November 1st already!

I'll soon need to wrap my mind around Christmas and all that goes with it. I'm determined to conquer it without stress this year.

Today the move starts for my studio. It was upstairs in a spare bedroom, but I've run out of space, so I'm taking over the ground level section of the house which will give me more room to spread out, run classes, etc. I'll have a couple of rooms to myself, access to a washroom on the same level and lots of storage space. Today is flooring day. I have some great laminate oak to put on the floor that should be pretty much impervious to everything. I'm sure it will be tested to its limits.

Sounds cool, hope it all goes to plan!

mmm cristmas

hi Jeanette,
I hate moving of any sort, even within the same house. It does give you an opportunity to sort through and get rid of things you are not using, and rearrange the order of things. I bet it gives you a new spark for your artwork, being in a better usable space. I hope the transition goes smoothly and that the remodeling goes without a hitch.
Warm regards,
Trish

Ooh! Christmas...I dunno what I'm gonna ask for, I'm bad at those kinda things being so indecisive. Mm...Maybe a L'Arc~en~ciel or a Super Junior cd. Or, maybe both..I sing the songs too much. -Way too obsessed with Asian music- I've gotta my parents and friends what they what, too (:

Jeanette, I hope the move goes well! My dad is moving sometime...He's being really unspecific about the date.

Sounds like you will have a great space to work in Jeanette! And I am sure all your students will love the new classrooms Click to view attachment.

However Downunder when November comes around we don't think Christmas will soon be here .............we think Melbourne Cup - "The Race that Stops a Nation". When this horse race is on we all watch it on TV or listen on the radio.

I can tell you from working in hospitals that operations will wait another 10 mins to start (even the patient wants to know if their horse won) or the radio will be on in the operating theatre......................little old ladies all over the country get tipsy at race parties Click to view attachment and have competions for the best hat! So come tuesday you folk will be voting but Australians will be drinking champagne Click to view attachment and lamenting that their horse lost. lol

Sue that sounds great!!
I hate it when we rush things, its only November and here we are already thinking about Christmas....well time does fly by... I Know, and we do need to organize things, but usualy I only get into Christmas spirit much closer to it....but when I do...I DO!!! With me it happens like a click, one day I wake up and my mind is wrapped up in Christmas Spirit every year its in a diferent time, sometimes earlier sometimes later...I can't explain it!
This year I do want to do some portraits to offer so I guess I can't wait for that click, or I wont have enought time

Clara - good idea on the portraits as gifts! They are more special than a gift that was bought from a store. I'm going to do at least one picture, a larger version of the bear on my gallery, for my stepfather. He's been really great and I wanted to do something special. I think I'm going to try and get through Thanksgiving (November 27th here) before I worry too much about Christmas, but really it's all around. I went into Walmart yesterday (against every shred of good judgement I had) and they were playing Christmas music over the sound system. I got out as fast as I could, but was still singing "Winter Wonderland" all day.

Jeannette, good luck on your remodeling project - they can be fun, but wow it's a lot of work! I've dealt with the laminate flooring, installed it in a couple of houses - it really does take a beating and still look good. The last house had three kids, two boys and as far as I know, it's still in good shape. It has such a warm and cozy look too.

Yma Sumac has passed away This November 1. She was 86. The Peruvian born singer, descendant of the last Inca King, has marveled the world in the 50's and 60s with her unique voice imitating the birds song.
She gave concerts in many countries at the time, and I saw her in person in a concert in Bucharest in 1961, at age 7.
Here are a few of her songs from my two albums.
track1, track2, track3, track4.

You can learn about this prodigious singer from wikipedia.

Hallo Elena,
I am sorry, but the tracks do not work.

I am sorry Ulrike. I don't know what is the reason. I'm trying to fix that.

OK. I fixed that. Thanks.

Unbelievable range of sounds. I have heard Celin Dion has the same. With my transverse flute I can get only 3,5 to 4 octaves (for my ears its high enough).

Elena, the tracks are not working for me


I searched for her at imeem and found her music. wow absolutely beautiful. thanks Elena.

They worked for me, but you must give them time to load. She was a lovely singer, Elena, thank you for sharing. I had one of the songs stuck in my mind for a few hours.

I double checked, Clara. They can be downloaded all. Maybe you want them in your email. Just let me know.

She was also very beautiful.

Elena that's ok, maybe if you tell me the name of the album, I'm sure I'l find it in imeem,or the name of the tracks I don't have enought space in my computer disk to keep them

Elena she is lovely and i have listened for the very first time to her music via the links..wow..you know she reminds me of the voice of DISNEY characters music, snow white for some reason really sticks in my mind.

