May was a busy month...

WELL MAY WAS A BUSY MONTH.  TRIED TO FINISH UP SOME ART..I KEEP PLAYING AROUND WITH WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE...LIKE THIS ONE WHERE I PAINTED THE FRAME RED..DIDN'T LIKE IT..PAINTED IT PURPLE..STILL DONT' LIKE IT..SO YOU MIGHT SEE IT AGAIN ON THE BLOG IN...LETS SEE...ORANGE????

 MAY IS THE MONTH OF MOTHERS..AND I INVITED THE BOYS OVER TO CREATE A PLASTER BOX FOR THEIR MOM..GERI..FOR MOTHERS DAY. THATS NATHANIEL AND NIKOLAI..TRYING TO DECIDE FROM A BOX OF EMBELLISHMENTS..WHICH WAS PERFECT...THE BOX WASN'T QUITE WHAT MAYBE I WOULD HAVE DECORATED IT WITH...BUT HEY..THIS IS THE LITTLE GUYS FOR MOM..AND THATS WHAT COUNTS!

 AND WE HAD BIRTHDAYS.   LUCKY US.  BECAUSE...THIS MEANS..WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER..HAVE LUNCH..CAKE AND JUST TALK TALK TALK.  SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SANDY!  DEB BROUGHT ALONG ALL THE TABLE DECORATIONS, INCLUDING THE GREEN FROG AND LITTLE STICKIES FOR THE TABLE.  IT WAS AMAZING...IT LOOKED LIKE A BIRTHDAY PARTY...AND TASTED LIKE FOOD FROM THE TEA HOUSE!  PERFECT.

 I GET TIRED OF THE SAME COLORS..SO I ALWAYS NEED TO CHANGE.  AND I GET TIRED OF THE SAME MEDIUMS SO I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.  FOR WHATEVER REASON..THIS PICTURE DID NOT REALLY SHOW THE REAL COLORS AND I AM THINKING THAT IS BECAUSE I USED ALOT..ALOT OF INTERFERENCE COLORS..BUT IN PERSON..ITS VERY BRIGHT..AND VERY SHINY..AND I LIKE IT.  I PUT IT IN A FRAME...SOME ART LOOKS GOOD IN A FRAME..SOME NOT SO GOOD..BUT THIS TURNED OUT PERFECT IN A FLOATING FRAME! ( WHICH ISN'T IN THIS PICTURE)

 OF COURSE AS I CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS WITH MY FRIENDS...IN COMES FATHERS DAY..AND JOHNS BIRTHDAY AND FLAPJACKS BIRTHDAY...SO I SENT A PICTURE AND THE COMPANY REPRODUCED THIS ON CANVAS WITH PAINTS USED FOR OUTDOORS..SO WE CAN HANG IT ANYWHERE!  TITLED ' TOP DOGS'.  CAUSE THEY BOTH ARE...THEY BOTH LOVED IT..AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER.  I MEAN JUST LOOK AT FLAPJACKS FACE..HE SAYS ' LOOK AT ME...I AM SO LOVED'!!!  AND HE IS!
.............OH YES..SO IS  JOHN!

 NOW THIS ONE I LIKE.  LOVE THE COLORS.  CAME OUT GOOD.  BUT LIKE ALL OTHERS I PLAYED WITH IT FOR WEEKS.  I ADDED THE ROPE COVERED WITH LIGHT MOLDING PASTE AND PAINTED GOLD ..LAST.  ALWAYS SEEM LIKE I NEED TO 'PASTE" SOMETHING ON MY ART.  DONT' KNOW WHY.  GUESS EACH ARTIST DOES THEIR THING...MINE IS TO ADD SOMETHING OTHER THEN PAINT!  ITS LIKE
PUTTING ON CLOTHES AND YOUR NOT DONE UNTIL YOU FIX YOUR HAIR~!~

