2011 Coming Down

Reading list for 2011 - part of it anyway - I also have three Catholic books - one about the Theology of the Body

Also finished another painting - except for the glazing and taking care of the edges. It think this one needs prints made. It is much more beautiful than the lousy camera shot. I think I'll get prints made....

Preparing for New Years - a bottle of pink champagne a day -

Seriously, I will be slipping back into my roll of semi-normal housewife and grandma. Soon.

Next month I will be 66. Beware my friends. OR Celebrate! Midlife crisis can't even compare to the wonderful mid sixties!

Here's to the New year - Yay - come on! I'm ready with open arms!

PARTIAL READING LIST:

Love Morrison, Toni Ships from Alibris	Item charge:$0.99
	The Last Oracle Rollins, James Ships from Alibris	Item charge:$0.99
	Slammerkin Donoghue, Emma, Professor Ships from Alibris	Item charge:$0.99
Each item in this section ships direct from its seller. When you order multiple items, some may ship separately. They should arrive by Jan 17, 2011.
	The Wretched of the Earth Frantz Fanon Ships from Motor City Books	Item charge:$0.99
	Alfred Stieglitz: a Biography Richard Whelan, Jennifer Josephy Ships from Better World Books	Item charge:$0.99
	The Curse of Willie Lynch: How Social Engineering Iin the Year 1712 Continues to Affect African Americans Today Rollins, James Ships from BargainBookStores	Item charge:$9.14
	O'Keeffe and Stieglitz: an American Romance Benita Eisler Ships from thriftbooks.com

Holidays

Sliding into the New Year now! Didn't get many Christmas photos - we had sort of a weird Christmas. My youngest daughter and husband had the flu and over the long period they have been sick, they've had four emergency room visits combined, and Christmas was subdued - we went over and exchanged presents, and kept grandson with us to keep him from getting flu.

Then we loaded up Guido and went to oldest daughter's house in Mobile, where we had a warm fun time with the three grandkids and three dogs.

I've done much pondering about the last year - it was a year of incredible personal changes for me, and it's been like I can barely stay on the roller coaster, so to speak, as it has moved as quickly as a roller coaster. I almost feel wary about the coming year - how could much more transpire in the way of changes? Not only personally, but our world, everything is changing at a rapid pace.

Preparing now for a show at the gallery for the new artists. I have one done, The Owl and the Pussycat, and needless to say, I don't think I will ever tackle a painting of a peacock again. In fact, I've switched my plans and will take down photos of island life. The theme of the show is "Art and Soul." I also have to find one to donate for a silent auction which is all the thing in P'cola, art for charity.

I did have a blast, with youngest grandson's help with a "Paint the World with Hope and Healing" party Thursday before Christmas. It turned out amazingly well and it was like a Christmas present to me to see the kid's work - all were "creation" works.

Signing off now, as Blogspot is doing weird things............HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SosSs

Merry Christmas

The cats send their greetings too, but they aren't so willing to pose.

Love to all of you.

Update - December, year ending

Hello everyone. Yes, I'm so absent from Blogspot any more. And I'm half hearted with Facebook. I'm beginning to doubt the value of posting my feeling of the moment as I fear to appear as a bona fide manic depressive. This has been a really strange year - wonderful, but strange with the highest of highs, wonderful adventures, lowest of lows, and all stages in between.

I'm getting boring as all I can think about just about is painting or creating. The gallery has been a good move, though. I just sold the Pears yesterday at a good price!

One of these cages will fit over the Peacock in the painting I'm working on now...I'm using the one below as a model.

The Owl and Pussycat from Edward Lear's poem. I don't think it is quite finished, just don't know for sure what it needs for sure. So its at the maybe, but gotta study it phase.

My next grand attempt at painting will be this peacock. It sort of matches the Owl and the Pussycat - its been posted on Facebook - at any rate, here it is if you haven't seen it. After he's done, I'm taking one of the metal birdcages I have and impose it over him.

Christmas is one week away just about - no, not everything is done - but it will be what it will be.

Then 2011! If I don't get on before then, here is wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday.

Still Here!

What can I say? So much activity in the last year, so much happening, so many changes!

For the most part all is well, finishing up September flood mess, trying to get everything done I was supposed to do days and days ago.

Tonight watching Avatar with grandson. Wish I was built like one of those creatures - oh my! I would like to have the tail too - looks like it would be great balance. I would like to live in that beautiful psychedelic world too!

Yep, still daydeaming. One day dream has come true - my art is now in the Blue Morning Gallery.