Her voice reminded me of the blue alien singer in the Fifth Element (Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich). I love that movie, especially the music...

Here it is Clara one of the albums that Amazon.com has on sale:
Yma Sumac

I am on dial-up Elena so am still waiting for the music to download!

But in the meantime, for those who were wondering the Melbourne Cup was a terrific race - it is deemed by some as the best stayers race in the world, and we had the International contingent arrive from Europe to try and take the cup away........But local trainer 80 year old Bart Cummings, in his 50th year at the Cup took it out by a whisker with "Viewed". His first Cup winner in 1965 was "Light Fingers" and he won in a photo finish in what the race caller named as a dead heat. This is his 12th Cup win (he is the Master) and it was a photo finish that his horse won by the narrowest of noses. And everyone was sooooo happy for Bart who is acknowledged as the best trainer of stayers.

For those who don't understand what this is like to be so caught up in a race, I relly can't explain, but the European trainers and jockeys are amazed when they come Downunder for this............they say that they are treated like rock stars and there is nothing like that in Europe. We actually have a parade the day before the Cup, and all the jockeys are paraded. On the day the Cup jockeys are even introduced individually to the crowd before the horses come out into the marshalling area.

The music has just come through ....WOW! It is so emotive..............thanks for the introduction and information Elena. Even though I never knew of her before it is obvious that she will be a loss to the music world. I love some of the pipe music from that area and the two CD's that I have of that has a similar background chanting. It reminds me a bit of the music from that Mel Gibson movie about the Inca's that didn't use any English. Was a great movie but can't recall the name at the moment.

Sue, would that be Apocolypto? Hehe I couldn't remember either, had to google it.

Well I've signed up for online classes with the Florida Institute of Technology, to finally work towards an Associate's Degree of Liberal Arts. It's the degree a person gets when they don't know what they want to be when they grow up... No really, I don't know what I want to major in. I've never been able to decide what I might like more than anything else. Would working in an office make me happier than standing at a cash register? I guess this way I can at least have a degree to put on my resume, and see what happens then.
Anyways, my first class is integrated art (I hinted to the advisor I like art) so that might be fun. I'm just so excited, I'm a college girl now...

Congratulations, Mindy.

wow Mindy congratulations, that seems awsome

how does that work? Are all the classes online? and do you have to pay for it? Can anyone sign up?? I mean from other countries like me?!

Thanks Clara. The school I'm signed up with has a main campus in Florida that people can attend like traditional schools, but they also offer many classes and degree programs online for anyone in the country. It still costs a lot, like any college, but this way I can stay at home with my kids and earn a college degree. All of the classes & tests are online. This particular school has restrictions for students outside the U.S.A. but I imagine you could find a similar program if you do a search for online degree programs in your country.? Or maybe some online schools based in the U.S. will accept out-of-country students, I don't even know...

That is great mindy! congratulations to you my dear..

today is our anniversary too; 17 yrs..and he still makes me laugh out loud..

Happy Anniversary! Here's to many more!

Happy anniversary Kay!

Happy Anniversary Kay !!

Mindy, hope you enjoy doing your degree - your Liberal Arts sounds like our Bachelor of Arts (BA) we used to make fun of that degree too saying things like they'd learned the 1st 2 letters of the alphabet ......now they just have to get them in the right order! Most people though who do a BA do a double major and do something like Law as well, and they generally have a good sense of humour. Yes "Apocolypto" was the movie I was thinking of....and that group is called Walisuma de los andes. Lovely music.

Happy Anniversary Kay

I wish you both all the best

Click to view attachment

Dear Kay, this ecard is for you both:Happy Anniversary

Hi everyone, I've been a bit busy this week and not had a lot of time to come here and chat. But I have a few moments and thought I'd drop by.

Horse racing...what fun Sue!

Congrats on entering the academic world Mindy. I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot.

Elena, I haven't had a chance to download the music but will tonight when I get home if I have time. I have a late conference call to deal with first.

Kay, Happy Anniversary. Congratulations. We'll all be by for drinks later.

As for me, not a lot to tell. I'm working on a series of drawings about mouths. I've 95% moved into my new studio (YEAH!!) and I have some kind of low grade fever/bug/whatever this week. Not sick enough to class it as being sick and not well enough to feel really good. It will pass I'm sure.

At least tomorrow is Friday and I'll be taking a long long weekend. Tuesday is a holiday in Canada for Remembrance Day and I'm taking Monday as well. I still have tons of holiday left to take from work, but no time to take it so I'm grabbing an extra day here and there.

Now back to business plans and budgets for 2009...joy...

