?Today, Last Week and Next Week
Cats n Stuff
For the last two weeks I have been trying to find the time for a book review, I can see that people do love them by my stats. But, I had to buy a new shiny Epson Sure Color-P 700 printer. It came and I unloaded the box, connected it, and I couldn’t get a good print. It would start and do 3/4 of the print then stop. So I did a two day trial and error on my end thinking I missed something. I finally called Support and got Ray, and was on the phone with him (though we were working through some communication problems on my end) for three hours and at the end of that I had to change something on my computer. Then it was the weekend, and Support is closed at that time. On Monday I also was out and stopped at my Verizon store, I call it that because we have bought all our phones and other there, he was very helpful. There was the 5Ghz and 2.4 Ghz language and dual ports and if I could change something will my shiny new printer work? So, I was confident that I did figure it out and it still didn’t work right. Grrrrr! I called Support again, got Ash this time. (I am getting reference numbers now so that they can see what has happened so far) and we went through things and then she said that she had to speak with others about my problem and would call me back. It really make me crazy when my system doesn’t work. That is what I focus on and no painting or other fun stuff takes place. She called me back and said I need to get a certain usb cord so I can connect with my computer. I am thinking how can I get it the quickest. If I call each computer store in my area, which is time consuming, then drive there especially if it is waaay across town. The port on the printer is in a very unconventional place that I couldn’t even see. I had to send a photo of the area so the support person could show me. I was in the most obscure place. So I have been trying to ween myself away from Amazon because Jeff Bezos has us wrapped around his little computer fingers and he was standing up there with You Know Who. This was an emergency for me and I also realized that my auto payment for Amazon Prime happened on February 1st. I am going to access how I can live without this in the next year. So I got it the next day and it still wouldn’t work. Called Support again and got Ash, I found out what the problem was and now I can print beautifully. I would not have been able to do this on my own. I you have gotten to the bottom of this I am rewarding you with a picture of one of my cats.
I just think this picture is so funny! This is Pookey Cat and we don’t know if his back feet were hot or what. I reminded us of the Wizard of Oz and the red shoes sticking out from the house. So back to the book review, my book that I borrowed from the library, returned. I like to have the book with me so I can refer to things I am reviewing. I promise I will do the review in the future.
This is my cat Pavel, named after Pavel Datsyuk, the Hall of Fame Red Wings player. I was really showing the card my friend made for me and he happened to be in the background. It’s a fabulous card. By the way our Keurig Coffee maker quit working and I have to go out tomorrow for physical therapy (I am working on getting my right part of my body from the hip down stronger. I walk unbalanced.) I will be into week two. So I will do my research to find one in town.
This is Pavel Datsyuk HOF cat standing up and posing. He follows me around and is near me most of the time. He is a quiet guy for sure. The next thing I want to talk about is upcoming posts. I will be showing my new art of course. But while trying to find a certain picture I thought to myself that I should share these other fabulous pictures I have taken while moving them to my external hard drive. I will do that once a month and it will make me do this moving, there are a lot from my phone and cameras.
This here is Mr. Whiskers, I took care of him outside for two years and we were pretty friendly with each other. Then a big cold snow storm was coming and I picked him up and put him in the garage on a heated mat. I then decided that he needed to be checked out at the vet so he could come inside. He had FIV and at that time they recommended that he not be around other cats. They used to have them euthanized as to not spread the disease and I believe that thought process has changed. But anyways he is living with Sam and Kevin and is living his best life.
This is Miggy, actually Miguel Cabrera because he is a polydactyl and has extra toes. His paw is as big as a baseball mitt. You can kind of see one of his extra toes there.
Here is Lily, she walked over the rainbow bridge in November 2024. My heart still isn’t over it. She was such a unique lady.
A few years ago I used that picture for “Lovely Lilys Flower Crown”.
Till the next time friends.
Where Did November Go?
All through October I participated in Birdtober, which the artist took the prompts given and painted, or drew, whatever your art genre for 31 days. It was a lot and I usually don’t do these kinds of things because I cannot keep up. But surprisingly I did, but that was about all the art I made in October. It was very good practice to work on different birds, ones that I may never have considered before. I have painted a goldfinch many times but never a bunting and liked the way it turned out for something that was quickly created.
Then November seemed like it just flew by with doctor’s appointments and sporting events, watching IU basketball with friends or going to Detroit to go to watch the Lions and then also watching on TV. It is so fun being a Lions fan. We became season ticket holders when they were 0 and 16. It was fun then but it is so MUCH more fun when they win! I worked on a painting for my annual Christmas card which I will show at another time because I ordered them last night, which was pretty good for December 1st. These two paintings will be in the Fort Wayne Artists Guild members show at the downtown library. The gingko’s and bunnies was another painting in November I got finished up for the show. I had the canvas sitting on my easel with the background on it for approximately three weeks. The I would get the ol ah ha moments to move on with the painting. The show goes through the end of December at the Jeffery Krull Gallery. Then two important holidays, our son Sam’s 33rd birthday and Thanksgiving. Then we are into December.
