Sore Back

It's gonna be a rough day tomorrow and probably a sore one! I finally got ONE closet changed to summer clothes and must have gone up and down the steps 100 times (well, it felt like it). Then I planted in my garden and planted my "upside down" garden, THEN cut the grass. Came in and took a quick shower and made a wonderful Salmon Salad, frest corn on the cob and bread. I was so tired I just watched American Idol (who the hell is NOT voting for Adam that he ended up in the bottom two) - get with it people I will never watch it again if he doesn't win! Sorry about the rant but it's a SINGING contest and he's the best! I knitted while I watched TV and thinking about everything I still have to do. The girls need a bath, I have grey roots, gotta pack for Columbus, gotta pack art stuff to paint in Columbus, do laundry, oh Hell, I'm going to go play Scrabble then read myselft to sleep. It does feel so good to Play in the Dirt. I love, love, love my garden and it's all the "house" stuff that I don't like to do. But boy, when I take that first bite out of a home grown tomato it will all be worth it!! Happy Gardening

Best of my Day: Getting dirt under my nails!

It was a busy week!

Love these shoes!!!

Dehra and I having our fun on stage!

See the little "Blur" spinning - that's Matilda!


It's been a long time but I do have an excuse! I went to SC last week for a couple of days to see my folks and I can't get on line there! Then by the time I got back on thursday I had to unpack and repack for Columbus - Yikes all I do is pack and unpack. And believe me, I can't just "pack light". I enjoyed being at home and had a nice time. It was the two days it was so windy and chilly too so we didn't get out much. And I had lunch with my friend Maree, who brother has just passed away. It was nice to share some time with her and I got to visit her Mom a bit too. The weekend was beautiful weather and we had a good time at the club. Dehra and I got new shoes and we always sing better in new shoes - that is a fact not fiction. We hung the painting of Brock on the Tracks so Pat could see it when he walked in the house and he noticed it right away - and he loved it. I enjoy so much painting something special and passing it forward to them. It's just a small thing but something very important to me in life. I'm working on a very large painting that I started last summer that is going to be really nice. No pictures until I finish though! And of course, I'm still knitting when I watch TV or riding to Columbus! I did make a scarf that turned out pretty good. I'm going to add some fringe if I can figure it out - I looked it up so I think I can do it. And I'm very excited about this weekend. Shane (art instructor) and some of my group are coming to Columbus and we're going to "Plein Air" paint on the River Walk saturday and sunday. They are all coming to the club on Saturday night - I just hope I can do all of that! I will be tired I know. And I hope to get some dirt tomorrow and get to work on my garden - man, this week is filling up. And my most dreaded thing to do - change out winter clothes to summer!! And I really need to spring clean - Oh crap I can't think about all this right now! I need to get some sleep so I can start all this tomorrow! Oh, I just had to post the picture of Matilda "spinning around". Anyone who knows Matilda - she spins and spins when gets excited or wants something! She's just a little blur!!!

Brock on the Tracks

"Brock on the Tracks"

12 x 16 Oil on Canvas

The Photo......
I finished this special "Pay it Forward" portrait of our sweetie, Brock tonight. I am giving it to his Dad, our partner in Belloo's in Columbus. He is just the sweetest special little boy and it is an honor for me to paint this. And believe me, he was giggling when I took this picture! Can't wait to give it to Pat this weekend.....

Drum Roll Please..........

