Artorama

We had to move the bird feeders from the porches to the back yard. I don't get to see mr. big ( short for mr big ass woodpecker) as much as I used to see him. I don't see as many cardinals anymore. I miss seeing the colorful birds who came to our birdfeeders. I've been sick since the day after thanksgiving. Thought I was better, but still laying low.

  Being Jewish does not mean I have to give up my love of Santa Claus. I have fond memories of Santa when I was little. After my parents divorced, my mother raised us Catholic and I remember her filling our felt stockings with ST. Nicholas gifts (usually fruit, nuts and a gingerbread cookie with a paper label of Old ST. Nicholas... if you were a bad little girl you got a devil gingerbread cookie. The same paper label, but he was the devil, The horror!!! The equivelent of coal in your stocking) Now I'm older and I just don't care about Christmas and gifts... It is just not the same as when you were a kid. These are all lessons you don't understand when you are young. NOw I'm old and wish for things I really cannot have.. things you cannot buy. Buying anything is easy.. the important things have nothing to do with money or presents.

I have got to make something. Who cares what it is. Stay tuned

  Every family should get together at Thanksgiving just to see one another and renew their bonds. Unfortunately Money was the topic this year. It is my hope everyone will be able to live a good life and provide themselves with the things they want. Would Frank and I be so popular if we were not so generous? We try not to think about that aspect of giving. It makes us happy and this is all that counts. Too bad more people are not like us. Damn us liberals. We want everyone to have some. I'd rather discuss art and think about nature than money... who wouldn't?

We had a slight Indian summer and Frank got some steaks and hit the grill. He is the best griller in America.

OUr good neighbor Laura told us it is legal for the neighbor to shoot his shotgun. We live in an unincorporated area. He has set up a crows nest and is shooting off the top of his pole barn.

I feel like I am living in a forest. Someone in the neighborhood is shooting at animals. Hope no children, pets or animals get hurt. Maybe the gun will backfire and shoot the shooter. I can dream can't I?

When we came home last night, Howie the dog came running past me to greet his master, Frank.... Gordy, the cat, came straight to me and greeted me. Yes, Howie came over to me after he showed his wave of excitement over his master coming home.... I'm #2 with the dog. I'm #1 with the cat.

Revenge: Think Twice: Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)

This is Wesley, Ellen's Newfie. He is very gentle, despite his size. Lots of slobbering, which you kind of get used to, unless you have something nice on and you don't want a huge gob of saliva on your clothes. Ellen's hand is in a sling from recent hand surgery. She was out looking at furniture at a flea market and a dealer offered her free furniture for pain pills. He approached her. Asked if she would trade him vicodin for furniture. He said he had been lifting furniture for a long time and could use some pills. He told her he does this all the time. She said no, she'd be keeping her vicodin for herself and for her pain. Unbelievable. Her hand is swollen and painful and this guy just wanted her painkillers. Creepy

Look at the serene faces on these vegetables

  Tommorow is Frank's birthday.

The first painting is a Degas painting Ellen did for a Masters class. The second is ?... it is not a Van Gogh. Uncanny how she was able to capture the feel of the original painting....But I guess that is what they want you to figure out... how the masters painted... The third Painting is a still life Ellen did a couple years ago for another ARt Institute class... She did not know it was selected for The ARt Institute's brouchure, but there it was... More of her art to follow in future posts.

  Downtown Ivanhoe? What?

  It is becoming a far too frequent sight... There are deer all over the place. When we first moved out here, you rarely saw deer.. now they are feeding right in front of you in a field. You cannot drive without seeing a dead deer in the road.

  There is a lot of music being played on this shelf.

Snapple cap fact #879: MOst Koala bears sleep about 22 hours a day. Snapple cap fact #851: Miami installed the first ATM for rollerbladers.

  Too bad these guys can't solve the real mysteries of life.

Here is another photograph of a painting I took when we were in the Vienna Museum. It took a while for me to get yelled at, but I did not know I was not allowed to photograph inside. Every place is different.

I am not feeling well. Have been feeling sick since SAturday. Going to see a medical professional today. Not very chatty or reflective, so here is your snapple cap fact for the day: Real Fact #685: Dogs can make about 10 sounds, cats make about 100. My cat Gordy makes hundreds of sounds... I can attest to his fact being accurate. Howie, barks, growls, whimpers and screams (if you try to cut his nails). He does make some wierd little sounds when he is sleeping and dreaming...