"Steeples in the Storm"

12 x 24

Oil on Canvas

$285.00

July and August in Atlanta is just so hot you want to stay in and paint Christmas scenes!  Maybe I will start on my Christmas Card soon!  Summertime also brings Thunderstorms which I love to paint. This new painting is "Steeples in the Storm" is an example of beautiful skys during the storms. And the Steeples of this 1800's church are still standing tall.  I actually took this photo in Columbus GA of the steeples on a clear blue sky day.  I had also taken the sky photo last year.  I wanted to portray the steeples with the stormy sky. Of course, this changed my light source and I had to change the whole idea!! Sometimes when you change the light source, you must adjust the subject matter to represent this. I do like the finished project but will try in the future to capture the subject AND the weather to be the same! 

"Girl Talk and Martini's

20 x 24

Oil on Canvas

After ignoring my blog (mostly) because of Face Book I have decided to return and blog about my Art and Painting.  After too many years to count I have "semi" retired from the music industry.  At least retiring from gigging every weekend.  Now nearing the great ole age of 62 I can concentrate more on Painting, my Passion!  I did just finish this painting of one of the last gigs.  Krissa and I were going on for our first show and we had bought matching dresses. We took this picture with my camera and it just stuck me that here we were two girls just talking over Martini's.  Actually, we both drink Scotch but the martini glasses looked better in a painting!  This is a 20 x 24 Oil on Canvas and I will have glichee's and prints available soon. 

The Chopstix Piano Bar

"The Band"

Me and the "Moms" at Chopstix

Oh lord, that "split" in the dress!!

Still dancing on top of Baby Grands at 60!!



I'm really enjoying doing the piano bar at Chopstix on Wednesday's even though it meses up my "middle of the week". I'm getting to sing the torch songs and swing tunes that I love and still enjoy the weekend "madness" of R & B and Rock. We have a guy that takes a lot of pictures there and he's pretty good - just wish he that lens that makes you look very slender!! HA HA....so here are a few pictures. I love the Black and White one of the band with Pat Juneau in it from Vegas. We had a great time. In the photo s Larry Jackson, Sax - Arthur Turner - Piano - Pat Juneau - Guitar - me and Kenny - Drums.....

New Year's 2011

Happy New Year......

I supose I should keep this blog going just so I'll have a record of things but sometimes I just get too busy to write it. I think I'll try again this year! Mostly I think it will be pictures because it is fun to go back and look at the past sometimes. Let's see - Christmas - home - stomach virus YUK - snow - YEAH - kinda a blur.....New Year's Eve - great at Belloo's and our 5 year anniversary..... Missing my Daddy on January 14th - (his 98th) birthday) and SNOW again - this time got snowed in for 5 glorious days. It was needed too as we are giging more than ever right now. We cooked, ate, and slept just about the whole week and I could use another snow storm thank you very much!!!! Now on to the pictures.....

December 22, 2010

Just reflecting today on my Daddy. It was one year ago this morning we awoke to find him peacefully sleeping in heaven. It's been a hard year but also such a fast year that it still does not seem real to me. Mother has good and bad days and I have this sudden saddness at times too. My life is not the same and it never will be. I wish I just hug him right now but I know I can't and there is no way to describe that feeling. I haven't been keeping up with this blog and maybe I will next year and maybe not too. I don't know right now. We're going home tomorrow for Christmas and I so missed scouring the book stores for a book on Thomas Jefferson that Daddy did not already have. We will have our Christmas dinner of Daddy's sliced Bar-B-Que's and carry on with traditions but it won't quite be the same. I am grateful for the 59 years he was in my life and shaped me and loved me. I've spent the last couple of days remembering good times and that's what I'll continue to do. So until we meet again Daddy I miss you and I Love you....Your Daughter Claiborne

First Sleigh Ride

This was a tough but very special painting for me to do this year. Mother found this photo of me and Daddy from 1958 (I was 8 years old) and I remember it so well. We had to gone to Fries, VA for his Aunt's funeral in Feburay and woke up that morning to find a beautiful snow storm. Hard for the adults but us kids were awfully excited. I had never ridden on a sleigh and this was my first with my Daddy. I knew I had to paint it this year and although it was filled with love there are some tears mixed with the paint on this one. Of course, I had to paint in Tatiana and Matilda Mae because that's what my Christmas Cards are all about. For those of you who do not know, when I'm long gone I have requested that all my "Yorkie Paintings" donated to the Yorkshire Terrier Resuce to rainse money for all yorkies!! So, here's 2010!!!!!

