Too Damn Hotit

This is the worse most hateful time of the year and I'll be so glad when the temperature drops into the 50's!!! We have really had such a hot summer and it's not even August yet. Usually, Kenny's birthday is the hottest day of the year - august 6th - but we've already broken a record here in Atlanta so I hope not! I'm still reeling from the fact that I got all my stolen items back and you bet I wore those shoes to Beluga this weekend. We had a great time but it was also so hot in the club and I only had one fan and tried to share it with the band. We all almost passed out - remember we DANCE and even though the air was on with the doors opening it was almost unbearable on stage. BUT!!!!!!!!!!! *************** I MET EVANDER HOLLYFIELD - YES, THE REAL DEAL HOLLYFIELD and actually had my picture taken with him. It's on Dehra's camera and we hope she can find a cord to fit the computer to get it. He was sooooo nice and sooooooo beautiful. If you don't know I've always been a big boxing fan -from way back when me and my DAddy watched the Friday Night Fights in the 50's. My boxes was always Smokin Joe Frazier but I do love me some Evander. He lives here and is a friend of our "door" guy, Rick at Beluga. We hope to get the photo - Kenny took one of him with me and Dehra - of course, it was after the second show and we had sweated so bad we probably have on no makeup but I don't care.

My friend, Jolene surprised me today by driving up from the southside of town (that's a big deal) in Atlanta traffic and we had a wonderful lunch and catch up girl time. We go all the back to when I lived in Arkansas and she's here now and married to a great guy. It's just we live so far apart it's hard to get together. It was just such a nice day - everyone should take time for friends.

A note for Christy - I'm soooo pissed - I cast on a HUGE purse (160 cast on) and knitted about 20 rows before I discovered I had twisted the yarn - I had started over 3 times - I'm not sure I can get that many stitches without the twist thing. I want a big purse but I want to felt it and you know you have to make it so big - Maybe, I'll try a smaller one......

That's all the news - Kenny is still having a LOT of pain from the Shingles - we don't know how long this will last and he just keeps working. We're trying to plan our vacation in the NC mountains for my birthday week at the end of sept and I hope it snows!!!!!

See ya on the next blog....

Been So Long

Since I have posted to the blog - it seems with FaceBook you tend to forget but I still like having my blog. It's nice to go back sometimes and see what all has happened. And believe me, it's been a whirlwind and a doozy! I'm typing on my new Laptop and the keyboard it much smaller - which I love - but still getting used to it. I got a Toshiba Statelite which is very nice and only weighs 3 lbs and has a 13 inch screen. I've been wanting a much smaller computer forever and thought I wanted an Ipad but this is a real laptop and does so much more. Probably not quiet as "cool" but need to wait for a future generation of Ipad anyway. This one doesn't have a CD Rom which is why it's so light but it's not a mini either - it's got 4G and tons of memory so you can tell I'm very excited! But there may be lots of boo-boos in the typing but then again I usually do that too! Kenny is STILL recovering from his bout with Shingles and it looks like the post pain may be here for a while. He says there is no way to describe it and that is what I've always heard too. I'm going to get the vacination very soon because I do NOT want shingles! He's really had a rough summer with illness and I hope he can get back to normal very soon. I hate it when he feels so bad. The other big thing (if anyone has been on FB you know) that a bunch of stuff was stolen from my dressing room at Belloo's last Saturday night. It's too long of a story but a friend of mine was talking to a friend of hers and she said a girl told her she found some shoes at Belloo's. Anyhoo....turns out my friend had seen my post about the stolen items and long story short they went to this girl and "recovered" all my items. They mailed them to me and believe me it feels good. I'm so grateful to my friend for not only thinking of me but acutally doing something about it. Unbelieveable!!!! The worse thing that was gone was my keyring. Not to mention it would have cost a lot of money to replace the fob key and change all the locks on the house and cottage in Columbus but when my Daddy passed away last year I got to have the "Coca-Cola" bottle opener that he had carried on his keyring since my Grandfather died in 1969. It had belonged to my Grandfather probably since the 1920"s. It's those kind of things that mean nothing to anyone else but irreplaceable to me. I just cried when I found out I was getting it back. Also on the keyring is a pewter Yorkie key chain head that my mother gave me when I got my first Yorkie, Lacy, in 1981 and I've have it all these years. So it's nice to have my new shoes back, my jewelry, my body glitter and my knitted vest but it's the keyring that was so important and I thank God I got it back. Everyone says it was my Daddy looking down on me and saying hey, my little girl needs some help! So Thank you God and Thank you Daddy!!! Let's see, I'm writing a book here but it sure has been a while. It's so damn hot here and I'm ready for fall. We are trying to plan our first vacation in 3 years and I think we're going to the mountains where we hope it will be nice and cool. I had really hoped to spend my 60th birthday on Cape Cod but it's just too much right now. I WILL get back to the Cape someday - wish it was to live there!!!! I did get to paint a little the last two weeks (only a couple of days) but it sure was nice. I had to do a couple of gifts (cigar boxes) but I did start a nice "Blue Ridge Mountain" painting from a photo from our Anniversay trip. I sure feel my Daddy in the painting and wish he were here for me to give it to him. I still miss him every single day of my life and I'm sure I always will. My mother at least is doing fine and she just works too much but she sure has some hard times too without Daddy. I can't imagine how it feels for her because I know how much I hurt. It's friday again and off to Beluga for the weekend gig. At least we are in town and I don't have to pack any bags!!! I hope to keep up with the blog more but if not see ya on FB!!!!

