Summer Hats

yeah - whoopie - summer hats for bad hair days -made of cotton. I must have a small head though - my hats are too big!! I'm wearing these when we come to Florida!!

Snow pics from Feb

I didn't get a chance to post any of these so they are late but it was such a beautiful day - snow in Columbus GA!!!

Just had to Post this Picture

Everyone knows I'm trying my best to knit - some things turn out OK some things not. But THIS is a treasure. I didn't knit it - it's a wool sweater from a Thrift Store - 100% sheep's wool from Peru. I had been looking for a wool sweater to play with "felting" and when I found this I almost squealed. It is now my 'knitting supplies bag". All I did was cut the sleeves off, sew up the sides and make an icord for the handle, then felt the whole think in the washer. I decided to leave the neck line because stuff won't fall out of it. But having the sheep on it - especially the little black one - priceless.....Can't wait for Christy to see this and giggle!!!!!

Way Way Far Behind!

As I lie here with a Sinus Infection I realize I haven't posted in so long - you get behind and it's hard to remember what you did!!! I do know I spent last week in SC with my Mom - Kenny took me up on Valentine's so we could all be together. He came back to GA and I stayed to help with Daddy's clothes. This is one of the hardest tasks to deal with. Mother had a story for every suit and shirt - how many times did her hands laundry and iron these pieces for him..there were lots of tears and finding lots of hankerchiefs in his pockets. Daddy always carried a hankie. I remember that is the first thing I learned to iron - then went on to ironing his boxer shorts. Yes, his boxers were always ironed. Mother tripped and fell in the floor and really hurt her shoulder - I'm just hoping it didn't tear the rotator cuff - she's still very sore but getting a little better by now. We were so tired and it was very cold and windy and I guess that's when my sinus's starting messing up. On wednesday I drove her car back here and she spent the night - we were both so exhausted and I was getting sick. She left on Thursday and I had to do my laundry and pack for Columbus and cook that night. By friday I was sick but pushed through the shows and Pat got me some meds on Saturday. I actually felt better Saturday night and we had a great show (I think it was the steroids) but by Sunday I was tired again. I had a Doctor's appt on Monday for my regular checkup and yep - sinus infection. I had planned to go to Art Monday night but at the doctor's office I realized I just could not do it so I came home and went to bed. I tried again to get up today and do some laundry but gave up about 3 pm and went back to bed. I'm so exhausted and know that I have to get through this weekend at Beluga too. At least I don't have to pack those damn bags this week. I'm so tired of living out of a suitcase. The only way I want to pack anymore it to be going somewhere to do nothing! And just me and Kenny and the girls!!! I have knitted a little in the last few days so that was fun but I'm so far behind on painting I don't want to think about it. I'll just post some random pictures that I've missed putting up on the blog. Hope everyone else is fine and well and I'll bounce back soon.....

Ta Da

The Smoke Ring

It took 2 months - and there a LOT of mistakes - I really don't want Christy to look at this close up - but I made my first "Turtle Back Jacket". I think I could better on another one plus I made the extra large which is usually wear but this one is HUGE! Don't care - I love it! And just in time for the snow tomorrow I finally made my "smoke ring" for my head and I'm keeping this one - I've made 5 and given them all away. I love the smoke ring because you can wear it and not get complete hat hair. I do love the shruggy things and I need to figure out a silk one to wear year round (and smaller). I have a pattern but need to figure out the yarn and I'm not real good at swatches (maybe Christy and I can figure that one out)! Now for the great news - SNOW tomorrow and most of it south of Atlanta - Columbus is expecting a couple of inches so I can't wait. We're leaving tomorrow and it's suposed to start about 9:30 in the morning so I guess we'll be driving in the snow - in a one horse open sleigh - o're the fields we'll go - oops I'm getting carried away and hope we don't end up in a field!!!! I hope to get lots of snow pictures and I have my snow boots ready to put on in the morning, the doggies coats, my smoke ring and gloves - I'm ready for it - bring it on!!! Just hope some people venture out tomorrow night to the club - come on people it's NOT but a couple of inches. I invited everyone to come to Belloo's and make snow angels in the parking lot with me - you know I will be doing that. Maybe a couple of scotches first - just to keep warm - HA. It just feels good to complete a first big project even though it's a mess - I'll enjoy wearing it. We are also going to go straight to SC on Sunday to be with Mother on Valentines and I'm staying a few days. Kenny has to come back on Monday and Mother will take me to Commerce to meet him on Wednesday. We're going to start going through some of Daddy's books so it's going to be hard but has to be done. I'm looking forward though to spending some time with Mother. OK, now everyone sing LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW!!