Art Tonight

I had a good/sad art class tonight. Working on my Christmas Card and let's just say this year's will be a little different. Of course, Tatiana and Matilda Mae will be in it but it's also a tribute to my Daddy. So I cried a little in class tonight.......

The Frost is on the Pumpkin!!!

And it killed my flowers!!!! Oh yeah, we had the first "freeze" of the winter on friday night and it was just lovely! I always like this as it ushers in my favorite time of year - winter! Snow would be nice but for now I'll take this great weather. After a very busy and exhausting weekend of gigs Kenny and I sat on the deck in the sunshine today and I made a fire in the chimnea and we ate Chinese Take Out! The fire was fantastic. Kenny did a little yard work I rested! Ha. Got a busy week ahead - art, gig on wednesday and back to Columbus on Thursday - so I need my rest! We will be doing Beluga every other weekend starting in December and Belloo's every other weekend so it will be nice to be home a little more. Now I've got this Wednesday Piano Bar gig that I'm not sure I really want to do but I'll try it a bit. It's just going to take up a lot of time in the middle of the week and if it wasn't a Classic Piano Bar I would not even attempt it but the owner really wants us to do it so we told him I'll give it a shot. But I'll need some wednesday's off too. I'm already looking forward to Thanksgiving and having both of our Mom's here with us. I think it will be so good. It is hard to even think about a year ago we were planning our trip to Florida when Daddy had his heart attack. I guess that was on my mind a little tonight and during a TV show I just missed my Daddy so much and the tears just started. It's an overwhelming feeling of saddness and Kenny still has it too about his Dad. We lost them in the same year 11 months apart but feels like yesterday. I think I'll always have times like this....I am looking forward to getting back in the studio this week. Shane had to cancell last week so it's finally back to work on my Christmas Card Painting. Oh Lord, I can't even THINK about Christmas shopping right now - I have NO idea what I'm doing this year and don't know when I'll have time to do it either! I finally did sit down tonight and knitted a pair of TV slippers and I do like them. I do know I don't have time to knit a lot for Christmas! I'm thinking another vacation would be good!!! But for now, I'm going to enjoy my little slice of winter because it's back in the 70's by tuesday!!! Ah, but tonight I'll be cuddling with the Tatiana and Matilda! Oh and Kenny too!!!!!

Where was I

Oh yeah, posting pictures of the last 2 months! Anyway, it was a great 60th Birthday and even better vacation. Our little cabin in the woods was just what we needed. The stream and the firepit was wonderful and we sure enjoyed our campfires. Having mother come for a couple of days was great too. Let's see, after that we shot another video at Belloo's - hope to have that edited soon - and had a great Halloween weekend too. Right now I have NO voice - did three nights in a row and just hope I'll be alright by Friday. After Kenny and I voted today (and our candidates won in GA) we had a nice Mexcian Lunch and then I came back and decided since it was the first really cool and cloudy day and the fact I'm so tired, I lit the fireplace for the first time this season, got on the couch and knitted. I made a lovely scarf and hat with the yarn I bought for my birthday - in a real yarn shop! It's a big difference than knitting with Michael's yarn! I didn't have too much of it but it was nice. I'm trying to be very very quiet and get my voice back. And I do hope I can get back in the habit of blogging. I do miss it and it's nice to go back sometimes and see what you were doing. Hope I haven't lost my few "follower's" so I'll be back soon.

