Oklahoma Outing

Gary & I went to OK on wed just to get away for a few hours. Hit a few antique storesand this is what i found~for less than $20. That is about all i've been up to the last few wks.Haven't done any art-been focusing on me-feeling better now and hope to create again soon!

New Art

Thought i would post the finished product from class last weekend. had to go outside to

take the picture but imagine it w/out the shadow and IN a box...

Another Road Trip

This time i went to Austin fri after work. Made it to an antique mall i had been told about-only got to spend 40 min in there before they closed, but got some photos, lace and an old garden faucet. Drove around a bit-went to 1/2 price books-the old store is gone and a new one took it's place-not nearly the character of the old one.
The reason i was in austin was to take a class with Stephanie Rubiano
Class was wonderful-lunch was served and it was wonderful too-will post what i made once it's finished. We worked on shadow boxes like she makes and it was a great relaxing creative day! Enjoyed the company of the other women in the class with me.
Managed to run by Uncommon Objects before i left town-a funky antique store on south congress-a bit pricey but cool stuff!

ROAD TRIP

On Fri Feb 9th i hit the road around 9:30 for Fredricksburg to meet up with 5 other friends for a wkend of art, laughs, farts and fun...We all met up at The Brewery and ate as we got there. After some catching up, we headed to our B & B outside of town. "Deep in the Heart" was where we stayed. (had the whole house to ourselves) It was nice-we had heated floors in the room we hung out in and the upstairs bathroom. It was really cold all wkend, so those were nice.

Here is a picture of the other "girls" on our last morning. Mary, Melissa, Stacia, Chris and Shannon~

We made crowns, ate, worked on a beaded bracelet, ate, knitted, ate-went into town for a bit~ate. (and did other projects too) The best laugh we got was from the fart machine. (yes I brought it) took it into town and used it at the restaurant at dinner-i wish i could have seen the look on the couple's faces when i set it off twice as i passed by on the way out-i heard their heads turned in unison...

Went to a cool cemetery on sunday-an old german one-had a few statues and some cool metal boxes they used to keep wreaths in.

won't post the whole weekend itinerary here-just suffice it to say we had a great time!

From the mouths of Babes...

Last sunday (jan 21) gary and i went w/my sis and her boys to eat dinner. She told us that she had gone to Joann's and while there, filled out a paper to enter a contest. Little did she know that patrick pulled the paper out of the bowl to read it-then yelled-in his loudest voice "HEY TRAV, MOM'S NOT 26, SHE'S 40!!!!!" she said the whole store probably heard him. We still maintain that she is 26 and i am 29...

While on the drive to dinner, i decided to pretend to start getting carsick. i sat in back (usually up front w/her) anyway, started acting like i was getting sick-patrick, the youngest who was next to me, scooted way over by travis. He asked suzanne "how much longer til we get to the restaurant" she and gary said about 7 min. "well, you may have to pull over" He told her to roll down the window-she rolled travis' down and he said "the OTHER window-all the way" i told him i would put it down if the need arose. At one point i heard him say "hey trav, want to change seats" finally acted like i was throwing up towards them (travis bought into this act too) patrick scrunched closer to travis.
then I laughed-and patrick looks at me and says "you are the worst grandma"
i couldn't stop laughing then-neither could suzanne or gary. my stomach hurt. i told him i was an aunt, not his grandma-he said "what-ever"

ROCK & ROLL!

