Well Christmas is over and New years is on it's way. Back to work today and I am sure the bakery will be very busy. I find people very demanding at this time of year. I have finished a painting yesterday for a co-workers Mom. It turned out amazing, or at least I think so.  :)
    I hope the new year brings me some extra time to paint. I am doing a small spring showing and hopefully will be able to sell some of my paintings. It is my dream to be able to sell my paintings and have people outside my little art world enjoy them as much as I do! :)
    I wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May all your Dreams and wishes come yrue.

Boy, Christmas is coming very soon and I still have lots to do! I am lucky this year as I don't have to do any cooking! Christmas Eve Supper and My son's, Christmas Day supper at our friends. Ahhhh, this is the good life. Boxing Day is going to be my " Darlene" day and I will be finishing a couple of paintings. I can't wait.
At this time I would like to wish my family, my friends and all of you a very Merry Christmas. May there be Peace on Earth and Joy for everyone.

I sit here thinking about all the wonderful things that have been my life so far. I have two wonderful Son's who always bring a smile to my face. Oh, they love to tease me and cause me grief in a fun way but always manage to make me happy somehow.
    I think of my 6 grandchildren that are so very precious in my life and are all so unique in their own way. They are the light of my life and they don't realize this yet but they have my soul.
    I am the fortunate " Mother -In - Law" who has two of the most amazing Daughters - In - Law a woman could ever ask for! They are fantastic Mothers, who work very hard to see that my most precious little people are well cared for and loved. They have already put a lifetime of love and support into holding their family before themselves.
    Last but not least my Husband. Here is a man who is so supporting in anything I want to do. Works so very hard to " Pay" for my obsession in painting and has been very instrumental in getting me up and running so I can make a living doing this thing I love so much!  Thank-you honey for always being so encouraging and wanting me to succeed.
    Please look forward to seeing many new paintings on this web site in the New Year. I hope some of them will interest the readers of my blog. :)

Christmas is coming fast and the hustle and bustle of people trying to get ready for the big day is almost annoying. I feel many of us have forgotten that it is what is in our hearts not in our pocket book that is what real Christmas is about. People get agitated and crabby, and some just downright mean at this time of year.
    Every year I wish for my family to all be together at Christmas but in reality it usually never happens. Christmas is not as special to me as it once was. Once your children are all grown up and gone, the excitement goes with it. Having Grandchildren brings it back to some degree but I find around my own home it has lost the fun filled joy it used to have. I ask myself, am I turning into a Scrooge? My answer is no, however I have lost the magic Christmas used to bring.
    I still love to watch my Grandchildren open their gifts and see the excitement on their faces. I still enjoy the wonderful meal we have each year, and I am always thankful for everything we have. I am proud of my family and love to spend time with them when I can.

I must tell you that last weekend we had our Christmas party for the store I work for. It was a great time and there were awards and prizes given out. As I sat there listening to our Manager give out the first Annual " Bob Nelles" award I couldn't wait to see who had won it. I know who I had voted for and thought for sure she was going to receive it. I must explain first that this award was because of a wonderful man who had worked with all of us and lived his life trying to make others smile and was all about giving the best customer service. Bob went on a holiday to Mexico( the first time he had taken his wife anywhere in 30 years), Bob suddenly passed away in Mexico which shocked everyone. So our Manager decided to have an annual award given out to the person who went above and beyond for our customers.
    So as I sat there waiting for my co-workers name to be called our Manager gave the most wonderful speech, telling of this persons achievements and why they had won this wonderful award. He called her name and I felt such a shock go through me. He had called MY name! Yes, me! When I walked up there to receive this award, I felt like I was at the academy awards!
    This award was not only for great customer service but for also caring about my coworkers. I felt such pride to be honored in such a way, and to have been voted for by my piers! I was humbled to my very core. Giving freely of ones self and trying to make everyone's day a bit better is exactly who I am.
    I truly discovered on this day, I like the person I have become. Thank-you to the people I work with, you all know who you are.

Today is the first day of many days. I am ready to meet this day with the fact that I need this job so I can  enjoy my passion, I want to thank a very important person who came into my life at a time when I needed to step forward and just do what I love to do! Her name is Samantha DaSilva and is one of the most generous, caring people I have had the pleasure to meet. Her artwork is amazing!

How exciting! My very first blog. here is where I can tell you about my day and also share with you my love of painting and how I came to be! Art is the life that lives within me and has been since I was very little. Being artistic has run in my family and has carried on to my son's. Creativity is not only shown in art. creativity can also be in many other venues.