Original Oil Paintings

October 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Song Lyric Sunday

Jumping back onto SLS as it is one of my fav Blog Challenges…Today’s theme is to find a song about the American West, or one that mentions cowboys, a sheriff, an outlaw, horses, cactus, or tumbleweeds.

As usual, always ask the husband for a song. He’s good with the ideas for alot of topics especially music. We love Toby Keith RIP…had tickets to one his concerts but unfortunately he got sick… We did see him in Vegas though and he was amazing to watch.

The song for today is, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”. This video is obviously from when he was very young !!!!

You are missed and we love your music…

I bet you’ve never heard ol’ Marshal Dillon say
Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of runnin’ away?
Settlin’ down, would you marry me
If I asked you twice and begged you, pretty please?
She’d have said, “Yes”, in a New York minute
They never tied the knot, his heart wasn’t in it
He just stole a kiss as he rode away
He never hung his hat up at Kitty’s place

I should’ve been a cowboy
I should’ve learned to rope and ride
Wearin’ my six-shooter, ridin’ my pony on a cattle drive
Stealin’ the young girls’ hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singin’ those campfire songs
Whoa, I should’ve been a cowboy

I might have had a sidekick with a funny name
Runnin’ wild through the hills chasin’ Jesse James
Ending up on the brink of danger
Ridin’ shotgun for the Texas Rangers
Go west young man, haven’t you been told?
California’s full of whiskey, women and gold
Sleepin’ out all night beneath the desert stars
With a dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart

I should’ve been a cowboy
I should’ve learned to rope and ride
I’d be wearin’ my six-shooter, ridin’ my pony on a cattle drive
Stealin’ the young girls’ hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singin’ those campfire songs
Whoa, I should’ve been a cowboy

Yeah, I should’ve been a cowboy
I should’ve been a cowboy

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Toby Keith

My featured image is last best cowboy of all, John Wayne of course, “The Duke.’ My husband, the artist, did this sketch of Featured Image…He’s an amazing artist

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

AtoZ Blogging Challenge ‘ C ‘

I chose the picture Jesus (C)Christ with the crown of thorns b/c that was the one he was working on during lent…I have a couple more that I like better than that one.

The husband is an artist, not his day job…B/C a starving artist is a real thing and we are way past that point. He told me to be famous when you are an artist, death usually has to happen first so I think I’m happy just the way things are.

I’m the writer of the family and he’s the artist. He sells commercial title insurance for his day job. We’ve been together going on 50 years, 47 of them married. It wasn’t til Covid happened that I realized what a huge talent he had with painting and drawing. When we were raising our family, when it came to art things for the kiddos during their school years that was his job. Writing of course was my strong suit. It worked out well.

I might as well throw in a couple of pictures he has been working on during this Lenten Season…Haven’t quite found the best venue for selling them on, that too is in the works.

I’ll put up a couple of his Masterpiece works, as he really is quite talented !!!

Painter’s Store

It you look in the middle painting, he put himself in as one of the attendees…He’s the one with his hands folded 🙂 …

This is one of my favorite compilations … It’s his band ‘Elan’ which means, “With Eagerness of Spirit…”

Trust me, these are just a few of his paintings. He’s really an amazing Artist….

June 29, 2025

Happy Sunday To All Fellow Blogger’s

I’ll start out with some music as it is SLS but I can’t find the prompt as it’s been awhile. I’m going to use one of my fav’s which come from what seems like a million years ago. Our youngest Connor (I call him Connie) who was a dancer now retired, married to a retired ballerina, Melissa (I call her Missy) and have 2 grand babies. He once danced to this song and I just fell in love with it. It’s performed by, The Killer’s …

I think I’ll just throw up one of the Husband’s (the artist’s) painting…I was looking for his white tiger but couldn’t find it.

Too hot to go out and play so I’m just staying in and I thought I would put up a post. Summer has been so busy as of late that I really have not had much time to post.

Here are a couple of pics of them when they were dancing together…

I’ve forgotten just how adorb they both are with such a beautiful family…Grandmama & Grandpapa love you to the moon !!!! Yes that is me when I was PG with him…Just thought I’d put that up for some laugh’s !!!

Mom & Dad/Missy (PG w/ Grandbaby #8) & Connor

Okay a couple more…and then I’ll move on to the other dancer in the family.

One more 🙂 …

These pics you just knew they would end up together !!! So much love !!!

I can’t leave out my other dancer’s who are yes, married and have grand baby # 9 !!!! Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of Hannah dancing as she retired before I met her b/c of an injury, but I still have plenty of great pics !!!

