Saturday on the Square:) Can You Dig It? Diggin’ It Rocks!

“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”

—Thomas Watson Sr.

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This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of awesome talented friends. Theresa Johnston invited Blynda Christian and me to her charming home just north of the Square for a brainstorming meeting about the upcoming Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in October. These two ladies have so much community events planning and volunteer background, so I was honored that they invited me to join them.

Theresa lives right across the street from this adorable gift shop called DIGGIN’ IT, and is also good friends with the owner, Tracey Collins. We stopped over to check out the really cool Dia de Los Muertos gifts and home decor, along with beautiful handcrafted jewelry, paintings, and gifts. The outside is teeming with cool yard art , plants and flowers.

Stop by if you’re in McKinney. 507 N Tennessee St. 469-953-3446

http://thedigginitshop.com/

Look at this cool bad ass bandolera. Yah, the one made of metal, not me.

Cute couple. Perhaps they overdid the Keto diet thing.

So many cute gifts. I loved the real pressed flower notecards and jewelry created by local artists.

If you haven’t stopped in, I hope you have a chance to visit DIGGIN’ IT on Tennessee just north of the Square.

Thank you, Tracey Collins, for the visit and great conversation. See you soon.

Saturday on the Square:) 4th of July Parade

“If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life.”

Mike Ditka

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A fantastic perfect day for a small town parade on the Square with a couple of great girlfriends. Happy almost 4th of July, my friends!

Helene, Sherri, and yours truly.

A picture’s worth a thousand words, so a lot of pictures says volumes.

HAPPY ALMOST 4TH OF JULY!!!!🇺🇸

McKINNEY………MY KIND OF TOWN.

Friday:) Friends Around Town

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

― Jane Austen

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It was a good fun week. Wow! It’s Friday already. Where did the week go? Tuesday, Helene and I got to visit a couple of friends at Towne Creek when we dropped off supplies for the seniors to make some holiday cards. Then, we went over to Holy Family School with a trunk load of snacks and beverages for the children. Miss Sondra and the staff are always delighted to see us.

After dropping off our donations, we stopped on the Square for lunch. The Pantry has the greatest chicken friend chicken and fried okra.

We walked around the square for a little while, and stopped over at LAST Gallery, then around the corner to see Kim Guthrie at her studio. She creates the cutest funkiest artwork. And a visit to the Square would not be complete without posing in front of Andrea Holmes’ awesome mural on the side of Fair and Square Imports.

I’ve got the greatest artistic friends. I’ve been catching up with old friends via telephone all week too. (Well, they aren’t that old. Oh yah! They are my age, so they’re old.) Yesterday, my neighbor Allison called, asking if I was home. She had a gift for me. She knows I collect Crosses and Crucifixes. Isn’t this cool!

Well, that’s what I’ve been up to. Guess what time it is? Yep! Black Russian Friday, my friends. CHEERS!

Saturday:) Some Awesome Artists and Poets and Writers Around McKinney

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

― Leonardo da Vinci

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That Leonardo guy was pretty savvy. Poetry and painting go hand in hand. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of being invited to a special after hours Blue Moon Viewing and expressive painting soirée at The Cove in downtown McKinney. My fabulous artist friend, Anne Royer , thought I’d enjoy participating in the Japanese painting and impromptu poetry gathering. Oh yah! Right up my alley. I was honored.

The Cove was featuring the artwork of Anne Royer, KD Hafley, and Wayne Batchelder. Annie and KD are fabulous artists and Wayne is an amazing potter. The exhibit was called “Under the Full Moon.”

After the show closed on Halloween evening, Miss Annie brought Japanese papers, inks, brushes, pens, tools, teas and sake for the guests to participate in creating inspirational creations and verse.

Miss Annie, doing her thing with gold ink.

Lynne Hubner’s inspirations.

Here are the works that I was inspired to create. The other artists shared their creations and poetry, and we all wandered out from time to time to see the glorious Blue Moon masterpiece that lingered in the eerie evening sky. A beautiful artistic evening in downtown McKinney.

Look at that moon. That was SO cool. There even appeared to be a blue streak whispering through the clouds that night.

Wednesday:) Well, What’s Been Happenin’ On The Square?

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

― W.B. Yeats

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Magic and beauty and amazing adventures are happening all around us, right before our own eyes, in our own home town. All we have to do is open our eyes. Voila! There it is.