Yeah I LOVE LOVE LOVE my red scarf that my wonderful neice Christy knitted for me. Her husband Chris delivered it to me last week on his way thru Georgia. I am trying to learn to knit and so far all I can do are Wrist Warmers and trying to do them without any mistakes! Christy's work is beautiful and this scarf is so special to me. See, when I married her "Uncle Kenny" 20 years ago I though oh great a bunch of kids as I was not used to being around any kids much. When I met little Christy - I think she was about 12 - I love her at first site. I think I saw just a "tiny" bit of me in her except she was much sweeter than me. I remember the first summer after we married we took a trip back to his parents then going on to my parents. We "decorated" T-shirts that summer in Horse Shoe Bend and thus the "creative Crafting" begun! I also tried to make something for her at Christmas - once I made 13 Teddy Bears - how did I do that giging 6 nights a week in Las Vegas???? I'm not going to write a book but now with two precious children of her own she is so talented and creative and I wish we lived closer so we could do it together. I'm so proud of her. Another reason I love the scarf is because those beautiful little beads you see knitted in came from Kenny's Grandmother Carol's sewing box. How cool is that? I just wanted to thank her so much and know I will treasure my scarf always expecially since I doubt I will ever get good enough to do one like it! See what those T-shirts started!!!!

Catching up

This is how you get your post holes for your garden dug - you promise a steak and beer!!

Chris and Kenny digging up Georgia Red Clay.....

I think I'm finally catching up this week. I took some much needed down time today - well, a little bit. Our nephew Chris from Florida has been working in this area so he spent a couple of nights with us and it was so nice. We just had dinner and visited a bit while I watch American Idol - can't beleive I put him though that! It was Movie Theme night and of course I haven't seen any movies since forever so Chris had to tell me which movie they were from! Didn't matter - Adam is still the BEST! And I did know his song "Born to be Wild" - Duh! And I think I saw a little smile on Chris's face as he watched me knitting VERY VERY slowly! He's so used to Miss Fast Fingers Christy that I think he got a kick out of slow Nana. But I did finish another pair of Wrist Warmers with no Mistakes. I think I will invent a new symbol for knitting - wnm...with no mistakes beacuse that's how I am knitting now - if I make a boo boo I frog it! No sense in having bad stuff. We didn't hear him at all this morning at 6:30 - but Matilda woke me up at 9 and in a sleep walk I let her out. She HAS to go check to make sure there are no squirrels in the bird feeder. She's obsessed with this but it's too damn early. I did go back to sleep for a while and had a nice morning time to myself. Kenny went out to the office for a while so I go down stairs and try to dig my post hole for my upside down garden. I did really well, (honest) and dug about 1 1/2 foot hole. Well, I had to sit down and have a cigarette on the swing. Then I cut and nailed my 2 x 4 together at 8 feet. Now these are old 2 x 4 and warped so they are not even at all. And all the time I would get one nail in and Matilda would bring her Blue Elephant in and I would have to put everything down and go throw it in the yard. Needless to say it took a while to get all the boards ready. Then it started to get really cold so I decided to come in and knit a little. THEN I got really sleepy and laid down on the couch and sure enough here comes Chris! He probably thought I laid on the couch and watched soaps all day! Kenny got here shortly and I took the boys down to show them my hole. Chris just grinned that grin and said it's going to be wobbly! The hole has to be 2 feet. So Mr. NO yard man Kenny took the post hole digger and said oh, you've hit rock. I thought that was the end of my garden but Chris poked his finger in said nope it's just hard dirt. Evenually they both got my hole dug so I said fine - I'm going to go cook the "steaks" while you two dig my other hole! Was that good or what! When I brought my posts out Chris did ask me if I had been drinking when I nailed them together? NO they are warped! So, now I have my holes dug and when I'll get Kenny to help me get them up I don't know when - hopefully this weekend. We may have tomatoes by September! Of course, I'll plant my container garden - this is just something I want to try. I did cook the steaks and we had a nice dinner, watched the results show of AI (Adam was safe) and I knitted. Except this time I had to frog two things - I can't talk and knit. I think Kenny just said he loved my knitting!!! So I did get something accomplished today plus had a little rest. Let's see what tomorrow may bring!!

Wow another week gone!

Mr. Kenny and his Brock!

Brock took this one of Pat and me - in my Easter Bonnet!!! HA HA

gotta paint this one too!

Brock walking the tracks - can't wait to finish the painting!



