I just read on the internet that Friday marked the 45th anniversary of the song "Let It Be" by the Beatles.  Hundreds flocked to Abbey Road to do the traditional walk across the street.

I did this walk in the 90's....so I thought I would share two pics...as you see I certainly looked different and was just recovering from a bad fractured arm. 

As you can tell I was hurrying...and traffic was bearing down on me....now I guess they are going to put a traffic warden there to aid people who want to walk across.

Until just recently I thought that I was one of the few who chose to do this but I guess it is quite the thing to do and many hundreds of people have done it.

Tomorrow I head out to Florida....so the only internet I will have is on my IPhone....hard to blog that way.  Not sure when I am returning....time will tell.

Have a great weekend!

Thinking Tuesday

I am calling today Thinking Tuesday.  Just for myself.  I am home today and going to do some thinking.  I have had a busy couple of weeks.  I went to the Ann Arbor Art Fairs....actually four of them were all going on at the same time.   It was crazy full of people and I actually got to have a conversation with the man who won best of show for painting.  I was walking by his booth and stopped to ask him some questions about his paintings.  He answered and we had a little conversation.  Later when I went by the Art Fair Booth I saw that he was the winner!  To me this was amazing because I just stumbled on his booth.  It seems like they place the best paintings in one area so I always make it a point to browse that area before I am too tired. 

I also went to the county fair.  It was at my daughter's insistence.  Lately she has been making sure that I do things.  Maybe it is the idea that I may be leaving to live in Florida...but whatever it is she has been keeping me busy.  This weekend we are going on a little trip up North....stopping first at Frankenmuth.  I haven't been there in ages...for those far away Frankenmuth is stuck in Christmas...there are quaint little shops selling Christmas items and of course, a store named Bronners...could possible be the biggest Christmas store ever.  I will try to take pictures.

Last night I brought in some more stuff from the trunk of my car.  I went to my storage and got stuff to go through.  I usually bring it in late night when the other residents are asleep....they always have questions like...."Are you moving?"   So I thought I had it made but when the elevator went up it stopped on the second floor and a lady got in with two books (our library is on the 2nd floor).  First thing she asks is...."Are you moving?"  lol.

Anyway I went through the box and it was mostly junk...some paint brushes...and some oil paints that are probably ruined by the cold winter....then I opened the bin and found more summer clothes...so I spent the next 1 1/2 hr trying on clothes.....I only found a few items that didn't fit....and the rest I really liked.  You see I never buy something unless I love it....so I just have so many things that I love.  It will be hard to whittle things down for a move.  That is one of the things that concerns me on moving.  I know I have to let go of things but it is so hard for me.  My daughter is no help....she really doesn't want me to go so I can't ask her to help me decide what stays and what goes....and I definitely can't take everything with me....heavens, I have just too much and to pack it and move it would be too costly for me. 

Sometimes the little voice in my head asks if I am doing the right thing.  My son and daughter who live here think I am not making a wise decision.  My son told me no one will hire someone my age.  I can't go there and not do some kind of work.  My daughter who lives in Florida says that getting a job won't be a problem...but it is here so why would it be different in Florida.  In two weeks I will
see what the job situation is in Florida...on the internet there seems to be lots of jobs advertised...but whether that is actually true remains to be seen.

Today I read about a woman called the woman in black.  She is seen along the highways between Georgia and Ohio....She only carries a little bag with her.  She dresses all in black.  How did she make the decision to give up all she had and just walk and live on the land?  Is she desperately sad or really more content.  Jesus tells us that we shouldn't lay up treasures on earth,

Matthew 6:19
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Maybe I need to keep that thought in mind in my personal situation. 

Well, enough for now.....have a great Tuesday...it is cooler here in Michigan today...hope the sun is shining where you are and that blessings are raining on you.
 