"The Last Cabaret"

I'm not saying it's just yet - but getting closer all the time! I still love the audience, the applause, the singing - that feeling - the chills - the lights! But I'm also getting tired and know that I can't do this for too many more years (year)!! I've never painted myselft on stage and Shane liked this photo that was taken a couple of weeks ago at Belloo's. I have no idea what I was singing but would like to think it might have been "Over the Rainbow"! In reality I was probably singing something by Prince! But I finished it and not sure I want to sell it just yet. We'll see. I am going to hang it in the club for now. Sure wish my Daddy could see this one.....

Wow

I actually worked today cleaning up my art studio and it needed it. Now it's all neat and I won't be able to find anything! I also found some old discs with pictures and I started going through them. Kenny and I took Mother and Daddy to Fries, VA a few years ago for a "memory trip" for my Daddy. There are lots of pictures but when I saw this one of course I started to cry and then became very happy at remembering this moment. . This is front of the Fries damn on New River. I think the picture says it all........I miss you Daddy.....

New Dishwasher (sorta)

Where is the Plumber's Crack??????

I want my damn dinner - I learned that word from Daddy!!!

Long story short - my friend who is letting her house go back to the bank (she's getting married and moved in with her boyfriend so it's all OK) said she had just put in a new dishwasher and stove a while back and not used it very much at all. Nice Kenmore Stainless steel. She wanted to sell them really cheap so Kenny said let's not pass this up. Our dishwasher is fine - just getting old and we need a stove in the house in Columbus. It's electric and I like my gas stove. Soooo, we go way over to Marietta on Saturday and Kenny and Marvin unhook everything and we load it in the van and drive back home. I said Kenny surely you can hook up this thing - I mean really the stuff is already there and we knew some one would charge us another $100 to do it. Well, he did it - in about 5 hours - and cussing like a sailor! (or, as he said cuss like Claiborne) You see, Kenny is NOT Mr. Fix-it. He doesn't do that well at all. I try but I don't mess with any wires that have voltage running thru them and I don't know about colored wire either. It was just a little hard working underneath the washer and lying on the floor - we are way too old for that. He had me lay down on the floor and pull the hose thru - I almost couldn't get up! But good ending - it's hooked up - nothing leaks - and it does work great. The dishes are a lot more "squeaky" clean. Thank God we're not even going to try and change over the stove! I did drive back to Marietta tonight for my art group and that stove is still in the van. Kenny said we are not going to unload it then re-load it to take to Columbus. Maybe I should just pull over on the road, open my van and cook hamburgers and sell them on the street!! HA. I stayed out of his way unless he needed me - let him rant and rave and cuss while I just sat in my chair and knitted and saying Oh honey, I'm sorry - you'll do just fine - be careful for those Drummer hands - it's ok sweetie - I'll fix you a brownie and some ice cream, etc etc etc........But I have a new dishwasher - not if I could just get him to unload the damn thing!!!!