I Know I know I know

That I have not posted on here is soooooo long - just got out of the habit and too much to do. Let's see, since the last time I've had a vacation (wonderful), turned 60 (Yikes), started back to art classes (Yeah, whoopee), shot a video (yikes again) and working. So there that's it, now I'll say it in pictures and promise to write more later!!!

one week

One week from tonight we'll be in our cabin in the North Ga. Mountains for 7 nights - maybe I'll have time to Blog!!!!

today

I am going to paint today
I am going to paint today
I am going to paint today
I am going to paint today .........get the picture????

Once in a Lifetime Night

Mother and Me waiting to go in to see Liza....

Yes, it was. Mother suprised me Tuesday morning calling and asking if I could come up on Wednesday. She was taking me to see LIZA at the Peace Center in Greenville. I knew she was coming but didn't have a clue I would get to see her. Not only that, we had seats 7 rows back and I could see her every expression! It was Magic. A little background -I had always been a huge Judy Garland fan since childhood and the first time I saw Liza in a movie I loved her and her look. Then, in the 70's a movie called New York, New York came out and I was on the road with my sales job and went to see it in Indianapolis with a girlfriend. I came out of that movie totally entralled with Liza and her music. NOW, not that I wanted to sing - I just loved her music and bought the "Tape". On the road driving for hours and hours I listened to that tape - wore it out and DID sing along as loud as I could driving down the road in my Black Thunderbird! In the late 70's she came to Atlanta to perform at the Fox and I sent in for tickets right away. I think they were $25 back then - HA - and went we arrived at the Fox her light man has set his equipment up on our seats - I thought oh no, but then they escorted us to the second row - right behind the Mayor and guests. THAT time I saw the sweat and the eyelashes and the tears and she totally had me. AGAIN, singing had never crossed my mind - I was super business woman! And still a blonde!! You know the rest of the story, turned 30, had this crazy notion to write songs - got invited to get up and sing at a Steak and Ale and the rest is history. I HAD to try it for just a little while - 6 months is what I told my parents just to get it out of my system. After all, my dream since childhood was to be a New York Rockette and this was close! 30 years later almost to the day I saw Liza last night. I have sung her songs all these years and loved her music and her talent. I know all about the wild times for her - haven't we all been there a little bit - but how many could have lived the life she did? Believe me, I've read everything about her and her Mother and the "Taker's" in their lives. She's 64 years old, looks beautiful and still belts them out. Maybe not in the same key - maybe not holding that note as long (I never could hold them as long as she could) but most of all she made you feel like you were in her living room and just hanging out with a friend. You just don't see that in entertainer's anymore. Now, it's all about production, dancers, lights, pyro-tech's and smoke and mirrors. You really don't know if they are really even singing. Believe me, Liza was singing and when she did you could hear a pin drop with 2500 people listening. All I can say is It really was Magic. All these years people have told me - you look like Liza - you perform like Liza - you sound like Liza - you coulda been Liza - well, no one can be Liza but I thank her for her inspiration, her love of the stage, her music, her laughter and her tears. You are a legend and I do feel a kinship with you. Our stars have crossed somewhere in time and I just think you are THE BEST...........

I made it almost to the end of her show and when the first notes of NY NY began I grabbed my Mother's hand the tears begin to roll down my face. We held hands thru the songs then rose to our feet for a standing ovation. She told me going to the car arm in arm that I was just as good as Liza, of course, that's my Mother. We went for an after show dinner then home. 60 years old and 85 years old - THAT was a girl's night out!!!! And I thank my Mother for just letting me be me.... and I Love her. The tears are rolling down my face right now and I know the "Magic" is will be with me always and I've never forget this night as long as I live.......