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Yesterday I had the day off from the Summer Reading Program so I decided that I had better do what I had planned from the beginning and head out to Toledo and go to my painting group. In the beginning I was volunteering 5 days a week and then realized that the artist club had painting times on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings. So I asked to change my scheduled days to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so I could paint with others.  For lots of reasons. I had been putting off going.   I always have been a little bashful in new situations so that is one of the reasons.  Another is my preparations for the Florida start new idea.  So yesterday I had a talk with myself and kind of got after myself and headed out. 

It is about a thirty five mile trip to the Toledo Botanical Gardens (where the Toledo Art Club calls home).  I was still not certain that I should go so right away a little voice inside kept listing more reasons not to go. The main one that popped up was about my car.  My car is old. It was purchased for cash after I had to let my wonderful Prius go back. I had intended for it to be a temporary vehicle and to get a better one down the road.  Now it's going on 5 years and I still have it.  Lately it has developed a problem. When it gets to between 49 and 52 miles per hour, it flutters.  Acts like it might stall out.   Scary. Again I gave myself a little push and decided I would just have to have more faith that I would make it there and back. (I did, by the way.)  

I actually got there a little early (8:45am) so I checked facebook on my phone.  I waited and waited.  It was 9:15 then 9:30.  I tried the door it was locked tight.  At 9:35 I decided to leave.  I went across town to the large shopping mall.  I tried on a lot of clothes and vowed to go back on my diet.  I did find one dress on sale for half price and since it was sleeveless I had to buy a shrug to go with it. Then I went to chic filet for lunch and told myself that I would get serious about that diet tomorrow. Lol

After that I was pretty worn out but I wanted to go back to the artist club.   To get some answers about the painting group but also to see my paintings hung in their gallery.   I knew the club Secretary would be there at 1pm.  So I went back across town.  When I got there I saw a lot of cars in the lot.  This didn't surprise me as I knew that there was a different class in the afternoon.  I went in and asked the secretary and she told me yes that they did have people painting there in the morning.  ?????  I told her my situation and we surmised together that it must have had a really late start.  Probably the people who regularly attend this were aware of it..but not someone like me...a first timer.   So although disappointed I understand.  I went in to look at my paintings and to compare to the ones who won.  (I didn't).  I guess I took the theme wrong.  It was the road less traveled and mine were the only ones with roads in them.  Most of them were paintings of farms.  I guess farming is done less nowadays but I wasn't thinking like that.  If I was part of that morning group I might have known.

So I left and drove home.  No incidents.  Yeah!   When I got home I was beat.  I sat on my sofa for a moment and awoke with a start about an hour later.

I was contemplating watching some tv and putting my feet up when I remembered that I had promised someone to go to the local opera house to view a play.  So I freshened up just in time to leave.  The play was "Catch Me if You Can" .  It was a movie but I had only seen parts of it.  The interesting thing about it was how they handled the many changes of scene.  I think there must have been about 14 scene changes.  The disappointing thing was that it was mostly a musical.  I must say that most of their plays are.  I would like to see a drama sometime with maybe only one or two songs. 
 One gal (toward the end) was a really great singer....I would have liked to hear more from her.  The lead male was good but kind of a boring voice and persona.  I got home at 11:30pm....a busy day and late night....made getting up today a little difficult.

Today I did the reading program this morning and am heading out to get my prescription and any groceries and then the rest of the day I will take it easy....maybe paint a little, read a little, stare at the tube a little.  Tomorrow Ann Arbor Street Festival and Art Shows...4 in total.

Happiness

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

The world of those who are happy is different from the world of those who are not.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.
James Oppenheim

Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.
Fyodor Dostoevsky

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
Frederick Keonig

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
Buddha

If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.
Chinese Proverb

Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it.
Bernard Meltzer

If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.
Epicurus

You can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you happy.
Eric Hoffer

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.
Henry David Thoreau

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
Albert Schweitzer

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
Benjamin Disraeli

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain

 

Good morning!  I am sitting at my table at the summer reading program. My student didn't come today for this hour so I am on my kindle writing this.  This past weekend I watched all the episodes to the series "The Killing"   36 episodes!   I don't usually do that but it did help keep me occupied.

