My beautiful daughter

I was going through some old papers today, and came across a poem Lindsey wrote. I think it was from middle school, so around 10 years ago but it is so beautiful, and so reflects her, I wanted to post it and share. She is such a wonderful human being. I am very proud.

I Am…

I am a flower child who loves dolphins.
I wonder why there is so much hate in the world.
I hear a pounding sound when all is quiet.
I see a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
I want a chance to swim with dolphins.
I am a flower child who loves dolphins.
I pretend to be a famous dancer on a giant stage.
I feel tempted by peer pressure.
I touch the air, the stars, the moon, and the peace that is deep down in everyone’s soul.
I worry about the ozone layer.
I cry for my grandma Rita in heaven.
I am a flower child who loves dolphins.
I understand life is not easy.
I say love rules over evil always.
I dream of the day when homeless people are off the streets.
I hope to make a difference.
I am a flower child who loves dolphins.
- Lindsey Molineaux

This is us a couple of years ago.

Be well... Tj.

Time flys!

Just an update. Shoot I am really failing at blogging, I can't believe it's been over a week again.



I went to two Swell Sister meetings last week, very exciting stuff happening. We have an art show scheduled for December for Second Saturday. Second Saturday is a regular art event here in Sacramento. For more info go to http://www.2nd-sat.com/ This will be my very first art show, I am so jazzed about it. We are meeting to plan the evening, writing our bios, getting press releases together, planning the reception, and oh yeah thinking about what to paint… well I am thinking about painting cause that is what I do. Other sisters have other art that they will show. It is all exciting. Our show will be at the Coffee Garden http://www.thecoffeegardenonline.com/ a local coffee house. It's a little off the beaten path for Second Saturday, but there is another gallery next to it and they have been doing a Second Saturday event for a while so we have high hopes! Our theme for the show is 'Gather the Women'. I am still contemplating what my subject might be!!


I am also involved in the current Swell Sisters Indi project. There are 9 of us, (I think 9 maybe 10), each of us started a painting or piece of art. Then we passed off what we did to another sister to work on. I am posting both my piece I started and the piece I worked on second. But remember these are both UNFINISHED works in progress! The piece with the drummer, there was only the background when I got it to work on. But in that background I saw him! Whala!! He has a creepy unfinished face, his lips are not right, and underdeveloped hands, I had to force myself to stop working on him cause he bugs me unfinished and he's just staring at me through those dark glasses! Smirking at me... but I get to pass him off Friday so I'll be ok! :) The girl, I started her, put her down and then worked on her again because I found out I had longer that I thought. First it was just the background and her, no head or arms. Then I added the mirror, with the reflection with a head and messy hair and the light. I see it as a self image kind of thing. It will be interesting to see what the other sisters do with it!


Oh and more painting at home. We are now working on Lindsey's old room, our soon to be new office. Her room was dark blue ceilings, bright green walls and had hot pink trim. We decided to just paint the trim, we could live with the blue and green. So I bought a gallon of paint, well last week Joe accidentally dropped the paint can. Yep. Paint all over the carpet. Yikes!! But we worked quickly, scooped up what paint we could, shop vac'd out the excess we couldn't scoop up then I steam cleaned over and over and over again. Really the paint doesn't even show on the carpet, so that was good. BUT… now that we are almost done, guess what, we have about a half of a quart too little paint. Just about what we lost. So I guess it's off to Lowes again we go! Once it's painted we can move the office, then next, MY ART STUDIO!!!!!!

And last a Chester update. He made it through the surgery great! He had to wear a cone on his head for 2 weeks, until the staples were out. That cone was a pain, he kept just plowing through things, running into walls, I thought he was going to break his neck and he almost knocked me down more than once. But it's all good now and he's back to his sweet loving self!!! That's all for now, be well! Tj.

Happy Monday... back to work!

