Holidays and Rehab

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas! I have not been able to spend much time catching up on reading blogs. This pain med I am on either makes me so sleepy, or does not really control the pain well enough to concentrate for long. Just the way my body reacts to it. I am doing better but rehab is going to take a l-o-n-g time. Izzy is being very patient and careful around me, and comes to lay down with me when I need to use the leg exerciser for 2 hrs at a time. Could not ask for a more faithful companion! Back to the dr this Wed. to have staples removed and to see what he has to say about how I am doing.

My daughter posted to my painting blog the winners of the Christmas Give-Away. I ended up giving 3 away because, well, just because I felt like it :) I wish I could have done several more to give. Looking forward to the time when the aches and pain let up long enough to let me paint again. I could read, but I fall asleep from the meds. So I knit, and then make like a frog and "rip-it" out my mistakes from falling asleep knitting .....ah, such is life.

Meanwhile, I am thinking about having the "house" batteries removed from the rv and brought into the house until I am well enough to get back on the road. I read somewhere that a cold snap could ruin them, and I just replaced them when I was back in Pennsylvania last fall. Do any of you others do this if you will not be using your rv for the winter??

I'll be spending a quiet New Year's Eve. We used to get together at church with lots of friends, games, and good food, and wait for the New Year to begin. Haha, I will have a hard time staying awake past 9 pm this year! I will probably watch a good movie or two, and be knitting on another project. A new year is a chance for a fresh new beginning. I don't make resolutions but I do give thought and contemplate what changes I will try to implement in the coming year. Are some of you looking forward to changes, big or small? Maybe that will be the topic of my next post....

You all enjoy your celebrations, be careful, and if you do have something to drink, please don't drive.

Time for a Break

I think I am about done with my little bit of decorating. The tree is up , grapevine wreath and red ribbons and garland on the front porch, and a wreath in the carport. I think thats enough this year.

Mostly just lights, cinnamon stick bundles, clear little icicles. and a few ornaments. Those off-yellow looking things are my beeswax ornament I used to make. These angels are all I have left. Hmmmm, I'll have to remedy that next year.

I am keeping the bird-feeders filled and put out an extrs one yesterday, Now there are three seed feeders, a suet feeder and a niger seed feeder. The birds have been coming and going all day, but I have been to busy to try to take pictures. I put another painting on my other blog this morning, or was it yesterday??? I think I have time to do one more before dear daughter arrives tomorrow late afternoon, She will be here with me for my knee surgery, AND to take care of the

Christmas Give-away!

Don't forget to get entered ~here~

So I am taking 2 tylenol, find a movie, and sit n' knit.

You all have a great evening!

Art Guild Meeting and a Good-Looking Bichon!

Our art guild had their Christmas luncheon and meeting today, It was nice getting together and having some chat time with other artists . We ate at a resturaunt that served Mexican food. I enjoyed the Chimechunga meal. The secretary reported that the art auction we had last month was quite a success, inspite of the depressed economy. I will be displaying some of my paintings in the Gallery beginning in January.

I had made an appointment for Izzy at the groomers for this morning, so I dropped her off on the way to my meeting, and she was ready shortly after I returned. I was so pleased with the results!! Now this is what a Bichon is supposed to look like! It just takes alot of work to keep her looking that way. I do have to admit I have been lax in that department lately.

Here she is wanting to go out and play with her friend, Tabby cat. Doesn't she look beautiful??

They put a Christmas-y kerchief on her neck.


Now she wants to play!

She says, "Look Mom, they forgot to paint my toenails!"

I also made my way to the Hobby Lobby in the next town and picked up more little canvases for my Christmas-y paintings. They were having a 50% off sale on picture frames so I ended up also bringing 4 of those home for the paintings I will be displaying in the gallery next month; and yes, I went by the sock yarn isle. I just can't seem to keep from going through there............. and buying some. After all, its so handy to the art supplies isle........... and I no telling when I'll be able to get back down there, right??
Now I just need to give the furniture a good vaccuming, get some groceries in, and do more painting. Don't forget to check my Sunny's Studio blog to get in on the give-away!!

A Painting Challenge for Me and a Gift for One of YOU!

I started a new simple series of small paintings called "Christmas Scents, Scenes and Sounds" Don't know how many I'll get done before next Tuesday, but I am challenging myself. There are 2 posted now and hope to get several more added. Check it out if you have time and want to see them. I will be giving one away for Christmas.

The plan is to draw a name from all the comments posted o the Christmas paintings on my Sunny's Studio Blog, or (click on the painter girl on the side-bar) and if you comment more than once your name will go in as many times as you comment. The drawing will be on Dec 15th. My daughter will be here to do the drawing. She will notify the winner and you can send your address to my email. She will get it mailed out to you. This helps me as well as gifting someone, because it gives me a reason to paint.

So keep checking... this should be fun!