I have been giving a lot of thought to what makes someone have a happy fulfilled life.  I use to think a happy life would mean having a home, family, and lots of things.  Especially money.  I am beginning to think I was so wrong.  It's really probably different for everyone and some people probably never find the answer.  What do you think?

Well almost time for my next student.   Write more soon

Wedding Day!

Yesterday was a great day!  I went to work at the summer reading program and got to meet my three young students.  They are all so charming....and the time with them just flew by.  Then I didn't stay for lunch but hurried home to my apartment to change into a dress and head out to Toledo for my daughter's wedding.

The groom's mother, Dottie, was suppose to pick me up and after I really hurried to get ready and be down in the lobby I waited and waited and finally decided something was wrong.  Could she have gone to the wrong senior high rise?  So I texted my daughter and waited for an answer....turns out Dottie misunderstood and was going to come an hour later (which would have been too late).  So she rushed over to pick me up but then insisted that I drive.  She has a brand new Ford Escape....so driving that was a LOT different than driving my 17 year old Monte Carlo.  When I tried the brakes I about threw us through the windows!  But I adjusted quickly and on the way home told her I wasn't giving her car back!

Here is a couple of pictures of the wedding...

 

 

As you can see it was quite informal...done on the Toledo Court House property in front of a statue.  Afterward we went to the Toledo Spaghetti Warehouse for a delicious meal and got to sit in the old Trolley.    I had Spaghetti with meat sauce...still have some in my frig....It was all delicious.  This is what they had...

 



Over the weekend while I was at their house I got an idea to buy them some new things for their table...then at the last minute I realized they wouldn't have a wedding cake...so I bought one and a bride and groom figurine and left it in their refrigerator as a surprise when they got home.  Here is a picture of the table and the cake...

 

 

So all in all a lovely day!

 



Happy 4th of July!

Today was the fourth of July and like most holidays I dreaded it.  I don't know why I am like that but I struggle with it all the time and just try to keep busy with things so I make it through.

Yesterday I advertised three things on facebook and sold two.  I advertised my oak desk...which I like but could live without.  My high table and two bar stools...which is never used and just takes up room.  Living alone I usually eat on a tv tray/table.  And the last was my stampin up collection.  The stampin up collection went right away....it was worth over $1000 but I wanted it gone and actually ended up getting $230 for all of it.  The high table and stools sold today for $50.  I still have the desk and no one even commented on it.  I guess oak furniture is out of style.  Now I have a little more room in my apartment. 

Tomorrow I leave to go and spend two days at my oldest daughter's house.  They are going to the amusement park and need someone to stay with the pets.  Then Monday starts the summer reading program and of all things Monday afternoon my daughter is getting married!  My oldest daughter is named Holly.  She was a difficult teen and left home at 15 and had a baby at 17.....somehow she went back to school in the evenings and got her high school diploma...then worked in factories for years...later she got tired of that and went to college where she got a degree in nursing.  She is now an RN.  We have sometimes disagreed on things but one thing I appreciate is that she will tell you how it really is.  If she doesn't like something or if you are making a mistake she is right there telling you...and she stands up for anyone who she thinks is in the right or is being mistreated.  No one in the family tangles with her!

Here is her picture :

 

 

 

and yes, that is her soon to be husband!

 

 

Nite all....

Good Morning!

I can't believe that when I woke up it was already after 10am.  I am usually an early riser and two days ago I was out walking at 6am.  Of course it could be that I really tired myself out yesterday doing sorting, sorting and sorting....with making only a small dent.  Last night I was still going through things and my chiming clock chimed one time....I stopped in my tracts and realized it was one o'clock in the morning!  So I dropped what I was doing, prepared for bed and took a few minutes to read a little in my kindle to make myself slow down and relax.  So I guess 10 am in that respect wasn't really a late sleep in. 