The visit

My wonderful Mother drove to Atlanta by herself for an overnight visit. Kenny had papers for her to sign and things to still do. We could have gone to SC but we thought it was a good time for her to get out of the house. So at almost 85 she got in that big Lincoln and drove to Atlanta! It was only for one night and she left early this morning by 10 am because it was going to snow in SC but she got home fine. We just stayed here and enjoyed being together. I got to cook her a spagetti dinner and she brought brownies and ice cream. We got all our business done and spent time talking about Daddy - cried a little - and loved a lot. We have a stronger bond I think now because it's Mother Me and Kenny. He is taking such good care of her and she is very grateful because it is very overwheming the things that have to be done. Kenny has gone through this with his Mother also this year and he's so good and compassionate making decisions and wading through paperwork. I'm grateful for him everyday. Well, they may be getting snow in SC and all we're getting is boring ole rain. Probably 30 minutes above us on 400 they have snow. We are close to the mountains but not quite in them but the pictures on the news tonight are beautiful. Oh, I wish we were in a little cabin snowed in somewhere!! We are actually off this weekend - first time I can even remember that we stayed home! We did go to Barnes and Nobles (have a $30 Christmas Gift Card) but did not buy anything. Kenny looked and I looked at knitting magazines but they were all too advanced for me yet. We came home and watched a movie - had hot chocolate with marshmellows too! So very very nice. Kinda miss my high heels though!!! If we were a lot younger we would have jumped in the van and driven to the north georgia mountains today - we did that one Christmas Eve in Vegas - drove to Mt Charleston in the snow and it's one of my greatest memories there. I've got to find something else to paint on Monday so I'm going to do some research this weekend too - and hopefully work on cleaning up my studio and the downstairs which is WAY overdue. But tonight we were just lazy and it was nice....I'm so thankful my Mother came down and she enjoyed it too. Now, we just have to get someone to help with the "kitties" and she can stay longer!! Ah, let the weekend off continue....

'The Tango"

"The Tango"

24 x 30

Oil on Canvas

Last Monday I was coming down with a cold and exhausted. I really was not in the mood to paint but decided to try and do something loose and fun. Soooo the tango...I posted last week how Shane made me do the drawing upside down and I thought I'd never get it. It started coming together and when I went back tonight it really come together. Shane was so proud of me and I cried a little. I just wasn't ready I think - my whole being has been shattered and I didn't know if I had it in me since I lost my Daddy. I could sing automatically which I did but this stuff has to come from the soul or it just won't work. I think Daddy was telling me to jump back in and do what I love because it felt like someone was guiding my hand tonight. So, when Shane said quit messing with it and SIGN it I was thrilled. I am taking this to Belloo's and hopfully someone will buy it. I may try and do a "music" series as I've never done that before. I really need a good picture of Kenny to paint on the drums. I never get a good one of him so I'll just have to set it up here and take one.

OH, by the way: Cure for the Common Cold - Go to Bed - Sleep - wake up - have tea - have macaroni and cheese soup then chocolate pudding - have a cigarette - sleep - eat oranges and more pudding - cigarette and diet coke - sleep - sleep - sleep for 2 days. I did and got up on Thursday, packed and went to Columbus and had a great weekend!!!

Oh Crap

I really thought I was bullet proof to this cold because Kenny and Mother had it and I didn't get sick. Well, after this weekend at Beluga where everyone wants to hug and kiss I've got it. Felt it coming on yesterday and by the time I got home from Art I knew I had it. Woke up feeling really bad so made some soup, changed my sheets and blanket and spread and crawled back in the bed where I'm staying!!! I did start a new painting last night - I could not get inspired at all and had nothing to paint. So I messed around with some reference photos and decided everyone loved the Tango so much and I sold it very very quick at an art show, so I decided to do anthoer one. This one is much bigger - 24 x 30 and will look great on a wall. I'll be taking this one to the club in Columbus because it will really fit in there. So many people ask how do you start, how long does it take blah blah blah. I've decided to show the process. Shane had me NOT sketch anything - start with the thinned painted and draw shapes - I even had to turn the painting upside down so I would not think of "body parts" but shapes. This is really hard to do because your mind doesn't want you to see that. You have to keep shaking your head to get the pictures out and just look at "shapes" and negative space. I do want this painting to be very lose almost abstract. Believe me it looks abstract right now but there's lots more work to do on it. Anyway, just thought I'd keep a record of the progress and can't wait to see the final painting! I'm getting excited again - I knew I would when I got to class and I need this very bad right now. I'm going to stay in bed again tomorrow and really fight this cold and hope it doesn't get as bad as Kenny's did. Stay well everyone!

