Approaching Glory

Painting Bunnies

I have a friend who loves bunnies.  I am getting NO WHERE in my attempts to watercolor a bunny.  My poor creatures look like something out of a monster movie nightmare.  Okay - they don't really look that horrible - but they do come close - lol!

Background music:  Perry Como - Merry Christmas to You

Son had day off and you think we would have whisked through the house.  But we didn't.  I did get some presents finished.  The attempt at painting bunnies was made.  Some laundry was tossed in and a crockpot full of sausages and pork with BBQ sauce was started.

Tonight is J's staff party at the YMCA.  Hubby is working until 9 or there abouts.  I'm planning on working on some more bunnies and maybe whip up a batch of my Mom's cookies to take to art class with me - or maybe those mincemeat cookies - yum!

Or maybe I'll just collapse on the couch, watch a movie, and knit some more on the replacement shawl.

Did hear today that they will be filming "The Hobbit" soon?  The first segment due out in 2009.  It will be a two-parter.  I'm looking forward to that and the next in the series of the Narnia stories.

My Birthday - An Auspicious Day

Hear ye - hear ye!  It's my birthday and I'll do what I want to....

That means that I got Jbird off to work.  My friend, Judy, had offered to take me out for lunch.  I got to looking at the disaster of a kitchen and dug in.  I just was beginning to see the counter once again when it was time for her to arrive.  When she got in the house I asked her if she wouldn't mind if I made her lunch and that way I could talk, clean, and enjoy her company far more than if I had be in a restaurant.  And so that's what I did.

I cut some inch plus thick pork cutlets in half and pan seared them.  Then I put in some yellow rice in the same pan to cook.  I took out the big carrots I had in the frig and biased sliced them.  I threw them in a pan with a tad of water and some maple syrup.  Then I whipped up a batch of big pumpkin muffins for dessert.

Whilst all that was cooking, we chatted and I cleaned up the rest of the stuff.  Then we sat amidst the clutter of my living room and ate the muffins.  We picked Jbird up from work and then I worked on some online games. 

When Hubby got home he brought a cheesecake.  He also got me a bunch of mangos!  I love mangos.  Jbird went in his room and came out with a birthday gift.  I told him he had already blessed me with the art supplies he had bought me.  "Well Mom - I thought you needed this."  And there was Tom Selleck.  The boy knows me!  So we all got a slice of cheesecake and headed down to watch a Magnum.  Life is good.

Today Was THE Day

I bet you thought that meant - clean the house, put up the decorations and the tree - didn't you?  Well...you're wrong!  It means the day to do a bunch of Christmas shopping.  Woke up Jbird early and off we headed to IHOP.  One must fortify for Christmas shopping.

After breakfast we headed to Hobby Lobby where I purchased a bunch of unmentionable things (one never knows who may be skulking around these parts).  Let's just say I met a nice lady who helped me make some decisions  - have you ever noticed that the Lord sends people around you to help you decide about colors et all?  I always asked the people around me in stores for their opinions. Try it some time - people are always pleasantly surprised to be included in your decisions.

Anyway, after being blessed there, we drove to the Barnes and Noble (one of my favorite places).  Oh - and BTW - I'm listening to Pandora while I'm typing.  Thank you Clarence for letting me know about this awesome site.  I can listen to holiday music with NO commercials all the while I'm on the computer.  Cool beans!

Okay - now back to B&N - where I got a Eggnog Latte.  Sonny boy pointed out some of the things he wanted.  I'm surprised he is still interested in some of the stuff he suggested - but pleasantly so.  It means he is still reading.

Then we went IN the mall.  People I am SO badly out of shape - it isn't even funny.  We spent like forever going from store to store and finding zippo that we wanted.  So we headed over to Besty Buy where we found we wanted everything - lol!  Got some helpful advice and made some purchases.

Then back to Gainesville to go to a toy store where they had what the Mall didn't. Over to Target where we got the coupons that some people wanted for gifts.  And then to Blockbuster's to get a movie with our coupon.

Finally - home where we popped in the movie, wrapped the gifts that Hubby needs, put some food on, and then knitted on the replacement gift for the one I ruined last week.

Oh - lest I forget - house not cleaned, tree not up, and not a decoration in sight.

A Day to Treasure

There are days that go into a special category and today was one of those.  We woke up to brisk, below thirty temp.  Just before we left, I broke the back of one of my earrings.  I told Hubby just stop at one of the pharmacys and I'd pick up a pair of cheap holiday earrings.  Sure I would.  We drove to three different places and - nothing!  UGH!  I ended up in the Dollar Zone - I kid you not.  I found a card of cheapies for two dollars.  Whatever.