 AND...DEBBIE HAD A BIRTHDAY IN JUNE!  SINCE SHE WOULD HAVE CELEBRATED
IN LONDON WE HAD TO HAVE AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PARTY.  DOESN'T MATTER WHEN OR WHO'S BIRTHDAY..WE CELEBRATE.  WE DONT' MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER.  EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING...AND I AM NOT SURE
JUST WHAT HAPPENS BUT WE ALWAYS SEEM TO STOP FOR A BIRTHDAY!
GUESS ITS BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE WAY TOO DARN MUCH FUN
SO..UNTIL NEXT TIME, WHEN I SHOULD HAVE SOME UPDATE ON FATHERS DAY, JOHNNYS BIRTHDAY,,,NIKOLAI'S BIRTHDAY ETC ETC..WOW...ENJOY YOUR SUMMER WHERE EVER YOU ARE.  I AM HOPING TO BE IN SAN DIEGO FOR A WEEK IN JULY...HEY NOW THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN UPDATE...MY SHOP!~  I HAVE NOT BEEN THERE IN 6 MONTHS..OR MORE..SO EVEN I WILL GET AN UPDATE!!

I THINK LOOKING AT HOW I ENJOY PAINTING..SOMETHING I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER EVER DO...I THINK NONE OF US SHOULD EVER ' LET OUR PAST DEFINE US'.
I ALWAYS LIKED THAT SAYING..AND NOW I UNDERSTAND IT.  LUCKY ME SINCE I HAVE A FUTURE I KNOW INCLUDES MANY THINGS I WANT TO DO..AND A PAST THAT ACTUALLY DOESN'T INCLUDE HARDLY ANYTHING I ENJOY DOING NOW!

CHEERS

Off to Sante Fe

my first stop in sante fe..after stopping at Danny's girlfriend Jill's house with pizza..was this museum.   He, the warrior is supposed to be warding off evil spirits..he looked very evil!!! ..but beautiful. This museum is for Folk Art and Indian Art..but my category is more like..contemporary..sooooooo

 on the second day..I went to Canyon Rd..to see ALLLLLLLLL the art!  I ran into the
Dancing Ladies!  This women designed clothes, then moved to Sante Fe and needed something original to display the clothes..and created the dancing ladies.  This is one of them. CUTIE!!
What I was most interested in was..how to get the wire thru the wood..and at the top are some holes..
so she winds the wire thru the holes..and designs the hair..one had pigtails..another had black black hair that was designed in a bun.soooo cute.  clever! ( yes she then painted the faces herself)

 Well I went for danny's birthday. yes he looks sober and quiet..but we had a great time at this
restaurant in Nob Hill in Albuquerque..and he was not so quiet!!!  infact..we laughed ( jill was there) as we went thru all his 'ladies'. in his life.....ha!!!  Yes there have been quiet a few...but Jill..seems to
have caught this guy!!!

 Before leaving..Sandy and I made a trip to Sweet Salvage.  It is addicting!!! Always wonder what we will find...I told sandy ' look for anything with cherubs!  So..she found 3.  This is one of the angel plant sticks..there were 3..all different and I bought them all.  They are very very heavy..and for sure not from the 5 and dime...love them!  GOOD EYE SANDY!

 Lately i have been communicating with Golden Products directly.  I am surprised and happy that they talk to me...send me information..and even tell me about new products.  In my conversation with a technical person in the ' new products lab"...he asked me just which mediums i have tried...so i sent him this picture.!  He called be back..said..wow..let me tell you about 4 new ones!  And ..yes i bought them in a trial size.  I decided way back when..i would use a good product incase the project didnt' turn out like i planned..i could not blame it on the product!!

Jill, dannys girlfriend is an artist and has one of her painting in a gallery on Canyon Rd.  SOOOO
I took a picture of it!  As you can see..its a very special technique she has..and this picture doesn't really do it justice..the lighting wasn't that great in the gallery that day...but the colors are vibrant and beautiful.

sooooooo  danny is working on a music album.  I was there 3 nights..and 3 nights he worked on the back art part of the album cover..and me?????????...well...I tried Zintangle for a while but then turned to my Free Cell.  Such a quitter.  Dan does not have a tv...but has a zillion music pieces in him home.  OK not a zillion but at least 6 guitars..amps..speakers..piano..whatever...never a dull moment.

