After Christmas

We had a great Christmas, so many family and so much food and its not over yet.  On Monday, January 2, we will go to our daughter's home to celebrate with our grandson who will be home from the Navy.  It will be great seeing him and visiting again with most of the family.

I have been preparing for a New Year's Eve party at our local Senior Center, shopping for 3 days, also had my hair cut.  It did not turn out like I wanted, in fact it is the worst hair cut and perm I ever had.  My regular hairdresser was on vacation so I went to someone else.  Boohoo, I hate my hair.

I have not been painting lately, but hope to get back at it in the new year.  For Christmas I sewed Christmas presents which was my creative outlet for December.

I am looking forward to a great new year with many blessings and many new and exciting activities.

Happy New Year to All!!!

Veterans Day

I am reading a delightful book about being rich in blessings not money and realize how rich I am.  I have 4 wonderful children, a beautiful daughter-in-law, 2 great son-in-laws, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  I am so blessed.  My health is not great, but I have survived a very bad illness and I'm thankful for that.

Two of my grandsons are in the armed forces and I am thankful today for their service to our country and their sacrifice, also to my husband who served in the Navy.  Yesterday we met with veterans from the local community to visit and to thank them for their service. 

I am also thankful for the blessings of many friends in the area who I see regularly and enjoy visiting with and playing games. Last night we played poker and had a great time.  I am involved in the art world in my small communtiy and we just completed our 8th annual Buda Fine Arts Festival in Buda, Texas, which was quite successful.

Liz's Blog

I am following my daughter-in-law, Liz' blog.  She is recovering from breast cancer and her blog "Help to Heal" is very compelling and interesting.  For anyone who has faced cancer it is informative.  She is a very beautiful and brave woman and great mother.  Take a look at her blog and give her your support.

I am once again involved with the Buda Fine Arts Festival, which is scheduled for October 22 and 23 on the greenbelt in downtown Buda, Texas.  The hours are Sat. 10-6 and Sun 10-4pm.  I will not be showing my art this year, but I'm acting a treasurer for the group and will be helping at the festival.  Please, if you are in the vicinity stop by and visit the 30 or so wonderful artists and me.  I'll be looking forward to seeing you.

Along with about 10 other artists, I have my artwork hanging in the Buda City Hall.  During the art festival there will be a quilt show in the city hall so I know it will be open, but don't know if the areas that have our art work will be open, however, it is open weekdays.  Stop by and take a look.

Abstract art

I have some new paintings, unlike my previous paintings. These are my first attempt at abstract art, fun but I don't know that I have the knack yet. These paintings are on display at Kerbey Lane Cafe in South Austin on Wm Cannon Dr. Go by and view the exhibit by Artists of the South Corridor.

Trip to Kansas

We drove to Ellinwood, Kansas with our friend, Norlin Razak.  I stayed with my cousin, Gerry Menges, who I had not seen in over 40 years.  We reminised about our childhoods and tried to catch up on our lives since seeing each other.  We have been keeping in touch by email for years so it was not all that hard to catch up with current items.  I met 3 of her children, 1 grandchild and 2 greats.  She had just lost her husband in April and is still mourning his lose.  They own a wholesale fireworks business which keeps her and her son very busy.  We visited the cemetery at Ellinwood and located our great-grandparents from Germany tombstones as well as other Kleins who may be relatives, then we went to Sts. Peter and Paul cemetary out in the country, where we found more Klein tombstones, including the great-grandparents son, Casper.  We then went to the Ellinwood library where we found a write-up and pictures of the great-grandparents.  (I have posted all this on Ancestry.com)  From Ellinwood we traveled to Wichita where we stayed with my nephew, Bill and wife Carla, to attend the White family reunion.  So many cousins to visit, it was great.  I got more information for Ancestry.com. Took many photos to post.  Our friend Norlin stayed with friends and had a good visit.

Vacations

On our trip to Kansas I was able to go to the Ellinwood cemetery and found my great-grandparents from Germany tombstones.  Also I found pictures of them at the Library.  They were among the first 12 families to settle in Sts. Peter and Paul, outside Ellinwood.  Next we went to Virginia to visit our son and family.  Visited the National Zoo yesterday.  Great place. 

Vacations

We are planning two vacations in June.  The first will be to Kansas where we will visit a cousin I haven't seen in over 40 years and hopefully find some additional ancestry information for my mother's family.  (Do you ever watch "Who Do You Think You Are?)  My great grandmother and great grandfather from Germany may be buried in the little town where my cousin lives, Ellinwood, Kansas, and I hope to visit their graves and take photos for my Ancestry.com website.  From there we will go to Wichita for the White family reunion (my father's family) and visit my nephew and sister-in-law, plus all the relatives who come to the reunion.  I will certainly miss my cousin, Nina, who passed away this year and was always at the family reunions.  We are traveling with a friend who also has friends in Ellinwood and Wichita.  Later in the month we will travel to Virginia to visit our son and his family.  We are looking forward to a driving trip to Virginia since we have always flown and I am anxious to see that part of the country.

Last day

Yesterday was my last day at work and now I can play or paint.  My Weight Watchers is going good but I have only lost 2 pounds so far.  I am not giving up, I will lose weight.  Painting, I am trying to find exactly what I want to paint next.  Landscapes or abstracts, I don't know yet, but I will post whatever I come up with as soon as I finish painting.

Weight Watchers

I have joined Weight Watchers and I'm hoping to lose some weight for health and vanity.  We are planning a trip to Kansas the first part of June and then to Virginia later in June and I would like to be a little thinner by then.  Just 4 more days to work and I will be retired again.  I am tired of this job and glad to see it end.  I want to get back to painting.  Bought some new canvases Saturday and anxious to get started putting some paint on them.

Snow

The Backporch and path

The front yard

Driveway and yard

Front yard, driveway and street

I am well aware that everyone in the North and Midwest have had a lot of snow, but we rarely get any snow and we did early this morning.  I am including photos of our 1 inch snow.  Not really very impressive to someone in Chicago I know, but here they are.

Working

Once again I am working as a tax preparer for the tax season, so I will not be doing much painting, however, I have started a series of fancy roosters.  The art organization I belong to, Artists of the South Corridor, has a new exhibit space, Chuck's Deli, in Manchaca, TX.  We will be hanging our first exhibit in this gallery space in February and changing paintings monthly.  You can find more of my paintings on artistsofthesouthcorridor.com. Please drop by and take a look.