Today is back to work on things around here.  My usually neat apartment looks like a tornado swept through.  I am also going to try to find someone with a garage that I can borrow to have a sale.  Maybe I will put it out on facebook and see if any of my facebooks friends will respond. 

It is a beautiful day here in Michigan so maybe a walk is needed in a while. 

Here is a cute pic of my grandson....just to share....it's kind of how I feel sometimes....but here is a better one....

 

 

 

And  this is for me...

 

 

Have a nice day!



Sorting, Sorting and Sorting

Since I made my decision to move to Florida it dawned on me that I have so much to do.  I live in a small apartment that has 3 closets.  One is kind of large and supposed to be used for storage...which I guess I took way to seriously.  It is (or was) packed full.  Now a lot of it is in my living room.  Because one of the many things I have to do is get rid of things because I can't pay to have stuff shipped to Florida.  It is so hard.  I save too many things.  Pictures, greeting cards, art supplies, jewelry, and then there is all my stampin up stuff.  I have tons.  I sit and look at it all and get frustrated.  All the money I spent and how I wish now that I had it back.  I found about 20 notebooks...I guess they were on sale and I was going to college and thought I would need them.   All this from just one closet.  The other two hold clothes....how much clothes do we really need?  I have 5 pairs of boots...maybe six winter coats, dressy dresses, skirts that I hardly wear....and maybe 20 swimsuits....along with tons of tops, capris and jeans.  I have 3 sock drawers...imagine that.  What is wrong with me?  Maybe it goes back to when I was young and was lucky to have 3 outfits to wear to school.....I guess it affected me somehow.  Anyway it is so hard to just throw stuff out.   I guess I should pile up the jeans and take them to a resale shop....I just need to find out about that. 

So yesterday as I was pulling everything out of the closet, my grandson, Andrew, calls.  "Can I come over?" he asks.  I can't say no because guess what....he is leaving on Saturday to go and live in Florida....not just visit.  So I warned him the place was a mess but he was welcome to come.  Today when he left I gave him a big hug and told him I would miss him so much.  He has been a good companion in my lonely times and I will miss him coming over and us going to the movies together.  Now I will have to go to the movies alone again.  :(    I asked him if we could Skype sometimes and he said yes of course. 

I know I should be thinking that in the future I will move to Florida and he will be there for me again.  But when I look at my living room and the destruction of just one closet then Florida seems way out of the picture.  Of course you don't know the whole story that I have a whole 9x12 storage shed that still needs something done to...it has about 20 mystery bins....Christmas decorations....household goods I couldn't make a decision on when I left my house and other odds and ends.  I tried to bribe my grandchildren last year to help me clear it out and I had no takers. 


So you know what I will be doing in any spare time I have.  I hope in reading this you wont think badly of me  (I am not a real hoarder but I can see it lurking in the background) .....I think things just got out of hand and life kept going and I got behind.  Now I have to buckle down and purge things.

Well...that's my plan anyway. 
Next week starts our summer reading program and 3 mornings a week I will work one on one with children to improve their reading.  I made these plans before I made the Florida decision but at least it will give me a little reprieve from a task I hate. 

I have been thinking of what I want to do for the fourth of July.  No one in my family has mentioned any plans so I don't know what to do.  I guess if nothing comes up I will just work the day away on clearing out stuff.  Ok enough of that.  Maybe you can mention how you would handle the holiday if you were alone. 

June Update

I spent today at the Crosby Art Festival in Toledo, Ohio.   It is a huge affair and actually I went yesterday to browse the festival and today I went as a volunteer at the Toledo Artist Club which acts as an artist's lounge during the festival.  I learned to make coffee today.  Yup...I have only made instant coffee in my lifetime but today I must have made twelve pots of coffee and actually received compliments on how good it was.  Who knew I had a talent for this!

