A post for my homies

I know I keep saying this but I honestly decided I was done with this blog...mainly because I am so addicted to the computer. I even deactivated my FB acct and made it about 10 days before going back on 'to check'. I had people msg me to see if I was ok and found I hated not being able to chat with friends.  Of course then the first thing I see on fb is one of my dear friends is engaged and this just reenforced my dislike for internet. She couldn't call, email, or text me to share her news?? I find out on FB??!? AGH!  Communication has become so impersonal and detached and yet we are able to connect with friends and family we might not otherwise. Its a dilemma in my head and I don't have the solution other than to continue on.
Its been so long I don't know where to begin...Ok how about the La Quinta Art Exhibit at the museum. Very cool. They had an artists reception so most of the 31 artists were there. We could talk to people about our work or simply mingle. It was packed with so many people coming out in support, I was shocked! I had a few friends tell me they liked mine the best but that is what friends are for right?!! It is the most eclectic grouping of art ever and quite fun to see...well and be a part of. I have a name tag and it declares I am an artist!
J and I celebrated 32 yrs of wedded bliss the 24th and the next day he left for 8 days in MN. I am not sure who had a better time...I have not been alone in 2 years and he got to play with his BF in MN.
While he was gone Gracie and I drove to PHX to spend the night with Ky and experience his new life. Unfortunately the move to PHX has not gone as he hoped and I doubt if he stays long. I understand his unhappiness because I too have made moves and found it more lonely than I could stand. He remains a very upbeat positive person and hopefully something comes along that changes his journey.

Having an ASU brunch reunion at Ky's restaurant. It was delicious and fun!

There is this old house on Lake Carlos (our old town in MN) built in the 20s and on an acre of property. So on a day off of Halloween prep J and JB went to see it.  It has dropped 500,000 in price the family is so desperate to sell it. If I could win a lottery it would be my summer home tomorrow. Here is the view from the back porch...it comes furnished with a boat and a guest house on the water. I think the worse part is so many are buying these old classic lake homes and tearing them down. My heart belongs in a past generation where old is of value and cherished. Oh well. I do so enjoy my desert winters! Seriously tho couldn't you picture yourself having coffee here in the morning and then back again after a day on the water for your wine?! Yep me too.

Something new and wonderful in my life is I have begun taking yoga classes. Phewy! Please do not think its all about  crazy downward dog poses and namaste...we really get an awesome physical work out and I am loving it! I have been riding my bike there and back and now I even find myself standing straighter and walking differently. I bought a few cute outfits too so now I am really committed! lol

Another cool thing is we have finally begun our garden railway after years of talking about it. I think it is going to be awesome! Its also special because its a bit of a family effort to get it up and going. I got to trade in my scissors and sewing machine for an exacto knife and glue to build the sheriff's office. great fun!

There is my little sheriff building and this is a trestle Timothy built about 10 yrs ago. Finally found its place!

We have a long ways to go but at least we have begun....I am on the lookout for a bar car to brings drinks to whomever is sitting track side around the pool!

There is a local artist that does some fun pieces using paper mache and I noticed one in a house I took care of this summer. I was drawn to the closeness of the ladies because that is what best friends do..stand in each other's space.

So of course I had to do my version of this piece and I swear it was so much fun! Like playing paper
dolls again~isn't that sad they dont even exist now? I feel old!
 I wanted both of my ladies to have a glass of wine and to be tipping them as we do when we are happily talking to our bfs. I visualized a whole new market of bfs...two ladies holding golf clubs or tennis racquets, riding a tandem bike, etc. and coordinating hair colors....and then I remembered I really dont want to be that artist. I just want to have fun and do whatever comes into my head. Right now I have 4 projects going and  Christmas ideas beginning~feeling very ADD...remember Cher,  'finished is better than perfect!'

I will end this post with the highlight of my month...I flew to DFW 2 weeks ago to do a roadtrip with Gugi to the Hill Country of Texas. We have talked about doing this for a couple of years and finally were able to make it happen. G booked us a cute little BandB in Fredericksburg about 51/2 hrs from her home. This is an old german town and we had such a great time there. People were friendly and darling shops to poke around in...

