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

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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:) From Sunrise to Sunset

“At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear.”

― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

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My Friday, from sunrise till sunset.

The alarm sounded at 7 am. Get dressed, feed the dog, take her for a walk, pick up the girls for 8:30 kickboxing class at the YMCA. Yikes! That’s gonna hurt tomorrow. Home, walk the dog again. Get art supplies, bowls, food, snacks, drinks, etc. ready for Towne Creek art class. Make calls to family, and feed dog and walk her again.

I ordered a new phone from the AT&T store Tuesday, and they said it would be in today, at the latest. I called their number five different times. After several dial 1 for this and 2 for thats, no one answered the phone. IT’S A PHONE STORE, FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!! I tried checking the status on my iPad, but the internet kept churning and churning and wouldn’t go through. I have AT&T internet, of course.

So, I dropped into the store on my way to my art class. I asked if my phone had arrived. They said they didn’t know, did I check the status on-line? Ooh! He shouldn’t of said that. I told him my internet is horrible and no one answered the phone after five different calls. He said maybe later today, but they would call me. Yah, right!

Then, off to Towne Creek. We worked on painting bowls for the Empty Bowls charity event coming up soon. We had a lot of fun painting and creating.

While the paint dried, we had our little feast. I brought sparking apple juice so we could make a toast to Mom.

Back home by 7, and yep, walk the dog. My friend Linda picked me up and we went off to the square to have grilled cheese and fries at Dempsey’s. Now, I just to to post this, put my feet up and have my Friday Black Russian.

Happy Friday, y’all!

FridayFriends

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. ” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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My talents are many, my virtues abundant. Modesty isn’t one of them. Just kidding. But, I do like sharing my talents and time with my senior artist friends at Towne Creek Apartments the first Friday of the month. I also enjoy sharing our adventures and projects with you.

Today, we worked on decorating ornaments. We used permanent markers, then outlined with white glue, and sprinkled with ultra fine opalescent glitter.

While the glue and glitter dried, we had our little feast. Miss Nelma starts us off with a prayer of thanks. Today, I made a huge pot of soup, enough so each could have a container for tomorrow. Then, I fixed hot dogs, and let’s not forget dessert. I made Miss Bonnie’s favorite Hawaiian salad with plenty of coconut. she loves coconut. I brought mini chocolate cherry cupcakes, and we washed it down with Dr. Pepper.

Nelma, Kathy, Bonnie and yours truly. 

Now, for the happy faces and their final projects. They really do look forward to our monthly meetings and projects and friendship. 

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. ” 

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Yep!

Friday Friends:) The Greatest Therapy

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. ”

~Hubert H. Humphrey

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Everybody loves Friday. The weekend is just a heartbeat away. Something to look forward to. 

I started out my day as I always do, a phone call to Mom, got dressed, got moving. I actually ate a little breakfast before my walk. The last time I went for a morning walk on an empty stomach, I felt a little queasy. I was working up a sweat and pumping my arms, but then I passed Mr. Larry’s garage. Of course, I had to sit and chat with Miss Sandy and pet big ol’ wolf, their German shepherd. I was offered a beer, as usual, but it wasn’t even noon, so I had to  pass.

I continued my walk and ran into Miss Desra, our mail lady. She always waves or honks, and when I catch her close to the house, I put a cold drink and a treat in my mailbox. Today, I caught her delivering a package down the street, and stopped to give her a hug. We all need hugs and a little appreciation. Oh, and a selfie.

I scooted home to get ready for my senior art group at Towne Creek. I wanted to dip some strawberries and make my Mexican mac and cheese for our little dinner feast.

I packed up and got there by 2:30. 

I decided our project for today would be painting a small canvas with an abstract background, then pick a word or a name or a shape, and outline with glue and sprinkle with glitter. While the paint dried, we worked on some coloring pages.

The projects turned out really cool. We had our feast, cleaned up our mess, then sat at chatted a while. Before I knew it, it was 6:30.

