Save the DATE: Spokane Valley "First Friday" April 1

I am so excited that I just have to share a bit of news with someone...anyone!  I made a sales call to Arbor Crest Winery as I felt that after seeing their tasting room (lovely but plain) and then knowing that they were remodeling the mansion due to the fire of Dec. 09 my "Old World" wall finishes just might be what they need.  The owners were not there but the "events coordinator" was kind enough to visit with me.  I am finally getting bold enough to take my portfolio with me on these excursions and just happened to have several sample boards with me.  I showed them to her and she loved them! ! !
Not only do I expect to be hearing from the owners regarding some wall makeovers but I have been confirmed as the FEATURED ARTIST FOR APRIL'S FIRST FRIDAY. 
I am excited to be able to show my work and have an audience that will appreciate my art.  I think I am most excited with the comment made when leaving the winery.  I asked a question and her response was "I don't know, you are the artist so do what you think is best."  I was referred to as an ARTIST.  Yes, I think of myself as an artist but haven't really ever had anyone else think of me that way.  Wow, I have finally arrived! !   So, mark your calendars for April 1 and plan to attend the Spokane Valley First Friday at Arbor Crest Winery.

What a beautiful Sunday

It is a beautiful day in St. Maries.  I woke up to a new fresh blanket of snow, now the sun is shining and there is nothing prettier than the river and snow.  Unless it is blue sky, 85 degrees and the river, but that's not going to happen for awhile so enjoy the season.
After having a perfect morning of listening to Pastor A.J. followed by our adult Bible study (we are doing Revelations and it is fantastic, I highly recommend it) I came home and took my dog J.J. for a walk.  He loves running his nose along the snow, like scooping up snowcones and tossing the snow in the air.  I think the Husky in him is definitely showing up.  That is not all he tosses in the air.  It must be his New Years Resolution to Rid Shepherd Road of all Rodents.  Once he catches one, he tosses it in the air so that he can catch it with a big CRUNCH, then drops it and goes on to his next unsuspecting critter.  So much for just "bopping them on the head"!
I feel like being creative today so I am going to spend some time working on new sample boards.  I have a client who has requested a "wow" wall for her powder room.  Her colors will be seafoam green, pink and taupe.  I recently purchased some new foils and plan to create something from a technique I learned in a Gary Lord video.  I don't have the right colors today but that's okay.  It will be lots of fun.  I always enjoy working with paints, plaster, foils-- they seem to remind me of the carefree days as a child when life was just about having fun and using your imagination.  When I am doing artistic things it does not seem like work but more like playtime.  Wouldn't it be great if everyone enjoyed what they do so much that it is 8 hours of play every day rather than work.  Go ahead, get creative yourself.  You will be amazed at what a "freeing" experience it can be.

New Years Resolution...I'm going to learn to love my computer...or else

We are already 7 days into the new year and I feel like I have finally arrived when it comes to computers.  I did NOT say I finally understand them, but I have decided that a very important part of this year is to "embrace" this little machine rather than run from it.  For those of you who know me, you know that this is a MAJOR leap of faith for me.  Yes, I have worked on computers for the past 34 years doing airline business, but that does NOT mean that I had time to enjoy, play, or explore differant facets of the computer.  For 8 hours a day I would type away in "my program" and never ventured out.  When the internet arrived I certainly did not want to play on this machine, after all, it was WORK and I had already put in 8 hours.  Thus, 34 years later, I am finding that I have been completely left behind when it comes to my computer knowledge.  No longer.  I have spent hours, turning into days and weeks only to now realize a few months later, I have alot of catching up to do.  It is amazing how God works in our lives, and I am so glad he does.  I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting a gal that has helped me so much already to move forward with my commitment of getting "connected" to facebook and blogs, something that sounded like a foreign language to me up until a few months ago.  She not only is very smart with all this stuff, she is extremely patient!  I warned her that I was computer illiterate and need to be told how to do things again and again.  Today we spent several hours going over my facebook and blog, her fingers work so much better than mine so while she typed away I had a blast with her 3 absolutely darling little girls.  Did I tell you that my new friend is young enough to be my daughter and her sweet girls could be my grandchildren?  After she left, I was reminded of a dear freind of my, Louise who was 36 years older than myself but who I found to be just a kick to be around.  I learned so much from her while she credited me with giving her the courage to do things she thought she was too old for.  Together we had a wonderful time and many happy memories.  I think I just might have met a younger version of Louise, like 66 years younger!  Thank you Jennifer