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.