Last week I took three paintings to the Toledo Art Club for their show and was disappointed when none of the paintings were hanging in their gallery.  As a matter of fact the whole gallery had bare walls.  I asked why....and was told by another volunteer that it would be frowned upon to compete with the visiting artists who paid to exhibit there on this weekend.  I actually thought it was a lost opportunity since many of the artists asked to see some of our paintings and we had nothing to show them.

I am going to start visiting the Toledo Artist Club more often.  They have various times when members go in to paint together.  It is a little drive to get there (about 45 minutes) but I do need to meet with others who share my interests.

My other three paintings which are in another show are a big disappointment.  Not the paintings but the show itself.  I went over to check things out and there were a total of eight paintings and three of them were mine.  I won a juror's award (whatever that is) but not best of show.  My painting that won the juror's award was surprising because I didn't think it was my best work.  Here is the one that got the award

 

 

 

Excuse the glare and the date (I still haven't learned how to correct this on my camera).

 

 

 

I must say I was disappointed in my "friends".  Not one "friend" visited the show to see my art.  I was so upset last week that I called my daughter and told her I was coming to Florida for good and to get something ready for me.  I need a new start and new friends.  It will be a hard six weeks until I go for first a visit in which I will look for work and an apartment.  The hard part is that she might be moving so I might have to wait until fall. 

 

 

So after visiting the show I was so disappointed that I was glad that no one made an effort to visit.  But it still hurts that in a whole month not one person supported me in my interests after years of my supporting them in theirs.  Enough said..

 

I have no plans for the upcoming holiday except to go and house sit for my oldest daughter and her fiancé.  Oh...I almost forgot....they called and told me they are getting married on July 7!   My daughter had talked about it before but I think this is her fifth or six engagement and somehow I never believed it would happen.  So it will just be a courthouse wedding but at least she is finally getting married!  I was told to just dress casually whatever that means.  So at least I have that to look forward to. 

 

Well, enough of my prattle....hope all is going well for you.

 

 



Not sure anymore!

Some of you are friends on facebook and have already heard my news but I didn't put the story there...just an announcement. 

When I dropped off the entries for the art show (competition), I went to the museum and before I could enter the building a man approached me outside and asked if he could help me.  I asked him if this was the right place to leave my entries.  He said yes and that he could take them.  I gave him the envelope with my entry, my check and the three photos of my entries.  He said thanks..and I asked when I would know if I was accepted.  He said that I should get a call by May 15th. 

May 15th came and went.

I was a sad gal.  I never received a phone call!  First I was sad, then worried because my daughter thought it was strange that I gave the entry to a man, didn't get his name or a receipt...what can I say...I am very trusting.  Then I got mad.  How unfair to not let me know one way or another!  So the next day, I sat depressed in the afternoon and decided that I would just call the museum to make sure they got my entry...and maybe find out something.

So I looked up the number on the internet and called.  This time one of my first questions was "Who am I talking to?"  Then I said I needed to know if they received my entries and was I accepted or not....

And glory be...he said yes and that I was accepted.  I questioned why I didn't heard from them by the 15th and he said the deadline had been extended and they letter went out that day.

I was flooded with a bunch of emotions....relief, happiness, expectation....

Now today I expected the letter and no letter ?!?   I've have already
told a bunch of people so I hope there is no mix up.

Anyway, my photos don't do the paintings justice....but I thought I would try to post them anyway.

I won't know anything for a while....the show runs from June through July 3rd.  I just feel honored to be able to exhibit them and am now working on some to display at a local book store where they help local artists sell their paintings. 

Hello blogging friends

I haven't blogged since February and even right now I turned this on an off twice before starting to write. 

I think my IPhone is part of the reason.  I got one for Christmas and like a new toy used it almost exclusively.  Reading and writing blogs on the IPhone isn't fun...too tiny...but keeping up on Facebook and checking weather and taking lots of pictures was fun to learn.

