My Heart My Art

44 Years and Counting!!

2008-07-22T09:40:00.006-05:00

Anniversary Picture 2008 Still having a great time after 44 years!

Well, the 44th Anniversary has passed and we are headed to 45! Time sure does pass faster as one get's older. My Dad always said that and he lived to be 95 so I am sure at the last his time seemed to move very fast.

We had a fun Anniversary. WE were going to Shreveport to Gamble and spend a couple of nights and then as we thought about it, we decided to stay here and buy a scooter for me. Lynn was enjoying his so much and he wanted me to have one, too. Well, after searching all over north Texas, we found the only one left around in Longview!

We have been having a great time. I already have 70 miles on mine!! Now, that is just in Mineola. Mine is only a 50cc and top speed is 45 but at 45 you feel as if you are going 100!

Jennifer, Mark, Sydney and Sam came out on Saturday and the kids enjoyed my large scooter (electric) cause they can't ride the Yamaha! Jen and Mark took a spin on the scooters and they like them. Mark has a Harley so pretty tame for him, I am sure.

Sam, lovin my little scooter!

Pose by Sydney

Sydney, the Poser!

Sam after a week at Sky Ranch Camp!!!

Off to Dallas for a few days in the Big City! I think Jennifer and I will do Ikea on Friday and swim in their pool.

Check back soon. More to come.

HAPPY 4TH 2008

2008-06-24T22:54:00.010-05:00

This is one of Lynn's Mom's Hostas in Bloom in Texas. We have worked hard to save this and it is in full boom this week. They are beautiful!!

Happy 4th Belated!

Let Freedom Ring 2008
Thetford Farm Bell

Pine Mills, Texas

We were at the Thetford Farm for a 4th party and this is a bell on the farm.

Buddy looking for fireworks, not one of his favorite things!

We have a good 4th this year. (Celebrated on the 5th) Out to the Thetford Farm for a wonderful lunch and sitting on the porch. Anne Thetford is such a wonderful hostess and the food is always exceptional. Lynn and I cherish the time we spend there as it is so quite and the views are wonderful from the porch. Here are a couple below.

Our New Uncle Sam 2008

Home Projects Again!

We are almost done here at 702 Sycamore

House looking South towards kitchen.

Well, we are back at "home projects" for a few days. We had decided to have a new railing take the place of the original 1949 Iron scroll rail but were not sure how to do it. As luck had it, we found a guy who is a master at cabinets that is retired and he agreed to do it for us, all we had to do it come up with the design. We were so excited that our plan was going to happen so we got real busy fast and gave him a drawing of what we wanted and he said "not a problem"!!!!!! Also, we had decided to take down the old downspouts and gutters and install Rainhandlers http://www.rainhandler.com/ so after we had that done, we wanted shutters! We hit Dennis up with the idea, he agreed and wala---he built us 9 sets before he had to leave town. Lynn and I will finish them as Dennis gave us great instuctions on using our router and how to cut the stars. If we do the rest of the house, we only have 11 sets to go---------Yes, 19 windows in this one story house but that is part of the reason we loved it so. Lots of light!!!!! I guess you can see we have a star theme going on here.

Work in Progress

Railings stained by Lynn. We put steel caps on the posts.

Our new front doors! We have two, one to the kitchen and one to the livingroom off the front porch. We are going to paint them a dark teal soon. House trim will remail white unless we can get someone to change it up. Lynn said he liked white so it will make it much easier to repaint some of the place where it needs repair.

Lynn's new brick floor in screened porch

Buddy Helping Lynn Lay Bricks! He is such a big help.

New Addition to Lynn's Motor Pool

Lynn has been wanting a motorcycle and I am totally against it but he always goes with what I want so when he found this scooter I didn't fight it. It is pretty cute and not tooooo big. I can even ride it but haven't as yet. Need a motorcycle license for it as it is a 150 cc. Goes pretty good intown but only about 55 on highway. I think he is happy with it. Our neighbor, Ray found it for him and did some great work on it so now it is just like new---600 miles on it and ready to ride anywhere here in Mineola. It will make some great Icee runs, I am sure.

Here are Ray and Lynn ready to ride!!!! Boys and their Toys!

Cute?

I need to make some some shirts that say "Harley Starter Kit"

BUSY JUNE

2008-06-20T16:24:00.000-05:00

Neighbor's Pond Lily

Just checked my blog for comments and realized that it has been a long time since my last entry.This just means we have been enjoying life and I have not been at the computer as much as usual. We have been in Dallas at the apartment for the last 8 days and enjoying all the great places we used to haunt for dinner. Lynn has been working a great deal as they are short this summer and I have been kicking back and just taking life easy.

A Flower for Grandma Alice

We lost a very "favorite" person in our lives this month. Our daughter, Jennifer is married to a great guy who's Grandma passed on at 93. Grandma Alice was a dear lady who we became very attached to as the Great Grandma of our grand kids. She loved her candy and the picture below show her at 93 enjoying some goooooood chocolate. How wonderful it has been for them to have great grandparents. My folks, Lynn's Mom and Mark's Grandmas have all been in Sydney's and Sam's life. That is quite an accomplishment. Alice was a very kind and gentle lady who knew the meaning of LADY. That is special in this day and age. Grandma Alice was ready to move on and told us that often. How fortunate she was to share 93 years on this earth. She will be remembered always.

Alice Slater

It is getting hotter here in the East Texas area but we can handle that with no problem. Our hearts go out to our friends in Iowa----we just can believe the devastation left by the water. What a horrible experience to go thru, I am sure. Not sure how I could handle it but I do know that being from Iowa, those folks will get thru it and be better for it.

Father's Day was celebrated a day early for Lynn this year as Mark had to work for two brother's that lost their Dad a day or two earlier. Mark is a volunteer fireman in Parker where they live but is certified to work other places, too. He filled in for them so they could have the visitation on Father's Day! Terrible for them, I am sure. It was a great thing to do for his friends and with us Sat. was as good as Sunday. Living a police life, we rarely had Holidays when Holidays were----another day or time was usually the plan so this was right in order. We went to Jen's to swim and have a BBQ and that was a Kick Back Father's Day!!!!

