My daughter introduced my granddaughter to life outside of a song or a book.
My wee one knows that a cow says “moo.” So …
Now, she’s met a cow.
He stays silent. He doesn’t moo.
What’s wrong with these grownups? Do they just make crap up so we can repeat what they say?
<shrug> If you lead a horse to water, you can’t make him thirsty. 🙂
… this tree could speak. Yes, this is ONE tree, not a cluster. I imagine it to be between 300 and 500 years old. If it could talk, it would tell me about my great-great grandparents who immigrated to America from Germany in the 1840’s. It would tell me how it watched as my grandfather, and later, my mother, took their first steps. It would fill this mind with my more of my family’s personal stories.
Finally made it out to the Texas Hill Country for a two day stay at our family homestead. Home, on the range.
I received the printed children’s book I wrote from Mixbook and I’m so happy with it. Mixbook.com does a great job with the printing and they make it easy to create. And, I have a blast finding the art work. Best thing? My granddaughter loves it! 🙂
Here’s the front cover and the first two pages:
The last page:
On to the next one!
Years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and training with Ann Wolfe, known as possibly the greatest female boxer of all times. She was tough, no-nonsense. Three of us had the chance to get inside the ring with her. Of course, she wasn’t going to punch us. It was all about our own offense. Needless to say, in that small ring, she was so fast, I couldn’t get even close to her.
After I was commissioned to paint her portrait, she told me that it reminded her of her mother — a wonderful compliment since she loved her deceased mother with total abandon. She told me she hung the original above her mantel.
Here is a great, short documentary on Ann Wolfe and her struggles to become a boxer. If rough language offends you, don’t watch. But if you like seeing how a woman survived the murder of her father, the death of a beloved mother and rose to the top, then watch.
In the 1840’s my great-great grandparents forged their way from Germany to Texas to escape oppression. I picture my Great-great grandfather finding this location, plunking up a handful of rich soil and saying “Das ist Gut” (this is good). It was here, in the Texas Hill Country, where they homesteaded.
My maternal grandfather bought the property – over 350 acres – from his siblings. My grandparents lived here for forty years of their marriage but sold it to a cousin when age made farm life too difficult. Then, the cousin lost it when he divorced.
Thirty years later, we got the homestead back in the family. Although we only own 4 acres, we benefit from our neighbor who owns the surrounding farmland.
It is quiet, peaceful and brings us back to our roots. It is our Heritage.
My grandfather was born in the original log cabin. My mother was born in the main house where the plaque above the door reads “1889”- the year the main house was built.
If only this 4-500 year-old oak could talk.
But the sunsets speak for themselves.
We go there when we can and, each time, our souls are renewed.
I just finished a children’s book. I haven’t written one in a while but when you watch your 14 month old granddaughter for a weekend, you get inspired (AND TIRED!)
Here are a couple of pages:
Now, to spoil the ending. 🙂
Oh, and I made this using Mixbook. Their tools are easy and fun to use.
You kicked ass as James Bond. Now, it’s time to rest.
Roger Moore died today. He was 89.
The hail
ripped through my okra,
oh what a storm,
the cucumbers, too
but the onions survived
and so did the corn!
I painted this from a photo I took while in the meat-packing district in New York City. It was an Abercrombie and Fitch ad. So, I aptly call this painting, “Meat Packing”.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 