A strange but peaceful meeting

Saturday night after the show - having cocktails at the bar - a soldier ask for a cigarette........his friend had heard me sing but this kid Dan had not. I shook his hand and said "Thank you, Soldier" - I always do that and told him my Daddy was in the Army Air Corp. His grandfather was too and he started talking about how he wished he could have fought in THAT war. Then he started talking about music - not just talking - singing all the songs from the 1940's and he knew all the words. "I'll be Seeing You", Boogie, Woogie Bugle Boy, Lena Horn, Ella, Frank, Gene Kelley, etc. He pulled songs from his phone and had me listen to them. It was the songs my Daddy taught me to love. I got him a beer and knew at once he was an "Old Soul". Dehra and I left to go home and I started crying - HARD - for it was Father's Day. I said Dehra I've prayed for a sign from God that my Daddy is ok. She said just maybe your prayer was just answered..................Thank You Soldier.....

Birthday Surprise

I'm am giving Dehra her portrait for her birthday but I wanted a little something extra to surprise her so into the "basement" I go (at 7 pm on Wed) - found one of my old train cases and painted it. I do this is acrylic then spray the hell out of it with clear poly. I haven't done one of these is years but it's great for makeup and jewelry (I have all my nail supplies in mine). Hope she likes it! Gonna fill it full of goodies from the Dollar Tree!

Tears

I know it's just a TV commerical but if I see another one about Father's Day I think Ill scream. I have had tears in my eyes for 2 days and a couple of down right floods. It's the year of "First" with Daddy and I'm sure that has something to do with it. Plua, I'm just so tired and was very worried about Kenny last week. He's getting better which is wonderful but he's lost a lot of weight too. The only pants he can fit in are my Daddy's pants! I wish Daddy could see my Garden, see my new paintings, or get up and hug me when we walk thru the door. I wish I could hear him tell the same World War II stories about the Time in "A Bar in Austria" or just call me Bar Maid and ask for a glass of wine. I did not go to sleep until 7am this morning so it was just a bad night. I'm going to sleep tonight for sure - already taken one of my xanax and may take another one to do the trick. We had to go to Columbus on thursday so tomorrow is laundry and back to the grocery to fix something that KT can eat. I did bath and groom the girls today so they smell so sweet now. I think a good sweet cuddle from my babies if what I need so I'm going to do that right now. After all, tomorrow is another day!

Turning the Corner

For the first time in three very long weeks Kenny says he thinks he's turning the corner on this bacteria thing. We did get thru the weekend at Beluga and although hard on him it was good. He's still taking anti-biotics for another 10 days and eating very bland right now. It was a bad bad bug and I'm glad he's getting over it. Plus, I am exhausted in every way right now and would love to have a couple of days somewhere in a cool hotel room with room service!!! My Garden is growing and I love that - I'll be making my first run of pickles tomorrow with my cucumbers and I just can't wait for the tomato's to get ripe. I was watering last week and have decided that my Daddy just reached down from heaven and stuck his "Green Thumb" in my garden this year - Thanks Daddy! Oh God, how I miss him - just knowing that he was always here.

Poor Kenny

This has been a horrible 2 1/2 weeks for Kenny - he's been so sick and most know of all the details of him being in Florida and Pat and I going to get him - getting him to the Doctor - working last Saturday night - worse this week - Doctor finally found the bacteria - strong antibiotics now - lost at least 10 pounds - still not eating - poor baby feels so bad and we have to work on Friday - he says he will do it but I'm not sure how...We just hope these meds start working FAST....

Kenny on Drumns

This is how I met him - This is how I fell in love with him - This is how we have spent our life - This is the love of my life - This is Kenny.....