So home again. Great trip as usual.  Lots of ideas from Canyon Road.  Lots of fun for Dannys birthday dinner...thanks danny!!
oh yeah, and thank you john for agreeing to be the night guard for mom so i could go overnight!
love ya.

spring comes..spring goes

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY MOM. BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS FROM KENNY AND CAROLYN...BY WAY OF GERI ...AND MOM REALLY LOVED THEM.  WE DONT' SEE MANY SMILES...BUT WE GOT ONE WITH THESE FLOWERS!

DECIDED TO MAKE BRANDON HIS OWN PICTURE OF AN ANGEL. USED FIBER PASTE ON THE WINGS AND IN REAL LIFE..THEY LOOK VERY REAL!  BRANDON IS VERY INTERESTED INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING..AND WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO SAID ' GRAMMI HOW DID YOU DO THAT..MEANING..THE DRESS!  I SAID..WITH TISSUE PAPER AND PAINT!...WAS A DELIGHT TO MAKE FOR HIM!

 THIS ANGEL MOLD WAS PURCHASED AT 'PARIS' A SHOP ON 7TH AVENUE. ITS ALL ABOUT FRENCH COLORS AND THIS MAN MAKES THESE MOLDS...I WAS PRACTICING MY SKILLS WITH TISSUE AND ACRYLIC AND COLOR COMBINATIONS AND PUT THIS TOGETHER...IT CAME OUT PRETTY GOOD...

WELL I AM ENJOYING MY TIME WITH THE WOMENS CHURCH GROUP AND WE HOSTED A MEETING FOR FR HEVER WHO IS RETIRING..THE THEME WAS GOLF!

SO I CALLED IN THE BAKER..CHERYL..AND SHE MADE THIS DELICIOUS CAKES..AND FOUND THE LITTLE GOLF FLAGS, PUT NUMBERS ON THEM..I ADDED THIS ADDORABLE TRAY FROM DEBBIE AND WHALLA!!! IT WAS A HIT!

 CAN'T DO WITHOUT THESE HOSPICE HELPERS!  THIS IS CASSIE AND MOM. CASSIE COMES MON/WED/FRIDAY AND GIVES HER A BATH!  NO SMILES FROM MOM IN THIS PICTURE BUT ITS HARD TO GET HER TO PUT HER HEAD UP..BUT TRUST ME..SHE LOVES CASSIE AND FEELS ' LIKE A NEW WOMEN' SHE SAYS AFTERWARDS!

SO. VALENTINES DAY GONE..DECOR DOWN..TIME FOR EASTER..AND TO GERI AND JOHNNYS..HERE WE COME!

LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY

WELL ITS BEEN A WHILE...LETS SEE...FROM OCTOBER WE WENT TO NOVEMBER TO OUR 49TH ANNIVERSARY AND A TRIP TO NEW YORK.  SURE..ON THANKSGIVING WEEK END WITH 50K OTHER TRAVELERS! GEEZ! ACTUALLY WEATHER WAS NICE..NO IDEA WHY I AM IN A COAT AND SCARF!  MUST HAVE BEEN EARLY MORNING..IN TIMES SQUARE.

 THERE REALLY WAS NO CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE..DIDN'T HEAR ONE CHRISTMAS CAROL UNTIL WE WERE RIDING IN A TAXI TO GROUND ZERO.  BUT TH IS SHOP..ON PARK AVE..WHERE A CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT WAS 450.00...HAD GREAT WINDOWS.

 THESE WINDOWS ARE NOT BIG PICTURES...EVERY SINGLE ITEM IN THESE WINDOWS WAS CAREFULLY COLLAGED..GORGEOUS..UNBELIEVABLE.

