About Me

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Houston, Texas, United States
Welcome to my Blog Site :) I am so happy you stopped in. I am a part time worker, wife, mom and artist/crafter. I became a grandmother for the first time about a year ago. My passions are Stained Glass and Mixed Media Art. I am a Texas girl living in a house that my father and grandfather built in 1945. I have a loving husband and two teenage boys. My boys are talented musicians who make my life complete. I hope you enjoy reading my posts about music, my boys and grandson and just about life in general. So grab your favorite choice of drink, sit back, relax and happy blogging.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Silvery and Gold Christmas on Piano


 I have finally taken down the Thanksgiving decoractions and am slowly putting up some Christmas decorations in my home.  Just a little silver, white and gold above my son's piano. 

I started by covering the piano top with a silvery vintage wrap designed by Emily Wetherby that belonged to my mother.  These pictures do not do the wrap/stole justice.  Believe me it is very GLAMOROUS, Old Hollywood looking.  (Not something I would wear.)




Sorry about the poor picture quality.  It was hard taking pictures with all that silver reflection. 



What I love about all four trees on the piano is the simplicity (What?) I mean - hardly any ornaments.   The tallest tree on the left is all white (glitter, of course) with gold ribbon wrapped around, it came with the glittered star on top.  The next is a small gold tree with a glittered star on top.   Next is the tiny silver tree with a hint of pink.  I decorated this tree with small bevels you hang from a chandelier.  The star on top is a glitzy star shaped pin. The tree on the far right is a silver lighted tree that I decorated with silver and gold ornaments.  It has a huge silver star burst on top.


The vintage looking Santa is a recent purchase.  He is carrying a small tree made out of (what else?)music sheets.
 
I think this is enough bling to brighten all my neighborhood. Hope you are having a wonderful time preparing for the Christmas Season. HO! HO! HO! 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

2012 Photo Scavenger Hunt Part 3

This is part 3 of Rinda's 2012 Photo Scavenger Hunt. I found 20 of the 21 items on the list.  I had a great time looking for the items on Rinda's photo list.  Many thanks to my cousin Rinda for hosting this scavenger hunt and thanks to my family who were patient with me.  Many times I drove out of the way to get these photos with family in tow.  I know my family enjoyed playing along as I heard my husband talk about the hunt to my brother.  Click on the 2012 scavenger badge to the right to view other participating blogs and photos.

Item #5 A train.  

Items  # 6  A Historical Landmark and Item #17 A Church -   This is the first church in Houston to be built by freed slaves.  It is right smack in the middle of downtown.  I love how this small church is just nestled between the tall skyscrapers.

Item #13 A Library - Julia Ideson Library is downtown across from City Hall.  It has some amazing architectural elements.  It has just been restored and currently houses historical books.  Some rooms can be rented for events.  I was lucky to be invited to a Christmas party held on the second floor.  It is an old grand lady and the interior is gorgeous.

Item #8 An Angel

Item #11 A Shadow  A wrought iron room divider I have in back of sheer white drapes in my living room.

Item #14 A person playing with a ball.  Took this picture from television, Sunday Football on Fox Sports, Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Item #15 Someone dancing.  Don't know any of these youngster but they sure put on a good show.  




  


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Endeavour leaves Houston

This morning the radio announcer reported the 747 giving the Space Shuttle Endeavour a ride to LA had left Elllington Field.  My son and I talked about how we missed seeing it fly by Houston's sky .  I dropped my son off at school and started driving toward the freeway.  From the corner of my left eye, I got a glimpse of it.   Thank God for the long red light and my handy phone camera.   Not a very good picture, the clouds did not help, but it was an awesome sight.



When I got to work my son posted his sighting of the same space ship from the second floor balcony at school.  


Later in the day I got a facebook post from the Houston Chronicle.  The 747 had made a stop at Ellington Field overnight to refuel.  



My son's friend, (K-DOG), drove out to Ellington Field and got a really cool night photo.


It was big news in Houston to see the Endeavour.  On a more personal note, it meant a lot to me as it reminded me of my Uncle Pete who worked for the space program when NASA first started until his retirement. Rest in Peace Uncle Pete and thank you for all you did  for us to be able to see this AWESOME  sight.

Endeavour piggie back ride by Houston

Isn't this awesome?


The Space Shuttle Endeavour made a piggie back fly by Houston's sky yesterday.  I was not lucky enough  to see it.  My cousin on the other hand was luck to get a really good picture from her work place. 

It spent the night at Ellington Field for the 747 to refuel before its final destination of Los Angeles.



New Sax






I had a lot of fun tricking my family on facebook about my 17 year old son's new baby being delivered soon.  They called asking all sorts of questions. I just kept on with the practical joke all week.   Read on and you will understand.  I hope my family will forgive me for tricking them.  

After a long weekend waiting for my sons new baby, it was finally delivered on Tuesday evening by UPS. My son acted like a father waiting for his first child to be born.  He kept pacing up and down the hallway and looking out the front door.  He would ask questions like "What time does the UPS truck stop delivering?" and "Does the UPS deliver on Sunday?".  He also tracked his baby on the UPS Website.  Once it got into the Houston area on Sunday night he asked if we could go pick it up from a warehouse where it was being stored until Monday's delivery.  It was finally delivered on Tuesday evening at 6:12 p.m
Unwrapping her.

Putting her together.
Playing her for the first time.


Lots of pretty buttons.
She is a beauty.  

Putting her to sleep.







