Uncle Kenny"? All the children just love him and LISTEN to him at the same time - How does he do that???? It was whirlwind couple of days and we enjoyed every minute of it. We they all left yesterday we both looked at each other and said - boy it's quiet - which is nice but at the same time a little sad - we miss them already! I will say we both went to bed early - you know for me and Kenny that is almost never done. Friends - what a treasure in this crazy world. There are people that pass through your life as different times and you remember them with smiles and then there are the friends that are embedded in your heart forever - that is my friend Deb.........

Your Grandmothers Bread and Butter Pickles

I know most won't believe this but they really do taste like your grandmother's pickles! And you make them in the microwave! I always begged my mother to make pickles every year and she would soak those cukes for about 17 days (a lot of mess) and make me jars and jars of pickles which I promptly ate. When I grew up I thought I'd never have those wonderful pickles again because Claiborne don't do complicated things with food - well, mother to the rescue again - Microwave Pickles!!! The trick is the right cucumber - mine are out of my garden which is the best but you can buy those small pickling cukes at the grocery. Or steal them out of some one else's garden tee hee - Also, the recipe calls for 1 med cuke - I use 3 or 4 small ones - you can judge by having the cukes fill up the container a little more than the liquid - just experiment. Here's the recipe and enjoy the crunchiness!!!!! Christy - you HAVE to make these....Oh, also you can use Splenda but not as good...You need to keep these in the frig unless you want to "hot boil" them for storage - mine never last tMicrowave Pickles

1 med cucumber thinly sliced
2 small onions thinly sliced
¾ cup sugar
½ cup vinegar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. celery seed
½ tsp. mustard seed

Microwave safe bowl – combine all ingredients. Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes. Stir…..Cook 3-4 minutes longer or mixture is bubbly or cukes crisp and tender. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. hat long because I eat them all up!

Sunday

We are so excited about Debi, Maggie, Tiernan and "Adam" coming for a visit tomorrow - I'll be posting a lot of pictures and the "Surprise".........

Summer Weather in Atlanta

Hot, Sticky, Muggy and singing in a nightclub with not very good air conditioning! I was soaked to the bone last night at Beluga. It was so hot and muggy. And Lauren and I worked out booties off too! Great crowd, lots of friends and regulars showed up and completely worn out. Then today on Sunday we got around 2 inches of rain. This is the most rain we have ever gotten without there being a tropical storm! It was lovely to watch but still very muggy but at least it looked like a cold rainy November day - ah - can't wait! I hope I can get some more painting done this week too, I was pretty inspired last week and still need to finish a couple of the paintings. We have decided to take our "break" this year in October - now, where to go and how FAR to go? Of course, I still want so so so bad to go to Cape Cod but I mapquested and it's 1100 miles - that a long way on $4 gas - now I'm thinking still the ocean but more like savannah area. We could go back to the Myrtle Beach Condo but you know I love to try different places. So the search begins. And I think I came up with an idea for my Christmas Card but that's still in the early early "thinking" stages. The rain was wonderful and peaceful. Sure wish I were in Boston with Christy and Andrew!!!!

It's my 4th Birthday says Tatiana

My 4th Birthday

my chewy

Me and my crazy Mommy -(she's been painting)

I'm four years old today and I fell better already. My foot is not so sore today and I've had my medicine. I'm crazy just like my mommy and now take my anti-depressants! I wonder if I was born this way or did my Mommy or Matilda Mae just make me crazy? I hope now I won't be so afraid of everything. I did play today with Pink Monkey and Blue Elephant (that's my favorite) and we did go feed my birds. My Daddy also came home from Las Vegas tonight and we jumped and kissed him all over. He brought Mommy a shiny bracelet but did not even bring us a t-shirt! I am happy right now and I am going to play nice with Matilda Mae even is she gets on my last nerve. Mommy tried to take pictures of me all day but I was not in a mood to pose very well. Mommy is funny with the camera and me and Matilda love to turn our head away at the last second so all she gets is "fur"!! That's our joke on Mommy. We didn't have any thunderstorms today either - I think that was God's birthday present to me - so I wasn't scared. And I hope all those little varmint children in the neighborhood have run out of fire crackers. I think they should be against Doggie Law! I'm glad my whole family is home with me tonight and I had a nice birthday. Happy Birthday to Me!!!

PS. I wrote this myself on Mommy's puter - I think I might need to use spellcheck.....


PSS. I hope my friend Adam comes to see me soon!!