Labor Day

Well, we certainly "Labored" today - we wanted to try and finish some projects that put on hold all summer because Kenny has been so sick. We did get a lot done but not finished. He's cleaning out the music room to make more room for some files and I swear more stuff keeps piling up in my studio!! He did make some progress but still a long way to go. 'Of course, we always get a late start - about 2 pm but we just chilled last night and watche "Shutter Island" which turns out is a great movie. We watched Crazy Heart tonight - no the most orginal story but Jeff Bridges sure did deserve the oscar - he was great. I did take down the old swing and put the old wooden one back up. I like it so much better and cleaned our my "Secret Garden" downstairs and it's much nicer. It was hot but later I started pulling up the dead plants in my garden and couldn't stop so I got all that done too. I helped Kenny clean his bass drumn - re-inforced a book shelf and even built a tray in my shop. While doing all of this I cooked a potroast on top of the stove with carrots, onions, and potatoes and cornbread -it was sooooo good. To top that off my neighbor brought us two pieces of her "homemade carrot cake" - I mean she shredded the carrots - toasted the walnuts, etc - it was just too good. After a hot bath we watched the movie but not getting much knitting done - Kenny likes it dark and I'm not nearly that good to knit in the dark. Still working on a man's scarf for one of our "fans" in Columbus this weekend - and it's gotta be a big scarf - he weighs about 300 pounds but soooo sweet so I hope I can finish it. Matilda and Tatiana loved that we were downstairs all day - of course, they think we should spend the whole time playing with them which I did do some of that too. All in all, it was a good day - we are tired but it felt good to just hang around the house and do "stuff" - there's still a lot of "stuff" to do so we'll keep chipping away at it. Errands tomorrow and laundry! Sure would like to paint this week but we'll see. Less than three weeks til V-time (vacation). The evenings are getting so nice and cool but still in the 90's this week in the daytime. Come ON FALL I mean REALLY FAll which is 60's and low 50's at night. This really has been the hottest damn summer I've ever seen and I'm ready for it to be OVER. Could be worse - it was 112 degrees in Vegar yesterday! Hope everyone else had a great Labor Day - next holiday - Thanksgiving yeah - my favorite!

The Boots

Above is the picture of the $6.60 Bran New Boots I got at Goodwill last week. Wore them on stage last weekend and could dance like a mother!!!! Love them.....

Getting There

At least it's 7:39 pm and I am sitting on the deck - it's ONLY 81 degrees - still WAY too hot for me but bearable. I just did my nails and it's nice to sit on the deck again. I'll just be glad when I can have a fire in my chimnea WHILE sitting on the cool deck. I really need to go cut the grass and if it stays light enough I will after my nails dry! Finished a couple of knitting projects and have a couple of birthdays I need to knit for. I'm going to knit my first men's scarf - for a friend in Columbus - and hope it turns out. Men are too hard to knit for. I love the arm warmers that match my hat and vest. Can't wait to wear all this stuff. We got the Belloo's commercial up on you tube and now I have an account! I need to find the babies snow video - it's somewhere on the other computer and I can't find it. For anyone who didn't see the page go to youtube.com and type in claibornescorner - the commercial and me messing around with a song is on there. It's fun. We're going to have to re-shoot because of the sound (bummer) but Spiro worked magic on the camera except I look so old! Wait I am old - 28 more days until the big 60.....and we'll be at the cabin hopefully with sweatsuits on and a fire. I think I will go cut grass now then cast on the scarf!

Thursday Already?????

My Felted Fall Bag....with a Pocket!

