A Mouse With A Fat Face

 I have the worst time painting faces

PEOPLE

ANIMALS

well, maybe that's all that has faces so i guess I will stop right there. I keep trying though. 

I finally got up the gumption to move a 4 ft. folding table to the front of my dining room windows where the light is so nice. Been painting in my darker office where there's a ton of stuff all around. I know you have one of those places. Come on.... admit it. 😄

Today I am organizing my paint supplies, ideas, whatever. I am so into painting right now. But, today is work day. Tomorrow, I will paint. 

I did sit down to try out my new space and ended up painting something with a face!!! How'd that happen! 

Here it is. 

I'd seen Paul Clark add those splatters to his paintings so I decided I'd try it. You never know 'til you try!

But, that face! It's not a mouse face by any measure. I'll keep trying. They say practice makes perfect. 

Old Friends and New Burgers

 What a day! 

I had an appointment with my oncologist today and got a glowing report. I just get 6 months check-up now. So, I am feeling on top of the world.

As I walked into the hospital where my doctor is located, I noticed an old lady sitting, waiting for her ride. "Doris," I shout. That is Doris, a previous resident from the Commons. She went several years ago to live with her daughter and I hadn't seen her since. To be perfectly blunt... I just figured she was no longer with us, if you know what I mean. Back then she was about 92. That woman loved to dance. And, she was a whiz at playing bingo. About once or twice a year she'd fly all by herself to Kentucky where she was from. And, that woman was a huge Kentucky basketball fan! Would even wear the team sweatshirts. I am so happy I ran into her. Just gave me a warm feeling deep inside my chest. 

Me and Doris. 

I called her an 'old woman'. Shame on me. When she lived here she was the age I am. She must be around 96 now. 

I wonder what people say about me when they see me out and about. Do they call me an 'old woman'. Most likely. Depending on what age they are, I guess.

For lunch Shirley and I tried out a new restaurant. I'd seen it advertised on facebook, they said they had the best burgers! #22 in the nation, #1 in our area of Virginia. So, we tried them out. I'd say they were definately great. I'd eaten so healthy for several days so it was time for a treat. 

                           I ate most of it!

Making Health a Priority

 Sometimes we pay for not following through with our routines. Being in a household with 2 dozen women made it very difficult for me to stay focused on ME. I already have a hard time drinking enough water and guess what? I certainly didn't that week at the beach. 

Came home with a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)! Ouch! Bet I make sure I drink plenty of water from now on. 

This is a subject that many people find disturbing. No, I'm not talking about UTIs... I moved on to another subject! 

It's A1 and how it can affect our lives. There's been some form or other of artifical intellengence around for awhile now but it has progressed to a level that folks are scared of it.  I can see why. Like everything else in life, if you don't use it correctly and for the good it can be very abused and unhealthy.

Oh, speaking of health! There's so much talk about being healthy now and I think it's way past time. 

Which brings me back to A1...

My son added the App ChatGPT to my computer. I hadn't used it after that try out period, but the other day I asked it to help me with a problem. And, ChatGPT turned my way of shopping, eating, cooking etc. all around. I am more than thrilled with their help.

My problem: In an effort to eat healthier I would go online and select healthy items off my local grocer site. It would be delivered to my door. I'd put them in my pantry and frig... and then could not figure out how to make something interesting to eat out of any of it. 

ChatGPT to the rescue! It gave me some great ideas for easy meal planning and then made me a grocery list to work from. It even offered to send me some recipes to make from those items. 

I have been eating 'high on the hog' lately. A healthy hog, I might add. 

Back in my colon cancer days it was suggested I drink smoothies. And, I have never liked smoothies since. But, I made one from the suggestions I got from ChatGPT and it was so good. 

Then I made me a bowl. Now, I've ordered a bowl or two out at a restaurant but I'd never made one at home. Oh my gosh, was it  good! I used rice instead of quinoa. And I squirted some lemon juice over the top.

And, I fell in love with a wrap that I whipped up last night. I substitued a tortilla for the lettuce and used guacamole instead of the mashed avocado.

I tell you... ChatGPT is my new best friend. 

Have any of you  used ChatGPT .... just curious? 

Fill My Tummy with Great Food

 Food, of course, is always a highlight of any vacation. 

Shirley and I went to Hurricane Moe's one night and pigged out on seafood. Her go-to is always shrimp. Mine is scallops. We were not disappointed and in fact, I hurt so bad waddling out of that place but I did it with no regrets! 

We gals had Saturday brunch as our meal to mix for all those women. It was a huge success. Only meal made that entire week where scrapbookers were up from their tables, snapping pictures and oooohing and aaaahing. We DONE good! 

I'm making croissants filled with egg, cheese and ham. 

One of our trays. fruit, boiled eggs, cheese straws, plain croisaants and jam.

A more savory tray with sausages, the egg/cheese/ham croissants and avocado. 

And, Mimosas for everyone. Yum. Maybe it was the mimosas that made everyone so happy! 

A Week At the Beach

 Oh my gosh....

What a week. It was certainly different than our family get-aways, and because I don't scrapbook anymore it was different in that respect, as well. But, I enjoyed myself. I mean, how can you not enjoy someone else cooking your meals for you for 6 brunches and dinners! I didn't have to do laundry, go shopping, clean toilets or mop floors. 

Instead, I read one and a half books, I painted 3 watercolor paintings, I did numerous crossword puzzles, streamed a bunch of my tv shows and wrote every day in my journal. Good week, I'd say. 