New Game

Just uploaded this one for fun from last weekend....Warming of the Hands

My wonderful talented neice has started a great game. She's taking a photography course - of course she is wonderful but she's posting her assignments for us to try too. I didn't have much daylight time today (that happens when you sleep until 2pm)...but here are a few I managed to catch in "reflections and shadows".....Just had to do the raindrop on my birdfeeder because I thought it was cool.. We had a great night at Beluga and although it's raining hope to have another on tonight!

Daddy's Birthday

Today Jannary 14th is Daddy's birthday - he would have been 97 today. We have been in SC all week still helping Mother with everything that has to be done. It's hard and on top of it all Kenny and Mother have been very sick. We got through it and we even went out to dinner last night in honor of Daddy's b/d. Karen and Paul, me and Kenny and Mother went to California Dreamin - one of Daddy's favortie's and I even had the Prime Rib. We talked about him a lot and told great stories and cried a little too. It's still too unreal for me yet. We are home now and work tomorrow at Beluga so we'll see what the weekend brings. We just still so tired and I need a vacation really bad. Just me and Kenny - he said I'll take you somewhere you haven't been in a long time - HOME!!! That's nice too but there's too much to do around here. And I could not believe when we got home there is still patches of snow in our back yard. It snowed last thursday! That's how cold it's been here in Atlanta. Gonna be in the 50's tomorrow so I'm sure it will all go away now. I'm really too tired to be typing this but I just wanted to say Happy 97th Birthday Daddy - I miss you everyday and I love you.....

Oh how we love the SNOW!

tonight Matilda and Tatiana playing in the snow!

six years ago March 2nd - moving in and snowing with Chloe and Isabella

It came, it was beautiful falling, it barely covered the ground and now we have to get out of the driveway tomorrow and drive to Columbus for the gig at Belloo's! I enjoyed watching the snow so very much and sat in front of the fire and knitted today - and that's about all I did. Kenny is really sick and I'm not sure how he will get thru the weekend -The Show must go on......I did cook chicken wings and smashed potatoes, broccoli and baked apples for a late lunch and we sat at the table and watched the snow. It reminded us of 6 years ago on March 2nd when we moved in and it snowed. We sat at the same table eating fried chicken from Kroger and Chloe and Isabella were in their buggy! Wow - almost 6 years in this house. It's still my favorite house I've ever lived in but it sure is a lot to clean!! I did pack (at Midnight) so I'm ready for the trip. Tatiana and Matilda did NOT want to come in tonight - they love to play in the snow and they were chasing each other in the yard. I was too dark to video - maybe in the morning. It's all stopped now but what a wonderful little treat. I just hope Kenny gets better and I don't get it!

Oh, I did finish the second little tote bag for me so now Dehra and I have one each for the Gig! And I could see a mistake in my turtleback jacket so I frogged it and started over - much nicer now that I understand the pattern better.

new Project

Well, I've started my new knitting project - a "Turtleback Jacket" - it's the only thing easy enough for me to start my "New Year" of learning more about knitting! It's going to take awhile and I think there may be some boo-boo's but I'm going to get this. I did make this little tote bag for Dehra and almost finished another one tonight for me. We can carry out little gig stuff - lipstick, cig and lighter and business cards in it. I love the charms I got to sew on them at Hobby Lobby. Just makes them a little different. I put a snap at the top too so everything won't fall out! I should have mine done by the weekend so we can carry them because it's going to SNOW tomorrow so I'll have time to finish mine. I love love love love love snow! It's only going to be about an inch but I know it will be beautiful and I'm charging my battery for my new camera tonight to get plenty of pictures. (of Yorkie's in the Snow) Ha Ha. I think maybe my Daddy is sending it to me from heaven because he knows how much I love snow! My poor Mother AND Kenny are sick with a very bad cold. She went to the Doctor today so she's got medicine and Kenny is taking some too. I actually made him homemade chicken, veggie, rice soup last night so that what he has eaten today. I can't believe I don't have it - but I still could get it. I'm telling you people - smoke, drink diet cokes and Scotch! Oh, and eat M&M's....I finally got all the laundry done, babies bathed and groomed and house cleaned (upstairs) so I took this afternoon and evening to finally sit down in front of the fire and knit. I'm still very tired but hope I don't get this cold. I'll enjoy the snow but we DO have to drive to Columbus on Friday so not too much will get on the roads I hope. We are going back home on Monday and I may have to be the "nurse" to Mother and Kenny and we all know what kind of nurse I am - not good!!! My heart still aches for my Daddy and you never know what will trigger it but it hurts so bad. But I know he's not tired anymore too. For all my Florida Folks stay warm down there and don't let the oranges freeze! Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.....