wierd day

I'll explain later

Vougue Vest Pattern

This is only the 2nd pattern I've ever bought (for $1.99) off the net and I had no idea what it would look like. It was very boring (yes Christy I like a lace pattern) and you knit all these squares then attach them together. As it turns out I really really like it - it's funky and fun! I plan to add buttons where all the squares attach and I've got 100's of buttons but I'm going with a grey and can't find enough of them tonight. I think it will be cute with jeans but you KNOW I'm gonna wear it on stage for one show this weekend - I'll put rhinestone pins on it and really funky shoes! Thank you thank you thank you Christy (and Doc) for teaching me how to knit -just need to get better so I can move to more harder stuff!!!! I love it!

House Cleaning Day

You know how I hate to clean house but I did it today - even scrubbed the kitchen with a brush and rag - my knees hurt now dammit - but try mopping the floor when there is a thunderstorm and Tatiana is freakd out and just wants to be held.....well, pull out the ole "Puppy Pouch" and keep mopping so you can be done with it....

Tatiana is 6 years old

I can't believe our baby Tatiana is six years old --July 10th. It seems like yesterday we brought her home and put her in a Tea Cup for a picture! She is truely Kenny's Baby and she follow him like a shadow and sits in his office everyday with him. Sometimes she's "ugly pants" to Matilda but then again they play and kiss each other - sounds a lot like "sisters" to me! We love you so much Tatiana and you bring such joy to our lives - Happy 6th Birthday....

Bath Time

Matilda Mae says poo poo on you Mommy
Grrrrrrr I hate my toenails being trimmed!

No picture of Tatiana - she ran off and hid in her Daddy's office and would NOT let me take her picture!!! Matilda wasn't really mad - she actually feels soooo good after a bath except she hates the toenail clipping and when I pull her hair with the brush. They are both all clean and smell so good. Oh, while I had hair all over the bathroom I cut mine, colored it and THEN cleaned the bathroom! Cut mine really short and love it.

Our wonderfull 22nd Anniversary on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Morning Coffee

The Lodge and our Room

Yum chocolate cake from Granny

Happy Anniversary to us!

My Wedding Dress 22 years later....

Ahhhhhh , Relax

The Mountain Laurel

Daddy's Rainbow

View from our Room

The Pisgah Inn - Daddy's favorite and ours. Mother treated us to one night (and kept the babies) to this beautiful magical place. The temp was low 60's/50's and slept with the windows open. It was so peaceful a great place to "re-charge" - just needed about 4 days of it...

wow too much to post!

Me and Dehra and Kenny

So much has been going on and I haven't even had time to do a post - I think I'll do a picture post!!!

