Looking Back and Ahead

When I started journal writing years ago, I didn't realize it would become a habit that would produce over forty in number. They mean a lot to me, but sometime in the future I will have to decide what to do with many of them, especially the ones from high school and college. And yet I love reading the parts when my parents were alive and well. It is weird to return to days when I was young and naive, and yet bold at times. It's all there - the good, the bad, and the ugly through all the different stages of my life. The journals also reveal a lot of history. Sometimes I would write about particular events since the journals cover 1963-2019. 

At It Again

For some reason I am just not a blue person. The angel in the last post got changed again. I think I have redone her background three times.

Trying a new flower painting. These are always fun to do.




While I was looking for Nick a sketchbook for part of his birthday present, I came across this inexpensive chalkboard. I need to stain the wood, but meantime I put up this quote .

 The chalk holder was made by Garrett, our oldest grandson, when he was a little boy. He's now in the military at boot camp. Gosh, it's hard to believe how quickly a child grows up!

Today is Nick's birthday. Can't believe he's already twelve.

He and Lucas were sweet to slow down and let me get this picture.

The water slide birthday party on Sunday was fun-filled with laughs and spills.

Painting and Tutoring

It has been a while since I carved out some time to paint. A visitor to my studio on Sunday is probably the reason I'm back at it. She liked many of my paintings. 

This painting of a barn I decided to redo. A happy childhood memory was the hayloft at my grandparents' farm in Louisiana. My brother and I would climb there to enjoy the view from up high. We also liked to climb trees for that feeling of being way up in the air. We had a lot of freedom in those days to explore. Miraculously we survived without mishaps. This barn painting makes me recall those wonderful experiences on the farm.

  

I picked up a small canvas at Goodwill for one dollar, painted over it, and tried this angel pose.

This one was quick and fun. I used cut up plastic pieces dipped in paint for the haystack and pitchforks and an owl that was cut from a magazine.

I emptied out the suitcase of old teaching materials. Now I'm using it as an end table for my coffee. This week I've been in teacher mode to help Lucas with a few of his third grade lessons.

A Mini Reunion

It was so nice to get together with this group for lunch and conversation. We share many fond memories of our years at Drummonds Elementary School in Tipton County.

L to R Everlena Sloan, Delores Stringfellow, Mabel Jefferson, Elaine Finnie, Elaine McCullough, Marilyn Brent, Sandy Clowes, and Kathy Bowling

  Kathy, Elaine, and I taught third grade students. 

We admired Ms. Sloan. And so did her seventh graders.

  

We set a date in November to meet again. Hopefully some that missed today can make the next one.

A Few Changes

This bookshelf was given to me by my former mother-in-law. I had children's books on it for a long time. Now it's being used in the kitchen to display some of my bowl collection.

 It was Xenia King's bedside table when she was a little girl growing up in Boston, Massachusetts. She kept her storybooks on the shelves. She gave me three of her childhood books that have her young signature inside. (I need to search for them; they are stored away somewhere around here. A future post may be about her, those storybooks, and other mementos she shared.)

I took the Flea Market sign down from the corner cupboard in the apartment and brought it to the top of the hutch. You can tell some of the things I love to collect from the displays on the hutch.

Old and new blocks were dumped into this recent basket purchase.

I liked that the basket had a lid and handles.

Finally this golden rooster is a new addition to the kitchen windowsill.

This and That

I thought I'd report in since August is well under way. 

Summertime beauty

This Magnolia blossom caught my eye at the entrance to IHOP in Millington.

And this not so beautiful creature was spotted on a Big Lots shopping cart.

As usual I've been moving things around. Decided to place white pottery pieces on dark brown dresser and green ones on top of a bookcase.

Then, too, I'm always into bargain hunting for new finds. I found this mirror for the utility room for four dollars. It's old and flawed, probably part of another piece, but it's fine for this spot.

While browsing I came across this signature. A well-known Nashville artist, she is admired by many, including me.

It's a canvas wrapped print of one of her guitar art pieces. The colors are so vibrant. Although not my favorite subject matter I liked it enough to try it out at home. Also $24 dollars seemed a fair price.

Would love an original by her. Her barns, churches, and angels are my favorites.

my favorite magazine

Happy Thursday! Thanks for checking in.