Getting Ready for Christmas or Nevermore's Night Before Christmas

Too much action here. Had to stop and draw for a bit to get my head back - he wasn't done in this photo - the ornament is now redder with a more realistic light on it.

One of my friends, said "How do you be so prolific writing when you have all that stuff you are doing?" Well, writing brings me back from scattered-ness often.

My dog is mad because I am gone so much now and he is pooping in my studio. Cute, eh? Sooo poor baby is going to have to go to a cage when I'm absent. He thinks he needs to go with me each trip. That is not always practical - for him. The Mama Cat has been put on a diet by the vet. She tore her Cruciate Ligament in her cat knee and we thought she would have surgery, but he wants her in a more safe weight zone first - which is something we needed to do, just didn't know how. Well, both cats are very ticked now about being rationed and are beating up on Guido. Maybe the deposits were in retaliation to that, or maybe they just scared the poop out of him. Who knows what animals think.

This week is the last week to the Event - I'm nervous but excited. A few more tweaks and the gallery setting will be looking great - and then Gallery Night, and I hope I sell all of that, although the charcoals will be kind of like selling off my children.

So, enough for now!

Blogging

This is a drawing I did about a man who lost four of his dogs in a house fire. This was the only dog he could save. I call it "Housefire." Well, I'm thankful that a couple of blogging friends have much happier looks on their faces and lost no lives to their house fire (apartment) - the incident set me to thinking............

I don't blog nearly as intense as I used to - I think that might be a winter project, to get back in touch, be more faithful with the blogging and checking in. After Candy and Stagg's close call I realized how dear my blogging pals are to me and I never want to lose touch! You all have seen me through a desolate time in Wyoming away from family, marriage problems, sickness, injuries, moving, erratic sometimes behavior and accepted me anyway. That means a lot, a whole lot in this life. Thank you.

Oh, fall hit suddenly here - it is cold, seems a bit nicer today. The Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival is underway, and humbling as every booth we visited yesterday during our quick walk through had stunning art. Grandson helped me hang mine in the gallery and I signed up for gallery night duties, but it will be fun. Does this mean I do not get to isolate a lot now? Maybe.

Much to do this week - the plumbing flood seems to not want to go away - the insurance company sent us an inventory, less than the damages and replacements, so I have work to do there. The Event is not coming along - totally amazing how its NOT coming along. I will be so embarrassed to go ask the art bar if they have a problem with me keeping to a tiny event, which means tiny money for them for the day!

Daylight savings time change today - aaackkkk - love having some more light in the morning, but its downright depression to have to take my walks in the evening in the dark, and i worry about the school kids getting home ok.

My Wyoming friends ought to be arriving at their place for wintering - we call them "snow birds" down here.

Time to fix grandson some breakfast.....

Getting There

The painting is called "Getting There." This photo was taken when it wasn't completely finished. Today it resides in Blue Morning Galley.

It is official! I am now in - Blue Morning Gallery.

The gallery is chock-full of some really great artists. I think this is going to really be fun. It is a coop, involved in the community, and everyone I've met seems really, really nice. I put the charcoals in to begin with. In fact, I'm sort of taken with the charcoals right now, so probably will do a few more pieces before moving back to paints.

Today grandson and I attended the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival - a November event that gets better year by year. I always feel humbled when I see all the fabulous art there.

Well, my huge jobs are getting done - I have 10 more pillows to make for grandson's school and the "Paint the World with Hope and Healing" workshops and I will be able to just relax, keep a clean house (I hope) and do art.

Still have myriads of paperwork to fill out from plumbing flood - at the rate they are moving it will take many more months to finish it up. Have to go back to hardware stores for more estimates.

Our cat has a torn ligament in her cat knee - so she has to have surgery to stablize her tibia. Its been one of those months! Can't wait for turkey for Thanksgiving. Don't know why, but I'm craving turkey! Yum. The animals said that sounded good to them too.

So sleepy - have to take a short nap to keep moving later on today.

Mollybon - she's up!!!!!

It's official, folks! Now all we have to do is get a proper domain name, but she's done - The Mollybon Website. What fun, I will miss working on it. Perhaps a site will come along this year now and then! And the cool thing was working with someone in another country, the owner of the property - the internet is a marvel sometimes.

Next good news is that I have been accepted into the Blue Morning Gallery on Pensacola's main street, downtown! Only the charcoals so far, but its an open door now. So now I have to get busy and produce - I have been at a standstill since the plumbing flood, grandson's volunteering me for a pillow project for a class, planning the "Paint the World with Hope and Healing event," the website, and getting out there and marketing everything. It's been a challenge for a basically shy person.

