Painting

Don't you love pictures of stairways.   I do.    Reminds me that life is filled with ups and downs and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  We just have to work our way through whatever it is on a given day and get on with mending our fences and spreading a bit of love around.   Verbal hugs are good. 

If the winds are blowing and you have inclement weather,  look for a picture like this and hang it on your refrigerator door to remind you seasons change and time flies.
 

A new Biblical city discovered, as old as dirt and before King Tut's  rule.

Glass painting

More glass paintings

Yeah, I got out of my box and now have to wait to see if all my artistic endeavors will be accepted.  

Daughter Christine made me one of those pancakes you bake with apples.  She made it look easy.

YUM!!!   

Monday disappeared in a hurry and here it is Tuesday, another rainy day in Port Orchard with promises of a little sunshine today....I'll have to see it to believe it.   My "Pictures From A Movie Car" arrived yesterday and the mail carrier left them out In the rain, so you know today I am going to have a few words with the UPS folks today.  The publishing firm did a great job and I really am very proud of this book.   There is one small "A" where it should not be, how come we missed it I'll never know as we both went over the pictures and words dozens of times.    Guess I'll never attain perfection...but it is so much fun to try. 

So go about your business today and try to be perfect . . .good luck....you may never attain perfection and that is a good thing as if we were perfect we would not be around.
I brings to mind . . . "Monday's child is full of woe;  Tuesday's child has far to go;  Wednesday's child is loving and giving;  Thursday's child works hard for a living;  Friday's child is . . . well, I used to know it but the mind has gone blank...can't think of Saturday's child either , but Sunday's child is full of Grace....so be a Sunday child and make your world a beautiful place to be.     When I wake up at two a.m. and finish the little jingle, I'll let you know the ending....smile!!!    Hugs and Smiles . . Hugs and Smiles . . . you have it down so go out there a share today.   Hugs to all.

New Week

Orchids in Bloom  . . . Delicate, soft, pleasing to the eye , , , what is that old tune . . . 'lovely to look at, delightful to see,' la, la, la, la.....a great way to start your Monday.

A gentle reminder that November is moving right along.  Thanksgiving coming up and many of us will be having a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.    How lucky we are in comparison to some folks in our world...the Philippines with death and destruction from a typhoon and our own mid west torn and shaken by  a violent tornado that swept through so many states leaving desolation and misery behind.   Our weather is changing and we need to prepare for winter weather that could give us something to prepare for.   Meanwhile, donate to the Red Cross and Salvation Army knowing they are already on the 'floor' and doing what they can to help those in need.    We all hate being needy, but there are times when we have no choice.    Think about what you can do, and do it.   

I hope your week is going to be filled with 'good' days . . . days in which you participate in life and reach out to make it something special for your family and your friends.     A smile begets a smile.   Last evening we went to a very special Sunday dinner at one of the local restaurants here in Port Orchard.   The owner, a marvelous chef, whose name is John, cooked up a five course dinner for his patrons. He came out with a small taste of a special wine he ordered for his patrons to try.    I tasted blue cheese cookie, the name for a small tasty treat, followed by a small salad with greens and walnuts . . . delicious;  then came a lasagna that was out of this world in taste and textured, along with a small platter of small potatoes, carrots, and egg plant.   I came home with a doggy bag, as if I had eaten all of that, how could I possibly have room for a delicate cone like desert with light crème.   So add this spot, called the Main Street Bistro, on your must do list when you travel and come and visit Port Orchid and enjoy the friendly folks and all the wonders of this small town.

The glass painting went well and was fun.   I will show you pictures when I return home and download the camera. Am I enjoying my winter vacation with my daughter Christine? . . . yes!!!  Oh, by the way, if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas, turn on your television and go to the Hallmark Channel where there is a continuous flow of Christmas movies that will make you  wonder why you spend any time at all on any other channel.   They are fun, funky and dumb, predictable and make you laugh out loud.   Try them you may find the spirit that is missing in some.     This week they are going to show some of the old Hollywood Christmas movies with the stars we enjoyed so very long ago.     Get in the spirit!   Hugs to all. 

Sunday

I wish I had seen this picture while looking for something pretty to paint on glass.   The ladies up here in Port Orchard are getting ready for a big party in December and have glasses of all sizes and shapes to make beautiful for the event.    It is not as easy as it looks, but with a little practice it begins to look like a flower or a bird.  the butterfly is impossible, believe me I tried. I am going to try this one today;  wish me luck.

 

Yeah,  how true.  Take my glass painting for instance...practice makes perfect or so 'they' say;  but, they haven't seen my latest creations.    So today I'll try little things consistently.  I know, marbles...yeah for my team, they should be easy and colorful.

