Whole Foods Holiday

I love Whole Foods and especially the food that's cooked to order when you eat at their bar. YUM! My friend Laura calls me every Wednesday and asks if we can meet, OF COURSE! is my answer most of the time. If you've never experienced the Whole Foods bar, you should try it soon! I usually order the Blackened Catfish, spinach and mashed potatoes, but there's plenty more goodness to choose from ...and watch them cook it right before your eyes on a flaming stove !

Birthday Weekend

Friday night...fun times !

Saturday night...

a 'get together' and the gingerbread house contest

and then for my birthday morning..Sunday..the best brunch in town at 'Another Broken Egg Cafe'..with 2 great friends!

You must meet..

Beau Gregory. Beau is my best friend's nephew. Last year Kate invited me to join them all for spring break at the beach. Now Kate's family, is like my family. Over the years her sisters & their families, and her dear mom & dad have treated me as part of the family. During spring break I saw Beau in his element, full of energy, constantly playing with his sisters, and literally in a world all his own. At bedtime he put on his "space boots", which are actually leg/foot braces. See, Beau was diagnosed with Duchenne's not too long ago. It's a common thread of muscular dystrophy among boys. Even when his energy level is high, there are times he MUST slow down. He gets weak when he plays too hard. I fell in love with this little boy and his story. I have nephews too, and they too, are always on the go, rough and tumble...to say the least. Last year Beau's parents and several others hosted a fundraiser "Derby for Duchennes", and I was able to donate artwork for the silent auction. This year I decided to do something special. I love to run. Anyone who knows me will eventually hear me discuss running on the trail at Jemison or how much I loved running races growing up. So....I'm going to host a race in honor of Beau! I found "Run for our Sons" on the Duchennes website and instantly knew this is what I wanted to do. I'm inspired by him and his family and their strength. I hope we can inspire this little boy! The race will be in April at the Jemison Trail / Mt.Brook loop, a 10k. Please tell all your friends who love to run and support a great cause too! There will be a webpage with registration and details soon !

It's Christmas

Why can't Christmas be full of natural decor, like greenery, silver spray painted pine cones & sticks, and especially burlap stockings. Stockings are big deal in my family, as well as Christmas pajamas. Anyone else? Stockings are sure to have (1) pistachios (2) fruit (3) socks or gloves (4) a fun surprise. I love helping my sister prepare Christmas for her kids. Filling their stockings, setting up their gifts and sitting up late remembering when we were young. This year I found my Christmas tree in my yard, a little evergreen had fallen in a storm, so now it's in my living room with lights and ornaments, waiting to be replanted soon. It's not as pitiful as it looks in the picture ! ;) Growing up I remember putting the candy canes on the Christmas tree last, and in places that were easy to access. Everyone loves edible ornaments, at least I did. It was the two to three days after Christmas, while the tree was still up, that I'd gather all the candy canes.

Winter Horse

When I last visited the gallery that consigns my paintings we discussed the new found love I have for painting horses. Recently I discovered an artist when I was getting a haircut, who loved horses too. Except the painting was near 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide, huge! But I did take away some lovely ideas, and here's my first attempt at translating what I saw, on a much smaller scale. The gallery director asked me to bring in a few horse paintings, I think this will be 1 of 3.