Lynn and I last Fall in Arizona

We are working on the house again. Shutters, new porch railing are being custom built by a guy we know who is a master at things like this. We are so fortunate to have Dennis doing this for us. Taking off the old iron rail has not been easy but with help from our neighbor, Ray and lots of sweat from Lynn, it is off and then new is being designed. We decided to do wood this time. The rail was the original and I guess a bit out dated---1949. I know what goes round comes round but we just were not sure how long we would have to wait????? Hope our design is good but whatever it is, we will love it. Will put up a before and after in my next blog. Think "Texas Star".

Our Granddaughter, Sydney has been preforming voice and dance lately. You know all the programs in the Spring---we we are lucky to be close for them. Wish we could be there for the other kids!!! Anyway, she loves music and dance and is pretty good at them, too. Now that isn't just a proud Grandparent talking, but she is good. WE really did see her grow up this year! The little girl isn't there anymore---what a sweet and gentle young woman she is going to be.

Sydney 2008 Spring Recital

Well, back to help what I can on the front porch. This Dennis is so good and so easy to work around. I put on a large pot of beans this morning and the smell is call me to the kitchen.

Check back for an update on the porch!

2008-05-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

Red Letter Day!

The day arrived on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Lynn and I had our Social Security Check deposited into our account. Now that really can hit home that you are in the last part of your life!
We applied in October, Lynn's birthday is the last of Jan. and they witheld three checks back for taxes for us. UG, that is what happens when you are still working part-time. Anyway, there are days in your life that you call "red letter days" and Wednesday was one of them.

Weather getting hot in Texas but we are so glad we have miss most of the storms. Everyday it seem that our world has major problems with Mother Nature. Our hearts go out to those folks who's lives will never be the same again.

I picked up a book on blogs yesterday and am going to read it and try to make this a bit more creative. I take pictures all the time and Lynn says "what do you do will all those pictures?" Well, I am going to publish them on my blog. Also going to put up pictures of my art in progress and if I ever finish something, a finished project. Less words and more pictures.
Come by and see my new look very soon.

ALMOST BACK TO THE REAL WORLD!

2008-05-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day Iris Bouquet from Buddy Joe and Lynn

How fast time can fly by when you are having such a great time. Iowa was good--a bit on the nippy side but seeing friends and family makes up for it. My sister Pat and her daughter Suzie were having a contract Estate Sale the weekend we got in so we got to see what was at the sale early. I bought a wonderful pin enameled painter palette and Lynn bought an old hat rack. Not that we needed either but it is always fun to shop one of her sales. We got a sneak peak at another one they will be having later this Spring----WOW---what a wonderful array of antiques but such a lot of work to get ready for it. We spent a nice evening with Pat, John and Suzie at Pat and Johns condo above the trees. What a wonderful place they have---if we would find one similar here in the area, we sure would be there. Dinner was so good and we sure did enjoy the evening. Hope we get to spend more time with them in the fall.

We were thrilled to get to see Emily play tennis. The wind was blowing about 30 MPH but she did well anyway. Later in the week she played so hard he hurt her leg but did well in her next competition. Wishing her luck for the tournament upcoming.

We stayed with our good friends, Mike and Paul Wigg in Ankeny. We always are treated like family and the food is great. Got to spend some time with her applique small group and really enjoyed seeing the wonderful work they all do. Amazing. Mike has just finished a quilt she has been working on for a year or more. It is fantastic! Here are a couple of shots. All hand applique!.

We spent some time with our kids and were very surprised with our Brian's announcement that he was retiring this month at 44. He has worked hard and made a wonderful life for Cathie and Emily and Ethan and wants to spend more time with the family. Knowing him, we think a year or two off and he will get into something but power to him!!! We are not sorry that we took early retirement at 55 so I am sure he will find he will really enjoy it. More time at the lake house and traveling. Great times with the kids before they leave home. They took us to a new restaurant "The Radish" in Grimes, Ia. Wonderful food.

We also went there again with our good friends, Ann and Ron Victor. They loved it, too. Great to see them but our time was not long enough. I bet they have returned to the radish. Ann and Ron are school friends from Creston and Ann was my maid of honor. Special friends for sure.

We went to Creston, out home town and stayed with Lynn's sis, Char. Got to see our niece and great nieces, too. Everyone is growing up so fast and when we don't see them but about every six months, we can really see a change. Char is enjoying her new beautiful home and we are so happy for her. Eating at the Windrow and S and J are always great and we look forward to it.
We were not the long enough to see everyone we wanted so this fall we plan to take the RV and Buddy Joe and make a vacation of it.

On Wed. night we met Cathie, Emily, Ethan and Mike at a great pizza place in Johnston. Sat with Ethan and he really filled me in on how to do more things on my IPhone! I think a few hours with him and I might really know lots of goodies that the phone will do. Ethan has grown up so much and is so tall! He is almost ready to get his license to drive and he drove Lynn and I to and from the resturant in the TRUCK. He says that is what he wants but is really thinking it over with gas prices so high.

On Thursday we picked up our good friend Connie Rhine at her daughter's in Clive, Iowa and off we went to Joplin on our way home. Didn't get a early start so stopped at the Iowa Welcome Center and shopped for Amish Baskets and antiques. Found some good ones. Then on to Liberty, Mo. to the needlework shop. Connie was looking for some special wool and WE FOUND IT THERE! Couldn't believe it so we were very excited. Bless Lynn for his patience with us.

Then off to Joplin, Mo. where we stayed the night listening for storms and checking the TV! They missed us but there were a few moments of being a bit anxious. The next morning we headed to Eureka Springs. Connie had never been there and we spent the day with me in a wheelchair! Not Fun on the very old limestone walks and hills. A town that old not designed for handicap folks. Back problems the whole time we were gone and that is not fun. Thanks to Connie and Lynn, I was able to get around.