Yesterday was a very awesome day. I got up early for a long walk and to walk the dog. Then, Helene and I made plans to scoot over to Holy Family School to take our donations of snacks and goodies for the little ones. Miss Sondra and the staff are always so appreciative of our little donations and our visits.

The construction for the Community Kitchen and Garden behind the school is coming along. It will be so nice for the community to have fresh home grown vegetables and meals available to them. Cool!

After our visit, we wandered over to the Square for lunch at The Pantry. Oh my goodness. I always get the chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy and fried okra. SO much food. We always have leftovers.

Of course, I needed a phot op in front of the mural painted by our friend, Andrea Holmes, on the side of Fair and Square Imports across the street.

Then, off we went to visit Kim Guthrie at her studio on Virginia. She’s always busy at work by her window. Perfect for a photo op and a visit. Her awesome whimsical style has captured the hearts of all of McKinney and beyond.

Another artistic stop at The Last Gallery on Louisiana. We were greeted by another artist friend, Leslee Ortega. Leslee has a brilliant eye for color and composition, and has also mastered the art of painting with coffee. (Yep…coffee. It’s a blast. I love it too.) The gallery has become a fantastic artist co-op that features the finest artists in North Texas. (Most of them are friends of mine, so I’m a little biased.)

It was a great busy day, and what better way to end my day than a nice walk at dusk to capture one of God’s greatest works of art. The evening sunset. (I really need to paint some of these scenes. But, I have SO many. Where do I start?)

Have a great day, my friends.

Friday:) The Fabulous Kim Guthrie Art

“There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is about.” –

~Helen Frankenthaler

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My good friend and fabulous artist, Kim Guthrie, had a one day art show at The Cove in downtown McKinney this evening. Sherri Murphy and I went down to see her wonderful work. Kim had a unique colorful and playful style that evokes smiles and joy. Her love of art is as bountiful as her talent. She is also fun and funky and silly. Here she is donning her mask with a faux $100 bill to reflect her fun philosophy of “Put your money where your mouth is.”

There were so many amazing works to see. She had a “smiley face” side theme going on for this show. There’s always a creative whimsical style in her work.

That’s Kim under the Big Bad Wolf mask. She’s so cute.

This gentleman was walking home from The Cove with an original rendering of his beautiful cottage home just down the street in the Historic District of McKinney. Sherri beeped her horn as we drove by, noticing that he was taking a selfie of himself with his new acquisition. We wanted a photo too. He was so proud. I’m sure it will find a place of honor right away.

Kim Guthrie has an adorable little studio right in the square where she can be found most days painting and visiting with friends, neighbors and visitors.

Check out her website… https://www.kimguthrieart.com/

Oh yes, HAPPY BLACK RUSSIAN FRIDAY, my friends.

Saturday on the Square and Elswhere

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”–

~Tim Cahill

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When it’s a gloomy Saturday evening, the skies just finished pouring rain, and there’s nothing on TV, it looks pretty bleak. Then, my phone rang at 5:48 pm. It was my good friend Sherri Murphy…”Whatcha doin’?” Well, knew an adventure was in my future.

Sherri said that she wanted to run down to the Square and go see Maribeth Jagger’s art show over at The Cove, and would in like to join her. Well, Maribeth is one of the most awesome local artists and instructors around McKinney. I said, “Sure!”

She said she was driving down Prosper Trail Road and would be at my house in ten minutes. I’m glad she gave me some notice. (I’ve been known to call her from her driveway.)

The Square was pretty hopping as we drove through on our way to The Cove. It was so good to see Maribeth and a few artist friends that we haven’t seen in many months. I think we were all smiling. Hard to tell under all the masks. Maribeth had a clear shield, so we could see her smile. It was great to see Steve and Minda Macias. Alex was there too, but no photo op. (Amazing ceramic and pottery artisans.)

After we visited a while, we drove back through the Square to look for the Butterflies on display. Here’s the one in front of Chestnut Square.

We probably visited for around an hour all together, but it was wonderful to go on a short adventure with Sherri Murphy.

I’m still not sure if I’m Thelma or Louise… I guess it really doesn’t matter. We do have fun. Thanks Sherri!