Friendship Brunch

I WAS going to take pictures but had too much fun to remember it. My friend Doc came up on Wednesday and brought Roxy - her poodle. She lives in this beautiful High Rise in Buckhead (2 floors down from Elton John) and I love going to visit her there but when she comes to the "country" Roxy gets to run free in the yard. And THAT is a beautiful sight! She always has to go out on a leash in the doggie yard so at first she doesn't know what to do then she just takes off and runs and runs! All the girls enjoyed their "playdate" and we had NO ugly pants at all. I had such a good time planning this - just me and Doc and Kenny got to join us for lunch. I put the white table cloth on the deck table - used my Blue and White china, white napkins, and beautiful Hybisscus flowers I cut from my bush. And I had 3 blue and white china balls just lying on the table. A little side story about my Hybisscus Bush - my favorite Aunt Tady had these bushes when I was growing up (we called them snowball bushes) and I always loved them. Tady passed away in 1962 but my Uncle Terrill lived there until he was 91. After his death, his granddaughter and I went and dug up some cutting from the bush. I planted my at the back of the house not knowing if it would ever grow. It did and is sooo pretty. I have 2 more in the yard that I bought but of course this is my favorite. AND my mother tells that Tady got HER cutting of the bush from their Grandmother Forrest - my great-grandmother! So how about that for some family history. I have my favorite Aunt's bush from my great-grandmother! I love my Snowball Bush! Back to the Brunch I searched the internet and we have a Mexican Fiesta Brunch. Of course, I had homemade salsa, quamocole (sp) and tortilla roll up with cream cheese, roasted red peppers and onions, Avacodo Shrimp Boats with Pico and shrimp with lime juice. then I baked a Chilli Relleno dish and had a hot corn cheese melt salsa with chips. It was really good and fairly simple. Oh, I had to make my favorite cherry cream cheese pie for desert too. But the best part was just sitting on the deck with Doc and us talking and catching up and just being friends. There is nothing like this and I treasure all my friends so much. I don't have the time I would like to do this kind of thing so when it happens I just roll around in the happiness. Damn, I wish I had taken pictures - I will next time. Christy, you would have loved the table - I thought of you! Now, I'm packed and it's off to Columbus for the weekend. I've had this Yuk in my throat and chest this week - hope my voice will last but at least we have the big band this weekend - lots of vocal power - I love that. And our "Tower of Power" songs are coming along great and everyone loves "Stairway to Heaven"! I got my words and I'm going to sing "America the Beautiful" for the shows - Ray Charles version - love that one! It's to honor all the soldiers who have given their lives for us to be free - especiall two My Daddy, Richard Claiborne Hemphill, Army Air Corp and Bob Trinklein, Kenny's Daddy, Army. God Bless Them and God Bless America....

Baby Bunny

Well, he really fought a good battle and we tried so very hard but Baby Bunny didn't make it. At least he had two night of a warm bed and food and cuddles. He's probably crossing the Rainbow Bridge right now - Sleep little Baby Bunny......

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPOSED TO.....

Try and raise a wild cottontail bunny. I did the research and all the sites say don't do it. Matilda found Baby Bunny in the side yard and after searching and searching we can not find the nest. We were going to put it back in the yard last night but at the last minute was afraid Mr. Hooty Owl would get it. Soooooo, Bunny drank a little milk from an eye dropper and cuddled in my neck. I fixed Matilda's baby dog carrier with a towel and shredded newspaper and put Bunny in that. I really did not think it would alive this morning but sure enough he was and was hungry! Then wanted to crawl under my chin and go to sleep. Oh shit, here we go. I could not find goat's milk so Bunny is still getting cow milk which they say is bad. Now, realize that Kenny has told me the story of how they raised a baby bunny and it would even beg from the table and use paper to pee and poop - sooooooo maybe just maybe we could....I'm not holding out a lot of hope and I have NOT named him except Baby Bunny. I just can not leave him in the yard not knowing if Mama will come back if there is not a nest. I would love to get him strong and release him back to my backyard so we will see. In the meantime - I have a whole new perspective on the word "Cuddle Bunny"!

Told You So

Matilda has CLAIMED the lap blanket I knitted - of course, she can have anything she wants!