Headed to Dallas to get Buddy and then home on Saturday to Mineola. Funny when you are gone for a few days, your house feel strange when you return. We had a good time in Canton on Sunday, all of us had scooters and we really got around the flea market with good speed! Connie spent time at our apartment on Wed. when we came in and we stayed in the guest suite. She flew home on Thursday but we really didn't have much time to play. Maybe next time. Come back soon, Connie.

Lynn has worked this week and we stayed in Dallas thru the weekend. Mother's Day we were treated to a wonderful lunch with Jen, Mark, Sydney and Sam and then they came to see our new part-time digs. Nice weather and a great day!

I spent the whole day alone in the apartment working on the computer and just hanging out with good company, Buddy! He loves to watch the folks come and go in the courtyard. Will be something to remember when we move into a condo or apartment sometime down the road.

Well, better sign off ---the weather here in the area has been wonderful, flowers are very much in bloom and trees are completely leafed out. What a great spring for us.

IOWA WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

2008-04-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

Arrived in Des Moines on Friday afternoon and the weather was not working for us. Cold, windy and not a great day to watch a tennis match! We gave it our best effort and watched Emily thru a wind break from the truck. Not the best but we did get to see her play! We also went to an Estate Sale run by my sister and niece. They have been doing this for 30 years and always have such great things to pic from and we were so lucky to be in Des Moines when they have a sale.

Been enjoying our time with Mike and Paul Wigg. We are excited they are getting up and running with an Ebay business. I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.

"Mike" and Paul Wigg

Saturday night we went to The Radish in Grimes, Iowa. What wonderful food!!! Brian and Cathie, Lynn and myself had a fun evening after the food. We went back to the house and met Emily's boyfriend and got to see them go out all dressed up for the evening. That was such fun!

Sunday we spent time with Mike and Paul and then went to the Apple Store at Jordan Creek Mall. I got what I needed and we then went to my sister's condo in Des Moines for dinner. What great Chili! Really makes us feel back home. They have a wonderful condo way up in the air (7th floor) with windows almost floor to ceiling all around, I sure do wish we could find a place like it in Dallas area! What a view!!!!! Our niece, Suzanne was there and it is always great to catch up with all the family information.

Today I had a fun time with a small quilting group of Mike's friends. She has a fantastic group of friends and I so enjoy myself with them. They sure do inspire me---hope I can take some of their energy and creative ability home to Texas.

Tonight we had dinner at The Radish (again) with our good friends, Ann and Ron Victor. Ann was our maid of honor almost 44 years ago! We have traveled with them and so enjoy their company. We all graduated from Creston High School in 1964 together so it is so easy to catch up on all the news.

ON OUR WAY TO IOWA

2008-04-24T21:22:00.000-05:00

Picture of one of my flowers edited in a Reflections Program I have. This is such fun!

We are on our way to Iowa. Our home state and town. We have family there and love to go back and visit. It is spring there---we are about 5-6 weeks ahead of Iowa in Texas when it comes to the growing season. So we will see Spring again! That will be fun. I hope to take some more pictures.

Buddy is in Texas with Jennifer and family and I miss him already. He is NOT the best traveler. All he does if we don't drug him is pant and drip from his tongue. It does make the trip hard on him so we are so grateful Jennifer can watch him for a few days. If we take the trailer, we usually take him and when we get back from Iowa we hope to go somewhere for a few days with him and sit around a lake!

We were in Kansas City Thursday and will drove on in to Iowa Friday. Will stopped at the Amish basket store in Iowa and picked up a couple of baskets as usual. They are so nice.

BUSY WEEK IN MINEOLA

2008-04-18T18:49:00.000-05:00

Our Wisteria is starting to bloom. It is a new vine from last year

and is blooming very late this year.

GARAGE SALE OVER!!!!! FOR THE TIME BEING.

Well it's over for now. Will probably have a art and craft sale soon to rid myself of some of the stuff I don't think I will ever use again. My interests have changed over the years. Our sale was amazing. Sold almost $600 of real junk. Only had three items at $30 and then rest were mostly .50 and $1.00

This is the rose from last blog! As they bloom out, they change color from yellow to pink. This is the color with no photo enhancement. Amazing!

Planted some pine trees, worked in the yard but most of all we did finish the floor or our screened porch with bricks. It was painted and looked real bad so we decided to brick it and it worked great. We still have to paint the steps but that will be easy. Concrete under the bricks isn't even cracked after 58 years! This house was built to last.

On Wednesday we went to Tyler for http://www.lifelinescreening.com/ We will get the results in about 21 days. Should be interesting. Easy, fast and should give us some idea of where we are now in our health mode. Guess we are not tooooooo bad as if they see something bad, they let you know right away, otherwise someone reads the tests and then they send you a report.

We are getting ready to head to Iowa next week. Our granddaughter is playing tennis on her High School team and is pretty good so we want to go and watch. Also, a spring visit will be nice. We have a list a mile long of folks to see and then our friend Connie will be heading back to Texas for a visit with us. That will be great fun as we always love to have her here. Wish more of our friends and family would stop by---we have the space for you! Here is a picture of our Emily! She is almost thru her junior year and we are most proud of her. She seems to love tennis and it good. I think Tennis is a great sport---you can do it all your life.

Went out today and took some pictures in the yard. Some of the flowers are fading but new one coming on. Hope I don't bore you with my flower pictures but that is something I love to take.

Close up of the Wisteria---Their sent is amazing!

Roses and Wisteria this week. Buddy helps me take them by laying down in the grass and watching me. What a sweet dog he has been. We are not taking him to Iowa but he is going to stay with Jennifer and family and his buddies, Kramer, Snickerdoodle and Oreo. They do have a great time

GETTING READY TO HAVE A SALE!