Ok, I have been neglectant. I've been back from vacation for over a week and still haven't written about it. Time gets filled up so quickly. Ok, Vacation… we rented a house in La Selva Beach, which is about 10 miles south of Santa Cruz. The house had a wonderful ocean view, and a partial beach view (there was a parking lot for the beach that blocked some of the view). Sitting on the deck you could watch surfers and dolphins in the waves. See the kids at day camp for Junior Lifeguards running and doing their exercises. The beach was wonderful and went on and on… The house had a rail road that went right by it, that added an element that was fun! The train went by twice a day, just during the week and the conductors were very friendly they would always wave as they went by!! We had a kind of revolving group. Saturday and Sunday it was me, Lindsey, Nick, my brother Tim and his kids Thaddeus and Heather. Nick went home Sunday night, Joe arrived on Monday. Heather had to leave on Wednesday, her mom came to pick her up, then Thursday Lindsey's friend Ashley came and spent the night with us. Like I said a revolving group!
I did a lot of painting, here is my Whale's tail and Beach fairy. My nephew likes to paint with me, and both Lindsey and Heather did some painting too! The beach fairy was inspired by Thaddeus. He found shells on the beach, and said to me Aunt Terry lets put the shells in the painting. This shell looked like wings to me! And I used real sand. Thaddeus painted a crab and used overturned shells for the eyes. He is very talented!

We played some games, mostly spades. We went to the movies. We saw the new Batman movie, it was good. Lindsey, Ashley and I went to see Mama Mia! It was really fun!! We went into Santa Cruz and did some exploring and also went to Capitola. I had never been to Capitola before. What an interesting little beach town! The kitchen in the house we rented was wonderful! New stainless appliances and granite counters. We ate well while there, I just loved that kitchen! Oh and we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and it was my very first time there! Wow! That is quite a place. My favorite parts were the sardines, and the jellyfish! And, well it was quite a place! Vacation was way too short of course. The weather was perfect the whole time. The only downer, I got sick while there. Still have the cough hanging on… just a little part of vacation that is staying around. All in all it was a great vacation, good family time. Looking forward to the next one! Be well, Tj.

Blue Ribbon... huh?

Hello all! Well we are back from vacation. It was a wonderful spot to spend a week. The weather was perfect, highs in the 70's, lows in well I don't know but it was never too cold. The sun was out most of the time, except for several mornings. So we get home and in the mail I have a blue ribbon! I painted a flag for my friend Patti last year, her husband is in the military and she love all things patriotic. Well she entered it into the county fair where she lives and I got first place! WOW! I've never won any ribbons... ever. I didn't even know she was entering me. It was a really fun surprise! My love to you Patti, Thank you again!!

What a kick!!

Ok, well I have lots to share about vacation. Got lots of painting done, but I'll get back to that as soon as I can. Have many updates but we're going to eat dinner now. Be well... Tj.

Chester

Well it's been quite a week. We had to take Chester, our big dog (Bosco is our little dog), to the vet on Wednesday, he stopped eating and was throwing up a bit. Not like him not to eat so I knew something was up. He ate fine on Monday, Tuesday no, Wednesday morning not interested. So off we went. Well the doctor poked around him abdomen, was not sure what was up. Wanted to do some xrays. Well they didn't come up with anything conclusive. She suggested leaving him, they would put him on fluids and do a whole panel on him. So we left him there overnight. Tests came back, again nothing conclusive. Lindsey and I went to visit him after I got off work on Thursday, he wasn't in the room for 20 seconds and he threw up all over the floor. I felt so bad, he looked so sad. They took him back again, and the doctor came out, suggested an ultrasound. She was going to try to get the radiologist there Thursday night, but she wasn't sure that could happen. Absolutely would happen on Friday. I was pretty upset, Chester was just miserable and I didn't want him to suffer, what to do. I was worried. Friday morning at 10, the ultrasound was done. They discovered that he did indeed have a blocked intestine. They thought it may be that from the beginning. Emergency surgery was done. They pulled a wadded up piece of rope out of his intestines, dumb dog, she said it was just in time as it could have burst. Chester came through the surgery really well. Last night he was resting, they are going to try to feed him again today. Poor baby hasn't eaten since last Monday. I hope he eats. Bosco will be happy to see him, he has really missed him!

