One Year Anniversary

Can that be right??? Can we really have been back living at Lakeshore for one year today??? WOW!!! This one sure went by fast! Not to mention tomorrow is the last day in the second month of this year!! Holy Smoke!!
Yesterday was a very good day,[of course it was a Saturday, my fave.]
Wy and I started off at Mimi's for breakfast,the last one we will get to have with John and Jeanette before they leave on their big adventure.[I work next week, which is their actual last one.]
At 3:00 p. m. Pat came and we went to book club at Dana's. The food was wonderful and the company and conversation were lively. What a nice break from routine, home at 8:00p.m. fat and happy!!! Thank You Dana and everyone else for such a nice time!!!
I am really looking forward to getting to visit with Woody and Mary Ellen some this week. They couldn't"t have picked a better week to be in Fl, as far as weather is concerned ,and I have really missed them!!
What a beautiful day Sunday has started off to be !!! I sure hope it turns out to be a good one for all....

Hard at Work

We had a working day yesterday, out early, while it was not windy, and picked up many, many, many, sticks and limbs, and had a good fire. Finished at noon and at 2:30 p. m. I was at P.W.A.T. to do some prepainting. I got home at 6:40 and Wy and J had made dinner.Thank You ! Thank You! for the lovely dinner and company, I really enjoyed that.
I was able to get two Paintings prepainted for the beginning of a very busy month coming up. I am doing five Thursdays, one Friday and three Saturdays next month.(not that I am complaining, I am Happy to be so busy, doing what I love, and would be doing anyway...)
We had 84 degrees yesterday and it was perfect, Thank You!!! I am just thinking about all the people still having snow(Jenn and Andy)and lots more, I hope for you all ,that Spring arrives very soon!!!!

Party

 We had a wonderful time yesterday, getting to see so many old friends and eating so much great food. Just the look on Mike"s face was well worth being there!!!! He truly was surprised! The weather cooperated ,so it was 80 degrees and sunny with a slight wind to keep us cool. Thank You!! Thank You!!
Saturday night at work went very well and we had a great time. Many good paintings were done and the new budding artists seemed happy to have taken part...I am so lucky to be a part of this!!!
It sounds like Jenn had a very good but tiring weekend working with an artist named Linda, helping get a mural painted, and the salon decorated ready for their opening day today!!
Today is a holiday for most of us and I have no idea what we will get up to, but we will have more great weather to do it in!!!!! Thank You!! Thank You!!

A Day At the Track

WOW!! What a beautiful day we spent yesterday at the horse track. I was very excited to see  Marsha and Tanya, and it has been way too long!!  Linda and I met them at noon and we stayed through 8 races. The weather was fine, sunny and 78, the atmosphere of excitement was a lot of fun...It's a whole different world out there, and it makes you forget about you stuff and just enjoy the world around you!!!!At four we left and went to eat at Ballyhoo?? Great food and company and a good time was had by all.Marsha and Tanya could not have picked a prettier week to be in Florida,coming from upper Indiana and the freezing cold and snow!!!
It's Thursday and back to reality, but it sure was nice to have that break,since we did not make it to see John and Jeanette at Bok Tower on Tuesday...

I am very excited for Jenn to get to assist the artist with the mural at the Seattle salon this week !! Please be sure to get pictures and remember to just go for it and don't worry about a thing it will be great fun!!! I am so happy for you!!!

A Good Day

Yesterday was a good day and I feel like I got a lot accomplished.  I was out early and over to spend a little time with my mom.. We had a nice visit, then it was home to get some stuff done. I worked on getting the back porch looking better and was able to get fresh dirt on all the new plants Susan gave me and even got some of them repotted,then arranged on the deck to dress the area up nicely...Thank You Thank You!!
It was a very nice sunny day, just cool enough so that I could be comfortable working outside. YEAH!!!!
I am really looking forward to spring and that gave me a good taste of it!!!
You can not tell from these pictures but the plants are great. Thanks again Susan!!
Today has started at 38 degrees but is expected to be in the 70's, more chores to do today so I had better get started. Y'all have a good one!!!

The warm up begins

We are starting at 39 degrees this A. M. BRR!!! But things are going to warm up, starting with a 66 today and by Friday maybe 80.WOW!! It was said that most of the country is going to have a warm up and that will be a much needed break for all concerned.
We had a very busy weekend but all good, Thank You , Thank You!!!!
Today and tomorrow are for catching up on chores and then hopefully we will get to go to Bok Tower, and visit John and Jeanette for the day, on Tuesday.We shall see!! I may be able to do some sketching there and that would give me a whole new perspective. A refreshing change of scenery! {Not that the one I have is bad}, But change is good, Right????
We had a great time at Amy and Eric's last night ! It was wonderful to get to see everyone and the food was yummy and festivities were lively and fun..A great time was had by all. Thank You! Thank You!!!