2008-04-10T19:11:00.000-05:00

Second Rose of 2008

My roses are starting to bloom! I hope to put in a few more this year but they are are bit contrary at times. I did start my vine from seeds I held over from last year in small peat plugs and they are starting to pop! It was 79 here today so everything is growing well. Here is a pic of my second bloom. Also, my white rose should be out tomorrow.

Monday was the first get together for the East Texas Polymer Clay Group at the League of the Arts. http://www.mlota.org/ Such a nice group of artists who are so enthusiastic about polymer clay. It was such fun and a few of them brought back their items to show from the class that Penny Hurst and I taught a few weeks ago. We are going to meet once a month and hopefully will gather several more members over 2008. How lucky we are here in Mineola to have a League that offer such opportunity. Old school building with all the facilities open all day and by appointment. Neat place to meet, work and share.

I don't know about any of you but I am a pack rat. Always have been and Lynn has survived for almost 44 years with this "kink" in my personality. What a guy! Anyway, over the last few months I have taken the cure---really, I know some of you don't think it possible but I have. I guess I can blame it on my parents. While I was being raised, my family always took care of thing, repaired them and reused and recycled before it was popular. EVERYTHING HAS VALUE is the way I was raised and it stuck. I love my "stuff" and can't seem to throw anything away. I save it for the next time I might need it even if a next time may never come. Well, after 44 years, I have to give somethings up----it's time. Sooooo over the next year, Lynn and I are going to have mini sales. We have the barn---we can set up and mark and close the door then open it when we decide the day is good and have it for a few hours then close the door! This Sat. we are selling off hopefully, leftovers from our booth. Not much left but want it all gone. It will be just Lynn and myself working and what is left over(not any antiques) will be donated to Kindness Kottage here in Mineola. Then I will have a art-craft supply sale in a few weeks. I will breath a sigh of relief when all is gone and we are organized. I have a little label machine ( I call it "Martha" as Martha Stewart swears by it and so does Martha Woosley) and I have gone crazy with it! If you don't have one---get one---it can change your life.

Some of Our Dogwoods

Art supplies are so hard to organize. Everything is different sizes and shapes but over the last few month I have gone thru most all of my stuff. I know what I want to keep and I have such a wonderful space (two walk in closets plus a 9 x 9 walk in room) and my studio is 20 x 20. I have all of it filled to the brim but organized. The last two days I have been sorting my clay and beading supplies. How wonderful to be able to pull out a drawer (I have 30 three drawer DMC floss cabinets) and see what I have. I also have 6 Elfa wire drawer units that are as tall or taller than I am and recently we got a 4 drawer lateral file. Then I have two 6 self book cases and three floor to ceiling built in shelves in the closets. You see, I need to get it under control and I feel I am making headway. I am trying to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life and I do think watercolor and polymer are it. Oh, I did just take on Silver Art Clay. Check out this link to see what someone can do with it. This lady is quite an artist! http://www.pmcsupply.com/gallery/htmlgallery/hattie1/index.html

Can't wait to get some pieces like these made. I have my kiln but need some instruction on running it. Hopefully next week.

East Texas Spring--Lots of New Little Calves

Lynn as been in Dallas for two nights and will be home tomorrow and we will work late in the barn getting ready for the sale.

Wish us luck!

Happy Birthday Clint!

2008-04-06T19:37:00.000-05:00

BUDDY SAYS

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, CLINT"

Bluebonnets and Buddy taken 4/6/08 in Mineola.

Well, today is our son Clint's 41st Birthday! WOW are We getting old! I just can't believe that 41 years has passed and I feel as young mentally as I did then but the old body sure has aged. Happy Birthday, Clint. Wish we could have been in San Antonio to celebrate with you. Maybe next year?

Well, as many of you know I love to start a project but finishing is not really the main thing I start for. I love the process and learning about how and why you do something a certain way. I love the process of planning, gathering the supplies and getting if off the ground. Well, maybe you remember way back when I started a silk scarf. It has been hanging around in my studio for weeks and months. Well, I set a goal for myself this week---FINISH THE SCARF! I did it today. It is painted and I need it to set up for 24 hours, heat set it and wash it and walah! It will be done. Here is a pic of it as it looks now. Check back in my archives to see where it was when I started. I think I am going to love it and to think---it is an original and there is nothing like it in this world!!! That's the part I love when I create.

Check back in a day or two as I will have more pics when it is heat set and washed. The background looks black but it is a wonderful brown. I am learning on this one and already have a smaller one in the frame.

Monday is the first meeting of our new Polymer Clay Day group here in Mineola. I am thrilled I have "hooked" a handful of friends to join together and play one day a month for now. Should be fun and creative. http://www.mlota.org/ There is an art show coming up soon so I need to get to painting----looking forward to art this spring.

Another picture of the Bluebonnets here in the area.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN EAST TEXAS

2008-04-03T17:52:00.000-05:00

How beautiful East Texas is in the Spring! No matter where you drive the flower are abundant and it is soooooo green this year. The Azaleas are blooming in full force and what a sight it is when you go by a yard with several different colors all in a row. WOW! Hope to get some pictures to post this weekend if the weather is good. There are some homes in Tyler that really out do themselves and they have the Azalea Trails Festival every year with a map to follow for all the beauty. Most of these homes are folks that have yard people to make everything look great. I have a yard guy and he does wonders but our budget is not what those folks have, I am very sure. Today I planted my seeds for the vines I always grow in starter plugs. They will be up in a week and ready to plant probably by the end of the month. The are beautiful and I keep the seed over the winter to replant in the spring. I also kept over the Purple People Eater plant and hope that it will grow. Above is a picture of one of my Azaleas. The picture has not been doctored so you see the color is wonderful.

While Lynn was in Dallas working this week, I was sorting again in the studio. IT WILL BE DONE SOON! I have several things to get rid of and putting like items together is wonderful. Maybe before long I will be able to start painting, claying, knitting, beading, quilting and even sewing. It's been so long since I have put my mind to art. Can't wait!

EASTER BUNNY MISSED US THIS YEAR!