Richmond Ballet at Wedding/Matthew & Hannah

I can’t ever pass up a reason to post this video again !!! This was my Dancing moment that I’ve truly lived for. Matthew know’s and he made it happen !!! It was the most amazing dance ever. I’ll never forget it as long as I live…

They gave us our 9th grand baby this past December…He’s so sweet and we just love him to the moon !!!!

It’s going to get busier, in a fun way !!! Going to Vegas !!!! Y A Y one of my favorite places to go. Can’t hardly wait and the heat doesn’t bother me at all. I’m either gambling, hanging at the spa or pool or shopping. That heat is what I call Hell Heat !!! But I don’t care. No worries I’ll be posting when we go !!!!

Was playing with my, “Common Place” Book. That’s where I write down everything that I love and matters to me and my life. It’s like a book full of a lot of insipiration for me. I just love it !!!

Happiness is….

Being around the people who matter

They honor your successes

and share in your losses

Laughter is common and

Fears are accepted

Love fills the room when

You are together

February 7, 2015

Well this turned into quite the post !!! Hope you enjoyed it. I better get up and walk around. Happy Week to all !!!

April 9, 2025April 9, 2025

AtoZ…Letter ‘E’

Hello fellow AtoZ Blogger’s…Been trying to get back in the game and really it’s just simple … Just do it already. Been preoccupied by the stock market, but I was pretty sure that President Trump knew what he was doing. Still it was/is a little bit Iggy …

Then I had a set back on my book, the one with Winston that I’ll go into at a later time. Right now I just want to do some writing about the letter ‘E’…

I’m going to write about our side business, Elan Creations…First off the meaning of “Elan/With Eagerness of Spirit.” This word has so much importance in my life. This concept literally saved my life and I would not be the woman I am today. It’s not just word, it’s a way of life for me !!! Another story for another day

We named our side hustle, i.e. small on-line business, that incorporated this word. Mean, nasty, jealous people have tried to ruin our business again and again, but we are thriving and they will not succeed.

During the pandemic, (the big lie)…I realized the husband was an amazing artist which was a bit strange as we had been together for 42 years at that time and all I ever knew was that he was a savvy business man who graduated from Northwestern University (the Harvard of the Midwest) and received his MBA from DePaul University. He worked during the day and went to school at night. A very ambitious man and a great husband and father of 5…I was the stay at home wife, raising those children.

When we were locked down, which drove both of us crazy he started painting. I don’t just mean beginner stuff. He was good, really good. He‘s so funny b/c he use to say death is a great move for an artist because all of the good ones didn’t get noticed until after their passing. I also was so thankful to his mom for making him go to college and get that degree from Northwestern b/c a starving artist is a real thing and we could’ve never been where we are today had he just painted…

We are still selling and it’s a pretty good side gig and besides that he loves to do it. His Art Studio is in the basement and it’s a good place for him to escape too. I’m going to share some of his paintings with you. He’s on Amazon Handmade if you’re interested in any of them for purchase. I hope you enjoy what I have posted but he can also be commissioned for special works of art if you’re interested. Blessing, and I hope you like them. They are very professional.

Painter’s Store

I’m working on our store link so stay tuned…Will have that up an running soon. In the meantime, if you’re interested just msg me…Thanks, Blogger’s. Blessings on your week…

January 18, 2025

The Story of the Snake…

A man started to climb a high, steep mountain when a snake asked the man to carry him along. “But you’re a snake,” the man said. The snake smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite you.” After days of arduous climbing, the man reached the mountain summit, whereupon the poisonous snake bit him. As he lay dying, the man cried out, “You said you wouldn’t bite me!” His reptilian hitchhiker looked at him and said, “Ha! You knew I was a snake when you picked me up.”

If you trust snakes, you’ll get bit. It’s impossible to travel with the wrong people and reach the right result … in the high calling of our daily work.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame.”— 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Thinking that the story says it all…

September 3, 2024

Share Your World

1. What was the last photograph you took?

2. When was your last field trip? I’m guessing when you say, “Field Trip” you are referring to a School Field Trip. Since that was eon’s ago, I’m going to use my vaca for my last “Field Trip”. So that would be New Smyrna Beach!!! It was beauties and I spent it with my best friend of 45 years, the husband…Here are a few pics…

3. What is your favourite past time as an adult? I guess that would have to be working in my planner, Mz Serena and writing my cookbook …

4. Do people ask you for advice? Only for directions.

Gratitude: I‘m so grateful for my life w/the husband and our new home and my family. I’ve been with the husband since 1976 and he is my best friend. We are working on #9 grand baby and busy, busy, busy decorating our new home. My life is so good I say everyday, “Thank You <3 .”

