Growing

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Happy Birthday

Well, I can't believe I really have 60 years of life to account for, but I do. I so enjoyed my birthday party complete with ice cream cake from the Dairy Queen. Ice cream cake from DQ has been a long family tradition from when Brent was little. We haven't had DQ cake in many, many years and I had no idea that Brent even remembered about them, but when they came for dinner yestereday, he and Terri brought ice cream cake! Carley Ann was so sweet saying the blessing and Anna Claire just couldn't wait to eat, but you should have seen the faces she made when she tasted of the big girl food Terri put on her plate. Terri ended up fixing her some Dora soupa (that's what Carley Ann calls chicken noodle soup). Here's some goofy pictures and then some not so goofy. :)

Yes, one of my presents was some electrical cord. :)

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We are singing Happy Birthday to MeMama. :)

Blueberry day

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It was a great day to pick blueberries last Saturday morning at Edward Callaway's. We picked enough for a cobbler and Anna Claire, Carley Ann, Terri and I had great fun with the Easter basket buckets. :)

Breakfast at McDonalds

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Southern girls like to sleep late and then go out for breakfast. Today grand daughter Carley Ann Franklin and Kara Beth Neighbors, the grand daughter of life long friends Debbie and Leland Adams both had breakfast at McDonalds.

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Be sure to click the image to see a larger view.

Looking Back

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Time really does pass quickly. Anna Claire's hair is curling up in the back just like Carley Ann's did so I think we will have another curly haired Southern Lady to raise. In this February photo you can see the back of her hair starting to curl up but now it's even more so. Just thought you might enjoy looking back with me.

On the Easel

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In progress, but thought you might like to see and comment.

Last Week in July

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This past week flew by with all kinds of projects to finish up and then rushing over to Pine Mountain to take my turn sitting in the Southern Rivers Art Gallery. Terri, Carley Ann and Anna Claire came late Friday and we all spent the night at Callaway so we could go shopping on Saturday. We bought fun things and a pink step stool perfect for taking care of washing little hands, which Carley Ann tried out over and over even though her hands really didn't need washing. :) It was a great week.

My painting of cows in a field is coming along nicely. Tomorrow I spend a bit of time on organization as I try to set aside Mondays as office day.

Georgia Cracker Salad

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Today is a good day for resting and catching up on small projects that have been going undone the last couple of days.

I'd like to share a special recipe Southern recipie with you today.

Georgia Cracker Salad

1 sleeve of saltine crackers

1 large tomato, finely chopped

3 green onions, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped

Crush the crackers and mix all ingredients together. Serve immediately.

Use this as a side dish or use it as a spread for stuffing celery, tomatoes, or fancy crackers.

Garnish with parsley sprigs or pimento slivers, olives, pickles, cheese or a combination of any.

Enjoy, Phyllis

Anna phones the island

Today I'm thinking about my SOP (standard operating plan) I really do like structure even amid the chaos. Sometimes when my life gets all out of whack I look back at my journal to see if I can figure out what happened. I’m a bit scattered today but I know why. Terri, Brent and Carley Ann have gone to the beach and left Anna Claire and me alone! LOL Yesterday I had a real struggle getting us to Sunday School and Church, and I didn’t make it back for the evening service. At almost 60 it’s just not as easy as it was when I was 30. Go figure that!

This morning Anna Claire and I slept in late and didn’t even eat breakfast until 8:30. After splashing around in the laundry tub, Anna finally picked out her school dress and made it just in time for toddler crawl time. So now I’m back home and thinking how can I squeeze Anna Claire into my SOP for the next four days.

She was so cute in her little dress and I caught her calling Mommy and Daddy on the cell phone. She looked like she wanted to say... I'm calling Mommy, Daddy and Carley Ann, is there anything you want me to tell them?

After I drink another cut of coffee and collect my thoughts, I want to get into the studio for a couple of hours. I have the itch to get out my pastels, but instead know I need to work on getting the small works basket filled, as that’s my bread and butter.