Another reason is I have been busy painting.  I made a huge goal for myself.  In January I decided to create 20 paintings by Spring and have an art show of my paintings.  So far, I have ten paintings.   (A couple I hate.) And no plans for the show.   I was told about a local art competition and show and have sent in my entries...still haven't heard back from them.  Maybe by the 15th.

Other news is that my knee has been doing great.  I still don't have the range of motion I want but on New Year's eve I decided not to use my cane anymore and have been doing fine.  My daughter says that I am walking better than she has seen me in years.  Except for tonight when I started getting shooting pains up the front of my leg....I tried to sleep and couldn't ....so I am up blogging and hoping that the pain subsides soon.

My daughter did complete the Boston Marathon again this year.  Her time wasn't as good as the last time but I think it is great to just be able to finish...she says it is her last one but we will see.

School this year has been a challenge.  If you remember I volunteer as a foster grandparent in a first grade classroom.  I help the children with reading and math mostly...I use to be there for writing too but about a month ago I decided that 6 hours was too much for me and shortened my hours to 4.5....it helped a little.  We have a lot of children with behavior problems this year and some days I would just come home completely drained from them.  I am trying to decide whether to continue...or try another school next year....

and then I signed up to work the summer.  In the summer it is a little different in that the "grandma's" work one on one with a student for about an hour....some days you have two or three children which is easier than 23 or 24.  It is only for the morning hours and I decided to do it so I wouldn't stay in bed all day or be bored to death in the summer.   One summer I took the time off thinking that I would meet with friends and go shopping or to the beach....but I found that everyone I knew was working....so I ended up watching reruns of the Golden Girls....and staying in my apartment much too much.

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  I hardly ever write about it because I didn't have the ideal childhood....both my parents are passed now but they were never interested in my life when I was young nor when I got older...sad story.   I  tried to be a good Mother for my children but looking back  I can see where I should have done better....maybe it was because I never knew what to do or how to be a good Mom.  My daughters seem to have turned out okay but I still worry about my two sons....and pray for them a lot.  Anyway...just to say,  Mother's Day is hard for me.  If you had a good Mom and Dad you are indeed fortunate.

Well, I am going to try to put my leg up...maybe some ice and try to sleep.  Hopefully I will be able to write more next time and not be a stranger.

Recovering

I got so far behind on blogger.  Right after my last post I got sick and was sick for a week.  Needless to say I spent a lot of time in the bathroom.  I called my doctor and she had no open time slots for me even though I called at 8am...and no slots for the next day either....the receptionist suggested I go to the walk in clinic.  So I did and they gave me three prescriptions and I got better.  Now I am looking for a new doctor!

Winter has been rough this year.  Last night around this time we had a complete white-out.  Lots of accidents.  I never saw snow come down so hard and fast!  I am not sure but we were suppose to get 6 inches.  I have seen 12 foot drifts right behind our apartment building.  At the mall there is a huge mountain of snow.  The snow plows go all night there, many times keeping me awake since I live right next to the mall.   Today school got delayed at 5:30 am and then at 7:30am I got another phone call that school was closed.  I'm not sure how many days this makes but I know we are over the allotted amount and will probably have to make it up at the end of the school year. Personally I think they should have cancelled mid winter break which was last Friday and Monday.  But I guess they have to stick to their calendar.

I completed one more painting and started another one.  The last one has been a real struggle and I had to set it aside for a while.  Maybe I chose too ambitious of a goal.  I have to complete 14 more and find a place to have the show...then send out invitations and do advertising.   But I won't give up....I'll just press on. 

Are you sticking to your goals or resolutions?  I only had two...give up my cane (which I did on New Year's eve) and the other was to paint twenty pictures for a private art show.  Now I have added other....exercise each day.  Today I was able to walk 10 minutes on the treadmill...I tried the exercise bike and was so disappointed that my new knee would allow me to pedal. Next week I will ask the surgeon about it.  It will already be my six month check up.  Hopefully he will offer me some kind of solution.

