Happy July... it's almost Christmas!

Lots has been going on since I last checked in..... not sure that I want to bore you with it all, but I like to keep track of it myself and this is kinda the way I do it....

In the last month.... Kevin bought a Hohner, Panther,  "Button" Accordian and is "going to town". He has only had it about two weeks and can play about 10 songs (all in the key of C)  which he taught himself, already.  Naturally, he would be able to play it, but I just wondered how long it would take him to figure it all out. I picked it up and found it most difficult.  There are way too many things to think about... You got the bellows... IN AND OUT.. which give you a different note when you play it either way... like a harmonica... then you have the melody notes on the left and the bass notes on the right.  WOW!  You can tell his little brain is really working when he is trying to play a song.... Ever since I have known him, he pretty much already knew how to play everything and watching him learn something new never looked as "frustrating and challenging" as this instrument.
My favorite song he plays so far is Amore.... "When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie..... it's Amore!"  Reminds me of our incredible Gondola ride in Venice as we were serenaded by the best of the best in Italy... well, at the time, I suppose.  They were on their cell phones when they weren't playing.... what was so urgent that you couldn't enjoy a gondola ride with Texans?  LOL! Get off that phone!!!!

I started teaching a Copperplate class to six newbies at my home and will continue throughout the summer.   They are doing quite well... for only their first lesson.  I offer them the opportunity to send me their practice sheets during the month while we don't meet, I critique them and send them back so they are practicing right.... here is an example of how I mark up their papers.  This coming Sunday will be the second lesson and then I will really find out if they are practicing like they promised they would do. I know three of them are... just not sure about the other three... I have not
seen any evidence as of yet...

 A very good friend had a brunch at her house to bring together most of the pointed pen folks in the guild.  She just moved to Sun City recently and it was so nice touring her new home and seeing everyone in the summer, which is very unusual since we don't meet as a guild except for Study group and that has changed a little due to the library's conflicting schedules.  She really did it right.  What a pleasure to be treated to a wonderful, home cooked meal with lots of TLC.  She even used her special silver and china .. I felt spoiled rotten... Anita is the best!

Shrimp and Veggie pasta YUM!

She even did all the place cards in
a contemporary pointed pen which she just learned.

Chocolate Mousse

We are meeting later in the month for study group which is later than we normally do.... Hopefully, we will get quite a few people there helping us with our big fundraiser in the Fall like we did last year.   It was for the Texas book Festival in October where we had a booth and sold our custom, hand made bookmarks.... to order. There is a lot of preparations to it, though, since we have to have all the paper cut, the holes punched, the designs on them as well as the ribbon threaded and a line drawn in pencil.   Luckily, we are starting a little earlier than we did last year.

I haven't been doing as well lately being off Cayston every other month.  The doc and I have been trying to find a regimen where I can be healthy on my "off" month as well as my Cayston month, but so far we haven't come up with anything and I am just hanging on for dear life.  I have tried five different drugs, both oral and inhaled, and none of them seem to work.  Not sure what our next step is.  It's amazing the difference which one drug can make and how it can affect me in the opposite way when I am not taking it.  I feel like a totally different person entirely. Wish me luck and send prayers up my way...

Aloha, Fleckie!  "Get this off me!!"

The doggy woggies are livin' life to the fullest, as usual.. spoiled rotten.  They are getting through the summer the best way they know how... by sleeping through most of it.. LOL!.    I am going to Houston to a Calligraphy retreat toward the end of the month and will be taking a workshop in San Antonio in October.... other than that... I am just teaching and doing jobs here and there when they come in.  Taking it a little easier than I have in the past few years.... I am very happy the presidency is over... STILL!  What a relief, although I really did like leading the guild and having an influential way to make a difference.

We are going on our 30th year for the birth of the guild next year so there will be lots of work for many hands to do.... looking forward to that as well as the Southwest Calligraphy Conference will meet here in January which we are already working on.

That's all for now..... everything is blooming and things are looking like summer now.... loving the Farmer's Market on Tuesdays... where my favorite Farmer (and breeder of our puppies) sells yummy fruits and veggies. I always get the tomatoes and sometimes other things which are in season. Bye for now.
PS... OH, I think the best news I have heard all summer is that GABI is pregnant and due in the Fall..November... Can't wait! I hope it's a boy!  This is her little, adorable girl, Ella.  I just love her.