'Hills 1'
18 x 27 Oil on Canvas
Contact me for a commission painting. Laurie
© Laurie Justus Pace Graphics One Design 2009
The Painting: This is an oldie from 2007. I am going to do a small series of color studies of similar paintings. I did three that year. One was a commission painting that was 3 ft by 4 ft, one was this one 18 x 27 and one was I think 24 x 30 inches in size. I hope to start on this today.
The Thought: I am early up but late to blog so I am in my typical Monday Rush. This is birthday week for me. In my adult life it has always been a treasure to celebrate my birthday with my Dad. We have birthdays next to each other. In the past Mom would always do a family dinner and one cake would be there for the two of us. Always was special being born the day before his birthday. Last year I missed that day as when family traveled up to celebrate his birthday, the family minister went in my place instead because it seemed important that she go to give my dad communion. I had been up the week before with my kids on the weekend, but to be there the day of has always meant so much.
I know this year I will probably not be there again on his birthday with him so far away, and some of you don't know this, but I hate driving. I am great around the neighborhood where I live, but not on the freeway and not on long trips. I have never been fond of driving. I think I was born in the wrong century sometimes. Terry said he will drive me up either this week or next.
Family is on my mind this morning. This weekend my older daughter Stacey decided they were coming on Halloween to celebrate my birthday. I never turn down an opportunity to see my children or grandchildren, but it definitely was NOT my choice to celebrate my November birthday in October. It all has to do with Race Season. The Texas Motor Speedway has control of my birthday. They have their huge race that weekend and Stacey and Larry cannot get in or out of their house on that weekend. I will suggest next year to do it the week after. Halloween is my least favorite day of the year. Regardless we did enjoy the time together and I am so grateful for the wonderful Apple Pie she made me. I will eat on the left overs of Pie for a few more days.
I told the kids I felt like Norah in Brothers and Sisters. (She is always preparing food in the big house and feeding her kids... both food and advice all the time.) The youngest son Morgan was at work and could not come but Stacey, Larry and Tink came, and Justin and grandson Jon came too. Of course our youngest daughter was here as well. She and I hit the grocery store running on Saturday and by 3:00 we were home to the group already arriving. I made steamed asparagus, summer squash, mushrooms and carrots along with chicken strips that were marinated in raspberry and coated with Italian bread crumbs and sauteed in olive oil. Add to it the choice of Brown rice or red potatoes mashed with garlic and butter. AND apple pie.
Sunday, I received a call from son Justin around 2:00. He and his girlfriend and son Jonathan were coming back over because he knew I was making chicken and dumplings. I was just home from church and eating out with mom. C and D were the last things on my mind. BUT in the spirit of Norah, I jumped in the kitchen and started the C and D up, while the whole chicken was boiling in garlic seasoned water, I whipped up a three layer butter cake and iced it with home made cream cheese frosting. I tossed together the flour, salt, baking powder and some broth to make some yummy dumplings, and added it to the now cooking chicken, veggies, onion etc. Yeah we all ate too much... but we celebrated Justin's birthday from late September. He had been out of town and I still had his gifts and cards here.
Birthday week officially started last night on Nov 1st at 6:00 pm... and it lasts one week. This is a traditional thing started by Terry's brother David. You get more stuff over the span of a week and it truly makes it special as you can use it as an excuse to get out of many things...for one week only. David was the best of the best when it came to birthdays. His birthday was Nov 11th, the same day as my best friend Janet. David died in May 1994 and I still miss his mischievous smile and cunning mind. November is a busy month adding in my niece's birthday, and five more family members in November AND at least 10 friends from the month. Maybe I should take the month of November off for birthday month. Something to think about at least.
Here is Terry, Tink and I and my pie::: yes it is mine, it has my name on it.
Family... bonds of love and experiences that bring us together, memories and journeys filled with both joy and pain. God is good.
Laurie
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”1 Peter 2:9 -
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