Sunday, Sunday

I had a great day yesterday. It was a busy day trying to get caught up on things around the house. I'm still busy at it today. It was great to walk again yesterday and it looks like the sun is peeking through the clouds so I'll probably go out again today. I can't believe how much more energy I have walking. We visited a new church today with some good friends. It was awesome and I felt like the message spoke to my heart. It was wonderful to have Wayne and Bryant with me and sitting next to one of my favorite people in the world, Tracy. Anyway it's going to be a good day. My oldest daughter and her fiance' may join us next week at church. Well, I can't post without a picture so I'll start with our children. This is one of the pictures they gave us for Christmas. Aren't they a good-lookin' bunch! Ashley (19), Rob (27) & Stephanie (22) . They are actually in the picture with my Mom on my first post but I didn't really introduce them there. This is Cam (10 years) our Yellow Lab and Jackson (8 years) our Golden Retriever. They are our outside dogs and are so sweet. This is Annie (3 years) and Teddy (3 years) . Annie is a miniature long-haired Chihauhua and Teddy is supposed to be her brother but we're not so sure about that! Annie is my little princess and so very spoiled. This is one of the few times you'll see her "naked". She normally has on a sweater. Wayne sometimes calls her my Barbie Doll. This is Jasmine. She is a Fox Terrier and was Ashley's graduation present. Ashley had asked for a puppy for every birthday and holiday since I can remember. We finally caved and got her one. Well, little did we know that her breed is a very close cousin to a Jack Russell. She is WILD. She's as sweet and happy a dog as I've ever seen, however, you very rarely see her so calm as in this picutre. This is our latest addition. This is Jody, my Mom's dog. She is also Jackson's sister. Mom is moving and can't take her to the new subdivision so, since she's been part of the family for 8 years, we figured we wouldn't notice one more. In case you've lost count, yes, that is 6 dogs. This is General Lee. He is an African Grey parrot. He'll be 10 years old on May 30th. We've had him since he was a baby and had just a few feathers. He is so smart and so funny. He repeats EVERYTHING, and I do mean EVERYTHING! He rings like the phone, barks like the dogs, whistles the FSU fight song, the Andy Griffith theme song, sings Happy Birthday and much, much more. He's a real hoot and very entertaining. Well, I guess that's enough for now. Hope you have a great week. I'll start off GREAT because I'll be painting with Sandy!!!

TGIF...

I'm so-o-o glad it's Friday. It's been a very long week and I'm ready for the weekend. I'm so glad I'm not traveling this weekend so I have a couple of days to get some things done around the house. It has really been neglected lately! I took the first step in my healthier living today by walking for 30 minutes. Wow am I out of shape. To think 3 years ago I was walking 3 miles every day! I hate that I've gained so much weight over the past 3 years. That is really depressing but I'll get there again. I feel motivated and just have to remember that I have to put my health first or I won't be able to care for anyone else, which is just part of who I am. I can't expect my Mom to do it if I'm not willing to do it myself. :~)

I thought I'd post some pictures from my classes with Sandy. I've taken 9 classes and have already posted my tulips. I'm taking another class with Sandy on Monday that I'm really excited about. It is a birdhouse.

Steph, Heather and I painted this beautiful pinecone and greenery decoration at our first One Stroke class in November 2006. We were totally amazed!

This was my second project. Ashley and I attended this class. I even took vacation from work to do this project. It was great fun and I even painted another for a friend at work as a gift.

At my 3rd class, Stephanie and I had marathon day attending 2 classes back-to-back . This was a cute winter scene on canvas.

At my 4th class, the same day as the winter scene, Stephanie and I painted this poinsettia on a glass plate. It is amazing how different it is to paint on different surfaces.

This was my 5th class. Stephanie attended the class with me and Jessica came to watch. The cabbage roses were pretty difficult and the leaves gave me a fit but I enjoyed it and just need to practice. This is actually painted on a wooden plate that Sandy painted with the color "Linen" before class.

