More Birthdays...Mom and Rachel Atwood

Today our we are celebrating

my Mom's Birthday,

Glora Rosalyn Corder - born 1922

Maralla, Cimarron County, Oklahoma

I love and appreciate her. Her best

attribute is her positive attitude.

She just doesn't let things get

her down. I'm so grateful that

she has been an example to

all of our family.

It is also the birthday of Rachel Atwood.

She and Rob (Dennis's youngest son)

have been married for 11 years.

Den and I love Rachel and are so grateful

she and Rob are having such a terrific life

together! We wish her every happiness!!

Rachel writes a wonderful blog.

The address is posted on the side.

There is always an adventure going

on at their place!

Thanks Rachel for sharing.

Back to Blogging...I miss it!!

Today is the birthdays of some very special

people in my life, my sister, Linda, my granddaughter,

Sarah, and a dear friend of our family, Daphne.

I am finally getting back to blogging. I have figured

out that it's important to do the things that make

you happy, even if life's challenges get in the way!!

Happy Birthday Linda!! My sister likes to draw. And she loves animals.

Today is my sister, Linda's Birthday. She is

my best friend. I really cherish our friendship.

I can never thank her enough for always

being such a lovely example of Christian

charity. I admire and love her.

Today is my granddaughter, Sarah's Birthday.

She loves cows and is going to a rodeo

with her Mom and Sister today.

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

This was taken in Colorado last summer.

There are these goofy cement gorillas

next to Target and Sarah went up and

hugged one of them and then made

the funny "oooh ooh ohh" sound

that gorillas make.

Art Group Report

Small group tonight, but always

fun to be together and draw.

Still working on Zentangles

and incorporating them into

still life.

We are going to be focusing on Journaling

during the next couple of months.

This is one of my favorite Art Journaling

reference books.

Below: A jobsite photo thrown in for our

family and friends that are wondering

how the new hotel is coming along.

They are still collecting the final bids

on the actual hotel. But the foundation

for the parking garage is coming along nicely.

Art Group...Hand Lettering and more Zentangles

The ladies braved the Ferndale

bridge, and came to my place

for Art Group last night.

We worked on learning

Hand Lettering incorporating

Zentangles. Good times!

Art Group Lesson and Dollar Store Bargain!!

While shopping in the local Dollar Tree store I

found a bunch of things I liked, but not sure just

what to do with. I glued them all together and....

here's my Dollar Store Wreath! Everything here

is from the store expect the eucalyptus and the

wire holding it together. Total cost about $16.

Note: The flowers were white and I dyed them

with watered down acrylic paint, applied with

an old spray bottle.

Art Group Lesson for next week:

Hand Lettering

This font is called "French Manicure"

Way harder than I first thought.

Need to put in some time practicing!

Just sharing my favorite kitchen utensil.

The sprouter. Sprouts are terrific for

many reasons, along with good taste and

good health. I haven't been able to convince

any of my family of this, but I love them.

Best sprout website: http://sproutpeople.org

Everything you could ever want to know

about sprouts and sprouting, is on this site!

Happy Yew Near...Grand-daughter Sarah's version of Happy New Year!!

Den and I had the great fortune to spend

New Year's Eve with Wes and Melissa.

They have become gourmet cooks - totally amazing food.

Thanks so much for a terrific week-end!!

Crab Cakes with Pesto and Roasted Peppers - totally fabulous!

Baked Apples wrapped in dough!

Bolo tried hard not to sit by Dennis (not really a kitty lover)

Debi shares her Christmas gift.....a trip to the "city"

The Bishop gave Debi, his fiancee, tickets for two,

to the deYoung Museum in San Francisco

to see the art exhibit - Van Gogh, Gauguin,

Cezanne and Beyond:

Post Impressionist Masterpieces

from the Musee' de Orsay.

She invited me to go with her.

What an incredible experience!

We spent the night at the Hyatt Regency - check out the lobby.

Debi had to take a shot from an unusual angle!

These live orchids were everywhere,

by the elevators and in the lobby

The view from our room, looking down at the street below.

We went to Fisherman's Wharf and ate at

the Boudin Bakery.

You could watch as they made the best

sour-dough bread in the world!

Seeing the actual art was amazing and unforgettable!

These images are from the museum web-site.

Of course, we weren't allowed to take photos,

or touch the paintings - a real test for Debi!!

Back across the Golden Gate - thank you

Debi and Bishop - for sharing this wonderful gift!