Yesterday I picked up a commission work so I’ll be anxious to get the reference photo of it and get to work. The painting will be of a little dog chasing a ball in the Cotswolds. I’ve never been to the Cotswolds but have a book by F. LaGard Smith and illustrated by Glenda Rae called Meeting God in Quiet Places (The Cotswold Parables) which I’ve enjoyed reading, so that will help get me into the Cotwold mood.

Hope you have a good day.

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Picture Puzzle

Project: Create a picture puzzle using craft sticks and paint
Instructor: Carley Ann Franklin, age 2.6
Medium: Crayola washable kid's paint
Instructions: Carley recommends starting with a yellow background for your first project because it's a sunshine color. Follow the pictures below to see how she made her picture puzzle and then make your own.

" It takes great concentration to completely cover all the craft sticks with yellow paint, so you might ask for a little help. Once you finish, you will be so proud of finishing your first step. "

"You can start right away to add in your painting. For this one I am going to paint beautiful flowers", says Carley Ann.

"Are there any questions? Nows the time."

"See, just drop in the flowers after you do the stems and leaves."

"Remember to shake your paint tubs and select your colors carefully."

"Make any final adjustments, and sit back to admire your work."

"Push the puzzle aside to dry. While the puzzle is drying is a good time to paint your hands if you've had the itch to try that."

"Once the painting has dried, you can ask for help to outline the flowers."

"Isn't the finshed puzzle wonderful, says Carley Ann."

Note: Carley Ann would like to thank her Memama's friend Linda Blondheim for the picture puzzle idea and inspiration.

Today was a great day to make a picture puzzle. :)

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Lucky Day

Today was supposed to be a very lucky day. All the news programs said so. :) I did enjoy my day. Anna came to stay with me after lunch and gets to spend the night. I have pictures to show of her eating a chicken strip from Big Chic. After all, she's going to be a southern lady, so she might as well get use to fried chicken.


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Family Celebration

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Today I attended the funeral for my aunt Alien Fowler who is my fathers sister. It was sad and reminded he how important family is. I'll remember the good times at her house forever.

There are many celebrations going on in America today being it's the 4th of July. Thinking and being with family is the best celebration next to meeting our Lord in heaven. I am thankful for my family and for the fact that all I know are Christians. It would be hard to give up a loved one on this earth without the peace knowing they are in heaven.

Studio Sale

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Today was another day that seemed to slip through my hands. I stayed busy all day and did get a few things done that were on my list, but didn't really do anything artwise. Anna spent the night with me last night and we spent this morning just playing and reading until it was time for Terri to come and take her to daycare.

I did spend a little time cleaning the studio and putting things away. I still need to fnd a good way to store all the frames I've collected. How on earth I got as many as I have I'll never know. When I started gathering them up from this stash place and that, they seemed to multiply.

Today I thought about putting an ad in my local paper around the first of November and say that I'll have an open studio sale on the last two Saturdays in November and the first two in December. I might try to make it the last Saturday in November and the first saturday in Decmeber to make it easier on me. Four saturdays might be too much. That way maybe I can clear out some of the frames I have laying around and of course some of the old paintings I never even put up on my web. I didn't count the canvas' that I have in storage, but there must be over 100. Getting those out of the studio would be a good goal for the end of the year. Then I could start fresh for next year.

If I have a good turn out for the studio sale and the painting still don't sell, I guess they need to go to the landfill gallery. :(

Summer Days

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Haulter tops, flowers and sunshine!

Anna's 1 today

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Hope I'll be able to share some photos of her eating her cake soon.

Anna's first baked potato

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She loved the sour cream too!

Anna Claire

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This week I've been working on the portrait of Carley Ann. It's been fun to try something new, but I'm ready for the painting to be finished. You can see my progress at http://paintinglessons.blogspot.com/.

