My Mother is 83

Mother riding "Bonnie Blue Bell" on her 83rd Birthday!!
Ha - she has more energy than me! We had a wonderful couple of days in SC celebrating My and Mother's birthday - poor Daddy! Two old red-headed women with birthdays! We went to Olive Garden with my cousin Karen and Paul - wonderful time and dinner. Then the next day Karen took us to "The Clock" - a Greer must - for lunch. Mother bought Kenny and I a camping stove to go with our "tent" for the great camping trip next week. But then we got home and she started going thru her "stuff" and you would think we bought out "Dick's Sporting Goods". Let's just say we are totally outfitted to camp now. A wonderful little folding table and chairs that they used on the Parkway will be just right for inside the tent. I can't wait to sit by a campfire! And I did get enough gas to get home too and it is getting a little better in Atlanta now but still not good. I hope we have some folks come out to Beluga this weekend - Billy is already crying about not making any money and can't pay for the sax player this weekend. Everyone is hurting right now and we just pray things will get better soon. It's a tough time for everyone and I'm just grateful for what we have. We're all home tonight safe and sound and cuddled in bed for very cool night - low 50's - yeah. I'm very tired but once again grateful for a trip home and time with my mother and daddy. My camera battery died but get a load of this 83 year old on a trike! The end of our day yesterday was a trike ride - we joked about at out age we out in the dark riding in the road on our trike's with Tatiana and Matilda wrapped in little blankets in the baskets - I just love the picture........

Today

Is my 58th Birthday and I'm thankful for so many things......

Birthday Bash at Belloo's

Best Friends - Dehra and Me working it!

My Girl - Miss Dehra

Pat and Margo

Jeffery, Me, Caleb and Dehra



Had a great time and birthday party at Belloo's this weekend. Lots of nice friends, gifts, balloons and cake with "trick" candles! THAT created a huge fire HA HA! So technically it's my 58th birthday right now but not really until 3:25 pm tomorrow - THEN I'll really be 58 years old. Kenny and I are having a "day" together tomorrow then it's off to SC for Mother's 83rd Birthday on Wednesday. That is, if I can get gas. We filled up in Columbus but it's tough to find gas in Atlanta right now. This is getting more crazy by the day. Looking forward to tomorrow and see if I wake up with more "aches"........









Party at Belloo's

Got Gas?????

We finally got gas in both cars today - Kenny went out looking (there was not enough gas in the van to go looking) He came back after 2 unsuccessful trips and starting looking in the phone book. He had to go by the office so he left again and called me and said get in the van now and come the Kroger by his office. There was a line but it was going very smooth and I got to the pump in about 25 minutes. So, we are filled up (and don't dare go anywhere) and ready to go to Columbus tomorrow. Pat said they have gas there so we should be alright coming home. I didn't get to go my Life Drawing tonight and really bummed about that but we could not chance using that much gas. So I bathed the babies and watched some TV, did my laundry, had play time in the yard, did my nails - so this is what people do when they can't go anywhere!! Now, I have to pack for the weekend and when we get back - yeah - it will be my Birthday!!

A Beautiful Fall Painting Day

Cigar Box Paris Street 2

Cigar Box Paris Street 2

Cigar Box Fruit and Blue Jug Cigar Box Boats on the Water

We still have no gas - Kenny went to sit in line and they ran out before he got to the pump. Hopefully tomorrow and bummer - I won't get to go to my Life Drawing Session because IF we can get gas we have to save it for the trip to Columbus. I'm not going to bitch anymore - it won't do me any good. We also canceled our 4 day cabin get away. We decided that it would be more fun to just take off (if we have any gas) and maybe get a tent (which I have been soooo wanting to go back to) and camp out or spend a day in the city. Why pay so much money just to sit in a cabin? It costs a little bit to cancel but we are both relieved. We may even sleep in the van - I still want a small tent! This way we can get out of doing the same old thing - watching TV, on the computer, cooking, sleeping - that's what we would do at a cabin. I'd rather build a big campfire, roast marsh mellows, cook potatoes in the fire and talk! So we're still going to take a break but just not in someone else's cabin! So I painted today - all cigar boxes - I'm trying to get about 20 done for the art show I plan to do in Columbus. If people cannot afford oil paintings maybe at least I could cover some of the cost by selling the cigar boxes. I had fun today and don't have the pics yet - they are too wet but above are a few I did last week. The weather is just yummy and cool and I love it. Can't wait for that campfire!!!!

No Gas

There has been no regular gas in Cumming since Friday! We had to put premium in the van to go to Beluga this weekend and after a trip to Kroger my light is on empty so I guess I'll be at home tomorrow! We are supposed to get some gas by the end of the week and I sure hope so because we have to go to Columbus to work. This is so stupid because the oil rigs were not hurt that badly plus we need to drill off shore in our own land to stop this nonsense. And now the Democrats are stalling our financial well being to save the stupid people who made bad decisions about their homes and spent the money when they took out bad loans and now have no way to pay them back! I usually don't rant about things but this is pissing me off. I've have 2 encounters this past week of some one "wanting something for nothing" and I'm tired of it. Get a Freaking life people. So there and besides if I'm ever rich I'll give all my money to the Animals to them warn and fuzzy and happy.

The Blue Elephant Herd

The Blue Elephant Herd

The "Herd" having Breakfast in Bed with Matilda

Matilda says This is MY Herd

Tatiana and her Blue Elephant



What is it about certain toys???? I found this cute little Blue Elephant a long time ago and it was 92 cents at Walmart. Little did I know that it would become the "favorite" of all times. Matilda and Tatiana just love it. Matilda can squeak it and Tatiana can't but she loves it anyway. Sooooooo, smart mama decides to get another one so they each would have one - HA - they both only want the same one. When we leave to go to Columbus or South Carolina Matilda always puts the Blue Elephant in front of the door to the garage so we won't forget it. And I panic to try and find it to bring it back home. While in WW this part week they have some more and out of sheer terror that I would lose one I bought another Blue Elephant. I should have put it up somewhere (like my mother always told me to so there would be an extra one) but Nooooo they are just too cute with a new toy. So now we have a "Herd" of Blue Elephants. They still only want the new one and they can tell the difference. And here I am today trying to get ready for the gig with lots to do but I had to take these pictures!!!!!!

Figure Drawing

The one thing I learned tonight - no faces at this stage!!!! You get a sticky note on the face!!!

Wow - I want to paint so bad but this is so good for me! Tonight we had a beautiful Mother-to-Be -in-8-weeks. The poses were great and I'm still having trouble with form and fore-shortening (that's the hardest)....But Shane said he was very proud of me and I'll get better every time. I don't think I did as well tonight but it was great for the experience. I hope to paint in my studio tomorrow - I can't believe it's already Thursday and I have to go to work on Friday night - where did this week go???? But the weather is absolute Heaven! In the 50's at night 70's in the Day. I had the windows and doors open all day today and no air conditioning. Kenny has the Attic fan on right now and my feet are actually cold and I love it. Slept with the windows open last night and boy I'm going to again tonight. I don't know when I have slept that good. What is it about fresh air. I grew sleeping with windows open and I didn't know how much I missed it. Of course, I remember those hot nights too! Now Tatiana wants to play and it's 1:30 AM - And Matilda just wants her Blue Elephant. We bought another one at Walmart - this makes 3 Blue Elephant's in the house - and they still both want the same one - the new one - how in the hell to they know the difference - THEY DO! And I love it!!!!

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.....