2018 HERE WE COME..

Wipe the slate clean, focus  on what you really want, and chart your course!  Or, is this old stuff.  How about an adventurous alternative:

Give thanks that you life is exactly as it is and decide that 2018 will be the happiest year of your life yet.  Every day follow your heart and instincts down new paths.  This is what "the universe" prescribes.



So, I give you a Sunny painting for the coming year. . . . two sunny paintings:  And, I have both for sale as they have just been done.

In MY LIFE

In my life:
  I've loved
  I've lost
  I've missed
  I've hurt
  I've TRUSTED,
  I've made mistakes

But, most of all I've LEARNED!

Just had a memory maker with a 13 year old Grandson (Hix and Amy's).  He had a project for school to interview someone.  We had a cocoa and cookie "tea party" up in my treehouse studio for over 2 hours.  He, Braxton, asked some interesting and thought provoking questions.  If I had not been keeping a journal with a young woman friend, Paula, for the past 11 years, the questions would have needed much more thought time.  But, because Paula and I ask anything and everything, we have actually done some organizing of our life memories.  What a wonderful treasure to have both of these people, Grandson Braxton and friend Paula. in life.


Just sent two paintings to an International and National Show.  Very happy they got into the exhibition, and surprised that this one made it.

So Very True this QUOTE BY EINSTEIN

Weak people get revenge.

Strong people forgive.

Intelligent people ignore.

Did this sitting in by the TV, rather than up in treehouse.  Wanted to stay nearer to dear dog, Trudy.  How true it also is that we dog owners wish we were half as good as our dogs believe us to be.

50 YEAR CELEBRATION

DON'T KNOW MANY GALLERIES CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF BEING IN BUSINESS!  but Southwest Gallery is doing just that.

As a means of celebration, the artists that have been with the gallery are doing a 25 by 25 painting and the gallery is framing it and then it will be for sale for 50% off the normal asking price of that particular artist.  Here is my 25 by 25 painting.

Best of Show at the Eisemann Center

My thanks to the juror, Hebe Brooks, from Houston who judged this show at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas.  I had the fun of going with a friend who loves music and loaned me her dance shoes the first time we met at Ball Room Dancing lessons a year ago.  The Reception had a sweet 5 piece jazz band and good eats.  It was fun to share the evening with her.

The Richardson Library now owns this piece of work which was done from photographs I took some years ago.  The man had a black lab dog on his right that you do not see in the painting.  He had taken his handkerchief from a pocket and was putting it in the water to then take and cool his dog off.  Thought it was such a nice thing to do and glad I got his photo for the memory of the deed.

Maybe I'm Growing UP.

It's taken a lot of years to enumerate some things of importance to me.  Maybe I've known them all along, and I am just now putting them into words.  Or, maybe maturity is settling in.  I do know that I feel very comfortable with myself and I am not living by the standards of others,  but by my own standards.  And, I have been a pleaser.
  These things I want for my children and my grandchildren.
:
  Choose on your own to live by YOUR CHOICE (thoughtful choice) and not CHANCE.
  Choose to be USEFUL and not USED.
  Choose to be MOTIVATED and not MANIPULATED.
  Choose to be HAPPY and not SAD. (Happiness is a choice)

Just did this wonderful old Coon dog that has shared 15 years with his Master and Best Buddy.  The Father of the 30+ year old Son that owns this dear animal had me do the painting as a Birthday surprise.  It was a fun project.  Does he not look like a sweetheart!

Heavy Week End All About Painting

Saturday was Ennis Bluebonnet day.  Being a little concerned with Trudy, dog, who I brought with me as a source of companionship and security, I did not stay that long.  But, did take some good photos and do one small painting.

Then Sunday, i was a demo artist at the Southlake Perennial Garden Club from 10 am until 4 p.m. at the home of Deborah and William Brinkmann.  I saw soooo many people that I had some connection with: English teacher of Holly and Hunter in high school that espoused her love and interest in them, people I had sold property to, people that had paintings they had bought and even one that had an inherited painting of mine, person that lived in The Garden sub division (residential development I had done), person that came by and told me she had bought the painting on a brochure I had with me, etc.  It was like old home week.  Still got a couple of rather large paintings done and sold one.  Gave out a wad of cards and brochures.

The following painting is what I did for one of the demos at Garden Club Tour.  It sold to one of the workers for the tour.

MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK WHEN YOU LOOSE A LONG TIME BELOVED FRIEND

Got an email from the Son of Harry Oliver Davis last night that his father died Easter morning (yesterday) between 7 and 8 am from renal failure.

Harry and I went all the way through Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, together and never lost contact with each other through all of those years except when he was in New York for a period of time when he married and had a son.  He had diabetes his later years and one time came to see me after his Mother died in Rusk, Texas, and he moved there.  He brought his diabetes meds and stowed them in the refrigerator .  I helped him into my van that was the car of choice at that time.  Harry was a natural leader on campus and was the Vice President of the Student Body which put him in charge of the Honor System.  We both remained Independents all the way through Southwestern. And, he was a constant part of my early married life.  Have a photo of my first child, Mikey, on his lap in the New Braunfels area.  Always had a thoughtful birthday card or Christmas card from him after he moved back to Rusk, Texas.

My hope for Harry is that he knew his potential and had confidence and appreciation for the dynamic person he was.  His unique sense of humor and his kindness touched many lives.  Am fearful that he did not know this about himself , and what a shame that would be.


So the older I get, the more I understand that it is OK to love my life that others may not understand at all.  INTERESTING. ! ! ! !Maybe Harry did know and appreciate who he uniquely  was

.