Friday i happened to mention to Gary that "i guess i won't be going to see STYX tomorrow" and he asked me why. I said i never won tickets. He laughed and said we should go see them-so we looked online on the Billy Bob's website, but all they had were obstructed view. Sat we decided that we would just go out there and get general admission and take our chances. Well, we get there and Gary gets a call from my brother and while he is on the phone a woman walking through the parking lot asked if we had tickets-i said "not yet" She had 3-she had to sell-bought them for her daughter and 2 friends and didn't have parental consent so billy bob's wouldn't let them in-she sold me all 3 for $20. i told her we only needed 2, but she gave them all to me-these were $28 tickets-i felt bad, but nothing she could do-called a few people to see if they could come-but no luck. We had a drink-listened to the band that was playing-then headed into the showroom around 10-concert started at 10:30. (and yes, i know my picture has bug eyes as usual-this is why i hate having my picture taken) I hadn't seen STYX since High School and was looking forward to it-loved them back then-still do~Tommy Shaw still looks the same-none of us has aged a bit :) They came out and it was GREAT! Gary had never seen them so he was looking forward to the concert. Of course, we had the obligitory ONE guy who was 10 ft tall at the table ahead of us-and he wore his cowboy hat while he stood-the man behind us said "he's the obstructed view!" If only he were the only "problem" NO. We then had to get the obligitory obnoxious couple(s) next to us-who came late of course and were already drunk. The man who had to hang on the girlfriend-kissy kissy and such-she finally passed out with her head on the table. So then he had to sing and dance for the other girl that was with them-her companion (husband?) didn't look like he enjoyed much of the evening. This guy was a major obstructed view-thought he was there to entertain us all. I told gary at least we knew he wasn't getting any that night-and maybe she would puke in his car too~ :)

But the music was Great! Played some of my favorite stuff-so i was happy!

ICE

We actually got a bit of ice, but not what they claimed we would wake up to-now they are saying we'll get it tonight and sun night. I'll believe it when i see it. I see OK and MO got it-did get a few pictures of the ice on branches. Mostly stayed in today and did art- stay warm!

More Art

Thought i would post a few pictures of something i was working on-got the old box at an estate sale-tend to "collect" old boxes-anyway, put this together in it-there is still a piece i would like to add to the top, but soldering didn't work. I think i'll have to get my brother to weld it for me, then we'll see if it can be attached.

there is braille paper in the back-w/other vintage paper on the bottom and "ledges." I got the broken doorplate at canton, typed 'bloom' for the hole and put a glass bubble over it. wasp nest compliments from now dead wasps at my house. vintage photo. obvious. so that's it~

more later- supposed to be icy allllll wkend. so i can just stay home and play.

I can Finally post again!

There were problems w/the new blogger but i'm back! One of my "goals" this yr (won't call

it a resolution) is to learn how to add more stuff to my blog-like links for other blogs

and get my darn picture to show up on the profile section! did try tues night, but no luck.

First, i'll say 'happy birthday" to "Red"-i've had my car one yr now-that day i emailed gary

at work and said "what the hell, let's get the sporty car" is just a memory. I'm enjoying my turn in this family of having something that isn't the "mom" car, but when that lease is up, i will go back to the "mom" car size. (no way a wing chair from an estate sale will fit in the back of red like it did the mobster mobile!)

Next, i took a "field trip" with a friend wed when i got off work. We headed to dallas to find two shops she had heard about while in austin. Dolly Python and Curiosities. We both agreed DP would be a good one to go back to, but Curiosities was just ok. We both managed to buy something at DP. I got an old metal film spool-with film and...the unusual item that NONE of my friends can say they have...it will be a conversation piece when i get done with it. Had to pull a bunch of items off of it to even see it completely-then debated on getting it since it has only a small opening to have access inside-an opening that is partially broken-probably where the thing that was housed in it escaped from...yes friends, i am now the proud owner of a ...

RAT HOUSE. yes you heard right. I know gary is used to being around me now when he didn't even bat an eye when i told him what i got...now that's love.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here's to a safe, happy and healthy new year filled with friends, family and ART!
(and yes, i am a day late)
Time to think of some resolutions-or goals for the new year~Have actually been doing some art this past few days-AND trying to get the "room" back in order. The table is at least cleaned off enough to work on-in more than a 12 X12 space! Can't post what i'm working on yet since one is a gift and the other is for a swap..
Back to work tomorrow. been nice having time off. I'll leave you with a quote:
"Angels occupy the loviest corners of our thoughts." - Anonymous

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here is the tree-ornament-less this yr and Nala with YOUNG, BLACK SANTA
(tired santa to0)
(the glare comes from taking a picture of a picture)

Warm December

It's 75 again today. Hard to get into a Christmas mood with those kind of temps! Here is a little globe i worked on-at least she has some snow.'