Since I was so close to the square, I stopped over at The Cove to visit with the artists featured this week at the gallery. But, I’m going to save that for tomorrow. Great friends, great artists.

I have the greatest friends!

Friday:) Friends Who Paint Together

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” ― Pablo Picasso

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I go to Towne Creek the first Friday of the month, but because I was at Crescent Moon Lodge last week, I went over there today. This morning,m I walked two miles, went to the store to pick up snacks, cake, ice cream, and root beer, made a dozen little sandwiches, packed up painting supplies for our class, then raced off to volunteer for my painting class. 

I brought all the supplies to paint vases today. I did a quick demo on varagating color from blue to pale blue to white. When I looked at the color, I thought…hmmm…it looks like the sky and the sea, so I decided to make a landscape. I painted in a few clouds and trees, and voila!

We had a young high school student visiting us today. Alex has been visiting and volunteering all summer, painting cute scenes in the laundry room, and a big logo at the entrance. I later found out that she helped clean up and organize the crazy crammed art closet after a leak and flood burst through the closet ceiling. It was very clean. Wow!

Miss Nelma and Alex.

Miss Kathy. Her vase kinda looked like her blouse.
While our vases were drying, we had our feast of ham sandwiches, Fritos, root beer floats, then chocolate cake and ice cream.

It’s a tough life…the artist life. But we manage.

Friday Friends

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis

I went to join my senior art friends at Towne Creek today. We had hot dogs, bean/corn salsa and chips, and pleasant conversation. Then we painted. Everyone does their own thing, working on different projects. Miss Nelma and I worked in tandem on an acrylic painting. We painted a blue sky with silver streaks with a watercolor wash technique. I painted some leaves while she watched. I handed her the brush, then she painted. Step by step, she followed my lead.

There is always a great feeling of satisfaction when our student’s work is even better than the teacher’s. Great job, Miss Nelma. Your’s looks so much better than mine.

Miss Nelma’s

My painting.

Did I mention it was hot out today? That was when I got in my car, it cooled off to a chilly 104 after a few minutes.

Tribute Tuesday: Seniors Honor Local McKinney Firefighters with Appreciation Lunch

Today, I had the privilege of joining my senior friends at Towne Creek Apartments in honoring local firefighters with an appreciation lunch. This charming group of residents chipped in for food and supplies, cooked, baked, and decorated their activity room in preparation for the arrival of local McKinney firefighters and EMT personnel. They wanted to show their gratitude to the men and women in blue who always respond to their emergency calls so quickly and with such kindness.

The room was buzzing with anticipation as the ladies warmed the food and cut cakes and pies. Everything was prepared by noon, the invitation being for 12 to 2pm. When the first red vehicle pulled up at 12:20, hearts were racing. When the firemen shyly entered the room, they were greeted with applause and cheers.

A few minutes later, a fire truck and ambulance full of first responders from Station #1 entered to another warm welcome and round of applause. The residents at Towne Creek were delighted to be able to show their appreciation by hosting a luncheon and getting a chance to serve those who serve the community.

All the ladies had outdone themselves with all their cooking and baking, which meant a ton of left over food. I had baked my usual brownies, and had a small container in my car that I was going to take over to Station #2 on my way home, so the ladies packed up all the remaining trays of brisket, chicken, salads, veggies and desserts for me to take to the station.

Miss Nelma wanted to come along to help with the delivery, so we drove over with my car packed to the brim with food. It took the guys at Station #2 a couple trips to take all the food in. The men were so delighted that they asked if we’d like to come in for some tea. How sweet is that? We declined the tea, but said we’d love to see the station. Miss Nelma enjoyed the personal tour, asking questions and sharing stories.

There is no greater feeling than showing your appreciation and saying thank you to those who do so much for us. Every day should be appreciation day! Is there someone you want to thank?

The guys at Station #2

Miss Nelma loved the personal tour and charming firefighters