2008-03-27T08:26:00.000-05:00

Here we are, almost thru March and our weather in Mineola is grand. Should be in the 80's today and spring is in full bloom. Our Bradford pear trees have bloomed and leafed out, jonquils gone but best of spring in our yard are the 6 dogwoods we have. They are beautiful right now!

I so look forward to them as they are one of my favorite flowering trees. When we drive down the road in many places looking back into the trees, you can see these wonderful floating flowers!

We are going to take a drive today to see spring in bloom and I hope to use my new camera to take some more spring pictures.

We have just returned from Dallas for about 12 days. Taking care of our "grand dogs, and pets"while Jennifer, Mark and kids went to Florida for spring break. Pets are easy but the electronics in their home---remotes etc. we very stressful. We completely messed up on Sat. night and couldn't get anything on one of the TV's. We need better lessons next time.

My good friend, Penny and I taught a two day class on Polymer Clay Jewelry and it was great! We addicted several ladies and will meet and the League of the Arts once a month for a play clay day. Nice to have some East Texas PolyClayers!

Didn't get a picture of Buddy this year for Easter. We were in Dallas and just didn't get to it so here in one from last year. Since Easter was so early this year, the Bluebonnet's are not in full bloom as yet. They were last year. Here he is!!!!! Will be doing some Bluebonnet pics soon.

Well, off the breakfast and a ride. Hope to be able to take some pictures today.

MARCH MOVED IN TO MINEOLA--78 DEGREES

2008-03-02T22:10:00.000-06:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY FROM TEXAS

February is gone and even with an extra day, it went to fast for the Woosley's life. We had a great February weather wise and our winter has been so mild, we didn't seem to notice it came and went. Not so for our friends and family in Iowa!!!! My land, they had it bad!!!! I know Texas is hot in the Summer but I LOVE the Winters.

BUDDY TODAY IN THE FLOWERS

We got all moved into our little apartment in Dallas. It is going to be so nice to have a place to go and not have to drag all our stuff to and from. It is very comfortable and we have used the pool and hot tub several times. He did go and get his flat screen TV but we bought a little dresser/two door cupboard and made it into a little TV cabinet. Will post some pictures when I post pictures of the apartment. Just don't have any as yet.

Lynn works three days this week and four more the rest of the month and we will be taking care of the pets for Jen and Mark while they go to Florida for 9 days the middle of March. We will stay at their place then with Buddy and their three dogs, two birds, bearded dragon and possibly a geina pig? I guess that is what grandparents do----animal duty. Buddy will enjoy himself I am sure but he will take a week to recoup after the week with the boys!!!! They have put a fence around the pool so we can let them all out and not worry about them running off.

I am going to be teaching a class in Machine Applique and a two day class in Polymer Clay and Jewelry making this month also. I will be doing it at the League of the Arts here in Mineola and my new friend Penny will be sharing the two day class doing her thing, Jewelry Design and Findings. Should be fun!

Well, Lynn has been working on making our living room better. When we moved in we painted it chocolate----two years of that and I wanted my blue back so being the sweetie he is, it's done. I love it and will finish the valances for the living very soon. All that is left for us is to stencil one room, put up the Wall Words in my Studio and paint the hall. He also painted all the woodwork in the living and dining room. What a guy!!!

Guess I have been working him tooooooo hard. We went to Sam's the other day--he went one way and I went another and we said we would meet up front. Well, he didn't show and I couldn't find him. I went back and forth and no Lynn so I headed to the back of the store down the main isle---keep that in mind---main isle. There he was---on one of the large media couches "watching" the big screen TV. People were going by and snickering so I just had to take a picture or two before I "woke him" from his nap. He was even snoring! Love the price sign right beside him. When I woke him we both laugh and laugh---pretty funny. Shopping is such HARD WORK!

We are loving the weather here and so are the plants! My jonquils are blooming in full force and today I took this pic of my neighbors Iris blooming. I think it is a bit early but our tulip trees are in full bloom and the Bradford Pears will be totally out by the end of the week. Here is her Iris.

Keep checking back for more updates. This is such a great way to communicate with all our friends and family. Come back soon.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

2008-02-13T00:59:00.000-06:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2008

Can you feel it? Love is in the air! Valentines Day is almost here and that always means frosted heart cookies for me! Yes, I love to cut them out and decorate them. I guess it is family tradition for us. My MOM and Lynn's MOM always made sugar cookies. I found a new recipe this year and decided to make it. You might want to try them this year?

BEST ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

Prep Time: 20 MinutesCook Time: 8 Minutes
Ready In: 3 Hours Yields: 60 servings

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract/ could use almond
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely. Frost with favorite decorative frosting.

Our weather has been so great this winter. I know our Family and Friends in the upper midwest have had it hard. Not only snow and more snow but frigid cold. Every year Lynn and I try to remember how it was and when we do, we are always glad we have "Texas Winters" now.

We love Gulf Shores, Alabama but I check every morning and this winter is as good in Texas as there. Glad we stayed here this winter.

Well, Friday is the moving day to our new "little" apartment. Our 5 x 10 foot moving trailer is almost packed and ready to go. Amazing one can pull enough to furnish an apartment from your home and not miss anything! That is saying something about us---will take pictures to post so you can see our little place in Dallas. Gives one perspective on what someone needs to live---and I think we will be comfortable. I know I am going to use the indoor pool a bunch!!!!

MISSED JANUARY--TOO BUSY AND IT SURE WENT FAST

2008-02-03T09:54:00.000-06:00

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY AND BUDDY STILL IS WISHING FOR A WIN!

WOW! Did 2007 go as fast for you as it did for us? Also, we are off to a fast start in February! Lynn and I have enjoyed 2007 and are looking forward to 2008---new events in our lives and hopefully some travel.

To do a bit of catching up! We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! Our family is sure growing up. Gift Cards are where we are now. Can't keep up with all the "stuff" they want so if we do gift cards, they can get what they want and maybe a bit less expensive right after the holidays. We did give the Flip Video's to the adult kids. (I got one for me, too) I think they will be such fun for them and they are soooooooo easy to use. http://www.theflip.com/ I love mine!