So while all of this was going on, in the back of my mind I'm concerned about our vacation plans. My brother Tim and his kids, Thaddeus and Heather. Lindsey, Nick and I are leaving this morning for La Selva Beach. So do I go, do I not it all depended on what happens with Chester. Well, I decided to still go, even up to last night I was thinking I would stay home till Chester was home. But Joe will be here till Monday. That was the plan all along, he has gigs this weekend he didn't want to miss. Chester will be in the hospital till tomorrow. Joe may stay home till Tuesday we will see. Nick is only staying at the beach over night so he'll be back tomorrow. And he will be home and taking care of all of our animals. Including now, being Chester's nurse. And if needed we will be only a 2 hour drive away. I can always come home... but I think it will all be ok. Nick will take good care of our poor Chester.

Anyway, we will have Lindsey's laptop with us. So, I may post while I"m gone but I may not! I'm going to sit, stare at the ocean, paint, practice my uke, and spend some time with the fam! Be well... Tj.

One of those days...

That you are taught lessons. It started this morning. I drove to work, which granted I shouldn't be doing because I could walk in about 8 minutes, or ride my bike in about 2, but it's summer and I get lazy when it's hot. So I drove. I made a discovery about a year ago, I can park at the meters across the street from my office, park all day and not pay because I have the correct parking permit. I do live in the neighborhood. So, this morning I drove the 5 blocks… then I drove for about 20 minutes looking for a spot to leave my car… oh that is good for the enviroment huh! During the I5 fix project they have about 20 or more parking spots closed, I guess so people can use that as a turning lane I'm not sure. But it certainly does make parking hard. So I think I'll drag my bicycle out for tomorrow, my lesson for today. My daughter Lindsey called me to tell me she had been in a fender bender. Her fault. She was rushing to get to a dental appointment. Her car has much more damage that the car she hit. The other car has a good size scratch on the right rear bumper, Lindsey's car has a good size crunch on the front left fender. But, no one was hurt. Accidents happen. Be more careful when driving and not rush, her lesson for today. Lindsey feels really bad, I remindered her to be thankful it wasn't worse. Keep it on the brighter side!!

Good, ... no, Great things are happening today too!! I am getting a new Ukulele!! My husband is buying me a very early birthday present! The uke I have been learning on is a basic beginners uke. We bought it while on vacation in Cannon Beach. Was very inexpensive and it sounds ok. But the store where my husband Joe works just got a new shipment of Kala Ukuleles. I tried this one out yesterday when I went for my lesson and I loved it!! It's shiny black with pearl (I think plastic pearl) accents. It has a pickup in it so it can be plugged in to a small amplifier, which we already have! (I can go rock out on my uke now!!) And it sounded so nice! I could really hear the difference in the quality of the instrument. I can't wait to get home and try it out!! The other great thing is tonight. We are having the first Swell Sister career artist meeting! I am looking forward to it. Some of the Swell Sisters already sell their art and will be great mentors. I have much to learn.
Well I thought I'd post one of my photos instead of a painting. Photography was a passion long before I had the drive to paint. This is one of my favorites, it is my hubby joe playing. The red stage light really caught him!
Ok well I think that's all for now… Be well. Terry

Windows are done!

Ok not totally but they are in! Yahoo and again thanks to my brother Tim!! We have to finish them, add molding around the inside but other than that they are in. So the downstairs is so close to being done now and I am keeping my eye on the prize, well my prize anyway! My art studio!! I can not wait to have a space of my own to spread out and paint, or write, or sew, or what ever my heart wants to do at the time!!

I am posting more photos of my art today, these are called Santa's vacation, acrylics, I used it to make my Christmas cards 2 years ago. Santa is on the beach in Cannon Beach Oregon, in front of Haystack rock.

And The blue dragonfly, oils, it was a gift to a friend. Hope you are having a great Sunday! Be well.

raccoons!