It is Sunday and hopefully a sunshine day.  We could use a little sunshine.  The weather turned cold here yesterday so winter is on its way.   Daughter Christine took me to my first auction.   It was crowded, cars and trucks lined up for miles.  All the dealers were there bidding for all kinds of treasures.   I had a look around the table before the auctioneer came in;  he did make us wait an hour as he was busy selling cars and trucks on the lot.   Two men with the auctioneer babble down to a 't'.   Fast , fast, fast, and a table was cleared quickly.   Depression glass goes for about twenty dollars for a couple of pieces in green.   It is amazing how quickly the prices jump.    They  have a huge barn filled with rows of 'stuff' and it is junk for the most part.  A lot of Christmas boxes of old ornaments but not the real ancient ones that have value.  Yard sale items that were never sold.    They auction them off in rows but we didn't stay for that part of the auction.   Three hours of sitting was more than enough for me.    We drove over to the port and the new brewery restaurant and had whatever you call brunch and dinner and had one of their famous sandwiches;  something like a pulled pork but  it had turkey, pork and different cheeses;  delicious.   

We came home to paint some small glasses and I'll take a picture of them  to put on the blog so you can see what I am talking about.     Meanwhile, enjoy your Sunday.    Make your today interesting so you will not be bored.   Someone is hoping you will call them or come by and join them for a hug or two.   Make someone smile and you will find yourself smiling right along with them.     Go....bear hugs and kisses;  what a combination.    Hugs to all.  

News

An unusual flower, tiny dancers with faces.  A duck and two kittens?  The picture reminded me of the old fashioned hats we worked on for the upcoming birthday bash at the Gallery this December.  It must be an orchid of some kind.    

Here is a topiary turtle.  Clever and different.    

For those of you who are interested in my granddaughter Erin, this is where she is heading in February.   She got her call, had her interview, waited and waited and waited and yesterday she heard the news.  she has been accepted and given a spot in Guyana.  South America here she comes.    So keep her in mind and wish her well.    She will be doing exactly what she loves to do and that is to teach sign language to the deaf and some hearing folks too.   .  The job has a bit of theater in it and she can put her salsa dancing to work.   She is a born actress anyway and I am sure she will make it fun for everyone.    Wait 'til they see her in action .  So say a prayer or two that she will be successful and safe.

The latest news from Andrea and Bob is the new house is finished and they have their move in date.   the light at the end of the tunnel.     I should be getting more pictures soon and I'll share them.   It has been fun to watch the beginning and end of their latest home building which they say is their last hurrah;  retirement has come their way;   or has it?   Time will tell.   They have a whole yard to finish with a garden yet to complete, neighbors to meet and as the old adage says...'let the fun begin.'  Good luck, good living and hopefully good health will follow them all the way.

Here in Port Orchard I was introduced to glass painting last evening so will be busy trying my hand at it today.   It is a Gallery project and it looks like a fun one.    I'll keep my camera ready and take a shot or two,  Christine has the weekend off so we may do a little looking around town part of the day.   I hope your Saturday is a fun one and you find time to relax and enjoy your surroundings.    Christmas is going to be here sooner than you think, so put your clever fingers to work and make your gifts this year.   The excitement comes easy when you hang around Gallery people filled with ideas, but let us slow down first and enjoy Thanksgiving and be grateful that we lived through both good and bad times this past year.   Do donate to the true organizations that are helping those poor folks in the Philippines .   The news and pictures have been horrifying.   Help anyway you can.    Dig deep, don't forget the smiles and hugs today, they just never wear out and are always  in need.    Hugs to all.
 

Friday All Day

The political cartoonist are at the ready. I guess this mess will not be over until the 'fat' lady sings.

Orchids in Bloom has been vacationing but are back with a beauty for us to admire.   The orchid is such a delicate flower, always lovely and a delight to the eye.

Granddaughter Erin is baking up a storm this week.  She tells us these lemon cookies are scrumptious. 

Have you ever seen such delicate beauty?   Wonder what it is called.   It is much to beautiful to smack with a rolled paper or a fly swatter.     Some species are meant to be admired. 

Angie posted this picture showing what the beavers are up to in Nevada.   I marvel at the size of the base of the tree and wonder how the beaver thought it could drag this log and make its hiding hole for the winter.  Looks like it has to come back and finish the job.

 A weekend coming up and it could be a rainy one.  We had rain here in  Port Orchard yesterday, a slight light drizzle all day but that didn't stop the folks for attending the big shindig at the three story assisted living home here.  They had a special event and received a passport as you entered and it was stamped as you entered each country.   They had a 'bar' with pumpkin lattes in Mexico;  a full dinner in the dining room which was Italy;   Chris and I had been to the Tea Room not knowing about this free dinner or you know where we would have chosen to go.   It smelled so good, and not an empty chair in sight.;   There was an art show by the folks that live there and some very talented artists reside there.   Some of the gallery folks volunteered.    The desert room was a sight to see with a table filled with very special deserts.   They showed a two bedroom  apartment which was lovely.    All in all they had a clever idea and ran with it and it was a tremendous success.   I met the Director who invited me back to see more of their apartments and I was introduced to the Mayor who passed out news of a special dinner for all the emergency responders.      We learned to pay attention to detail after missing out on all the goodies.   Although I can't say I missed out entirely as the Tea Room is one of my favorite places to go when I visit here.   I had the special, as usual, which is a half sandwich, a cup of soup and a piece of pie.    The waitress couldn't keep our order straight for one reason or another, and she brought the wrong pie , a huge piece of chocolate creme so I said it was fine, I'd take it.   Later she came over with a piece of lemon pie in a container and gave me it as a freebie for being nice....see, it pays to be nice.    The ladies at another table said she messed up on their order, which she had not, but they were teasing her in hopes of taking home a piece of pie.

