HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today is New Year's Day, 2016. Every year for the past 30 or so years, I go to visit my friend, John for New Years. John has been married to Kandee now for over 15 years and the tradition continues. They live in Crystal River and we eat, drink a little wine, try to do different things each year. For instance, one year we did a progressive dinner at about 5 homes and I met so many wonderful people and ate such great food. One year we went to the "Barn", where it is invitation only and it truly is an old barn fixed up to a stage where everyone has to perform. It was so much fun and about as interesting as it gets. John is now part of a duo called Shades Of Grey and he and Tom, sing and play guitars at different places around their area. That's what we did last night. It was a quaint place and with good friends, food and music, it was the perfect way to end the year.

For the past 2 months, I have been sick with a bad cold that progresses to chronic bronchitis. As I began to feel better, my mother began to come down with the bad cough. Timing in life is an amazing thing. I finally retired on December 18th and on Christmas Eve, I had to take my mother to the hospital where she did have phneumonia and a bladder infection, very high fever and "they" said arythimia and Afib - heart problems. She is home now and I find myself grateful that I was able to retire and now help take care of her.

I have said all this to let you know that for about 2 months, I haven't painted anything. I just haven't felt up to it, you know, sitting for a long time, focusing on the small details, etc. I will be ready to jump back in in about a week as mom gets better. I have been taking some photographs though and hope to keep growing my portfolio and website.

I hope everyone have the most exciting, happy and healthy 2016 and remember, your dreams don't come true because you want them to, they become true because you work hard to see them come to fruition.