And I have conquered the naysayer prediction that after 60, you can't break into the art market - yahoooooo, yes, yes, you can do what you want after sixty!!!!! Hear that, all my young friends, you can do it! Whatever your heart's dream is, keep dreaming and doing.

The weather is cold here in the morning now - by that I mean mid sixties (F.) - for Florida its cold. Much social activity has been going on as well. My personality would much rather hunker down at home to putter and paint. Tonight some close friends have a Halloween party, I'll go for a while, but probably not in costume. The passing away of our Tim has put a damper on our festivities. The Blue Angels will fly this coming week in a show, and his family is gathering up here to watch - I may go, though I've been able to pretty much see the show as they practice over my roof!

The kids will "trick or treat" tomorrow night. Grandson and I have gone to the store for candy. I usually try to give out something else and don't know what got into me - instead of pencils, little booklets, etc., I bought sacks of candy - it will be hard to stay out of and not eat!

So have a wonderful, save, and joyful Halloween - be careful out there - I have a wild story about being out with my daughters and having had something put in my drink. But another time!

Lately Happinens

I won our LBL painting - one from our every 3 -4 mo slumber party paintathons - painting contains a piece of each woman, er, from each woman, er created by each woman. There, got it.

Luck to get this collection of bird houses. i need to find Nevermore and get busy with some sketches - charcoal!

My daughter has been visiting almost every weekend - cool! Love it.

Other daughter displays her new harido!

This is Keeping me Busy - - - - -

November 20, 2010

Paint the World with Hope and Healing – Sketching and Painting Workshop

November 20, 2010

Paint the World with Hope and Healing

Dolce Vita – 309 S. Reus, Pensacola, Florida 32502. Join us for an amazing day of insight and inspiration, sketching and painting. Plus an elegant evening of artistry. It's an event you won't want to miss!

Join us for a unique day long workshop with a guest author as speaker. A local artist will facilitate art sessions. No experience needed! Stay for participants and invitational evening art show with silent auction, portion of proceeds to go to benefit ongoing Gulf Coast healing, monitoring, and cleanup.

For more information and to register go to events page on dianakayeart or

More information about art show and call to artists at Paint Hope.

Or contact Diana Obe at 850-380-5083

I am determined to make a difference in the world. A little bit anyway. :)

So Into Myself

Yep, I admit it. For a while I took so many pictures of myself that I appeared obssessed. I was, losing weight and all and feeling like a new person. That has worn off, a little of the weight has come back and of course that has me freaking, but it offsets because I'm working out at Curves - and its worked (doctor suggested) - my heart is at regular rhythm most of time, am stronger, so assuming the heart muscle as well is stronger. No longer take many pictures. Won't be long and I'll hit the big 66. I look in the mirror - I look more like an ol' Indian lady everyday. Still have the vanity of having my hair striped - and my daughters dress me, so sometimes look like an aged 30 year old, some weird combination.

Life - gets better and better in my head. Yah. It does. There is hope - wooo hoooooo! I probably live a far more exciting life than ever - and fulfilling, art is blooming, I am more able to be who I am without fear of what people will think of me. Way less perfectionistic, though sometimes anxiety haunts me some.

Winter is comin' on - and I think back on last winter, my routines, my long nights on Farmtown, my dear friend that I email with everyday - other friends - family - getting dark too early, still battle with weight, learning to love better - hopefully. What will this winter bring? I don't know. It's been a weird year, a tough year. Friends losing family members. My own mother just had an episode of 3 blood clots in her lungs - good thing she had a reaction to a flu shot, though it tore her up, at least they found the clots before they killed her. Whew. My girls struggling, grandkids struggling. But then that's life. It's harder though to "make it" when an acorn squash costs $4.00 - and radishes almost a couple of bucks - etc. etc. And I'm not even in Europe where prices are worse than they are here.

Anyway, we live - we live a day at a time. And hopefully our plans don't fall apart - too often that is. I remember back, one job I hoped to retire from - wall street went - my retirement totally disappeared. I tried again. Boom - at least I got out with my contribution. "H" is not a planner - I've made my own way, and never enough left over to stash. Or maybe I've been too generous - no, that's not it, there is a principle, you reap and you sow. No seeds, no reaping.

So - as we slide toward November, I'm thinking - what will happen next year? We don't know. I hope it brings more strength because I don't think it will bring more peace.

Well, moving on - I have to have about 15 pictures to enter jurying for acceptance into a really cool gallery on the best street in town! I'm so excited. Have moved mostly to charcoals lately...

need to paint, if I could get everything done, I would, start. Time counts down.

