A semi-traumatic day at the Vet

Yesterday Tatiana was limping on her front left leg. Then when I said let's go feed the birds she hippy hopped up and down. Soooooo this morning when she was limping again I thought OK - let's go see Dr. Erin. I thought by going later - 2:30 - maybe there would not be so many people. Our wonderful wonderful vet office does not take appointments - they don't even accept new patients - that's how good they are - well, no such luck - a 2 - 2 1/2 hour wait. Now, it's hot as hell and muggy but we went to sit in the van - I have a book on CD so I thought OK just enjoy some quiet time with Tatitana and listen to the CD. Every once in while I would start the van and turn on the air to cool us off. We went in after about an hour and a half - just too hot and waited some more. Then we got called to the office and waited some more. When Dr. Erin came in she messed around with her foot and leg. The third toe seemed sore. We x-rayed the foot. Have you ever seen an x-ray of a tiny dog foot. It's just too cute! And the good news it was not broken. I also had her x-ray her trachea - it's a little small in certain places so it may be collapsing a little. Choe had this so bad so I knew what to look for. The only thing to do for that is maybe loose a pound! This for a Yorkie who does NOT like to go outside or get her feet wet. She's a princess you see! Now, Matilda on the other hand LOVES outside and runs and plays by her little self. Then we talked about her "scaredy cat" thing. It's getting worse, the rain, the thunder, the van, fireworks, truck, just loud noises in general. We have the pills for driving but she now tries to hide a lot and it's very upsetting. So I think she needs a "therapist"!! Dr Erin said there are drugs like my zoloft but she has to take them every day. Great - so now me and my dog are crazy as loons!! But I hope they will make her feel not so afraid. The look in her little eyes breaks my heart - she looks so scared. So, we are going to try her little "Doggie Zoloft" for a couple of months to see if it works. And we have her "trip" pills which work great but you would not want to give her one everyday. On the other hand I would love to try one just by the look on her face!!! Ha HA -THEN - we were one of the last ones to leave and of course, it was thundering and lots of lightning. We get in the van and nothing - no battery. Guess I listened to my book on CD a little too long! I went back inside and thank goodness one of the techs said no problem and jumped off my battery. He said take the long way home to charge it up a bit so we rode thru a couple of neighborhoods before we headed home at 7 pm. Boy was Matilda glad to see us! And Tatiana was glad to be home. She rested in her "baby buggy" most of the night. We are not having a storm now so I'm going to try and get her to go outside and pee. She was really good and used the pee pad but I know she needs to go again. So guess what - no painting today but took care of my precious Tatiana and tomorrow is her 4th birthday and we are so blessed to have her in our life. We love you Tatiana and will always take care of you......

Started this tonight

Just to release some "creative engery" It's 36 x 48 - BIG!!!

Peace, Quiet and Painting

I put Kenny and Pat on the plane to Las Vegas yesterday. I drove the rest of the way home - unloaded the van, watered the garden, got take out from the Italian place, and zoned on TV - They arrived late but safe and sound - Kenny said the suite was wonderful! They were headed to Harrah's for food and to see Ricky's band. After a good night's sleep I'm ready to start my 3 days of "whatever"! I do have to unpack, do my laundry, deposit the check, go to the grocery store but after that I'm going to try and paint a LOT. It's going to be hot so my little basement studio will feel nice and cool. I'm itching to do a great big painting - haven't done on of those in a while but I don't know what to do so I've got to think and do some research. We had a slow but fun weekend for the 4th in Columbus and we all cooked out on Saturday. That was nice to do. Dehra and I have so much fun together and I'm so glad she is working with me now. She is becoming a dear friend and just having a "chick" to hang with is great. I meant to take pictures of the cook out but forgot to do it! Pat had an early meeting for his convention and I told Kenny to sleep in and order room service for breakfast! He deserves it! It's going to 112 degrees in Vegas today so I know I would NOT go outside that hotel! So, off I go - just me and the girls until Thursday.......