Well you know, December is a whirlwind of activity. Tomorrow, December 3rd, I will be dropping off 15 paintings to hang at the Georgetown Branch Library for December and January. I plan to change some out in January to make it seem all fresh. Then decorating for the Holiday. Phase 1 is done, with the tree and mantle. I will not lie, this is from another year, but it is still the same tree and the paintings on the wall are different now also, but otherwise you know….. Phase two will be the nativity and santas and snowmen. Phase 3 is planning baking and also gifts but that is also in phase 1 and 2. Tom and I have a Lions game, also the 4 of us will do something for my birthday. I will get together with my gal pals this month too. Then Christmas will be here and the New Year. Like I started with, what happened to November?
Frankfort Michigan
This Weekend
Book Review: Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Setting is Washington State in April of 2005. The book starts out with Jolene Zarkades and it is her 41st birthday. The backdrop is the Olympic Mountains and Liberty Bay. She has two girls, five year old Lulu and twelve year old Betsy and husband, Michael who is an attorney. Jolene enjoys running in the mornings, is a very organized person for her family and is a helicopter pilot for The Guard. She enlisted in the army when she was 18 years old and had qualified to flight school helicopter-pilot training.
She had a mother and father who drank and fought and eventually died when she was 17 years old. She did not know what she wanted to do after graduation and decided to enlist in the army. She met her best friend Tami when she was 18 and their love for flying brought them together and they had a strong, bonded friendship. They lived next to each other, got pregnant at the same time with their first child and they went from the army to the Guard when marriage and motherhood made active duty difficult. Twice a week they would go together to practice flying the Black Hawk helicopter, each taking turns at the helm.
Earlier in the morning, when she had gotten back from her run she was getting the girls ready for school and asked where their dad was, he already left. Since it was her birthday it was disappointing that he hadn’t stuck around to at least wish her happy birthday, oh well he probably has something special planned for tonight. She always likes his strong work ethic and seems to make excuses for him.
She deals with 12 year old Betsy’s trying to fit in with the cool crowd and not thinking that her mom is neat, like many twelve year olds. She has a wonderful mother in law who owns a garden store and is very helpful. Michael is in practice with his father but he passed away unexpectedly and is having a hard time dealing with it.
Jolene and Michael speak later in the day and apologized for forgetting her birthday and she said it’s fine as long as we are together. He said he would be home by eight and she said they could have a quiet meal together. He didn’t get home until midnight.
He was having thoughts about what is ahead, what his life could have been if a different path had been taken. Things were becoming rocky at home. Michael has never looked upon the Guard as important, something she really loved. Her daughter doesn’t want her to come to school in her flight uniform. She has asked Michael to come to a birthday party that the group is having for her and he doesn’t want to because they are “her” friends and he has nothing in common with them. Eventually as Michael thinks about his life, he decides that he needs to tell Jolene that he doesn’t love her anymore.
Michael is also taking on a case where a 25 year old murdered his wife. His wife that he adored and they were planning on starting a family. This young man was a model person, had never gotten in trouble and everyone loved him. He had been in Iraq though.
Jolene and Tami got the calls that they were being deployed. She had to break it to the girls, to Michael and her mother in law. Most met the information with disdain. Jolene spent the next weeks preparing the family to take care of themselves. Making a notebook with all the information that she could think of down to what meal to prepare for what day. Her heart is broken over her broken marriage but her sense of duty is strong and she has to do this.
The book goes on and tells the story of what goes on in Iraq and describes what the days are like. She tries to not let them know how bad it is and always tells them that she is not in the fighting, but she is.
The coming of Michael preparing and researching his upcoming court case makes him realize so much. He also has to be there for his girls which took him awhile to realize and to get it together. Then, a horrible accident happened during a flight in Iraq. He and Jolene had limited contact while she was over there and he never told her anything before she left. He was very selfish and wasn’t proud of her and didn’t try to understand. Her problem was that she didn’t depend on him and always was controlling. Both were at fault and had to learn hard lessons.
I whole heartedly recommend this book. It helps the reader understand what being in a war is like, getting injured and the long road to recovery along with the family side of it too.
Glo Magazine
I am thrilled to say that Glo Magazine has chosen my painting “The Blue Vase” for their March Cover. To read the magazine online follow this link. The magazine is free and will be available at many businesses and to find one when they come out click on Newsstand locations.