There were about 2 dozen women in this huge beach house. And, all the furniture was moved out of the Main room on the top floor (except our tables where we ate our meals) and scrapbookers brought in their own 6' tables and all their scrapbooking supples and there was hardly any walking room in there at all. 

Because of a dune, we couldn't see the water's edge so missed out on watching the waves crashing or seeing the birds running around the beach line. 

Some days were very cool, windy. 

    Some days were warmer, sunny. 

Once when Shirley and I were having some key lime pie on the balcony, a bird (not sure which kind) came in hopes we'd feed him. Shirley said I'd better not, I'd get tons of birds flying in, but I did anyway. A few crumbs of the crust. He was happy and so was I.

And, no extra visitors wanting their share.

You should have seen me trying to get out of this tall Adirondack chair!

Got into it fine. But, could not get out! 

Shirley to the rescue!

Our comfy bed! 

More in the next post. 

Running away to the beach

 Pardon me while I enjoy the beach for a week... I would take you all with me if I could. 

Here are some photos from other trips I have made over the years... Nags Head, North Carolina

Happy Spring

I guess you can tell that I am one happy girl that today is the first day of Spring!!

I am realistic enough, though, to know that it won't  all be sunshine and daffodils. Chilly weather isn't gone yet. 

Wishing each of you a wonderful season of joy and color. 

 

Final post on Susan's modeling Adventure

 The final post on Susan's modeling adventure:

After coming back to New York from Europe, Susan picked up right where she left off, but now her portifolio was much more impressive. At one point she changed agencies.. that probably helped some but who knows. Modeling is a very difficult career in that if you don't have a stiff backbone and a drive that's top-notch it's hard. Susan is that gentle, kind-hearted, do anything for you southern lady. Being that kind of gal made it hard to make her mark over more aggresive girls.

a photo shoot done in 1987

But, she worked. She did modeling for Macy's Department Store,  runway for fashion week, catolog photos for several companies, was in Glamour magazine as well as Cosmopolitan mag. Women's World and several others. 

She had a national commerical for Ban deodorant and a whiskey company of which I can not recall right now.

A snapshot taken when the commercial was playing on tv. 

 She was on the cover of some books that were published. This one is my favorite. 

She shot in St. Croix, Chicago, New York and several other places. It was all exciting for her and her family was so proud of her. 

She got engaged to that boyfriend I told you about... they were married at Old First Church in Bennington, Vermont in 1989. It was a gorgeous wedding. 

Susan and her Dad entering the church

They had their first son in 1991, moved to the suburbs. Didn't want to raise a family in the city. Fourteen months later another son joined them. Susan was still working even though she was now a wife and mom. But, then everything changed.

The youngest baby was diagnosed with autism at age 18 months. We all were devastated. He needed constant care, 24/7 and still does to this day. He will celebrate his 32nd birthday in April. 

So much of Susan's time and energy has gone into O's care. On top of that she and her husband started a small organization out of their home to help educate, give resources to and fight for better legistation for autism on the national level. As you might assume, it grew out of their house and eventually joined with a couple other groups and formed what is known as Autism Speaks. The two of them over the years have raised around 20 million dollars for Autism Speaks through golf tournaments held each year. 

Yes, my little teenager with a big dream of being a model got to live that dream for awhile. But, her purpose in life paints such a bigger picture. She is still that gentle, kind-hearted woman, full of patience and grace. I couldn't be more proud.

Susan and Owen

Modeling adventure part #4

 Susan got busy right away with her agency in Paris, meeting photographers for photo shoots, getting some work, going on 'go-sees' (the term for auditions) and making a few friends. She remained living at La Louisanne Hotel where she and I had stayed so they got to know her very well. In fact, she took her Dad and I to Europe 5 years later. When we checked into La Louisanne the clerk greeted her with a big hug and 'Aw, Susanne. How good to see you'. Some impression my daughter had made!! Of course, it could be due to the fact that she was always having to use their phone for calls from her Mama who missed her terribly. 

She made the cover of Arpel Magazine in Paris 

some more pages from that magazine

Eventually she moved from Paris to Milan, Italy then on to Madrid, Spain. I was always encouraging her to 'go see the sights' but she was a busy gal living her own life. She wishes now that she had listened more to her Mama. 

This one is from Milan, Italy

It was during her stay in Spain that she was in a chair having her make-up done when she kept hearing the stylists chattering away. She knew little of the Spanish language but picked up enough to know that the country of Lybia and the U.S were into it somehow. Seems that Lybia had been bombed. The Spanish didn't take to kindly to that, so Susan started telling everyone she was from Canada, not the U. S. No sense in taking chances when you didn't have to. 

A billboard featuring Susan in Spain

Susan paid me back big time for me not contacting her that time I got stuck in the snow encased airports. She didn't mean to, it just happened. She and another girl were sent to Hamburg, Germany for work. They were to fly there on short notice so Mama didn't know that she wasn't still in Italy. I could not get in touch with her for days and I got scared. Where was my baby?

Susan feeling the swans in Hamburg, Germany

Seems that she and the other girl decided to not fly but to take the train instead. Now, they have some fast trains in Europe so they made the trip in a short time. That shouldn't have delayed a phone call home but soon as they arrived in Hamburg they were taken to a location for a shoot. I certainly was relieved when I finally got that call from her. 

Susan got homesick. She knew she should stay longer in Europe. Her portfolio was looking good but it still needed some more great photos in it to make it have the WOW factor. Being homesick won out. She packed up and flew back to New York and her boyfriend.