And what a winter it was!!! Finally, Columbus joined the rest of the Midwest with a "real winter" with record snow in February. I think the final total was 30" with 50" for the year.
Although a couple of my art classes were cancelled, I made it through without any injuries to self or house.
Our trip to Ft Myers in Feb, was rather cool and cloudy. A bit disappointing but all in all it was good to get away. Jerry and I love the smell of the salt air, spending time at or in the ocean.
Well, he braved the cold water, while I sat on the beach with my sketch book.
Now that Spring has arrived, I am praying that no more aberrant snow storms like the ones we had in April '05. blanket my yard. The garden looks like it survived pretty well although I did remove the holly by the garage. I plan to put a re-blooming lilac in its place. Not sure if there will be a Summer Solstice party this year...there is a trip to Greece on the back burner with Anita, my art teacher. She'll be back in town at the end of April and we should know more details soon. I miss my classes a lot, and try to paint on my own, but I remain petrified to put brush to canvas by myself.
May will bring Julia's college graduation, and we're so excited for her!! She's going through the final push and is terribly busy now, but the end is in sight. We all hope she takes the advertising/marketing world by storm.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
WINTER 2010
January 2010
Painting classes are going quite well. I look forward to Wednesdays like a mini vacation; nothing gets in the way of my classes. Hope I don't get sick, cause I'd crawl in on a respirator if need be. The latest project is a 24x24 orchid blossom that will one day hang above my bed. It's taking shape today.
Jerry and I are just about ready for our mid winter break in Florida. Wish it was a bit warmer there
Painting classes are going quite well. I look forward to Wednesdays like a mini vacation; nothing gets in the way of my classes. Hope I don't get sick, cause I'd crawl in on a respirator if need be. The latest project is a 24x24 orchid blossom that will one day hang above my bed. It's taking shape today.
Jerry and I are just about ready for our mid winter break in Florida. Wish it was a bit warmer there
though. Nights have been in the 40s. But being acclimated to Ohio, I'm sure we'll notice a difference.
We had lots of snow to ring in the New Year, and it was great! Even on the most cloudy of days, there was wonderful light. Now that it is gone the familiar Ohio drabs have set in; wind and rain seem colder to me than the crispness of 10-20 degrees.
We had lots of snow to ring in the New Year, and it was great! Even on the most cloudy of days, there was wonderful light. Now that it is gone the familiar Ohio drabs have set in; wind and rain seem colder to me than the crispness of 10-20 degrees.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve 2009...very quiet one as Jerry is in Iowa for Christmas with family. My holiday call duties kept me here. A major winter storm hit the East and Midwest (as in Iowa) so a white Christmas is guaranteed there. The downside to that is Jerry had to give up the drive to Winona to see Julia again this year.
It's warmish, about 40deg. and the last dribs an drabs of snow are melting quickly. Rain is forecasted and that will make it all the more gloomy. I'm sure we will get our Easter snow right on time. Maybe getting the last of my gifts wrapped will lift my spririts...
Cat =^..^=
It's warmish, about 40deg. and the last dribs an drabs of snow are melting quickly. Rain is forecasted and that will make it all the more gloomy. I'm sure we will get our Easter snow right on time. Maybe getting the last of my gifts wrapped will lift my spririts...
Cat =^..^=
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009 was a few days late for Jerry and I (who worked a long shift) but well worth the wait. The original plan was to have his friend and coworker, Harry join us but that long shift got in the way. So, J and I did the best we could with a 17.75 lb bird!!! I think we have 15 lbs left.
Seriously, for TWO people??? But it was only .29 /lb and cheaper than a 6 lb breast!!! It's so unfair. But my guy loves turkey, and all that goes with it (my giblet gravy was da bomb:). I sent him packing with tons of leftovers...I may have to pluck him by next weekend!
Apres dinner, we flopped on the sofa/lounger and did what the rest of America did: fell into an overfed stupor. We lit a fire, and watched Casablanca for the umpteenth time. The house was warm and cozy and with the aroma of dinner still lingering we had no choice but to fall into a contented sleep. It was like a lullaby.
So begins the Holiday season. I'll be working as much as possible this season, since J will be in Iowa and those with kids need to be home with family. I much prefer to have my summer holidays off and besides, we're planning a winter trip to Fla so the extra hours will help fund my cheap/sleazy paperbacks I take to the beach.