Best of My Day........not sure yet - not out of bed!

Happy 4th of July

God Bless American - I will be singing this tomorrow night at the club - and I believe in this country and what we stand for. I pray for our soldiers and our leaders and our people. Enjoy the fireworks, eat a hotdog, have a cocktail and be proud to be an American - I know I am....

PS - Tatiana HATES fireworks and Matilda Mae just barks at them!!!

20th Wedding Anniversary

Wow - 20 years - a life time or a blink of an eye - it actually feels like both. Kenny and I were married 20 years ago on June 19, 1988. Of course, we had to work this weekend so we waited until yesterday to "celebrate". We took the evening and went for a wonderful dinner in Mid-Town that a friend of ours is the manager. She surprised us with champagne and the food was awesome - especially the "fried Chocolate Pies" with Banana's Foster Ice Cream and Carmel Sauce - ooh! We want to go back there for sure. The outside bar upstairs was wonderful too - you could see downtown and also watch the train come by. We got upstairs a little late for good pics but managed a few interesting ones - I like the one Kenny captured the train coming! We drove around Atlanta Station and downtown - it was in the low 60's last night and fabulous! We came home and sat downstairs on the swing and played with the girls for a while too. Oh, and there was a "love trinket" involve! The thing about being married 20 years to your best friend is it just gets deeper. With your true soul mate you can go thru the good times and the bad. We have laughed, cried, and shared our lives - now we just look forward to tomorrow and 20 more years. Happy Anniversary Kenny and I love you more than I did 20 years ago and I was madly in love with you then!

Painted Cigar Boxes

A still life from my Garden I hope to paint...
I can't seem to keep up with the cigar boxes! I either sell them or give them as gifts so I painted a few yesterday. Also, I cooked my first squash from the garden - yummmm - can't wait for the tomatoes to get ripe. I also picked a bouquet from the garden and set up a still life to paint. I love my flowers and would like to plant a whole garden of them. I guess I get that from my grandmother Green who had a "field" of Shasta Daisies - my favorite. It's off to the vet today for Matilda's yearly shots. She won't be happy so I'll have to get her a special toy! It's nice and cool this morning but they say it's gonna get "Hot" again! But we sure are enjoying our attic fan at night - the fresh cool air - love it. I don't have any idea why I am up this early -woke up at 9:30 so I'll be sleepy around 4 pm! Gotta get going so happy hump day!

Weekend Over

Someone PLAY with me now!!!

My pretty flowers ooooooh

My Little Garden

mmmmmmm - tomatoes

St. Augustine Jug and Fruit

Another weekend at Beluga over and tired but we had a good one. Great crowds both nights. Today we did the yard work - I love having a freshly mowed lawn and I also picked 2 more yellow squash from my garden. I found tiny cucumbers and lots of green tomatoes! Yeah I can't wait. We have to pick up all of Matilda's toys in the yard when we mow and if you put them in the Garden under the deck she brings them back out in the yard!! Tatiana stands in the door watching but she does not like the noise. After we were thru we came in and I made Kenny a grape snow cone - the very best $2.00 I have spent lately - at the Goodwill -for a brand new Pampered Chef Ice Shaver with a recipe book! I have always wanted a Snow Cone maker and this is fantastic! I made my grape syrup and I'm going to make some Orange this week. I LOVE Snow Cones! It's off to Art Class tomorrow and I have to take Matilda to the Vet for her shots. Then it's to Columbus on Thursday so it's going to be a very quick week. I really had hoped to paint some this week too so I hope I can find the time. I finished a still life (the one I set up in the studio) and a couple of cigar boxes too. I gave my pear box away for a birthday and had to paint me another one - now I've got another birthday person this weekend! I really need to get a stock pile going. Time Time Time - never enough of it! But the air is cool (we have on the attic fan), the garden is growing, and Matilda and Tatiana had a bath so we're all doing fine!!!!!

