Well, obviously the image from yesterday didn't come through, but I was able to get Josie's birthday party shot uploaded for tonight. As you can see from the state of her hair that she was having a really good time. She was very concerned that hers was the only breath that blew out her birthday candles. 

Tonight we did S'mores outside with all of the kids. After that Jay played super heros with them. He was "Super Wash Rag", because that's what they needed after the sticky mess they were. He was hysterical with them. I'm sure the neighbors thought they were being murdered, the way all three of them were screaming. Needless to say Jay and his new knees are doing great. No more cane or prescription painkillers. He's teaching and even back to landscaping, part-time. He still has his rehab for regaining full range of motion, three days a week and a regimen of exercises. We've even started our walks again. Dr. Booth did a wonderful job, but he has a terrific patient working with him. These kids have me wiped out, between them and the chilly weather, which I totally love, I'm going to hit the sack early tonight. Can't believe I can say this in the middle of August, but, stay cozy!

My precious little Josie has turned three years old on the 14th. She 's the youngest of my four grandchildren. I went to Maryland on Thursday for her cowgirl-themed birthday party. There were pony rides and ponies on a stick, along with tattoos and yummy cupcakes. So much fun. I came home with three party favors--Gabriel, Jonah and Isabella. Josie is in Wyoming at a dude ranch. For real! Apparently it's an amazing place and I'll hear all about it when she returns.

The Johnson kids are keeping me hopping. We've had a great time with them here. Picnics, campfires, S'mores, movies, Gameboys, swimming in the "wimming pool, with her wimming suit", as Isabella says. I'm lovin' it. Josie's birthday pix are on my other camera, so I'll leave you with another image from California. It's of one the little quail that run all over the place on the Fedrick Ranch. "Lookout", 8"x10" photo--color or black and white, $75., framed.Sorry, I can't get this image to upload.

Cine, Penny and I went to see "Mama Mia"tonight.While it's a feel good movie, it made me feel like I was 100 hundred years old the way Merle Streep was running, jumping and bouncing around. Maybe if I took 50 Motrin I could do a little bit of her acrobatics,I'm just jealous. We really enjoyed the movie. After we went to Theresa's Next Door to see Cine's son Brian and to be one of the first to wish him Happy 21st Birthday! Whew, even I remember what a huge deal turning 21 is. Happy Birthday Brian.

OK, I have no idea why everything is underlined here. There is no underline option, so I can't figure it out. It must be related to that weird A thing that occasionally happens. Anyway, after that, I called Jay and asked him to join me for a drink at Georges' to see what the boys were up to. I knew that a form of Absinthe was available again, so in the tradition of Modigliani and so many other artists, I decided to try it. It's not like the original that is green, aka "The Green Fairy", nor is it derived from wormwood, but it was delicious. It goes down much easier than Sambuca, because it's much smoother. I got a tour of the kitchen, prep kitchen and bakery by Jay Jr. Rest assured that everything is immaculate. I was very impressed.

The image tonight is from the first morning on the Fedrick Ranch. This was the view from the guest quarters where we stayed. I'd like to do a painting of this someday.

We had a busy, but enjoyable weekend. Saturday, Celeste and I went to Jessica and Pat's wedding shower. Jessica's friends, Kim and Megan did an outstanding job of putting it all together. It was great to meet Jessica's family as well. After, Jay Sr., Celeste, Pat, Jessica and I all met up at Georges'. The food was really wonderful. The specials were just so good.

Yesterday Jay and I went to the Brandywine River Museum and saw the Alfred Munnings exhibit. I was totally taken with his work. I love his brushstrokes and colors. Jay didn't like his watercolors, but I sure did. I thought that he handled his watercolors like oils, in that he not only used a lot of white paint, but he also used it on top of his darks. In any case, I liked the way he handled it. To me it was very effective and moody.

The painting above is of the Agapanthus by the pool at Kristy and Ron Fedrick's house, where we stayed while in California. Agapanthus grows everywhere out there and is so strikingly beautiful. I saw it in several shades of blue and also in white.

"Kristy and Ron's Agapanthus", 9"x12"pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper. Not for sale, I left it as a token of our gratitude for their graciousness and hospitality.

This image is pretty typical of the vineyards you would see in California. Misty mountains in the background with a bright, sunny, comfortable day. Amazingly like the weather we're having here in Wayne, PA. This is wonderful weather for the "dog days of August". I'm lovin' it. 

Tomorrow will be a busy day, my nephew Pat and his fiance', Jessica's wedding shower will be held in the afternoon, so I probably won't get home until late, which means that I need to wish my Aunt Jeannie a very Happy Birthday! Hope your day is all that you could want. We love you and miss you. With that, I'll say goodnight and wish all of you a fabulous weekend.