The Hardest Blog I'll ever Write

Richard Claiborne Hemphill

January 14th, 1913 - December 22, 2009

My Daddy

I know it's taking me a long time to post because it does not seem real yet. Daddy passed away on December 22, 2009 - it's hurts to even type that because I have to believe it. We are all so very very blessed that after his heart attack we had 1 month and 4 days of wonderful happy times with him and I'll be able to write about those later. I do know this that when someone passes away you don't have time to grieve at all. There's too much to do and too many people around you who really do care but it's all like you are walking in a dream. We had the Memorial Service on December 28th and interment that morning with part of his ashes. I do have the rest of his ashes and we are going to Fries, Virginia in the spring to scatter them in New River - also a few along his beloved Blue Ridge Parkway and Spring Valley Church where his mother is buried. That will be a hard trip but it will give me a lot of peace also. There are lots of memories I would like to write about and I might later. Daddy had been working on a book many years about Fries and the Fielder Family and I'm going to try and write the "last Chapter" to that so everyone can enjoy his writing about everything he loved. We are going back to SC next week to be with Mother and be there for his 97th birthday on January 14th. He had a very peaceful passing and again I am blessed but very very sad. My life will never be the same.....

Read to go Home

We made it through the weekend at Belloo's and did have a wonderful time. I got some lovely Christmas gifts from fans and friends. We are headed home in the morning to spend Christmas with mother and daddy. I'm pretty sure this is my last Christmas with Daddy so it's going to be wonderful and sad at the same time. He has fallen twice in the last 3 days and now not hardly eating a thing. I need to get there quick...

My friend and a lovely visit

My friend Sandy came over tonight - it's the only time we could get together over the holidays. We both are always so busy so this was very nice. I made a big pot of Potato Soup (from scratch) HA HA and added asparagus and had crumbled bacon to go in it. Baked some bread (not from scratch but from Kroger) and made a salad. Kenny and Sandy and I had a great time visiting. Marvin (her finiance) is out of town but we do plan to get togther with them soon. she gave me some yarn for Christmas and I've aready started to knit it tonight! I love getting yarn! And Kenny got a Starbucks Card - whoopee - too bad Christy you're not here to go with him! Daddy has one good day then sleeps a lot the next so we are prepared to go at a moments notice now. We probably are going to go up on Monday instead of waiting until wednesday. We think we should spend as much time as possible with Daddy right now. We are going to Columbus to work this weekend and should be a fun "Christmas Show" - you KNOW I"m going to sing Christmas Songs (and cry)! I always cry singing Christmas songs...Even though we don't have a tree this year I have my "Six" Yorkie Christmas paintings hung with the art lights over them and a few decorations out. I took my Grandmother Green's Butter churn that usually sits on the fireplace and put it on a table. I put some pine greenery and red berries, tied a red bow on the handle and put presents around it - not my "usual" tree but hey, it's looks pretty. We're packing everything up tomorrow and going to Columbus to have dinner with Pat and little Brock. That should be fun - Brock decorated our tree in the cottage - Oh, we do have a live tree there - he loves to put Christmas trees in everyone's house! I would take but my camera is broke!!!! Hope everyone is surviving the mad last week rush and just remember to spend time with your loved ones - that's most important of all......

