Big brown eyes that melt your heart....

My latest comissioned pet portrait. This is Miss Finn- she is Jerri's dog, but has to be shared with her wusband (as she refers to her ex). Finn is a Corgie, but her face looks very much like my Sophie's, who is a Sheltie. What a face! Needless to say, she was a delight to draw!

Thanksgiving trees - a fiery yellow & orange glow

Hard to believe it was just a week ago that I was once again up in Williamsburg, Va for Thanksgiving with the kids along with Page and Jack. I flew up as usual, but stayed at a hotel since it was my turn to do so this year. What a great find! It literally was within walking distance of the townhouse and, an unexpected bonus, it afforded me some quiet, totally by myself time. (Was able to enjoy reading the second book in the "Hunger Games" trilogy on my Nook, one of my best purchases ever! I'm refering to the Nook) The weather was so mild that I actually sat on the porch outside with feet bare in the grass to do some earthing. It was great to have all of us together. Sadly, between our jobs and art, I rarely get to see Page. With Travis and Emory so far away, I get to spend time with them even more rarely. Emory, always the fantastic cook, prepared another scrumptious meal with a fun pumpkin roll for desert. Travis and I ventured out into Black Friday madness (which I didn't find to be as terrible as I feared - must have been the company! ), successfully finding a pair of shoes for me  and he a Christmas present for Emory while Em, Page and Jack went to the theatre to see the movie on Lincoln by Spielburg. Up on Wed, back that Sat afternoon- easy, peasy, quick and fun. Just 3 and half weeks till the kids are here for Christmas! Whoo-hoo! And, much to do in the meantime! haha

I Love Me a Black-Feathered Boa



 


Me (Lorrie), Janet and Nadine



Tracie








 

Our pic in "Charleston Magazine" on-line

What a fantastic time we had! OMG! I danced like a crazy woman- me and my black-feathered boa (I can't dance a lick, but old(er) age has given me an  I-don't-give-a-damn attitude). Pet Helpers has an annual Fund Raiser in early November. My friend, Janet (who, besides her day job as an accountant with the TV show "Army Wives", goes out with Tracie at night, trapping/spaying/releasing feral cats), was invited to sit with Tracie at the VIP table which meant she had 2 unused tickets. She invited me and her other accountant friend, Nadine and we, of course, accepted. Ah, I was rubbing elbows with the monied Charlestonians all night long - me and my Halloween Express Roaring 20's attire. Some of the outfits there- magnificent. I love that time era, as obviously did practically everyone else- hardly a soul arrived in regular street clothes. Which made it feel like you were really back in time- so Great-Gatsby, with the lavish parties, the cocktails, the laughter, the talk, the food and the dancing. There was a dance troupe, who greatly entertained us with several dance numbers. Besides the silent auction arranged on long tables lining the walls and in the center of the area right outside the ballroom, there was a regular auction held while we ate our dinner. Which was quite good, but I actually didn't pay too much attention to the food= there was so much else going on! They had some pictures playing in a loop up on a big screen-and one the cats reminded me so much of Calvin! Wierd. And, a photographer from "Charleston Magazine" walked by one of the few times the 4 of us were all together and wanted to snap our picture for the on-line edition. Pretty cool. The evening ended with much, much dancing- they were playing really good dance music! with, of course, one rendition of the Charleston and the obligatory, yet a real hoot, conga line! Hmmm....I wonder if I can find out how much they raised. A good time for all for a very good cause! (it cost $100/month/animal)









Cotton Candy Pastels and Candy Apple Red




Me and Shirley Lane- friends for 22 years!

 



Meet me at the Rocket!
























Nyree and Mia




me and Mia





Rock Star

 












My favorite piece from the art- this is absolutely marvelous graphite!





I can't believe this is painted, it looks so real!








My second favorite art piece

 



Nyree's lion, Mia's Sonic and my bat pumpkins



    Fair weekend! October 20, 2012. I have not been to the SC State Fair in, like, 11 years! And, good thing, too, because of fair FOOD!!!!!! OMG! I had the Philly cheese mega-dripping-and-falling-apart sandwich and (a couple of hours later) the BIGGEST bavarian creme elephant ear EVER!

     I began my wonderful weekend that Friday about noon at the Grecian Garden Restaurant where I met up with Shirley for lunch. This is her autumn jaunt stateside to visit her girls, and we missed each other this past spring "whilst" she helped Rockie,her older daughter, plan her wedding which is taking place this coming spring, 2013. As always, it's sheer joy to spend time with her. After talking non-stop for about 3 1/2 hours, it was time to continue on to my original stop, which was at Nyree's place.

     A chance to talk about art, the Universe, web sites, laugh, bounce ideas off one another and revel in each other's company. We've decided bestest friends can be soul mates. Her daughter, Mia, is now 5 yo and is so very bright and imaginative (tho' lazy when it comes to learning things like reading= frustrating) and talks 10,000 miles a minute. In other words, an absolute delight! I can't wait for us to start showing her the world! It was hard to decide which pics of the fair to use. If you've seen one picture of a fair...but I settled on what I deemed representative of the excursion. The photo of the rocket is one of nostalgia. Used to be....all day and all night long, you'd hear announcements for people to "meet your party at the rocket!" I didn't hear it once while there. Why, you might ask? Because everyone, today, has a cell phone.....

    Lastly, an art project by all 3 of us ladies. Nyree has, wisely, decided that instead of carving pumpkins (messy) and ending up with mushy, rotten jack-o-lanterns (even messier), that painting and otherwise decorating our pumpkins was the way to go. It seems that such decorating is all the rage, or shall we say, trending, right now. Mia did her part (painting), but the bulk of Sonic was Nyree. Love her lion!!!! And, I ended up doing what I know best - painting an animal portrait. I do love bats! It was an absolutley fantastic weekend. I'm not quite sure when we'll visit again (the New Year after all the holidays?), but I got Nyree on Skype, so maybe we'll get to visit that way till we get to in person.





True Blue Friendship





North Myrtle Beach



Sunset






Sunrise





Bi-valves on the shore- and they're alive!










Me and Jerri

49 years. That's a helluva long time to know somebody. But, Jerri McCabe Menefee and I have been friends since 5th grade (which would make us 59 yr old= YIKES!!!) It's funny how some people, ultimately those that are really important , stay in our lives. It was 10 years ago when we last saw and spoke to each other, but it could have been yesterday. I wondered if Jerri had changed, if we'd have anything in common, if she were suddenly wild, being given new freedom courtesy of a recent divorce. But, no, she was the same sweet, beautiful person she has always been. And, as for something in common, we have both been on a spirtual path, looking to change our lives for the better, and happier, so what fun to unabashedly speak of meditating, and people like Chopra and Wayne Dyer and the Universe. Whoo-hoo! She and her delightful friend, Liz, had come to North Myrtle Beach for a vacation. How lucky that I only live a couple of hours away. How lucky to get to reconnect and rekindle our friendship. But, they say there are no coincidences. "Trust the process- the Universe knows". So, now we can visit more frequently via Skype and plan some more concrete visits in person. And, look! See how in sync we are- unplanned, we both wore orange- haha!