Three Little Piggies

Several years ago, I bid on these three little piggies at a silent auction. I put them away and forgot about them until last night when I found them in a drawer. I remember now why I bid on these piggies. They make me smile. That's it. That's all. They just make me smile. I think I'll leave them out for a while and then I'll retire them back to a drawer until some day when I run across them again. They'll make me smile all over again.

Happy Smiling Thursday Night,

PG



Eggs and Jelly

I got to visit with my friend Beth this week. Remember, she has chickens that lay Easter Egg colored eggs?

She surprised me with these beautiful eggs. Beth is going to help me pick out some baby chicks so that I can have my own pet Easter Egger chickens. This is going to be a new adventure. Wonder what Hambo Rambo is going to say?

Easter Eggs



My friend Beth also brought me a another gift...
homemade Apricot jelly. YUMMY!
She said, "The eggs and apricot jelly are my
Merry Christmas/Happy New Year/Groundhog's Day/
Lincoln & Washington Birthday gift to you!"


Life is so much richer with friends, especially those like Beth!

Happy Wednesday,
PG

Beginnings

I'm beginning two new paintings. The canvases have been textured and primed. I am ready to begin. I feel a bit of trepidtion as I ponder how I want to begin. I will pray and then wait. The inspiration will come. God is good. He directs, I respond. It's a process. It always is. As I've always said, "Painting is an outward expression of an inward emotion." It's just just the beginning.

The canvases await.

PG

P.S. Oh, I joined a gym today. We'll see how long my exercise regime lasts! Hopefully, I'll be fit and slim in no time. Dream on...

An Anniversary Trip

Hambo Rambo and I are a pretty low-key type of couple. We enjoy getting to the country so it's not unusual for us to take off to the woods for our anniversary. We had a wonderful drive to Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas and stayed in a rustic cabin. It was fun. We went into Fayetteville and ordered a couple of dinners to go (my man didn't want me to cook!) and came back to the cabin, opened a bottle of Tuaca and enjoyed a quiet evening. When you've been married 39 years, it's nice to get away for just some alone time! Yes, we're still in love after all these years.

Cabin #17! It was split level which was quite a surprise.

 

Hambo Rambo creating a beautiful fire.

Beautiful while it lasted.

Morning coffe on the veranda. OK, on the rock patio.

I made coffee for my man.

A pretty waterfall on our way out of the park.



It was a sweet weekend. Thank you, Hambo Rambo for 39 wonderful years.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

PG



Glory Sunset

Glory Sunset
Acrylic Abstract Painting
11" x 14"

There's a hill near our home that I sometimes traverse at sunset. When I top the hill in the late afternoon, the sunset covers the horizon. I always want to pull off the road and just watch as a multitude of glorious colors fill the sky. It's a blazing display that takes my breath away. Glory Sunset painting is my feeble attempt at expressing my gratitude to God for showing me this extraordinary display of His magnificence. 

May you enjoy many glorious sunsets,
PG

Painting is an outward expression of an inward emotion.copyright 2010 Donna Ham  

Spring Filing

This is Spring, my loyal companion. I rescued her on the first day of Spring several years ago and naming her Spring just seemed appropriate.



I thought putting all of my filing in pretty boxes would make sorting through my taxes easier. I was WRONG! However, the boxes are pretty.



When I asked Spring to help me with my taxes, this was her response. 

 

Spring filing? Not likely. She's loyal, but not that loyal.



I love Spring even if she isn't going to help me with my taxes. I'm going to close my eyes, too, and think about taxes tomorrow.

Nighty night,

PG

Oh My Aching Back

I picked up too many heavy objects over the weekend and hurt my poor little old back. I spent yesterday at home on a heating pad and took many pain blocking pills. Today, I had to trek back to work. My office is the last office in the building, so it was a long, long walk. I was so glad I had cleaned my office on Friday before I left for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Lawton.

At the end of the hall, turn left. My office is
the last one before exiting the back of the building. It doesn't look so far, but
with a huge pain in my back, it was a long way...believe me!

That's my desk, and yes, I painted that picture on the wall.
I have nice windows that look out onto the parking lot. Since
my office is below ground level, I can see underneath any
car that happens to park outside my window. Lovely!



Here's my workspace. And, yes, I painted the little birds hanging on the wall. The doll hanging to the right of the pictures is a gift from a group of teachers from Russia. The doll on the lamp shade was a gift brought back to me from my boss who attended the 2008 Special Olympics World Games in China. The numbers
on the legal pad are the the kajillion photos taken at the Lawton Polar Plunge that I want to
include on the Special Olympics Oklahoma Flickr account.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55010642@N06/sets/72157626111308096/

 That's the tour. I will be taking more pain pills at lunch, so the posting today may be a little awkward, to say the least.

Happy (hurting) Tuesday,
PG

Elliott Came To Visit

I work with Jennifer. Elliott, her little boy dropped by the office for a visit today. What a joy!

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Gone Fishing

I've been at a Special Olympics meeting in Stillwater all morning and then lunch with our friends at Eskimo Joe's.

We're on our way back to the office and just went over Keystone Lake. It's 78 degrees and beautiful. Makes me want to go fishing. I may have to take the rest of the day off.

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He Speaks Roses To Me

Hambo Rambo is my pet name for my husband. He's a macho-type man who works hard, gets his hands dirty, works on cars and is a tough guy. Not being a sensitive man, he always amazes me that he gets it that I love red roses. He does! Yes, I'm not kidding. Every year on Valentine's Day, our anniversary and my birthday, he sends me red roses. Sometimes he sends a dozen, other times it's just one and occasionally he really makes a statement with two or three dozen. (That's probably when roses are on sale!)