Trixie and Bonnie Blue Bell

"There's No Place Like Home" - is so much better than "You can never go Home again" - even though they both are true. This is one of the good ones. I drove to SC on Monday - tired from the weekend - and walked in my house which is always "Home". Daddy is so tired these days - of course at 95 I would be too - but to walk in and kiss him is something I cannot bear to think of not being able to do. Of course, Mother was in the kitchen cooking up a wonderful dinner and the puppies were doing the "Happy Dance" on the floor while the kitties scattered upstairs. So we had a nice visit together. After dinner, Mother (amazing at 82) and I got "Trixie" out of the van and got Bonnie Blue Bell out of the shop and pumped up the tires! These are our 3 wheel tricycles! We put Tatiana in one basket and Matilda in another and off we went! The breeze was wonderful and I was taken back to about 10 years old with the wind in my face and my legs pedaling so fast (well, not so fast now). It is amazing where a feeling like that can take you. But this time something special happened too. My mother was right beside me and we were the same age! Two 10 year old girls on their Trikes. We were best friends giggling and making figure 8's in the driveway. As the cars drove by I commented they probably laughed and said look at those 2 old women riding Trikes and my mother is the one who said no they are saying look at those 2 little fat "girls" on Trikes!!! That's what made me realize you can go back - be 10 and be your mother's best friend. Wow, what a feeling. Of course, then she said - oooh - one of those little fat girls lit a cigarette! To top this off a 9 year old neighbor boy came by (he had been hitting baseballs with his Dad in the field) - now THAT will really take you back - and we talked a bit and we asked what he thought about the two old ladies riding their trikes - he said well, you girls are sisters - right? What a revelation! So I guess it really can happen - a 57 year old and an 82 year old can be sisters. I loved the feeling, I loved the laughter, I loved the love. Then as always we sat outside until after midnight in the cool breeze. Went inside and had that piece of poundcake and strawberries for a late night snack. My Daddy always says what are you two doing out there so late - just living!!! The next day was busy and my cousin Karen joined us for lunch. We rode the "Trikes" with her that night and she could not believe how great it was! She kept saying this is just like when we were kids! Hung around all day on Wednesday, washed the cars, spent some time with Daddy and yes, took one last ride on the Trikes before heading to Atlanta. I left "Trixie" at home so we will have them there (and Karen can come and ride) and I so look forward to going home again and riding with my best friend - my Mother.....

Off to SC

I'm actually up before 10 am and headed to SC for a few days to spend with Mother and Daddy. We got back last night tired of course from Columbus and I unpacked and re-packed. I can't get online there so I'll have to post when I get back. It's going to be a hot one today too - 93 - so me and the girls will ride in the cool!

In Columbus

We drove down last night in the "cool" and that was nice. We also had a little rain on the way which cooled things off even more. We both got a good night's sleep and it's hot but there is a little breeze so it's not bad out here on the deck. Pat brought me an envelope with money last night - whoopie - I sold two cigar boxes last week so I'm going to my favorite shoe store - Shoe Time - Christy - (out toward the hospital)!!!!! I'm determined to have a good week-end here - sometimes I don't like being here but I'm going to be nice - HA - and enjoy the nice people who come to see us. Why am I alergic to small towns and rednecks???? Maybe I can find something to take nice pictures of too. I'm headed to SC on Monday for 3 days and looking forward to spending time with Mother and Daddy. I'm off for an adventure today - new shoes makes you sing better!!!!

Thunderstorm

I waited all evening for this thunderstorm and boy now it's popping!!! We're getting some wonderful rain for my garden and flowers and hopefully it will cool things off. Tatiana does NOT like thunder so she is right beside me and shaking. Matilda is stretched out on the bed - nothing bothers her! I stayed home all day and worked in my studio. I worked on cigar boxes today and finished a couple of canvas paintings. I don't have pics yet but will soon. My toe is better and so is my little finger!! Although my finger is still crooked but at least it's not broken. Got to do the laundry tomorrow and pack for Columbus. Oh, I love thunderstorms - I would be out in the yard except that there is a LOT of lightning too - I don't think I need that much engery flowing thru my body!

