I must apoligize for the terribly long delay in writing on this Blog -- There has been a plethora of work done around the house and it seems that I've been completely swallowed by the "Fix It Now!!" syndrom, and now with barely the arms that I once had (The old ones have fallen off somewhere around the time I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the carpet to get it clean...after buying a new carpet steamer...that's 'nother story...) as they have left the country and are on a tramp steamer headed for the open waters --

We, that is The Husband & I have been on the search for a new abode...living here has done it's number on me, along with The Hospital and all their Dominions of Doom (i.e. "PAY US THAT MONEY YOU OWE< NOW!!!") and all the ugly phone calls ~~ Well, one can only take so much of that for just SO LONG...and then it becomes obvious that iit's just time to make the break and start things all over. We looked at serveral places just over the border in N.C., and have stumbled on a brand new little house, quite out in the country...surrounded by farmland and looking just like it needs a new crew of people to make it The Nice and Happy Little House it ought to be. We've going back over to look the house and land (just a tad shy of an acre) this weekend, and hopefully put an offer on it. We've also notified a realtor in the City here...He's suppossed to come over tonight and look our poor little house over and see what can be done with it. Oh -- we've done quite a bit to it in the past 3 weeks...the bedrooms have all been repainted, the kitchen has been patched and repainted, the carpet in all the rooms has been steam cleaned...'cept where the good machine took a nose dive and died in the middle of the front room floor...No --- that rant is for another day...

So, the realtor thinks that we should get just around the appraised value for the house, which is just a tad over the selling price of the place just down the highway...we should come out above even on the whole sale/rebuy deal. I'm so tired from all the scrubbing, painting, scraping and cleaning, that I'm suprised I've got any hands left at all. The house is as ready as I can make it...the youngest has been a gem and helped do some odds and ends for me while I was buzy with other projects...painted his room a wonderful shade of blue...and the carpet got cleaned so it's shade of blue just seems to glow now. I've replace curtains and cleaned up tile and grout in the bathrooms, so they look pretty good. Naturally since it's the day the Realtor is suppossed to show up, the tub decided it's a perfect time to get stopped up, and naturally I don't have the car today, an' can't go get drain cleaner till after The Husband gets home...which is the same time the Realtor is suppossed to be here...QUIT LOOKING AT MY GREY HAIR!!! I EARN THESE< THANK YOU!!!

So -- I'm scared and happy and worried and all those things people go thru when they sell a house..my nerves are completely shot, and I feel like throwing up half the time. I'm just hopeful that this won't be like the nightmare I went thru with our first house, where the 1st realtor I had was an absolute witch, and the second wasn't much better...but it was wayyyy out in the country, and they were the only ones in the area..so whatta ya gonna do?? Shades of another person trying to look the part of a Smart Wonderful Wealthy Person trying to sell our home keeps flying thru my head...LAWDY no wonder my last good nerve got up and left on that dayum tramp steamer...So for the last minute things, is recleanind the bathrooms, planting some fall flowers in containera on the front porch, and sweeping up around the outside of the house. The Youngest did start painting the trim all around the windows so that's one last thing to do. The Realtor did say he has a crew to finish whatever we can't seem to do, and I'm optimistic they'll get paid at the closing of the house...we just do NOT have $1,200 or so for any of the larger projects...and thats what scares me the most. If we can't pay the crew right away, we may not be able to do a thing...and I don't know if I can handle that at this point in time...DAYUM!! I SAID QUIT LOOKING AT MY GREY HAIR!!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has to go and paint up the patch job she finished last night...found some more spots where the previous owners covered up holes in the walls with wallpaper...and removing said wallpaper is indeed another story..and repainting over the plaster walls...well....shwooooo

My youngest son gets these little nagging-headacheyy-sinus problems that have driven him nutz since time began..So -- since he is a bright fellow and can fig're things out in a New York Minute...we drove to one of the local health food stores, and the owner suggested this product that clears up congestion, makes you smell good at the same time, and have one of the most cool looking packages I've seen in a long time. And it wasn't too expensive, which makes up for the drive across town in traffic...

I've been cleaning and getting the house ready for a realtor to come and look over early in the week. I've got a map and location for some acreage that sounds promising for The Husband & I -- we've gotten over the "Old Farmhouse From..." and feel like we're ready to go and look at properties again. I've got the address and some basic information on what kind of prep-work has been done on a couple parcels just over the border in NC and we'll do some investigating this afternoon. I'm also looking at so many other properties, it's amazing that I've gotten anything else accomplished. The Husband just says "Hmmph.." when I get too detailed in the information on houses, legal deals (contracts, buyers premiums..etc. .. ) so I try to keep all that under my hat for now. The Youngest and I worked all day yesterday cleaning and painting --- he's rearranging his bedroom and getting it ready to paint. He chose a very mellow blue for the walls and a slightly darker color for the trim and window ledge's -- The lady at the home improvement store was very impresed by his selection..he took FOR EVAH deciding what color to choose.."You know how MEN can be.." she sayz to me with a twinkle in her eye...I told her that my son is more picky than most women I know when it comes to picking things out. Good Golly Miss Molly....

I've got a collage just finishing in the studio!! YEAH!!! I don't have time this morning to get a picture on here, but in the morning after all the dust settles I'll post it here. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, I must say. I wanted to post it on here Friday, but the Youngest & I were going all OVAH getting paint and supplies..pricing this and that..an' then The Husband comes back up from the Raleigh area, 'bout 3 hours earlier than he'd first told me...so I had to make it a FASTT trip over to the truck terminal...AND THE CAR DIDN"T OVERHEAT!!! Well...after $500 the darn thing BETTER NOT!!! Even thinking of another breakdown gives me an instant headache....man o man...