Tonight Anna Claire is spending the night and is fast asleep full of sweet potatoes and green beans.

On to next week

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This has been an exhausting week trying to fit everything in. I need a break, so I'm going to take one and go visit some of my artist friends living a little south of me, visit some small towns and take some photographs. It's a shame that we have such severe drought conditions. Georgia is usually really green by this time of the year and around here almost all our grass is yellow and the trees are struggling to hold their leaves. Further up north from me they have banned all outdoor watering completely because they are afraid of running out of drinking water!

I'm still making progress on the portrait of Carley Ann although I have to admit a bit of fustration not being able to paint alla prima like I do when I paint outside en plein air. Still it's been good for the sprit to do something different and draw on different skills. You can watch my progress here: http://paintinglessons.blogspot.com/

Organization of past works is also moving a bit slowly, but still making progress, so that's good. I wish I had dated my paintings at least on the back.

Anna's day

Today was a day for Anna Claire. She can't finger paint, but I know she'll be ready one day.

Anna and I had a ball today even though she is not feeling her best. She was a little clingy today and wanted to be held, but hey I loved that. I don't want her to feel bad, but there is something about holding a baby that makes the world right. sniff, sniff, sniff

Finger Painting 2

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Just one more image. :)

Finger Painting with Carley

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After VBS today, Carley Ann came home with me and we finger painted the afternoon away. What a budding artist she is. :)

My three girls

This was the second day of VBS at First Baptist and we did tie-dye Tshirts. What fun and the morning went by really fast as we were working very hard. Someone said we had about 300 including the helpers attending this year.

After lunch I picked up my paint brush to work some more on a painting I'm attempting to do of my three girls, Carley Ann, Anna Claire and Cocoa-puff. Go take a look http://paintinglessons.blogspot.com/

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Not Painting

Today I took the day off to think about other things and take care of a hip that is giving me fits. The painting of Carley Ann is coming along nicely and can be seen at http://paintinglessons.blogspot.com/

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Spring Celebration

.:.This painting was done en plein air in April at Callaway Gardens.

11x14 oil on canvas panel.

Purchase price is $325.00 framed

Contact me via email for additional information.

Anna's Almost One

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Carley Bear 2

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Carley Ann Bear

Carley Ann

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Carley Ann

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Brush Strokes

Brushstrokes carry a message whether you will it or not. The stroke is just like the artist at the time they make it. All the certainties, all the uncertainties, all the bigness of their spirit and all the littleness are in it.
~Robert Henri

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Oh those Spring Flowers

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A Great Day

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Another great day. Tonight Carley Ann is spending the night over.

Mother's Day

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Today was a great day. I got to keep Anna Clair Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night while the rest of the family went on a mini vacation. Then Anna Claire and I got up on Sunday morning and went to church. Funny getting her dressed for church and hurrying around trying to get everthing packed with everthing I thought she might need. I forgot her binky, but all went okay anyway.

After church we came home and Brent, Terri and Carly Ann came back from their mini vacation to Callaway and Brent, my son, gave me my mother's day present. It was a cup of sand and a handwritten letter from him to me. I'm so proud of my son. He has such a precious heart and knows what means more to me than anything. In his letter he thanked me for the times we spent playing in the sand and special times together. Of course I teared up just thinking that he remembered. Those times, and these times are special. Every day is special and as he reminds me all the time, everyday is Mother's day.

Anna's Asleep

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It's Wednesday night and I get to keep Anna. She's asleep and is so beautiful. Holding a baby in your arms makes the world right.

Studio Inventory

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I spent today cleaning up the studio and taking inventory of the paintings I have available ready to hang as well as ready to frame. Looks like I need to make plans for a studio sale and get rid of some 200 paintings. That's my goal for this spring and summer so I can have an end of summer sale and get ready for wonderful fall colors to paint.