Best of My Day - listening to the rolling thunder!!

Some Days ya pick to just do it.

I have been wanting to clean out the basement for a while. Lots of woodworking stuff, craft stuff and just junk. So now I have a more organized basement and a ton of trash to somehow get Kenny to remove!!! I love to clean out and organize but I also like to have "stuff" because you never know when you might need it. Point in case: I threw away some rubber stakes that and tonight Kenny said come see what I put around the trunk of the tree that we had to cut down. It was some plastic "Picket Fence" stuff that was in the garage and it had fallen on the van. I asked him if it would stay and he said all we need is some stakes - DUH - just threw them away! First of all, he NEVER decorates the yard - that's me that loves little stone animals - and second - I even looked at the stakes and thought hmmmmm - then, nah - toss 'em! Life is funny that way. Now I could dig thru the trash to find the stakes - maybe not.... I did get to cook a nice dinner and we sat down together and ate - that was great. Also, I had stumped my toe on the baby gate Sunday and today it decided to hurt like hell. Then, doing the dished I jammed my little finger (that I had jammed before) so now it's crooked and hurts like hell too. This is all kinda funny if everything didn't hurt - did I mention my knee is still swollen too....I really not in a bad mood - as I said I love to "clean out" but I think I will take something for the pain - DUH again and read my book in bed. Surely, I can't hurt myself that way - wait I might fall OUT of the bed!!!!! Oh, I need a bed time story!!!!

Visit to Deb, Maggie and little Adam

Proud new "Grandparents"

Tatiana says I'll play with you Adam

I'm not sure about this "boy" thing!

My dear friend Deb and Adam

Tired Tired

My Uncle Kenny is funny too!

My new Uncle Kenny

I said Play with me NOW

Every sick girl needs stuffed animals

My Favorite - Maggie and her Sunflowers

Two Monkeys and a Banana

Tug of War!!!

Sweet Maggie

My new Blue Elephant

Little Adam




One great thing that happened in Florida was we did go visit our friend Deb and met Maggie and Adam. Deb's precious Mellie went to the Rainbow Bridge in Feb and I encouraged her to get another Yorkie -it's OK to love again. So along came "Adam" - he's a darling little boy that loves to cuddle and give kisses (and nose nips). We have not seen Deb in a few years so this was wonderful to see her. We always email but a visit in person was what we all needed. And as soon as Maggie saw us up went her little arms for a hug - she is just a doll. She was sick but I've never seen a more "good" sick girl. So we had 2 nights and we just talked and ate and swam (mostly told Yorkie Stories). The girls and Adam played although Matilda squealed a lot at Adam. Surprisingly is was Tatiana who stuck her little butt in the air and played with him. We got toys for all and stuffed animals for Maggie so that was a lot of fun. Now we can't wait for them to visit us here in Atlanta in their "House on Wheels". As you can imagine my camera was clicking away and here are some of my favorites.

Painting with Emma

This was one of my favorite things I did while in Florida. Our great-niece Emma loves to paint and I wanted to paint with her and at the same time try to give a little instruction. We set up two easels and I talked all the way through it - imagine that!!! Really, I tried to explain why we started with the sky, then put the mountains (they are behind the trees). We painted for about 2 1/2 hours and she got tired but was a trooper. They are not masterpieces but I'm so proud of her and how she listened. I think we will have a great artist in Emma and I hope I'm just a tiny part of it.