Video shoot at Belloo's - great fun and can't wait to see the final project from Spiro~ more later...

A strange but peaceful meeting

Saturday night after the show - having cocktails at the bar - a soldier ask for a cigarette........his friend had heard me sing but this kid Dan had not. I shook his hand and said "Thank you, Soldier" - I always do that and told him my Daddy was in the Army Air Corp. His grandfather was too and he started talking about how he wished he could have fought in THAT war. Then he started talking about music - not just talking - singing all the songs from the 1940's and he knew all the words. "I'll be Seeing You", Boogie, Woogie Bugle Boy, Lena Horn, Ella, Frank, Gene Kelley, etc. He pulled songs from his phone and had me listen to them. It was the songs my Daddy taught me to love. I got him a beer and knew at once he was an "Old Soul". Dehra and I left to go home and I started crying - HARD - for it was Father's Day. I said Dehra I've prayed for a sign from God that my Daddy is ok. She said just maybe your prayer was just answered..................Thank You Soldier.....

Birthday Surprise

I'm am giving Dehra her portrait for her birthday but I wanted a little something extra to surprise her so into the "basement" I go (at 7 pm on Wed) - found one of my old train cases and painted it. I do this is acrylic then spray the hell out of it with clear poly. I haven't done one of these is years but it's great for makeup and jewelry (I have all my nail supplies in mine). Hope she likes it! Gonna fill it full of goodies from the Dollar Tree!

Tears

I know it's just a TV commerical but if I see another one about Father's Day I think Ill scream. I have had tears in my eyes for 2 days and a couple of down right floods. It's the year of "First" with Daddy and I'm sure that has something to do with it. Plua, I'm just so tired and was very worried about Kenny last week. He's getting better which is wonderful but he's lost a lot of weight too. The only pants he can fit in are my Daddy's pants! I wish Daddy could see my Garden, see my new paintings, or get up and hug me when we walk thru the door. I wish I could hear him tell the same World War II stories about the Time in "A Bar in Austria" or just call me Bar Maid and ask for a glass of wine. I did not go to sleep until 7am this morning so it was just a bad night. I'm going to sleep tonight for sure - already taken one of my xanax and may take another one to do the trick. We had to go to Columbus on thursday so tomorrow is laundry and back to the grocery to fix something that KT can eat. I did bath and groom the girls today so they smell so sweet now. I think a good sweet cuddle from my babies if what I need so I'm going to do that right now. After all, tomorrow is another day!

Turning the Corner

For the first time in three very long weeks Kenny says he thinks he's turning the corner on this bacteria thing. We did get thru the weekend at Beluga and although hard on him it was good. He's still taking anti-biotics for another 10 days and eating very bland right now. It was a bad bad bug and I'm glad he's getting over it. Plus, I am exhausted in every way right now and would love to have a couple of days somewhere in a cool hotel room with room service!!! My Garden is growing and I love that - I'll be making my first run of pickles tomorrow with my cucumbers and I just can't wait for the tomato's to get ripe. I was watering last week and have decided that my Daddy just reached down from heaven and stuck his "Green Thumb" in my garden this year - Thanks Daddy! Oh God, how I miss him - just knowing that he was always here.

Poor Kenny

This has been a horrible 2 1/2 weeks for Kenny - he's been so sick and most know of all the details of him being in Florida and Pat and I going to get him - getting him to the Doctor - working last Saturday night - worse this week - Doctor finally found the bacteria - strong antibiotics now - lost at least 10 pounds - still not eating - poor baby feels so bad and we have to work on Friday - he says he will do it but I'm not sure how...We just hope these meds start working FAST....

Kenny on Drumns

This is how I met him - This is how I fell in love with him - This is how we have spent our life - This is the love of my life - This is Kenny.....