Whirlwind

Guido and I went walking the other day - I had to take some time for solitude and getting to nature before losing it. There has been much going on - and I've been all over the map, literally and figuratively!

First a report, as it comes to my ears and eyes through various sources: The oil lies deep under the water, the dispersants keep it pushed down - and the story is that BP thinks out of sight, out of mind, and that might be partially true. However, a lot of us fear swimming in the Gulf now, not sure of what the effects might be on our bodies now and years down the road. The gulls still hold their vigils of looking out to sea even though they are back from where ever they went before the disaster.

"H" is getting news of some of the employees getting their checks for the loss of wages they've experienced, so he has decided he is going to file his - I pray we get reimbursed - we need it!

Right before I was to go to Landmark Forum in Orlando, we had a plumbing problem and since it was on the other side of the house, I didn't find it until two and one half rooms plus a hallway were flooded. I worked 24/7 trying to clean it up with a borrowed "wet vac", and couldn't so had to call a recovery company and our insurance company. Furniture is ruined - sheetrock - vinyl, baseboards - so I left for Orlando while the drying machines were on, and then when I came back, started in on the paperwork, and putting things back where they were. We will replace damaged furniture when the insurance check comes minus a huge deductible.

The Forum was fabulous, far more than its website indicates. A friend who went through it insisted I go, and I finally did. It is truly life changing and I hope I can complete all the series (3). Anyone experience a dozen train tracks of thoughts running through their heads? Can you imagine being free of them? Yep. It works. The forum facilitates in three long (13 hour) days and one evening, a freedom and improvement in relationship that one can't imagine unless experiencing it. And that's just the first in the series.

But anyway, back home, and planning an event - Paint the World with Hope and Healing, which I need 30 participants. I have five - and I'm shaking in my boots, I admit. Also found a gallery I want my art in and it will take a miracle to get in, I'm pretty much accepted, but the space comes at a small price, but with my current income a small price is a big one. Right on main street - and window exposure, shows - I want in before the Christmas season.

In the meantime, my mother in Wyoming goes into the hospital with several pulmonary emobli, and suspected pneumonia. We believe she had a reaction from a flu shot which may have saved her life as they found the clots. But she seems to be doing well and I don't have to run out there.

Then a dear friend, Hattigrace's husband passed away - you can find her on Facebook - she has posted her journey of grief. We were all shocked, even though Tim had experienced a stroke we had no idea he was fading as he was. He was just over here at noon time the day he passed away. He went home after running errands and went to bed and when Hattigrace got home from work she found him.

In fact, I stayed with Tim's daughter in Orlando. She's a beautiful strong amazing generous woman.

So many people have lost loved ones recently - its just been a very strange time.

That sort of catches me up - I need to visit you all - and need to start painting again, and to make the Event work - I have a speaker coming from Wyoming - it will be so much fun - will be a morning where she talks on "The Artistry of God"(an environmental theme - she is author of "Green your Church") - and we do sketches while she speaks and then in the afternoon the participants will create a painting, with assistance if needed, and in the evening their will be an art show for the participants and also guest artists. Again, I'm excited, but scared. Having fun networking out in the community and found the fabulous gallery in which I would love to share my own work continually.

But....more later. I want to visit ya'll before I let the cats in and have to do animal duty and before "H" gets up.

Soooo Busy or Not

Yep, that's how I feel. An old self portrait, but lying on the floor - that's me. Fighting a flu bug. Half in and half out of the art mode.

Used to disdain Facebook as a frou frou program, and truly I miss the richness, the more personable, more arty, more - - - blogspot! Blogspot is just deeper and you don't have to worry about Uncle Judge Your Stuff giving you a hard time. Most of the time anyway, a few have leaked through though, right?

I don't where my time has gone - I have practically quit farming (Farmtown) - and have been on a short painting hiatus (darn!) - my house is dirty, still cluttered -

Going to Orlando week after next to a week long seminar - which I hope will break me through to being able to bring in a fairly steady income from art - I have ideas - but fear often finds me not working them....the ideas, that is.........my water/health product business leaves much to be desired, haha, like sales! The products fabulous, the getting them out there makes me cringe - why have to push something that is marvelous, is good for health and in the case of water, saves the environment? Besides, now they are finding that some of the bottled waters are even worse than the tap water! Most of the stuff we buy is heralded by a bunch of bunk, and I have something tried and true and the money part isn't working, so my thoughts are, don't keep working on something that isn't working, right? My heart is to paint! I will keep the water and health business, but only as a side for our use, and if someone needs help along the way, then we can share. So a time of new discovery is underway.