How often a good deed, a smile from your eyes brings about good things in our lives.   Remember that today and get out there and make this a Friday to remember.    Work like you really enjoy it . . .and you will.    Smile like you really mean it and the payback will be smiles just for you.    And, oh hugs . . . walk in hugs, big hugs belly and chest melted as one and you will know just how love feels.    Go . . .earn a few bear hugs today.    Hugs to all.

Beauty

Perfection, a rose is a rose, is a rose . . . such beauty in our world 

An iceberg is forming.    The write up on this was that once formed it let loose and started for the boat lanes . . . titanic in tbe making, let us hope not. 

It seems that Christine and Erin are in a baking mood.    They tell us they are freezing these cookies for Christmas trays . . . um . . . I wonder as I know the tow of them are cookie monsters, nothing is safe, not even crumbs.    Save me one of each!!! 

He just wont be satisfied until he makes his billions. 

Good advice.    Keep trying and you will eventually succeed In whatever endeavor you try.

The weeks end is getting closer and I am going to attend an auction for the very first time.   Wonder what it is like and what will they have.  I'll have to sit on my hands just to make sure I don't bid on everything.  It should be fun and enlightening.   
Port Orchard is alive and well.  the downtown was ablaze of light and folks moving around.   I got to meet one of Christine's friends who was voted in as the newest councilwoman.   She seemed to know what she was talking about and I think she will be very good at her new job.   We had the Wednesday special at the Boon-Doggie restaurant and it was delicious, a five dollar special that comes with a salad of your choice.  Smart business folks as they have other evening specials as well and it gets the folks out and about.  

As we walked along the main street there was a large corner building with big open windows and you could peek in and see the dancers of all sizes and shapes.    The dance studio was alive with tiny little ones and it was such fun to watch them go through their routines.   The older group were really in step and looked very graceful as they circled around.  

So today put on your tutu, if you have one, and dance around and make yourself feel good.    Go shopping for the ingredients for your special cookies and get busy as you will be wanting to fill your gift trays very soon.   Mid November already . . .Thanksgiving first . . . better shop for groceries first and don't forget the mince pie.   Right now I am going to fill my coffee cup and wake up.     Know I am thinking about you and praying for special grace that you can share with all your family an d friends.    Good deeds first, don't forget to share the love and hugs and dance, dance, dance.   Hugs to all.
 

Food for Thought

Hey there Andrea and Bob, here's an idea for the garden if you have an old truck hanging around. 

/This came in on an e mail about red necks; really not a bad idea for a change in diet. 

The finished dish, all that is needed is a sauce..   I bet you try it. 

What!!!  We have to stand up and be counted because the majority of us are straight . . . sheesh!!!  What will come next?    I agree it is a crazy world we live in. 

We all agree Helen Keller was one in a million .   We all strive to be secure in life and we do find it is illusive as our seconds change in our wants and needs.  Just when you think you have it made, the bottom drops out and you have to start all over again . . . and you do, making your lives better as you grow and learn through all changes in your life and you find what you think of as security.
 

I had to laugh when I saw this picture.   I've been asking my family members what they would like for lunch or dinner and get that "I don't care" and I tell them I don't have any of those ingredients and the store doesn't carry them.     A long time ago, my brother-in-law Francis stayed with us between Marine hitches and I would ask him what he wanted for dinner;  the wrong thing to do as he didn't like anything.  I learned that if it was covered with gravy he couldn't tell the difference so you know he got to eat a lot of different dishes in disguise.   It pays to know what you want and what you like so you don't have surprises. 

Our rain proved to be low key and the day was spent inside as Christine had a lot of real work to do.   I played with the lap top which is set up at the other end of the kitchen tabled and had a chance to do some writing or I should say rewriting and editing of a tale I started some years ago.    The more I read the more bored I got so you know all those words went off to never-never land.   I started on another edit of a story I wanted to tell and now all I have to do is change the names to protect the innocent and I'll have another short novel.   
I am having trouble finding my likes and dislikes on the television as the programming is different and there are two remotes to use.  Now you know I don't do well with anything electronic so Christine is more than willing to rescue me since I shut the television  off after pushing a button or two and she had to get out her books on how to set or reset the television.  So now she knows what it is like to have a two-year old around the house.

I'm off to be served some hot coffee made from real beans and a little different in taste, but I'm getting used to it...smile.....Yuban where are you???    We haven't decided on breakfast yet and I am wondering if I should ask Christine what she would liked . . . smile. . . So go and have your breakfast and know what you want and what you like and love.    Eat a good breakfast for energy and to off and make your day as special as YOU.    Don't forget the mantra . . . smiles and hugs, smiles and hugs.   Send some my way.  Hugs to all.