Book Review: The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader
Right out of the shoot, I want to say I loved this book. It addressed so many different aspects of life in 1967. The Vietnam War, friendship, abortion, death, drugs, race, family relationship and secrets.
Iowa, 1967 BettyKay is heading for nursing school because in that era women only become teachers, nurses or wives and mothers. She comes from a farming community where the sons are expected to stay home and help with the family farm and her boyfriend does that. He drives her to school in the family truck and supports her decision whole heartedly and promises to talk to her every Sunday.
Kitty is her roommate with a southern accent. She has style and sarcasm, and it takes BettyKay awhile to get used to her and to have a friendship with her that will last 50 years. Kittys own background story is very interesting and so different from BettyKays.
Jo, (and please forgive me if this name is not correct as I don’t have my book in front of me) is an African American girl. She walked into the school and of course had people ignoring her and having to sit by herself until BettyKay asked her to sit with her and she eventually rounded out the trio of friends. She decided to go to nursing school and serve in Vietnam so her brother would not be sent to the war. She takes no time off to have fun and plans to graduate early. She keeps her eye on the light at the end of the tunnel so to fulfill her family obligation.
Kitty was just glamorous, and flirtatious but would also sew for others on the floor. She was sewing for Jo in return for her notes from class. There was only one phone on the floor and if Kitty would get a call she would go to the phone and hang up on it without even talking to the person on the other end.
BettyKays boyfriend visits one day, with a uniform on and tells her that he has enlisted to go to Vietnam. She is shocked of course, wondering why he didn’t discuss it with her. He said he didn’t want to be talked out of it and that he leaves the next day. They spend the night together and then in two months she realizes that she is pregnant. This was not a surprise in the book, and you will see it coming but what happens after is very interesting and cements the friendships.
The book moves through the early lives and then the adult lives of the three women and back and forth. It weaves and builds a good story that way. I am going to stop here because I hope you pick up the book and get immersed into their lives.
I will tell you that the reason the book is titled “The Sunshine Girls” is that is what new nursing students are called.
Book Review – The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
This author was recommended to me by my friend Nan. I had said that I like history novels and she said that this author writes them, and she liked her very much. I have been getting some of my reads from the library which is so convenient, but I love the feel of real books in my hand. I also like to refer back to them when writing a review, so it hasn’t stopped me from buying actual paperbacks. Many times I purchase used also.
Here is my review:
Setting is Paris 1939, on the verge of WWII.
Two women, who are American but married Frenchmen.
Elise – is an artist, carves wood and paints and her husband is a well-known artist.
Juliette has a family owned small bookstore along with her husband and children.
These two women are both pregnant and due very close together. They meet in the park one day because Elise has an episode and faints. Juliette came over to render some assistance and eventually she gets Elise back to the bookstore and has the doctor come and examine her and then they become fast friends after that. They both have healthy baby girls who are months apart and they grow up like sisters together. Juliette also has two other children who are boys, and she had a daughter earlier who only lived 13 days and it buried in a nearby cemetery where she visits often.
As the war gets closer to their area Elises husband has been meeting with others underground against the Nazi’s and other bad players of WWII. There are times where he is gone for days, and this is a bone of contention between the two of them because she would like him to be home with them. One day he comes to her with papers that have changed her identity and their daughters also. When she examines the papers, she realizes that the daughters’ papers say a totally different name than hers. He has told her that she needs to get away because she has his last and if she and the daughter are captured then they will be killed. They are looking for him. She needs to leave the daughter in Paris with the papers and go hours away from there.
This tore her up and couldn’t imagine leaving her and walking away. There was a woman in their neighborhood who was Jewish and she made arraignments for her two children to be taken somewhere to be cared for and stay, hopefully, safe. She then went herself away also and finding another place that she had stayed for most of the war until someone ratted them out and they were captured and sent to a concentration camp.
Elise left her daughter with her friend Juliette and family to care for like their own. It was not an easy break at all like you can imagine and she found her way to Ambergene, France to find herself caring for children in a farmhouse where children were kept safe from the war. In the Authors notes at the end of the book she visited this area while writing the book and there was an actual place where the children were kept, and I am sure there were many of these places throughout Europe.
In Paris, back in the little bookstore all was relatively safe and quiet until the Renault Plant was bombed because it was making trucks for the Germans who occupied the country. A stray bomb missed its mark and hit the bookstore destroying it and most of the people in it.
The second half of the book focuses on the characters after the war and how their lives changed and what they did to live. Some moved on, others were mentally challenged, and some had still terrible things happen to them.
It took me a chapter get into the book but then it took off for me and I enjoyed it. Be sure to read the authors notes. It is a good historical novel that was released in June 2023.
San Xavier Mission
The original foundation was laid in 1700 but the actual building of this mission took 14 years , 1783 to 1797. You can learn more on their webpage.
