Happy Mother's Day '09

Ryker & Marina went out to the store early this a.m. to buy me fresh flowers and bring home donuts for breakfast. Jordan jumped in on the 'treatment' and cleaned up the dinner dishes tonight. It was a great day!
We had sunshine and warmth today, but after dinner the rain started up. Tooks some shots of the back patio anyway... it's really starting to come together.

Our "evergreen" climatis that we planeted last year took off and was amazing - until this winter's freezing temps killed it. We just planted a new wisteria on this post of the pergola, and are eager to see it climb and take off!

Laureene May Harvey

This is our "GG", my Grandma Harvey, in the 40's. I love this photo! My Uncle Jack put together a huge batch of photos of her through the years and not only played the CD during her memorial service last weekend in Vegas, but also made copies for our families - her decendants. Very cool!

This is my Grandpa & Grandma in the 50's. I bet she made that dress by hand!
3 Generations...

Grandma (Laureene), Mom (Carol) plus Darlene & me.

This was in 2001 at our Grandpa's memorial service in Carlsbad, CA.

Our whole family flew down last weekend for the memorial service and some good family time.

This is Ryker & Marina in the plane.

Marina enjoying Granma's pool.

A group of us toasting to "GG" with a glass of Scotch... her beverage of choice.

Kendyll, Delaney, Ryker, Jordan & Marina

playing a family favorite - Banagrams!

(missing: Madison - she came for less than a day - was a "star" in her H.S. play and had to join us late.)

Overall, it was a great weekend, we miss Grandma deeply, but we know she looked down on us and our family time together and enjoyed every minute of it!

We love you, Grandma!

(Happy Mother's Day!)

Davidstein

This is the pack of hardward that was removed from David's spine yesterday. Note the dime as reference for the size. We were shocked that all that was in his back this past year - no wonder it was aggravating him!

David - no longer "Davidstein" - is recuperating... he has a lot of pain, but the bleeding seems to have stopped (yuck!) and he has to rest for at least a week, then also no twisting or high impact activity for 3 months. Let's all hope 3rd time is a charm, and this will be his last back surgery (yes, 3 May surgeries in a row since '07).

Molezilla?

At work one day, I found an advertisement postcard stuck on the front door, grabbed it to toss, and upon the first glance I said to myself, "gosh, that person looks like Gina!.... she even has shoes like those..." I flipped over the card and ....
OMG! It IS GINA! (aka Susan)
While reading the text blocks, I quickly picked up the phone to call her and ask about her 'new business'

HA HA HA!
It was the "April Fools" joke played on her by her friend Rachel. Gina actually DID help Rachel get rid of a mole a while back. Sneaky Rachel took some photos. Waiting for the perfect time to utilize the photos, she tweaked a few thing (the ad on the van in background) and in my opinion, wrote really terrific copy and created an INCREDIBLE prank.
I wonder how many calls "Sue" has gotten for her services?

The License...

Today after Ryker's swim practice, we got to go back to the D.O.L. to get his driver's license officially processed. He'd already passed the tests, but he had to wait till his b-day, and yesterday on that day, they were closed.
Looking good behind the wheel. This is the 2002 Honda Accord we bought as the 3rd "family car"... not a gift to Ryker, but for now - he has the priveledge of driving it.

Bye Mom!

oh man... this is harder than I expected. Trying not to think about it.

"Carol" Painting

In Feb. '09, I finished this painting for my mom, Carol.

Also included are initials for her two daughters, Darlene & Tina plus her 6 grandkids: Kendyll, Ryker, Madison, Marina, Jordan & Delaney.

This was done on an art panel which she plans to frame.

16x20 - acyrlic

Boswell Painting

30x40

The latest installment of my series of "typography/initials" paintings.

This is for my friend Marcia's family. It's Marcia, her hubby Jay, son Tyler and daughter Kristina. Last name: Boswell. Oh! we put an "m" and an "s" in there too for their dogs.

I was pleased with the introduction of the stamped initials on both the background of the painting, but also wrapped around the sides in gold. There are a lot of metallic paints in this one, and also a Micaceous Iron Oxide on a couple of the bold letters. I like testing new paints!