Friendship Brunch

I WAS going to take pictures but had too much fun to remember it. My friend Doc came up on Wednesday and brought Roxy - her poodle. She lives in this beautiful High Rise in Buckhead (2 floors down from Elton John) and I love going to visit her there but when she comes to the "country" Roxy gets to run free in the yard. And THAT is a beautiful sight! She always has to go out on a leash in the doggie yard so at first she doesn't know what to do then she just takes off and runs and runs! All the girls enjoyed their "playdate" and we had NO ugly pants at all. I had such a good time planning this - just me and Doc and Kenny got to join us for lunch. I put the white table cloth on the deck table - used my Blue and White china, white napkins, and beautiful Hybisscus flowers I cut from my bush. And I had 3 blue and white china balls just lying on the table. A little side story about my Hybisscus Bush - my favorite Aunt Tady had these bushes when I was growing up (we called them snowball bushes) and I always loved them. Tady passed away in 1962 but my Uncle Terrill lived there until he was 91. After his death, his granddaughter and I went and dug up some cutting from the bush. I planted my at the back of the house not knowing if it would ever grow. It did and is sooo pretty. I have 2 more in the yard that I bought but of course this is my favorite. AND my mother tells that Tady got HER cutting of the bush from their Grandmother Forrest - my great-grandmother! So how about that for some family history. I have my favorite Aunt's bush from my great-grandmother! I love my Snowball Bush! Back to the Brunch I searched the internet and we have a Mexican Fiesta Brunch. Of course, I had homemade salsa, quamocole (sp) and tortilla roll up with cream cheese, roasted red peppers and onions, Avacodo Shrimp Boats with Pico and shrimp with lime juice. then I baked a Chilli Relleno dish and had a hot corn cheese melt salsa with chips. It was really good and fairly simple. Oh, I had to make my favorite cherry cream cheese pie for desert too. But the best part was just sitting on the deck with Doc and us talking and catching up and just being friends. There is nothing like this and I treasure all my friends so much. I don't have the time I would like to do this kind of thing so when it happens I just roll around in the happiness. Damn, I wish I had taken pictures - I will next time. Christy, you would have loved the table - I thought of you! Now, I'm packed and it's off to Columbus for the weekend. I've had this Yuk in my throat and chest this week - hope my voice will last but at least we have the big band this weekend - lots of vocal power - I love that. And our "Tower of Power" songs are coming along great and everyone loves "Stairway to Heaven"! I got my words and I'm going to sing "America the Beautiful" for the shows - Ray Charles version - love that one! It's to honor all the soldiers who have given their lives for us to be free - especiall two My Daddy, Richard Claiborne Hemphill, Army Air Corp and Bob Trinklein, Kenny's Daddy, Army. God Bless Them and God Bless America....

Baby Bunny

Well, he really fought a good battle and we tried so very hard but Baby Bunny didn't make it. At least he had two night of a warm bed and food and cuddles. He's probably crossing the Rainbow Bridge right now - Sleep little Baby Bunny......

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPOSED TO.....

Try and raise a wild cottontail bunny. I did the research and all the sites say don't do it. Matilda found Baby Bunny in the side yard and after searching and searching we can not find the nest. We were going to put it back in the yard last night but at the last minute was afraid Mr. Hooty Owl would get it. Soooooo, Bunny drank a little milk from an eye dropper and cuddled in my neck. I fixed Matilda's baby dog carrier with a towel and shredded newspaper and put Bunny in that. I really did not think it would alive this morning but sure enough he was and was hungry! Then wanted to crawl under my chin and go to sleep. Oh shit, here we go. I could not find goat's milk so Bunny is still getting cow milk which they say is bad. Now, realize that Kenny has told me the story of how they raised a baby bunny and it would even beg from the table and use paper to pee and poop - sooooooo maybe just maybe we could....I'm not holding out a lot of hope and I have NOT named him except Baby Bunny. I just can not leave him in the yard not knowing if Mama will come back if there is not a nest. I would love to get him strong and release him back to my backyard so we will see. In the meantime - I have a whole new perspective on the word "Cuddle Bunny"!

Told You So

Matilda has CLAIMED the lap blanket I knitted - of course, she can have anything she wants!

