I wanted to say hello to everyone. I know it's been a long time since my last post. The world is in a much different space from when I last wrote on March 2nd. So am I. I hope and pray that all of you out there are safe and taking care of yourselves and your loved ones. Sorry that genealogy has kind of fallen by the wayside.  Please stay vigilant and wear your mask when you go out. Keep the hand sanitizer handy. Wash your hands. This is how we take care of each other these days.  Be well, be kind, and be patient. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  We'll get there if we take care of each other.

Here's pictures of our beautiful girl back from injury. In the fall, she broke a bone in her left foot which took a long time to heal. These are pictures from her second competition of the season, Pink Invitational 2020. She's getting stronger every week. I loved watching her compete and hanging out with her teammates. They are so supportive of one another. No medals this time for her but she gained a bunch of her confidence back.  She competed late on Saturday February 22, 2020 so that involved an overnight stay in Philadelphia. I don't like driving long distances at night especially if I'm tired. The following day we spent time sightseeing and checking out a Blick art supply store that was near our hotel. OMG! If you love doing art, then you love Blick! We could have spent the whole day there, trying out different art supplies, but we had to make that drive back home.  Bob and his squirrel assistant are looking at me like, "Who the

  As a child, if someone gave me a coloring book and a 64 count box of Crayola Crayons I would entertain myself for hours on end. Well, crayons have made their way back into my life, as well as paints, pencils and various other art supplies. My art cart brings me such joy. I look at it in the morning and it gives me permission to go ahead and play. My heart has been missing this and I didn't even know it. I started this post last Fall and it has been sitting unpublished in my draft folder since then. I have some news to share, so it seemed like the perfect time to finish this.  I am so excited to announce that some of my work will be shown for the month of February at a local museum. Here's the link to the annoucement:   https://www.facebook.com/The.Vestal.Museum/photos/a.729136080449783/3232797556750277/?type=3&theater Sending thanks out to my friends and family who have been so supportive of me and my art journey. Lately, I've been focusing on maintain

One of my more recent paintings I know last week I had said was going to finally get around to posting pictures from our Cape Cod trip we took back in June. I thought I should let you in on a little secret first. It's part of the reason why I've been posting less to my blog.  I am absolutely loving painting right now! Gosh, it's such a release of creative energy and it relaxes me. I feel like I finally have found the thing I had been missing in my life.  About five years ago when I was going through a little dark period, I fell in love with the work of the artist Kelly Rae Roberts. She had these little inspirational sayings on her paintings of ladies that just spoke to me. I added a few of her prints to my house, making the point of reading the words on them daily. Those little messages were like vitamins for my spirit. I've been a follower of her blog and newsletter since then. When I learned in August that she was going to begin hosting monthly art dates

This smiling giant is now in the 9th grade.  This is what 14 looks like.  I have to measure him but I believe he's about 6' 1" now. This young lady is now in 7th grade. She added swimming and  diving practice into her already busy schedule.   If anyone can handle it, I know she can. 

Rest In Peace  Uncle Bobby. See you on the other side. 

Well, It's been a while since I've written. Some of you out there might have been wondering is she ever coming back. The answer is yes. I've decided that my blogging journey will be perhaps a bit different now. I still love researching about my family and I still love making new discoveries and connecting with cousins. That I will continue doing. I just feel that I have to be the one driving this blog and the blog not driving me. There's a whole world out there that I've been exploring since I have taken time away from the computer and you know what, I've been enjoying myself. I've been doing a bit more painting in my spare time. When I paint, it's meditation time for me. I love the process of getting quiet and focused and just letting things out on paper or on canvas. It's a great way to relax.  As a family, we did less travel this summer. We did visit Cape Cod at the end of June. I realize now I don't think I posted any pictures from