Thanks so very much to you guys for my good wishes and Elena thank you very much for the lovely card from both of us..

hugs to all

Kay, you're truly lucky to have such a happy marriage and a husband who respects you & loves you the just the way you are.

Last Week, a cat came into my parents closet and had her daughter here
Happy aniversary kay

Its sooooo quiet here this week. Where is everyone? Busy drawing I hope.

Its Remembrance Day in Canada today and a holiday. The holiday remembers those Canadians who died in the world wars and in current conflicts. In all, some 620,000 Canadian troops served in the First World War, and some 60,000 never returned.

I had a great uncle and great cousins who died in WW I and the veterans have a program this year to display on War memorials around the country the names of all the dead from WWI. The names are illuminated one by one from dusk to dawn from November 4 - 11th. http://www.1914-1918.ca/

Canada entered the war in 1914.

- Between 1914 and 1918, more than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders joined the military to fight in the First World War, the "War to End All Wars."

- More than 170,000 were injured and more than 66,000 lost their lives in costly battles such as those at Beaumont-Hamel and Passchendaele.

- The struggle involved virtually the whole country and made enormous demands on the Canadian people, whether they were involved in the fighting or remained at home to work in industry or farming to support the war effort.

- Canada's contribution to this great struggle, including the triumph at Vimy Ridge, was seen by many in the world as Canada's 'coming of age' as a country and enabled Canada to finally receive recognition on the international scene.

- Four Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross -- the Commonwealth's highest award for bravery -- for their part in capturing Vimy Ridge.

- Canadian John McCrae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" while on the battlefield.

- The first Remembrance Day took place throughout the Commonwealth on November 11, 1919. It was held to commemorate the end of the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m.

Hi Jeannette - you're right, it's been quiet in the cafe lately! Interesting reading on Canadian history - I don't know what the school curriculum is like now, but in my day we only studied history as it related to U.S. with barely a mention of our neighbors to the north or south. I always felt that left a huge gap in understanding and knowledge. I would hope that it has improved now since the world is truly shrinking.

It's Veterans Day here and although not many business close, the schools are closed, and there are parades everywhere. Bill and I may get out with the cameras tonight and snap some photos. Of course - I have to work today.

Nothing much happening in the personal front - I have been busy drawing though! I did gain a small victory late last week - the dogs that killed my sweet cat were declared dangerous by the animal control department and have to be kept confined now at all times. If they are allowed to roam, the owners are subject to criminal prosecution. As I said - small victory, but at least these people are held accountable to a degree.

Hope everyone else is still out there - chime in!

How is your little kitten getting along now? Growing fast?

Hello everyone

Daniella, that happens alot at my mothers house, she has about ten cats, and if she is not carefull they will have their babies in the closets too how is the litttle ketten?

Jeanette, it is truly sad to think about all those inocent young men who lost their lives at war. War brings nothing but pain and teers, its so stupid!! Happy to know there is a day to remember them

I have been very busy these days, besides working on my tiger for Jeanette's workshop, and two comission double portraits, I have had loads of things to take care of in my life. Lots of paper work
I also got myself a studant, which I will be helping out with English. It's my 9 year old neighbour, He just began having english in school, and he's mother asked me to help in out once a week wich means some extra money comming in, not much... but always helps We just began with the verb "TO BE"

My husdband and my son are going to England to work so that has also kept me very busy arranging everything for them, they will probably leave Next week, I will miss them so much!!!!, but I will have plenty of time to dedicate to my art.
If things go well and as I hope I just might be going to London for Chritmas

Happy to hear about your projects Clara.I would say that rather than teaching grammar as it used to be in old times you can introduce some professions like:

I am a teacher, you are a student, she is a nurse, he is a painter, we are neighbors(not an profession), you are farmers, they are singers.
In this way you introduce the indefinite article: a, an
singular and plural, affirmative and negative: Are you a teacher? No, I am a student.

Just an idea. I used to have some image cards for children which were made in an animation studio by two mothers of my young students and used those . You show the card and introduce the name. No translation necessary.
Name: dog. This is a dog. Is this a dog, yes, this is a dog.You can start with two pets a three period lesson.(see below)

If you are interested I can give you the link
You can aslo do a 3 period lesson my example is for French you just do it for English.
For nouns you have a household of items that you can teach names. You can group them on themes. Like tea time(cup, teabag, sugar, teaspoon, tea, water, kettle,etc)
More ideas if you get to the verbs.
Just let me know how fast is she a learner.