A semi-traumatic day at the Vet

Yesterday Tatiana was limping on her front left leg. Then when I said let's go feed the birds she hippy hopped up and down. Soooooo this morning when she was limping again I thought OK - let's go see Dr. Erin. I thought by going later - 2:30 - maybe there would not be so many people. Our wonderful wonderful vet office does not take appointments - they don't even accept new patients - that's how good they are - well, no such luck - a 2 - 2 1/2 hour wait. Now, it's hot as hell and muggy but we went to sit in the van - I have a book on CD so I thought OK just enjoy some quiet time with Tatitana and listen to the CD. Every once in while I would start the van and turn on the air to cool us off. We went in after about an hour and a half - just too hot and waited some more. Then we got called to the office and waited some more. When Dr. Erin came in she messed around with her foot and leg. The third toe seemed sore. We x-rayed the foot. Have you ever seen an x-ray of a tiny dog foot. It's just too cute! And the good news it was not broken. I also had her x-ray her trachea - it's a little small in certain places so it may be collapsing a little. Choe had this so bad so I knew what to look for. The only thing to do for that is maybe loose a pound! This for a Yorkie who does NOT like to go outside or get her feet wet. She's a princess you see! Now, Matilda on the other hand LOVES outside and runs and plays by her little self. Then we talked about her "scaredy cat" thing. It's getting worse, the rain, the thunder, the van, fireworks, truck, just loud noises in general. We have the pills for driving but she now tries to hide a lot and it's very upsetting. So I think she needs a "therapist"!! Dr Erin said there are drugs like my zoloft but she has to take them every day. Great - so now me and my dog are crazy as loons!! But I hope they will make her feel not so afraid. The look in her little eyes breaks my heart - she looks so scared. So, we are going to try her little "Doggie Zoloft" for a couple of months to see if it works. And we have her "trip" pills which work great but you would not want to give her one everyday. On the other hand I would love to try one just by the look on her face!!! Ha HA -THEN - we were one of the last ones to leave and of course, it was thundering and lots of lightning. We get in the van and nothing - no battery. Guess I listened to my book on CD a little too long! I went back inside and thank goodness one of the techs said no problem and jumped off my battery. He said take the long way home to charge it up a bit so we rode thru a couple of neighborhoods before we headed home at 7 pm. Boy was Matilda glad to see us! And Tatiana was glad to be home. She rested in her "baby buggy" most of the night. We are not having a storm now so I'm going to try and get her to go outside and pee. She was really good and used the pee pad but I know she needs to go again. So guess what - no painting today but took care of my precious Tatiana and tomorrow is her 4th birthday and we are so blessed to have her in our life. We love you Tatiana and will always take care of you......

Started this tonight

Just to release some "creative engery" It's 36 x 48 - BIG!!!

Peace, Quiet and Painting

I put Kenny and Pat on the plane to Las Vegas yesterday. I drove the rest of the way home - unloaded the van, watered the garden, got take out from the Italian place, and zoned on TV - They arrived late but safe and sound - Kenny said the suite was wonderful! They were headed to Harrah's for food and to see Ricky's band. After a good night's sleep I'm ready to start my 3 days of "whatever"! I do have to unpack, do my laundry, deposit the check, go to the grocery store but after that I'm going to try and paint a LOT. It's going to be hot so my little basement studio will feel nice and cool. I'm itching to do a great big painting - haven't done on of those in a while but I don't know what to do so I've got to think and do some research. We had a slow but fun weekend for the 4th in Columbus and we all cooked out on Saturday. That was nice to do. Dehra and I have so much fun together and I'm so glad she is working with me now. She is becoming a dear friend and just having a "chick" to hang with is great. I meant to take pictures of the cook out but forgot to do it! Pat had an early meeting for his convention and I told Kenny to sleep in and order room service for breakfast! He deserves it! It's going to 112 degrees in Vegas today so I know I would NOT go outside that hotel! So, off I go - just me and the girls until Thursday.......

Best of My Day........not sure yet - not out of bed!

Happy 4th of July

God Bless American - I will be singing this tomorrow night at the club - and I believe in this country and what we stand for. I pray for our soldiers and our leaders and our people. Enjoy the fireworks, eat a hotdog, have a cocktail and be proud to be an American - I know I am....

PS - Tatiana HATES fireworks and Matilda Mae just barks at them!!!

20th Wedding Anniversary

Wow - 20 years - a life time or a blink of an eye - it actually feels like both. Kenny and I were married 20 years ago on June 19, 1988. Of course, we had to work this weekend so we waited until yesterday to "celebrate". We took the evening and went for a wonderful dinner in Mid-Town that a friend of ours is the manager. She surprised us with champagne and the food was awesome - especially the "fried Chocolate Pies" with Banana's Foster Ice Cream and Carmel Sauce - ooh! We want to go back there for sure. The outside bar upstairs was wonderful too - you could see downtown and also watch the train come by. We got upstairs a little late for good pics but managed a few interesting ones - I like the one Kenny captured the train coming! We drove around Atlanta Station and downtown - it was in the low 60's last night and fabulous! We came home and sat downstairs on the swing and played with the girls for a while too. Oh, and there was a "love trinket" involve! The thing about being married 20 years to your best friend is it just gets deeper. With your true soul mate you can go thru the good times and the bad. We have laughed, cried, and shared our lives - now we just look forward to tomorrow and 20 more years. Happy Anniversary Kenny and I love you more than I did 20 years ago and I was madly in love with you then!