Buddy Wanted to Play Reindeer this Christmas!

We decided to finish the house as fast as possible now. Almost two years!!! Time to move on and not have any of this stuff over our heads. We attacked the master bedroom and it is done now!!!! Yes, it went from green to terra cotta walls and a new spread, pillows curtains etc. Love it and now to repaint the living room. It is brown now but think I am going to go to blue. Blue is my favorite color and after seeing pics of our old digs, I have reverted back. We have a guy working for us right now on adding electricty to the barn and doing to tuck pointing (cement between the stone outside) and we hope to have that done very soon. It is suppose to be 70 here today so the weather is cooperating for us. Who knows next week.

We got some very sad news in January that a couple who we are good friends with in Tenn., Don and Shirley Jones lost their 36 year old daughter in a car crash. Missy Hunt was a great Mom and wife with two kids who will miss her so much. Cristy, 11 and Dusty 19 are left with wonderful memories of their Mom and our hearts go out to them, and the whole family. Shirley tells me that their faith is strong and they are doing ok or as best a family can do after something like this. Our hearts are sad and we are thinking of them as they go thru this heartbreaking time.

Here is a flower for Missy!

Some exciting news for Lynn and I!!!! We decided to rent an apartment in Dallas for 6 months to see how we liked vacationing in the BIG CITY! Not really, Lynn will be working more in the next few months because one of the officers is taking three months off. Well, we have used the guest room at Jen and Mark's for 5 years and we feel that is about enough. We were so lucky to be able to do that but feel that with all the extra days he will be working, enough is enough for them. Also, I will spend more time in Dallas doing classes and visiting friends. We just felt like we would enjoy more time there. We do love Dallas!!!! We lived in an apartment/hotel for 18 months before we came to Mineola and we are going back there. We had the largerst apt. before and this time we will have the smallest one!!!!! Effeciency but ALL NEW. Carpet, kitchen, vinyl, bath and we got to pick out everything. It has a nice patio on the enclosed courtyard and an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, game room with pool tables, library, social events and full time management. It has locked parking and security entry. We get to move on the 15th of Feb. so we will fill you in after that. Oh, best yet! We can have Buddy there.

Our hearts are not really in the Big Game today but we are going to watch it. Just spending the day planning our little move, loading some things in the trailer and enjoying the wonderful tempatures for the day!!!

I do hope to really keep up better with this. Check back soon for our update!

Mid December and Counting!

2007-12-12T17:39:00.000-06:00

Boy, the days slip away from us. We have had about two and a half weeks with Lynn not working and we have seemed to spend them working at the house. The list seems to get longer, not shorter.

Our weather here has been cool then warm and now cool. Not cold, freezing or snow but a few of the days have made us think of the Holidays. All our shopping is done and some in the mail.We always buy the same gift for the kids(can't say what it is as yet as they read this) and this year gift cards for the grand kids and of course, their silver bells. This is a tradition that Lynn and I started when Emily was born and as each one came along, we have kept it up. The bells are the silver sleigh bells or silver normal shaped bells that Gorham and some of the other silver manufactures make at Xmas. We will hopefully be able to continue until each of the grandkids are 21 which will give them a collection of 22 bells to have for the rest of their lives and hopefully pass down to their kids. Each bell has the year on it and they are not all alike. We did purchase a new bell this year from that is the first edition. I don't think it is as special looking as the others but thought we should do it this year. As the years have come and gone, the price on the bells has increased but so has silver. We feel this gift will give them something to start their lives with when they are out on their own. I so wish I had bought on for us as time went along but we are not putting up a tree this year sooooooo their would not be used.

We have decorated our outside with lit wreaths on all the front windows with a big wreath on the porch. A few things in but with the kids not coming for Christmas, it just felt like toooo much for us to do. We put greenery in the bike basket and a sign on the bike with a light. Kind of like a back yard Xmas Card. I have my 1776 Santa Quilt is hanging out---every years since 1981 and some of the Santa collection and a couple of Poinsettias so that is enough for us this year. Want to try to make some mints like Mom used to do. Boy, she really did make the candy of all sorts and make up boxes for friends and family. Not sure where she got her energy!? All of us looked forward to the Christmas season as we knew there would be all sorts of candy in the works. The smells in the house were unbelieveable!

I hopefully will be able to get some cards in the mail but probably will just do our New Year's Letter.

Oh, purchased a new camera. A Nikon D40x (Digital SLR) with all the bells and whistles. Hopefully, it won't take me years to learn it but I know I will love all the extras. Maybe I will post some of the pics here. Keep checking back. I will also put up some video of our lights on the house and a pic of the bike!

Cool and rainy here today but it makes it feel like the Holidays. Check back soon. Here us one of my last roses. Pic taken with my new camera!

Last Rose of 2007

BUSY, BUSY MONTH!

2007-11-17T08:35:00.000-06:00

A Few Shots of Buddy from Halloween

It's been a while since I have posted. We have been very busy with all the fall things that seem to happen all at once. I enjoyed a trip to Houston for the International Quilt Show. I went on a tour bus out of Tyler, Tx. with the quilt guild and we arrived at 9:45 and left at 5:00. It was a short time but I did make all the vendor booths and missed all the quilts! That is really a show for two days. Maybe next year. I have only missed two shows since 1983 and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Here is a pic of the new front doors. We have five outside doors on this home---soooo when you change one, you must change two---yikes, double the dollars!

I also went to Dallas to take a class from my watercolor teacher, Janet Warden. What fun! I have not been to a class for a couple of years but hope I can attend. Janet is a wonderful teacher and I had a wonderful time. Her web site and information is http://www.theartcompany2.com/

Lynn stayed in Mineola that day to attend the Iron Horse Festival. He said is was really a good time and the antique cars were fabo. We attended the Edgewood Heritage Festival on the 10th and enjoyed it. Car show, vendors and Heritage Park was open. What a neat group of old buildings with old time crafts.

