Rainy Day

Jake stayed snuggled and warm playing on his blanket on this chilly rainy Saturday.

Artist Trading Cards

 I've received these four lovely ATC cards this month.  The theme ~ "Gifts of the Sea".

Thank you, Carol, Mariette, Lorraine, and Susanne.

70th Birthday

 HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY to our ROANOKE STAR!!

It has been shining over the city since 1949.

Photos credit: City of Roanoke ~ Government

A November Look Out My Window

Deep Fall

 We have reached that deep Fall state.  There is a golden-brown hue to most everything.  I wonder when we will see our first blanket of snow.

Goli Gummies

My GOLI GUMMIES arrived.  Very good taste.  It sure beats drinking that awful liquid apple cider vinegar!!

Buy the Season

 Thank you to everyone who came to the Buy the Season Holiday Open House!  It was one of my best open house sales days!  A lot of inventory went out the door and I've filled the shelves with more Christmas items this week.

I have an original painting and poetry book by my good friend of Akron, Ohio, John Sokol, available in my booth.

The painting ~ "Rose Garden"

The book ~ "In the Summer of Cancer"

Late Night Dinner

This Buck had some late night dinner in my neighbor's yard last night.

Rain

 Not so pretty out there today.  Rain and fog all day.

Violet Kopka Segalle

I posted this as a "Throwback Thursday" post in 2014.  I am posting it again today because I received the sad news that my cousin Violet passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  I have no details yet, but it is shocking and sad.  This post sums up how close Violet and I were when we were younger, before her family moved to California.

Rest in Peace, Cousin Violet

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Will Kopka, Audrey, Violet Kopka

Throwback Thursday ~ I am guessing this to be around 1952.  These are two of my many cousins ~ the ones I spent the most time with when I was young ~ William and Violet.  (That's me in the middle).  Violet was like a sister.  We spent as much time together as our Moms would allow ~ she staying overnight at my house or me at hers.

We had the greatest times together ~ sitting under Grandpa's huge willow tree eating Chef Boyardee Pizza that we made ourselves or walking down the street singing the Beatles song "Till There Was You", discussing our latest crush on the cute guy down the street, or picking up golf balls on the edge of the golf course late at night when nobody was around.  Violet's family moved to California in our early teen years.  Being such a distance from each other, our lives went in different directions, but I will always have those fond memories.

William and his brother, Andrew, stayed in Ohio, so I had contact with them.  William and I still talk and get together when we can.  We both have scars from running into each other (literally) while playing in the dark many many years ago.  William and Patrick were in the Air Force together and became very close.

Family ~ the ties that bind.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY in Heaven, Susie!!

Since this is your first birthday there, I imagine there will be a BIG celebration with all your friends and relatives who are there with you.  I know that will be a joyful event.

I miss you.  I miss your humor, your positive outlook, your long emails, your news and updates, your Christmas cookies, and those fun surprise boxes we would mail each other.  You were a force.  I think of you often and once in a while I break into a smile remembering something you said.  You will never be forgotten.

A Walk Down the Road

 Driving down the lane on my way home a while ago ~ this deer jumped out of the woods and walked down the middle of the road in front of my car for quite a way until she finally turned into the woods and ran off.

Living the Creative Life

Our Living the Creative Life group met at Grandin Village Co-Op this evening.  We shared our recent theme of art - WOMAN.
Wally brought his initial drawing of a Tarot card - "VIII - Strength", which he will now do a painting of.
Therry brought her mixed media piece - "Suzon, d'apres Manet".
Amanda brought a photo of the piece she made - "Butterfly Barbie".
Audrey brought her acrylic painting - "A Nod to Picasso".
Tricia brought a beautiful cyanotype she made and is now stitching on.
It is always a joy to see each other and our art pieces.
In December, we will meet for dinner to celebrate Christmas with a handmade ornament exchange.

 Wally

 Therry

 Amanda

 Audrey

 Tricia

Sunny Cold Morning

 Outside my bedroom window this morning.  It is sunny and 21* right now ~ beautiful but cold!

November Full Frost Moon

 These are photos I took of November's Full Frost Moon.  The moon is not real clear because of the haziness last night.  It is big and beautiful in spite of the haze.

Veterans Day

Brother Patrick served in the United States Air Force.  He spent a good portion of that time in the Philippines.

On this Veterans Day, I want to say thank you Patrick, thank you to all my relatives who served, and thank you to all the brave men and women who served our country.