On The Square and Elsewhere ❤️ McKinney

“I always say that I bloom where I’m planted, but I sure have been blessed to be planted in McKinney, TX.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Blessings are to be shared, that’s for sure. It seems like the more you care and the more you share, your blessings multiply tenfold. If you’re anything like me, when you see a great sale at the grocery store, you stock up. OK! Maybe you don’t, but I do. My favorite items to stock up on are items to take over to Holy Family School, over by the Square, to share with the adorable pre-schoolers.

Helene, my partner in crime, and I stock up for a few weeks on snacks, drinks, cereals, baby supplies, or whatever we think they could use. Then, we stop by for a quick drop off about once a month. Miss Sondra and the staff are always so appreciative. Lately, with the distancing thing, we generally just ring the bell and pop the items inside the door and scurry on our way. That’s what we did yesterday.

Since we were so close to The Pantry Restaurant on Louisiana, and it was after lunch time, we stopped by to get a to-go order of their famous chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and crispy fried okra. It’s enough for two meals. (But, we each got one. Yum!)

Right across the street from The Pantry is the awesome wall mural on the side of Fair and Square Imports, painted by our amazing artist friend, Andrea Holmes, so I had to get a photo op. (I do have my mask on. Safety first.)

McKinney is a great town. Now, saving the best for last, here is just one of the amazing sunsets that blesses the end of my day. Just awesome.

Saturday:) McKinney Square and Elsewhere

“It’s been my belief that learning how to do something in your hometown is the most important thing.”

Pete Seeger

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Another lazy Saturday morning. But, then I got a text from my friend Linda Grossman…World’s Greatest Realtor. She asked what I had on my agenda for today. My reply was, “No plans.” I love those last minute impromptu invitations, especially when I have absolutely no plans for the day. She had a few errands to run on the square and suggested maybe we could have lunch. Perfect! She said she’d pick me up. She’s so sweet. She wanted to pick up her wine from Lone Star Wine Cellars and she knows I don’t drink and drive. This way, I could have a glass of wine if she drove.

When we arrived on the Square, it was already very crowded. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was enjoying the weather. On our way to lunch, we walked past Kim Guthrie’s Art Studio, so,we popped in to say hi. Kim is such an amazing and talented artist, and her studio is filled with whimsical paintings, cute pet portraits, lovely landscapes, historic McKinney buildings and so much more.

We decided to have lunch at the fairly new El Mejor Mexican restaurant. The food and service was excellent. I highly recommend it.

Our next stop was Lone Star Wine Cellars to pick up her wine. Linda belongs to their wine club, where you purchase their featured wine every couple of months, and whenever you pop in, you can have a complimentary glass of wine. It’s a cool place to hang out with friends or make new friends.

After chatting and sipping a glass of red wine, we headed over to The Martin Place at 1799 N. Graves St. Linda asked my recommendation for the best place to get photos printed or giclees made or framing art work. Mark Martin is the best around.

They still had MAST artist’s paintings and artwork on display.

The hours flew by, and it was a great Saturday on the Square and elsewhere. Mckinney is a cool place to live, and I have the coolest friends to explore it with.

Happy Saturday, my friends.

Saturday on the Square, The Cove, and Artfest

“The best place to be is any place where you are loved.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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We are very fortunate to have so many fine artists and creative people in McKinney. This evening, a few of my friends made plans to go over to Artfest at the Cotton Mill. We bumped into a bunch of old friends and made some new friends. The artwork was beautiful, and the venue at the Cotton Mill is very Artist friendly with original exposed brick and old rustic charm. Brad Donaldson had his amazing resin paintings and furniture, and Jenny’s Bay Willow hats were the highlight. We all tried on hats and posed for pictures. Andrea’s beautiful bird paintings are precious. There were dozens of other fabulous artists and friends.

After Artfest, we went over to The Cove for Wendolin’s fantastic photography exhibit appropriately entitled “Breathless.” Gorgeous underwater photography that left you breathless. So creative, so surreal. Wendolin has a wonderful eye, capturing the essence water and movement.

Good to see my old friend Don Simmons. Another fine photographer in his own right. I love how local artists all come out to support one another.

We scooted over to the busy square for dinner and ended up at Spoon’s Garage. Who was sitting outside with some friends but my old “young” friend Oscar. I hadn’t seen him in over a year. Such a fine young man.

We had dinner and drinks at The Garage, amidst the hustle bustle and noise of the square.

All in all, another spectacular Saturday with good friends, enjoying fine art, fine food and friendship.