LAdy of The Tulips -- who now has to skeedadle an' get dressed -- The Youngest will be home an' shooo me away from here an' I'll pout an' be sad for the rest of the afternoon....well...not really pout, but I will be looking at some Land...

~~~ There are some things that happen an' it just makes No Sense ~~~

Take yesterday...there I was , driving along down the Blvd., going to pick up the youngest at his job, then I was Planning to get The Husband after that, go back home an' have dinner, watch tv...the whole bit. However -- Other Things Occured that kept me from doing the Picking-Up-From-Job an' all the rest...The little car decided that during the middle of rush hour, going along in stop an' go traffic, that it just Did Not Want to Go Any Further. And promptly overheated and spewed radiator fluid all over the pavement. Fortunately there was one kind person who let me change lanes (having my hazard lights on probably helped, too..) an' of all things, the driveway that was closest to me was leading into A NEW CAR DEALERSHIP...I Am NotMaking This Up...

So -- there I was patiently and as time went on, Not So Patiently trying to tell The Husband and The Youngest that, No -- I Was not going to pick them up, as all of the coolant and Stuff had just spewed itself all over the Expectionally Clean driveway of NEW!! CAR!! Dealership, and I was literally going nowhere fast...So -- in the meantime all of the Salesmen were looking at me like they were really REALLY hoping that I'd just go away an' never dirty their Expectionally Clean driveway EVAH AGAIN...But the really cool thaing is that the towtruck driver who came to get me was really a hoot, and we had a good time laughing and he drove that truck like it was stolen...I mean, we FLEW down the street...an' he made sure that he made LOTS of noise when we left the Snoots standing in the Very Clean Driveway..

Which is just a long way to say that to repair/replace my popped out and Completely Dead radiator is going to cost just shy of $500...If I say it fast enuf it doesn't hurt so much. Fortunately The Husband just did get paid..but I had hoped to go get groceries this week...Wait!! Grapes are on sale..and they ARE healthy...hmm...maybe those won't be quite enuf to eat for the rest of the week...But the garage where I've been taking our cars for the longest time is being really good and not charging me for the car having to stay in their lot over night...usually most repair places here charge something like $30 - $50 per night, so I'm really lucky. I was, tho, very sad to find out that the original owner of the garage has passed away, which made me so upset!! He was an elderly man, but he was in that shop EVERY DAY THEY WERE OPEN!! I mean, he was well over 80 an' kept right on working till he jus' got too sick!! Wow!! So, now the 1 mechanic who has been there for over 10 years is running the shop with the owners widow...the mechanic and his wife are helping out as much as they can, I supposse, so that's really nice. And, with my little cost for repairs, I guess the widow will be ok for the time being...


I've got a pretty spiffy project drying in the studio...I've been working with it while I've been cleaning the house and getting it ready for the realtor to see. Rearange and re-do everything for the past week or more. Just moving furniture around can make such a difference!! The Husband said he was very happily suprised at what I did w/our bedroom, so I figure if HE notices, then there must be a good change. We went down an' looked at an older farmhouse this last weekend...that in itself is a Complete Story...an' I'll go into it more this week...les' just say that the place was in such bad shape, that in regards to the rentor in the house, my dear Sweet Husband sez, "Man!! Those people should be paying the RENTOR to stay in that place!! Not Her PAYING THEM!!!" --- I made sure to take a good hot shower after we got back from walking thru the farmhouse...shwwooooo...

Lady of The Tulips -- who nearly shudders at the remembering of the farmhouse floor...oh my dear mother would have fallen right over if she'd have seen that mess...

~~ Am going to pop in for a split second and say that things here are going zinging along ~~

I've been rearanging the house, getting some things put away and throwing things out that have been taking up space that I feel needs to be just that..space. Clean floors with no little dee-dads that sit and collect dust an' drive me to want to pull my hair out. I was getting ready to wash the curtains in my bedroom, 'till I took a better look at how the previous owner had them hung-up, and it's the biggest mess I've seen in some time...so now it's time to wait for The Husband to come home an' see if the 2 of us can figure out how to take down the whole mess. My middle son had cleaned in the room before, but I've got no idea of how he got those things down..hmmm..

I also got some work done on some little papers I cut and glued together the other afternoon. I'd planned on getting those set up on my recent canvas...an' then The Youngest called from work an' I had to go pick him up, after my Dr. Appt. Too many things at one time, shwoo..

But the Dr. Appt. went well...he said all my tests but one came back all normal. Uhhmmm..an' the one that came back bad, REALLY came back bad. Seems that the "Bad Cholesterol" is not just bad, it's wayyy up there. Normal reading for it is suppossed to be below 100. That's where I'd hoped to be...However....mine is reading 154. Yeah....no wonder I had a stroke...And the kicker is, that all the years I'd gone to the other clinic I NEVER had any blood work done, EVAH!!! ~~ And, as my Dr. said, "Well, then, you were probably walkin' around with this for some time!!" Yeah Buddy!! So, the Doc did say that it was fine with him to use Herbal Supplements, so this next week I need to find some that will Lower that bad Stuff ~~ Man - Man..who'd -a - guessed that I'd have something that bad !! The Dr. did say that probably some of what I'd been eating while out on the Road w/The Husband ws a big contributer to the bad count (Truck Stop Food) so whenever I had my last hamburger, that was definetly The Last Hamburger!! And, fries...chinese food...sugar-ee-cereal...etc., etc.,...


So now I'm copying lots of diets for reducing that Uglieee Count..my weight is good, so it's just reorganzing WHAT I eat...hopefully the $$ will be in the bank to pay for all the new stuff!! Shwoo...

I'm off to do some more cleaning in another bedroom..I've got some papers readying in the studio, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to get them set on their canvas...it's either one thing or another, I tell ya!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who also found some old clothes that she didn't even KNOW were still around the house!! Ack!!

WIP -- Spring Bay Studio

I was messing around with some of my paints over the weekend, and this is the start of a piece that I've been working on for a couple weeks. That seems sorta weird, I guess ~~ I mean by saying, that there are some people that can whip out a piece of work in something like 2 days, but for me it takes longer. And this rough canvas is an example of how much slower I work than other people. It was a lot of fun, tho to create these colors. I had the chance to sit in the early morning sun, while waiting for word from The Husband and what he had plans to do for the afternoon. Sometimes he tells me, "I'll call you right back..." and it takes him 3 hours to call "right back" This was one of those mornings where I told myself, Well, if it takes him longer than just a couple minuites, then I'll put the time to good use. Making the depth on the canvas was the most fun. I got really messy...ended up with goop on my shorts, some on my face...It never fails to amaze me how I can get stuff all over me, and still have enuf paint left over to get onto the canvas.

The Husband & I did take a day drive on Sunday to see an opening at a gallery north of here. The town is Hopewell, and the City Fathers have gone and are going thru the process of rebuilding the downtown area. A new beautiful library is under construction, and the old theatre is in the same process. The floors that have been rebuilt and rehabed are wonderfullly open, with plenty of light from windows that look out on the surrounding city. Very Nice, and all of the artists that were displaying their work were warm and friendly. I had the chance to talk with a few and found the afternoon went past in just a woosh! -- I had mistakenly walked downstairs from the second floor, not realizing that there is a 3rd floor, and it had more art and photography on display...well, I thot The Husband had gone outside, so I went wandering along, trying to figure out just where he could have gone...I got a little scared, and while trying to keep calm, I made the most of the situation, and looked over some of the shops that are near the theatre. Wonderful antiques and things that made me happy that I didn't have my debit card in my wallet..besides the fact that all the shops were closed (it was Sunday, after all...) I strolled around the newly built library and marveled at all the Huge windows surrounding the building, and was quite impressed with the overall construction of it. I was by this time getting a little concerned about where The Husband could be, and about the time I started thinking about what kind of strange people would or could possibly be wandering around downtown, I took a look down the street to see some guy looking kinda scary, and not too balanced. My knees just started to buckle, and about the time I thot I'd start making a bee-line towards the car, The Husband came running around a corner of the cross street, saying in a loud voice, "OH!! There you are!! You've got to come back and see what I've found!!" I was never so glad to see his face in a Long Time!!

Ends up that I somehow missed the staircase leading to the 3rd floor, so The Husband took me back in the theatre, and we climbed the stairs up to where the floor was: He brought me over to a photographer who had done some work out in California, and they both wanted me to see some shots that were taken not too far from where we have a little acre plus of land. Very Fine pictures they were, and it was fun to look at some other work from the local area as well. The photographer was kidding with me about disapearing, and said it was something for them all to look down from the 3rd floor to see me wandering away down the street...boy, didn't I feel like a sharp marble...

For any of you interested, the name of the newly rebuilt (and still in the process of being rebuilt..donations are Gladly Accepted!) is The Beacon -- I can't find the flyer that we got from the Art Opening, but the theatre is located downtown Hopewell, Virginia. For any of you in the area, make sure and take the time to go check it out. It is time well spent.

Lady of The Tulips -- who is now trying to get some of her papers glued together just right, but they seem to be having a mind of their own...Blast an' double Blast...

** This will probably be a short post, as I have 4.597 errands to run this morning. Then back to the studio to get some painting finished up. I also have to re-stitch 2 seams in a blouse I've been puttering with, so once I get that finished I can wear it this weekend.

The Husband was out in the country earlier this week, and discovered a small town that has a quaint art gallery/shop, along with some small stores and other things that caught his eye. He usually doesn't like to do the "Shopping" thing, but he knows that I like to go and check out unique places, so when he was going Very Slowly thru this one small town, he made a mental note of the downtown, and said it would make a nice day trip on the weekend. So, in theory, we will go and see some of the little places either tomorrow or sunday. The Husband had one of those weird loads of freight again...something like frozen chicken feet, headed overseas to one of the large Asian ports, going to some place where people eat chicken feet. No, this is not a joke--there are thousands of these chicken feet being shipped overseas, and The Husband hauls quite a bit of them every week or so. And, since most of these loads of freight weight somewhere between 80,000 and 90,000 pounds, he doesn't quite get out of his own way, so while driving along at 35 mph top speed, he's able to look at all the small towns with little nooks and crannys that catch his eye. He did say, that once out on the Interstate he is able to make it up to 55 mph, but even then, it takes a few minutes to get up to that cruising speed. Poor thing. Getting nowhere fast some days...

I've got some more fishies lurking in my sketch pad over in the front room, but I can't quite decide just how they'll come together. I was going to download them here, but didn't see how they would fit with some other sketches I did during the week. Maybe it's that old fear, "Your Not Good Enough!!" -- keeps me sitting on the couch doubting everything I'm painting, drawing, cutting...no wonder my nerves are shot...

Lady of The Tulips -- who is now wondering if some blue-green watercolor pencils will be easier to use than messin' about with acrylics...hmmm...

** "Starfish" ** 2007 Spring Bay Studio

I got the start on these little friends of mine, while waiting in a parking lot, my youngest was getting some forms filled out at the unemployment office, so I put the time to good use. While I was sitting in the sun, listening to all the cars and trucks go whooshing past on the busy Blvd., I kept having an old 70's song buzzing thru my head..."Your a shining star..no matter who you are..." And while watching people come and go, into the office building, and back out again...climb into their cars, vans and suv's...I kept thinking that everybody is a star in their own right. Even if they have a 1994 Station Wagon like I do...we all have good potential and have the means to make our little light shine, as the old gospel hymn sez. So, these little guys came out from all those thots -- I sat in the early morning sunshine, listening to all the bizzy city sounds, waiting to see what was going to come out of my little sketch pad. And there they are.

I have some new little fish waiting on the table in the studio, but I haven't gotten very far with them. Well, they are sketched and colored in with various pens and markers, but I'd wanted to get further along with a collage than I've gotten. Yesterday was spent going here and there w/the youngest in his quest to become gainfully employed. It's no easy matter. There are always offices that say they have job openings in their companies, but then information gets skewered and nothing happens..an applicant goes into the company thinking there may be a possibility for them, and poof...nothing. So, while driving all over the city, dodging speeding cars, slow moving trucks, and people looking 3 sheets to the wind while driving their cars, I kept thinking I REALLY wanted to get some painting done on the fishies I've got started in the studio. I have finally dug out some colored papers I'd bought sometime last year. I knew they were in a box..but just where inside that box was the question. I dug and hunted around for about 15 minutes, and finally had to sit down to think of where the stack of papers would have gone. No -- they didn't actually GO anywhere...it's just that my brain temporarily took a vacation in the "Where Are Those?" Department...and after I had a bottle of water and walked around the front room, it dawned on me AHHAA!! where those were. It really Drives Me Crazy when I can't remember things like that. But then, for some reason I can remember some weird fact from one of my history classes way back in college dayz, that have no meaning Whatsoever in this current time...go fig're...

The Husband and I may go take a look at an old farmhouse this weekend...it's been for sale for over a year..the price has come down, just like a lot of homes on the for sale market these days. I've been checking a lot of listings in the region just south of us, and have priced, compared, recalculated and prodded and squished numbers till it feels like my eyes are going to pop outta my head. We could get a place without too much trouble...but the big deciding factor is what this place will sell for. The friend of my son's who is a realtor and real estate developer has taken us on, and is looking over properties and prices..he's doing some research now for us, to see where we stand in the housing market. I'm optimistic that something will come out Positive for us...I'd like to get out from all the noise and grime and stuff here in the City. But there are other factors to consider, so I have to be patient and see what comes out of all the realtor's findings. Hurry up and wait...hurry up and wait...

I'm out to the studio and get some paper sponged and some blue's and greens covered onto my heavy paper...I think I'll try some other ways of applying paint. I've read of some methods that look pretty cool, so I'm off to go splash paint and make a nice big mess...

Lady of The Tulips -- who has to now find her Really Fat paint brush and hope that it isn't buried under something scary...

*** In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there is some guy thinking of ways to make his life more cushy...and I'm sure that the means to that end aren't exactly what some lil' ol' person like Me would consider quite, uhmm...ethical. Well --- I just spoke to one of the thousands of Call Center Representatives employed by the Corporation that runs the Hospital where I went and got all hooked up to monitors, electronic gizmos, and other Thangs...and it seems that in the rush by the guy who wishes to live his life more cushy...he failed to see that there are Other Ways to extract finances from people...in other words...the Fat Cat screwed up. I'm trying to be optimistic that THIS time the paper work being submitted for my ugly E.R. Visit will be looked at with other circumstances rather than just numbers. Like the fact that we as a family, do have to buy groceries. (Food Expenses were not put into the application...) Or -- that we do have to keep our Electricity on (No -- Electric Bill wasn't considered either...) and, oh -- by-the-way- neither was the Gas Bill considered..or water/trash bill...Let me See --- at any job I've had, if I'd forgotten any one or the other of these "Little" circumstances on an application...well..I'd be OUT of a Job...This will no doubt not touch the Fat Cat at all...but at least there is one person in the Corporation Call Center that caught the fact that no other circumstances were considered for my application to get the bill reworked. I've literally lost sleep over this whole thing. I'm also having or am back to having Hellish Dreams every night...The kind that Stephen King would jump up and down over...Cars Exploding while I'm riding in them...Cars going off of cliffs..Houses being set on fire while I'm in them..yeah. Little Dreams where I wake up nearly screaming at the top of my lungs and The Husband is suddenly awake to hear me making all kinds of terrible sounds. Never knew I'd have this much fun...

On a lighter note ~~ I spent part of Saturday playing with some colored pencils and gel pens. I've got my eyeball pinned on a package of really nice art pencils over at the art store..well --- last time I was in there the package was available. Don't know if it is still or not. But I'm setting aside some $$ to pick them up. I was Extremely Happy to discover that I also had a NEW tablet of drawing paper. I'd started to feel tweaky because I only had 3 sheets of drawing paper left in my one tablet, and I was sorta-trying-not-to-freak-out over it. But while straightening up my little room, I went to throw away some old ads, and underneath them all was this NEW tablet of paper. WHOA! Talk about One Happy Girl!! So -- no more nervous Nelly being afraid to use the last of her paper...now I feel better knowing that if I mess up some inked in sketches, that I do have more paper available!! I've got some kinds scribbly fish that I'm working out on my sketch pad. I'm not sure if they'll work in a larger space, butI'm gonna try them today. I've also got another piece that just got finished last week --- it'll be on here tomorrow.