Our friends, S and T, were treating Hubby and me, and our other two friends, J and M, to a trip to Black Bear Dinner Theatre.  I didn't even know there was such an animal around here.  We originally thought it was for an evening show - but later discovered that on Sundays they do a matinee performance.  So we all arrived at S and T's house around noon thirty and took off together for the theatre.

Now - there are not enough words to describe the wonderful time I had.  The theatre is lovely and I kept thinking that the curtains would open and out would walk Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby singing, "White Christmas."  The food was delicious and the service was super.  The performance was "Christmas Memories" and a medley of old Christmas favorites to which the cast sang and danced.  I was very impressed with the quality of the talent.  We laughed (I cried at some memories) and had a fine time together.  During intermission they served dessert.  The second half of the show was focused on the reason for the season (Jesus).  The message and the songs were tastefully handled.

As were leaving, the Lord provided some scattered snow flakes.  Then we all headed over to T and S's where we were treated to them performing a mime.  It showed the message of the gospel and ended with them serving us communion.  Does Kleenes mean anything?  It was awesome.  We all then stuffed ourselved with T's cookies.  And T and S treated us with gifts.  All in all - it was a day to treasure for always.  Many thanks to T and S.

Graduating From Berry

Berry College is one of the prettiest campuses I've ever seen. It is located in Rome, Georgia which is northwest of Atlanta.  Today my husband's family all gathered there to celebrate my nephew, Adam's graduating.  All of my husband's sisters were there.  My MIL and FIL were there and so was my Hubby's grandmother who is 95 year young.  There were also various nieces, nephews, and BILs present.  Let's just say that my nephew was well represented.

Most of the family who had to drive a distance, or had to fly in, arrived on Friday.  The rest of us drove up to be at the family buffet.  My MIL had picked out a cabin on campus for us to stay at.  It actually was a very nice lodging for those who are visiting the campus.  The deer at Berry are legendary and they were out en masse.  They lay in the fields and walk up quite near to the cottages and campus buildings.

After weeks of glorious warm weather, it turned very cold and rained.  The same front that was giving us rain was giving Ohio snow.  My one SIL and her crew had to leave early in order to beat the worst of the storm.

The graduation took place in a gym that was constructed in 1930.  The college will be opening up a new recreation site in January which will hold all future graduation ceremonies.  Trust me - considering the conditions - everyone in attendance cheered.  It got so hot in there that I took a couple walk abouts in the cold rain for relief.

After the ceremony, we all headed back to the cottage where we sat and chatted.  Then considering our schedule and a call from our friend here in Gainesville saying the weather was getting nasty there, we decided to go home instead of spending the night at the cottage.

We all went out like the lights when our heads hit the pillow.

Formally Yours

Tonight was the Christmas Formal at CFAF.  Let's just say that my kid was super excited.  I wasn't allowed to include the girl who is standing next to him in this picture - "Mom - please promise me you won't post her on the Net!"  So - I am, if anything, obedient.  However - FYI - she looked lovely.

Jbird had also asked his buddy S who just got hired at the Y as a lifeguard.  S and Jbird used to swim together on the swim team.  S is now over 6'3" tall.  Jbird and he look like Mutt and Jeff.  After a little coaxing, John and Jbird got S out on the dance floor.  Let me tell you - my son loves to dance.  He even got to dance with my friend R who was there to pick up her daughter Miriam.  He had a great time.

The huge platter (and I do mean HUGE) of crescent roll/sausage weenies was gobbled right up and so was the platter of crescent pinwheels.  The pinwheels were easy to make and I loved them.  I liked mild salsa but I do think a medium or hot would be a hit. (just not with me).

I thought I would have a night to rest a little.  I did know that I needed to pack for tomorrow's big day BUT - I found out that I needed to bring goodies to that event!  Ummm....  I told Hubby to bring me some more crescent rolls home. Let's just say, I was cooking into the midnight hours.

Being Your Own Hairdresser

All of my friends go to hairdressers/beauty salons.  Trust me - if it were in the budget - I would too.  But it's been a luxury that I really haven't had a problem not worrying about.  Why?  Cause I've cut my own hair for years.

When I taught school I had my hair short and curly.  That meant I had to have it permed and cut pretty regularly.  Well - that was until I got tired of paying for it (and when I quit working had the money) and began doing it myself.  There were some mishaps along the way.  A perm that was too tight - a haircut that made you grateful that hair grows.