I haven't been so good about keeping up my blog, hopefully that will improve! I've been so busy at night, still remodling and going to Lowes so often I think it is my home away from home. Now at work I'm on a new project and in meetings all day long. So, no time at my computer at all. Someday again, I'll get more time! So, raccoons. I live downtown Sacramento who would think we would have raccoons but... last night around 10pm I heard this weird rustling sound on my back porch. The dogs were in the house, as were the 2 inside cats I have. I went to look out the window and there were 2 raccoons!!! SURPRISE! I have one outdoor cat, he pees in the house even though he's been fixed since he was a kitten so he's banned to live outside. I usually feed him in the am on the back porch. And he usually finishes it all, but there was some left yesterday. Now understand, our back porch is on the second story and I feed him on this little table, on the second story. I know we have skunks in the neighborhood and they will come after food if left out, so I am pretty careful. I have also seen possums but rarely, and there of course are mice and rats and all the other kinds of urban critters. But raccoons? I had no idea! I know they can be pretty mean, and they are intelligent and they have thumbs so they can open things like unlocked doors!!! YIKES! I guess I'll have to be even more careful now. Lindsey and I stood at the back door, one of them stood up and looked at us through the door, no fear. Well until I pounded on the back door screen. We have a security door so it made a pretty loud noise, and the dogs came running over so they were scared off. But I'm sure now that they found a food source they'll be back looking.

Have not painted anything in what seems like months. I miss it! On vacation, (9 days and counting!) I plan to paint and paint... and then paint again! Here is a painting of one of my favorite places, Haystack Rock, in Cannon Beach Oregon. This painting I attempted to place a tree in the foreground, and the rock off in the distance. If you look closely you can see tiny people sitting on a log, (or maybe this photo is too small to see but it's supposed to be me and my nephew Thaddeus) and someone walking in the sand greeting them.


Tonight is the Swell Sisters meeting!!! I am looking forward to getting my creative juices flowing again and seeing all of my swell sisters!!

Be well. Tj.

I am grateful.

I am a fortunate person. I have a wonderful family and days filled with love. I am happy with my life, satisfied with my job, although I can’t wait to retire from it. I am happy with what I do and that I get opportunities to create. I have always had a creative outlet of some sort, usually not at my job, so I am always looking to find ways to open up, let loose, and get my artistic juices to flow! I joined a group of creative women recently, called the Swell Sister Society, hello Sisters! It is a sisterhood of women dedicated to inspire our artistic selves. We come together to support each other and explore the arts. I am so excited to see where it takes us all and extremely happy I stumbled upon it. Again, I am fortunate! To find out more about the Swell Sister Society go to http://art.meetup.com/425/

I receive an e-newsletter at work called the Navigator. It had some very interesting thoughts this week about personal growth and success. When I read it, I thought I am using SOAP, it makes much sense to me so I thought I would share! Read on...

“To find your purpose in life you have to use SOAP.

S-Success

Don't waste life chasing after things you never can obtain or possess. Know what makes you successful and pursue it with as much passion and energy as you possibly can. Success is not about job security or money--it is about fulfillment and doing what you enjoy.

O-Opportunity

Most problems in life are disguised as opportunities. For every problem you encounter there are at least four or five opportunities that come along with it. Don't be afraid to try something new--take a risk.

A-Attitude

Humans are the only creatures on earth that can choose their attitudes--be it positive or negative. Each morning as you awake, take charge of your attitude and decide to be positive. Quit being miserable and bringing others down. Change your attitude--change your life.

P-Plan

Write down what you are going to do differently, your goal, or career choice. If you don't write it down--it will probably never happen. Start now. There is a great purpose, a fantastic life waiting for you!”


So... go out and Live! The time is now, the date today, go grab it and be well!! Tj.

Moving day!