I had some Visitors Today..... and Oil n' Lube

Going out to check on the level of propane in the bulk tank of my house today, these turkeys caught my eye when I walked out onto the back deck. I quickly turned and went back inside for my camera. Some had their feathers fanned out ...

until I got close enough to get a good picture. They were on the other side of the ravine past the barn.

One of the toms was acting like he was trying to keep 2 hens from the rest of the group. I love seeing these big birds. Mostly they are in flocks of 12 - 25 and I have seen as many as 50. How do I know? Cuz I started counting them once and got as high as 25, and was only half way through before they ran off.

They quietly but quickly made their way to the middle field. I have wanted to go for one more 4-wheeler ride before having knee surgery, but the steady rain we have been getting has prevented me. I am just not into muddin'.

I followed the fence row around toward the propane tank and took a couple other pictures. This is where the creek runs only part of the year, actually mostly a run-off from the near neighbor's pond. You can see the white foam from the rapidly running water way down in the woods.

This photo is from directly down over the ravine on the west side of the house. I used to go down there, and hope to be able to do that again one day.

Now this is what I call "pretty" weeds, or "ornamental" grass. I'll use that in a painting some day.

Well, I am about ready to submit my self to the pain and torture. I think I have everything taken care of that needs be. Got the final done on the RV yesterday; that being an oil change and lube. At first they forgot to do the lube. The bill they handed me only stated oil change, so I asked them about it. They said they had forgotten because all newer vehicles now come with gease fittings all sealed and if a part goes bad it just gets replaced (well near as I can remember thats what they said ) So they took it back through again and didnt charge me anything more.

So, yes, I am about ready... oh, wait.....

Izzy is asking me if she needs a haircut first..... and a bath wouldn't hurt either....

Ya Think????

Just Checking In ... Winterizing the RV

....... so I know I will be here in KY till late February at least. I called our local RV place and they could not get my RV in to winterize it soon enough as they are backed up.

Soooo.... I made a call to another RV owner and got out my care manual, and started to dig through the info. Then a call to the previous owner, and they were as helpful as they could be, but had fogotten how they did some of the maintenance. I had to go over one small section at a time and then go out to the RV (it was cold and a light rain falling which made it not very pleasant outside) to see what it was talking about. Some of the diagrams were like puzzles, and I had to really study to see what it was talking about. To make a long story short I did finally get everything drained and the recommended RV antifreeze put in.

Next is getting it for an oil change and lube job, which I will not be doing myself. But I did do what I could and feel pretty good about that.

Now I am trying to finish up my ridding out project in the house, take some time to paint, and get my Christmas tree up before the ominous 13th! However, having these things out of the way, I will be free to put my concentration into working through KRS and the following therapy, which I have been told is a bear. I am determined I can do it! After all ...... I have a goal ahead of me . Getting back out in my RV with Izzy and back to painting form the scenes I see along the way!

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

"Now , children....."

8" x 10"

Oil on canvas board

Have a wonderful day, and be thankful for all your blessings.

We have sooo many!

New painting posted, and other stuff.

I finally finished my 2nd painting from Energy Lake at Land Between the Lake, Golden Pond, KY. You can see it here, or just click on my painter girl on my sidebar.

I am supposed to be getting ready to go there for the Thankgiving pot-luck they put on at the campground, and its only 60 miles away, but the weather is not so nice. Wondering if I should just stay home and paint ......

The count-down is on..... that is, the days I have left till my knee surgery. It is scheduled for Dec 13th, and I got my surgical clearances yesterday. See, thats the thing; if I go to the Thanksgiving doings, I might just keep going after and not return for my surgery..... just because I can .... if I want to. Oh yes, I want to run from it!! I have times where I start to get panic-y. So if I stay here and paint it will relax me as well as keep me where I belong til the big 12-13!!

I know the Lord is my strength , and thats why I am still here and not on my way to Arizona!

Meanwhile .... back at the Ranch

Ever since the rain came through the other day, my knees have felt better. I am still waiting to hear from the doctor's office on the exact scheduled date. I have been able to do some more ridding out upstairs in the old office. Makes me feel good to be able to get something accomplished.

I usually put off shopping as long as I can, as it doesn't seem enjoyable to me. But I did have a great day shopping today! What made it all the nicer was I had gotten a sizable refund check in the mail from a hospital bill on which I had overpaid.

I got a new filter for my humidifier that I run in the winter, because the woodstove does make the air dry. Beings I will have to be home pretty much through Jan and part of Feb after knee surgery, it seemed pretty important to me.

I found a a baby gate on sale at wally*world, to use when I want to block Izzy in the rear of the RV.


Much to my surprise they also had a replacement shower hose/head combo I needed for in the RV, so I picked that up as well,

....... and a new set of knitting needles I needed to make this sweater for my dog, Izzy.