Florida in Stages

I have to write this in stages because it's too long and a lot of people who were there already know all this stuff. We arrived home last night more exhausted than when we left and it's good to be home. Try to never plan a trip to Florida unless it's the dead of winter!!! I can't take that heat - I know it's hot in "HotAtlanta" but it's just different! That said, we loved seeing all the family even though there was a lot of Drama! We were going to celebrate Mom and Dad's 60th anniversary which is really not until Sept 5th but somehow got scheduled for May 31st. The day after we got there Dad (who has not been well) fell and broke his arm at the shoulder and his sugar was sky high (as the nurse put it - Holy Shit High - over 500) and had to be checked into the hospital for 2 nights. It was a blessing in that the Doc said if he had not gotten up and fell he would have died in his sleep from the high sugar. Kenny had to get him out of the floor - Mom could not get him up. So for 2 days it was hospitals and doctors. That's all for now - makes me tired just thinking about it.....To be continued.....

Too tired to think

I'm sorta packed - cooked a picnic lunch - bathed the dogs and Kenny has not done much else and I'm tired...So it's xanax time for me....so there....

Attic Fan

Can't you see I'm busy "Feeding the Birds" -

Some one PLAY with me says Matilda

This is a long way from being finished but I had to post the first "lay in" for Christy of her Uncle Kenny feeding the pigeons in Greer, SC - he won't let me post the photo but I think the painting will turn out nice. I'll be adding the pigeons!!!!


Wow - the cool air is rushing into the house and it's wonderful. After many hours of sawing holes in my walls and roof the attic fan is in! We have the windows open (with the new screens) and it feels like natural air conditioning with fresh air. I can't believe we have been in this house for 4 years all closed up running the air. Now, I know when the humidity rises the windows will come down and the air on but several months out of the year this is so nice. And I'm sure we'll save money too. I was lying in bed yesterday and the breeze blowing in when I woke up and it reminded me of when as a little girl that same feeling with mother's white gauzy curtains blowing in the breeze. Now, that takes me back! They are coming back tomorrow to patch the walls and put in the other 2 fans in the attic to pull the hot air out. That means not a lot of sleep on a gig night - Kenny said to get up and go to the basement and sleep on my "napping couch" - which I will probably do. I also have to start packing for Florida, cut the grass, bath and groom the babies, cook dinner for tomorrow night, get clothes ready for Beluga (2 costumes changes), and work both nights. I'm going to nee a vacation before the vacation! I painted a little today - it was kinda hard but I had to stay in the basement with the girls and we played in the yard a little too. And then alas, the season finale of "Grey's" tonight. I think I'll just lie back and enjoy the cool breeze!!!!

Today

Yeah - I painted in my studio all day and the tornado's missed us - this was a good day!!!

Doctor Release

Once again Dr. Ansari has released me - yeah! He said my knee looked good and even though it was really sore after planting the garden I think it's great. He also said if I had any more trouble he would give me the shots. OK, 3 operations in 14 months is plenty thank you! And the best part is I'm still performing in my 4 inch heels - ain't gonna give those up! Housekeeping also came today so the house is finally clean after all the painting and stuff. They are still suposed to come back and put the attic fan in which will mean a lot more dust but it will be worth it. I hope to get a little painting done this week as I have not gotten much done and won't get anything done the next two weeks. I'm having artist withdrawal and need to paint really bad. And it's suposed to rain tomorrow so that sounds like a perfect studio day........

Planting Day

Last Year's Garden

The Daisy Patch

One pot of lettuce

One little tomato plant - but just think of those sweet tomato's

Yeah - one of my most favorite things to do - plant my garden. Daddy gave me plants and I bought some more yesterday so right now my garden consists of: 6 tomato plants, 3 cucumber vines, 3 squash plants, 1 eggplant, and snap peas. I planted a few flowers too - would love to get more though. It was a perfect day to plant - cloudy and 70 degrees. I had to use the maddox to dig up the side garden for the squash so I'm glad it wasn't really hot! My shoulder did fine with the digging plus having to throw "Blue Elephant" every couple of minutes for Matilda. And when I watered the flower section Tatiana promptly layed down on her tummy in the mud! It was a great day and took a photo of my lettuce. I just picked the whole patch on Sunday and took it to my Daddy and this is Wednesday already grown back. We are suposed to get a lot rain tomorrow so it's a day in for me and get ready to go to Columbus. So grow, little garden grow!