As for now -- I'm out to the studio and play with my gel pens. Glitter Pens, to be exact...whee..the shimmer in them is too cool...

Lady Of The Tulips -- who now has to decide on 2 color themes..blue/green - o - Red/Pink for some fish...hhhmmm

"She Followed Me Home...(Can I Keep Her?)" 2007 Spring Bay Studio


I had portions of this piece sitting in a folder for the Longest Time, and I just couldn't gather the other elements for it that seemed Together...Finally I sat down the other day and repositioned, reset, got up from the table..got a bottle of water...walked back in the studio...and finally came up with the layout that seemed the most comfortable. The little girl is just such a sweety..I couldn't stand for her to keep sitting in the file basket without a home of her own. Now she's happy and has a new friend...

I'm feeling better than yesterday..tho I've no idea of what the Corporation People have in store for me...I've decided that they have a lot more issues than I could imagine, so I've put them out of my mind for the time being. My art is what is the most important thing to me, and as I sit out in the studio and cut, draw, paint and play, that's what I'll continue to do. The Horrible People and their programmed answers for people with illnesses who have overpriced Hospital Bills...well, that is another and altogether ugly issue that won't be discussed for now...I need to remain as calm as I can be, and even thinking of THEM makes me begin to feel lightheaded. My work is getting completed, and that's what I'll focus on.

I've got some sketches that are half colored and half filled in with ink...I've discovered that my Favorite Pen in the Whole Wide World is running out of ink...I was once again sitting out in a parking lot while The Youngest filled out another job application..and this sketch has some potential for coming together quite nicely. The problem I'm having, is that once I get on a roll in the car with all my little colored pencils and my fine-line pen...I loose track of time an' just flow with what I'm sketching in my little sketch pad...then The Youngest walks up without much sound, scaring me Half-To-Pieces, and once he climbs in the car I have to put all my stuff back together (pencils all held together w/ a fat industrial looking rubber band...) and get them tucked away in my bag. Today we were in a not-so-safe neighborhood to begin with...and here I am sitting in the car messin' about with my little colored pencils...and out of the blue I hear footsteps outside of the little car...I did't quite scream, as much as I made kind of a "ahgggrewwuuuu" kind of noise...My poor son looked at me like I'd gone off the deep end...I Told him that he'd given me the scare-of-the-day an' he just looked at me like It Was Time For A Vacation For YOU....Think he's right about that one...

And today is The youngest's Birthday...he turns 23!! AHH!! It really does seem like yesterday that we brought him into our little place on the side of a hill in Connecticut...we've come a LONG way since The Husband was in the Navy...sitting in a falling-down mobile home next to a creek filled with skunk-cabbage...snow along the driveway and nowhere for a new mother to walk with her baby...Fortunately we were put into Military Housing and had room for all 3 boys...NO!! I Do Not miss those cold days in that falling down mobile home..It was in such bad shape that Ihad to call the Health Dept. about the condition of the "House" and after they and the Military Housing Dept. got ahold of the Landlord, it was taken off the "Official List" of available "homes" for Navy Families...Shwooo...How we made it thru some of those years is ANYBODY'S guess...Now he's tall and lean...working today over at the Industrial Complex for Norfok Marine Terminals -- there's a Huge Freezer complex, and he's moving pallets of frozenfood...Chicken Turkey and Other Thangs...The Husband just took a load of freight there, and was able to, as he sez, "Got to shake my son's hand today, an' wish him Happy Birthday!!" -- How Cool is That

I've got some other sketches to mess around with, and The Husband jus' called to say he's on his way back to the truck terminal...And Guess Who has Nothing Even Considered for Dinner Tonight? ~~ I'm tellin' ya ~~ Once I get playin' with my papers, pencils an' gel pens, there's no tellin' how long I'll sit out there...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ who, Yahoo, just remembered that there are some veges in the fridge, along with some fresh taters an' a new package of lettuce ~~ Ha! ~~ An' I thot there'd be just toast for dinner...silly me...

** I don't know how long this post will be -- I just spent an hour from Hell -- trying to get thru some pretty cold heartless people from the "Accounting Department" of the Hospital Corporation -- the last word there should tell it all --- Corporation. They have cut my E.R. bill but their particular guidelines are such that with all I can afford ($45.00 p/Mo.) isn't good enuf -- or in the statement repeated over and over from a Collections Representative -- "This falls below our accepted guidelines for monthly payment arangements concerning your hospital bill. We wil pursue other collections actions in order for this matter to be taken care of". I haven't spoken to such ugly cold cold people since way back when we had no work and had a credit card back in the early 90's -- I'd mistakenly thot that those type of grab-the-juggler-and-squeeze type methods were a thing of the past...shows what a dunce I am.

All I could do was cry and cry...told the people it was the best we could do...kept telling them that I'm not eating as it is..they don't care...the dollar is all that they want..my health means nothing...I feel sick and have no idea what the rotten people are going to do now. The local paper wrote a huge article on this hosp. chain & their "methods" -- One of which is to take a house away from a family..I guess that's what I have to look forward to..being homeless over a hosp. bill...going to the E.R. was to keep me alive, and now it's gotten to where some lawyer may take our house away cause all I can pay isn't good enuf...My eyes are swollen so bad and they sting like hell. My hands are shaking and I feel sick. These bastards deserve nothing better than burning in Hell...


Yeah, I'm ranting...but I can't believe that staying alive has now gone down this road to where people tell me they expect more from me when I can't do Any More...I'm going to go lay down and try to see if there's something I can do before the lawyers come and take our home...

Untitled -- 2005 Spring Bay Studio

I made this piece some time ago, an' it was sold to a little shop over on the Chesapeake Bay -- I used some tissue papers I bought at a craft store, took some import papers and also used some gauze to create the texture in the piece. I'm thinking of using some other cloth for texture, but can't quite decide what to use.

This is gonna be a short note as I have to get over to the fabric store an' pick up some muslin -- not it won't be used for collage, but I'm using it for a sewing pattern. I'm losing weight still, an' since I'm not certain of my size, I'll cut a pattern on the cheapie muslin before committing some more expensive fabric to cutting. I'm going to a local shop that has lots of different fabrics that just shimmer an' shine...usually they have scraps of fabric originally used for wedding dresses, formals an' other assorted fun times...I'm thinking of grabbing some of those scraps too, an' putting together somethin' in the next few dayz. I also got a piece done that will get on here tomorrow. In the meantime I've got to get down the highway before it gets more hot & humid...yesterday it was 89 Degrees an' lots & lots of humidity. It IS october, but by all that's right and sacred it is nowhere close to Fall in the weather department...my studio is a place to go and have the effects of a sauna...an' I don't have to go to a spa to experience the sultry air...yee gads...

Lady of The Tulips -- who has un-earthed some gold ribbon an' is ready to piece this with some wild papers...my eyes feel funny...

** AS I was saying, before I was So Rudely Interrupted...

I made the piece yesterday with my hand as the center point, for the website MojoArtGroup -- it is a joyous group of mixed media artists who just love to have art as the center piece of their life. I entered my little paw and hope it's met with warm thots. My family used to say that I have spider fingers...but I never knew if that was a compliment or not...My hands are almost exactly like my great Aunt's -- she also had long fingers. I wish I knew her better before she passed away. Unfortunately, she passed away before I really had a chance to know her. A group of thugs beat her, leaving her in a coma. I can barely remember the details of the incident, but I do remember she passed away after that within 10 days or so. She was always one who sent me books as a child, and encouraged me when I studied Theatre and Art. I just hope that I'm able in some way to continue in the right direction that would have made her proud.

The picnic I attended yesterday was quite nice -- Catching up with neighbors is always nice, and hearing stories of what people do day in and day out can be pretty entertaining. I have one neighbor who is just a hoot. She's well over 72 an' is just a pistol -- I wouldn't want to be the one who makes HER angry!! Several of the families who brought their small children had the chance to catch up with everybody else without having the children under their feet...the president of the civic league rented one of those inflatible castles, the type that kids can climb in to and bounce all around -- I don't know what the cost was, but with all the 15 - 0 - 20 kids that were there, they ALL had a Blast in that big bouncy thing!! I almost wished I was young enuf to go play inside that thing!! But, I'd probably hurt myself, so I had to just sit back an' watch all the kids bounce..bounce...bounce...

The Youngest is yet again looking for a job -- it's a holiday today -- Columbus Day...so most of the businesses are closed...I don't know what my son's gonna do while waiting for a call back on a couple places he applied for...just wait it out...The Husband is working today tho -- no rest for the freight haulers. He had an out of town run last friday an got that freight moved to one of the railyards this morning...he didn't get a chance over the weekend 'cause they had a tight schedule to get some christmas stuff moved -- it's just about the middle of last minute shipping for christmas items, so it's push push push...extra hours tho, are ALWAYS welcome!! Just makes for one tired trucker, tho!!

Today I'm finishing up a blouse I started last week...got the bottom hem to finish an' it's all done. I'm gonna try an' get fabric for another shirt this week, if all goes right...I tried last week to make it over to the fabric store, but never got over there. I was considering making a long sleeve blouse for winter, but I was told that the temps this week are going to be near 90 Degrees...Not Quite long-sleeve weather...So, the short sleeve blouse will hopefully get put together...I'd really like for some of this HEAT to go someother place, but it doesn't seem to be listening to ME...humph...

Lady of The Tulips -- who was just asked by The Youngest if I have a knife...wha'?? OH! -- he means a Craft Knife! ~~ OH! ~~ he needs to take some stickers off his hard hat...sheesh..I had NO idea what he meant for a second, there...

A

"A Dark and Stormy Night..and The Morning After.." 2007 Spring Bay Studio

This is a piece I zipped together in the last day to get in for a Mojo-Work over at another website..I had more fun putting the paint all over my fingers and palm...I kept thinkin' that If somebody was to walk in an' see me with the different colored paint all over my hand they'd immediately call The Authorities..whoever THEY may be! But this is all finished an' ready to be put into their files...

I had the best time today over at the park across the street -- the yearly Civic League Picinic in The Park was held today. The weather was wonderful, nice, sunny and warm. Not as sticky humid as yesterday. All together there were nearly 55 people that attended!! Lots of food, plenty of hot dogs for everybody (yes I had one, even tho I'm not suppossed to Have SALT..oops...) and plenty of soft drinks to keep everybody happy. I hadn't seen some of the senior citizens for awhile..some have passed away, that lived in the neighborhood, so I was sad to find that out. But all the folks that were there today were feelin' good, and we all had a nice visit.

Lady of The Tulips -- who has to scram NOW 'cause I got run outta the room where the computer is...so I'll finish this tomorrow...

I found this paper the other week on a shelf at one of the local discount stores...I don't know if I can say the name of the store 'cause I don't know about legal issues or whatever...but I just fell in love with this. There are also 3 other prints in this pak of paper, so I'm gonna be really torn on which ones to use first..just another one of the 3,596 decisions in a day...

I have to go around my neighborhood an' collect membership's for the local civic league...I have about 5 families to ask, but they don't seem to be home at the moment. I have the fortune of living on a corner, so I can look up and down the cross street an' be able to find out who's at home or not. The little courtyard across from my house only has 5 or so houses on it, but those families are rarely home...well, one guy's single an' quite the party-guy, so to find him home would be this side of a miracle!! He went to school w/ 2 of my son's an' one of my boys worked w/the guy a couple years ago at one of the local fast food restraunts. Pizza place, actually. Some funny stories, there... But in the meantime I'll wait an' see when some of the folks get home then I can go collect their membership dues.

Got my canvas board jus' about done..have 4 sheets of teeny paper to apply & I'm done. I'll post on here tomorrow afternoon after it's all dry. I've got to get to the store today an' pick up something for a picnic tomorrow afternoon at the park across the street. The Civic League has a yearly picnic an' tomorrow is suppossed to be clear and warm -- we've have drippy cloudy humid-to-no-end weather for the last 2 days...my skin feels like it's in a perpetual drip...but the weather people call for clear skies and sunshine! Just what we need for a nice afternoon!! The question is what to fix for the pot-luck dinner...salad? A hot casserole?? Too many decisions...

The Husband has work for this weekend..he's not complaining!! The youngest was suppossed to work today, but his Boss did't call him about it this a.m. like he was going to, so my son's pretty bummed. He'd like to have made the extra $$ but Maybe next week..Right now I'm waiting for a call from The Mr. an' see what he wants to do for tomorrow...he usually comes up w/much better ideas for food than me!! Ain't that weird?? He's one of those who enjoys food, but neither one of us do the Fancy Dinner stuff...jus' basic dinners what aren't an arm & a leg in the cost department..ol' fashioned is the term!!

Must get going an' do some touch-up painting!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has also got some projects in 2 file folders but doesn't have the canvas boards - yet! I've tried for 2 weeks to go get those %^"#& things...blast an' double blast!!

** Making little squares and playin' around with gel pens...making little squares an' wonderin' where all these will go ***

I've got some time before I must see our lawyers an' pay them out the nose for some Crap...it drives me nuts to give them our dollars...but if I don't then the alternative isn't too good...So in the meantime I'll let some other papers dry an' check on a canvas panel I finished w/a base coat of papers yesterday -- I worked out the paper an' got it all painted then applied it all while watching/listening to the Rockies/Phillies baseball game..Missed some hits that were pretty good -- couldn't look at my panel an' see the hits at the same time. But thank heavens for instant replay!! My panel is good now an' ready for some other papers I got layed out. I also cut some stuff up an' did some other work while waiting for the youngest to get dinner ready. He was all into fixin' up some chicken, so who's gonna complain about that??!! Got 2 birds with one stone as the saying goes...

The Dog is bein' really frizky for some blasted reason...she get's into these funny little moods and is an absolute hoot! I was sittin' at the dining room table writing out bills earlier this am an'I glance over to my right an' The Dog is sitting and lookin'at me out of the corner of her eye, like she's planning something. Next thing I know, she's half way on my lap, trying to get my attention that she wants something -- talk to me about being startled by something, an' I'll tell you about a 89 pound dog trying to get my Full Attention...les' jus' say that she definetly got me to SEE HER!!! Come to find out that she ate all her food an' she just wanted to make sure that I completely understood she was starving to pieces...sheesh...

Lady of The Tulips -- who is off to pay 5 different bills..an' of course all the places I need to go are not remotely close to each other..so I need to go pay an horrendous price for gas an' then meander amongst the traffic...singing as I go...

** W.I.P. **

I was sitting out in The Very Fine Automobile the other day waiting for The Youngest to get thru paperwork at one of the area employment agencies...I started playing around with my little pak of colored pencils and came up with this little rough piece. I'm not quite to the point of where I can put it together on a canvas board, but the rough idea is here and will get pieced later this week. When The Youngest got back in the car he took one look at my little pile of colored pencils and the little sketch pad and sez, "uhhhmm...can you get that outta the way so I can sit down?..." I don't think he was too impressed. But I did have fun coloring the little fishies..


I've also got some swirling ideas for some other fish, but right now I can't decide how to get all of it sketched out to where it looks like something...Maybe if I literally "sleep of in" something will come to me. I've got to get back over to the art store an' pick up my panels...I meant to yesterday, but at the same time I was goin' to drive over there, I realized the post-season game (Baseball) was on tv., so that put everything to a halt. An' too, The Husband got home early from a freight run out of town. He'd left here at 1:45 or so, an' went all the way to a warehouse only to find out that the one inspector for the frozen food wasn't gonna be there till today or maybe tomorrow at the earliest...somebody in Dispatch made a giant mistake, sent The Husband up there, and didn't read the exact time or day correctly on the dispatch sheet...lottsa bucks for a trip that didn't accomplish anything...whoo boy...somebody's gettin' an ear-ful today. Thank Heavens it isn't The Husband!! But back to ART -- I'm on my way to get the canvas panels and if my cash flow is correct at the bank, I can also get some frames. I need to check my calculator first...sheesh...I know that there are some collage papers I need to replace, an' I'm hoping their still in stock from last summer...if not then I'll do some painting to come up with a color that'll coordinate with what I'm wanting on the panel...whoo..1.293 things all at once...an' I'm not suppossed to be stresed!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who is also wondering whether or not to grab one of those cheapie bags of fibers ribbons for some extra zing on a collage...at $1.00 it may be worth it.