Jeanette, we don't have a public holiday on Remembrance Day, just one minute's silence at 11am, when the treaty was isgned. We have a public holiday on April 25th for ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corp). The ANZACs fought in WWI - Gallipoli, the Western Front, North Africa etc etc..... and we remember our service men & women then.

ncgirl, I don't know what they are teaching over there in schools these days, but I am a sucker for some reality programmes and one of my favourites is The Amazing Race........and unfortunately a young American man on there was used on every ad for last week's episode where they went to New Zealand...........he said "I don't even know where New Zealand is!" ...............I am sure the Kiwi's wouldn't have been happy about that ! This week he doesn't know where Cambodia is so perhaps he is just geographically challenged .

Clara, congratulations on becoming a tutor! Teaching kids can be such fun. Enjoy yourself!

Elena, thanks very much, It's very kind of you to help me out and give me these tips. I will use them when time comes. I have to stick to what he is learning at school, And for now he has only learned the verb to be in the afirmative, negative, interrogative and the shot form too.
Last year I helped my other neighbour also in english, but she was a little older, so I have some powerpoints I did with the professions, with daily rotine and with family members, and a bunch of fun exercises wich I will also use when he gets to these at school.
I will keep the links you gave me in my favorites and check them better later today. thanks again.


Thanks Sue ;

Clara, good luck with your tutoring!

Well life just became a harsh reality for me this past weekend. My marriage has had some unfriendly tension for a while now, but Friday night my husband got very drunk and hit me. I immediately called 911, and now have a restraining order. I also went to the hospital and had a doctor document all the bumps & bruises. We're living in New York but all my friends & family are in Florida, so I'm trying to figure out what I must do to legally take my kids out of state so I can start a divorce in Florida. This was a holiday weekend, meaning 4 days off for most people, so waiting around this long just to get the information I need is driving me crazy. I'm going to see family advocacy this afternoon, hopefully they can help out. I'll need a place to live in FL, temporary spousal support to pay for it, find out if I should take ALL our belongings or only about half, many more questions. Anyone here have free legal advice to offer? My husband is military so I'll need an attorney who knows military divorce. Thanks!

Hi Mindy   Have just read your last post.  I'm so sorry about your situation, I really feel for you. I'm sorry, I can't really help with any legal advice, but I'm sure the best thing for you is to try to get nearer your family, who will all be worried about you. My thoughts are with you. Best of luck. Norma

Thanks Norma. Yes they are worried for us. So am I, but trying to stay strong. Been married 9 1/2 years, my entire adult life, and it will be difficult starting over.

I know it's easy for me to say, but you have many, many years in front of you. I'm sure you will be strong enough to get over this and be able to make a new life for you and your wee one with your family's support. Let them help you in any way they can - don't be too proud to take their help. Your happiness is important to them and they will be wanting to give you all the support you need. I think I'm just about old enough to be your Grandmother and I know how much I would want to help if you were one of my family.

Mindy, sorry to hear you're going though this problem. That's stressful and difficult for you. I know a little about it, having worked with a battered women for a long time in the UK.

You'll sort it out and come through the other side a stronger person. Just remain calm, write down the facts and do what you must to keep yourself and your children safe.

If you have access to a women's rights group locally, they're a great help in terms of practical advice and moral support.

Mindy, I'm sorry and very distressed to hear that you are going through this crisis. Know this - you are doing the right thing - GET OUT!!! You seem to be doing all the right things, restraining order, etc. Stick to your decision - I'm sorry to say some years ago (husband #2) I was in the same situation and believed wrongly that things would change. They don't .

Jeannette's advice is the way I would go if I were you - check with women's support group, they can point you in the right direction for legal advisor. If there is a Legal Aid office (or something along that line) close by, you may want to call them. The local social services office may be helpful too, especially with the child support issues.

It may be scary right now starting over - but living in a situation where you don't know if you'll get hurt or not is even more scary. Be confident that you are doing the right thing for you and your children. Keep strong and take care of yourself. Stay in touch with your support groups (us!) and let your family help you until you get on your feet again. Once you get through this - and you will - you will be amazed at what a strong and capable woman you are.

Mindy, I'm so sorry to hear about all your problems I cannot help you eighter but you are in my prayers.
I don't know how it works there, but here in Portugal if you cannot afford a legal attorney you can ask the goverment for a free one, this is asked in social services, I hope there is that law there too.
Don't give up, and stay away from that guy.
BIG KISS


My husband and son are leaving to London next Monday, I am very busy getting things together, and very nervouse about it too. Its the first time we will have to part and its going to be dificult for all of us. But I'm hanging in

Mindy I just wanted to commend you for doing what needed to be done to start with. You made the first step in calling 911, follow through with that. So proud of you. I was also wondering if you might find a support group within the military. I live close to a military base (Bragg) and I know they are trying to deal the issue of spousal abuse.