I've been working on the fatbooks for my art group-almost done finally-will post the cover of them soon.

Time to go wrap some presents....Didn't send out cards this yr, so don't feel bad if you didn't get one-no one really did~

Almost Christmas

Yesterday we had our Christmas lunch/party for work. Went to a place in Dallas called "celebration". they had yummy food!
Here is a picture of the women that i work with:
vera, nellie and susan.
Friday was my nephew Patrick's 7th birthday! Happy Birthday
Patrick! hope the swimming party was fun today-you looked like you were having too much fun to notice which adults were there!
ok-so he IS older than that picture, but i thought it was cute.

B-b-r-r-r-r

We finally got some cold weather. When that front came through it dropped 20 degrees in a matter of minutes, then kept going. We had sleet and snow mix-but not enough to miss work :) It got down in the mid 20's last night. yea. i was sick of the 70's! winter might actually be here now.
here are a few of my christmas decorations-not that i have much up yet-or will, but i have these.
the silver balls are vintage ones that i got at an antique fair. the glitter stars came from canton. love them!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wanted to update sooner-with pictures, but for some reason the program to upload from my camera isn't working, so pictures will come later. Linda and Becky came down from St Louis-had a nice visit-and again, all over for dinner. Wish we all lived closer-

Had dinner w/Randy, Mary, Bro (randy) and Marian last night at Carraba's for thanksgiving-nathan and gary were still out working and didn't make it there.
Today we'll go to mom's and pig out on all our usual turkey day food~will post more later-with pictures.
My thumb is healing nicely-not so purple around the hole anymore...maybe i'll let it grow long and save the hole-y nail to hang near the metal nail...

quick Update

Had dinner for the family last sat~and Norma and Jan. Norma brought all the cool necklaces that she has been making. Patrick and Travis (and dad) enjoyed writing on my black wall. I finally erased it all yesterday since Linda and Becky (from st louis) will be here for dinner tonight. They flew in last night-so everyone is coming for dinner again.
Last fri i got to go to canton for a few hrs~here are a few of my finds...


more later, have things to do for tonight-and go visit~

OOPS I did it again!

Interesting morning for me: spent a few hrs in the ER at Irving Baylor.
got to work-there is a door w/4 metal hooks that we hang coats/purses on. Went to hang my purse and felt a little pain. Looked at my thumb and (thinking i had scraped it) saw a metal piece in my thumbnail. It was throbbing, so i knew it was in there. My mom (boss) went to the front office for tweezers-only plastic, so she went to the store to get metal ones. Meanwhile, i started breakfast mostly lefthanded. When the twwezers arrived we tried to get it, but couldn't. After the guys were served, mom took me to the ER.
The girl who admitted me took a call-and said that "being up here makes me nervous." (she was training in triage)
I was taken to room 3. Taken for x-rays, then waited for the DR. (he came in with a young man who watched everything)
He came in-looked at the finger and said "wow" and "hmmmmm" (words you don't want to hear in the ER) First he mentioned removing the nail, then said he would numb it, and try to dig it out. I got 2 shots in the thumb (not pleasant) then he burned a hole and got two pieces of metal out) The hole will grow out in a few months-also decided to give me a tetnus shot. I took a picture of my hand on the bed-along with the hospital wrist band, and when they released me, sent that to gary. HE called me a few minutes later! (two young nurses came in-again, one in training) I think it was "Training Day" in the ER. Got the shot in the right arm "you'll be really sore for 2 days" so figured i would keep it all on the same arm.
So that was my wed morning. I have also discovered a pattern to my ER visits:
Aunt Norma. yes, in june aunt norma came to visit-the day after i swallowed the nail. Aunt Norma is coming to vist-tomorrow. So her next visit needs to be a surprise- to me anyway!

Craft Fair

Did the Birdville HS craft fair sat~didn't expect massive sales-since it wasn't "mainstream" art, but i did sell some things. I had alot of compliments and several who asked if i would make some art w/their family photo's. So i'll see if anything comes of that. It was nice to hear the compliments though!
we met Randy & Mary last night to see the house they are buying out near weatherford-it's nice. Went to dinner afterwards in ft worth. Norma and her friend Jan will be here thur night. I'm having dinner for everyone sat-belated halloween dinner.

