NaNoWriMo

I am anxiously awaiting the begining of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writer's Month) begining Nov. 1st. I acutally think I am more excited about this than the turnout of the election. (Not really, but it is at least a little more interesting at this point in time) OK, I'll admit, I am a Republican, voting for McCain/Pailin - love Pailin and hope they can pull it out. I am afraid of Obama and think he is a socialist. (let's see if I get feedback on this!)

I have been anxiously reviewing the story outlines of current and back story of Chihuahua Capers, making sure all the elements are in place for Sat. night's first marathon writing session. I might be a zombi at work on Sunday morning. I think I'll be coveting those day's off during the week when I work weekends, first to get extra sleep and second to add to the word count on the novel. The offical word count for the month will be 50,000 words...ugh, I hope I make it!

Since I don't work tomorrow until 4:00, I shall spend the day getting the studio (art and office) set up, story boards on the walls and outlines and notes organized for Sat. writing. Wish me luck, it's gonna be a great time!

I'll report on my progress.

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strange feelings

Tonight I probably shouldn't even be writing...I feel very vulnerable...very insecure. I worry about my dad, about my children and granchildren...Should I mention that worrying is my hobby?? I know it does no good. I know that the Bible says it does not add one minute to your life...it takes away... but how do I stop? It seems I am drowining in a pool of worry. Kids, finance, jobs, bills, future, present, parents, health...it never ends. I think sometimes I long for the kingdom of heaven for the peace of knowledge, not worry.

Newest Grandson

I had the most wonderful surprise this Monday. My middle daughter, who has been estranged for awhile, contacted me. Not only was I shocked to hear from her, she had a little boy born on
Aug. 26th, (my birthday). I knew about little Alex from the other children and they had kept the info about the birth from me as long as possible because they knew I would be so upset..and they were right. But now I have pictures of this precious little soul! Thank you Kat for sharing him with me. I can't wait to see him in person. He looks just like you.

NaNoWriMo

In case you don't know what that acronym stands for (and it took me awhile to figure out!) It is National Novel Writer's Month. It is one of those strange events that takes place every year for a month. We are encouraged to work on our novel and write 50,000 words. You know, damn the torpedoes, plunge ahead...I tried to participate last year but didn't do so well. This year, I am a bit more organized. I have my Chihuahua Caper's notes organized, outlines posted on the wall, character's developed and am ready to get started. I hope I get to place the "won" sticker on my web page for getting the required number of words!

There is something about fall that jump starts my creative juices, both writing and artistic. I love my job because that also helps. I spent about 8 hours this past week "touch up painting" a frame that ended up looking fabulous. This weekend I am organizing my studio - such as it is - and getting ready to get the main computer hooked into the web. Our daughter Jessica moved out this week and that gave me an extra room for office/studio space. James is moving into the other space so I need to be creative with guest room accommodations.

Fall has been so beautiful this year! The leaves have been amazing and the storms coming in and dumping snow on the mountain tops have left us with beautiful vistas and cool days and cold nights. We already have had several freezing nights and I forgot to cover the flower boxes. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and certainly to Christmas. This will be the first year the boy's and any of the other grand kids that want to come are invited! I bought wooden snowmen that have places for lights. I'll paint them and add names to the scarves then line all 8 up in the front
flower bed. I guess on Thanksgiving we will start putting up the outdoor lights, that will take a couple of days and we want to get it done before the snows come. I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS with the grand kids!!!!

I'll try to post my newest drawing in pastels of aspens and some newer photos of the beautiful leaves.

Feel the peace of the changing seasons. Take time to breath in the aroma of the fall. Did you know you smell the snow??

Love ya!

East Texas Adventure

Lefty and Spike (I have the diamond in my nose)
T

This is the outline of my new tattoo.

Spike getting the same tattoo on her back- only much larger

Granny's Sunset Picture

It has been a while since I posted a new blog and there has been a world of changes in our family! I took a short, 4 month, move to Houston to be near my Dad and Granny. I ended up renting the property next to my sister and working with her in the logging business. That is something I never thought I would be able to say - "I'm a logger..." We had a wonderful time together. My commute to work was a walk through the woods carrying my coffee.

The house I rented had a very curvy long drive up to the top of the hill, had not been occupied for 4 years and contained very large spiders. We got in there and started cleaning up and found a body imprint in blood on the hallway carpet, blood spatter in the bathroom and bullet holes in the walls in the back. There had been a shooting in the house and then the renters moved away during the night. We ripped out all the carpet and bleached the house from top to bottom! I think the worse thing I saw was the bloody handprint in the hall closet. The house was haunted and I experienced several "sightings" while I stayed there.

While staining the floors in the back bedroom I was facing the closet and inspecting the floor. In my peripheral vision I saw a man about the size of my husband standing in the hall, still looking at the floor I asked Trace if the spots on the floor of the bedroom were blood or stain. He didn't respond. When I looked up the man vanished like mist. I didn't feel scared or threatened, just a sense of sadness, I walked outside to find Trace (he was rooting out a family of possums from the well house) and asked him if he had been in the house. I already knew the answer.

Spike and I put crosses up over all the doors, angels in various places and prayed for the spirits to be at peace. I still couldn't stay in the house alone at night. The front room was very oppressing and scary. There was also an apparition of an elderly couple in the kitchen and dining room. Both times were late at night and both times it was a happy experience. I believe they are the ones that built the house in the 50's and they liked the improvements I was making to the house and all the laughter and fun that went on there.