This was my 6th class and was a LOT of fun. Stephanie and Jessica and a coworker attended this class with me. We painted on canvas aprons.

For my 7th class I painted this cute grapevine heart wreath with rosebuds. We actually finished class in 1.5 hours instead of 2. I've painted this design on several things since.

I hadn't planned to take this class because I'd attened so many and wasn't sure what I would do with the finished product but Sandy talked me into it. I'm so glad I took this class because it was a huge departure from my previous projects. It was challenging but GREAT fun. I've decided I'm going to give this as a gift to one of my friends. It is painted on canvas that Sandy antiqued before class. Isn't she awesome?

Well, now that you are probably bored to death with all of my art, I guess I'll close for now. My 9th class was tulips which was on a previous post. Happy Friday!

Reality check and heart gifts...

Well, today was a reality check for me. We had a free health screening at work and as I expected, my numbers weren't good. Let's see, I need to lose weight, lower my cholesterol and lower my blood pressure (though not too bad). Luckily the only real good news I got was that my blood sugar was fine. :~) So, I've got to get it together and come up with a plan to exercise regularly as well and take some weight off! Again, nothing that I didn't already know but seeing the numbers was what I needed to motivate me. I wanted to post some of the things I've painted in class and on my own through Sandy's inspiration. :~) So, each day I'll share a few of the pictures with you. These were things I did for Valentine's Day/Week.

I painted this pretty palm tree on a little box for my Mom while she was in the hospital. Her living room is decorated with tropical decor so this will fit in perfectly.

I painted this little flower box for my Aunt. She and my Uncle are always so gracious and welcome our family with open arms whenever we visit. I wanted to be sure I painted her something special and had painted something similar on a gift bag for a friend. It's so colorful and so easy to do.

I painted this little box for my Grandmother last weekend. My Grandmother, as well as the rest of my family, are always so supportive of everything that I do and my painting is no exception. She and my Aunt watched me paint at her kitchen table and I enjoyed sharing my passion for painting with them.

When I found out that my Mom had a stroke I was waiting on additional information and trying to figure out when I could leave to go see her. I came home and started painting to try to relieve some stress and ended up painting these little boxes for my friends at work for Valentine's Day. I lined the box with pink tissue paper and filled them with conversation hearts. I think each of the recipients felt special because I made all of them different. Some turned out better than others but they were all painted from my heart and painting them helped me get through the difficult evening.

I painted on these cute little water bottles filled with candy for my cousins children. They came out pretty cute. I would have done the bumble bee a little differently but not bad for my first attempt. I painted the frog from a magnet that my Aunt had on her refrigerator.

I'm looking forward to the weekend to get caught up on some things around the house. No painting this weekend until I walk each day and get some cleaning done! :~(

Spring is almost here...

This is my first blog and my first post. I named it BLESSED LIFE AND BREATHLESS MOMENTS because I have been so blessed and I live for all of those wonderful moments that just make you so happy that it takes your breath away. I love to do things for others and share my blessings with them.

This has been a hard week since Mama had a stroke a week ago yesterday, 2/13. Ashley and I drove to see her in the hospital and our other kids and their significant others followed on Friday. Our kids are so awesome. They are always so supportive of our extended family. Mama is doing really well but she is so exhausted. I'm really concerned about her but I am so thankful that most of the effects of the stroke have nearly disappeared.

On a brighter note...I had my 9th painting class with Sandy tonight and we painted tulips. I like my butterfly best of all. The classes last 2 hours but it goes by so fast. When I leave there I am so relaxed. I'm so glad to be painting again after 30 years. Sandy has truly been an inspiration and has become a wonderful friend. I am so thankful for our new Hobby Lobby and for Sandy. I call her my "artistic hero". I hope you all have a hobby you love and that you MAKE time to enjoy it. :~) Kim