~~~ Well the garden snake may have skipped town...there doesn't seem to be any sign of him this morning...and I did want it to get rid of the moles and gophers that are digging up under the lawn and around our calla lillies. The interesting thing I read about the snake, is "Black Rat Snake" -- "It's belly is covered with scales, that overlap like shingles, with their edges facing backward. Each scale is attached to a rib with special muscles that can move it up, down, forward or backward." (This from the publication "The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Eastern United States Janine M. Benyus 1989. A Fireside Book) ~~ I'm thinking this is why is seemed to very quiet when it crawled over the back porch and startled my youngest a couple weeks ago. I don't know how it crept along the wall of the kitchen an' never was seen by my son, but it was something I found facinating. The lil' guy probably by now, has moved into another portion of the yard...I guess he's (or is it a female??) off to discover something else to nest and eat all the bugs and whatever else it has for meals. We have a very large amount suddenly of catepillars, so maybe the snake will eat them. A few of the collards in pots have been nearly cleaned of all their leaves...ugh...I'm hoping something will eat thosethings. We've sprayed this week an' hope to get more on the leaves by this evening.

I also took down another field guide to wildlife, but could't find a picture of one of the spiders we have hanging by a very large web in our carport...the spider has some spots on it's legs, and it looks to be about 2" in diameter. Very big Spider!! I can't find where the names are located in my field guide, so I'll do some searching online. I also made the most amazing discovery last week of a very little baby bunny!! I was carrying out my load of laundry to hang up, and directly in front of me was a Little Itty Bitty Baby Bunny..the most sweetest thing I have ever laid eyes on!! It's little ears weren't fully colored yet, and were still pink in the interior portion..teeny little paws and very pale fur...I took one look at it and was so suprized I dropped my basket of clothes, an' said, "OH! Look at you!!" The Youngest heard me from an open window facing the yard and sez, "Leave the baby bunny alone.." I just froze in my tracks!! It started to walk near me, but then thot better of that, and made a turn under the large calla lillies..absolutely the most amazing teeny thing I've ever seen!