 We drove the 2nd day about 3 hrs to La Grange TX to the Texas Quilt Museum. It was fascinating and they had such beautiful quilts from as old as 1846. Amazing the stitch work the ladies did then by hand...they change the quilts every few months to a different theme and it was so worth the drive. We also loved the town of La Grange...also an old German town with beautiful old buildings and history.

This was once the jail...

Beautiful old courthouse from the 1800s right in the center of town.

My sweet friend in front of the brewers home he built in 1800s for his 6 children. Simply amazing work still standing.

This is an old brewery built in 1850 by a man from Bremen...the stonework on his property was incredible.

We drove thru Smithville where the movie Hope Floats was filmed. This was Birdie's mama's house!

 Everywhere we stopped there were amazing antique stores...history galore! This was a doctor's buggy...

The drive was beautiful rolling green fields with huge old oak trees placed every so often. I had no idea how amazing this trip would be and could have continued on for another week.

The German culture and heritage is so strong here. The gentleman that began Austin wrote back to Germany telling everyone how this was the land of opportunity and they came. Over 1,000,000 Germans migrated to Texas in the 1800s and they actually refer to themselves as German Texans. We visited one small town after another with amazing old 1800 buildings still being used today. It was fascinating and I can't wait to do it again. Our final night we stopped in Luckenbach which is basically a post office, saloon and general store.

  "Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach!" Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings sings a song about it and throws parties here for friends. I have never experienced a place like this and we had a blast! Everyone is singing along and doesnt matter where you are from you are part of the gang.

Anyone can join in singing or playing and its nothing for Willie N to drop by.

Me wishing I had my cowgirl boots and hat!

I think G and I smiled the entire time we were there! Great fun and definitely planning to return.
For me the best part of this road trip besides being with my BFF was the only planned part was our B and B. Everything we did was mutually spontaneous, free and so much fun....simply love being with that girl! I was sad to leave and go back to the routine of life but I smiled all the way home!
Thanks for dropping by...

Oh and one more thing!

I forgot to mention that about an hour out of Lake Louise the freight train in front of us had a couple of cars derail. So we sat in this little town on the train for 31/2 hours waiting for buses to come get us and take us the final distance. Rocky Mountaineer could not have been nicer to us for the inconvenience which of course wasnt their fault. We didnt board the buses until around 800 pm and the crew had been waiting on us all since early am. On the bus ride the crew riding with us got up and passed out snack boxes and water bottles and were so cheerful and laughing. All I could think was if this had been an airline crew they would have sat down and said we are off duty now. I could not believe they just kept going and were so friendly and nice. It was so beyond what service people are willing to do now that I was in awe.
OK one last bit of info...since you have all 'listened' to my constant art show conversation. I thought it would be a great idea to show you the pieces that did sell. You are dying to know right?! Well tada...

 

This last one I had priced at 795.00 because I did not wish to sell it. Its personal and so many details and hard work went into making it just perfect.  I received a call after the show was over and my pieces were getting ready to fly home. A gentleman fell in love with it after a summer of camping and wanted to buy it. I started telling him it was my favorite and pointing out why and he had noticed all the details. So when I said 600.00 he said fine...for some reason selling a piece of my work for that much seemed to validate in my head I am an artist of worth. I do know if it had made the trip home I would not have sold it because my wall seems empty now. People say just make another...but thats like asking Van Gogh to paint another sunflower. Its not fun or creative to try and copy something..its just frustrating. Maybe one day I will feel like making another but for now I feel done. Its as if I had to be someone special for a minute at 60 and boy oh boy I think I did it. Check!
A friend said I should get a business license but right now I just dont feel like being a business. I have given away 4 pieces (for good reasons) since they arrived home and the rest all found a spot.
I am one of the chosen local artists for the La Quinta Museum and the reception is this week. Its a wonderful exhibit and eclectic works of art. I am excited to be included and who knows what will come from it. Here's my entry...