Happy Birthday Randy!

Today is randy's birthday. I met him and my mother in law for lunch today.
I told him that i have known him for more than 1/2 his life now. Made us both feel
old since i was a mere 23 and he was 16 when we met...Time sure flies!
Worked in the yard today-cutting down shrubs i don't want anymore. Will plant
the canna's that i was given in that spot instead. While out there the cold front came in-YEA. I am ready for cool weather!
Time to do a bit of art and then veg-i am tired today.

Quick Update

Weather here finally cooled off on thurs~went to the cemetery in ft worth (oakwood) to see what the damage was-heard on the radio that vandals had hit. They mostly got
markers, no angels-which was my biggest fear. I hate that any were damaged. People have weird ideas of entertainment.
I have alot coming up in the next 2 wks. Sat is the neighborhood garage sale.
Sat night is the last car show for dad's group. Sun is my art mtg-i'm hosting and teaching. Next sat is the Birdville HS craft fair-which i am in-and making a mad dash to make some art for. (sample of some work on here)
And the pumpkin i had-died. i think nala punctured it when she chewed the stem-it got squishy...
more later

HOT OCTOBER

Normally would have had my halloween stuff out this past wkend, but it's just too damn hot to be in the "halloween-y" mood.. supposed to be hot all week, but maybe the halloween stuff will get out this wk anyway. Did go to canton this wkend w/Carol. Met up with Traci too. pictures of what i found are posted. We lasted 7 1/2 hrs in the heat! but there was shade, breeze from time to time and water-ice cold water...

Friday Posting

Last saturday i bought a pumpkin. The weather has teased us with a hint of fall
from time to time (of course it's hot again today)but i was caught up in the autumn feeling and got a pumpkin. Picked out one with a great stem...and 30 min (or less) after bringing it home, Nala had chewed that great stem almost off. Good thing she is cute!
Also, here is one piece i'll be donating to bernie belin's auction. Now that i am working for my mom part time, i try to come home and do a bit of art in the afternoons. Tomorrow is Canton! hope to find some cool "junk."

Finally Back

Haven't posted in awhile. Today was the Bander's meeting. Suzy had a chocolate fountain for us to partake from-yummmmm
our project was a metal repousee piece adhered to a notebook.
and babette brought this clay piece done on canvas-reminded me of misty mawn's work and she's never even seen her stuff...
I will try to post here more often. Have some new art i'll put on soon. Started working part time, mornings this past week-but will try to keep this updated again. that's it for now!

Still Miserably HOT

I don't post much these days-i think it's the heat. We're tied for the 7th hottest
summer around here so far and will probably move up that list before it's all over.
I decided to do a search for my name online-and found this link-I did this piece a few yrs ago for this library-how cool is it that it's online. A friend of mine had gone to the exhibit and took pictures for me-but i didn't know the art was online.
pretty neat...more later

The past week

Posted some art on ebay today-the 3 previous pictures are what's on there now.
Also have 2 fatbooks -procedes to go to bernie berlin's "a place to bark" animal rescue. This has been a tough week again. My depression seems to have reared it's ugly head again-mostly due to dealing with nathan-so if you don't hear from me, know that i'm not ignoring, i just know when i feel this way, it't best to be alone.
Did have a good day thurs-when i went to anne's and she, myself, carol and tricia put together the Venice fatbooks~and of course, got to eat at Siciliano's. yum
Tonight the Joy's all met for dinner for Marian's birthday, then to her place to play cards-i lost w/the highest score of course.
that's it for tonight.
see ya!

Art & stuff

Last week wasn't a good one-won't dwell on that-but will post some art i've done
in the past 2 wks.
Actually did about 8 pieces, but not posting them all~

Fire in the City

had the news on last night before our usual nightly walk-and saw that there was a fire in the "woods" were nala and i walk-my sis and her kids sometimes join us as does gary. He and i went there after dinner-the part we walk in was not burned, but a huge section of the nature preserve was-luckily it didn't make it to any of the surrounding homes. my pictures show an area leading up to the burned area, then obviously, part of the area affected. will take yrs for it to come back.