It goes by so fast - I think it has something to do with old age! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. We worked at Belloo's in Columbus and the new stage is wonderful. It changes the whole energy of the room and I love it! Kenny and Pat and Brock and I went for a nice dinner then took Brock down by the river for a bit. It was so beautiful and nice. I only took a few shots but got a couple of great ones to paint. I printed one this morning and very fast sketched it on a canvas, took it to my art group and almost finished it! It will be done next week and it's a very special gift for Pat. Brock is walking the railroad tracks and it was just so cute I had to do it. It will be a surprise but he doesn't read the blog! Brock is our little ray of sunshine in Columbus. He's 6 years old and slightly autistic but such a joy in our lives. He's a handful too but so precious. I've never gotten a good shot for a portrait because he's never still but I'm still working on that one. And it was a wonderful night of art and I didn't have to drive through any of the storms! We're looking forward to having our nephew Chris for a couple of nights this week so I guess I'd better get up and clean up the house! I have not even unpacked yet from Columbus so there are stage clothes and lots of shoes lying around! We got a late start back to Atlanta yesterday and forgot about "spring break" - what a nightmare traffic jam! We sat for about an hour at one point but made it back safety home. I was so tired I went to sleep without my fan on last night - now, understand as a musician we MUST have a fan going to sleep. That comes from years in hotels when you have to sleep during the day and drown out all the outside noise like maid carts and kids! So I actually heard a little bit of the terrific storm we had this morning in my sub-sleep! I think I need some more so I'll say good-night!

I did it!

Here is the photo of my first pair of "Wrist Warmers" with NO mistakes - AHA - Wow - Now if I can just do it again! Christy look at the "Rib" for a few rows then K a Row, P a Row!!! I added a couple of buttons and they look good on the arm. I had a picture of that too but deleted it and don't feel like taking another one right now! Anyway, for a beginner this is exciting. I think I "hooked"!! I worked in my shop again for a while today. We were back in the 60's and no more snow. It was a beautiful day and Tatiana and Matilda loved playing in the yard. I built a couple more bird houses. When I made Dehra's Mom one I had so much fun so decided to decorate my Deck this years with Bird Houses - may not be able to afford flowers! I can't beleive tomorrow is Thursday and it's bath day for the girls, errands, and pack for Columbus. I have been staying up very late and sleeping late and it feels great. That is just who I am and that's what I need to do. Of course, Matilda is on her "9am" alarm clock so she wakes me up to feed the birds and I go back to sleep. Tatiana just curls in right beside me and yeah - she's gone and we can get some more shut eye! There is more rain on the way on friday (of course, the day we have to drive to Columbus). I love the rain but sure wish it would come in the middle of the week when we can stay home. But I'm not complaining. Happy Easter everyone and a Blessed Day....

Whoopie Hotdog Woo-Hoo

I finished my first knitted "Wrist Warmer" that had NO mistakes in it! Only one so I have to do the other one but that makes me proud. I mean I didn't have to tear anything out! Hope I can do it again and will take pictures later. The afternoon about 1pm Kenny said Claiborne look outside and it was snowing like crazy - it only lasted about 10 minutes but we had "Snow in April"! Tonight is supposed to be the coldest then it's back to the 60's of april. Oh well, it was fun! It's very very late so nite nite....

Finally finished this painting.....

Look who's on Mommy's puter?????

"Feeding the Pigeons"