Blue Ridge Mountains

12 x 16 Oil on Canvas

Wow - it's time to pack up again and go to Columbus for the weekend. I hope the next 4 weeks goes this fast so we can go on vacation but I know the last couple of weeks will be torture before we can leave! Plus, it's still wayyyyy to hot. Still hitting 90 most days and we did have a great shower today which the temp dropped a little but then got steamy again. Where are the hurricanes??? That always cools things down in Ga - not that I really want any bad ones to hit anywhere but cool rain sures sounds nice. I found a real treasure this week at Goodwill or as we say in Atlanta "Gootwill" - The Fall Fashion reports that English Riding Boots are big this year and I've been looking at them on line knowing I can't afford them. BINGO........Goodwill -Brand New - My Size - Black Leather - $6.60..........whoopee - you KNOW I'm going to wear them on stage this weekend and sing Tower of Power - Don't change horses in the Middle of the Stream .....I finished the Blue Ridge Mountain painting last week from the picture I took from our Balconey at the Pisguah Inn on our 22 anniversary. I decided that Kenny should have this one so he can look up from his stressful days and remember the cool peaceful mountains and so it is. It's not a real good photo I'll probably try and take another one later but just looking at it makes me feel better. My Daddy would love it! We did get Kenny a new printer/scanner, fax today so at least I can scan stuff now too. So, packing up my Boots and off for another journey this weekend at Belloo's - hope it's as good as last week. We were exhausted but what a night saturday was......Night Night .........



My Moment Today - Holding Tatiana in the storm and kissing head little head saying Mommy is right here with you.......

One Last Thing

We drove straight to SC on Sunday and Mother of course had a wonderful dinner. We were both so tired from the GREAT weekend in Columbus and I actually slept soooo hard that night. There is still something about "going home"! We completed the last thing to do with Daddy's estate at the courthouse on Monday and now it's in probate. It will be done next May even these small things are so hard on Mother - I can see it in her eyes. We all miss Daddy so very much but try to get thru another day. Of course, it's still so damn hot which drains me so much. We decided to drive back Monday night in the cool and so I had another good night's sleep - 2 in a row - that's unreal for me - and woke up in my bed - had my tea and "morning time" (I need this so much) and now it's time to get up - unpack (again) and do "something" today. On the countdown it's 5 weeks until "Cabin Time" - just trying to make it until then. Right, now Tatiana is lying beside me and softly snoring (sometimes not so "softly" snoring - it's so sweet! OK, it's almost 1 so I'd better get up now - I'm cooking white buter beans with pork, cornbread and South Carolina ripe tomatoes!!!!!

blogs

Great Flaired Leg Warmers - ready for winter...

Mother cooked a "feast" for the boys -drove to Atlanta by herself - cooked in the kitchen all day - not bad for 85 years old and looks good too!!!

Ricky's "anti-Mosquito attire" for Columbus - he got "eat up"!!! Too funny this boy..

Happy 58th Birthday Kenny!!!!

Best Friends.

The BEST rhythm section EVER!!!

I've been a very lazy girl about the blog lately - I don't know - just too much going on and I'm just so tired of this long hot Kenny being sick summer. It's been a rough one so far. For the first time since Memorial Day weekend Kenny feels more normal this week. He's still in a lot of pain from the Shingles but taking the meds helps. We had a wonderful visit with Ricky from Las Vegas and he got to play with us at the club in Columbus which was soooooo good. The three of us on stage together is magic and I miss that. Mother even met us in Atlanta that Sunday and cooked a "feast" for Kenny's birthday and Ricky - they really enjoyed that. We've been going back and forth to SC a lot too - going thru the probate on the house and it's really really hard to talk to mother about the "estate" and how to protect the house in case she needed full time care or a nursing home. This is not something anyone likes to think about. Kenny and I are actually going to do our wills too - you just never know. I'be been finally painting a little the last couple of weeks - mostly some cigar boxes to sell but I did finish a small painting for Kenny of our "Blue Ridge Mountain" one night anniversary!!! We are going to hang it where when he gets stressed he can look at those beautiful mountains and think Ahhhhhhhhh! I'll take a picture next week! I love my knitting and getting a "little" better (not nearly good at Christy) but my Thumb hurts so bad sometimes and I know the arthritus (sp?) is setting in. Of course, it HAS to be my right thumb - something with the use of you feel so helpless. And of course, we are counting the days to our Sept 27th vacation - the first in 3 years - in the cabin - in the mountains - on a creek - and hopefully PLEASE sweatsuit and fireplace weather!!! I'm putting up a few pictures and I have to remind myself to keep posting - it's fun sometimes to go back and read about your "stuff".....so I'm back!