Summer Lapghan

I finished my Spring Green Lapghan and I think Matilda will claim it! I love the color and I even made up the pattern. It's not that big - just enough to cover my lap on a cool night. I'm not sure I want to do a big one -(I get bored easy)! but this one was nice. I would love to pick up this color in my liing room with some other items - I guess that's means a thrift store search. speaking of thrift stores I finally found a fireplace set - missing a couple of things but had what I wanted - a poker to use in my chimnea on the deck and the little shovel in a brass stand - the best part - $1.50!!! And I had a great Art night tonight even though my legs hurt. My butt muscles were even sore from dancing inthe 5" platforms at Beluga this weeekend! I'm working on a VERY VERY special painting - no sneak peeks yet -I want to finish it first. I think I'm going back to some landscapes after this - at home in my studio. And I'm so proud of my nails - they are staying fine and look good. Yeah - no more nail salons! Kenny and I had such a nice day yesterday at home. We slept late - took our laptops on the deck and enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon. I knitted some then we grilled steaks and had salad (lettuce from my garden) and aparagus and Texas Toast. Then late night ice cream with magic chocolate on it. All my season finales were on so it was a good TV night and restful. Man, could use more of these. Gotta do some "stuff" around the house this week and yard work then it's back to Columbus on Thursday. Gonna rest my little feet now and get some sleep!

Wine Bags (Christmas Spoiler Alert)

ooooh I love these and they will make great Christmas gifts - everyone likes a nice bottle of wine and they are perfect to give them in. I really like the felted one because it can be used as a container but boy it's boring! I'm not sure how many of thoses I'll make - I like doing the pattern one - I never thought I'd get to that point but I don't like the just knit knit knit! Maybe I'll make one up that is more interesting. I'm still working on my lapghan and it's very pretty - I just do it when I need to not pay attention! I was knitting on it last Sunday on the drive back from Columbus and I laid it down and Matilda promptly curled up on it so I guess we know who will claim this one! It's off to Beluga tonight and the "sequin" bra worn on the outside - watch out Madonna. I've got to get a picture of this! I've watered my garden and it's growing great right now. I have rested more this week that I have in MONTHS. I just made myself do it. I cleanned the deck and cooked and did laundry and stuff like that but nothing heavy. I need more it AWAY from home and Kenny is so exhausted he can hardly think straight. I sure hope we get a real vacation this year. Love ya all our family but that's NOT a vacation....Kenny and I and the babies need one all by ourself...Well, at least maybe for my 60th birthday! I'll be counting the days....

Sleep1

Sometimes your body says That's it - That's enough - I quit!!!! I have been so tired for at least a month but kept on pushing and pushing. That is just who I am and I used could do it for a long long time. I knew I was very exhausted but I did go to art class last night and did have a good night. I came home and went to bed as normal and slept good. At 10 the girls woke me up and I knew I was not ready to get up. Kenny took them out and 5 minutes later they were jumping back on the bed saying get up mommy get up! So I did and had some tea, read the news, email - did my morning thing. I could have gotten up then but decided not to. By this time it was around 1 pm. So I ate a bowl of oatmeal -I never do that - and went back to bed - no tv - no computer - nothing. At 5:15 I woke up. I slept soooo hard all afternoon and although I'm a little droggy I do feel better. I need sleep to re-juvinate my body. I think a lot of stress lately has contributed to it too. My mother bless her heart is crying a lot - I mean a lot lately. I think she's getter better and then she will call crying and it breaks my heart. I can't cry because I'm trying so hard to be strong for her. She told me she would go back on the anti-depressants that the Dr gave her when Daddy was sick but I don't think she did. And if I push that too hard she'll get mad - so I'm not sure what to do. I miss my Daddy everyday and yes, I cry but I'm sure that losing your partner after 65 years is something I can't comprehend. She's working like a mad woman cleaning out the house and fixing things up. I think it's too soon but on the other hand that's my mother and I hope this will help her. It's a very hard process but she thinks she HAS to get it done. I pray for her all the time and I'm very proud of her - I just want her to be OK. I know that the sleep had something to do with that too I think. So now, I'm back in bed and it may be a very long night for me! Oh well, i have 1072 page Stephen King novel I'm reading now. Tomorrow I hope to get some things done - not too much - I'm trying to take this week a little "down". I cleaned last week and did all the stuff so this week just a little cooking, gardening and knitting. And at least we're home - we work Beluga this weekend so I've unpacked my bags and put everything away. No packing until next week! Actually, I think I'll sleep pretty good tonight.