 WE DID FEEL SOME HOLIDAY SPIRIT AT ROCKAFELLER CENTER.  THATS IT . YOU LEAVE THERE..YOU LEAVE CHRISTMAS BEHIND.  SORT OF SAD.  THIS WAS TAKEN NEAR THE SKATING RING. THAT BIG TREE YOU SEE ON TV ISNT' THAT BIG..ITS ON THE TOP PLATFORM OF THE SKATE RING..DECEIVING!

SO THATS IT ON PICTURES FROM NY..MOST OF THEM..GOT LOST IN MY S3 IPHONE..WHICH FELL IN THE TOILET IN STARBUCKS IN NY...YES I RETRIEVED IT..AND HAD TO RUN TO THE APPLE STORE 30 BLOCKS AWAY..BUT LOST MOST OF MY PICTURES.  NOW HAVE A NEW 4S..WHICH ISN'T AS GOOD..I DONT' THINK.
HEY I COULD HAVE SAID I LOST THE PHONE...BUT ALAS, I CANNOT LIE AND ANYWAY...FALLING WHERE IT DID ..IS PROBABLY MORE MY STYLE!!!!!!!!!!!!


MORE ON THE BIG BIG APPLE STORE...IN THE BIG BIG APPLE..LATER!

 BUT OH THE STYLES...LOOK AT HER...SHE JUST THINKS SHE IS 'IT'. I AM GUESSING THAT OUTFIT IS ABOUT 3000.  THIS WASN'T MACY'S!  INFACT MACY'S WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING...LITTLE DECOR BUT A FLOOR FULL OF DECORATED TREES,, ALL LINED UP..NOT VERY ARTSIE FARTSIE!!

 BUT OH CENTRAL PARK. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO RETURN TO NEW YORK, UNLESS JOHN LETS ME WALK CENTRAL PARK FOR A WHOLE DAY..AND SIT IN GRAND CENTRAL STATION AND WATCH PEOPLE WALK BY...THOSE WERE MY 2 FAVORITE SPOTS!  THIS IS ACTUALLY THE BOAT HOUSE IN CENTRAL PARK..BY ONE OF 4 LAKES..AND WITH A DINING ROOM WITH WHITE TABLECLOTHES. GORGEOUS.

 WELL..WHAT HAPPENED HERE...NO IDEA...PROBLEM WITH THE PERSON DOWNLOADING..DAH...THAT IS ANOTHER WINDOW PICTURE FRM NY...AND MOM
WITH HER BEAUTIFUL NEW APRON...I THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS AGAIN...HERE...JUST HANG ON...

 WENT SHOPPING ON 7TH AVENUE IN PHX AND FOUND THIS ADORABLE ANGEL, DISTRESSED MAGNET BOARD FOR MY GUEST ROOM..WHEN EVER I GET THE GUEST ROOM...FOR NOW..IT WILL HANG FOR ME! HA.

I DID DO SOME ART..VERY LITTLE.  BUT I EXPERIMENTED WITH RESIN..SO THIS IS A PAINT..THEN RESIN..THEN PAINT..THEN RESIN..TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT LAYERS...
I LIKED HOW IT CAME OUT...YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT..BUT THERE ARE 3 LAYERS OF PAINTED OBJECTS...THIS WAS MY FIRST.  SINCE THEN I HAVE TRIED IT 4 MORE TIMES...WILL PUT PICTURES ON LATER.

SOMETHING HAPPENED IN MY DOWNLOADING...THIS PICTURE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE...BY ITSELF....AND MOM, SHOWING OFF HER NEW APRON FROM KIRSTIE..WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIRST!  OH WELL.
MOM JUST LOVED THAT APRON...SHE EVEN NOTICED THE PRETTY POLKA DOT BOW ON THE BOTTOM...SHE SAID SHE COULD WEAR THIS AS A DRESS!!

SO NOVEMBER CAME AND WENT...
MOM HANGING IN THERE...MISSED HER MY 5 DAYS IN NY...BUT..CAREGIVER SAID SHE DIDNT' NOTICE I WAS GONE UNTIL THE 4TH DAY...MOM QUALIFIES NOW FOR HOME RESPIT CARE, WHICH MEANS I CAN GO AWAY..AND MOM CAN STAY AT HOME WITH 24 HOUR CAREGIVERS...THANK YOU LORD.

