Hooray!

We have been searching for a table for our kitchen for the last few years, and today we find it. It was sitting there so unassuming at Target. I would've loved to have bought something used or at least built in the U.S., but it was there and it fits so perfectly. we may have to stain it black to match the cabinets. We've had two meals on it already!

This weekend has been so perfect. I tried out my oil pastels (I'll need to keep trying; I'm not crazy about them), and I started seven different paintings. Six of them are portraits, and the last is based on the picture posted below. Here's that work in progress...

I also searched through all my digital pictures to find some artistic ones that I can use as practice. I ended up printing 115. We'll see what happens!

An Evening of Fun

What an enjoyable soirée we had last night! For the first of our open house dinners, it went quite well. I am so thankful.

My niece Stephanie made some beautiful notes for Eric and me. My niece Margaret "painted" and my nephew Christopher played with the kitties and the Wii. They all enjoyed eating pomegranate seeds - my new "must-have" for any party!

Thanks to Terri, Chris, Stephanie, Christopher, Margaret (and the Bitty Baby twins, and Polar), Ronnie, Kathleen, David, Cathy, Diane, Terena and Carol for spending the evening with us. We hope you enjoyed the food, company and conversation as much as we did.

We are considering having people create their own "Mii" on the Wii as a way of recording who has visited. What do you think? We want to take the "guest book" to a whole new level.

Reserve your place now for a future Wednesday evening!

It's So Good To See You - 2008 Open House Wednesdays!

Come join us at the Brown residence for a weekly dinner!

Day: Wednesdays, starting on January 23
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Directions: If you don't have my address, please contact me - meeb1 at aol dot com (or the aunt.meeb at gmail dot com address - I check both now.)
Caveats: seating is limited, so let me know in advance if you're coming; AND we have three cats :)

The menu will be very simple, procured from Creation Gardens, and will most likely include a big salad, a soup of some sort, homemade bread, and fruit/dessert. Maybe I'll try a funky appetizer. There will be beverages for all ages. Please let me know if you have any severe food allergies.

The goals are to be able to visit with loved ones outside of the holidays, to provide a healthy, homemade meal, to not spend money eating out, and to enjoy mixed company - friends, coworkers, family, neighbors. I'm looking forward to experiencing some different dynamics and random groupings. The bonus is my house will be perpetually clean(er). There's nothing quite like the impending deadline of approaching houseguests to get my rear in gear.

So check your calendar, send me an e-mail, print out those MapQuest directions, and pay us a little visit! It won't cost you a dime.

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings

Ah, there's nothing quite like love. Except lots of love. We had the pleasure of celebrating three different nuptials (I hate the way that word is spelled - why not "nuptuals"?) over a period of about six weeks. That's a lot of sweet, sweet cake.

My favorite photographic foray lately has been not using my flash (of course), and trying to time it where someone else's flash goes off. It's a neat effect. Check out these shots of knot-tying, bouquet-throwing, garter-searching fun. And congratulations once again to Laura and David, Nick and Carrie, and Heather and Wes. We love you!

January in Florida

Eric and I ask ourselves each time we visit Florida, "Why don't we live here?" Maybe one day our paths will lead us back. I love how everything grows so quickly there. I love the wildlife and the marshy areas. I love how the sky is so black, especially over the ocean. And I really love 75 degrees only two weeks into the new year. Check out some Sunshine State love here.

Trumpeting

Here's a recent painting I've done, again donated. I've still got a half-dozen of donated portraits in the queue, but I'm feeling energized and inspired in this new year. I've uploaded some shots documenting the process as well, though the underpainting is a little pathetic. More to come....