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JULY FLEW BY

If I turn around, the summer will be over, so I want to be sure to enjoy each wonderful moment! The best high after the 4th of July celebration was seeing Mamma Mia. We were in the absolute first row which was great as we saw everyone close up including the musicians....

I LOVE THE 4TH OF JULY…

It's grilled cheese sandwiches, games and unmitigated joy! Preparations start a week before the 4th. Tomatoes give the cheese sandwiches that special something but they have to be sliced thin and well drained. Party favors. The caricature is from the year before, when...

JUNE FLEW BY…

...with memorable moments such as delightful Peggy treating us to an evening of MUSE/IQUE at the Huntington. My birthday celebrations continued with lovely Marine and her delightful sister Eliza treating me at The Capital Grille. Another great movie night with Curtis...

MAY REMINICENSE

April was so very difficult that I'm going to skip right past it to delightful May. Perhaps it's because May is my birthday month but I really think there's so much more to look forward to in the month. Veronica pulled several landscapes for collector Pam to select...

CONTINUING MARCH

A highlight of March has to be being serenaded by Universal Renaissance man, my friend Stanley Penner, playing a bit of Mozart, Brahms and more... ...on his Bösendorfer. I was told to "Look up!" So many treasurers... A lovely "Gratitude Luncheon" at the Athenaeum....

MARCHING THROUGH MARCH

The Children's Festival was a wonderful way to begin the month. Three days of getting up at five, wearing a white apron and helping all the kids find their way to seats at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for an exciting dance performance by the Hubbard Street Dance...

SHORT BUT WONDERFUL

February, being the shortest month, has to cram a lot of joyful happenings..I can't think of a better way to begin the month than by celebrating Susie Kat's birthday at the Jonathan Beach Club! Yours truly, Maggie, Susie's cousin, Carol Soucek King, our amazing...

JANUARY, AND THE NEW YEAR BEGINS…

I'm not too sure what to make of January. Perhaps it's because December is such an amazing high with Christmas and New Years that it's hard to re-focus on business as usual. Well, maybe not as usual but certainly not at the extreme! It took Veronica and me two days to...

THE MOST WONDERFUL NEW YEAR’S …

began with guests getting their bling on. Here Alexis decides on hers. Also, signing the guest book and indicating what yummy treat they brought. Here's Jan making her entry. And with her bling on. Then it was time for amazing Magician Tom to mesmerize all of us,...

CHRISTMAS AND SO MUCH MORE!

Valerie Foster Hoffman is truly the Hostess With the Mostest, a real-life Auntie Mame! And to be at her Christmas party is to partake of an unforgettable experience. Cookies anyone? With Sherry in the garden. With Santa and our Lovely Hostess! Photographer Karl....

GIVING THANKS…….

…..We have so much to be grateful for and Thanksgiving is an over the top time to give thanks! The day started beautifully with a rainbow appearing in the kitchen! Then it was time to stuff the turkey. In went onions, celery, oranges, apples….whatever we could fit in!...

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A WEEK THAT STARTS WITH SANDIE……

…..is bound to be a great one! Dorothy, Sandie’s mother is quite the artist and Sandie brought over one of her paintings and accompanying text for Nikka to scan and convert to greeting cards. They’re going to be wonderful! Thank you so much for the beautiful Tulips...

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WHAT A FUN WAY TO START THE WEEK…….

…….Sandie and Jim came over to pick up Sandie’s awesome Christmas card for title approval…..this was just after Kita dashed outside to greet Jim…..missed that shot!  Anyway, Sandie wanted to show me the great doggies she got for the Christmas display at...

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IT’s CHRISTMAS CARD TIME…………..

…………and Sandie came over last Sunday to work on hers.  I wish I could show it to you….it’s just the best ever but I want it to be a surprise for all the recipients! Sandie brought the most delicious lunch from Julienne’s! Thank you Sandie Girl!!! There’s a new...

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I’VE DISCOVERED THAT THE BEST WAY…..

……to write the blog is to look at my calendar for the past week.  Now how long did that take to figure out????  Be kind & don’t answer. So I see that Monique Schenk, my awesome architect  www.schenkarch.com and I met for lunch at Le Pain Quotidien...

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ALL CRATE and BARREL STORES …

…..are displaying this limited edition ‘Ink Study: Rose’ print of my painting.  Some months ago I had blogged about flying to  Richmond, Virginia  to sign and number 300 pieces.  The Manger of each store decides how to best display it and recently...

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I HAD THE DAY ALL PLANNED OUT……

…….beautifully I had hoped, beginning with an hour’s conversation with a poet in Palo Alto who wants me to illustrate her book.  (Do we say poet or poetess?….You know….actor now applies to male & female….I’m confused.) Down the hill I met Kim, walking...

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WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK!

This little fellow wants to say hello to you.  He lives in mom’s building and is most curious! A couple of weeks ago when Mary Beth, Kita’s trainer, was here I hardly recognized her.  She had lost 20 lbs. and her skin was positively glowing (to quote...

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TREATS…….

…….at Rose and Ken’s…..especially at Halloween! Be afraid, be very afraid.  Rosie the Riveter cut these steel figures herself.  Is there anything she can’t do? Scarier to the left….. And it doesn’t get any easier once you’re inside! I took lots of pictures...

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NOW WHERE WAS I……..

…..not an easy question to answer when you’re re-entering the world.  After two solid weeks in bed one has to decide whether to play catch up or just start new.  It’s a good time to look at priorities, figure out what’s really important and make the decision...

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WELCOME…

to my personal blog where I’ll be sharing adventures and how I determine each day to live joyfully as an Artist, Teacher, and Author. My latest book “What If… We Have the Power to Change Our Lives” an inspirational book that hopefully will empower you to live your best life! You can find me and my work at nanraestudio.com My hope is that this blog will inspire you to find joy everywhere and in everything and that is what I wish for you!

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