Wednesday, September 19, 2012

2nd Round of Photos for Rinda's 2012 Photo Scavenger Hunt

This is the second summer I participated in my Cousin Rinda's Photo Scavenger Hunt.  Read about it at this link: http://gallorganico.blogspot.com/2012/08/photo-scavenger-hunt-link-up-party.html Here is a second round of some photo's I took for the Photo Scavenger Hunt.

Item # 4   A Roadside Stand.  I pass by this produce vendor every Sunday on the way to church.
 
Item # 18 A Movie Poster.  I love Andy Garcia and highly recommend this movie.  I love historical movies that get my boys asking questions and get their brains working over time.  I warn you though, it is a tear jerker. 

Item #'s  3  and  12    A Border and a Trail.  Guess I am cheating by getting two photo's in this one.  The trail is closed for now , but will get students from the back of the college to the front when it is finished.. 
 
Item #20   A swing hung from a tree.  I drove around several neighborhoods looking for a swing.  Doesn't look to safe.   
 

Monday, September 17, 2012

Mary Queen

A look at some of the stained glass windows at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood. 

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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Friday Night Lights and the Night the Music Died

So it starts - High School Football


and with it comes Cheerleading

and Marching Band
only this year the music dies.  

TAPPS has passed new rules that limits the band from playing while the ball is in play or when a player is injured.  Therefore, the band can only play before kickoff, at half time, when there is a touchdown and when the teams exchange possession of the ball.  If the band violates these rules, the football team will automatically lose the game. 

The Band was given these rules right before the first game on Friday.  It was the night the music died.  It was the most quite football game I have been to.  In the fourth quarter the band started playing music by stomping their feet on the bleachers and singing.  It sounded louder than if the band had played.  It certainly got the crowd excited and cheering for the band.   You know how musicians are, they will find a way to play with or without an instrument.  Saint Pius X won their first game on Friday and on Thursday, 9-6-12 ESPN-U will televise the game.  Hopefully, you will get a glimpse of my son Mathew playing the Tenor Sax.

Are you planning on going to any High School games this year and is the school band being limited in their play time?

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rinda's Scavenger Hunt 2012

Here are a few pics I have taken for Rinda's 2012 Photo Scavenger Hunt.  
#16 A Bride.  At the age of 61 and after twenty years of living together and three children, my cousin decided to get married by church.  

#7 A person playing a musical instrument.  This is my son Mathew playing his new tenor sax.  

#21 A picture of me standing by something that symbolizes my nation.  Who else can say they picked George Washington's nose.  Ha Ha

#2 A Clothesline taken a few blocks from my house.  Those sheets look refreshing.

#9 A Fountain in Downtown Houston

#19 An Outdoor Stairway  This once was a school.   I remember going down these stairs during a fire drill.

#10 A Horse   The community petitioned to have this bronze statue removed from Moody Park.  No, you are not drunk or color blind.   It is a  pistol toting vaquero riding a purple horse.


Musical Summer

I am so proud of my two boys and their musical talents.  John plays guitar and drums and Mathew plays piano and sax.  My husband also plays a little bass. Me - well I drive them to their gigs.

This was a very musical summer.  My youngest son, Mathew, joined the Summer Jazz Workshop at Texas Southern University.  This is his second summer in the five week jazz workshop.  At the end of each week they traveled to various locations and performed.  They have played at an HEB store,  Aldine Youth Community Center, Clarewood House Retirment Center and performed at the Wortham Theater for the Mayor and Council members of the City of Houston to kick off the International Jazz Festival.

As if that were not enough, my two boys also volunteered to play in the Pit Band for the Upstage Theater in the Heights.  The musical performance of "Happy Day" ran every weekend in July.
Happy Days the Musical
There's more....

Mathew also had  band camp for two weeks right before school started.  You would think Mathew would be tired of blowing his sax.  Seems like he never gets enough enjoyment of all that brass.  He comes home from camp and practices for another three hours before going to bed.

Still more....

Every Sunday the boys play at the Teen Life Mass at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church.

I am often asked how do I make them practice, truth is I do not make them practice, they practice on their own.  They love playing just as much as I love hearing them play.

Can't wait to see what is in store this year for Mathew in his senior year at St. Pius X and John's second semester at Houston Community College. Love all my three boys.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Happy Mail

If you're like me, you go home from work and check the mail.  It's always the same, bills and junk mail.  Every once in a while you  receive something different.  You get excited and can't wait to open it.  Even your family gathers around to see you open the package.  You feel like a child at Christmas opening your gifts and can't open the package from all the tape.  One child asks "What is it?" another one asks "Mom do you need the scissors."  You're concentrating on opening the package that you don't answer.

I was thrilled to receive two packages this week.
Stamps and a Card from my dear cousin Rinda in California



















A card, teal koozie and the cutiest little business tag with her pet turtle (Rex) from my dear blog friend Deb in Arizona
This rainbow was spotted over Houston, TX.






Thank you Deb and Rinda for making me feel like I received the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

 Don't you just love to receive happy mail?

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Altered Wine Bottles


This altered bottle with a rub on snow diva will brighten any room.

         SOLD




Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Snow Buddy Shakers


Snow Buddy Salt Shakers
 I've been celebrating Christmas in July by making a few Snow Buddy Shakers.  These cuties are made with a salt shaker, styrofoam ball, a polymer clay nose and than decorated for the Holidays.  Each is filled with beads, confetti, glitter, faux snow and a small silver heart.  When you shake and twirl it you can hear and feel the Spirit of the Season.  How about you, are you celebrating Christmas in July?

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