Summer Lapghan

I finished my Spring Green Lapghan and I think Matilda will claim it! I love the color and I even made up the pattern. It's not that big - just enough to cover my lap on a cool night. I'm not sure I want to do a big one -(I get bored easy)! but this one was nice. I would love to pick up this color in my liing room with some other items - I guess that's means a thrift store search. speaking of thrift stores I finally found a fireplace set - missing a couple of things but had what I wanted - a poker to use in my chimnea on the deck and the little shovel in a brass stand - the best part - $1.50!!! And I had a great Art night tonight even though my legs hurt. My butt muscles were even sore from dancing inthe 5" platforms at Beluga this weeekend! I'm working on a VERY VERY special painting - no sneak peeks yet -I want to finish it first. I think I'm going back to some landscapes after this - at home in my studio. And I'm so proud of my nails - they are staying fine and look good. Yeah - no more nail salons! Kenny and I had such a nice day yesterday at home. We slept late - took our laptops on the deck and enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon. I knitted some then we grilled steaks and had salad (lettuce from my garden) and aparagus and Texas Toast. Then late night ice cream with magic chocolate on it. All my season finales were on so it was a good TV night and restful. Man, could use more of these. Gotta do some "stuff" around the house this week and yard work then it's back to Columbus on Thursday. Gonna rest my little feet now and get some sleep!

Wine Bags (Christmas Spoiler Alert)

ooooh I love these and they will make great Christmas gifts - everyone likes a nice bottle of wine and they are perfect to give them in. I really like the felted one because it can be used as a container but boy it's boring! I'm not sure how many of thoses I'll make - I like doing the pattern one - I never thought I'd get to that point but I don't like the just knit knit knit! Maybe I'll make one up that is more interesting. I'm still working on my lapghan and it's very pretty - I just do it when I need to not pay attention! I was knitting on it last Sunday on the drive back from Columbus and I laid it down and Matilda promptly curled up on it so I guess we know who will claim this one! It's off to Beluga tonight and the "sequin" bra worn on the outside - watch out Madonna. I've got to get a picture of this! I've watered my garden and it's growing great right now. I have rested more this week that I have in MONTHS. I just made myself do it. I cleanned the deck and cooked and did laundry and stuff like that but nothing heavy. I need more it AWAY from home and Kenny is so exhausted he can hardly think straight. I sure hope we get a real vacation this year. Love ya all our family but that's NOT a vacation....Kenny and I and the babies need one all by ourself...Well, at least maybe for my 60th birthday! I'll be counting the days....

Sleep1

Sometimes your body says That's it - That's enough - I quit!!!! I have been so tired for at least a month but kept on pushing and pushing. That is just who I am and I used could do it for a long long time. I knew I was very exhausted but I did go to art class last night and did have a good night. I came home and went to bed as normal and slept good. At 10 the girls woke me up and I knew I was not ready to get up. Kenny took them out and 5 minutes later they were jumping back on the bed saying get up mommy get up! So I did and had some tea, read the news, email - did my morning thing. I could have gotten up then but decided not to. By this time it was around 1 pm. So I ate a bowl of oatmeal -I never do that - and went back to bed - no tv - no computer - nothing. At 5:15 I woke up. I slept soooo hard all afternoon and although I'm a little droggy I do feel better. I need sleep to re-juvinate my body. I think a lot of stress lately has contributed to it too. My mother bless her heart is crying a lot - I mean a lot lately. I think she's getter better and then she will call crying and it breaks my heart. I can't cry because I'm trying so hard to be strong for her. She told me she would go back on the anti-depressants that the Dr gave her when Daddy was sick but I don't think she did. And if I push that too hard she'll get mad - so I'm not sure what to do. I miss my Daddy everyday and yes, I cry but I'm sure that losing your partner after 65 years is something I can't comprehend. She's working like a mad woman cleaning out the house and fixing things up. I think it's too soon but on the other hand that's my mother and I hope this will help her. It's a very hard process but she thinks she HAS to get it done. I pray for her all the time and I'm very proud of her - I just want her to be OK. I know that the sleep had something to do with that too I think. So now, I'm back in bed and it may be a very long night for me! Oh well, i have 1072 page Stephen King novel I'm reading now. Tomorrow I hope to get some things done - not too much - I'm trying to take this week a little "down". I cleaned last week and did all the stuff so this week just a little cooking, gardening and knitting. And at least we're home - we work Beluga this weekend so I've unpacked my bags and put everything away. No packing until next week! Actually, I think I'll sleep pretty good tonight.

Red Hat and Nails!!!

