UPTODATE...

 

Hi Everyone.  Hope all is well. 

 I have missed visiting with you

 for the last few weeks. 

 It has been very warm around here 

and, for our own protection, 

we don't move around too much.

 A lot of sitting and TV watching, 

with the most energy going to painting. 

However, those aren't the only reasons why 

I have been quiet.

Robin has been sick.  Very sick.

  I think we almost lost her but she is now

 on the road to recovery so we are very thankful. 

 She was listless and wouldn't take any food or water. 

 Our vets have been on top of it

 right from the beginning 

and kept pushing for a full recovery.  

They left no stone unturned and, 

after what seemed like such a long time,

 they were successful.

She was fine one minute and then,

 after a short morning trip outside, 

she collapsed as she entered back inside

 and we knew something was really wrong

 and called the vet immediately. 

 We had to take her in on an emergency basis 

and they immediately took

 x-rays, blood work and put her on an IV.

  They saw an obstruction but couldn't tell if it was undigested food or a foreign object.  

After a couple of days it did disappear

 so did think it was undigested food...

 ...she was hospitalized

 but we brought her home each night with the IV

 as they don't have overnight staff to watch her

 and she couldn't be left alone.

  We then returned her in the morning.

 She lingered like this for awhile 

before she steadily started coming back to normal.

  She is now doing well and is on a special diet

 along with an arsenal of meds. 

 They can't really say what caused it all 

but as long as she is improving and doing well

 will leave it alone. 

 If she should take another turn 

then there will be more extensive tests. 

As you can see, 

she only has to roll those big eyes 

to get what she wants

 and that is one of three things.

  She either wants

 us all to be on the couch, a treat or FOOD! 

 Usually three out of three ain't bad!

I have been painting a lot

 and am pretty happy about 

finding this new style for me. 

 It is so colorful and simple

 and seems to fit in with my abilities 

better than anything more involved. 

 It just feels like a natural fit.

  I want to thank you all

 for your great support and kind comments 

about what I have showed you so far.  
You said you wanted to see more
 so, as the saying goes,
 be careful what you wish for!

Until next time, 

stay well and happy and cool.

...xxoJudy...

Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

OLD FOLK'S ART...

 

Ah, Summertime. 

 It really is a beautiful time of the year. 

 A time for fun, a time to explore, and a time to restore the mind 

of all the best that life has to offer.  

I can look back and see

 summers spent in Yosemite National Park, 

walking trails and climbing mountains. 

 Summers spent at my grandparent's ranch, 

swimming in the creek and picking berries.

 Summers spent with friends, riding horses

 and summers spent at 4-H Camp, 

singing around the campfire. 

 As I grew older

 there were summers spent at home, 

 as my parents and younger siblings 

went on vacation without me,

just because I could be trusted.

  Summers spent working my first job

 at Santa's Village

 and summers spent dreaming of going back to school with new shoes

 that were the ultimate of high fashion.

The older I got

 the more I looked forward to summer. 

 Now, I had a family of my own to share these beautiful days with.  

The kids were always so happy to get out of school

 and looked forward to vacations. 

 I could relate and remembered all of those days. 

 A trip to Disneyland

 was a very big deal for all of us

and Thursday nights at the Drive-In movie theatre

 for Dollar Nights 

with the promise of a trip 

to the canteen during intermission.

Fast forward a few very short years 

with motorhome trips to 

Canada and Yellowstone National Park

 or cruises to Mexico and Alaska. 

 They all pass by in a blur, 

and now you see photos that your grandkids took 

while vacationing in Costa Rica.

84 summers is not a long time.  

They go by more quickly than you will ever imagine 

but there is an upside to it all. 

There is the potential for memories that stay 

with you for a lifetime 

and, believe it or not, 

it makes "slowing down" easier to endure,

 although, I will admit, to not always liking it.

Folk art is the mirror image of real life.  

It is simple and plain, full of bright colors

 and direct images. 

 There is no real way to see it, 

only what you 

think is the right way 

and even then, you can only hope that 

you have seen it well.

  You learn as you go along, 

and like anything else, with practice it gets easier.  

It most likely will take a few summers to get it right 

but I, for one, will keep trying.

Hope your summer is

 one of the best!

Until next time,

...xxoJudy...

Sharing this week with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda