Mother and Daddy

Richard Claiborne and Veleda Hemphill 1962
I had a friend Grayson asked me to see a photo of my Mother and Daddy when they were young - I posted some to them a couple of weeks ago - Daddy, 95 1/2 and Mother - 83 this Oct 1st. So when I was home I asked mother for one. She found one taken in 1962. I was 12 years old and it was my cousin's wedding. My Daddy's brother Baxter had passed away and Donna Rey asked my Daddy to give her away at her wedding. It was bittersweet but we all got dressed up (my Dad in Tails)!!! I had a very grown up dress of Baby Blue satin - I'll have to try ad find that picture but I assure you I was not at attractive 12 year old!! I think it had something to do with the "curly hair"!! My Mother would have been 37 years old here and my Daddy 49 - wow - I can remember that night! I LOVE the white gloves I had them too. So for everyone who sees all the "old people" pictures of my parents here they are way before digital and Internet! I think they look marvelous!!!

Cold Front

Finally Finally Finally - it's cooler tonight - it was hot and muggy today but Matilda wanted to go outside and play about 6:30 so I took her and Tatiana in the back. It was very nice and sprinkling a little rain. So hoping I had enough gas to finish I cut the yard. It was wonderful riding and feeling the cool breeze in my face. I did have enough gas so I got the front yard done too. Kenny has been working all day in his office and he saw me out the front so when I came to the back yard he had the little mower out! He said what a great idea. He surprised me more by saying let's go have pizza and our wonderful new pizza place. We had a nice dinner then walked around the new outdoor mall right up from our house. There are fountains and brick walkways and very high end stores so I just window shopped! On to Walmart (to shop) - for a few things. When we came out of WW is was raining - oooooh I love it. But when we got home not a drop so we threw open the windows and turned on the attic fan. This is wonderful. Hurrah for fall.

A little press in the Columbus Ledger Paper

Claiborne relishes art of entertaining
BY SONYA SORICH - ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com
Microphone in hand, Claiborne likely represents the kind of entertainer her fans would like to become.
Not the singer who drunkenly slurs karaoke lyrics, but the performer who's able to have her own party on stage while maintaining enough wit to banter with her audience.
The performer who devotes a few minutes to a tried-and-true dance tune, and then resuscitates a jazz classic to bring a new crowd of partiers to their feet.
These are the qualities that help drive the solo-named singer's appeal at Belloo's, the downtown Columbus nightclub where she's performed on about a monthly basis since 2006.
She also created much of the artwork that decorates the hot spot.
Friday and Saturday, Claiborne performs with her backup musicians in an act that is collectively called Claiborne & Friends.
She found the gig after an extended history of live entertainment, including a decade-long stint in Las Vegas.
Relying on influences like Judy Garland and Lucille Ball, Claiborne serves up an act that relies on music, but just as much on comedy and audience interaction. It's a good going-out option for partiers craving a big-band feel.
© 2008 Ledger-Enquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.http://www.ledgerenquirer.com

Life Drawing

I have been painting over 10 years now and I have never drawn from life!! OMG, what a rush - tonight I went to Shane's Life Drawing Night -no instruction - just pay $10 for the model - and draw. I CANNOT draw and this is great for me. Oh, I can grid on the canvas or even sketch a little then paint with lights and shadows but it has always frustrated me because I cannot draw from life. So, this is only the beginning - a very slow beginning but I'm jacked. I loved it and it's so different. I have looked for a drawing course, but at the same time I don't want to sit and draw circles and eggs and flowers. So even though there is no instruction it is where my interest is - drawing the human figure. It's a long trek over to Marietta and when art classes start it will be twice a week but I know it will be worth it. Now remember, Shane told me to do "jester" drawing - the model poses for 2 minutes with several poses, then 5 minutes, then 25 minutes for 4 times. You move around and get different angles and poses. It was great fun and I did learn something even though you may not can tell from the photo's! So a new door is opening and I'm ready to run through it!!

No Huricane Rain

Oh well, we are not going to get any rain from Ike either but we did have thunderstorms yesterday and today - I loved it - Tatiana hated it. I'm just glad we don't live in Houston anymore - but I've always been glad about that!!! Did NOT like Houston or Texas! I painted today and I'm getting there with my Christmas Card (still no previews) and several other paintings. I'm going to do something tomorrow night - jump in and go to a "Life Class" at Shane's. There is a live model and no instruction - you just paint on your own. Shane has been trying to get me to come for a long time. Since our class does not start until October I've got to get some inspiration so I'm going. I may end up watching every one else but I'll try and paint something. This is a step that I need to learn so it will be very interesting. I had a very nice day - housekeeper came so the house is clean - had wonderful shrimp corn chowder that I made last night - and I painted with my little babies in the studio with me while it was raining! That's what we call a near perfect day - only made better if it was cold! And maybe a few snow flurries.....oh oh - wish full thinking now. I'm starting to look up fall decorations on line - oh oh - I'm really getting the fall fever! Just go away Summer! Now, I'm an old lady rambling...so have a good day yourself. Oh, great report at the Doc yesterday for all my blood work but I did have a bone density test and now have to take pill for Osteaphoris (I have no idea how to spell it) but it's an old woman thing!!!!

Trip Home

My Daddy and Me

My Mother and Me

Playing in Granny's Yard

Daddy's favorite thing: Reading

Had a wonderful 2 day visit in SC with Mother and Daddy. Lots of good time together, tricycle riding, good food, laughter and lots of love. Daddy felt pretty good one day and we spent a little time together doing stuff but he has very little energy. And of course, mother is just a ball of fire at 83!! I got a photo of Daddy (95 and 1/2) doing what he loves best - reading the "Washington Post"..of course with Tatiana as his "lap top" as he calls her. Every moment is precious with them. Back home now and must get ready for "Beluga" tonight. I'm tired but had a great time and Matilda and Tatiana loved playing in the yard and terrorizing the "Kitty's". .......

A very different Painting Day

"The White Dress"

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

If I could paint like I did today everyday I would have tons of paintings!! I don't know if anyone would buy them but I was painting like a mad woman - wait I AM a Mad Woman!! I worked on "Canvas" work today - I think the cigar boxes are so small they bug me. I finished up a couple of things and really bore down and worked on some "in progress" which I can't post. One of these is my 2008 Christmas Card so I'm excited about that and I had to change the tilt of Matilda's head and it worked - yeah. Now, I'm experimenting a little so that is how "The White Dress" came about. My favorite artist is Pino and he does amazing work on faces then very very loose with the background. This was a fun thing that I did not sketch at all - just went free hand and the dress came from a clothing catalog. I also started another one from the same catalog but it's no where near "viewable" yet. A little more rain today and the sun has not been out at all but the weather report tonight was sunny and HOT tomorrow - yuk - 90 degrees - just in time for me to sweat this weekend at Beluga! Matilda and Tatiana played a lot today - I threw that damn little Blue Elephant 1000 times (while I was painting) talk about distracting. Oh well, I love for them to play and they do stay in the studio with me the whole time. After a while they will take a nap and it's so peaceful then. Tomorrow it's grocery, laundry and hair dye day so I won't be doing any painting (except my roots). I made something tonight from my "childhood". It's called "Chocolate" and Biscuits! Kathy Morrow's mother, Bernice, used to make us this for Breakfast!!! Then I read that if you are going to eat chocolate it's better to eat it for breakfast so you can get the energy then burn it off. HA - anyway you take Cocoa and Sugar (I have made it both with sugar and splenda) add a "tiny" bit of milk and cook slowly over med. heat. It will thicken a little - if you put too much milk you will have to add more cocoa and more sugar and you will end up with a butt load of chocolate! Of course, Bernie made homemade biscuits but you know I don't do that - so Gran's flakely biscuits work great - I split them and have thinner biscuits. This is the fun part - you put some warm chocolate in a bowl - butter your biscuit and "sop" it in the chocolate! Now, if that ain't heaven I don't know what is. Christy, this is a great breakfast to send your children off to school and let the teacher deal with the energy! I almost shed a tear when I closed my eyes and remembered Kathy and I on cold winter mornings sopping biscuits and chocolate. I hope they have this in heaven for Kathy and Bernie. By the way, my mother would NEVER fix this for me. For BREAKFAST - are you kidding? Of course, I should not have made this at 9 pm but I was good - only 1 biscuit! Kenny asked me why today was different painting and why it was better - I said if every artist knew the answer to that question there would be no bad paintings and there would be too many paintings!!!!





Best of My Day: Chocolate and Biscuits - In Memory of Kathy and Bernice Morrow

Arghhhhhhhhh

This is what I feel like when I can't get my art mo-jo to work.......

Rain Rain Don't Go Away

We have enjoyed an abundance of rain this week and we really need it. Saturday was fun in Columbus - the wind was blowing and raining. Dehra and I went out and had to take our shoes off to wade thru the water to go to the shoe store to buy more shoes!! Now, that was fun and felt like being kids and kicking thru the water. Back in Atlanta we've had a lot too and looks like more on the way. Even though it's still hot I made a pot of soup and cornbread today - yum...at least it "looked" cold outside. I'm trying to paint this week because I think I've decided to do an Art Show in Columbus on October 30th. I have plenty of paintings and now working on cigar boxes because I don't think a lot of people will spend the big bucks for an oil painting but maybe a cigar box. They sell really well there and make nice gifts too. I'm getting that "frustration" thing about not being in class. I lose my confidence and feel like I can't finish anything - that's a real shitty feeling too. I just need to slow down and think about what I'm doing. I like to go crazy and just paint but sometimes that just does not work. There are some classes in October so I can't wait for that. I plan to go home next week to see the folks and pick up my paintings in SC for the show. The biggest problem is finding "something" to paint for me. I have a lot of idea's but need the reference material. Because I like to paint original paintings I need to actually see and photograph what I want to paint. Of course, that means traveling and hunting! I'll just keep trying and trying.

I'm Back

"Tippy Toes"
Just got my cord today and I've finally got my computer back - yeah whoopie hotdog!! We're in Columbus and the wind is blowing but no rain from "Faye". Bu the cool air is wonderful - almost feels like fall. Thank you Florida and Faye!!! This is the photo I've been dying to post. I told you how we play every day in the back yard and Matilda gets thirsty and goes to the bird bath! Well, here she is!! Will post more later - just excited to have my computer back......

No computer

I still don't have a cord and Kenny's laptop is acting up so I won't be posting for a few days. Hope to get it fixed soon - I'm going nuts and I hate this....

Weekend Alread

Wow - tomorrow is Friday and it's off to work at Beluga this weekend - yeah! The weather is being nice - hot but cooler at nights. Of course, I'll sweat anyway - I always do! I did get about 4 hours of painting in yesterday and finished one big one. The problem is I have pictures to post but I can't load them on Kenny's laptop and I still don't have a powercord. I hope I'm getting a cord from our friend in Columbus soon. He's going to order me one. We had play time in the yard today with Matilda but someone in the neighborhood is getting a new roof which sounds like fireworks so guess who would NOT come outside at all - Tatiana. Her meds are working great but not when some bangs! It's bath time for the girls tomorrow and try to sleep in before the gig. Pics to come soon I hope......

Laptop Woes

Damn Damn Damn - everything breaks at once! First my camera won't flash, now I thought my laptop was dead but after a trip to the Geek Squad at Best Buy it's my power cord. The universal one is $139 and Kenny said no way. We did call our friend in Columbus and he can get me one for my laptop for abou $60. Of course, while I was at Best Buy I found this adorable laptop in RED! I want a smaller one but if we can get the cord maybe mine will last a little longer. The camera - I don't know what is wrong. Good thing my birthday is next month! Ha - but what I was PLANNING on getting for my birthday was a blackberry phone - why oh why do I love gadgets???? I can't check my email at my mother's so I need the blackberry for that, I have to have a camera for my artwork and I can't live without a laptop. What the hell did we do 10 years ago? I'm using KT''s laptop right now - hope I don't screw this one up! It's smaller than mine and I love it. Maybe he will sway with me - fat chance! On a good note - last night was sooooo wonderful. Cool and a steady gentle rain. I sat in the swing in the secret garden and just drank in the cool air. If I closed my eyes I could have been on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I watched the olympics until very late but I'm enjoying them. I'm going to have a painting day somehow - don't know what I'll work on but I have tons to do. Just wish I could sell something right now - no one is buying a lot of "art" these days but I'll just keep on painting. So I'll have to give Kenny his laptop back now and wait for my power cord. Oh well, things could be worse....

Best of My Day: Sitting in the swing listening to the gentle rain and actually feeling "cool"....ahhhhhhhh....

Picked these last night

Wow - I love this!!!!

Back Home

Home again from Columbus and it was so nice and cool last night. We ran the attic fan and I slept so good. I also had tons of tomatoes in my garden at last so it's tomato sandwiches for me this week! And Kenny wants to do some angel hair pasta with the cherry tomatoes - yum. We had such a good "music" weekend in Columbus. The band sounds awesome but it was slow (August and back to school)! At least the people there enjoyed it and responded great. I still need a vacation so bad so I'm back to the "search" for a place on the beach in October. I'm hoping also to paint this week and maybe take some photos of models too. I didn't get to paint at all last week so that is NOT going to happen this one. Of course, today I have unpack and do laundry so I might as well get started! Have a great one....

Kenny's Birthday

A very HOT birthday it is. August 6th - usually the hottest day of the year and that was true this year! We stayed in most of the day and Kenny was working. We finally left about 4pm to go play Birthday! We looked at new phones - you know Kenny - he has to "think" about things! Ha - I want the Blackberry and I don't get my upgrade until Oct 1. Soooooo, then on to Macoroni Grill - I told him to pick where he wanted to eat and he picked my favorite place! Dinner was wonderful and then of course, I told them is was his birthday and what a desert they brought! It was great and we were stufed but ate the whole thing. We rode around a bit - went to a Best Buy to look at more phones, then to Barnes and Noble and looked at books. As you know, he did not buy anything! I just don't get it - money on your birthday and you don't buy anything????? He's so funny - even I bought a $5.00 book off the clearence rack at the Bookstore. Well, we are going to research the phones and he can decide. I thought I wanted an instinct but now after looking at them I want a Blackberry instead so I guess it does pay to "think about it". We came home and played with the girls a little bit in the back yard and tried to sit in our garden for a bit but it was too hot. So we're n the house now to finish out the birthday. I think we'll change his birthday to February when it's nice and cold! do want to say Happy Birthday to the greatest husband in the world and many many more....I love you Kenny.....Tatiana and Matilda say "We love you too and Happy 56th"

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Kenny's 56th birthday - yeah - I'm not sure what we are going to do because it is also going to be the hottest day of year!!! That's figures - I do have a Hot Husband. We had a very nice visit in SC with Mother and Daddy. Daddy felt pretty good but we can tell he is very tired. And now my camera flash won't work - we have tried everything...I think I can still take photos but no flash. I have to have a camera for my art work - ohhhh pooh.... Well, we'll worry about that later because tomorrow is Kenny's Day.....

Seven hours of Painting

Matilda is going to chase you down and eat you Mr. Squirrel!!!!

I'm tired but it was great - one of those days when you don't eat, sit down, or even pee! I got started and kept going. I'm working on a couple of pieces right now and when you MoJo is working it is the best feeling in the world. Now, I didn't finish anything but got a great start. Everyone will just have to wait - I'm not to post "un-finished" yet. This is the second day this week I've painted - that's more than I've done in a while and it was the best thing for me. The weekend is already here so I know I won't get anymore done now. And we are going to SC on Sunday, home on Monday night and before I can unpack and repack we'll be going to Columbus. We had some great rain today too and I even went out about 8:30, sat in my wet swing and watched Matilda play in the rain! She was soooo wet and of course, Princess Tatiana said no way and I getting wet! Kenny even went and got us Pizza and Salad so I could keep painting too -and like I said I didn't eat so it was really good. Billy called today and said he would pay for L - the sax player so whoopie - I've got a seven piece band this weekend. Now that's some fun! So I'll put another bandaid on my blister on my big toe - put on those new purple shoes and have some fun! Oh, I did get the funny picture of the squirrel in my bird feeder out my studio window.......



Best of My Day: Colors and Stokes coming together bringing a canvas to Life....

Coming back to Life

This is for Christy - loved them so much got them in purple and black! Now, I have to buy an outfit for the purple ones!!!!

It seems to take longer and longer to re-cupe from a weekend. Late nights, not enough sleep, lots of scotch, and heat heat heat - Yuk...But I'm back and thank God for Housekeepers - the house is clean, laundry done, grocery shopped, chicken cooked for puppies and I painted today! I had worked on some canvas last week so I started more cigar boxes today. When I got to Columbus on Friday all my boxes had sold so that was great news. The "cigar box" money is my play money and boy do I enjoy playing with it. One new outfit and 3 pair of shoes and still have money left! Yesterday I also picked my first "big" tomato out of the garden and split a "mater" sandwich with Kenny - Yum - we have lots of greeen ones so I can't wait for them to get ripe. I can live on Tomato Sandwiches (with Duke's Mayo and lots of salt and pepper). I did talk to my Mom today and Daddy went to the "Heart Doc" for a check up. Basically, the Doc told him not to do anything - his heart is just getting weaker and weaker and to keep his little pills ready to go under his tongue. I can't think about this now - I shed a few tears and I have to put it out of my mind or I'll go crazier than I already am. I Love him too much and we are going for a visit next week so Tomorrow is Another Day and I'll have my Daddy. (Is my name Scarlett????) Oh, those moments when you wish you had your camera .......Matilda wants to play everyday in the yard - throw the toy for her to chase. I was watering and throwing and she climbed onto the brick next to the garden - got on her tippy toes - and put her front feet on the bird bath and had a drink!!!! It was so damn cute and I of course did not have my camera. I know better - I should always carry it in my pocket but it was so quick I would probably have missed it. But maybe she will do it again. Tatiana will go with me to feed the birds then she comes back in the studio - she really does not like it outside. But she did wonderful on the ride Sunday from Columbus and today it thundered (but got no rain) and she was scared but not as bad as usual so I think the "meds" are helping some. I've had my shower to get the oil paint off everywhere and going to read my book now. Went to Libray yesterday and got a whole new group of books so I'm set for a bit. I think I rambled a bit but that's just the way this ole mind is working right now.......

Best of My Day: Matilda drinking from the "Bird Bath" on Tippy Toes.....

Maggie and the portrait

Just got these from Deb - love them!!!!

Finally I can Post it.........

Our Friends Deb and her painting

Maggie loving on Tatiana

The "Discovery" of the Painting

There's my "Uncle Kenny"

I love this - Adam and Deb

The Star!!

Gathering in the Garden

Now there is a pair!!

Adam and Maggie

After the much anticipated visit from Deb, Adam and Maggie I can now post the "Pass it Forward" painting. After our visit to Fl and meeting Adam and Maggie this painting just "poured" out o me! Deb is a treasured friend and we share out love of yorkies - we got Mellie and Chloe the same day. I took a few photos in Fl and really did not want to ship this so they came by our house on their way back from NY in the "House on Wheels". After the exciting discovery of the painting hanging on the wall! The pics are priceless....we had a wonderful visit..See, Kenny and I (Uncle Kenny and Aunt Claiborne) have added another "Grandchild" to our herd. We ran and played and picked tomatoes and cucumbers and ran and played some more (I honestly don't know how Deb does it!) I had purchased a few little items - coloring books and crayons, books to read, stickers, stuffed animals, etc. and put them on Maggie's bed. Of course, the first thing she did was open the closet doors and there was the "real" treasure - a huge tub of "stage high heels". That did it - no need for toys or books or anything. Then her little eyes spotted the "stage dresses"! We put a orange "dress" on her and of course had to go downstairs to find just the right hat to complete her outfit. And don't forget feather boas - a must! What a cutie. She finally found a pair of high heel boots she could actually walk in - probably better than me! And Adam - oh my - I had 3 Yorkies' in my house - heaven!!!! This really tug my heart strings - I would have a dozen if I could. He is a precious little boy the sight of him running thru the backyard at full speed and diving onto Matilda!! Matilda just squealed a lot but Tatiana actually liked having him around! Deb and I did get to go a nice lunch. Her cousin Tiernan is on the trip with her back home to be "Mommy's Helper" for a couple of weeks so she and Uncle Kenny looked after Maggie and the puppies for a little while. Tiernan is a great 16 year old - not many of those around! And just what IS it about "Uncle Kenny"? All the children just love him and LISTEN to him at the same time - How does he do that???? It was whirlwind couple of days and we enjoyed every minute of it. We they all left yesterday we both looked at each other and said - boy it's quiet - which is nice but at the same time a little sad - we miss them already! I will say we both went to bed early - you know for me and Kenny that is almost never done. Friends - what a treasure in this crazy world. There are people that pass through your life as different times and you remember them with smiles and then there are the friends that are embedded in your heart forever - that is my friend Deb.........

Your Grandmothers Bread and Butter Pickles

I know most won't believe this but they really do taste like your grandmother's pickles! And you make them in the microwave! I always begged my mother to make pickles every year and she would soak those cukes for about 17 days (a lot of mess) and make me jars and jars of pickles which I promptly ate. When I grew up I thought I'd never have those wonderful pickles again because Claiborne don't do complicated things with food - well, mother to the rescue again - Microwave Pickles!!! The trick is the right cucumber - mine are out of my garden which is the best but you can buy those small pickling cukes at the grocery. Or steal them out of some one else's garden tee hee - Also, the recipe calls for 1 med cuke - I use 3 or 4 small ones - you can judge by having the cukes fill up the container a little more than the liquid - just experiment. Here's the recipe and enjoy the crunchiness!!!!! Christy - you HAVE to make these....Oh, also you can use Splenda but not as good...You need to keep these in the frig unless you want to "hot boil" them for storage - mine never last tMicrowave Pickles

1 med cucumber thinly sliced
2 small onions thinly sliced
¾ cup sugar
½ cup vinegar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. celery seed
½ tsp. mustard seed

Microwave safe bowl – combine all ingredients. Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes. Stir…..Cook 3-4 minutes longer or mixture is bubbly or cukes crisp and tender. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. hat long because I eat them all up!

Sunday

We are so excited about Debi, Maggie, Tiernan and "Adam" coming for a visit tomorrow - I'll be posting a lot of pictures and the "Surprise".........

Summer Weather in Atlanta

Hot, Sticky, Muggy and singing in a nightclub with not very good air conditioning! I was soaked to the bone last night at Beluga. It was so hot and muggy. And Lauren and I worked out booties off too! Great crowd, lots of friends and regulars showed up and completely worn out. Then today on Sunday we got around 2 inches of rain. This is the most rain we have ever gotten without there being a tropical storm! It was lovely to watch but still very muggy but at least it looked like a cold rainy November day - ah - can't wait! I hope I can get some more painting done this week too, I was pretty inspired last week and still need to finish a couple of the paintings. We have decided to take our "break" this year in October - now, where to go and how FAR to go? Of course, I still want so so so bad to go to Cape Cod but I mapquested and it's 1100 miles - that a long way on $4 gas - now I'm thinking still the ocean but more like savannah area. We could go back to the Myrtle Beach Condo but you know I love to try different places. So the search begins. And I think I came up with an idea for my Christmas Card but that's still in the early early "thinking" stages. The rain was wonderful and peaceful. Sure wish I were in Boston with Christy and Andrew!!!!

It's my 4th Birthday says Tatiana

My 4th Birthday

my chewy

Me and my crazy Mommy -(she's been painting)

I'm four years old today and I fell better already. My foot is not so sore today and I've had my medicine. I'm crazy just like my mommy and now take my anti-depressants! I wonder if I was born this way or did my Mommy or Matilda Mae just make me crazy? I hope now I won't be so afraid of everything. I did play today with Pink Monkey and Blue Elephant (that's my favorite) and we did go feed my birds. My Daddy also came home from Las Vegas tonight and we jumped and kissed him all over. He brought Mommy a shiny bracelet but did not even bring us a t-shirt! I am happy right now and I am going to play nice with Matilda Mae even is she gets on my last nerve. Mommy tried to take pictures of me all day but I was not in a mood to pose very well. Mommy is funny with the camera and me and Matilda love to turn our head away at the last second so all she gets is "fur"!! That's our joke on Mommy. We didn't have any thunderstorms today either - I think that was God's birthday present to me - so I wasn't scared. And I hope all those little varmint children in the neighborhood have run out of fire crackers. I think they should be against Doggie Law! I'm glad my whole family is home with me tonight and I had a nice birthday. Happy Birthday to Me!!!

PS. I wrote this myself on Mommy's puter - I think I might need to use spellcheck.....


PSS. I hope my friend Adam comes to see me soon!!