Wow - I recieved the red knitted hat that Christy made for me - what a special treat. I looked at it so close and said how the hell did she do this on such small needles????? Mine look a little shabby beside hers but Idid start one tonight - on size 6 NOT size 4 needles. My hands are already hurting and my eyes are blurred! I may have to stick to messier hats on size 8's! Thank you dear Christy and thanks so much for trying to teach on Nana to knit. I'm really loving it a lot - and someday I'll get better! I have made a wine bottle cozy - forgot to take a picture and I'm also working on my "Lapghan" - it's almost half finished. And if you're going to wear a great red hat you HAVE to have the nails! It hasn't been in my budget the last couple of years to pay the $40 nail job then given the "evil eye" if you don't tip enough so I said I'll let my own nails grow. When I was a lot younger I had beautiful nails - long and RED! As I got older (the change dear ladies) they just won't grow. Now, granted I work a lot in oil paints, turpentine, dirt and just plain messy and the acrylic nails did great with all that stuff. Plus, you don't have to polish so ofter it doesn't chip off . I've spent a lot on "guarateened" to grow - that's BS. so last week my sweet Mother bought me a starter kit and I took my time today and did my first set of nails. They are NOT perfect but hey, it was the first time. And I don't have the little drill they all use either. Hopefully I'll get better because I love the way they look. I made them pretty short - not "Ho" length! And they will surely look better on stage than my little ragged nails. So there, a Red Hat and New Nails. Now, I figure since I cleaned house yesterday (saved $100 for housekeepter, did Nails (saved $40) I think Kenny should buy me a new pair of shoes!!!!!!

Yuk Yuk Yuk

I hate cleaning house and that's what I did all day long! I did manage to get my makeup drawer cleaned out too - I try to do this at least twice a year to throw away all the old makeup. Then the Dust Pan was lying in the floor and stepped on the handle and went down HARD on my bad knee. Just what I needed. I did ice it for about 15 minutes but it's really swollen -I'm STILL wearing my 4 inch heels this weekend damnit. So the house is clean and I'm taking tomorrow OFF........

Garden and Visit

Yep, that's my sister!!!!!!!

Tatiana says I'm clean, I'm a princess, and I'm not going to get dirty!

AH, springtime!!!

Matilda Waiting for me to throw the ball

My favorite flower blooming in my garden!





Mother came for a short one night visit yesterday and we had a great time. I have been worried about her - it seems the grief is hitting hard right now. But she would only come for one night because of the kitties. So I put on a pot of my homemade spagetti sauce then we headed for Home Depot. She bought me dirt, plants (mostly tomato) and flowers (red begonias). It was just a fun day. She got better as the day moved on and we talked a lot about Daddy and how she feels right now. We even built a little fire in the chimnea and sat on the deck. Then we had a great dinner with Kenny and just visited for the evening. She left about noon today and she stopped and ate a the Cracker Barrell in Commerce before going home. She has not been eating well at all and she said she enjoyed that. I sent spagetti sauce home with her too so I hope she will eat that. So after she left I hit the garden!!! And planted all my little plants I've been babying and the ones we bought yesterday. I think that's my favorite part - digging into the dirt and placing the plants knowing they can grow so strong. Then I re-potted some greeen plants and was dirty and tired! But it WAS bath day for the girls so we got that done. I was going to do my "roots" but got too tired so I'll just use that little stick to cover up my grey hair this weekend! I made stuffed flounder (stuffing with celery, onions, and shrimp), baked potato, green beens and salad for dinner - the fish turned out great. Almost like Red Lobster. I'm so tired right now but it's such a good tired. I always feel this way after working outside in the garden and yard. I think Daddy would be proud of my little garden and I know he helped me plant today. Oh, how I miss him. So, after the girls bath we went back down to the yard for a little play time. I just sat at my iron table and chairs and looked at the beauty. OK<>

Street Car

"Street Car"