Well, didn't get this posted until now---Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas Season is upon us. Lynn and I had much to be Thankful for this year. We went to San Antonio to Clint and Melody's new home for Thanksgiving. Jen, Mark and the kids came too and we had a wonderful meal hosted by the San Antonio Woosleys. Melody went out of the way to make a feast! Beautiful Turkey, Prime Rib and all the fixings! Well, we all over ate but enjoyed it sooo much and we sure did have a few days of fun. The house was full of dogs! Jen's 3, our Buddy and their Pebbles! Five doggies kept things hopping!

NEWS FLASH! After three months, some drugs and pretty good eating, my cholesterol is down from 556 to 165!!!!!!!! I guess I am not a "dead woman walking" at least getting things back to normal. I am feeling so much better and my ankles are not hurting as much! We are very happy about this news. Hopefully, I can get off the drugs sometime soon.

More pictures soon. This is a sunset picture from Mineola Fall 2007

RED LETTER DAY FOR THE WOOSLEYS

2007-10-24T11:37:00.001-05:00

Car Show in Lindale Saturday

Monday was a RED LETTER DAY for us. We signed up for Social Security!!!! The more I think about it, I thought it would be years and years before this was possible but Zowie! Time passes quickly and here it is. Lynn will continue to work so much of ours will go back to them if we don't keep good track of the time but still half is good!

We arrived home from Gulf Shores on Friday as it rained 12" there overnight and we were very tired of hearing the hard rain. We drove straight thru and wasn't a bad trip. So enjoyed it and hope to go back soon. Plan to take the camper to Lake Whitney in November and then will probably park it until February.

Saturday was the Hwy 80 Garage Sale (yearly event) and we took off and checked it out. It runs from Terrell to Longview on Hwy 80 and people just pull over in a lot and set up anywhere. Lots of goodies but Lynn and I attended two car shows. He loves those old cars. We have had several over the years that we should have kept but you know how hindsight goes.

Here is one we thought was cool!!!

Since we came home a bit early, we decided to go the the Texas State Fair! Sunday was a beautiful day and perfect for the fair. We did decided we would not go again on a weekend as there were crowds everywhere. Spent time at the Vita-Mix booth as usual. Got some new recipes and tips. I love that machine and now with the special diet, it comes in handy!

Went to a class last night on making Broken China Jewelry. Lots of fun and I made three pieces. Need to really practice the techniques, but happy with what I did for practice.

Excited, I just got a call that I made it on the Bus to the Houston International Quilt Show next Thrus. Bus out of Tyler drops us at the door and pics us up at 5 pm and brings us home. Not a bad day, for sure. Will see all the quilts and the vendor booths are fabo. Excited.

Fall in Alabama Shrimp Festival 2007

2007-10-19T00:20:00.000-05:00

We arrived here on Saturday to beautiful weather! Alabama coast, Gulf Shores, is a great place to be in the fall. We attended the 36th Annual Shrimp Festival on Sunday on the Beach in Gulf Shores. http://www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/ What a wonderful art show!!! Also the food is out of this world. Vendors from all over showing off the recipes they are known for. Well, guess what---with my shell fish allergy, I didn't dare try fish just because I didn't know how it was cooked and didn't want to take the chance of a trip to the hospital. Forgot to bring my shot to counter act the allergy. We saw some wonderful art!!!! Great water colors, pottery, wood turning, oils and photography. Hope to come again. I have eater gouper several times this week and boy, the way they fix it here, you want more and more. Grilled fish is wonderful and it has won Lynn over.

The weather has been wonderful and we haven't had to run our air in the camper until today. That was because it has been raining for 24 hours---almost every minute. Hard, hard rain. Buddy is really bummed as he loves to be outside. I have no idea how much we have received but water is standing everywhere. Hope we don't float away!!!!

I had planned to do some quilting and even brought my little sewing machine but it seems we were enjoying the outside too much. We shopped at the Tanger Outlets, (biggest in the southeast and building on) It is just about a mile from us here. We went to a fabric store that sells fabric by the pound. I made it to a quilt shop for just a short time also. Camping World took up some of our time, too. There are so many place to go here but Monday we spent hours at the beach. The waves were very high as there was some wind! It was so enjoyable----wish we had a beach closer to Mineola! I guess it's more fun to come this way and not have to worry about the hurricanes.

We head home tomorrow. Hope we can make it so we can attend the Texas State Fair on Sunday as it is the last day. Back to the real world next week. I AM going to do some quilting and clean the studio so I can start some Fall projects.

Our youngest, Jennifer was 38 on Monday so feel a bit old myself and really wanting to get so many things done for the kids! My art is important to me and I hope to leave some to my kids even if they only hang it when I am coming for a visit.

OCTOBER IS UPON US

2007-10-09T07:11:00.000-05:00

Flying Geese Wall Quilt

October, my favorite month is here and the weather in Texas has been very nice. Lynn, Buddy and I are getting ready to leave this Thursday for Alabama--Gulf Shores. We do love it there and have a favorite campspot. http://www.anchorsaweighrv.com here we stay. I am taking some things to do and we are just going to kick back and enjoy the beach. Oh, will hopefully be attending the 36th Annual Shrimp Festival this next weekend. We went there last year and it was so much fun.

I have completed a 12 hour drawing class last week. It's hard and I need lots of practice but isn't that the way with everything? I also entered three small quilts in the League of the Arts Quilt Show that starts this next weekend. http://www.mlota.org/ Just want to support the group and I haven't quilted for some time now. Old stuff but new to them. I am starting a mini quilt this week. May even do hand piecing???

On the Street Where I live!

1776 Santa designed by me in 1981. Sold thru Quilt Country, Kansas City

as a commercial pattern. I retain the registered copyright.

I got my silk painting supplies in the mail last Friday so looking forward to finishing my scarf and starting something new. Watch for updates.

VERY FULL WEEK!