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

I had Kenny pose for a picture last spring in downtown Greer, SC and had him pretend to feed pigeons on the street. Of course, there were no pigeons on the street and that scene was so funny. My mother was sitting in the van laughing so hard especially when people starting walking up the sidewalk wondering what in the world is that man doing! I think he was a good sport for being my "model"! I started working on it last summer and it's one of those that got "put away" for a while but I did finish it tonight. And I like it! I really wish I had a good picture of Kenny playing drumns but I can't get a good photo - DUH - we're on stage together all the time. I'm still going to work on that. And just had to post this Picture of Matilda Mae - she's looking like "Is that MOI on Mommy's puter???? She's knows her cute little face! I'm snuggled in the bed waiting on the "snow flurries" tonight - we are supposed to get some tomorrow! Ha Ha - One more little blast of winter - It was in the high 70's on saturday - and we'll be back again by the weekend but this is fun! I got to wear a pair of my "Wrist Warmers" today and they really do keep your hands warm but you still have your fingers out to do things - like drive, answer the phone and Smoke!! Love them...and I did get some beautiful purple yarn today sooooo - can't wait to see how they will turn out. Its going to be cold all day tomorrow and in the 20's tomorrow night so I'm looking forward to a day at home to do laundry, clean up a bit and knit (maybe by a fire)! Trust me, it will be hot enough very very soon so I enjoy this little blast of winter just one more time!





Best of My Day - dressing in a sweat suit with my wrist warmers and driving the van with my butt warmer on!!!

Two Blogs in One!

"I'm LEARNING"!!

The Front

The Garden Side

The "Fishing" side

The Girls - me, Rainell and Doc

Baby Bottles and Food at Doc's House???????? Next to the Martini Shaker!

First of all I spent a glorious day yesterday with my friend "Doc". We have missed each other and since she lives in Buckhead and I live in Cumming it's not easy to just "run" by. But I braved the storms and drove in town to her beautiful high rise condo for a "girl day". We had a wonderful lunch and I bought desert and talked and talked! She is a wonderful knitter so of course I had my little knitting bag with all my mistakes! She showed me some good things including the fact that I was purling backwards! NOW it makes sense. Stop laughing Christy! I learned how to change colors and and I'm just knitting this "thing" - it may turn out to be a scarf because I'm going to knit until I master it. You can see the boo-boo because when I got home I wanted to show Kenny so I kept going but then it thundered and Tatiana jumped on my lap - I dropped my knitting hence the "boo-boo". I re-did a few stitches but couldn't figure out how to fix the last ones -so just keep going! Our other friend, Rainell dropped by for Martini Time and we got to visit too. It was just a lovely afternoon and I have missed my friend. She's a new "nana" too so the pictures were great. And I got snuggle with Roxy (poodle) and Tink (kitty). Her other son is getting married next week, then in 3 weeks she's off for a trans atlantic cruise with her mom -you know I really hate her for this!! I just want to go with them...so when she gets back we are planning more play dates (that's what old women do) and play to stick to them. Life is too short to miss friends! Also, last week I worked in my wood shop just a little bit - I miss that too - and built new birdfeeders for my yard. I have not built a bird house in a long long time and I know my friend Dehra's (singing partner) Mom loves her birds I decided to do this one for her. She loves birds, gardening and fishing! I can't believe when I looked in my "stash" box I found these little fishes - have no idea where they came from as I have not decorated birdhouses in years! Her birthday is next week and she's in NC so I hope she likes it. I think I'll build some more too. The rain has stopped today and we are gigging at Beluga tonight and I'm ready to "raise the roof"! And Tatiana is sooooo glad the thunder is gone!


Best of My Day: Friendship

Finally Home a Whole Week!

We did stay over in Columbus on Sunday night and came home Monday but we are "in town" for a week and I'm very much ready for it. I cleaned house today (the dreaded work I hate) and cooked a nice dinner. I knitted a little and and had a another ah-ha moment - that's the way I feel when I figure something out in my knitting! I'm sure a beginner still but I'm going to go spend the afternoon with my Dear Friend "Doc" and she has been knitting for a long time so maybe she can show me a few things. We are getting lots of rain and you won't hear me complain - the news says we are basically out of the drought and our lakes are up - great news. And it's still cool and that's fine with me too! The heat will be here too soon. Oh, but gardening time will be to and I do look so forward to that. I hope to have a "painting day" tomorrow, then Thursday with my friend and back to Beluga on Friday - Yeah!