24 x 30 Oil on Canvas
I've got some photos of the band to start on but I had started this 2 years ago and never finished it soooo decided to take it to art tonight. I wasn't sure I still liked it but I do like how it turned out. Adding the cobblestone street really changed it and made it more interesting. So, another on done. Now, it will be back to the band portraits. We hung mine and Dehra's behind the bandstand this weekend and they looked great - now I've got 3 more to do and I have great pictures of Arthur and Larry - you KNOW who the problem child is - yep - it's Kenny - he is so hard to photograph (need Christy here) but I did get a fairly good one. I want to show his drums and hands but he makes goofy faces! We had a great weekend at Belloo's and really good crowds. My "Soldiers" who have been here a few months are shipping out this week and I'm very scared for them. They became friends and I feel like a Mother sending her boys off to war. I got to meet one of their wives and she was so sweet. When you get to know the boys on a personal level it's really hard to see them go. I'll just keep them in my prayers and hope they come home safe. As always, after art and it being Monday I'm jacked and exhausted! It's suposed to rain tomorrow and it's very cool tonight - I actually turned the heat on coming home from the chill. But the warm up is coming on Wednesday and I'm planning on getting my tomato plants and cucumbers out in the garden. I'm been babying them for a few weeks and I think they are ready to fly on their own! I just can't wait to get that first tomato!

On the Road Again

We're off again tomorrow for Columbus for the weekend. I'm actually looking forward to a good time - hope the crowds come to Belloo's. We are suposed to have bad storms in Atlanta on Saturday night and just hope our house will be OK. I decided to wait until next week to plant my little tomato and pepper and cucumber plants. I would hate for a storm to mess them up. And I think for real the cold weather is gone even thought it has been in the 40's at night this week. I even had to a blankly out one night! I got the grass cut today and now all the leaves are out and it's so pretty in the back yard. I love all the "green" and the Privacy most of all. My crazy neighbor knocked on my door twice today wanting to know if I wanted something - she's cleaning out I guess. Weird..... And I made great pork bar-b-que for sandwiches in the crockpot and they are good! Kenny loved it. Well, I shall go to sleep trying to keep the words of my new songs in my head - And she's buying a stairway to heaven...........
Oh, and Tower of Power - Don't change Horses in the Middle of the Stream - LOVE this one
and we're learning another TOP - "Souled Out"

Cool Rainy Day

It rained and was very cool today - and I just could NOT get going - I'm exhausted again. My art class last night was great and I always feel good when I finish a painting. But I push myself to go on Monday's because of the weekends. We had a late day in Columbus because our partners, Mel and George were here from Germany and we only had the one day with them. It was so nice to have a long lunch and visit. We hope to go to Germany before they come home - maybe next year. So I hung out in bed on the computer and knitted some too. I'm starting my first small blanket. I wanted a "spring" lapghan so it's a fern green - not a great yarn but it was on sale and I didn't want to spend too much in case it turn out bad. But right now Im loving the pattern! I'm worried about my Mother right now. It seems the real "Grief" is setting in and she's having a very hard time. There's just so much to do at first and it seems to take forever. It's been 5 months since Daddy has passed and it's still going on. AND Daddy had taken care of almost everything he could think of but companies just take forever. I swear I don't know how most people do this. Without Kenny I don't think she could handle it which is sad because of all the bullshit people put you through. She needs to get away and come down here but she still won't leave the 3 cats. And she gets very snippy with me if suggest that they will be alright. I cried going to art yesterday and almost turned around but I'm glad I pushed through it and went anyway. I miss my Daddy so much because he could handle Mother when I could not. I have to have patience with her and sometimes it's just hard. I love her so much and it hurts me to see her hurt. I can't begin to imagine what it feels like to all of sudden some one you have spent 65 years with not being there everyday. She even said you don't know what it's like to be alone in a house day after day and she's right. Your mate may get on your nerves but can you imagine it without them? I can't - and don't want to know either. Oh Boy, here come the tears again but I guess that's a way to deal too. God, please tell my Daddy I love him..

Dehra

"Dehra"

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

I finished the painting tonight of Dehra - my friend and my singing partner. We have so much fun on and off the stage and we love to laugh a lot! Now we both can "Hang" in Belloo's in columbus! We had a great weekend at Belloo's and even though I've never been a Rock 'n Roll singer I did "Stairway to Heaven" for the first time and the crowd went crazy! They stood in front of me and held up lighters AND knew all the word (which I still don't yet)! This is such an amazing feeling - can't really describe it. I've gotten this reaction before on songs (mostly Broadway stuff) but this was unreal! And I actually like singing it - especially the end! So OK, I'm an OLD Rock 'n Roller but what the hell? Keep on singing!

