My luv affair..

Amidst all the excitement happening around here, I have taken the time to paint in order to keep my head where it should be.
The smell of acrylics, the feel of a brush in my hands, normalcy...

keeps me grounded.

Panel 1 of Twilight Magnolia

Ocala, the Heart of Florida  as we are referred to, is a very beautiful part of the State.
We are smack dab in the  north central  part of the thumb of land that makes up Florida.

 Our placement makes for very interesting weather patterns.

 We seem to burst into Spring with a vengeance of pollen and flowers.

Panel 2 of twilight Magnolia.

A riot of blooms in various colours and fragrance. Both wild varieties and the cultured kind.
Equally beautiful.
Like many, I have my favourites....

The wild variety that does it for me is the Phlox. I look forward to the sides of the highways and main streets being bracketed by flowing shades of magenta, pink , red and white. Just a flowing softly undulating wave in the Spring breeze.But they quickly fade away as it heats up.
A short burst of beauty....

Both Panels together to form the Diptych. Twilight Magnolis 1 and 2.

Of the cultivated kind ( there is it's uncultivated variety that I luv just as well) my favourite, my luv, is the Magnolia.
Sigh.... the sight of the first bloom sets my heart to racing.
My fingers itching to sketch and paint.
My nose to bury itself in the center of the big fragrant blooms.

On my morning walks I watched the first blooms appear on the neighbourhood trees.
Studied them from small teeny buds to fat ready to burst forth buds.

Panel 1 showing the painting wrapped around the edges of the panel.
Each panel 13.25" x 3"1 x 1.25"

Then the next day, a full blown flower.

 All thrown open for all to see and enjoy. 

The creamy white that glistens with pastel shades when the sun's rays kisses it , to the irresistible fragrance of the perfume.
Clean and mild.. almost lemony in it's softness.

The glossy evergreen leaves that shine and shimmer...

The souring height of some of the mature trees.
The Magnificence of such a tree, and the delicate beauty of it's flower.

 Here today, creamy and beautiful, brown and dying the next.
One day of beauty ... it's beauty short lived. But touches so many.

Panel 2 showing the wrapped painting.

The Magnolia, still my favourite flower to paint.
The flower I await each Spring....
Symbol of new life.
A promise.
Beauty.
Simplicity.

Panel 1 and 2 together flowing as one. A puzzle according to my GrandBella.
Diptych in it's completion. But can be used as 2 smaller finished pieces in their own right. 

Have a beautiful day. Remember to enjoy the little things.


Hugs, Gee

A new beginning

Hello my luvies.

This has been a very moving,beyond busy and emotional month for me and my family.

A rescue that we intended to repair, reshab and place in the shop.

Normally , for us, the month of April heralds my birthday, a few dinners, cakes. You know, a bit of celebration. 

This one was a bit different. 

Yes, my birthday came in all it's pomp and circumstance.
I managed to keep it down to one cake this time.

And just a few dinners.

It was grand!!
We had family stop over, a visit from Ohio....
a visit form NYC....

gifts....

Then came the announcement of impending home purchase.....

Then one evening after dinner, there was a shift.

We were told of a happening, a life changing moment.

Now being reshabbed for a little, almost 5yr old. Our GrandBella

An elopement!
( to come)

Tears of happiness poured from me. I mean, happiness does not begin to explain how I felt.
Hugs... more hugs, more tears and then questions and more hugs.
and more tears...

I mean, we knew it was happening. They are in the process of buying a home together.

Ugly duckling about to become a Swan.

We are getting a Bella. Now that right there is the best of my April.

Bella!!! Almost 5 going on 10. A mini me. Funny how these things work out.

He fell in luv with her and we got a Bella in the process.

My youngest said one day, 'she is the exact mini of Mom ( me) '  She was meant to be in my family. It's that simple.

The transition from grubby... to pink and perfect

Added to this mix, is the fact that we were in the process of redoing a mortgage on our home at a way better % rate. SCORE!!!!


And our youngest is getting ready to graduate from college and continue on to his BA. My youngest... my baby. A college grad. When did all this happen? I can still smell Jonhson's baby powder, and see nappies flapping in the wind on the line.
And hot wheels, and legos... endless legos.
And school plays.... and.. and... Now he's graduating!!

painting the inside of the drawer.