Best of My Day: Smelling the Dirt and having my hands and red nails digging in it!!!! Now my nails need to be done!

My Mother's Love

I guess there is no love like a Mother's - of course, Daddy love is different and just as important but Mother's and Daughter's are special in their own way. Sometimes we love so intense and then we get on each other's nerves too! My Mother has always treasured me (sometime's I'm not sure why) but she has. As we drove to her house on Sunday - late of course - she was still there in the kitchen with her apron on and holding out open arms. The first thing my Daddy said was your Mother has been working for four days straight. No matter how many times we go home the house has to be spotless, the dining room table set for a feast, and little presents for all. And this year we also had my cousin who is finally back in the family. Only after we were all seated and served could we convince her to get her plate and sit down and eat. We had a wonderful meal as always, HUGE filet's, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, corn on the cob, 2 different salads with homemade blue cheese dressing, & french bread. Iced tea with fresh lemons - my favorite! Then the desert - her famous pound cake with strawberries or peaches and ice cream. All I will say is Kenny crawled to the living room couch and promptly fell asleep!! We finally got her to open her cards and little presents. We did get around to cleaning up the table (she let Karen and I help a little bit) then the girls all moved to the kitchen table to talk. This 82 year old amazing woman never stops! Of course, we would have taken her out to dinner but because it's hard for Daddy she would not hear of it. And we do enjoy those home meals. Karen left about midnight, Kenny, Daddy and Tatiana went to bed and Mother and I and Matilda spent a little time together which is always special. To tell the truth about 2 am we stood at the kitchen counter and ate chips and perminto cheese!!!! Now that is Mother/Daughter time and we giggled. The next morning she went to a retired teacher's brunch before I got up and Daddy and Kenny went to Cracker Barrel for Breakfast so I got to sleep (heaven)! Then Kenny, Mother and I went to Greer - I have to eat lunch at the Clock! We were all on different schedules by now! We parked on main street and I took a few photos. I spotted this bench and told Kenny I needed a model of an Old Man feeding the pigeons that I want to paint. Mother had bought him this hat and I got him to put it on and "pretend" to feed pigeons! My Mother laughed so hard I thought she would pee her pants. It was kinda funny and then this man started walking up the street looking at Kenny like he was crazy! Now, I promised NOT to put his picture on the internet so you will just have to wait for the painting.
There are some things I will do for my husband. Mother said that was the best mother's day present - laughing at us so hard! We got back to spend some time with Daddy and he and went to the "barn" and he gave me tomato plants, cucumber and squash plants. I was going to help him plant but it was so windy he could not get out in it. He gets so tired but I hope he can get a few planted. Before we left to come back of COURSE, she wanted to fix dinner. So here we go again - Blackened Salmon, potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, green beans and rolls!!!! Then she packed up food for us and sent us on our way! And what is it about sitting at your Mother's table (with a white tablecloth and napkins, crystal glasses and the good china! And I love this - she says Claiborne if you are going to sit with your legs crossed put a towel on my chair! - Boy, does she ever know me - It's home - it's Momma and I thank God for mine everyday. I have never known this kind of love in my life and I'm sure I never will again. It should be and I pray that is that way for every daughter.

The Best of My Day: My Mother's Love

Our Home

Our House

The Storm Door

It really does feel good to have a freshly painted house. You really can't tell the difference but to us it's great. And I love the new Storm Door. Right now there is a gentle rain falling and we have the windows up and you can smell the rain - now that is a very good thing! We are all done except for the attic fan which Lee said would be next week or the next. That will be mess for sure but that is the last thing to be done for this year! I planted a few more flowers and fixed up my "Secret Garden" downstairs today. I got so hot I almost passed out - summer is here! And I'm finally figuring out how to re-do my website. I have a new whatever it is to design the site - the old one won't work on Ipower. It's going to be a long process but it needs updating really bad - I'll let everyone know when it's done. Needless, to say I have got no painting done this week (except for class) and I'm going crazy. We are going to SC on Sunday and coming back Monday so I'm even missing my art class - bummer - but I gotta go home for Mother's Day! It's the weekend so tomorrow it's "Root" day - that grey sure comes back quick!





Best of My Day: The Smell of the Rain thru my Windows!!!!

Monday Night Art Class

Very very productive night at Art. I'm working on a nice painting of Lauren - a nude back looking at her reflection in an antique mirror. I love working with the muscles but I'm not finished yet so no photo. On the home front, they finally sent two guys back today to put up the new french door, screens and the front storm door. Most went well except the storm door. I got this call from Kenny saying it was the wrong door - I said well, I picked it out and the guy at Home Depot said it was the same door. Well, the guy put it on upside down! Now the retractable screen is in the bottom. Needless to say Kenny will call Lee in the morning and we may have to have a new door - he scratched it too. But we are almost done except for the attic fan which he said would have to be next week. I really wonder why all this stuft takes so long and why people won't finish one job before they start another one!! That drives me crazy. Kenny and I did get the clean blinds back up tonight and I have fresh air coming through my bedroom windows - yeah - I have wanted for the 4 years we have been here! So I'm going to enjoy all this before it gets too hot! We had a great weekend at Beluga and will be there again this weekend. And on Sunday it's home to SC for Mother's Day!

Best of My Day: Painting

Painters and Contractors!!!!!!!!

Wow - we are having the outside of the house painted this week - simple yes - HA....9am bang bang bang bark bark bark! And me in a stuper! Can't sleep and can't wake up. Actually, the house looks great. I went with a very off white with a more off white trim. It looks great with the brick and very clean. Now, when we bought the house 4 years ago they had "Painted" all the windows shut! I need fresh air!! I could never get the windows open but the guys did and it's going to be wonderful. I got screens for the ones I want to open and also a storm door for the front and a new screen door for the deck. We are putting in a whole house fan with 2 vent fans on the roof too. There are a lot of times here in Atlanta when we can use this - except of course for the real heat. We wanted to tear down the deck and build a new one but duh - got to sell some more art work for that - maybe next year! Tomorrow hopefully will get the screens up and I think they are about done except for the attic fan. Needless, to say I've gotten nothing done this week. Tatiana and Matilda have been a little crazy and I've had to stay in the bedroom with them with the gate up. I will have to post photos after it's done. I'm also taking down all the blinds to clean - that's going to be a real job and tomorrow is thursday - yikes - almost the weekend! In the middle of all this I'm changing over winter to summer clothes - another dreaded job. Let's chalk this week up to spring cleaning! Oh, one photo I have to post. The little rose bush in Columbus at the "Compound".....

"Stop and smell the Roses"..........

My Cousin Denise

Thank you all for your kind comments. There is a "Life Celebration" for Denise in Reno this Saturday. We wish we could all be there for Laura and Don. My Mom asked me to write a poem for Denise and my other cousin Linda is going to go from Washington state and will read this at her service. I just wanted it to be on my blog - I am very sad right now but also richer because she was in my life....

The Bravest Woman I ever knew: Denise


Born with a burden but never burdened
Never grew tall but what a giant in life
Don’t think she can’t keep up with you
She’s small but filled with might

Who needs to walk when you can soar like the wind
Anytime, Anywhere, Any Day
And she doesn’t particularly need your help
Just follow her and she’ll show you the way

She is a daughter, She is a sister, She is a friend
She is a girl, She is a woman, She is a wife
We all have traveled the road with her
And are grateful to have been in her life

Had you ever seen a smile so bright
Or Determination to fill a room
Heard a laughter that filled your heart
And who would leave us all too soon

So rest Little Angel with God above
For what we now see in the sky so bright
Is Denise racing all around heaven
Guiding us with her light…….

Your Cousin, Claiborne
2008