And then life threw a couple of more sticks into the hair fire - my hair began thinning and turning gray/silver.  Neither of these new sticks were met with joy.  The thinning solution has escaped me (although I did wonder about extensions) but the solution to the color was easy - dye.  And dye I did/have/will.  For those of you not familiar with the field of dyeing - let me tell you  - it is a jungle out there.  My hair is naturally very dark brown - sounds easy enough.  However, let me tell you there are a myriad of colors out there from which to choose.  I've had some pretty interesting results in the dye arena.  Does raven black mean anything?  And how about when you decided that some auburn might look nice and you end up looking like you are getting ready for a rock concert with red hair?  Yeah - right.

This leads me to my current status - I have some HUGE events coming up this weekend.  Pictures will be taken.  I will see people that I haven't seen in over ten years - it is bad enough that I am twice the person I used to be - my hair doesn't need to look like I'm trying to immitate a skunk!

Last week I bought a package of dye.  Now, one needs a good forty minutes of uninterrupted time to dye one's hair.  Trust me - I know this to be true from experience.  And also I know that I could pick any hour of the day or night to perform this task and I would get interrupted.  It's a given.  But last week I foiled the Dye Gremlins before they got me.  I put bottle number three into bottle number one.  Right.  This is NOT a good thing.  I didn't even hesitate - I just threw it all in the garbage.

Now I entertained going to a hairdresser.  I had visions of going in and asking for one of those fancy shmancy dye jobs where your hair looks tastefully sun-streaked.  In my daydream - I was looking good.  You know - it would be nice to have one of those deliciously obscene hairdos which look like your hair is tossled and in reality you paid and arm and a leg for it to look that way.  One major problem - there is NO time in the schedule for this to happen.  So I marched back to the store and picked up another dye kit.

Which brings us to today.  Jbird still asleep - check.  Hubby off to work - check.  Dog and cat asleep - check.  No one in their right mind will call at this time - check.  Get old towel. Assemble needed materials.  Think of someone wearing as little as possible so that she doesn't get dye on clothing and she don't have to figure out a way to get the tshirt over her head so she can rinse her hair in the shower.  (think real genius at work here) Snap on those plastic gloves and pour bottle number two into bottle number one.  Apply to hair.

And the Dye Gremlins find me.  You know how a professional stylist puts vaseline on your ears, forehead,  and neckline?  Well - there's a reason for that.  And I know this - but did I do it?  No. As I was trying to get cold water on the towel (so I could mop up the black/brown dye off my neck) a drop went near my eye.  Now DON"T picture a blind woman in pain grabbing for towel, knocking bottle, grabbing bottle, tears running down face, and dye cutting a trail to her chest.  I said don't - cause it was NOT a pretty sight - let me tell you.  Body artwork was NOT the objective here. 

Need I say more - I think not.  I see a beauty salon in my future.  Being your own hairdresser ranks up there with plucking eyebrows.

Tree not up - house not cleaned - decorations not up.

 

Blessed Surprises

Sometimes God just does something totally unexpected.  And that is exactly what happened to me last Thursday.  Yes - I'm doing the backward ketchup posting again!

Most of us in my Thursday art class are working with oils.  We do have one lone ranger who works in acrylics.  She does beautiful work in them too.  Our teacher prefers to work in acrylics as well.  He says he doesn't have the patience to work in oils and acrylics dry fast.  (which is true considering it takes an oil painting six months to dry before you apply varnish)

Every week Chris does a small demonstration for us to introduce us to new art products, tools, or to give us some technique tips.  The class enjoys them and we've all learned alot.  Last Thursday, Chris brought in some of the plein air paintings (fancy way of saying outdoor painting) that he had done in watercolors while in Europe.  First let me say that Chris is an architect and his ability to draw buildings in perspective is awesome.  He had a the tiniest little watercolor kit I've ever seen (easily packed).  He said he would stop and quickly sketch the building in pencil, and then go over the drawing in waterproof marker.  Then we would whip out his paints and finish the painting.  Let's say that these were good enough to either make postcards or put in a book - seriously!   Anyway - we all "ooh-ed and ahhed" over his beautiful pictures. 

I was holding one of his pictures when it hit me like a ton of bricks.  The technique he used was what I had used in high school!  When I decided to try and paint again I had immediately thought of watercolors - that's where I had had my success years ago.  However, when I bought the watercolors and paper - I couldn't remember how to go about doing what I had done before.  I even went out and bought a couple of books on the subject  - nothing helped.  And that is why I decided to try oils.

But while seeing Chris's work, the light bulb went off!  I got SO excited.  I came home and rattled off a picture that I can't show you (cause Santa's on the way), the picture of the barn on my Christmas page, another one I can't show you (teasing you here), and last night I did the one that you see on this post - btw you can enlarge it for a better look by clicking on the pic.  Not only did I remember the techniques,  I also had the realization that I had learned so much about color through oils in the past year. I had Pandora serenading me in the background and I was one happy camper.  Pandora by the way plays an awesome list of holiday music with Bing, Sinatra, et al with NO interruptions - for free).