A long time ago, I decided to never say "Oh, you shouldn't have." Instead, I just shower him with thank yous and kisses. When he speaks "roses" to me, he speaks love and I accept.


The roses he sent this year on Valentine's Day are just now opening up. Ah, these are beautiful, brilliant red roses. My favorite. All I can say is, "Honey, speak roses to me."



I love it when he speaks roses to me!

 Happy Wednesday night,
PG

I'm Thinkin' Easter Eggs

My friend Beth has the neatest pets. She lives in the city limits and raises pretty chickens. These are special chickens who lay Easter colored eggs. I was worried about her babies because of the 2011 blizzard that hit Oklahoma over the last two weeks. I received an email from Beth that the chickens survived but got a bit of frostbite on their combs. Who knew? Chickens can get frostbite!


Anyway, these beauties are still laying eggs. I'm going to visit with Beth on Wednesday and she's going to bring me some Easter eggs. Thank goodness the chickens are fine and the eggs are delicious. I can't wait.



Beth's Chickens
Yes, that's snow!
Cluck, cluck.

 Happy Monday Night,
PG

A Snow Cave

After the 2011 snow blizzard that hit Oklahoma, it's 54 degrees today. Much snow still covers the ground so Hunter decided to build a snow cave today. There's nothing like playing in the snow in your shirtsleeves!

Ah, the incredible imagination of a 10-year old.

Happy Sunday,

PG



Joslyn is a Hard Worker



Working Hard




Moving that snow...




Job well done...that's 2 thumbs up!

 Joslyn, my little neighbor was out shoveling the snow this evening when I arrived home. Isn't she darling?!

Happy Thursday,
PG

Glory Paintings

We're covered in snow in Tulsa, Oklahoma and they closed the office again today. Instead of being bored, I've been extremely busy painting, painting, painting. Here are a few of my latest creations. I'm in love with the watercolor effect on the textured canvas, and I'm really enjoying the creative experience. Everything's so white outstide here that I'm adding a punch of color in my studio with these paintings. Fun, but I'm ready not to be so cold! 

Glory 1

8" x 10" Abstract Acrylic



Glory 2

8" x 10" Abstract Acrylic







Glory 3
9" x 11" Abstract Acrylic







Glory 4
11" x 14" Abstract Acrylic





Happy Wednesday,

Praying Girl

Foster Puppies

I was archiving some old photos today and ran across this photo. I had forgotten these little ones, but seeing this image brought back a flood of happy memories. The local animal shelter asked me foster these puppies until they were old enough to adopt into good homes. I fed them and bathed them and fell madly in love with them. It was hard to give them up, but I eventually found each one a good home. I interviewed each potential family until I found the perfect match for Butterbean, Cowboy and Abby.

I just wanted you to know that I don't just take photos of my grandkids!

Butterbean (He was a little butterball and the color of butterbeans. Voila...Butterbean)

Cowboy (He looked as if he was wearing chaps and he had freckles.)

Abby (The only female, but she was one scrappy little girl and kept the boys in line.)

Sweet, sweet babies. They're six years old now. Man does time fly by. It seems just like yesterday.

Good night,

Praying Girl



Happy Papa, Happy Baby

Vic and Zalena

My favorite photo!

Happy posting,

PG



Show Me Your Glory New Paintings

I just finished two new abstract paintings.
Show Me Your Glory
24" x 20" canvases
Abstract Acrylic

 

The inspiration for these two paintings was the lyrics of the song "Show Me Your Glory" by Third Day.

Caught a glimpse of Your splendor

In the corner of my eye.

The most beautiful thing

I've ever seen.

And it was like a flash of lightning

Reflected off the sky

And I know

I'll never be the same.

Show me Your Glory

Send down your presence

I wanna see Your Face.

A video with the words:  http://tinyurl.com/4ugx499

Third Day:  http://www.thirdday.com/

Praying Girl

Yard Gnome

It's snowing again in Tulsa. My little ceramic cat has taken on an alternate personality. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Praying Girl

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Ready To Paint

I'm ready to paint as soon as "For Whom The Bell Tolls" is over. It's at the exciting climax. Soon, I'll be back in my studio with all of my canvases. They are calling to me.

Praying Girl

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For Whom The Bell Tolls

Watching old movie with Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper. Why oh why can't they make love stories like that anymore?

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Cricket Pizza Anyone?

Snapped this photo at 61st & Mingo. I think the sign company really didn't give this enough thought.

Praying Girl



Butterfly

Butterfly
4 ft. x 6 ft.
Acrylic on canvas

Created this painting for my daughter before the birth of her baby on January 3, 2011. This is the largest painting I have ever attempted. It is very textured.

Praying Girl

She's Here

Zalena Isabella

Born January 3, 2011

7 lbs. 7 oz.

PERFECT!!!!

Alysia and Zalena, one of her first photos.

The happy new family!

Hunter and Zelena, his baby sister.

Uncle Chris and Zalena

Papa

Hunter

Mimi finally gets to hold her new grandbaby!

I had to wait until everyone else got to hold her, but she's mine now!

She's absolutely beautiful. I have to tell the story of her name. A few weeks before the baby was born, Alysia and Ulf were discussing what to name the baby. Alysia asked her husband if he liked the name Salena. With his German accent, he said, "Yes, I like the name Zalena." There you have it. Hunter has already nicknamed the little darling, "Z-Z". Love it, love her.

Praying Girl