Kenny's Dad

Robert Trinklein, Kenny's Dad passed away this morning. He fought so hard from his very rough surgery in December but his heart just stopped. He was 85 years old and a joy to us all. I will post more later but we are getting ready to leave for Lakeland Fl to be with his Mom and family. Thank you all for your prayers......

Kenny's getting Better

He feels a little better but still resting - this Pneumonia is nothing to mess with. We are not working this weekend so that is a good thing. NOT how we would like to spend a weekend off but he needs to get well. I actually spent the evening filling out all the address cards in my Microsoft Outlook! That took a while but I've got all the addresses, phone #'s and emails and birthdays I hope! Now I just half to figure out how to transfer it to my Blackberry. You are supposed to be able to do that. And I slept - a lot - today....I think I've been so tired and not having to work I can't seem to do anything. I painted one day but can't find any energy - I hope to do something tomorrow! I am sitting in bed with the window open - it's about 60 degrees at 1:15AM! Where did my winter go? Actually, it's coming back on Sunday - yeah - fireplace and knitting! speaking of knitting - this is for Christy - I wanted to "start" a quick project - I'm still working on the Holy Doggie Blanket - so I got this pretty gray yarn - it does have little "balls" on it. I want to my wrist warmers - NOT fingerless gloves - not that good yet. Well, it took FOREVER to cast on - it kept knotting up at the little balls! And I can't really tell where the stitches are. I got a little kit with a book and accessories - had a coupon from Michaels' for 50% off. It has 2 pair needles, 6 and 7 - book, counter thingy, little round things to separate stitches, a ruler, and 2 more things I don't even know what they are - looks like a big safety pin - all for $5.00 - SO - I'll let you know how it turns out. The end where I started is very uneven so it may just be a mess but I KNOW I can do this! I sure wish you were here - I do better with the video's - I've never been good and reading directions and understanding them. I do much better with "visual". Now, I've slept so much today I'll be up all night. Good thing I went to the Libray yesterday and have new books to read. Poor Matilda just wants some one to play with her and I have to do that tomorrow - go out in the yard and throw the blue elephant. Now, Tatiana says I'll just stay in bed with Daddy - she is such a cuddly button in bed and loves it. So, here we are on a Friday night - I would only be doing my second show by now. I hope the economy picks up soon - I don't think I like this. Matilda just climbed into her snuggle ball on the bed so I think I'll go give her some sugar!!!!!!

I am an American

A Day of History today - I could not stop watching and being amazed at Americans. So I watched and listened. The peace and the love of all the people was inspiring. The smiles made me smile. The tears made me cry. The pride made my heart swell. I did not vote for Obama as I am a Republican and always have been. That said, I fully support our President and will be the American he is asking us all to be. I pray for his strength and wisdom to lead our country. There have been so many ugly things in America for a long time and I think it's time to pull together as one people, one country, one world.

God Bless Obama, God Bless George Bush, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.......

Tatiana being a nurse to Daddy

I'm making my Daddy feel better!!!!

Matilda said Mommy made my hair stand up!!!

Tatiana was loving on her Daddy tonight to make him feel better! He's been up all day and working in his office when he's supposed to be in bed! But I think she helped a bit. It's supposed to "snow flurry" tomorrow so I hope I get to see it. I really wish it would snow up to my butt! I did brush the girls hair but Matilda has static and it looked so funny. I have a headache and don't want to write any more so I'm going to read my book and take a xanax

bronchial pneumonia

Yep, that's what Kenny has. George checked him out in Columbus on friday and they started him on the strong anti-biotics. We worked friday night - and he played those drums and then slept most of the day on Saturday which is exactly what he needed to do. LeBron (our bass player) made Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner and that was good medicine for him too. He was actually better by Saturday night and now we are home and it's a holiday so he slept in and I'm going to make him more chicken soup with rice (his request). And as the "recession" kicks in harder we were cancelled this weekend at Beluga so we have a weekend off coming up. It's not what we need but at least Kenny can have a couple of weeks to get over this. And for the first time since before Thanksgiving I am going to PAINT this week. I have missed my studio and with everything going on and the holidays I'm starved for creativity. I need to paint some cigar boxes that I wanted to do for gifts so after today of grocery shopping and cooking and unpacking and laundry it's down in the hole for me!!!! I LOVE January....

Daddy's 96th Birthday

Like Father, Like Daughter!
Mother, Daddy and Me

Mother and Daddy

My cousin, Karen and Daddy

Laughing and Happy

Got to fix that hair just right

This is so sweet

The Cracker Barrel Breakfast!

