Recording star

When we were in Texas, Larry and I went to a recording studio to take advantage of a special low price they were offering.
We made a CD of

17 songs-solos, duets and 2 of Larry accompanying himself on the guitar. It was a lot of fun. All the songs were done one time, no retakes, which would have added to the price. So I hope our grandchildren will forgive the mistakes. I would love to have a recording of my parents and/ or grandparents-heck- any forbears voices. Larry has a recording of his father singing and playing several instruments. It's great even the mistakes, on amateur recording equipment.
I took the kids today to Walmart to buy toys with the money they had earned and played the CD on the way there and home. They sang along to some of the songs and Boy!, I was quietly tickled pink.

Greens

I struggle with greens. No, not kale or Swiss chard. Painting greens. grass, leaves, etc.
Some artists wouldn't think of using greens out of the tube. They make their own from blues and yellows.
I have made charts mixing assorted blues and yellows and charts using tube greens adding white or red. The thing about tube greens such as sap green is it is bright which is good when you want an eye popping fresh green. Using a touch of cadmium red lt. dampens the vivacity yet retains a low-key hum. Somehow I am missing the atmospheric color I am looking for. Suggestions?

Hitchcock Art Group

The Hitchcock Art Group meets one day a week from 9 to 12 at the old Hitchcock Academy in Brimfield, Mass to paint or draw in the company of fellow artists.
Techniques and ideas and light critiquing are exchanged casually. In summer they meet plein aire.
By 10:30 AM someone- usually the same person, says 'Where are we going for lunch?'
It is a tourist area but there aren't many convenient and worthwhile places to eat. I don't get why eating establishments want to offer dull, tasteless, poorly presented food and why do they have repeat customers? Do these customers get worse fare at home? Eating out isn't cheap. Consider the length of time you have to work to pay for the check.
The conversation is interesting. These people have done and been many exotic places. This last time one of the members talked about living on a small Fiji island in the South Pacific for three years painting, fishing and sailing. Ahhhh.

In Search of

The cover and 3 illustrations are done for my children's book -first in a series about my pet and his adventures. I would love to say more but advice from the books I have read on writing says people will take your ideas and publish them first. Boo.
I have sent manuscripts to 3 publishers so far,waiting the recommended 3 months in between time and have heard nothing. So I assume they have chucked it and I will move on to the next likely publisher who fits the bill. That is, who will accept un-agented material. Time is marching on.
Several stories in the series are undercover awaiting their chance in the sun.
Oh, that an agent would read this and seize the opportunity to represent the next hero of children's literature.

Panama City Beach

Aaaaah.

Mid-April

We moved pretty quickly North keeping just ahead of the tornadoes. Insecurity is overnighting it in a motor home during a tornado alert. We did encounter high winds and were deluged with rain on several occasions. In Virginia, one of the most interesting and beautiful states we have visited, we spent two nights in Louisa so we could see what they have done to Madison's Monticello. A few years ago the interior was torn apart to return it to its state during the time Dolley and James lived there. Still not much furniture but the walls were finished and token pieces loaned by Colonial Williamsburg to give dimension to the rooms. They have a good visitors center with a movie giving the history. Madison deserves his share of top billing with our Founding Fathers. Also, he took notes during the secret sessions of discussions while they were writing our constitution. The only notes that were saved! We can see how they arrived at The Document as it stands.
I recommend, while you are in the area, The Hunt Country Deli on the outskirts of Charlottesville. They make great sandwiches and salads. Stop in for a cup of coffee and... sit out on the patio, check out the map of the area painted on the wall and tell Nancy the owner operator that Aunt Susan sent you. The deli,aptly named, it is in the gorgeous rolling hills of the wine and horse farm region with the palatial homes and grazing ponies dotting the meadows and wide angle views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anyone remember the old song-In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, on the trail of the lonesome pine...?

Florida Panhandle

A friend advised us that a trip to the Pensacola Naval Air Station Museum was a must. Not only is it free but it is excellent. A docent tour filled in and rounded out what the signs said about each plane and its importance in the history of flight. I was very much taken with the old movies of our 'air force' in World War I. Amazing video showing the determination and courage of our Aces in that war. Also heard stories of courage in later wars. If you go, you'll come out of there feeling good about America and the men and women who help preserve our liberty so that we can romp around to our hearts content, free to travel from one state to another with out question. Here is a picture of Larry doing his Patton impression at the museum.
We stopped to see friends in Panama City Beach for a few days and jam with them. The beach is wonderful with its white sugar sand and blue/green water. It was Spring Break week but hardly anyone was on the beach before noon except us.