As I was about to leave WW, I came across this diplay of electric room heaters. The ancient one I had been using in my painting room was, shall we say, iffy as to the safety of it. I decided, no time like the present to replace it. Isn't it just TOO CUTE??? And, for my blogging friend Jo, out in Washington, I could even bring it along in the RV if needed, and was missing my home wood stove, lol.





But .... my main reason for shopping was to go to HobbyLobby, where I got 3 HUGE canvases and a couple large tubes of paint I needed for a large commission painting I am starting on. The customer will be here tomorrow to discuss particulars of it with me and pick out the size canvas they want it.

(this painting is crrently in process ....)

After coming home I made a large pot of tea and put my feet up to relax. I was pretty pleased with my profitable shopping day, and very thankful to the Lord. I believe He was mindful of my knees and directed my path to enable me to accomplish this much in one day!

Hope you all enjoyed the sunshine today!

Time to Fess Up

Since I hit the Kentucky homestead and the damp cooler weather, my knees have been talking back to me. Not just the bad left one, either.... the right one is now loudly complaining that it is doing all the work. (sounds just like a couple o' kids, right???)

So I called my doctor office today, and am waiting for a call back as to when they can schedule me for the long, put-off knee replacement surgery. I am finding it hard to even walk since returning home, and my knees have been constantly painful.

There is so much I want to do, places I want to go, and scenes to capture on canvas, and I am to the point that if it is going to become a reality I need to get this done. I have finally conjured up the courage (read ...... the Lord has given me confidence and a willingness to go through with it) that I can get through this and there are better things on the other side. I know, that I know, that I know, when He leads me to something, He will be there to see me through.

I told my eldest daughter my decision yesterday, and she and her hubby volunteered her to take off work to come down for the first couple weeks till I get through the rough part. (I did not ask, because she has back disc problems .... I just figured Iwould get through it somehow.) There is a PACS van that will be able to transport me to therapy after she leaves.

So in the mean time, I have one more short trip to make back to Energy Lake over Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and then the RV will be put up till I re-coop enough to go to Tuscon, Arizona, to my brother and sil's, towards the end of Jan/Feb(??) I have lots of reference photos to paint from, my knitting stash will be close at hand, and my sewing machine will brought downstairs so it will be available to me.

I also hope to make one of these for on the walker, before surgery.

Oh yes, and if I get time and inspiration I might get in a few groceries and clean the house :)

You all enjoy yourselves and be safe out there!!

Going home ....Stop off at Lake Catherine, AR

After an exciting week with DD before her wedding, and the big day, i found myself a little less than exhausted. I barely got to Texarkana from Denton on Sunday afternoon. The next day I decided I wanted to take an extra day to just camp out and re-coop. I had been running to see family in PA and then to TX for the wedding and could use some relaxation.

I checked out the map and decided on Lake Cathrine State Park near Hot Springs, AR, just south of Little Rock. I was assigned a space right down by the water. There were only 2 other campers nearby. It was very beautiful and peaceful.

These Canadian Geese were not 20 feet from my door, and didn't budge when I stepped out of my RV.

They eventually started toward the water and began to slowly swim away.

Then they took off from the surface of the water and flew toward the opposite shore.

We were later visited by some Mallard ducks, who wandered along looking for tidbits to eat,

They too eventually meandered off into the water.

I saw some unusual tree trunks.....

.... and beautiful bark patterns on the pine trees.

and the rough bark against the smooth back-drop of the water intrigued me.

The snake-like curving pattern of a shoreline is something that always seems to catch my eye.

I enjoyed viewing reflections in the water, which grew bolder as the day wore on.

This reflection mirrors the old steam-generated electric power plant on the opposite shore.

I also got a couple night shots;

The power plant lit up at night....

..... and the moon shining through the trees.

I am so blessed to be able to enjoy God's creation out here......not everyone has this priviledge.

Today I am so thankful for eye-sight.
 

Hope you enjoyed my stop-over .... I know I did.

The Wedding

The setting, with the harpist.....

The Ceremony ....

The kiss .....

The Celebration ......

A picture of a happy bride ......

A very happy couple .......

Tired, but happy!

The best wedding present? Rick got news the day before the wedding that he passed the bar exam and is now a lawyer!

Home from Pennsylvania, and on to Texas!

This was my greeting as I arrived home from PA. My friendly neighbor put up gates for me in my absence, in trade for a couple used barrel fans for his barn. He did a great job.

I had a key for the lock ahead of time . I just leave them open when home . But it serves its purpose for those who will honestly respect a property owners rights.


My home looked welcoming to me upon return. There were still some pretty mums to be seen and the pin-oak tree had started showing color.

I left again Saturday morning to make my way to Texas for youngest's wedding. This photo does not do justice to the beautiful fall colors of Kentucky and Tennesee.

The weather was beautiful and I was able to stop over-night at a peaceful rest area
east of Little Rock AR.

Aw! Made it to Texarkana!

From there it was an easy run to Dallas . I have arrived and am visiting and resting up for the big day!