Our Family/Richmond, VA — ***#frainsthename***

I’m going to try to get back to the blogging thing and figure out … It’s been an absolutely beautiful Summer (weatherize) and the fall is starting out just wonderful. Fall is always beautius in the Midwest !!!

June 16, 2024June 16, 2024

Happy Father’s Day

I want to give a shout out to 3 amazing father’s I have had in my life. The first father was my husand. He has been such an awesome father, a great leader of our family. He is the captain of our ship and always put the family first.

I know it’s SLS but I’m going to put up this song for all of the amazing father’s and father’s to be in my life…

The lone daughter our own personal nurse !!!

The next amazing father I have had in my life is our youngest who just had his 2nd. He is now the father to our 2 youngest (#7 & 8) grand babies, Mz. Ruby and Mr. Samuel…He learned from the best !!!!

The 3rd amazing Father to Be is our Matthew who is expecting his 1st baby…So excited this will be our 9th grand baby !!!! Both expecting mom, Hannah & expecting dad, Matthew are retired professional Ballet Dancer’s, so one never knows…Could be in the DNA 😉 !!!

There are just know words as to how wonderful a man that he is…You are the best and you are so loved … Thank you so much for all you have given to our family. Oh and we are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this year in August !!!

I’ll close with this little bit of personal information on my husband and I don’t think he’ll mind. His father use to drop him at school in in the morning. It was a warm June morning, nothing unusual about the day. His dad was dropping him off at school and he was looking forward to the summer. When school was out, his older brother came to pick him up. When he got home, his dad wasn’t there. He died suddenly from an aneurysm/stroke. My husband was only 9 years old that day when he lost his dad. My husband is an amazing man … We all love you dad, “Happy Father’s Day” to the best…

April 5, 2024April 8, 2025

Elizabeth & Elan Creations…

My mom was a nurse, my sister was a nurse. I told the daughter I didn’t think she should be a nurse, b/c I grew up with nursing and it’s not an easy job. So then she became a nurse…

Like most children they have a mind of their own and they do what they want. I have to say the Medical World is better b/c she’s in it. She’s a great nurse, her grandmother would be proud …

Like all my kids, she’s not just a nurse. She’s a mom just like her me with 3 beautiful daughter’s of her own !!!

Good for her !!! Motherhood & Nursing

Throw in a little musical theatre just for fun 😉 …

Elan Creations is my husband’s the name my husband gave his artwork…

We are a family full of amazing artist’s!!! A very unique and talented group of people that really make this world a better place…

April 4, 2024April 21, 2026

Dad, Dog’s & DaVinci

So much to write about here…Dad, The Artist…The Dad, The Suit, The Husband. Where do I start. It will be our 45th wedding anniversary this year. He’s still my best friend.

The Artist is a good place to start. It was when Covid started and they locked us all up, (rat bstrds) if you know what I mean 😉 . He had very little to keep himself busy so he started to draw/sketch/paint everything. Now mind you I had been with this guy since 1976 and never once did I see him do anything associated with the art or painting. The only thing I knew about him and art was that whenever the kid’s had a project at school that required art, he was the guy. Here’s a few of his paintings …

He really is very good. He told me back then he had always wanted to be an artist and I really think he could have. He said that the best career move for an artist is death. I think he’s right. I asked him why he decided on college instead and he told me his mother said no way, you go to college and get a job. Thank you, mother. Starving Artist is a real thing and I know I did not want that. Nor do I like the career move of death. So he just keeps painting and sketching…He really is very talented !!!

He also loves his dog’s and they sure do love him !!!

A quick story on one of his pictures. It was a picture of, “The Last Supper.” This was his own creation from different renditions that he studied. That’s how he picks out what he’s going to paint. It sort of just speaks to him. Here’s the painting of, “The Last Supper.”

He had to do it with a couple different canvases and put them side by side. There were a total of three separate canvases. When he put them all together he asked me what I thought. Being who I am and my attention to detail, I counted the Apostle’s and there were 13…I said to him, “Why are there 13 Apostle’s ?” He said,” b/c I made myself the thirteenth Apostle. I’m the guy with the Apostle resting his head on his shoulder 😉 … ” Clever I thought. I wonder if the nun’s would approve…Probably not 😉 .

I should at least put up a picture of him as a suit. That’s what he does to pay the bills or as he says it, he likes to eat and live indoors 😉 . So do I and he’s made a great life for us both…I love you husband <3 !!!