Must make a quick exit -- I've got to make some copies of paperwork for the Hosp. so they can decide what their going to do for my fun little bill...my nerves are so shot right now with all the papers and forms, my head starts to ache just thinking about it...

Lady of The Tulips -- who, after looking at the scientific name of the black rat snake, (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) wonders about the similar snake, " Black Swamp Snake" ( seminatrix pygaea) Are they sharing the same territory? Do they have spaces where they don't overlap in a garden bed or lawn? Very interesting. And will lead me to doing more investigating...

** W.I.P. **

I've been playin' around with some old bottles of paint, and unearthed a package of tissue paper that I absolutely forgot about. Well -- that's not entirely true...I Knew I had some, but for the life of me, I searched for 3 days tryin' to find where I Very Carefully stored it away. And as is usually the case, I was searching for something Else, and literally right in front of me was the file folder with a good healthy stack of tissue paper. As the old saying goes, "If it was a snake it woulda bit ya..."

And speaking of said snake...The youngest & I may have found the nest of the black snake...and it was completely by accident...we were looking over the last of the basil, and when the youngest pulled up the plant, there was a VERY large hole in the garden-bed right behind where the plant had been. At first we thot it was from the plant, but when I gave it a second look, then I realized it was altogether something else..a little disconcerting, but if the black snake wasnts to live in my flower/garden bed, then he's more than welcome to it. Besides, I don't have problems in that bed with critters, so I'm not gonna throw the guy out just yet...he may have to work for his rent, tho...


I'm in something of a rush -- the youngest has to go file his paperwork with a new job and the boss ssez we have to be over to the office in 'bout 15 minutes, so I have to make this quick. I've also got to check on a canvas panel I painted this morning, and make sure it'd dry before I go and move it...My luck I'd smear all the paint from here to kingdom come...sheesh...

Lady of The Tulips -- who has also got some papers drying in the studio, but set them in thesun so they should be in good shape...

~~ A couple days ago I thot about getting some shots on here of some pieces that are in the works out in the studio...but then I got going on sewing a new blouse..an' then too, the youngest needed a ride to a couple job interviews..job-application-filling-out-places...an' I needed to get to the bank so some VERY important checks wouldn't go boing-boing for the next 2,405 years...an by the time I got back here to get something done, it absolutely left my memory as to what it was that I was going to post here for a photo...IN THEORY..tomorrow I can get a couple sketches on here that have made some progress in the GETTING ALMOST TO THE CANVAS stage...hmmm...now that I say that I'm scared something ELSE is going to pop up in the way --

I found some very cool papers the other day while I went into one of the local Discount Stores. No ---not Wally-World..I haven't been in one of THOSE since last December...after how they were to us for delivering their freight an' how dangerous they wanted us to deliver their stuff...well..les' just say that I refuse to put myself into any more danger than necessary for some Corporation..period. But -- one of their competitors every once in awhile has some spiffy craft items for sale..so I made the trek over there an' found some very cool card stock in a nifty pack for I think $3.00 -- You better believe I grabbed that sucker up in a heart-beat!! Originally I was going to make a 10 (!!)mile trip to one of the art stores fora bottle of paint (.89 cents) but couldn't get my brain around the distance versus the price - of - the - product. So -- being the Tight Wad that I am -- I went 'bout 2 miles and had a pretty good discovery. I'll post some of the little papers I cut and pasted to other card stock I got 'bout a month ago..they make for some serious COLOR!! --

I'm excited 'cause I got some sewing patterns 'bout a week or so ago. Well -- what is so very cool is that since my mini-stroke, I've been cutting back on everything I eat...mainly 'cause A) -- The Dr. hasn't told me exactly what I AM suppossed to eat, so the less for now must be ok and B) -- I've lost close to 10 pounds...7 an 1/2 at last count. Lots o' veges -- more than I had been, and absolutely have cut the soft drinks to maybe 3 a WEEK -- When I took a look at how much I was downing them, it was at least 1 a Day...No No!! So -- when I tried on one of my t-shirts that I bought last year, it actually FIT NOW!! An' when I first bought it, the thing made me look like a stuffed-sausage...So, I can actually SEE that I've lost weight. And in relation to the sewing pattern.. I'm down a dress size!! I'm not to the size 9 that I'd like to be, but am on the way there!! I hope to go get my blood work done this week...I know I've been sayingI'll get it done "Tomorrow" -- but w/the youngest an' his runnin' around, My stuff has been put on the back burner. However -- with the blood work out of the way, then I may be able to get in to see the Dr. earlier an' find out jus' what the DEAL IS!!