Tonight I had dinner at Georges' with Cine and Penny. It was great to be with them and also to be back at Georges'. They changed the menu and the food was really good. Cine and I had the duck duo which we loved and Penny had the burger which is usually excellent as it was tonight. We just about closed the place. We had tons to catch up on. Cine has never been to California, so I was telling her about the landscape etc., and we got on to last night's blog about Trinity Road. I was saying that it was so high up that you could see the vultures flying around below. That's when Penny chimed in, "that's right, they're waiting for you to fly off the road and get killed!". I haven't laughed that hard in a while. Good one Penny. Above is a photo of Jay at Quarry Hill Botanical Gardens. It was pleasant, but it was the last thing we did before we got on Trinity Road, so now I associate it with the sadistic bitch who told us that we could take that shortcut. Just kidding. She was very nice and stressed caution on the hairpin turns and curves. I guess I need to let the Trinity Road thing go.

Ok, tomorrow I won't mention it.

'Nite.

Tuesday was my 200th post. It's been a great time sharing with people from all over the world. In that time, there have been 45,587 hits. Being that it's just me, that amazes me.

The image that I chose for you tonight is of a place close to the top of Trinity Road. We took it as a shortcut to Napa. I personally believe that the reason that it's named Trinity Road is because whether you are Catholic or not, you are constantly praying to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost while you are ascending into the heavens and melting your brakes on the way down into hell, that you'll be alive at the end of it. The trees in the foreground are higher than where the vultures fly. It's one of those California roads that goes over an entire mountain, where there are no guard rails and the drop goes for miles over the side of extreme narrowness with a zillion, hairpin turns to keep you awake, a wreck and nauseous. What sick, disturbed creature designed something like this for people to travel on? I had Jay pullover at one point because my lips were sweating and I felt like I was going to lose the lunch that I hadn't eaten yet! Anyway, as you can see, the view is spectacular. The lunch we had at the Rutherford Grill was delicious. A glass of wine never tasted better, was more deserved or needed. We visited Silver Oaks Vineyards after that for a tasting. We enjoyed their wine, the staff was very friendly and gracious. I'd go back for sure, but not via Trinity Road.

Enjoy the rest of your night.

Today is Jonah's 6th birthday.....really hard to believe. I was in the delivery room when he was born and cut the cord. He even smiled at me. Wow, six years ago.

I just got back from Maryland to help celebrate. Krista and Josie were there too. What a great day. Sunday was Carter's birthday, Happy Birthday guys, I love you.

I'm really wiped out, but I promised the story about Celeste, Jay and Danny in California. Totally unbeknownst to Jay Sr. and I, the kids have been planning a surprise attack on us while we were in California for the past six months. During that entire time, both boys have done nothing but moan and groan about us going to California without them. Well, on the Sunday after our arrival, Jeanie drove us out to where we had dinner reservations at Bouchon in Yountville. We checked in at the desk and went outside to wait for our table. Shortly after I saw something coming around the corner, moving fast---people don't move fast in California---and wearing suits---something else people in California don't do. You guessed it, it was Jay, Danny and Celeste (sans suit, but with a pretty dress on) crashing the party!!! They had just flown in from Philly to surprise us and boy did they ever! They had all of the staff at the Bouchon Restaurant and Bakery in on it. The staff at both places which are next door to each other, were hiding them and cued them to come out. Jay Sr. saw my expression of shock and awe and wondered who I could possibly know in California. It was truly a highlight of my life. Jay Sr. and I didn't have the slightest inkling. My kids are such great actors. Danny even called me when he was actually in California telling me how he, Jay and Celeste had been sitting around at the pool at Jay and Celeste's apartment complex in Malvern all day, since it was so stinkin' hot and humid in Wayne---another thing California doesn't have, humidity --- and that they were on their way to Theresa's next Door for dinner, but they were stuck in traffic because there was a peace demonstration on the corner not far from our house. I also spoke with Krista and she didn't give me a clue either.

We were so shocked, so surprised, so happy, so emotional and so embarrassed because I was blubbering like a fool and didn't have waterproof mascara on, but it was so worth it. Thank you Kids, for making our 30th anniversary the best yet. After the big scene, the general manager of Bouchon brought out sparkling wine--they don't call it champagne in California, because if it's made there and not France, it's technically not champagne, but it tastes just as good. We had a phenomenal dinner to follow all of the excitement. The service was impeccable. The night was just awesome. I still get teary every time I tell the story, so that's it for tonight, I really need to go to bed. Good night.

We're home from California, but not loving that fact. We've been there a few times before, but saw it in a totally new way this time. The people were so friendly and generous. "Attitude" just didn't exist. The landscape and views were more than spectacular. At one point Celeste and I (more about her and the boys tomorrow) were standing in front of the "French Laundry's" vegetable garden, which is across the street from the restaurant. It was early evening and the sun was low with it's rays slanting across the valley, rim lighting the garden in a golden, hazy halo, with the mist on the mountains in the background. We looked at each other and just knew that this is what we are all about. This kind of California embodies who we are. It was so moving that we stood on the spot and prayed. I'll be sharing more about it all week. Instead of paintings I'll be posting photos, as I need to start California vineyard and landscape paintings while the emotion is still so strong in my heart.

The painting di giorno was started before we left, but I couldn't finish it because someone ate the fruit....no, it wasn't me. The style is much more loose and impressionistic than usual, but I suppose that's a consequence of a renewed spirit. It definitely looks better in person. Better clarity and contrast."Regal Moth and Peaches", 6"x6", oil over egg tempera on gessobord, $50. framed.SOLD