Painting Number Five

This is picture number five in my animal collection.  I worked on this today during another one of
our snow storms.  I can see by taking a photo of it that there is still a little work to be done on it but for the most part I am satisfied with it.  It gave me something to do today since we didn't have school
today. (Actually I did the drawing and background over the weekend) 

 I wonder if we will have school tomorrow?  I hear that we are going to have low temps with
wind chills around -30.  I am thankful for a nice warm apartment.

Thanks to those who have read my stories.  I really appreciated your comments.  I wish there were
still magazines where you could send short stories to be published.  I don't know of any, so if you do, please let me know.  Actually, for myself I dislike reading short stories....they always seem to end to
soon so I much prefer books...and yes, I read a lot....something like 4 or 5 books a week.  What is your favorite...a story, a book or a movie?

Well, it is time for dinner....thinking of making a pot of chili...sounds good on a cold snowy day!

Another snowy day

Good morning!

Well, it is another snowy day here in my little town in Michigan.  Big fat flakes are coming down at
a rapid pace.  I haven't even checked the weather, just tried to decide what to do today.  I have laundry and a box of papers to sort out.  But I discovered a new website where I could publish my stories for review by whoever.  Yes, I also like to write.  So I decided to post a few on this site.  You will find them as tabs on my home page.  Let me know what you think of them.

My other project for today will be to work on my newest painting.  The last ones were pastels on paper.  This one is acrylic on canvas.  It is a work in progress and a challenge for sure.  I will post a pic when it is looking better...right now I only have put in the background.  I was kind of discouraged about doing this art show project.....maybe, I thought, it is too ambitious a plan for a 66 year old lady.  Maybe too ambitious for someone who has never shown her art to people.  Maybe I should just give up?  Then last night I was watching my favorite funny show...The Big Bang Theory...when all of a sudden my television automatically switched channels to Joyce Meyer.  She was talking about the Bible verse that says we, as Christians,  can do all things though Christ who strengthen us.  She said that if grocery stores sold miracles in a can we would probably all go to the grocery store and buy a case.  Then she said that miracles came in cans...I CAN.  not in I CAN'T's.  So many times she repeated I can, I can, I can.  She went on to say that we need to believe we can, to speak it, and to do it.  Then we have our miracle.  So I am just saying that I can...and you can too...in whatever you have always wanted to accomplish.  I guess I was meant to watch that show.

Now to get ready to do that laundry...have a great day and stay warm!!

I've been trying to convince myself to write a blog.  I have been keeping a journal since the 1st of the year but somehow blogging just hasn't happened for me in a while.

It is very cold here in Michigan and school was delayed for two hours this morning.  Personally I think they should have cancelled it since when I came home the wind chill was -24.  But they won't because of all the days we have already missed due to bad weather.  We have had our fair share.  I think this is the worse winter that I have seen in a while.  I finally turned the heat on in my apartment and even have a small heater running and it is still cold in here.  All I really want to do is lay on the sofa with a blanket.

My knee is much better.  My new year's resolution was to quit using my cane and I have been successful.  I still don't have the range of motion that I should and wonder if I will ever get it now.  I see the surgeon for my six month check on February 6.  He will be proud that I am walking so well but not so proud of how I can't bend my leg...makes putting on socks and shoes very difficult...and forget about cutting toenails...I will be getting pedicures from now on I guess.

For those who aren't on facebook with me...I have gone back to my painting.  I decided to try to get enough paintings done and to try to have an art showing of my work.  I need to start searching for a place to do this.  So far I have four paintingd done and am working on the fifth. 

Here is the one I posted on facebook....

This was just before I finished it....I added some land above the water...rounded the first zebra's body and straightened out some of the stripes.  Now I need to get it matted and framed....where I have some extra cash.   The next painting is an acrylic....easier to frame than a pastel.  All the painting in this collection will be of animals.

So between being a Grandma at school, painting...and the occasional trip to the casino that is about all I have been doing. (Oh, and trying to stay warm.)  Have a great weekend!