The Husband has got some weird freight for the last couple dayz -- Today he hauled an empty Swift trailer to a factory...could't fig're out what it was that he was picking up at this factory...an' it ended up that he was hauling an entire 53' trailer of SHOPPING CARTS!! -- he's taking them to the rail-yard an' from there they go out to the West Coast to some distribution Center to go to one of the chain discount stores...just in time for the Christmas Holidays!! The company is cutting it REAL close for the holidays, but The Husband sez that if the train get's out there in 10 - 15 days it shouldn't be a problem to get all the pieces where they need to go. He jus' laughed at what he hauled today!! He said on the cell phone that there was more to tell me 'bout the trip, so it must be good if he sez that!! How weird it is how products get around our country...sometimes it makes no sense....


Lady of The Tulips ~~ who is now realizing that she needs to get some rice goin' on the stove...an' for the life of Sam, can't figure out where a bottle of spices has gone that would be perfect in that pan of rice....I swanny....

~~ Today I've been playin' around with some collage papers and just haven't decided where I want to set down 3 sheets that have me absolutely dumbstruck...the colors in the papers are just wonderful, and I want to use the whole sheet..but then with only a specific space to work with, it's just a tad bit difficult to use a 12" X 12" sheet on a 9" board...And, if I use an entire 12" X 12" sheet, what will I do with all the others? Leave them out on the curb to rot and float away with the wind? Wait a minute...I can't leave anything on the curb...I have to notify the City first before leaving anything for Pick-Up with the Recycle Center or Refuse Department...sheesh..

I also got a little bit of sewing done on a blouse this morning, before driving the youngest to another interview at an employment agency. While I sat out in the car waiting for him, I shetched some little fishies again. They seems to be hounding me everywhere I go these dayz. But back to the blouse...I found some fabric the other day like I said here yesterday...Got the fabric washed an' tried on the blouse with just some pins along the seams. The fabric is a nice and soft cotton. I nearly gak when I try and wear certain polyesters ..they make my skin sweat just looking at some of them. But, there are blends that are wonderful, and I never have a pip of a problem with them. Go Figure. Anyway -- got the youngest to the interview and when He got back in the car he didn't have much to say. Seems the job the agency has lined up for him also has 11 other people that are picked for the same position...as in his words.."Is not lookin' so good here..." Poor Guy...


The Husband had one of those dayz yesterday that makes one wonder what our government is ttrying to accomplish. Because of 9 - 11 there are a gazillion new Security Checks that all the drivers at the Port's have to go thru, plus several new badges that all drivers must wear, an' several new cards that have to be scanned and verified before freight leaves each and every spot then out the gate and down the road. Which ~~ to make a long story short ~~ makes for a long day and not much freight being moved in literally the right direction. The security cards don't want to be scanned..some of the ultra-uber cameras that Film Everything aren't filming a fly, let alone anything else. And the New Security badges sometimes need to be viewed 3 or 4 times, leaving the drivers sitting in the sun, baking away in the afternoon heat and contemplating a career change . Usually The Husband moves about 8 or 9 freight loads a day..but with some of the new Security Measurers, he's lucky to make 4 or 5. Nothing like Better Efficiency for the Good of Us All...He was so tired to sitting and getting nowhere fast, he said he almost took a nap at one of the Ports yesterday, but couldn't get comfortable enuf to stretch out in the cab of the truck...sheesh...

I've got a bottle of paint that I rediscovered over the weekend. I've been trying to get it back to life, as it somewhat dried out during the heat of the summer out in the studio. I think I may try in just a little bit to get it shook up one more time before giving it a shot on the piece I'm workin' on now. The color is called "Bright Blue" and at first glance it doesn't seem like much...but when positioned next to a more light blue, it absolutely pops!! Whoa!! Suprised me when I first slapped some on a used sheet of paper. Well...so much for a color fading away into nothing-ness!! Now I'm excited an' want to go play. Whoooppiieeeee.....

Lady of The Tulips -- who now has to decide whether or not her one last old thrift-store shirt is worth salvaging after splatering paint all over it...Oh Blast..It'll get painted on!! Only cost $2.95 in the first place!!

"Tropics" 2007 Spring Bay Studio

I wanted to make sure the stains from my work table didn't get in the picture, but there they are for all the world to see...Sorry that they look even worse in a picture than I thot they would. But at least there is some kind of proof that the table is actualy being put to use!!

I got this done just in the nick of time..as it were...The Husband was sleeping the afternoon I got this done ( Sunday ) an' was laying down to get some sleep before goin' up to the Shanandoah Valley the following morning to get a load of chicken: so when he said he'd take me to the fabric store an' that was all for the day..Boy Howdy...I haven't gotten pattern numbers -- fabric choices an' free give-aways-all packed together in my bag SO FAST..in a looong time. But I got it all done..this collage..bought the fabric..got 2 patterns ( 99 Cents Each!! ) grabbed a spool of new thread..grabbed 2 free sewing magazines and payed for it all an' zipped out the door!!! I'm suprised I'm not still tired from it all!! But am glad it all got done...

The Youngest is waiting for word on another job..the one employment agency told him today that they will have something for him in the morning...so he's chowin' down on some sausage and red rice, then he'll get ready for a softball game later this evening. The Husband sez he'll take The Youngest over to the baseball field 'cause he knows I'm havin' trouble seein' at night now...hmm...irritates me. But anyway...I've got a couple other pieces in the studio waiting for a couple extra papers to get cut out...along with part of a blouse to finish this week. So much for layin' low an' takin' it easy...I'm still waiting for Mr. Doc to tell me somethin' -- I may be 120 before I find anything out at the rate it's goin' --

This is all for the moment -- Have-ta go an' get dinner from The Youngest before he eats it all...he does love that sausage an' red rice..my oh my...

Lady of The Tulips -- who is wondering where her other hot pad in the kitchen has gone..it either ran away over the weekend or somebody threw it away...hmmm...

"Self Titled" 2007 -- Spring Bay Studio

I worked this out the other evening while sitting at the dining room table waiting for the youngest to get dinner finished. At the same time, The Husband was just home from work and was layin' on the couch, watching a movie on one of the independent film channels. The film, which technically was a documentary, was about the train that took the Grateful Dead, The Band, Janis Joplin and various others, across Canada to do a concert somewhere, but I'm not sure exactly. Anyway, with the music blasting out of the stereo, The Husband shouting over the music "HEAAHH!! YA HEAR THAT??!!" ~~ Somehow I was able to sketch out these little guyz...I've no idea where they came from...what made me sketch them At All ~~ But they were an awful lot of fun to make!! An', well, yeah, the music probably had a lot to do with the whole thing. After I got done, the youngest comes over to where I'm sitting at the dining room table an' sez, "What're doin?" Took one look at this an' said, "..hmmm..." I'm still not sure what THAT meant..

I got a couple things drawn up yesterday, and by this evening I hope to have my newest piece layed out!! It's taken me what seems like forever, but it finally came together. I was gonna pop it on here yesterday, but the youngest got off work earlier than I thot he would, and promptly overtook the computer. So much for getting pictures done on here...I Did Have The Best Intentions, tho. Just couldn't do anything about them!! I also discovered a 1/2 off coupon at one of the area Art & Craft stores, so tomorrow I'm off to get some dried leaves and other dried flowers. I've come with an idea for one of the projects that's waiting for just the right little something, an' I think I know what it needs. Something along the line of "real" seaweed. No -- I'm not gonna go over to the shoreline an' try to dry seaweed, but I think I can find "seaweed" at the craft store...detail will follow...I think...

Got the largest Basil plants dug outta the garden, and now all the leaves and stems are somewhat dry in the studio. In the morning I'm gonna dry all of it, an' get it into some canning jars or freezer boxes...whichever is on sale. An' since there is one of the various "Dollar" stores a few blocks away,AND THEY HAVE A SALE...what can I say? The store opens at 9:00 in the morning...I should be there by 9:15...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ who can hear The Dog...an' it doesn't sound just right...I think she's up to something, and it's giving me that uneasy feeling...

>>> Somebody asked me not too long ago how I was feelin' -- I didn't want to sound alarmish or go overboard with anything, so I went with the ever - so - safe - "I'm doin' pretty good..." That usually does the trick. >>>

But if you happen to take a look at Mrs. Claus for jus' over a second or two -- well -- you can see that even tho she IS trying to wave and appear all happy and cheerful ~~ ahhmm....she jus' isn't lookin' all that spiffy. An' that's pretty much how I've been this last month or so since I had my mini-stroke. The first few weeks were the shakiest...but the last week or so it seems that I'm beginning to get my feet under me a little better. An' that's when I started to get the earlier pieces finished up that I've posted on this Blog. What seems so odd is the woozy - ness I feel every now and then. 'Course, with a new Dr., and paperwork to explore and interviews to be had..it's gonna be sometime before I get any kind of answer to what's what. Do Not Be Alarmed...that screaming sound you hear is only a little person contemplating throwing something off the pier over at Ocean View.