UNTIL NEXT TIME.
PREPARE YOUR HEARTS FOR TODAY..AND TOMORROW!

SEPTEMBER...TO OCTOBER 24TH...FALL HERE???

WELL IS FALL HERE YET.  TODAY IS OCTOBER 24TH...I DECORATED THE HOUSE IN MID SEPTEMBER AND I AM ALREADY TIRED OF THE DECORATIONS...AND THE HEAT.  I THINK THEY SAY...FALL IS HERE...SURE... BUT MOMS LITTLE TABLE IS DECORATED WITH HER WITCH PLACEMAT AND HER PUMPKIN WHICH SHE HAS HAD FOR A COUPLE YEARS..AND HER TEDDY...SHE DOESN'T LOOK TOO HAPPY, BUT ACTUALLY SHE WAS!

SO WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING IN 2 MONTHS.  I WENT TO JOHNS EVENT HAD HIS OFFICE AND WOW..I RAN INTO SNOOPY!!!...HE SAID..HEY, GIVE ME A HUG!  

NO. I ACTUALLY SAID THAT.  ANYWAY IT WAS FUN.

HELLO FRANKIE.WELL THIS PICTURE IS ONLY OF HIS HEAD..BUT DARN CUTE ANYWAY  ...HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LOOK CUTE, BUT HE IS...THATS A SNAKE!!! ALL CREATED BY SANDY THE ARTIST!!  PROMISE TO SHOW ALL OF HIS BEAUTIFUL ( WHOOPS SORRY) SCARY BODY NEXT TIME.

I THINK I HAVE TOO MANY CANDLES...TOO MANY DECORATIONS.  THIS IS ONLY ABOUT 4 OF 40.  I STARTED GIVING SOME AWAY.  I LOVED THE BIG BSKET OF CORN AND PUMPKINS ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE..BUT OTHER THEN THAT..MOST OF THIS I COULD DO WITHOUT....BUT HAD IT..SO PUT IT OUT.

I THINK...THESE FALL DECORATIONS ARE SOOO PRETTY THAT YOU WANT TO BUY ALL YOU SEE AND THEN..YOU END UP WITH MORE THEN YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR...THE BLACK CANDLE IS FROM ABOUT 6 OR 7 YEARS AGO..AT THE CANDLE STORE..AND THE PUMPKINS CANDLES ARE OLDER THEN THAT..SEE WHY I MIGHT BE TIRED OF IT ALL!

OH MY GOSH. I LOVE HER...HIM...ALL OF IT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY AN AIRBRUSH PAINTING I DID ON A CANVAS..AND THEN I PUT A SWISH OF SILVER PAINT UNDER THE ROCKING HORSE..AND HE CAME ALIVE.  BUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS..SO UNIQUE PIECE...WELL...I HAVE HAD THIS UNICORN AND ANGEL FOR A YEAR.  WANDA THREW IT IN WITH SOME STUFF AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH IT...NOW..THE COLORS OF THE CANVAS AND THE UNICORN AND ANGEL WORKED SO PERFECTLY I DONT' WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY..INFACT I TOOK THE PICTURE SO MAYBE WHOMEVER SEES THIS WILL FIND ME ANOTHER DECORATION..I WON'T GIVE THIS UP UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER BUT HAS TO BE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE!  THANKS WANDA.

OH MY GOSH. WHAT IS IT. YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS SINCE I TRANSFERRED ONLY 1/2 A PICTURE..NOT SURE WHY.  ANYWAY ITS A LARGE CANVAS I BOUGHT AT GOODWILL FOR 7.00 AND COVERED IT WITH AIRBRUSH PAINT AND THEN THOUGHT..WHAT NEXT..SO I PAINTED A BUTTERFLY IN THE MIDDLE.

