Delivering Daddy's Portrait

Tatiana giving Papa sugar!!

The Portrait

Kenny and I drove to SC on Tuesday to see Mother and Daddy AND take him his portrait that I painted. He had seen the very beginning but this was the first time he had seen the finished painting. I was so excited and didn't know Kenny was making a movie - I thought he was going to take pictures so I kept saying the Flash is not turned on! It took him a while to get me to understand he was taking a movie! I think you can see that Daddy liked it (even though the light was all wrong) and when he wiped a tear from his eye I almost lost it! We all went for a lovely dinner and had a great visit the next day too. He gets so tired but he held up very well for 96 years old! We did get a couple of pictures too - I'm just so proud of my Daddy.

Tired but love to paint...

I am so exhausted from the weekend - which by the way was PACKED at Beluga. We had a great two night - the band sounded great and the crowd was wonderful and wild. It just felt good to have it like the old days...Did nothing on Sunday except eat Mexican Food and watch the Oscars - I never see the movies - just like to watch the show. I got a few things done today but I am still tired. But I made myself get in the van and drive to Marietta for my Art Group. I'm working on a very special commission (pictures when I finish) and I've got the painting to a point where I can finish and sign it next week. Kenny and I are going to SC tomorrow to see Mother and Daddy for just one night. I'm taking his "portrait" to give to him so I'm excited for him to see it. He had an eco-gram last week and the heart Doc said his valves are deterating and they did put him on some medicine. I know at 96 years old this does happen. I just want him to feel good - he's so tired right now. And I can't talk about this either. I do need to get up and give my dirty little Yorkie children a bath before we go to Granny and Papa's - they have to wear their new dresses! I wonder what the kitties will think? HA! That's about all going on right now and I'm am going to sleep I hope very soon.....
Best of My Day........Painting a beautiful Portrait!

Knitting

You know I wanted to learn how to knit so my niece "tried" to show me how Thanksgiving and I did finish the funny little doggie blanket. Well, I wanted to do a "real" project and it's not perfect and I haven't woven in the tails yet but I'm going to wear these tomorrow!! They are wrist warmers and I'm sure I don't have them put together right and one is longer than the other and one if wider than the other but they are my first!!! So there.... I'm trying to start another pair but I'm having all kinds of problems with the cast on...help Christy!! You know, this would be so much easier if you lived closer and I could come to "Knitting Night"! But I'd spend most of the time on your front porch smoking! Now, I'm picturing sewing little buttons on them and making black ones with rhinestones....oh, getting ahead of myself - I'd better learn how to do them right first! If I ever do get this down, I guess there will be lots of "wrist warmer" presents in my future! I only do this when I watch TV so it takes me awhile. I've got too many other things going on - like commission art work! Kenny just looks at me and shakes his head - something else for me to focus on! I'm still going to wear them tomorrow night to Beluga (not on stage) but to the gig because it's going to be in the 20's here.....

Daddy's Portrait - I finished it!

I cried a little when I signed this portrait....I took the picture Christmas morning this year, 2008... And Daddy turned 96 on January 14th 2009! It wasn't a "posed" picture - I was just snapping while he was waiting on the coffee to brew and we were going to open presents. I just loved the way the light hit his hands - those wonderful strong hands that held me, pushed me on my first bike, built my tree house, planted in the earth and guided me through life. I will be taking it to him on my next trip to SC and hope he loves it as much as I do........And I love him....

The Whole Batch of Bird Houses

I worked in the shop today and finished all 50 of my little Valentine Birdhouses - It looks like a lot more all lined up on the table. I'm going to put them in a basket with a Red Bow and take them to Belloo's saturday night and hand them out to the ladies for as long as they last! They were fun to make....I also painted more tonight in the studio on cigar boxes - I'm getting there with the catch up slowly but surely....

work on Daddy's Portrait

I finally got to work more on Daddy's portrait last night and if feels so good. I've got a little more to do on it but I wanted to keep it loose and "painterly". Today is beautiful and I am determined to work on more cigar boxes - I have to catch up! I just can't wait for Daddy to see the final painting!!!