I can not believe it has been one week since I last updated my blog. Wow how time fly's! Let see, the 3rd was Tim's birthday (my brother). Tim, Thaddeus, Lindsey and I went out to dinner at Chili's and then went to a RiverCats game. It was a beautiful night. The air was fresh or at least fresher than it had been, it was only about 83 degrees. It actually got kind of cold towards the end of the game. It was a good game, even thought they lost at the end. 11 to 10. We had fun, Lindsey and I love to sing along with the songs and clap, cheer and stomp! They had a great fireworks display after the game. Then Thaddeus wanted to surprise his dad with a cake back at his house so we pretended to just want to go home. Tim and Thaddeus left and Lindsey and I went to pick up a cake at Safeway. We then went to Tim's house. Thaddeus let us in, Tim was already in bed, almost asleep. Thaddeus went in and made him get out of bed and we yelled surprise! He was. We ate cake and ice cream and it was just one minute before midnight so Tim celebrated his birthday down to the last minute!
On the 4th, my hubby Joe was playing at the Valhalla Music festival in South Lake Tahoe. We arrived in Tahoe around 4, it was so beautiful. A perfect 71 degrees and the sky was soooo blue! I haven't seen blue sky like that in a really long time. The festival was in the Tallac Historic area by Camp Richardson. In a little theater right on the lake, it was a picture perfect spot that's for sure. This gig was with the Bayou Boys, http://www.bayouband.com/ very enjoyable! We stayed overnight, in a little old motel. Very quaint, knotty pine walls. The room was clean and had a view of pine trees out the window. The only complaint I had was the bed but I am so spoiled. We have a tempurpedic bed at home, anything else is just not the same! We came home on Saturday and realized as we got closer to Sac the smoke was back. It is ugly here now again. It's supposed to be 107 today and the AQI (Air Quality Index) is in the Unhealthy range again. No sign of cooling until Friday so the bad air will just sit here. Don't go outside if possible!!! If you do, don't breath!!!!! :)
Ok so moving day? YES it is. Lindsey has friends coming to help move her furniture and the majority of her stuff downstairs today. Most of the repairs are done, the bathroom floor is nearly done we have just some tiles around the toilet and door to cut and fit. The bedroom is done except the windows which we will do as soon as they come in. The rest of the apartment needs a good cleaning, but that will get done too. Nick will be home from Vegas on Thursday, so we have to clear some of the items from the spare bedroom since he is temporally staying there. It is all moving forward… but I am very much looking forward to our vacation at the end of the month! That is going to be wonderful!!!
Here is one more of my paintings, this one is Joe's jamin'. It is oils, done in December 2006 of my husbands hands playing his 5 string bass. Be well… Tj.

Tuesday a day to relax...

Well not totally, I do have to work today, but no home repair jobs! Yippee!! Tonight my husband Joe is playing with the Bayou Boys Band at Harmony on the River. A concert series in Riverwalk park in West Sacramento, so I'm taking the night off! http://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/cityhall/departments/pcs/specialevents.cfm Last year was very fun, lots of people to watch and of course the music was excellent! Today should be nice too, the temps are not too bad and the air is so much better now! The Bayou Boys are a Cajun Zydeco band, really fun music and the band has a following of dancers! Some really cute older couples who really know Zydeco dancing. It is really fun to watch and there are several line dances too so you don't need a partner which is good for me since mine is on the stage!! I am looking forward to just having an enjoyable night and listening to my hubby do his thing! One of my favorite pastimes!
Last night I steam cleaned the carpet in Lindsey's room. That is a sweaty job, that steam cleaner really brings up the humidity! The carpet looks better, but there are a lot of paint splatters that didn't come out. Lindsey was told by her step grandma that Colgate shaving cream would take out the paint, she was on her hands and knees scrubbing spots. They did seem to come out a little… but there are a LOT of spots left to scrub. I'll let her do that if she wants. :)
I also had another Ukulele lesson last night. I am taking lessons at the Guitar Workshop where my husband teaches. http://www.guitarworkshoponline.com/index.htm I am really enjoying that time. My teacher, Doug Pauly, is really relaxed and makes it fun and doesn't yell at me when I don't practice! I really need to practice more and told myself to take 15 minutes before bed each night and just do it! We'll see if that works. But I am having so much fun playing… Last night I learned the song Sidewalks of New York! I have been learning all these old songs, Bicycle Built for Two, She'll be Coming Round the Mountain. Lots of the songs we do at song circle, which we haven't gone to in too long! More on that some other time.
I am looking forward to our vacation at the ocean at the end of the month! I thought I'd post one of my beach scenes I painted, this was done in March this year, I call it Beach Star!. Be well! Tj.