On a sad note - my blog pal, Hattigrace, in fact she got me started on blogspot, lost her husband last Wednesday - it seems like weeks ago, yet not - he was over at noon getting water and ran some errands, went home and went to bed and she found him when she got home from work. A huge shock and he will be terribly missed. He was a kind, supportive kind of person. He had suffered poor health for 15 years since he had a stroke, but he was always "there" ya know? He'll be missed. Funeral is tomorrow - I am hoping I feel better, don't want to carry any germs!

My Zoo

Never thought I would see them watch a dog eat THEIR food, though they surely feel that they are entitled to his food- they are alpha cats.

This is Manuel Guardo Montoya. He sings to you from his throat. Totally different than a growl, he does that too! He is too sweet.

Guido Romeo Basseto and Big Mama aka Big Meowie. Now, if Psycho darling will accept Guido we're in!

Sometimes we add my granddaughter's Weezy, a chihuahua and yorkie mix to our zoo mix.

Had a great Labor Day - oldest daughter came over (youngest just got off of night shift) and we went to a Tiki Bar and beautiful pool to hang out and renew our tans. Youngest grandson went with us, found people to play ball with and he had a ball - we people watched, the band came on motorcycles with their instruments - if he hadn't had to go home, we would have stayed till the sun went down.

Does Canada celebrate Labor Day?

Tetons

The indoor mountain restaurant and the outdoor mountain restaurant!

Grandson's first Chuckwagon lunch!

Hmmm - how much is the rent? I want to stay. In the summer, that is!

Finally - our cabin room!

Quaking Aspen - - beautiful white barked trees with tiny green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in the fall, and when the breezes blow they shimmer like a thousand sequins....

The sky in Wyoming is deep, so deep and so blue and so clear (usually).

"For purple mountain majesty............"

"Above the fruited plains............"

August 25, 2010 Sunset - on the Water in Florida

My daughter called tonight and said she had some of Rod's things she thought I would want. On my way over, I passed this point where I stopped for a picture. It was poignant, as the first time Rod saw this body of water, he was awestruck. And, I'm thinking - oh no, I thought I was over it after 21 years and here comes fall again. Then when I stopped at her house, my youngest grandson was acting much like Rod when he was upset and my heart and mind, for a moment, broke.

No, one can't run away from life, nor can one avoid the pain. The only way for both is to go through it. And keep going through it until one comes out on the other side. I am trying hard tonight to be in a vibrant and passionate state of being, but it is muted for another day's try.

Yellowstone

Finally back, a few days to re-enter, nap, be patient while waiting for energy refuel. Flying 4,000 miles and driving a total of 2,500 miles. It was a blast. Youngest grandson a completely wonderful travel companion. My energy was good, though my back was giving me fits.

Decided this was going to be a "Heritage Trip" - my grandmother left Missouri at age 5 in a covered wagon and they ended up settling in Snake River, Wyoming, eventually landing in Rawlins for the remainder of her life. We all went in and out of Rawlins - and also lived in Casper. High Country, even the dessert - thin air, and before this last boom, the sound of silence reigned along with hawks, eagles, herds of antelope and deer, and in the north, elk, bear, and bison. The horizon lasts forever, the sky is a deep shade of blue with huge clouds and the depth looks like you can get lost in it as you gaze up with feet planted firmly on earth.

All the grandkids need to see the land and remember before the pine beetles (allowed to eat on the pines all winter as well as summer because global warming does not allow a long enough cold season to kill) take all the forests. Before man encroaches so far, the wildlife fades away forever. This trip back, I noticed the herds of antelope and deer were nowhere to be seen - a few strays here and there - not many. One lone, tired looking bison (buffalo) wandered across the ground by Old Faithful as if to herald the triumph that the geyser would indeed blow, even if he (the buffalo) never made another season.

Yet, there was a bittersweet pride - this land is my land!

We ran into a rainstorm heading into the Tetons - jawbreaker sized hail pounded the car and the biggest raindrops we'd ever seen. The Tetons loomed in the back of us with their majesty and snow covered peaks - a song burst out on the radio making me cry, "I see my reflection in the snow covered mountains......" The pounding of rain and hail on the sagebrush acted as a pestle against a mortar to make the most exquisite of perfumes!

So next post - perhaps the Tetons - or the Hot Springs in Thermopolis - or the Wind River Canyon where one can see the Cambrian and Pre-cambrian era rock, across the Wind River Indian Reservation - the Buttes -