There is something about this picture that blesses me.  Hubby says it looks like an angel - so did Chris.  It is really a fisherman throwing out the net.  All I can think of when I look at it is - what have you caught lately? 

Which reminds me of something that happened the other day in Wally World.  (Walmart) I was going down the aisle and this elderly lady was coming toward me.  She was obviously shopping for herself.  There wasn't much in the cart.  But she was dressed nicely.  Her white curly hair was coiffed, and she had on a winter dressy cardigan sweater with a fur collar.  And I hesitated.... and then I took the plunge.  I walked up to her and told her how pretty she was in her outfit and so ready for the holidays.   She looked startled at first  - and then - she then she blessed me with a girlish smile.

I went fishing and I caught a smile - and it blessed me.  What have you caught lately?

I Lost the Elephant in the House!

Okay - so I didn't REALLY lose an elephant in my house - but it was almost, sorta like that!  I lost the vacuum!

Now this leads one to:

• wonder how can one misplace a vacuum
• consider why I don't have a place where the vacuum stays ready to do it's job
• marveling over what the house must look like in order to hide a vacuum!

Okay - that last thought was rather ugly - and so is the condition of my house right now.  Being that as it may,  I looked all over for the vacuum.  I figured one of the guys had it stashed some where and asked J where it was..... ummm.... he didn't know.  Hubby wasn't home so I couldn't ask him.  Hmmm.... perhaps one of the guys put it out on the back porch?  Nope.  Uh.... did I vacuum something in one of the cars and forget to bring it back inside?  One trip downstairs and around the side of the house produced - nothing.

After three trips up and down the stairs, the thought arose that God didn't intend for me to vacuum.  A thought which I heartily embraced.  Much later in the day, I decided to go elephant vacuum hunting one more time.  Unfortunately, I discovered the hiding beast - behind the door in a room in which we have "stuff".

The other happenings of the day:

Jbird driven to and fro: to work and to karate.  I did some actual Christmas shopping - online.  Hopefully, it will all get here in time for the holiday, and also I hope that I will remember to hide printed out orders.  Tree not up, house not cleaned .....

And finally - but definitely not least - after working several days (and I do mean several) on a knitted holiday gift for someone, I was defeated by the Knitting Monster.  The Knitting Monster caused me to drop several stitches.  The KM then brought to my attention that not only had I dropped a couple of stitches, but I had also royally messed up the lace pattern several rows back.  When you are knitting lace this means you will tink back a stitch at a time until you get back to the place where you messed up. (that is unless you were highly intelligent and put in a lifeline)   Does 2-3  hours of tinking mean anything to anyone?  Like I have that time right now.  So the KM then caused me to do the unthinkable - I took the stitches off the needles thinking I could thread the stitches back on faster than tinking.  Does - THIS DID NOT WORK AND DON"T EVER EVER DO THIS - mean anything to anyone?  I know better than this - really I do.  I took one look at the mess and stuck it in a plastic bag to be dealt with sometime in the far future.  I was over half way done.  Really.  I wanted someone to find an elephant so it could sit on me.

Moral of the story:  keep elephants away from highly holiday stressed woman

Because He Loves Me

Hubby took today off from the day teaching job to help me.  Son had to be at work bright and early so I saw a day of "working together" for the family good (like if we don't do this we will not have the house cleaned and decorated by Christmas).  So - I started with the inside and Hubby went outside.  He put bandaids and gloves over the blisters he got this past weekend from leaf duty, and tackled the bushes.  And I do mean tackled.  Those puppies were way overgrown and super thick.  Let's just say they've needed a haircut for quite awhile.

So while working on the bushes and hauling off the clippings, his phone rings and his bud wants him to go out to lunch.  Now Hubby is a man who works two jobs for his family and does so without grumbling - who am I to say "no"?  I tell him to get washed up and have a good time.

He gets home from an extended lunch hour and then has to pick up J from work.  Then he has to do some school paperwork.  He glances at the clock and realizes he has to get ready for his night time teaching job.  Remember, I'm told - I need a crockpot of vegetable soup for tomorrow's administration party.  Right.  Cute.

Jbird reminds me that tonight he has a staff meeting.  Sure. No. Problem.  Stop at store and pick up ingredients.  Tell self - do NOT panic -  we've always made it by Christmas - always.....

Tree not up - house not cleaned - no decorations up.  It's beginning to sound like a mantra....