Home repair

One thing is for sure, home repair never is as easy or take as short a time estimated. Well if I am doing the estimate I guess! Bedroom windows did not get installed yesterday, I didn't know the windows we need were different than the stock windows they sell at Lowes! We had to order the windows, they will be around 14 days. Oh well... the bathroom is much closer to completion. The shower/tub surround is done! Tim did a great job. The shower is functioning, and the bathroom is painted. It's pink! This pretty pale pink, called Sugar Egg Pink. We need to install the new floor and hang the towel racks. Lindsey's room is almost done too so she'll be able to start to move in a couple of days. Whew... I'm tired.

I am adding another painting I did recently, it was for Thaddeus (my nephew) for making honor roll! He loves dragons! Ok, enough for today, be well, Tj.

Just because...

Well I already skipped a day. I told myself I wouldn't do that when I started my blog. Oh well, such is life I guess! It's Friday, yeah! Fridays are good days but I am usually pretty tired by the end of the week. Guess I'm no kid anymore! Tonight I'm painting... walls, still. Tomorrow my brother Tim comes over to replace 2 windows downstairs. Hopefully the down stairs will be ready for Lindsey to move soon!
Next week is a short work week. Friday being the 4th of July! My husband Joe is playing a gig up at Lake Tahoe and part of the pay is a room!! We get a chance to get away together, I get to hear him play, and we get to breath some air! At least I hope Tahoe isn't as smokey as it is here in the valley. I am going to bet it isn't. Air would be nice, I am growing tired of breathing this stuff. Anyway, he is playing with Ron Bombardier and the Bayou Boys Band as part of the Valhalla music series at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe. There is the Star Spangled Fourth Lights on the Lake celebration, which is supposed to be the largest synchronized fireworks display west of the Mississippi! WOW! I love the big fireworks, the safe and sane set off yourself kind, not so much. But the BIG ones I just love!
Something else we have to look forward to, we just scheduled our summer vacation! Yeah!!! The end of July we are going to spend 8 nights just south of Santa Cruz, rented a house right on the ocean. Ahhhhh. We take a vacation every year with my brother and his kids. It's been a great tradition that I hope we can continue even though the kids are all getting older! Thaddeus, my nephew, is now 10 and he is the youngest of the gang. The board walk will be fun for him and the rest of us too! Heather, my niece, is 15. They will probably both bring friends along. My daughter Lindsey has a friend who lives there and attends UC Santa Cruz so she will look forward to spending time with her! Joe and I plan to do a lot of walking on the beach, and sitting and staring at the ocean. Maybe I'll actually get time to do some painting too! Canvas' of course, not walls… :)
Ok, well I guess that's it for today… or at least now, maybe more later. I am going to paint again (walls not canvas)... Be well. Until next time… Tj.

Oh and here is another painting I did, one of my very first, almost 2 years ago. Painted for my friend Carolee. Her and her hubby moved from the Elk Grove area to just West of Santa Rosa in the wine country. This was a house warming gift. It is called "The view from Carolee's Tub" And it is too. She has awesome views!

New in my pierced girl series

Kiki is the latest pierced girl. I am having fun with these girls, each seem to take on a life of her own. Kiki has pink highlighted hair. We'll see where the next one takes me! Good night for now. Tj.

Smoke

My eyes are burning, my throat is scratchy and sore. YUCK! Anyone in the Sacramento Valley is feeling the same thing. The news this morning from Cal Fire is California has 1000 fires burning today. Now some are small, less than an acre, but some are huge and all the smoke is filling up the valley. We are like a bowl and with the heat acting as the top holding it all in! Not good. The air quailty control board tells us to stay inside as much as possible. Even healthy people are likely to show health symptoms, ug. I want to just run to the coast to breathe!! Ok well I always want to be at the coast anyway, but now even more. Someday in the not so distant future I will retire from my state job, get out of this gray cubicle, and move to the coast. I will sit by the sea and paint my days away! Ahhhh… I feel less stressed just thinking about it. All my family and friends will come and stay with me for vacations and holidays right? Be well. Tj.