Ok off for a walk so again...thanks for dropping by! xo

I have a small update to make...I sold yet another piece today! I know its crazy right?! This whimsical desert scene was purchased by a neighbor...said she had the perfect spot for it. Nice! Life is good when you are an artist!!  lol

and the story continues...

I was delighted to hear from a few of my fav readers as I honestly thought I had lost any interest in my blog. So today lets head into Canada eh?! (That's Canadian for allrighty!).
The Rocky Mountaineer is a wonderful train line that is basically only for tourists (not travelers desiring a destination) and only the western Rockies. The staff could not have been more attentive and fun to spend two days with and constantly offered us food and drink.

J man happy with his seat selection

This gives you an idea of how long our train was. We were 3 different classes of service and you basically never interacted with the other cars or classes. Our car was half full and mostly ladies from other countries. There were probably 4 more cars behind us as well. The good part was you could change seats and move around depending on the view. The disappointing part for me was in the brochure they showed passengers leaning over seats with a glass of wine laughing and having a great time. I was absolutely exhausted being the only one in my car trying to be entertaining and brochure like.

I forgot to mention before we left Vancouver I told J I was going outside to get his photo. At this point of our trip our camera broke...one of the most scenic vacations ever and I had to take photos on my iphone. Not only was it embarrassing to be looking at this amazing view and pull out my phone but it was a bit limiting what I could do fast. Anyway here are a few of the photos of the first day of our train ride. Everything looks a bit green and not sure why...enhancer?
The second night we all got off in Kamloops which is a small town along the train route. We stayed at a very old hotel from the 20s and while it had charm our room was itty bitty and not our favorite.
We walked downtown for dinner and I guess there was a contest to dress the trees...

 I guess it helps to have a sense of humor when you live in Canada and the train people thought the trees were wonderful.

I decided to try local beers all along the way...

You can only look out the window so long....

Just so you know I was on the trip too.

We were up and at it early the next morning as well and our destination was Lake Louise. I saw a photo in a travel magazine years ago and I could not imagine a lake and setting so beautiful. Our train ride included a room at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise the first night and I booked a second so we could have a day to enjoy. We hiked the first day until we met 2 couples from WA and walked back to have a beer with them. The one couple lived in Gig Harbor and I swear it was as if I was sitting across from myself. I have never experienced such a feeling of 'she is just like me'. Wish we could have become friends because she was great fun! haha

Our amazing hotel and Lake Louise

See the mountain goat and baby?!

This is exactly one yr from his ambulance ride so I told him to try and stand on a log. Kinda cheating tho isnt he?!?

Day two hiking to the Tea House with Sharonne and Barb.

Even their chipmunks are cute and fluffy!

What can I say except God was so busy here and its breathtaking everywhere you look. So happy I got the chance to see it for real and not just in a magazine.We left after this day to spend the rest of our vacation day tripping out of Calgary and Sharonne's house. Best part is the weather became stellar and we did not see rain again.
We rode the light rail to downtown Calgary for lunch and its a beautiful city.

We spent a day in Banff, rode the gondola to the top, walked thru the village and stopped in cute town of Canmore on way home to try their local brewery.Banff is equally breathtaking and I would love to return with my camper and spend a week hiking and biking all around the area.

The Sisters

Looking down on Banff Hotel and golf course

Gondola station

Picnic with an incredible view

Do not try this in a kayak

Banff Hotel

Local beer Grumpy Bear!

We visited Drumheller where they have discovered dinosaur bones over 70 million years old. The museum was fascinating and their work painstaking. Here are just a few...

Last day was to Heritage Village where they have created a little town from the past with actual buildings and antiques. They also have a car musuem.. It is a very popular destination for the town...

My personal favorite!!

Sharonne and Barb

Ride home!

We had a wonderful time and literally needed a vacation from our vacation when we got home!
We felt we really had a chance to see western Canada and experience so many different things.
It was very expensive compared to US and combine that with my overstuffed suitcase and shopping was not an issue!
This was a difficult post because there were so many wonderful photos to choose from. It felt sometimes like we were living in a postcard it was so incredibly beautiful.
Thanks for dropping by!