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

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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.