A Visit and a Birthday

Okay, I'm dreadfully late getting this post off the ground...but here's an update on what's been up, even though it's outta date.

Last week we were so happy to have our grandfolks over for a visit!

The whole family gathered at the supper table!

We went heavy on the reading.

Grandpapa and Katie

Saturday, Mamaw came over to visit.  

Chatting.


On Sunday, we decided to celebrate Mama's birthday a couple days early...while our family was still here.

Lemon cake.  Yum.

"Notice how the chef has artistically incorporated the initial 'K' (for 'Kathy') into the delicate frosting filigree."

Too pretty to open.

But she opened them anyway.

Card time.  Hankies, anyone?

One candle is enough.

Isn't she beautiful?

Mother and daughter.

Father and daughter.

After cake and presents, we piled (yes, literally piled), into the mini van, and headed for the The Log Cabin.

The three oldest in their privileged quarters.  What's that apparition behind them?

Oh, we just stuck her in the back.

At the restaurant....despite what the picture may imply, we had no trouble staying awake.

Aunt Nancy, taking orders.  She has such a serving heart...

....and her Cheeseburger Platter is outta this world.  Thanks, Aunt Nancy!

Monday, time to part ways.  We took a moment for another group shot.

Emori and Mama escorted Grandmama and Grandpapa to their destination.  We're so glad they could come.

Eat Mor Chickin...August 1

Guess where we'll be eating August 1st.... 

  

We're joining the move to buy chicken sandwiches (or maybe some milkshakes) next Wednesday to support Chick Fil-A! 

 The company is under attack after standing up for marriage.  Here's a link to learn more about the "chikin drive."

In Which The Absence of a Catchy Title Behooves Me To Leave this Post Unnamed

I haven't really been painting that much lately.  Coinciding appointments for both Inspiration and Time have been difficult to book...and I just can't get anywhere without them both.

But here's an older project; I felt the need to paint a landscape.  Kind of an exercise for me, because I don't do landscapes that much (Mr. Kinkade would not have approved of me, I fear) and I need the practice.

So, Mrs. Carmen and Mama found these old canvases while thrift shopping (I know, SCORE!!!) and were so sweet to buy them for me.

Choosing one, I proceeded to paint over it, then make my sketch.  Yeah, I guess I'm not really one of those virtuosos who can paint without a preliminary sketch.

Using a really dark brown, I started blocking in the treetrunks...

...and leaves.

Before going farther with the foreground, I painted in the white part of the sky and the distant tree silhouettes.

Here I finished smearing on all the basic colors, and the scene is starting make a little sense.  A little messy, though.

I cleaned it up a bit; deepened the darks and brightened the lights. Using a cooler recipe of red, yellow, white, and black, I defined the road.  Then I added tree shadow.

Um...smudgy photo here.  I apologize.  This pic shows the nearly completed scene.  I put some treads in the road; and interspersed light and dark sandy colors for some extra dimension.  But the trees were still too dark and undefined.

Using a homemade brown, I mixed it intermittently with varying amounts of yellow and blue to add character to the tree bark.  On the extreme left edges of the trees, I painted some bright strips to depict the late sunlight.  Then I made some sun rays using a thin wash of white and yellow.

So, I feel like my landscape obligation has been fulfilled, and I can hop back to painting animals and portraits to my heart's content... 

...whenever I can manage to get Inspiration and Time together again.

Somethin'

Okay, our normal July 4th celebrations usually include:

      1.  Business as usual during the day.

      2.  Feeling festive because it's Independence Day.

      3.  Maybe having dessert that evening.

      4.  Listening to the neighbors pop some firecrackers across the

           road as we try to sleep.

But this year, we decided to stray from our tradition of non-tradition...to get out and "do somethin'" with all the other normal folks.

An outside concert and fireworks seemed to qualify.  So we prepared for our drive... knocking out the chores early since we planned to be out AFTER DARK.

Yeah, we were goin' all the way.

Hot July temps.  We stayed hydrated.

We packed Barbeque Mutton Sandwiches for supper in the van...

...and went all out on the beverages.  Arizona tea is very popular with our clan.

"Notta drop left."

Allow me to introduce our two lead photographers for this multi-media event. (I omitted the picture in which an extra in the back seat was making a weird face.)

We arrived

The musicians were truly top notch.  They played a variety of compositions...from patriotic favorites, to Celtic reels, to highlights from Les Miserables!

Then they serenaded us as the fireworks lit up the sky.  It was breathtaking.

Starbucks.  

 We had a blast.  Literally.

Hope y'all did as well!

Yours truly,

Callie

"Nothin'"

Maybe you know what it's like when the friendly question comes up, "Whatcha been doing lately?"...

...and all you can think to say in response is, "Nothin'"?

 Maybe you're not familiar with this situation.  But for me, it's pretty common.

"Nothin,'" is a great catch-all answer that translates to: "Feeding animals, weeding garden, watering garden, milking animals, doctoring animals, harvesting garden, canning, painting, visiting with friends...blogging..."

Anyhow, it's been one of those "Nothin'" kind of months.  So, here's a sum up of the "Ho-hum" side of June!  Enjoy.

The produce finally starts rolling in!  

We love bell peppers.   So easy to store...just chop'em up and freeze'em!

Due to the rainy part of early June, a lot of the tomatoes were rotting (Blossom End Rot I think).  I salvaged what I could, then made salsa.

Thankfully, Epsom Salts and drier weather helped things stabilize.  Now we have healthy tomatoes again!

You're now beholding two of our three apples harvested this year!  Bumper crop!

Our neighbor was so generous to share his sweet corn with us.

It made the most delectable creamed corn.  

Snapp'n beans.

Saving seeds.  Umm... I'll probably need to collect a few more, don't ya think?

We love feta... so easy and fun to make.

Speaking of cheese, meet our newest little bull calf! (Okay, cheese and calves don't have that much in common, but you'll see the relation as you continue to read, patient reader :-)  Although he was actually born a few weeks ago, we only christened him this morning (such serious matters take much time).  We called him "Almanzo."  Like it?  Wait, don't answer that.

I'm so excited about finally getting cow milk!  

While I'm very thankful for the milk from our goats, cow milk just hands down makes the best mozzarella cheese.*

*Relation to earlier reference.

*   *   *   *  

This is Maura, trying out her new MP3 player while doing laundry.  The little device is loads of fun, but often leads to one-way conversations like,

Callie: "Maura, I just added some dirty socks to the white load."

Maura: ---

Callie:  "Maura?  Oh well."

Here's a look at Maura's newest invention.  It's called a "Loft Clothes Line".  Perfect for rainy weather.  Patent is pending.

Our lawn mower decided to take a vacation at the local auto shop.  Meanwhile, our lawn turned into a jungle.

Understandably, there was much rejoicing when Madam Riding Mower returned.  Mama and she hung out together all that afternoon.

Me, carting manure.  (Maura was the photographer that evening. Got fancy with the black'n white and sepia). 

The month wound up with a bang.  Well, there were drums anyway.  The sisters and Mamaw went to see this really neat open air concert, and got the opportunity to catch up with some friends... some of whom we haven't seen in years!  They had lots of fun.

Raising the colors.  Praise God for our freedom!  

Hope you all have a great 4th of July!

Thanks for visiting.

Yours truly,

Callie