Red Hat and Nails!!!

Wow - I recieved the red knitted hat that Christy made for me - what a special treat. I looked at it so close and said how the hell did she do this on such small needles????? Mine look a little shabby beside hers but Idid start one tonight - on size 6 NOT size 4 needles. My hands are already hurting and my eyes are blurred! I may have to stick to messier hats on size 8's! Thank you dear Christy and thanks so much for trying to teach on Nana to knit. I'm really loving it a lot - and someday I'll get better! I have made a wine bottle cozy - forgot to take a picture and I'm also working on my "Lapghan" - it's almost half finished. And if you're going to wear a great red hat you HAVE to have the nails! It hasn't been in my budget the last couple of years to pay the $40 nail job then given the "evil eye" if you don't tip enough so I said I'll let my own nails grow. When I was a lot younger I had beautiful nails - long and RED! As I got older (the change dear ladies) they just won't grow. Now, granted I work a lot in oil paints, turpentine, dirt and just plain messy and the acrylic nails did great with all that stuff. Plus, you don't have to polish so ofter it doesn't chip off . I've spent a lot on "guarateened" to grow - that's BS. so last week my sweet Mother bought me a starter kit and I took my time today and did my first set of nails. They are NOT perfect but hey, it was the first time. And I don't have the little drill they all use either. Hopefully I'll get better because I love the way they look. I made them pretty short - not "Ho" length! And they will surely look better on stage than my little ragged nails. So there, a Red Hat and New Nails. Now, I figure since I cleaned house yesterday (saved $100 for housekeepter, did Nails (saved $40) I think Kenny should buy me a new pair of shoes!!!!!!

Yuk Yuk Yuk

I hate cleaning house and that's what I did all day long! I did manage to get my makeup drawer cleaned out too - I try to do this at least twice a year to throw away all the old makeup. Then the Dust Pan was lying in the floor and stepped on the handle and went down HARD on my bad knee. Just what I needed. I did ice it for about 15 minutes but it's really swollen -I'm STILL wearing my 4 inch heels this weekend damnit. So the house is clean and I'm taking tomorrow OFF........

Garden and Visit

Yep, that's my sister!!!!!!!

Tatiana says I'm clean, I'm a princess, and I'm not going to get dirty!

AH, springtime!!!

Matilda Waiting for me to throw the ball

My favorite flower blooming in my garden!





Mother came for a short one night visit yesterday and we had a great time. I have been worried about her - it seems the grief is hitting hard right now. But she would only come for one night because of the kitties. So I put on a pot of my homemade spagetti sauce then we headed for Home Depot. She bought me dirt, plants (mostly tomato) and flowers (red begonias). It was just a fun day. She got better as the day moved on and we talked a lot about Daddy and how she feels right now. We even built a little fire in the chimnea and sat on the deck. Then we had a great dinner with Kenny and just visited for the evening. She left about noon today and she stopped and ate a the Cracker Barrell in Commerce before going home. She has not been eating well at all and she said she enjoyed that. I sent spagetti sauce home with her too so I hope she will eat that. So after she left I hit the garden!!! And planted all my little plants I've been babying and the ones we bought yesterday. I think that's my favorite part - digging into the dirt and placing the plants knowing they can grow so strong. Then I re-potted some greeen plants and was dirty and tired! But it WAS bath day for the girls so we got that done. I was going to do my "roots" but got too tired so I'll just use that little stick to cover up my grey hair this weekend! I made stuffed flounder (stuffing with celery, onions, and shrimp), baked potato, green beens and salad for dinner - the fish turned out great. Almost like Red Lobster. I'm so tired right now but it's such a good tired. I always feel this way after working outside in the garden and yard. I think Daddy would be proud of my little garden and I know he helped me plant today. Oh, how I miss him. So, after the girls bath we went back down to the yard for a little play time. I just sat at my iron table and chairs and looked at the beauty. OK<>