Wonderful Visit

We are home after a 2 day visit in SC with Mother and Daddy. It was a nice one and Daddy sorta seemed stronger but not really. When we got there he was sitting up, dressed in his pants and black shirt and said I want to go to Cracker Barrell! He looked good and talked to me and Kenny a bit. He wore himself out pretty quickly though. Of course, we didn't go to Cracker Barrell - I wish he were strong enough because we would certainly take him. He's in a routine now, eating very little, and sleeping a lot. He stills wants his "Happy Hour" with his 2 glasses of wine - hey, give the 97 year old man anything he damn well wants! We stayed with him and let Mother have some time out by herself which she really needed. She went to the bank and the grocery store for a while (man, she bought a lot of groceries!) but it did her good. This is the first time she's been anywhere since his heart attack on Nov 18th. I did get to surprise my cousin Karen with her painting and of course, we both cried! She was very surprised and I'm so glad to have done this for her. Kenny and I did get out for a bit one evening and did a little Christmas Shopping - mother had given us money to pick out a couple of things so we did get that done which is a relief! It was very very hard to leave again but we'll be going back for Christmas if not sooner. Again, I'm just so grateful for every moment I have with my Daddy and I love him so very much. It's cold and raining in ATL (I love it) and we are going to stay home today and do some cleaning, and wrapping and just enjoying being together with Tatiana and Matilda Mae and each other......

Painting

Photo from around 1950
Sam and Karen
16 x 20 oil on Canvas

I don't think my cousin will read this blog so I'm going to post it. I'm so excited I got to finish this painting last night. My cousin found this photo probably taken around 1950 and said some day I want to get you to paint this. It's my cousin Karen and her father Sam, my Daddy's youngest brother. Like me, Karen was always a "Daddy's Girl" but she did not have her Dad around as long as I have. Sam died in the early 70's. Karen is now 64. This photo was taken in our Great Aunt Rachel's yard in Fries, Va where Daddy and Sam were born. So there are lots of special memories in this painting. I wanted to surprise her at Christmas with this and I feel great that I got to finish it. I wasn't sure I would be able to. She has been so much help with Daddy and Mother and me these last few weeks. Karen is also a 20 year cancer surviver of Bladder cancer. Her son, Stephen is a screen writer in LA and has a movie coming out with Richard Geer - can't wait to see that one and her daughter April lives in Florida. This is the best part of being an artist. To create something that will live on in families lives forever (and hopefully not end up in a flea market!!!). So I don't think anyone knows my cousin but if you do be very very quiet about this painting (Aunt Jane)!!!!- I'm going to give it to her for Christmas!

Been so Long

I know I should have been posting but I've been on such a roller coaster ride and so tired. First of all, Daddy is resting at home but still getting weaker. I came home to go to Columbus and work the gig not knowing if we would have to rush back to SC. Well, we made it and so did Daddy. I'm not sure when I've ever been this tired and on top of it all we did a "double" on friday - a military ball AND Belloo's. Man, I thought I gave up that non-sense in Vegas but we needed the work. I also kept waking up at 8:30 every morning - this is NOT a good thing when you get to bed between 4 and 5 am. I finally did sleep today until noon but it doesn't help that much. We had a great "cold" weekend weather wise. I really enjoyed the chimnea on the deck in Columbus. I just love sitting by the fire and feeling toasty warm. And I put the snuggle ball right in front of it and Matilda loved that too! Tatiana NEVER gets out of the bed until her Daddy does. I've talked to Mother every day and Daddy has not changed much since I left. He does keep asking about when he's going to the doctor and I just don't know if he can do that or what the doctor can actually do for him. The hospice nurse is coming tomorrow and we hope to get some answers there. I wish I could talk to him but he can't hear me well enough on the phone. I've decided to stay home tomorrow and go to my last art class to finish a Christmas present. My Aunt Laura is leaving on Tuesday and Mother said she could use a little time just for her and Daddy. She has had someone in the house all the time. So we are going to talk every day and we'll find a good time to go back up this week. We actually have the weekend off - a scheduleing mess - and Kenny and I sure could use a weekend at home but we also need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. After I "unpack" from Columbus I'll "re-pack" to have ready to go to SC - man, I'm tired of all the living out of a suitcase thing too. As I have said before I'm so grateful for the last two weeks of the having the time to spend with Daddy and taking care of him. I want to be there all the time right now but I also know I may be needed more soon and I should get as much done here as possible. And I would love to just a few "Christmas" decorations around this house because we sure "need a little Christmas". And I've done no shopping at all and I do need to get a little of that done too. And I've got to mail the "Florida" package - oh no, I'm not going to list everything I have to do on this blog - I'd be typing all night! I took a few pictures last week on my phone - my camera has really crapped out (hear that Santa?) and this is one of my favorites. That saturday night Mother, Daddy, Kenny and I all sat down at the kitchen table and had dinner together. That was so very very special because we have spent so much time at that table enjoying meals together. These moments are so precious to me right now. I thank everyone for their prayers and I continue to pray for my Daddy. And for my Mother. Any time I have left with him I'm grateful for now. As I start another week I just hope to have the strength to get everything done that I need to right now. And also, right now I think I'm about to fall asleep!!!