Valentine Bird Houses

First of all - I feel better today - very very strange. I really thought I had the flu and slept about 12 hours. My fever broke in the middle of the night and woke up not hurting. I still feel weird and my throat hurts but I'll be fine for tonight. Now, my little project for Valentines - I made these "faux" birdhouses and plan to give them out at Belloo's to the ladies. So far I have 60 of them cut out - not all put together yet. I spray them white then stain them to look old. I paint the red heart and put the "nest" in. I looked for some tiny eggs but can't find any so I'm using a silver bead for an egg. I used all scrap wood and had all the other stuff (see, don't throw away your craft material!). I think it will be nice and hopefully everyone with like them. You can put them in your garden or in a windowsill. Happy Valentines Day!!! Well, next week......

Damn Damn Damn

I'm aching all over with chills and fever - I CANNOT have the flu because I have to work this weekend. I'm going to bed.......

Cleaning Day

Tatiana says aren't I pretty with new Bow???

Matilda on Bath Day with new our new bows!!!

Baths, Mopping, Dusting, Cleaning - Yuk...I miss my housekeeper! Times is Tough! But I got it done and it feels good - except my back. But I did take a nice hot bath and feel better. We are just hoping a lot of us don't get the flu - Kenny's brother Bob went home to Mn yesterday from Florida with the Flu! Of course, all of us were together last week plus at the church where there lots and lots of people shaking hands. I'm pretty sure we missed it because we left on Friday plus we did have a flu shot. Our brother-in-law Bill just left today for a trip of a lifetime to Israel so we really pray he didn't get it - that would be miserable. I did work in my wood shop yesterday and it felt so good I can't even tell you how much. I have missed my saws and the sawdust - except my nose is stopped up but it's worth it. I'm working on a little project - pictures will have to come later. It was too cold today to stay downstairs so that's why I decided to clean - duh! Now we are in bed and Tatiana wants to play "Throw the squeaky hot dog off the bed" - it's a favorite game and I have to get up and get it! I'm really tired of this game and it's cold! Lower teens tonight and it didn't get above freezing today which I do like! Cozy fireplace time tonight with my knitting. But by Saturday we're in the mid-upper 60's - Wow - Atlanta weather - what can I say. Our friend Ricky was home in England and was leaving when the snow storm hit London. We thought he would be stuck but he got one of 10 planes that got to get out. He did get stuck in Philly for one night but made it back to sunny Las Vegas. Now, I wish I had been in London for that snowstorm! It was 17 years ago this month (Feb 10th) that we flew to London for the first time. I loved it then and that's where my obsession of PG Tips Tea began - actually in Eastleigh where Ricky is from. His Mum fixed me my first cup of tea that had sugar and milk in it - I had never been able to drink hot tea - and I fell in love! I have drank it now for 17 years - I used to order it on line or depend on friends to bring some to me from England but now I'm so pleased that Whole Foods carry PG Tips! I had a lovely cup tonight with a hot bath and it did the trick! Very Proper! I think I kinda got off track but had to post the pictures of the girls with their new Bows - Maggie send them from Florida - a whole bag full and they look so cute and they know it too!!! Now if I can just get Tatiana to quit throwing that damn hot dog off the bed - Matilda is just watching from her Snuggle Ball!!!

Home Again

Robert Louis Trinklein

November 24th, 1923 - January 25th, 2009
See you around heaven some day......

We arrived back home last night and exhausted. The week with the family was both sad and comforting. There were lots of laughter, stories, and tears. We were all trying to be strong for Mom and so was she. Everyone did arrive despite all the snow storms and the fact that the Super Bowl was in Tampa last week - talk about hard to get airline tickets. The service for Dad Trinklein was beautiful and his brother, Rev Ed Trinklein and both sons, Bob and Jon, plus their pastor spoke which was very special. There was a lot of food from the wonderful church friends, lots of family and each day was filled to the brim. You really don't have much time to sit down and grieve. We left Tampa at noon on Friday, drove 9 hours to Columbus, jumped in the shower, dressed for the gig and actually did it! We were running on pure adrenaline by this time and the friday night show was good. By saturday it had begun to hit both Kenny and I but we did it again on Saturday night. But I'll tell you by the time we got back home at 8:30 Sunday night we were pretty much zonked. We both slept hard and it is great to sleep in your own bed. Last night while I was reading I had an over whelming feeling of sadness at the loss of Dad T and I'm sure that will be the first of many. I realized how hard it is to grieve just because of the moment but it will hit you out of the blue. We will all miss this funny, kind, wonderful man and are blessed to have had him in our lives. Sleep well Dad and enjoy heaven because we all know that is where you are......