“Sharing your art with the world isn’t always easy, but making art just for the pure joy is good for your soul.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Wow! It sure was a gorgeous Saturday to be walking around on the Square in McKinney. My good friend and fabulous artist, Sherri Murphy, was going to be at the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts today, displaying her adorable artwork. The courtyard was filled with local artists and visitors.
We sat in the shade and visited for about an hour, as folks meandered by. Look at her cute paintings. She has such fun with color and whimsical styles. I ran to my old friend Paula. We used to play tennis together, back in the day. She was, and still is an awesome tennis player, and she creates the most amazing jewelry for local sports teams, college teams and sports themes. MY TEAM JEWELRY. Check it out on Amazon. Miss Darby had some cool paintings, but also her own local honey. I had to get a jar. I love local honey called SUNKEN BOOT HONEY. Just had some in my tea. Yum!Miss Janis had some fun little paintings. Cute! On my way home, I actually remembered to stop by St. Peter’s to drop off the event bowls that my senior art friends at Towne Creek made a few weeks back. I was down there a couple of times before, and plum forgot to drop them off. 🤦♀️
And last but not least, I stopped over at Station 9 to drop off a dozen of my awesome triple lemon cupcakes. Yum!
Before and after! I dropped off more cupcakes today and picked up two empty containers from previous visits.
Funny story… one time, a few years back, I was dropping off some brownies and a brand spanking new fire fighter answered the door. I asked if he could find some previous empty containers. He wasn’t sure. He came back with the Captain and a couple containers. The Captain said, “This is Miss Toni. Make sure you save her containers. It’s in the handbook!” I laughed, but who knows? It might be in the handbook now. 🤦♀️
It’s been a great Saturday so far. Now, for a nice walk to finish up the day. I hope you had a great day, too. 🤗
“Spending time with an old friend is as precious as gold.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I got a text from my old friend Mandy Griffith yesterday saying that she was in town just for a couple of days and wondered if I was free today. Well, of course! She and her husband drove all the way from California and they were traveling cross country visiting friends and family, and I was on the list. I was honored.
We met at The Pantry in downtown McKinney. We had a nice lunch and did a little catching up on what’s been happening since last we met. A lot to talk about. After lunch, we planned on walking around the square. It was a beautiful afternoon with sunshine and perfect weather. Our first stop was Fair and Square Imports right across the street. Miss Kate was more than helpful. The store is brimming with fabulous merchandise, perfect for the unusual gift or home decor. We did a lot of walking and a lot of talking and a lot of photo ops. Another fun stop was the Collin County History Museum. We popped into The LAST Art Gallery. So many awesome artists are a part of this artist coop gallery, and I am blessed to call many of them friend.
We stopped for a coffee before Mandy had to head back to Arlington to pick up her husband. Four hours later, a little rest, sipping coffee from the Bike Shop, we still didn’t have enough time. It went by too fast. Thanks for the fun visit Mandy!
I stopped at the store on my way home to pick up last minute goodies for my art class at Towne Creek Apartments tomorrow. I made a couple other stops, but when I got home, I still felt compelled to get out for my evening walk. It was just too nice of a day not to enjoy. More steps.
A lot of steps, but Mike’s to go before I rest. Now to make massive quantities of triple lemon cupcakes for our feast for folks at Towne Creek tomorrow. I’ll be up all night, that’s for sure. I still haven’t planned the art projects yet either. 🤦♀️ Procrastination is my middle name… it should be my first. ❤️
“When I cook and bake, I love to share with friends and neighbors. You know what’s even better than than? When friends share with me.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Wow! I had a pretty busy and fun Wednesday. I started off with a beautiful morning and a wonderful breakfast. Then, off to my writing group over at the MillHouse. We had nine talented ladies today, and Melissa Cantu led us in some fun writing activities.
Afterwards, I stopped across the hall to visit Andrea Holmes, artist extraordinaire, in her studio.
She was working on this awesome painting. Her bird paintings are so beautiful, and her murals all over town are well known by all.
After that, I was on my way to my Spanish group when I got a call from our fearless leader, Ubaldo, saying he had to cancel. I’m not sure exactly why because I was driving and he was explaining in Spanish. 🤦♀️
Having a little time to kill, I stopped at the Hall Library and visited with an old friend.
This old grandpa has been sitting on this bench and reading to this little boy for many years. I decided to listen too. Then, I made a phone call to my daughter-in-law! Lindsay. Today is her birthday. I totally forgot to send a card. 🤦♀️ But, I did remember to call. Happy Birthday Lindsay.
Then, a stop to the thrift store. I’m always on the look out for the perfect unusual bowl for the next Empty Bowls Event. This year’s event is coming up in a couple of weeks. My silent auction bowl is already up to $400. Woo hoo. I didn’t find a bowl, but I did find a fee things that I really didn’t need.
The reason I was killing a little time is, my good friend Helene said that she made me a big pan of chicken enchiladas. She was going to drive way out of her way up to my house and drop them off after her appointment. I said that I could stop by and pick them up on my way home. Save her a long trip.
I forgot to take a picture of the big pan they came in. When I got home, I divided the huge pan into smaller containers to fit in my fridge. (You know my fridge! 🤦♀️ No room,) Yum, chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice and chips. You know what I’m having for dinner… for a few days.