Paydirt!

Gary and I went to Buchanan's Garage Sale today-usually go to the antique shows, but had not been to one of the g sales before. Boy did i find some fun stuff! Most booths had everything marked down, or $1 tables-or it was "cheap" All that you see in my photo cost me about $15! can't beat that.
Went to the Grapevine convention on sat. got a few embellishments, mostly visited with people. Gary & Nathan got in while i was out-turns out they drove all night-but came home and slept awhile. Glad they are home safe.
Hope to do some art this wk-finish some wood pieces i started-will post the pictures when they are done. Will probably put a few on ebay again and see how that goes.
OH-how could i have forgotten? Got a new "toy" last night-yes folks-here she is in all her red glory...

Recent Art

here is a piece i made last wkend. still working on another that i will post
when done.
Gary & Nathan finally left for Vegas around 4:30-mom and dad left this am for St louis and Suzanne and family are heading for vacation-gee, i've been abandoned!

Long Time

Geesh, didn't realize how long it's been since i posted. Not a whole lot going on.
Still having some problems with my throat/swallowing. one day it may all be ok again.
Did make the box shrine for the nail-when it's all done, the picture WILL be here!
Been cleaning like crazy-and finishing up little projects around the house-I am co-hosting the Banders mtg w/jeanne this sun. Nothing like that for motivation!
more later when there's more to tell~

Nail UPdate

Actually ate semi-solid food today before going in for the next X-Ray.
First they didn't see it, but w/XR#2 they saw it still there. It was "close"
to passing. At some point this evening it did because i found it in our toilet.
I still have the throat pain-but the chest pain has greatly subsided.
On another note, had rain yesterday and today which we greatly needed. Today's
downpour cause flooding through our yard and neighbor's-their retaining wall
failed. picture one is backyard and 2nd one is the river down the front yard to the street. Thanks to the "construction" behind us. came close to entering through our back door. So one day, you WILL see a shrine to the nail~i'll post it here!

The Week of the NAIL

For those who haven't heard, I swallowed a nail. No joke. on wed June 28, i was haning a frame w/a nail/hanger in my mouth when i suddenlyrealized the nail went down my throat. No pain-just scared me to death. Ended up driving to the ER-"why are you here" "I swallowed a nail" "You did WHAT?" was the common comment. Had everyone freaked out cause they all had done the same thing-let this be a lesson-don't put nails in your mouth-our moms were right! Gary showed up after his tests, then my sis. then i find out mom, dad, nathan are all on the way too. Great. I'm never going to hear the end of this. I can see the mounds of nail i will receive for Christmas from now on...
On to X-Ray. jokes didn't stop there. They decide to do an endoscopy on me-to try to retrieve nail from stomach. I call it roto-rootering the throat 101. Long story short, got the iv started-had to get me out of the cardiac room they had stashed me in-incoming emergency-real cardiac problem. I think the man died cause i heard a woman wailing. They took me to the GI lab-got me prepped-explained what they would do etc...just forgot the part where i wake up during and gag/retch so hard that i have strained all my muscles between stomach and head. I was supposed to be back to normal the next day. 6 days later and i'm still in pain. I've had x-ray's thur, fri, mon to see where the nail is. had to go back mon for a fabulous Iodine cocktail and Barium chaser to look at my throat & be sure no damage there. no-it "looks good" so i'm just strained and in massive pain.
And the combination burps up really nicely. tasteful too. Great diuretic for an empty stomach in case you ever need one.
Solid food is a thing of the past. Asked for pain meds wed night-they give me horse pills. guess that "it hurts to swallow" doesn't count for much.
Nail IS progressing-so far no pain from it-keeping fingers crossed. Due for another XRay on wed. really sick of the hospital. Did go out for some food today-so hungry-craving things like crazy. Had black eyed Pea bread w/gravy, cheese soup and potato. and will have the same for dinner- pictures later
gave me some lovely "souvenir photo's" at the hosp last week.