Not for forget the new home that the newly engaged couple is buying.
Yup!! In the middle of all this, he popped the question formally ( on the day of our closing our mortgage).

~He is a lot like me. Dances to the rhythm of his own drum. Charts his own course. Moves at his own speed.~

Does his own thing at his own pace. Luv that. My boy... my first born.....
My baby... getting married ( eloping) in a few weeks to his lady luv.

Pink and white perfection!!!

Now, April was also a HUGE month for him . Oh, besides all the aforementioned (hahahaha)

The day before my birthday he started his career, as in finished his training and was now out on his own.

A first responder....

complete with a car and equipment......
uniform, proudly star embellished.
Proudly serving his community.

Far removed from the Pre Med he walked away from, but he felt the call. He answered.
We are proud!

So April, we surely enjoyed your coming.
Your announcements, your heralds.

We give you, Bella's nightstand. CUTE, huh?

Now you get ready to leave, forever filled with emotional memories...
Of announcements, new beginnings.

Birthday, and accomplishments!

More celebrations..... and cake.

And tears of joy, and anticipation.

And new beginnings...

A new family.... a fresh start.

Even though this year was not a bench mark birthday, it is a bench mark year for us all!
We look forward to the changes.... embrace the new!

I should have bought stock in  tissues this year. A  missed opportunity!

Awaiting May.... and all it's glory!Smiling through the tears of 

JOY!!!

Smile with me..

Hugs, Gee

Dining room getting it's Spring look.

If you follow me you know that I have been trying to complete a Master suite makeover.
Well last weekend, the Mr. decided to redo the dining chairs we bought for this home almost 8 years ago.

Before of dining room. With Maple side chairs. In January I am thinking.

Maple chairs wearing their new coat of white paint, distressed and waxed. Only awaiting new seat covers.

They are maple and although pretty, I have wanted them painted since we brought them home. 'Let's live with them awhile' I was told. So we did. 

Now the carving really stands out. Luv it!!

Now, even he was tired of the orangy look of the maple. Soooooo... when he took the first one to the garage... I squealed inside.
But kept quiet. I am no fool....
By the end of the weekend, (was a 3 day weekend for him) all 4 chairs were painted and distressed.
I am undecided about what I want to redo the seats with, so they are still on the to do list.

No work on the master, but, hey!!! I am NOT looking a paint horse in the mouth . You know what I mean?


Left in the Dining room to re do.

1) Re do seat covers. Thinking a stripe, a neutral coloured stripe.

2) repaint under the chair rail. I got talked into leaving it red last year. But I am over the red already. Too much red in the dining room now!
3) replace the drapes ... I am ready for a lighter, more relaxed look. So I want to replace the silk panels with either burlap ones, linen or drop cloth.
4) New lamp shades for the buffet lamps.

In January, this got a new paint job. It was also wood and I was wanting it painted. So we did. Painted it, distressed it up a bit. Waxed and gave it 2 rooster pulls. 

I showcase my work here at home and at the Shop in town. The gallery and other 2 Home Decor shops sadly went under due to the economy.

So there will always be canvasses displayed on the walls. Working on some calmer pieces and I cannot wait to trade out what's on the wall now.

As it looks now. The mirror was traded out for one that sat in the entryway to the Master. That also got a coat of bright white paint and a waxing and distressing.  Looks so much bigger.

Spring is telling me it wants a calmer palette, and I am ready to comply.
When we moved here upon the home being completed, I had the dining room and family room,( all connected in an open floor plan) done in a Tuscan gold Plaster look.
Last year we replaced it with a nice calm cream . Bright! Light!

It's a slow process, we have so much going on right ow. I am ok with the pace. The boys young men are at a crucial time and place in their lives.Finishing up a degree, starting a new life. Important life changing times!! Whew redoing decor is not on the top of the list. It's a catch up when we can sort of thing.

Imagine if you will.... a stripe seat cover on this.. the wall behind it a nice either a crisp white or a deeper cream than above the chair rail.

I am not one to follow trends. I prefer to have my home reflect the taste of the people who live in it . I am just glad that tastes do change. Such a good thing that paint is an easy way to update and refresh things!

My favourite ironstone platter .. stained but I luv it!

Life... it sets it's own pace doesn't it?

So hang on to your bra straps... changes will be coming.

 Plus, soon there will be another house being featured as it becomes a home for a young family! Here's to a wonderful week .

Hugs, Gee