What an ADVENTURE

Recently spent some days at Homestead Heritage in Waco.  A very dear friend has some relatives there.  We were fortunate to stay in a guest house that Kevin and Kelly built and owned on the acreage near their home.

Homestead is an agrarian community, very craft oriented, intentionally Christ centered.  The women do not wear make up, do not wear pants, home school their children, do not watch TV, but do use cell phones and computers.  Some of the men do work outside of the community.

They have one of the best restaurants in Waco.  I bought soaps, linens, jellies, the best cheese, a $9 loaf of bread that was loaded with nuts and seeds, great pottery.  Be sure and have their sweet potato soup and chips.  And, splurge on their ice cream.

I gave some critiques to a couple of the men who were painters.  One of the painters had some of the most beautiful chickens I had ever seen, so asked if he would turn them out so I could take photos.  The rooster was huge (and tough and controlling).  When Kevin called to thank me for some brushes I had sent through the mail, I asked him what that rooster's name was, as I had just started to paint him.  He informed me that he no longer was alive.  The wilderness backs up to their property and am sure that coyotes or maybe a bob cat took his life.

Loved seeing their fields of vegetables and berries, the storage of sweet potatoes into the side of the hill, the cattle, the aquaponics, the mill, the iron works, the wood working and making of gorgeous furniture, the cheese factory, the herbs.  In general, the life style is appealingly simple.

Here is my painting of their beautiful chickens.

Mentally Strong People Do These Six Things

The painting is a diptych that I did a while ago.  Think I will use the container again soon and paint another still life.

And, remember to celebrate other people's successes.  Be kind (my favorite word in English language)

The Butterfly

Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of

darkness and still become something beautiful.                Beau Taplin

TEACHING YOUR CHILD

Over and over I find myself wanting to congratulate some parents who are teaching their children HOW to live life, and not trying to prepare the path for their child.  They are teaching how to be happy, not how to be rich.  They teach how to value what is important in life.

Have a person in one of my classes in college that has a daughter she is raising by herself.  She is an excellent parent to her teen age daughter.  And, she is on a limited budget.  My hat is off to her.

BE YOU

 Be Silly.

Be Fun.

Be Crazy.                      BE YOU        Because life is too short to be anything but happy.

Another Form of Growth

Had a great time with Son in Law, Chris Daley, this week end.  He drove down to see old friends and go feral pig hunting.  Love him.

Talked  about much.  Came to a conclusion that this is another way to grow:
  Become friends with people not your age.  Hang out with people whose first language is not the same as yours.  Get to know someone who doesn't come from your social class.  This is how you see the world.  This is how you GROW.

Date Correction: May 19th FRIENDS OF THE ARTS

Date Correction: May 19th, Friday, FRIENDS OF THE ARTS

FRIENDS OF THE ARTS save this day--May 18th!

YOU will not want to miss this day, May 18th, a Thursday, from 10 am until 11:30 am at the unique home of Scott and Kelly Bradley, 1 Paigebrook, Westlake, Texas.

A brief talk will be given about the house that Dilbeck, architect, designed for the owner of the Dallas Morning News, Dealy, in 1934, and moving the house in many segments to it's present location at 1 Paigebrook.   You will not believe the planning, the energy, the money, the time,  it took for the rehabilitation of this "one of a kind" house (my all-time favorite in all the world!).

Tours of the house will take place and we are fortunate to have Chris McGuire, Classic Guitar Society, serenade the group.  The group will adjourn to a luncheon at The Classic Cafe in Roanoke, Texas, at 11:30 am.   Renova Williams has been the spark for this program.

Speaking of The Classic Guitar Society:  The Assad Brothers (Brazilian Masters) will be in Ft. Worth on February 16th at 7:30 pm. and in Dallas on February 17th at 7:30 pm.  A Gala Reception will be held on February 18th at 8 pm.  For further info and tickets call: 817 498 0363.  New York Times: "A kind of wizardry lies within the playing of Sergio and Odair Assad. They produce a supple, flawless. unified sound."

De Cluttering Life

I am in a new sense of "de cluttering" my life.  Have done some cleaning out and when you find things you did not remember you had and even worse don't know what they are, then you have too much "stuff".

Am finding that emotional and mental well-being is connected to clutter.  Isn't that interesting!

Finally getting rid of my horse Arabian Native Costumes and Side Saddle costume.  Crazy that I have these things and have not used them for decades.  They were an important part of life.  The wonderful memories of the times with people and horses is beyond description.  The fun and laughter of some of the quirky experiences that happen are priceless.

Here are a couple of my costumes along with a painting of a horse.

Life NOW

I sure have been philosophical  these past few weeks.  Probably caused by reflections on the new year and our presidential election.

Just was reading some of Richard Rohr's daily meditations and loved what he had to say about our Christian way of life.  Christianity is a loving way of life NOW, not just a system of beliefs and requirements that earn a reward in heaven.

He is a Franciscan Friar.  But, says that our Pope Francis is a man at the top who genuinely cares for the man at the bottom.  Love that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

I Went to TWO New Year's Parties Last Night.  One was pretentious and rather closed in their warmth.  Attendance was mainly from their Church group.  The other celebration was what I call a radical welcoming group (certainly not exclusionary) and nonjudgmental.  You might say "your attitude was different for the two, but it was not."  I did not know several at the later group. By the time the clock struck midnight, I did.

I am hearing from some of my young college student friends that I am in class with that they feel this same feeling about Christianity: judgmental, exclusionary, and inefficient.  This is a challenge to me. I hope it is to you.