Special Delivery

NO! I  DID NOT KNOW IT WAS CREATED OR COMING!!! As I was getting ready to go to an optometrist appointment, a truck pulled up and I saw the fellow come to the door. In the back of the truck was a very large, chain saw carved statue. He asked me where he should put it and we decided that it needed to face the road and be on a kinda-sorta level area. He drove the truck to the spot for unloading and his wife was here to help. The fact is that this lady was one of my 4-H club horse leaders and I have known her for about 40 years! WOW! 

Another surprise to knock me off of my heels! The series of images below tell the story. MEET JAMES 2 — Chain saw carving to replace the original, which will be removed after the bee infestion becomes dormant. Of course I had to document his arrival even though I was shaking in my efforts to capture the difficult placing of this wonderful artwork. I am honored to know the artist and happy that James will live on.

He was still here this morning with the sun shining brightly on his face and he brings me joy and a feeling of peace.

I'm not alone. I have wonderful caring and sharing friends. What more could I ask for?

(My friend who arrived to take me to the optometrist appointment met Razor and Becky. They live close to each other and she recognized the truck!) There are "connections" that come to be just about every day if you think on it. About 60 years ago I did some oil paintings  and one is quite close in appearance to Razor. I sold it but kept a photo. Here ya go!

tap on image to view larger

Father's Day Memories

I have posted many tributes to my dad on this day in the past years, but still want to show you a bit of why I am and who I am today as the last of his surviving children.

Memories are still so very clear for me and IF I had the energy I would dig out some more old pictures from family albums to scan more. Nevertheless, words will have to do with the current ones I have.

One of the memories is of him sitting in the overstuffed chair, and me around age 6-8, sitting up on the back, around his shoulders with my legs over his chest and combing his hair. Yes! It seemed to give him pleasure. Why? Well I don't really know why but I do remember using an old ace comb and going over and over his head with this fine tooth tool. No, he didn't have bugs, but perhaps dandruff was the reason. Yucky? Not for me. I loved to please him. 

He once brought home (in his farmer's coat pocket) a tiny yellow tiger kitten that he had found pinned by a tractor wheel from a farm many miles away. When he revealed  his pocket surprise for me, the tail was very short. He said he had to cut her free and the best way was to sacrifice her tail! He told me he dipped the bleeding stump in some salt and that I was not to worry because it would be OK. Well "Goldie" lasted 13 years. There is more to the Goldie story but I'll keep that for another time! 

He also brought home for me a horse in the back of a borrowed pick-up truck soon after my first horse had to be put down due to an accident in her pasture. This was his way of giving comfort through having understanding farm friends willing to help out.

He really enjoyed getting dressed up for church, Masonic and other events. His carriage turned proud when his best clothes were worn, and the cow-tester that was his occupation and livelihood turned into a very handsome fellow. Oh, did I tell you that he was also a superb tenor singer? Every time I hear "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" I tear up as he sang it to me often.

His name for me was "Chick."  He would often call me to observe and also to learn how to use "cellar tools" when he was working on a project or when repairing a broken appliance. Yes, there were cellar tools, garage tools and garden tools. Some are still with me here. He taught me frugality is smart.

This friendly-to-all man was the neighborhood 'go-to' person for whatever was happening in the lives of others. Sharing was very important and so was caring - really truly caring. He was a good man and a father who always held my respect.

please tap to view larger

Mother

Her name is Pauline. She was an only child of parents who were in their forties when she was born in 1914! Her mother had been a school teacher in her early years and her father was an accountant. Her maternal grandparents were country folk. She married in 1934 and had four children. I was the oldest, then my brother arrived three years later, and then twin girls came in the next three years. She always favored the number 4. 

When she was 4 years old she survived the 1918 influenza pandemic, but it was a very close call. That pandemic took 50,000,000 lives worldwide, 675,000 occurring in the US and lasted two years. 

I remember that being 'proper' and considerate were always top of her good manners list. She was a teacher in her own right, and setting  examples came naturally. 

Now for my picture show..... I  hope you can see her goodness as I can! I realize how very fortunate I am to have had her.

1915

1917

1921

1931

1931

1944

1954

1980

1994

1999

2005

Please tap on image to see her outer and inner beauty!

The Month of Love

I spent all yesterday afternoon fooling around with graphics. The hearts are masks that I created and then added other elements. Now I will have to get serious and try again. Since I have no real background or training in digital art, this is a great deal of fun for me and is very relaxing no matter how my pictures turn out. No one can tell me, "Do it this way, don't do that!" There are no rules!

I made this one in 2013

I made these a long time ago! I had a 1998 PowerMac G3 computer with different graphic abilities. Loved that Mac!

please click on image to view larger

Lovely Surprise

Yesterday I played with an app that came along as a "freebie" when a granddaughter brought me a birthday gift a couple of years ago.

She installed it and since it is not right out in front of my eyes, and is on the 2nd page of my launcher I forgot about it. As I was exploring through my launcher, which I hardly ever use, I came across this so experimented a bit.

My "Boo" graphic of yesterday was my first fun try. Then, later I tried something more serious. The results are the pictures below.

Today a different granddaughter announced her engagement.  How interesting is it that I made hearts and love and then hear this good news? I had no idea that this was going to happen. I think I shall try my hand at another creation. She loves flowers.

So I made one especially for them!

Love to All