Friday:) A Frosty View From My Window and Some Friends

“Friendship is a dish best served cold with a hot cup of tea.” ( I just made that up.🤦‍♀️)-Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

**********

Well, the sunshine today made the whole world glisten with sparkling tree limbs and shining streets pooled with melted snow. It was a lovely sight to see. But, I’m sure the temps in the teens tonight will make all those shiny roads turn into a skating rink. Be careful out there.

So pretty.

My neighbor Nextdoor invited me a Kathy for tea this afternoon. The streets were clear and my driveway was all melted, but Kathy across the street doesn’t get the sun in front of her house, so she had to slip and slide her way down her driveway. 🤦‍♀️

Elke, Kathy and I enjoyed a neighborly afternoon of tea and conversation. It’s nice to have friends on a frosty Friday🤗

Friday:) From Holy Family School and a Few Firemen

“Everyone is hoping to get back to normal, but I’m thinking maybe the old normal wasn’t such a good thing.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

***************************

It’s been several months since Helene and I visited our friends over at Holy Family School. We both had several bags to share with the adorable children. Helene also had a huge 18 count box of Kraft Mac and Cheese. Their favorite lunch. We knew we couldn’t see the children, but we put on our masks and drove over to take our donations, now that the school is open. It was wonderful that the school has been able to care for infants and children of first responders and medical personnel. ❤️

I also made a quick stop to visit my friends over at Fire Station 9. They still weren’t able to accept homemade brownies or cookies, but I thought they could use some Powerade for these really hot days. The young fireman that answered the door was very appreciative. I had my mask on, so I mumbled to him, “You guys are all getting so skinny. I’ll keep checking to see when you can have some brownies.”

It was nice to get back to a little of our old sharing and caring routine. It still wasn’t back to normal, just smiling behind a mask, but pretty close.

When things finally do get back to normal, I hope things are a better normal.

I hope you all have a better than normal Friday. Cheer, my friends.

Friday:) A Few Artist Friends and Some Firemen

“All I ask is of life is that I can sing and dance and share my art and writing and baking and cooking and joy with the world. That’s a lot of ands. And, that’s OK.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

**************************

Wow! A crazy busy day. The first Friday of the month is a pretty busy one. I got up and fed and walked the dog. Ran to the store.(Actually I drove, but you know what I mean.) I needed some food for the feast at Towne Creek, where I volunteer teaching art. I was bringing hot dogs, salad, chips, peach pie, snickers ice cream with a side of cool whip, and a pineapple ginger ale punch.

I was roaming the aisles when I bumped into several of my firemen friends from station 9. When I rounded the corner, I raised up both arms and said, “Station 9!” I heard a resounding rely, “Miss Toni!” I checked out their cart to see what they were making for dinner. I told them that next time I make a big batch of pasta, I’m going to bring some over.

When I got home from the store, I took the dog out again, then went for my walk, trying to squeeze in some walking time before Towne Creek at 2. I got in about 2 miles. Mr. Mike got home early, so I returned Bella (the dog), packed up my car with all the food and art supplies and scooted over to Towne Creek Senior Apartments.

I just grabbed a lot of stuff and I always just wing it as to what project we’re going g to work on. We always have fun.

Helene has been coming with me to help, and today, she really put in a full day with gluing, cutting, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up.

I decided after art group to go over to the country dance at 7pm at the senior center. I was already exhausted and my feet were killing me from standing all day and running around since 9am. But, I love music and I love to dance. So, off I went. Oh, let me see on my phone how many steps I took today. (And that’s just when my phone was in my pocket.) yikes! 16,658 steps or 7.4 miles.

Yep! A busy day, but a good one. Now, for my Friday night Black Russian. Let me go fix it now. Yep, now to put my feet up and enjoy the rest of my evening. Cheers!!! Happy Friday my friends.

Friday:) Friday Friends

“Friday friends are the best. Friends don’t let friends drink alone.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

***************************

This is going to be short and sweet. The girls are over and we are laughing and drinking and having fun. Cheers! Happy Friday

Friday Friends:) Amazing Artists and the Magnificent Murphy’s

“The energy you give off is the energy you receive. I really think that, so I’m always myself – jumping, dancing, singing around, trying to cheer everybody up.”

~Cara Delevingne

**********************

My Friday was filled with friends all day long. Friends to cry with, friends to laugh and paint with, friends to drink and smile with. I have been blessed with the most amazing friends.

My senior artist friends at Towne Creek were delighted to see all my pictures from the Empty Bowls Charity event yesterday. We started out our session with ice cream bars, pictures and laughing, then down to our painting. Our project today was mixed media on canvas. We painted skies, then cut out photos from calendars to add to the fore ground. We taped some cardboard behind to add dimension.

They did a wonderful job.

Miss Bonnie’s had three layers. Hard to tell from this picture, but it was so cool.

Miss Nelma worked on a desert scene.

Miss Kathy loved her accidental moon in the sky with layers of mountains, water and flowers.

I just did a quick demo to show them how to paint a sky and use crinkled plastic and paper towels for texture.

While I was at Towne Creek, I received a text from my friend Sherri asking if today was Black Russian Friday. Well, of course. Is the Pope Catholic? What a lovely surprise after a long busy day.

Friends don’t let friends drink alone on Friday night. A busy fun day with great friends. I am truly blessed.

Friday:) Friends, Food and Firemen

“It’s funny, the more friends you have in a room, the more room you have for friends.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

*************

An early lunch with friends was a great way to start my day, sharing good times and good food. Then, off to the store to pick up some snacks and food for my senior art group, hotdogs, potato chips, cake, Coke, and vanilla caramel swirl ice cream. More sharing of food.

My friends at Towne Creek Senior Apartments are always glad to see me. Today, we were working on glass painting. They each painted two cut glass covered trinket containers. A little project for Valentine’s Day. One to keep, and one to give away. 

  
  

Mr. Angel is a wonderful artist. He also does wood carvings, and doesn’t mind being the only man in the group. 

  
Here they are, busy at work. While we were painting, an ambulance and fire truck pulled up to take one of the residents to the hospital. These happens quite frequently at a senior housing complex. 

  
Unfortunately, a common occurrence with seniors. Thank goodness, nothing too serious.

  
Then, we painted some small glass bowls, using reverse painting. Aren’t these cute?

  
  
Sharing food and friendship, art and painting. “It’s funny, the more friends you have in a room, the more room you have for friends.”