Another Precious Angel

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Anna Claire spent the night with me and woke up ready to play. She's 11 months old and has been walking for several weeks. Not too many pictures show angels crying, but this one was too precious to pass up. :)

Precious little angel

.:.Cant' get any sweeter than this, but I have another who is 11 months old that is just as sweet. Can't wait to show updated pictures of her. :)

Ready for School

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Magenta Blush, Callaway

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9x12 oil on canvas panel
Framed
$200.00

Blue Breeze Callaway

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Blue Breeze, Callaway
9x12 oil
$225.00 framed and ready to hang

Spring Dance, Callaway

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Spring Dance, Callaway
15x15 Oil
$200.00

Callaway Azalea

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Callaway Yellow Azalea

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Sometimes we have sad news that stays in out minds most of the day. Todays photograph is for Myrtle Perdue who passed away Friday. Rest in God's peace Myrt, as I know you will.

Blue, Pink and Red

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Spring is a wonderful time of the year. Just as Spring refreshes our spirit, each Spring, knowing and walking with God does each day. A few days ago a friend of mine asked me what scripture was my favorite and I didn't have an immediate answer which puzzled me. I finally told her "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" but got the verse reference wrong. I remember studying so hard to learn special scriptures along with the verse reference so we could tell others and through following the scripture verses we could show how to know Jesus. It was surprising to me that I couldn't recall the verse reference. Then and there I made a commitment to myself that I would make a concerted effort to remember the verses special to me.

Thy word have I hid in my heart so that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11

A Family of Worms

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Last night my precious grandchildren spent the night with me. What fun we had right up until bedtime and we all tried to sleep together. I had forgotten how little girls like to sleep cross ways, upside down, and with legs and arms on top of pillows and other people. Carley Ann was bothered by Anna Claire so I tried to sleep in the middle. Sleeping in the middle was a trick because I only had one side protected from someone falling off, so I slept with my arms around Anna Claire. I wish I had pictures to share. We looked like a family of worms. :)

The dreaded 'to do' list

Just as a reminder to myself I'm adding making a CD of my paintings and photographs. It must be a simple thing to do, but learning anything new automatically gets put off as long as I can.

What I plan to do is check out some of the free software already on my computer that came preloaded from Dell on my son's computer and from Sony on my laptop. I know my son uses the free software to make CD's of the children's pictures and he puts music to them and sometimes words. I like what he did, so I might just ask for his help ... or read the help files (sigh). Also, inside my computer program files I noticed that microsoft has some free stuff that looks like it might do what I want and my printer is a HP, and when the printer software was installed, it also installed some CD burning stuff that looks even more interesting.
I don't plan to use my CD for sending to galleries, but I really want to have an archive of my paintings and maybe some thoughts that go along with the painting to jog my memory as I get progressively older and can't remember. Now don't laugh... it's true... I can't remember like I once did. The other day my daughter-in-law called me on the phone and asked me what I was doing and I told her I was watching Phil Donahue. "What??, who's that??, she said." LOL... I guess my brain just went back a few years and that's what came out of my mouth. I was watching Oprah. sigh.

Anyway, I think I can figure out how to do this. The only problem now is finding time. I can't believe how my days just fly by.

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Cast Shadows

Anna Claire Franklin, Easter 2007 , Age 10 months

Carley Ann Franklin - Easter 2007 - Age 28 months

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As artists we are always concerned with shadows because we have learned that shadows tell the story of the object we are painting. If you are trying to paint a shadow it helps if you squint to fix your eyes on the shape. By squinting we simpfly the shape and don't get bogged down in details.

As Christians we are also concerned with shadows, our shadow and God's shadow. You see, just as in art, our shadows are important because it tells a story. In my mail box this moring was a message from my Sunday School prayer group leader, Marilyn who asked the question at the end of all the prayer requests, "In your daily lives, what type of shadow do you cast? Does it point to God or elsewhere?" This is what I am thinking on today.