Merry Holidays, to all....
Cat =^..^=
Seriously, for TWO people??? But it was only .29 /lb and cheaper than a 6 lb breast!!! It's so unfair. But my guy loves turkey, and all that goes with it (my giblet gravy was da bomb:). I sent him packing with tons of leftovers...I may have to pluck him by next weekend!
Apres dinner, we flopped on the sofa/lounger and did what the rest of America did: fell into an overfed stupor. We lit a fire, and watched Casablanca for the umpteenth time. The house was warm and cozy and with the aroma of dinner still lingering we had no choice but to fall into a contented sleep. It was like a lullaby.
So begins the Holiday season. I'll be working as much as possible this season, since J will be in Iowa and those with kids need to be home with family. I much prefer to have my summer holidays off and besides, we're planning a winter trip to Fla so the extra hours will help fund my cheap/sleazy paperbacks I take to the beach.
Merry Holidays, to all....
Cat =^..^=
Thursday, November 12, 2009
For Jim.....
Hello World---not sure where the months between March and now (November) went; perhaps the same universe as the lost socks from the washer.
I think the only way to recount the past months, is a quick look in reverse at my calendar.
Let's see now...oh, yes, in April I was still working 4 10 hr shifts and was on call. At the end of the month I had foot surgery yet again but with a much better outcome!! Dr Buchan is the rock star of little piggies everywhere.
May is a great time not to work and have lunch/catch up with friends. Who am I to argue? The garden is coming into full bloom and the air smells sweet. Mid month brought me back to work but I decided to dial it down a bit and work 5 8 hr shifts. Would I regret giving up my day off a week? Turns out, not so much. It feels like I have every day off and no worries about taking call anymore!
June is here and my driveway looks fabulous. I had it torn out and replaced by the rock star of asphalt (I know a lot of these stars, they just don't live in Hollywood). It was the perfect "red carpet" of greeting for my annual Summer Solstice Garden Party. The garden rose to the occasion as well.
July was as relaxing and sedate as a summer month can get. I don't even recall any vicious thunder storms that threatended life, limbs (of trees) or hailstorms of, well, hail.
Although looking back now, I do recall having my first and hopefully last bout of vertigo. It's almost indescribable---there you are, ready to get up and on with the day, and the room spins and spins, then slows down leaving you with the most awful nausea ever. Then the cycle repeats again and again. Like any good nurse, (who works in surgery) I thought I had a life altering brain tumor. But lucky for me and most folks, it's an inner ear problem that seems to have been resolved.
August is Jerry's birthday, and brother Jim's too. We arrived in Chicago to stay with him for a night before heading off to Winona to see Julia. She looks so grown up now, heading towards her senior year in advertising at college. She has her sights set on "a big city" and I have no doubt she'll take the ad world by storm in the future. From there it was off to Door county Wisconsin and Egg Harbor to be exact. I could very easily live here. Jerry dreams of the beach for retirement, and I prefer a lake setting especially if you throw in a mountain or at least a large hill. Yes, Egg Harbor would do it for me.
September was a near carbon copy of August. Might seem boring to most folks who might stumble upon this blog, but for me, it's life without strife. I like the pace and predictability of it all especially when I open the morning newspaper. If I'm honest with myself, I must say this: I think I have everything I need.
October is all about me. I used to think that as a child since my birthday is on the 4th. That meant the month was mine. As an adult I've managed to pare it down to a week. Very mature, don't you think? Friends lunched me, gifted me and generally treated me like the birthday princess I was meant to be. Told you I had everything I need!!
I finished the end of Oct. with the annual Cabin Weekend the (female) staff from work takes each year. While attendance waned this year--too near Halloween, I think-- we took a departure from the State park we enjoy to join Julie at her place in the woods near the Muskingum River. What a glorious spot; perched on the top of a hill this little house is so cozy and welcoming from the first step on the wide front porch. A full moon both nights around the fire pit and warm weather again made it that much more enjoyable. Rain on Saturday morning let up by afternoon for our ritual walk. The setting was so pastoral and relaxing.