2007-10-03T22:06:00.000-05:00

Mr. Buddy Ready for a Ride 10/2007

Lynn and Buddy got the Mercedes out and cleaned it up and we all took it for a ride! Well, Buddy only lasted about 25 feet before he jumped on the back and then off the car. Guess he didn't feel as if he could handle the top down. He does like to sit in it and act as if he is ready!

It really is fun to have a convertible---so Lynn may keep it, who knows. We did have a wonderful surprise last week when we took off the hard top and were able to see a cloth top, looks like never used under the cover!

The Boys and Their Toys!

Our week has been filled with fun. Had a great weekend with dinner at the Shed in Edom. Marcia, our neighbor and Lynn and I drove about 25 miles but it was worth the drive. Salmon, grilled----very, very good.

Friday I went to a class at the League of the Arts on making felt. I did a small clutch purse and a larger flap purse. Well, I still have my clutch but for some reason, Buddy didn't love the flap purse and shook it to death! He looks like he was attacking the sheep the wool came from. It wasn't good so guess I wasn't unhappy but hope to do more soon. It is a very neat craft and I took it from a master. She even raises he own sheep!!!

Monday I went to Hideaway Lake to a new friend's home and she and two new friends and I painted silk scarves. What fun it is. So fast and now I am hooked! Ordered supplies to finish my scarf as I didn't want to use up Penny's paint and it should be here the end of the week. I am thrilled with my first project but it isn't done. Want to have a dark background so when my paint comes in, I will finish it. This is a one of a kind and I think I am going to love it. Finish, I did finish two knitted scarves this week, too.

First stage of silk scarf. 22 x 22

Tuesday I went to a 6 of 12 hours of pencil drawing class. Will finish up on Friday. I really do need to learn it and it seems everything comes at once. It's HARD---hopefully I will have something to show you soon. Also, I joined a Scherenschnitte online group. I hope to do some "paper cutting" this fall and Connie Rhine got me interested again when we were in Iowa. She is doing some for the kids for Halloween. They are toooooo cute.

More to come---stop back and see my progress with the silk painting. I hope I have enough time to at least try all the art I want to do.

Car Show Tonight, Class on Felting Friday.

2007-09-27T18:25:00.000-05:00

Great Grill

Was a good day today! We got up late and walked a bit then had breakfast of egg beaters! Yes, I am doing all I can to help my situation and when I weighed today, I had lost another 3.5 lbs!! Yeah!!!! Eating right does make a difference. Lynn has lost too so doing this together is a good thing. Got my extended VAP test back today and my numbers are down considerable. Still high but only been doing this 10 days when we took the other test. Down 200 points and that does make me feel a bit better. Still have a ways to go but all of this is for a best, I am sure.

I have an all day class tomorrow at the League of the Arts http://www.mlota.org/ I am going to learn how to embellish with felting. Should be fun.

The man is coming to install our new Texas Star doors on the front of the house. Having two front doors is expensive---never thought about that one. Will share a pic here when they are installed. Another man is coming to give us a bid on a single Stainless Steel sink in the kitchen. After having a single sink and going back to a double, well, it is like night and day. Hopefully it can be done and the $$ is not too bad. One never knows on custom orders.

This is what I found our about the Purple People Eater Flower I have growing. Scary!

The Purple People Eater is a variety of Datura--a poisonous plant used in Voodoo rituals--in the making of zombies! It's also called 'devil's trumpet'. It is very beautiful, but (not that you would be tempted, but..) DONT EAT IT! Well, wasn't going to but will have to watch Buddy! How can something so beautiful be so strange?

Well, off to a car show here in Mineola. Going to take my camera. Maybe a pic or two.

Buddy Is Ready for Fall!

2007-09-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Our Buddy Joe, Fall 07

Boy, just realized that Summer is past and Fall is almost ready to show it's colors. Fall is such a beautiful time of year---and I am looking forward to the color. We hope to travel early October to see some of the fall. We have not been anywhere in our new travel trailer but one night in Jen's driveway so it should be great fun. Will just take off for a couple of weeks and see where it leads us.

Buddy went to the groomers this morning so decided it was a good time to take a pic for fall. He is such a poser and very patient when I am taking pictures. I bought a stick tripod and I LOVE it. These little digital cameras even with stabilization and really blur---well, guess it is me, not the camera.

Here is his shot for Fall----

Buddy Joe

Come back soon and check out my Picasa Web Album!
http://picasaweb.google.com/martywoos/PurplePeopleEaterFlower

Back to the Real World!

2007-09-11T12:42:00.000-05:00

Fall Picture I Took at a Market

I did feel pretty good to get home Friday of last week. We took our time coming down thur Arkansas and went to Dallas to pick up our Buddy Joe. We had had three weeks of running and playing with his "nephew dogs" but I think was glad to get back to Mineola and out of the Bid City! Jen and Mark are putting in a beautiful swimming pool and Buddy took great care in checking out the workmen.

We took Sat. off to relax and Sunday I went to Dallas to attend a meeting to the North Texas Clay Guild. It's been sometime since I have attended as it is about 110 miles each way and about 1 and 1 !/2-2 hours of driving. Was glad I went as got to see some good old friends that I haven't seen in awhile.

Well, didn't have such good news when we returned. Glad I didn't know while I was gone that I am a "dead woman walking"
I had a blood test the morning we left town and WOW! Guess I am not as healthy I we thought. I have lost 39.5 lbs this year and thought that was great. Lost 3 lbs. While we were on vacation!!!!

Amazing how things can turn. My Cholesterol has always been about 130 and it is now. 556 and my triglycerides are 796 Doctor sent me a note and said it was in very dangerous level and sent a prescription for me. Now I have to keep checking and watch my diet, I guess. Lynn and I have both started on a low fat and low cholesterol diet yesterday. It really isn't hard and hope we both loose more weight and get the numbers down. Will miss our prime rib and rib eye steaks but we will survive.

Lynn is mowing today and I am trying to get back to normal, what ever that might be.
This is a wonderful day! Great to be home and retired.