Oh! and Friday night went pretty well at P.W.A.T., we had 28 people, almost a full house and that's a lot  of new budding artists all on the loose.Pictures to follow.. oops not exactly following!! Oh Well!!!
When are Y'all going to take part??? Anyway I am off to start  my day !

called in

It was 5:15 and I had just poured my first Jim Beam and seven and taken a swallow, when the phone rang and the boss ask if I could assist at six p.m. I made a mad dash at getting dressed and on the road and signed in at exactly six.. W-O-W  !!! There were 19 people to paint Van Gogh's" Starry Night" and  it was a good group that seemed to have lots of fun..Thank you Thank you !! for my getting to be there to help. John was the teacher and this is his last month of work, he is moving...and will be missed.

I am so grateful to be able to assist and get to see how other teachers do this job. I am learning so much from them.. I  also submitted another painting for consideration, of the Tampa Skyline, so we shall see.. Anyway on with a very busy day and a big night tonight. I hope all are well...

Raining again!!

Oh well, at least it is not snowing or cold. Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity, but in a good way and all got finished in good time.Wy and I were out early and got a few chores done When we got back I did dinner preparations for a birthday dinner for Amy and Eric. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!!
I then began to paint my first original painting to be submitted to the board at P.W.A.T.  It is one of Tampa U. looking from there, to the east to downtown. It had to be finished and delivered on Internet by 4:00 p.m. to make it onto the March calendar.There were of course problems so I don't know if it will, but it was fun and turned out pretty well!!! I am pleased!!!
We went on to have a wonderful dinner and the evening went well. Thank You! Thank You!!
Marsha called to say that she and her sister Tanya will be arriving in Florida On Saturday and staying at the beach for a week.. I hope to get to see them while they are here...
My Friday class, painting Monet's Waterlilies, is filling up fast and that is exciting for me. This will be my first big class and they seem to be the most fun. The more people, the more lively the action....I truly can't wait!!!
Hope your day goes well!!!

Wednesday

The days are flying fast and  furious, here we are to midweek again,it's 42 degrees outside, but we are supposed to have a pretty, sunny day. I got the crock pot full of turkey noodle soup yesterday, to prepare for that cold snap, and man was it yummy!!!
Today is a day of celebration of both Amy and Eric's birthdays and they are coming for dinner.I am so looking forward to putting on a spread,since very little cooking has been done with me trying to get used to a new working schedule, this will be fun. What to make??? We shall see!!
We checked on Jenn after her having all four wisdom teeth pulled last Friday morning and finally yesterday she started to sound a bit better.Thank You ,Thank You!! I know she will be glad that's finished.
I hope to paint later today,I have almost completed the Tampa skyline painting and hope to work on the Tampa U. painting next. We shall see how the day goes .
Hope y'all have a good one!!!!

Monday Morning

Good morning all, I had a great weekend, and hope you all did the same! My Friday night class were a great group of gals and we had so much fun with the" Stroll In The Night" painting, even finishing a little early but with great success..Thank You all for coming and making it so much fun!!!!
Yesterday was Amy's birthday and we met at Ella's for a yummy soul food brunch!! I had fried chicken and waffles and sangria,and was waffle happy!!!
Today we are having a craft day at my house and I am so looking forward to that.(It has been way to long since we have done this)Maybe I will get back to the small Tampa skyline painting I started last week.
We both ended last week and have started this week with it raining, but we have been so dry here that I am Thankful to see it...

Friday, again!!!

Here we are back to Friday again. Time is flying.Where is it going, and what is the big hurry??
I have worked two days this week already and will doing so twice on Saturday too.{Pretty good to get to go to my happy place!!}that many times in one week..
My cell phone died yesterday, after five plus years of service,and Wy and I were at the phone store to replace it early yesterday. We got almost the same version, but this one has a camera added .Who knew??
I started a small painting of the Tampa skyline and still have much work to do on it, but it is coming along. I also left my portfolio with Mr. Gay to show to his wife for ideas for future paintings of local landmarks at P.W.A.T.
I put on a pot of chicken and dumplings early yesterday and had invited Amy over for dinner,and then I was called to work so Amy, Wy, and Jalyn had dinner together.I got home about 10:30, had a bowl of ice cream {which should surprise no one} and than headed for bed.

Let us see what this Friday will bring! hope yours is a good one!!
This is the painting I am doing Saturday night!!!

February and Fabulous

 WOW!! What a way to start a month. We are starting off this A.M. at 60 degrees and going to 77 degrees . Thank You !Thank You ! for such beautiful weather!!
 Yesterday Wy and I were up and out early, the winds were down,so we decided to get out and pick up limbs and do a bonfire. I am so glad we did , the yard sure looks better, We got a good bit of exercise and the weather was so nice it made it such a pleasure to work out side in Florida, What a place to be this February!! ONCE AGAIN I LIVE UNDER A LUCKY STAR!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Everyone else in the country is having the worst storm so far this winter.What is that all about???