It's mid-November now, and I am over the moon with my art classes. Rewind to the end of Sept. when I took a 4 day course with a talented painter and friend, Renon, that included some theory, sketching and 2 paintings; one watercolor and one oil. I have found my muse. At our gallery showing held at the Artist's Roost, I spoke to Anita Miller who painted the Lima Co works (see for yourself at youtube and search Lima Company paintings or Anita Miller). She agreed to take me on as a student and I haven't looked back. My progress has been good and consistent, and student and teacher are thrilled. I did my first oil under her tutelage and what a great first effort! Anita insisted she take a quick photo of my work to send to Renon who, by this time, has moved back to Utah.
I believe I have successfully updated the world with dribs and drabs of my life. My next accomplishment will be to include some photos of key events. Stay tuned.
Cat =^..^=
I think the only way to recount the past months, is a quick look in reverse at my calendar.
Let's see now...oh, yes, in April I was still working 4 10 hr shifts and was on call. At the end of the month I had foot surgery yet again but with a much better outcome!! Dr Buchan is the rock star of little piggies everywhere.
May is a great time not to work and have lunch/catch up with friends. Who am I to argue? The garden is coming into full bloom and the air smells sweet. Mid month brought me back to work but I decided to dial it down a bit and work 5 8 hr shifts. Would I regret giving up my day off a week? Turns out, not so much. It feels like I have every day off and no worries about taking call anymore!
June is here and my driveway looks fabulous. I had it torn out and replaced by the rock star of asphalt (I know a lot of these stars, they just don't live in Hollywood). It was the perfect "red carpet" of greeting for my annual Summer Solstice Garden Party. The garden rose to the occasion as well.
July was as relaxing and sedate as a summer month can get. I don't even recall any vicious thunder storms that threatended life, limbs (of trees) or hailstorms of, well, hail.
Although looking back now, I do recall having my first and hopefully last bout of vertigo. It's almost indescribable---there you are, ready to get up and on with the day, and the room spins and spins, then slows down leaving you with the most awful nausea ever. Then the cycle repeats again and again. Like any good nurse, (who works in surgery) I thought I had a life altering brain tumor. But lucky for me and most folks, it's an inner ear problem that seems to have been resolved.
August is Jerry's birthday, and brother Jim's too. We arrived in Chicago to stay with him for a night before heading off to Winona to see Julia. She looks so grown up now, heading towards her senior year in advertising at college. She has her sights set on "a big city" and I have no doubt she'll take the ad world by storm in the future. From there it was off to Door county Wisconsin and Egg Harbor to be exact. I could very easily live here. Jerry dreams of the beach for retirement, and I prefer a lake setting especially if you throw in a mountain or at least a large hill. Yes, Egg Harbor would do it for me.
September was a near carbon copy of August. Might seem boring to most folks who might stumble upon this blog, but for me, it's life without strife. I like the pace and predictability of it all especially when I open the morning newspaper. If I'm honest with myself, I must say this: I think I have everything I need.
October is all about me. I used to think that as a child since my birthday is on the 4th. That meant the month was mine. As an adult I've managed to pare it down to a week. Very mature, don't you think? Friends lunched me, gifted me and generally treated me like the birthday princess I was meant to be. Told you I had everything I need!!
I finished the end of Oct. with the annual Cabin Weekend the (female) staff from work takes each year. While attendance waned this year--too near Halloween, I think-- we took a departure from the State park we enjoy to join Julie at her place in the woods near the Muskingum River. What a glorious spot; perched on the top of a hill this little house is so cozy and welcoming from the first step on the wide front porch. A full moon both nights around the fire pit and warm weather again made it that much more enjoyable. Rain on Saturday morning let up by afternoon for our ritual walk. The setting was so pastoral and relaxing.
It's mid-November now, and I am over the moon with my art classes. Rewind to the end of Sept. when I took a 4 day course with a talented painter and friend, Renon, that included some theory, sketching and 2 paintings; one watercolor and one oil. I have found my muse. At our gallery showing held at the Artist's Roost, I spoke to Anita Miller who painted the Lima Co works (see for yourself at youtube and search Lima Company paintings or Anita Miller). She agreed to take me on as a student and I haven't looked back. My progress has been good and consistent, and student and teacher are thrilled. I did my first oil under her tutelage and what a great first effort! Anita insisted she take a quick photo of my work to send to Renon who, by this time, has moved back to Utah.
I believe I have successfully updated the world with dribs and drabs of my life. My next accomplishment will be to include some photos of key events. Stay tuned.
Cat =^..^=
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