 I HAD FOUND A PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD IN SANTE FE AND STAMPED A BUTTERFLY ON IT SO THIS BECAME...THE REAL PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL OBJECT..AND I CALLED THIS ' MARIPOSA.  I THINK IF I EVER HAVE ANOTHER KITTY I WILL NAME HER MARIPOSA..OR MAYBE NOT!!

ANYWAY I GAVE THIS TO JOHN FOR THE AUCTION AT THE OCTOBER FEST AND TRUTHFULLY I DIDN'T REALLY CARE FOR IT AFTER ALL...BUT..IT WAS FUN CREATING IT WITH THE AIRBRUSH..AND THE COARSE PUMICE GEL, WHICH IS WHAT THE BUTTERFLY WAS CREATED WITH........

 WELL CAN YOU SEE MOM WITH  THE WHITE RIBBON IN HER HAIR.  CASSIE THE HOSPICE CAREGIVER THAT GIVES MOM HER BATH, DRESSED HER ALL UP TODAY..OCT 24 AND SHE LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL GOING TO A PARTY...HER PRETTY WHITE COTTON DRESS WITH LITTLE FLOWERS ON IT...

MOM HANGS IN THERE.  BUT WANTS TO GO HOME.  THE DOOR IS OPEN..BUT SOMEHOW...SOMEONE DOESNT COME TO GET HER...FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A REASON!!

SO UNTIL NEXT TIME..WHEN I DOWNLOAD FRANKIE'S PICTURE LIKE I SHOULD HAVE...HAVE A NICE 'FALL'.  THEY SAY ITS HERE!!!

HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Well lets start with mom's 96th birthday party!!!!   We took her OUT. Its been a hot summer so that was something new for her...to a restaurant...with the family..and she ate mexican food..which includes cheese...which she also loves but doesnt' get much of....grandkids brought a balloon...it was great.  Amazing.  That said..by 4:00 PM when we were back home and I reminded her of her birthday and the great time she said ' and you didn't take me"?

 then..along came Nathaniels 12th birthday!  YEP thats his TAKE from Grammi and Grandpa.  From Tillies!!  guess thats how you spell it.. or maybe its Telly's..whatever...I had never been there.  I picked him up and said ' lets go to Macy's for your birthday and you can pick out what you want."  The great guy he is..says OK Grammie!  ( now what the heck does Macy's have for this 12 year old).  Then as we were driving I said " well maybe Dillards".  Now for sure Dillards doesn't have Nathaniels taste!  So he says ' well maybe Macy's grammie".  ( hahahaha)  then. I pulled out this paper I had printed about a store I looked up on the internet...Tillies!  Actually his mom had told me..this was not just his favorite, but the ONLY store he wanted to shop at) So I said...
Nathaniel...I found this on the internet and thought you might want to stop there..I am not sure you have ever heard of it..and maybe you dont' care...but I thought I would show you the paper and name..just incase! WOW.  Did he come alive!  GRAMMIE THIS IS MY FAVORITE STORE!
I said..Well wasn't that nice..who would have thought...........what fun!

Then we headed for Durango with my  brother Kenny and his wife Carolyn.  Ken wanted a hat...well not just any hat..and this wasn't THE hat...but he looked like a Durango visitor..so thought I would catch this for a memory!!!!  Kind of lets you know what the heck we did between the train ride...the rain...the doggie kennel and the restaurants!!!  Oh yeah..and the train ride was gorgeous.

Before leaving for Durango..Jill ..dan's Jillster..as he calls her ( girlfriend.).invited us to her beautiful home for a cook out..Jill is an artist...I mean she even Sells her art..so for she ..she is an artist...and we just always have a good time with both of them.

 We choose the Gondola car...we made our reservations in April..goody..and got the best car and the best seat.  Wanted to be able to hang out and take pictures...and we did...and kenny did...and the view was beautiful..a beautiful day ( until we got to Silverton)...then the rain came..but what the heck...it was all just in fun...

We stopped before Durango at danny's house in Sante Fe..and stopped again on the way back.  I think Danny had enough of us..well me...and ...john....and driving directions...but ...the CowGirl bar never looked so good or delivered so much fun!