Back on Track

Lady Bug - 3 months old
Of course, the "Track" is a fast one. After one day at home, I have to pack again for the weekend in Columbus! We're just trying to get our laundry done right now and get ready to go. The weather is just so beautiful and I really hope we have a LONG Spring! I'm sure Summer is just waiting to hit us with a heat wave so we'll enjoy every moment right now. As I said our trip to Florida was stressful and busy but out of all that the great news is Mom T does not have to have Chemo and she is on her way to recovery - Thank the Lord! We also had a "hectic" but nice visit with my Mother the last two days. It's still so very hard to go home without Daddy being there and I went to the shed to get something and what broke me this time was the gardening tools. They were just where he left them and seem to be waiting on him to plant his garden. I'm getting some of my planting done now so hopefully he'll watch over my little garden from heaven. My cousin gave me tomato and pepper plants and I'm going to wait ONE more week to plant - I'm still bringing everything in at night right now. Like I said I HAVE seen snow in April in Atlanta! So, it's off to Columbus to perform at Belloo's this weekend - it was a wild one last weekend at Beluga and we had a blast. I can't believe I'm still saying this after all these years but I know at some time there will be a "Last Cabaret" so I'm going to enjoying every moment on stage right now. Kenny is getting the taxes done to send tomorrow and believe me we're going to celebrate - not getting money back - just him getting them all done - and a bunch of other people's too. It's always so hard on him and he's a buger until it's over! We brought back wonderful book shelf that Daddy built for his office. It's still in the van right now and it will have to stand in my dining room until he can clear out space in his office but it will look so very nice. I just hope it won't sit here all summer - he's got to clean out that office! I have to share a picture with you - my cousin got a new puppy and she's sooooo cute and gives lots and lots of kisses. It really makes you want a puppy really bad - no no no no - I would have 100 puppies if I could! Hopefully I'll even take some more pictures to post but at least I'm back writing on my Blog. So see ya soon!!!! Oh, I'm so proud - I finally learned how to knot on circular needles and even learned the Magic Loop - Christy will understand this and I'm loving it. Just knitting away and hope to get in my art studio again real soon!!

Too Much Time

I know I know - no posts. But it's been a crazy month - trip to Florida for Mom Trinklein's Surgery (she's getting better every day) - 2 work weekends - changing over winter to summer clothes - bathing dogs - cutting grass - planting seeds - a hectic trip to SC and now home again! I'm exhausted but plan to get back to my blog very soon!

Trip

Packing - unpacking - Packing - don't know what to take - hot, cool, hot, cool????? gotta cut the grass tomorrow here. It's going to be 70 and by the time we get back the grass will be knee high with all this rain. The girls got their bath and a "Florida" haircut - they look so funny - and I've got tons to do tomorrow. Then it's work 2 nights at Beluga - repack the van - drive to Columbus - unpack the equipment - leave for Florida on Monday - man, I'm tired of "Packing".....

Happy Birthday Matillda Mae

My baby is four years old
It seems like yesterday
We brought home this little ball of fur
And into our hearts to stay
When she looks at you with those big eyes
Your troubles seem to melt away
Sweet kisses come out of no where
She’ll dry your tears that way
To see her run is like watching
A flowing waterfall
Her little heart is so happy
When she is just chasing her ball
But at night after treats and rolly food
And all of this done in my bed
The best time of the day for me
Is when she lays down her little head
She cuddles up in my arms
And I hold her little paw
We say our prayers and thank the Lord
For the love of a little dog

Sold!!!!!

We got home really late tonight from Columbus but we have a good reason. I sold my painting "The Tango" and we delivered it to their beautiful home on 300 acre's. They had bought one my earlier paintings so the two will hang together. This is a very real blessing right now because we are taking a weekend off to go to Florida. It's funny - the week Daddy had his heart attack I sold a painting at the club and I had to take that weekend off and now once again having to not work and sold another one. Someone is looking out for us! We had a good weekend too at Belloo's and now it's time to get busy and pack for Fl. I've got so much to do this week and we'll work at Beluga next weekend then drive the equipment on Sunday to Columbus because we come back there to work. We're driving down on Monday the day of Mom's surgery. Now, that I have lost that hour of sleep and I'm extremely tired I hope I can get some rest tonight - thanks xanax!!! Now work your magic and put me to sleep.....