Mrs. Claus is Also something that I felt like during the last heat wave we had. It'd been over 95 Degrees for nearly a week, and I kept feeling like I was melting. Mrs. Claus had been up in the attic, and for some reason one of the boys went up in the attic to get something down..and poor Mrs. Claus was discovered and brought down into the front room. Oh Man...That was the hardest I laughed...the minute I took one look at her poor little self. Then I remembered how dangerous it truly is to try and work under intense heat conditions. The Youngest lost a few days of work because it was over 100 Degrees a couple times...and over 95 at least twice. But now, I am too happy to say that it is actually cool enuf that for the first time since I Don't Know When...we aren't running the air conditioning!!! So Take That Electric Company!!! HA!! No big bill for YOU!! We're actually in the 70's and it's suppossed to stay like this for the next couple dayz. I'm too happy and want to dance a little bit -- ok -- now I'm better!!

My camera will get a new batch of batteries tomorrow - I discovered the pak I bought last spring an' will get them set up in the morning. I have to go get blood work done first thing..so after that ordeal I'll pop some pictures on here. I've got some more work done on my recent project, so that relieves some of the angst I was dealing with. Ssshhhwwwooooo...The Husband wasn't too sure if he should get near me these last couple dayz...I'd been flinging papers and stamps and tissue and all-sorta-stuff in the studio an' I think he was jus' a little scared. Well...ok...actually he was disturbed enuf that he walked away an' never said a word...I know when he does that it usually means, "Oh Lawdy..best get away from That!!" Poor Guy...never knows whether to go this way or that sometimes...

Well -- off to inspect some transplants out in the garden. The youngest worked up a new bed of collards, an'I wanna see how their doin' -- Also got all the Basil pulled and ready to dry this week...hope to end up with at least a couple bottles of dried basil when it's all said an' done. The whole house smelled like Basil last night when I brought all the leaves and small stems in the house...yuuumm!!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who is wondering what else is lurking up in the attic as I sit down here in the cool shade...my ooh my...

>>> I know I said a couple dayz ago that I'd download a picture from my files for a post...but not only did the batteries die in my camera...but the new batteries that I put away Very Carefully have absolutely disappeared..I mean, that flat out went somewhere and Did Not Even bother to leave a note >>>

So -- the little picture that I was going to somewhat brag on and premere will just have to wait till the first of the week when I get a chance to get to the store. I was going to pop over after my Dr. visit but was so hungry and tired that I absolutely forgot all about goin' The visit went well...even if there aren't any answers yet. The Dr. said he cant do anything till he gets all the other paperwork from the Teaching Hosp. an' then can go from there. He didn't seem too impressed with the hosp., or the fact that the lead professer was who I had been seen by. The new Dr. just sort of shook his head like it didn't mean a hill of beans...or anything else for that matter. I'm too tired these dayz to get worked up about anything...and will just have to wait..an' wait...6 weeks 'till my next appt., and in the meantime it's off to get blood work done. The Ins. Co., made it Very Clear that there is only one specific lab that they allow to read any of the work. I was told a number of times, "If you choose to have this work taken to another location the entire cost will be yours to pay..." As if I'm the one takin' the little vials or whatever they are to some kind of secret location..jus' so I can have another bill to pay. Where do these people come from, and will Somebody Please Take Them Back???


I'm nearly finished with the current project -- been a couple dayz since I did any work on it...and am having a devil of a time trying to set down some painted and stamped tissue paper...I just can't decide where I want to lay it out, and it is giving me fits, spits and probably ulcers. I've gotten it set down on the darn canvas panel so many times that I thot my eyes were goin' crossed. But I had to walk away from it, and then spent the better part of yesterday driving all over creation w/ my youngest. He had 4 places to go and had to pick up paperwork from a couple temp. agencies so he can get paid. He's got a temp job for 3 dayz next week, so I'll have to decide which day to go and get my bloodwork done in between shuffling him back and forth to wherever it is that he needs to go. I just wish the local bus system had a somewhat better coverage of some of the larger blvd's -- they don't cover some of them after a certain time in the evening, so you're stuck standing at a bus stop with no where to go...leaving you not feeling your best. BUT-- back to my project. I've been contemplating it and fumbling and mumbling with it enuf, so that I am nearly beside myself. I think I've had a better time deciding which kind of ice cream to buy on sale...

Lady of The Tulips -- who now has to go find out what happened out in the garden with the collards..it doesn't sound good from here...

** I was going to have a picture on here for this morning, but after I got it onto my blog, I discovered something amiss in the shot, so eliminated it. And, being the good little doobie I am, I tried to take another picture of the item I wanted on here..only to find out that the batteries in my camera "!!EXHAUSTED!!" What the $}&*{%*??? I just bought them not 3 months ago...but then after doing some searching, I also discovered that my youngest had used the camera for some of his work with baseball cards, and all of those shots ate up the batteries. Hmmm. Whatta kick in the head THAT was to discover.

So -- back to the store tomorrow after my Dr. Appt. ~~ I'm kinda nervous about the whole thing...and hopin' that something will be found out. I still get tired pretty fast and never was told anything from the Teaching Hosp. about how long I'm supposed to keep feeling this way. I'm just suprised I even got a call from the first Dr. at all. But, I know that there are schedules to keep, people to meet, places to go...blah. I just wanna find out what the tar is wrong with me. So -- along with going to the Dr., I'll make a quick trip over to the store across the street from the office and get more batteries. The little things just didn't last as long as I thot they should, but I'm too tired these dayz to get too worked up about anything.

Am very close to getting the last portion of a new project completed. I've got 5 papers that I'm cutting and applying with matte medium onto the canvas board...well almost have them applied. I've gotten into a dilemna with deciding which of the papers I want to use for a good contrast with another patterned paper I already have cut out. This shouldn't be a big deal, but it's brought me to a screeching halt!! It's one of those contrast/compliment decisions that I was getting into last night before I left to go pick up the youngest at his work, an' take him to his softball game. The trip went well..got him to his game an' all. But in the back of my mind was this little nagging THING -- which of the 2 papers to use as the final ones?? Go with a big contrast with hues of blue/green -- or go completely in the other direction and use something out of the same color tone?? sheesh....

** Lady of The Tulips ** who had The Very Fine Automobile start to stall at the next to last traffic light by the house..I automatically put on my flashers so the cars behind me would know something was wrong...an' then discovered a police car directly next to me...yeah...my hands were shaking...my knees went weak...an' the police car sped past me onto something more important. Needless to say I was a wreck by the time I got home...

~~ I've been sitting at this old computer for almost a half hour, trying to get directions for The Husband so he can go get some paperwork done that he needs for his CDL -- No easy feat to try and find just the correct state office..not so easy trying to find the correct directions, or a link that works so you can get directions...blah...My head is trying to ache and after all the playin' around, The Husband sez., "Well, I know where that is..it's really easy to get to.." Please do not become alarmed when you hear screaming from this direction...it's only me and my last good nerve giving up the ghost...

I've got a canvas panel just getting dry with a couple shades of blue for a new project. I'd started the project before my mini-stroke, and now I'm getting the energy to get it finished. I found 3 canvas panels that I wasn't even aware of!! Sitting very nicely on a shelf in the studio...boy don't I feel like a dummy! So, one of them now has a mellow blue on it...combination of a turquoise blue and a bright blue...sounds kinda jarring, but with a little blending, the colors come together really nice. I've got some sketches of fishies that I'll copy onto some paper that I have from another abondanded (would you believe I do know how to spell?) project...not too heavy and isn't too thin so it'll take some inks and watercolor pretty well. I'm gettin' to where I can work at some stuff without getting incredibly tired within 45 minutes. But I can't work out in the studio 'cause of the heat..too much out there. So I've moved a conglomeration of goodies into the dining room and have them waiting for me to get crackin'! It's over 90 degrees in the studio right now, and w/high humidity I'm not gonna take any chances and work in that swampy environment.

The oldest called to say he's goin' to the movies this afternoon. The last movie I saw was "Lion King" with a group of kids from the little town church where we used to live. The Husband isn't one to go out to dinner or movies, so I'm somewhat behind the times when it comes to new flicks. My middle one gave us a pass for one of the theater chains, but The Husband hasn't taken me to see anything yet...what's a year among friends, huh? Anyway, the oldest is pretty jazzed 'cause he has the day off, so he's goin' to have some fun instead of gettin' last minute phone calls from co-workers who claim their too sick to come to the restraunt to work...one of the Asstistant Managers just plain didn't show up one night...needless to say she's no longer working at that location.

Well -- it's off to do some painting and cutting out little fishies for my project. I'm gonna sit down and get a quick rest afterward...the youngest has a softball game this afternoon, so Yours Truly has to go pick the guy up from work and take him over to the ball field...the bus won't get him over to that part of town in time for his game, So I'm gonna go play Let's All Drive Safe and hope that no jerk smashes into The Very Fine Automobile. ..besides, it's got a Brand New Grateful Dead sticker on the back window, so I don't want That ruined!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has decided to go with a completely different color for one of her fish now that she's had a chance to sit and mull it over...whoo boy...watch out!!