In spite of all the weird stuff that went on there and having a next door neighbor walk over to introduce himself while carrying a shotgun, I enjoyed staying there. The house was like living in a tree house. The woods totally surrounded the home and the hill continued up behind the house. It sat in the middle of 5 acres and was absolutely peaceful. Spike and I put a bridge up on the trail heads so we wouldn't slip and we ran "fairy" lights through the woods. Now this was a precaution because the trail was steep and slippery with pine straw. We did not take into account Dawg. Dawg is Spikes big ol' girl that lives outside and brings wildlife to the house. She has even been known to upchuck a squirrel on the carpet!! Dawg liked to play chase with the Chihuahuas and of course when we walked the trail the dogs would run back and forth. That is when the "tragedy" happened. Spike and I were headed over to her house and got to the really steep part of the trail and BOOM! Dawg ran though like a black bullet, cutting Spike down at the knees. I ran to her and all she could say was, "Dawg...whoosh....ow...Dawg...whoose...ow" Yep, she broke her ankle just like I did! She has to copy everything I do! Same leg, same spiral break, same surgery with plates and screws, right under her tattoo. The surgeon did a great job matching the tattoo edges up! Well, I had my ankle tattooed to try to cover the ugly scar so now we really match.

Before Spike had the unfortunate accident we got to go on a trail ride. Yep, I actually strapped on my neck brace and rode Miss Dotty West. Spike saddled up Hank Williams and we went on a 12 mile ride though the national forest. It was sooo much fun!! Miss Dot is now officially out to pasture since then. We wore her out, after all she is about 30 years old. Several things happened out there, I got a new nickname - Brokeneck Lefty, Miss Dot and I jumped a creek (surprised me!), and Spike and I walked sorta funny for a couple of days.

While I was there, Granny became much worse and passed away. Trace actually got to help take care of her in ICU at the local hospital. At the time she passed, there was a beautiful rainbow on the lake. The sunset and her picture is at the top of the blog. Her funeral was held in Austin and she is buried next to Grandpa.

I ended up packing up my things and going back to Colorado. The kids were not taking care of the house and I needed to be there. I missed the mountains and the weather and my little home. I do miss being around my parents and living next to Spike. I'm glad I was there to be with Granny during her last times and I loved visiting with Mom and Dad in the mornings and having coffee with them. I wonder if we could get them all to move up here and live on a communal ranch???

Starry Starry Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkvLq0TYiwI

Please click on the link above to watch an amazing video with Don McLean singing "Starry, Starry Night" illustrated with Vincent Van Gough's paintings. It is just amazing. I will try to find out how to post the video without having to go to uTube to view this--I just am not that computer savy when it comes to those things! :-)

Fabulous Friends

I cannot belive what happened today! I received a strange phone call this afternoon from a foreign person asking if we had a "staw unwrapping" course. OK, I know this is strange, but I took it seriously at first-just thinking it was someone who didn't understand English and needed an ENSL (English as a second language class). It turned out to be a wonderful friend from long ago and from a lifetime far, far way!! Sheryl and John had been wonderful friends to my "x" and I for a long time...our daughters were 3 or4 and now are almost 30! We stayed in touch for awhile but gradually lost touch over the years. Sheryl has always stayed in my mind as good friends always do...we even talked about her and John a couple of weeks ago. (John was always "elegant" when I asked him how he was doing...cracked me up!) Sheryl and I did the "foster parent" thing for special needs children, our girls played together, and we shared our talents for the arts. She was my best friend for so long. I have always held to the belief that people are placed in our lives for special reasons and for special seasons. Sheryl was there for me during a special season in my life. Tonight we had such a wonderful, long conversation about my life - so much has change since we've been in touch. Tomorrow will be all about her and John and her girls and new grandchildren.
It was such an amazing blessing to have her call and distract me from another bad diagnosis from the doctor. I no longer belive in coincidence, I think everything is serindipty. G0d sent her and John to me for joy and to distract me from the idea of breast cancer and strokes...I desperately needed a distraction and joy in my life. Thank you John and Sheryl for being there for me. I love you both so much...and you have brought such joy into my life that I desprately needed. Thank you for letting God use you as a medium.
Trace is still in Lubbock, working...thank you God. He is there for the grandkids and even for AaBi while she is still suffering from seizures.
I know that I am constantly amazed at the chessboard of life. I am thankful for His blessings and for wonderful friends like John and Sheryl. I cannot wait to share their pictures with you and to see them face to face soon.
I love you guys, I can't wait to see your grandchild and your children...I can't wait to hug your neck and feel the warm glow of your friendship!

Celebration Day for Nicholas Gage Camp!!

Today is a day of celebration for our grandson, his Daddy, Tommy, and Tom (PawPaw) and Theresa (Nana) and of course us, Nicky's aunts and uncles and cousins. Today in court, Tommy received rightful custody of his son. Now we know he will be safe, happy and well cared for. This is a day we have been praying for and are so happy that it has finally happened!

MomMo, BoBo, Clyr, Gage, Benny and Jacob at Christmas '07

BoBo and Gage

Auntie AaBi with our precious Gage

The proud Grandpa's...BoBo, PawPaw and Gage

We Love You Nicholas Gage Camp!!!

Congratulations Tommy!!!

Rosie Divine attacking the Dragon Vaccum

Nicholas Gage with PawPaw

Clyr with her MomMo blanket

Whenever we have a new baby in the family, I crochet them a “MomMo Blanket” It is a design I made up and I use babycloud yarn. The colors vary with the baby and each one is a special gift. This is Clyr with her blanket when I saw her at Christmas. She is MomMo’s chubalub!

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