EASTER WEEKEND

Last weekend we decided to take a break from our packing since our builder told us that we will probably have another 2-3 week wait for the building permits to be issued. We headed off for the coast where two of our boys live and had a great time catching up with them and our grandchildren.

Although the weather was foggy and drizzling part of the weekend, there was enough sunlight to enjoy the perfusion of wildflowers everywhere. I took a zillion pictures and have lots of ideas for paintings. The bluebonnets are especially gorgeous this year. I also saw the newly developed Aggie "Bluebonnet" which is maroon. You can see a few peeking out of the bluebonnet picture on the right below.

We went out for Mexican Food with Son #1 and his family. His children are growing up way too fast. We enjoyed our food and the Mariachi band that played while we were eating.

On Easter Sunday we joined Son #4 and his family at our daughter-in-law's family gathering and enjoyed watching Miss Ella Bella and Mr. Colt run around and play. Miss Ella Bella is really into posing for pictures.

And in a nearby town I found another PAT'S PLACE (bookstore), but it had recently closed.

It was a wonderful weekend away, and we came back to our half empty house all refreshed and ready to do more packing and preparing to leave our home whenever it is time.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that I decided to begin taking oil painting classes last January. I had painted years ago--before I got married and for a while after I married, but then gave it up for other endeavors, like raising four boys. The oil paints and brushes had been stored in the garage for those many years, but most of the supplies were still usable. Amazing!

This past week I finished another painting. It was one I began when my brother sent me a picture of the snow on a mountain near his home. The photograph of the picture does not do it justice.

My next painting is a single bluebonnet. It seems like it will be a lot of work with all those little flowers on that stalk and all those leaves. I have the background in now, but still need to work in more background and begin the leaves and flowers. I will take a photo of it when I finish it. Otherwise, I am considering beginning a landscape with a path leading into some trees and I am having lots of fun dreaming of all the pictures that I am going to produce!

Thankful Thursday

Back in January I said that I was going to begin oil painting classes and wanted to paint two pictures. I am thankful to say that I finished the first one yesterday and am very proud of it. I have been working on the mountain picture and do not have it the way I would like to have it yet, but will continue working on it in the next couple of lessons.

Next, I want to paint a bluebonnet picture, so I have pulled out several bluebonnet pictures and want to find one of a single bluebonnet that I can paint in a small painting.

Here is a picture of my finished painting--not framed yet, but I am thankful that it is finished and that I am pleased with it!