96 years of looking back

Richard Claiborne Hemphill, Born in Fries, Virginia January 14th, 1913.....Yep he's 96 years old! What a wonderful and special time with him and Mother today. I went up yesterday and spent the night. Kenny was supposed to go but he is really sick (and worse today) and I'm back home tonight trying to be a good "nurse". Mother and Daddy, my cousin Karen and I went to Olive Garden for dinner last night and he had a great dinner (and a couple glasses of wine!) We all went back home and visited. Mother and Karen and I ate cake - Daddy didn't want any! He didn't stay up until midnight but almost. Mother and Karen and I stayed up then after she went home Mother and I STILL stayed up some more until about 2 am. Well, of course at 9am this morning Mother woke me up and Papa was dressed and ready to go to Cracker Barrel- his favorite breakfast place. He orders the "Sampler" with eggs, bacon, country ham (double order), grits, apples, gravy and biscuits and toast with apple butter. NOW - he eats the whole thing and he is still skinny as a rail. He's done this all of his life and breakfast is his favorite meal. His mind is so sharp and funny too. The manager of Cracker Barrel bought his breakfast and all the waitresses came over and kissed him - he had red lipstick on his cheek! We spent most of the day together and I drove home to take care of Kenny. It's hard to explain how at 58 years old what it means to have both my parents especially since Daddy is 96. I love him so very very much and he is my rock in life. And I do have to say as wonderful as this birthday was we did have some sad news too. My Aunt, Eunice Green, passed yesterday - she turned 95 on Dec 26 of this year. Her son Danny, is my soul mate brother. I got to spend some time with him and Betsy today and for that I'm thankful. Aunt Eunice was a delightful kind woman who I spent many many childhood days in her wonderful home. She was married to my mother's brother, Clark who passed in 1963. She has gone home to be with her beloved Clark. Rest and rejoice Aunt Eune....we all love you......

Happy Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

The Most Important Painting of my Life

Christmas Morning
In progress

I usually don't post "in progress" paintings but I want to keep this one as progress of love. My Daddy will be 96 years old on Wednesday and I will be there with him and my Mother to celebrate this wonderful day. I've done a painting of Daddy several years ago of him sitting in a campground with a cup of coffee in his hand. So I had no intention of doing another one right now - until Christmas morning when I was randomly snapping pictures. We were about to open gifts and the sun was shining on my Daddy. I started it tonight and I'm going to SC tomorrow so at least he can see the progress too. Poor Kenny may not get to go because he is so very sick. He has a horrible cold - I had one last week but got over mine quick - his is very different and we don't want to expose Mother and Daddy to this plus Kenny is just miserable. So I think me and the girls are going for Papa's Birthday. It was hard not to cry while painting this but at the same time every stroke of the brush has a lot of love and pride of my Father, my Daddy.......

(remember this is only 3 hours of work!!)

Knitting

Someday it will be a Doggie Blanket

How did those HOLES get in my knitting????

This past Thanksgiving I wanted my Niece Kristy to show me how to knit- she does beautiful work and I love it! So off we go to get the stuff and of course I wanted to knit a Doggie Blanket in RED. Well, after 2 months of a lot of stuff here is my project - HA HA - I do like doing it but only if I'm sitting down which is not very much. And where oh where did those holes come from and how do I fix them?????? I also have no idea how to finish this but when I run out of yarn I'll call Kristy - do you hear that? This will be the funniest Doggie Blanket in the world but I do love it. Like I need another hobby - I need to get my butt back in the studio and paint. But sometimes a girl just has to try different things even if they are not pretty!

Ouch

Could this be who I got my cold from???? Love ya, Grayson!
I'm trying to get back to posting..........Had a great New Year's Eve, Got a really bad cold, (Grayson, I kissed you at Beluga!!!!) worked in Columbus this weekend, 3 of us had colds, computer crashed, got a new laptop on Sunday - took it back on Monday and got another one - it was a bad disc of Vista - got a new disc of Vista - transferring all my stuff from the other computer now.....did I mention I have a bad cold?........We're supposed to be getting maybe 5 inches of rain (this is a very good thing) - it's pouring right now and sounds lovely. The computer is nice but it's not one of the little ones - Kenny says I'll be old to read the screen! I think he may be right - I just love those Mini's! I've got to get OFF this computer and go to bed with my puppies! Oh, they need a bath too.....but I cleaned out kitchen cabinets today (while Kenny took the first computer back) and did laundry....I'll catch up in March!!!!! Happy New Year to All.....