Thank you Helene! All I ever make for you is cupcakes and brownies. I need to step it up.
“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.”
~Pam Brown (and my family agrees)
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I spent a lot of time looking at old photos on my iPad today and discovered that the majority of the 12,946 photos and 197 videos are of my beautiful granddaughters. so, I thought I’d share a few recent ones. They always make me smile and realize that being a grandmother is one of, if the the greatest blessings in the world.
Sophisticated and silly all rolled into one.Double trouble, double the fun. Pretty princesses in pink. What do ya think? Happy Tuesday! 🤗
“I am so busy doing nothing… that the idea of doing anything – which as you know, always leads to something – cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything.”
Well, it was a busy week of not doing anything but keeping busy trying not to do something. I did join an IPC- International Procrastinators Club, But, we haven’t had our first meeting. We keep putting it off. Maybe next month. We haven’t decided yet. It’s only been a year. 🤦♀️
“Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt.” ― Richard P. Feynman
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Another beautiful Sunday. Well, the skies were gloomy and grey, it was windy, and don’t even get me started about the humidity. My hair and humidity don’t cooperate. But, besides that, it was a beautiful Sunday. 🤦♀️
We had a lovely baptism this morning. Adorable Matthew Scott didn’t even make one whimper or cry the entire Mass of over an hour. Such a cutie. Welcome Matthew!
Today’s Gospel was the well know “Doubting Thomas” story…
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
My take on it… just like Thomas, often times we don’t believe things unless we see them with our own eyes. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Not one of us here on this earth right now have seen Jesus, yet many believe. As Christians, as Catholics, as people of faith, we are asked to believe in a higher power that we have never seen. Faith is just that… believing in something we cannot see.
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After Mass, Helene and I stopped for our hot chocolate and a chat. We ran into a few other after church goers and our new friend Avi.
After that, I stopped at Tom Thumb to pick up a few things. When I checked out at Miss Suzy’s lane, I asked her if when she pulled out my receipt, if she could pull a little extra register tape. They have a McD coupon on the back for a buy one get one free that Helene and I use for hot chocolate. I got four new coupons to use later. That’s four Sundays to save $3.59. It adds up, ya know!
Well, I heard some thunder out there. I have a feeling the storm is on the way. Happy Sunday, my friends.
“We are all the same and we are all different. What great friends we will be.” ― Kelly Moran
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I was scrolling through Facebook this afternoon and ran across a post from a friend, well, an unlikely friend. We met on a train ride from Elgin to Chicago quite a few years ago. We sat together on the train, talked and exchanged numbers and became Facebook friends. We only met once, talked for less than an hour, but we keep in touch via Facebook. She posted this cute video on unlikely friends, and it made me smile. You never know when you’ll make a new friend.While I was watching the video, I ran across some other videos on unlikely friends. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole world could get along like these unlikely friends? We are all different, but all God’s creatures, great and small. ❤️❤️
“The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by.” Alek Wek
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I drove over to church today to go to Adoration in the chapel and maybe sketch a little. I saw a lot of cars in the parking lot, so I figured maybe there was a funeral, so I stayed in the chapel and started to sketch the crucifix. I didn’t get very far because I had a tap on my shoulder. Helene, Linda and June were there. I totally forgot that they were going to the big Game Day Charity Event At St. Gabriel.
This crucifix is in the chapel. It used to be in the old church before we finished building the new magnificent church.As you can see, I didn’t get very far. But, this gives you an idea how crude and totally disproportionate my original sketches are.
I went and joined the ladies in the main sanctuary , where Helene was giving them a little tour. They were most impressed. I also showed them my finished sketches of the stained glass windows and statues. Again, they were impressed. After we talked, they left and I went to light my candle and put money in the poor box, as is my custom.
As I was leaving, this group of Ladies were walking around the sanctuary, admiring the stained glassy statues, and awesome architecture. I stopped to chat with them, and found that they were visiting from Waxahachie. They came for the Game Day event and they were all parishioners of St. Joseph’s.
So, I took the opportunity to show off and showed them my sketchbook. I just so happened to have a few color photos of one of my Artisto app renderings, and I gave them each one. They were delighted, as was I. A nice afternoon at church.
Now, for a few fond memories that popped up on my Facebook page today.
One of my many favorites. 5 years ago today. The newest tiny Norte Dame fan.Three years ago today. Me and some of my special “Peeps.”
“There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” – Winston Churchill
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When I go for my evening walks, I enjoy listening to the birds, watching the sun sets, and appreciating the view. For the longest time, the horses across the way on Wilmeth have not been around. I was afraid the owner had sold them off and was going to sell his property that is now being surrounded my new housing developments. But alas, this beautiful horse was outside grazing in the pasture just waiting to make me smile.
We had a nice conversation. (I speak fluent horse, cardinal, cat, butterfly, and dog. Just sayin’)
Even last Sunday, he was out when I was walking and FaceTiming with the granddaughters. They got to see him too. Isn’t he cute! I took a little video.
Precious days like this are such a blessing. Beauty is all around us, we just need to open our eyes. Feeling blessed.
Toni Andrukaitis 