So until next year...( I mean for nana and nathaniels birthday...and our vacation ...)...giddy up!

chicago chicago

HI MOM.  MOM IS SIGNING HER NAME TO KERSTIE'S BIRTHDAY CARD.  KERSTIE IS NOT JUST MOMS CAREGIVER...SHE IS AN AMAZING ORGANIZER..AND COMPANION.  EVERY DRAWER IN MY HOUSE..IS NOW PERFECT..INCLUDING THE BAGS OF COFFEE...TOWELS..EVEN OUR JUNK DRAWER IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

MOST IMPORTANTLY SHE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP MOM COMMUNICATING ALL DAY.  WHEN SHE EMPTIES THE DISHWASHER SHE HANDS EVERY SINGLE ITEM TO MOM TO DRY!  AND MOM SITS AND DRIES EACH ONE.  SHE SAYS ' I HAVE SO MANY JOBS'...WHICH MAKES HER FEEL NEEDED...

AND SHE IS MY BEST CRITIC. JUST LOVED THIS BOX AND ASKED ' IS THIS MINE'.?  OF COURSE MOM!

MY FIRST TRIP THIS YEAR WITH JOHN ON A BUSINESS TRIP..WAS TO CHICAGO.  THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS..WALKED AND WALKED.  ONE DAY 8 MILES.  BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IT...ITS ALL THE SAME...BUILDING AND BUILDING..EXCEPT I WALKED ALOT ALONG THE RIVER WHICH RUNS THRU THE CITY.  NOT SURE WHY WE NEVER TOOK OUR CHILDREN HERE..SO MUCH HISTORY.

ONE OF MY TO-DO'S WAS TO VISIT MARSHALL FIELDS.  SO I ASKED DIRECTIONS...IT WAS ABOUT 5 MILES...AND ALONG THE WAY I ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS AGAIN ' WHERE IS MARSHALL FIELDS'...AND I WAS GIVEN VERY GOOD DIRECTIONS...AND AS YOU CAN SEE I ARRIVED..............EXCEPT...........THE SIGN ON THE DOOR SAID MACY'S!!!!  SEEMS THEY BOUGHT MF'S ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO!!!  FUNNY UH, SINCE NONE OF MY NAVIGATORS TOLD ME THAT!!!  ANYWAY. WAS FUN WALK.

OF COURSE I WENT IN AND WENT SHOPPING!!! HOW SILLY OF YOU TO ASK!!!

WE STAYED ON 37TH FLOOR AND HAD A CORNER WINDOW VIEW...THIS WAS DOWNTOWN..OTHER VIEW WAS LAKE MICHIGAN...SO NO SHEETS TO WASH..NO BED TO MAKE...I CAN LIVE WITH THAT!!

NOW. THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE.  SINCE MICHEAL JORDANS WAS ADVERTISED ALL OVER CHICAGO AS ' GRAND OPENING'.  SO WE DECIDED TO GO FOR LUNCH.

WELL THE WHOLE LUNCHROOM WAS RESERVED FOR THE DAY..THATS OK WE WILL SIT IN THE BAR.   TOOK OUR PICTURE..AND THEN...........TIME TO ORDER.

WHAT?  CHICKEN AND WAFFLES?   WHERE IS THE LUNCH MENUE?  THATS IT...YES THERE WERE OTHER ITEMS..BUT NONE WERE LUNCH FARE..THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT READY TO PUT THE LUNCH MENUE IN THE BAR.........WELL I WAS NOT READY FOR CHICKEN AND WAFFLES OR THE OTHER 'STUFF' ON THE MENU..SO WE THOUGHT..WELL AT LEAST WE HAVE THIS PICTURE!!!!!!!  

GREAT TRIP.  GREAT CAREGIVERS FOR MOM  EVERYONE HELPED OUT TO MAKE THIS TRIP POSSIBLE...AND FOR THAT..I WILL ALWAYS HAVE GREAT MEMORIES!!!