"Tropical Dream" 2007 Spring Bay Studio

This is another piece that I worked on off and on for the last couple weeks while I was literally trying to get my feet under me...the fun thing was rediscovering some pieces of paper that I carefully buried in a box near my work table in the studio. I'd bought a pak of shaped pieces some time back, but they didn't really do anything for me till recently. I'm glad I "found" them the other afternoon.

We were really waiting for the Tropical Storm to come roaring up the coastline yesterday..but all we got were a couple sprinkles and some wind that maybe was 15 miles an hour..nothing like the 40 that was predicted. We were also suppossed to have up to 3 inches of rain, but if we got .309 tenths of an inch I'd be suprised -- no, I don't think that's actually a number over there, but it looks kinda official..

I've got to get some fabric this afternoon while there's still a sale at the fabric store. I was all set to go yesterday, but never made it. I think the "storm" was keeping The Husband from getting off the couch and driving down the road. Right now he's off down the interstate delievering little girl dresses for a department store chain...I won't say which one, but suffice to say, that these dresses were made for about $1.25 and they sell for Over $50.00 -- No -- as truckers he and some of the other drivers don't get more than $4.00 for the delivery...some guy in an office gets the mark-up...But...The Husband did say that they are awfully cute for little girls. I'm just glad we had all boys..I couldn't stand all the noise a girl would have made in our house...3 boys was bad enuf...

Anyway -- I also discovered some VERY bright papers that I also got on sale...my little pea brain is contemplating a way to get those into another piece this week. Somewhere down the Highway I know something will pop in my head...humm...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who has to decide whether or not to buy some more paints or to buy some other stamps while there's a sale over at a Grand Opening Sale for a place down the road...Yikes...my nerves are fraying over this one...

** WELL NOW **

It Has been sometime since I got my little self to sit down and do something here, now, hasn't it? I've been trying to feel better and at the same time, was somewhat hitting myself over the head with my cast iron frying pan. By that I mean, I've been battling between 2 very large Companies, and I've been the little guy stuck in the middle. Trying to get answers from the Teaching Hosp. I had chosen as my "Primary Care" group, and the huge conglomerate, The Ins. Company. I've literally lost track of the amount of time I've spent on hold with both of them. At one point, while on hold, waiting to find out what one of my appointments was going to be about, I did the following:

!. Painting the inside of a window frame

2. Mopped the kitchen floor and dusted around the dining room table.

3. Sketched out some little odds and ends in my sketch tablet.

Finally I got some twit on the other end of the line from the Ins. company -- only to be told that she didn't have the information from the Teaching Hosp. and said that I should try again at another time.

I know that there are people who do wonderful and terrific things at both of these facilities, but by gosh and by golly, I'd SURE LIKE TO FIND THEM!!!

The good thing is, that I did get some ART done thru all the nightmares and Bull**** ~~ While listening to a Mets baseball game (I had the game on the tv, but got too involved with my pens and watercolor paper to actually watch the game) and chuckling to some of the text messages my oldest son sent me at the same time, I was able to get a couple new collages done. The one that had been sort of slapped together earlier, got something of a face lift, and seems to have much more life to it. I got into this Tropical Feel one afternoon, (Probably because I was desperately wanting to get the He** outta town after fighting with the above jerks...) and the whole thing just sorta took off from there -- So that's the new shot at the start of this post. I wanted to get some other fishies into a piece, so that one is getting itself together too. It'll get on here probable tomorrow. I got the middle son's bedroom painted at the same time as all the Waiting For An Answer ~~ There are a couple spots along the ceiling that I have to get some fixing done...missed a couple spots with a final coat of paint, and also slopped some color on the ceiling after I got that painted. Naturally the youngest had to come home from work and retort, "You Missed Some Spots!!" Never assume....never assume...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who heard The Husband switching the cable channels between a U2 concert and a Funny Car Race Competition...with the sould up LOUD -- the U2 part wasn't so bad: it was the sound of those funny cars at a volume of over 12 on the stereo that threw my into fitz...

~~ Well ~~ It's been a couple of dayz, and a LOT of haggling and screaming shouting and altogether Being Ugly to Me by Other People, but I think that for the time being I'm up to snuff on tests tests and other Assorted Things for my Health. Now -- after saying that, I'll probably get a call first thing Monday morning by one of the Yelling Schedulers at my new Dr's office telling me that I've done something wrong...man oh man ... these women are some of the Rudest People I've ever come across. And they work in a DOCTORS OFFICE!! So much for keeping the Blood Pressure Down!!

To date nobody in the Medical Field has a clue as to what's wrong with me...and after a battery of tests on Thursday afternoon, it will be sometime before I get a chance to find out what it is that has suddenly come upon me. I fought thru the traffic and drove all around the new local Heart Hosp. thursday and got into one of the new fancy uber clean offices and filed paperwork and more paperwork and was directed to all sorts of offices, Dr. rooms, super collosial x-ray machines (But I'm not sure if they also have Ship to Shore Radio capibilities...) an' all sorts of other things Useful to Mankind. Wayyy back in the back-most part of my brain, the Arlo Guthrie song was humming around..."An' they had all kindz - a - groovy thingz..." -- Yeah -- it was all so super overwhelming for me. Not to mention all the horrible people who make the decisions as to what is best for me...or...rather who is going to PAY for all these tests and other assorted THANGS...Now ~~ I must admit that I am not one to take a nap ~~ But after over 3 hours of tests and negotiating Traffic around a large construction project in the midst of downtown...Yup -- after I got home, called The Husband an' told him I was home an' safe, I literally layed my head down on the loveseat and Promptly fell asleep for over an Hour....An' within a couple minutes after The Husband got home, he took one look at me on the loveseat an' said, "Why don't you jus' go to bed?" SO ~~ No complaint there!! An' I went in to the bedroom and fell asleep for ANOTHER 2 hours!! DAYUM!!! Worn-Out-An'-Wanting-All-This-To-Be-Over!! Then ~~ I slept the next morning 'till almost 8:45!!

Anyway -- there has been a little in the way of Art getting done!! I'm gluing down some beads and fabric today on a project I'd started in one direction and it has completely gone into some other mode. I mean to say ~~ It's still within that Fishie-Sea-Life theme that I love to pieces, but this collage has somewhat taken on a life of it's own. An' that's fine with me. A little weird as for the Fish...but that's what came outta the gel pens and watercolor paper. So there ya go.

Along with the super tired feeling I've had since my ER visit, I've stayed outta the studio, an' tried to get my work done on the dining room table...it feels really strange to me, but I have gotten some stuff done. An' my wonderful friend has been right next to me all along the way ~~ My little puppy dog..Well -- ok, so she ISN'T so small an' is a LOOOONNNNGGGG was from being a puppy, but you get the idea. She has started this thing of laying RIGHT next to me on the floor in the dining room while I sit at the table an' do my THANG. I can look down an' see her big brown eyes look at me an' I just HAVE to give her a nice little pat on the very tippy top of her head. And rub her super soft fuzzy ears..how can somebody Not do that?? The dining room isn't quite as light-filled as the studio, but it works for now, since we've had the same HEAT that a lot of the country has been melting thru.

The youngest has been outta work for a few dayz because of this horrible heat wave that's been so horrible for a large part of the country ~~ at over 97 Degrees, the 2 farm owners that he works for have been Very careful and made sure there's been no work out in the fields...no risk at having somebody fall over an' have something Very Bad happen. Today it's been somewhat cooler, so there should be some work done...I think some more of the Fall field crops are being planted, or finishing being planted. My youngest & I went to buy some seeds for the same things..our tomatoes developed some type of fungus and hauled off and died...so no pictures of them. With the heat so bad, I've not been able to get outside and do anything, let alone take pics of the garden. Hopefully this evening I can get out there an' get some shots. I think we have some more corn getting ready to bring in, so that'll be fun.

The Husband has been bizzy driving all over the place...and this time of year is so crazy for shipping....Christmas orders have been coming in for the last couple weeks, and he's delivered some girls dresses to a warehouse lately. He said they look very sweet for little teeny girls...Bright greens with lots of glittery fabric. Somebody will be very happy come December!! I think he has another load this next week too..it's all been so much to try and keep track of!! He also had a load of freight that really made me pause...over 75,000 pounds of Turkey Hearts...the math at trying to figure out how many of those little things could fit into a container and come up to that weight was WAY OVER MY HEAD!!! He just said that once he got thru the factory gate and got weighed the total with the tractor and container was over 90,000 pounds. Let's just say that he wasn't exactly tearing up the road on the way back down here...I remember he did say that he got "up" to 45 mph on one stretch of the Interstate....sigh....

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who has also got a picture that makes me smile...it'll get put on here in a day or so...it has to do with the Heat...Christmas ornaments ...and what happens when Things Aren't Taken Care Of...just wait and see...