Thankful

wow I did not know this Thanksgiving would be spent in SC with my Daddy recovering from a heart attack. Last Wednesday Daddy had a heart attack in the Doctor's office right across the street from the hospital. If he had been anywhere else I would not be writing about this. Kenny and I got here from Atlanta as soon as we could and we really believed he would not make it that night and so did the Docs. Well, he did and although we had a couple of very rough days in the hospital he was able to come home on Friday. The way this was possible is the wonderful organization of Hospice. Enough cannot be said about the people who do this and how special their work is. Very very slowly Daddy is getting up more - he ate at the table twice today - and is walking to the bathroom by himself. Now, it's not just that he survived this it's that he will also be 97 years old on January 14th! It is still a very long road and I don't think he will ever fully recover at his age but there are no words to describe how thankful I am to have had this time this last week with my Daddy. I've been sleeping downstairs with him and we have had some special moments in the middle of the night! Mother is taking great care of him and he's eating (of course!!). I am so blessed not only to have my parents here at our ages but this time with him is pricless. I have really not been able to post at all - this roller coaster of emotions is very exhausting - but I need to get back at it. I'm so sleepy right now even though I took a nap! My cousin Daddy Green and Betsy brought us a wonderful thanksgiving dinner which I am very thankful for - I didn't have to cook it or clean it up! wow. Tatiana and Matilda have loved being her too - playing in the yard - Matilday is doing sooo good off leash now. Kenny and I have spent some quality time together even tho stressful and he is my rock as always. We do have to go home soon and do the gig this weekend. So many friends and family have been praying for Daddy and us - a feeling that is so wonderful. So on this Thanksgiving with so much to be thankful for we wish everyone wonderful and happy times. Most of all, Thank you God for my Daddy

Yikes only 2 days!

Happy Thanksgiving from Tatiana and Matilda Mae
got soooo much to do in two days to get ready for Trinklein Thanksgiving!!!! See everyone soon.

Oh, I just can't wait any longer!

Sneak Peek - 2009 Christmas Card!!!!!!

The reason I love hurricanes!

Ah, the rainy day, the leaves falling, gusting wind and chilly temps! My favorite kind of day. See, I KNOW I could live in London or Seatle. Of course, the bad part today was I had to go do errands and get groceries! And I had a horrible "sleep night" - heartburn, bad dreams that almost led to a panic attack, knee aching - actually like a knife stabbing pain. The last time I got up and drank a glass of milk, chewed two Tums and finally went back to sleep was around 9am. THEN the next time I woke up it was 2:30 pm. That kinda screwed the day but I did manage to get all my stuff done, cook a great pot of homemade soup, clean up the kitchen and living room, and do some knitting. Of course, it's 2:30 am again. Oh well, I'm just going with the flow because this really IS my schedule. I just normally like to get up around noon so I'm a couple of hours off right now. We should have a little more rain tomorrow then clearing up for a beautiful week. I still love the rain and hope I'll get it one day when I can light the fireplace, cuddle up in a blanket with the puppies and knit! Come on January!