Trim-A-Tree Event

Last week I posted this happy Santa face on Wordless Wednesday. Today I'm here to tell you just what this Santa has to say....

First, let me tell you about the organization that is sponsoring this amazing event. In 1966 twelve people got together and decided that Foley and Baldwin county needed to be introduced to culture in the form of the arts. The first cultural event was a live symphony performance. That was just the beginning and the PAA has been going strong ever since. Performances, exhibits and festivals that occur here in Foley and surrounding areas in Baldwin County are due to all the hard work and planning of the PAA. Our schools benefit greatly from programs that they offer, such as the Artists in school programs, theatre, dance, poetry and even mime. There is even a Scholarship and Merit Awards program that the PAA sponsor. 

Foley is blessed to have others that help support the PAA and that enables them to continue to strengthen our cultural enviroment. Support from local businesses and the city itself. Local artist help by becoming guild members and placing their works at the art center. The PAA can then use their proceeds of those consignment sells to help aide in their wonderful events and programs.

Now that you know a bit of the history and that there are many events and programs sponsored by the PAA let me tell you about the one Santa is talking about. It's the annual Trim-A-Tree Christmas Event. It always starts the second Friday in November and runs through til the 22nd of December. The doors of the gallery open up at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There really are some amazing artist works to be found, that range from paintings (oils, acrylics and even crayons...yes I said crayons....amazing) there are baskets, gourds (painted and natural) coastal art (shells, sand and drift woods) Christmas ornaments adorn some beautiful Christmas trees (look closely for there are so many to choose from) knitted and crocheted scarves and items, purses, signs, birdhouses, jewelry and of course those whimsical ooaks (one of a kind sculpts) from Southern Ooaks. There is surely something for every person on your Christmas shopping list to be found at the Foley PAA gallery.

If you are planning a winter get-a-way to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or even Pensacola make sure you come through our little town of Foley and visit the gallery and some of the other local shoppes around it. I promise, the trip will be well worth it.

Just to entice you a bit...here are some of the artist's works that can be found during this amazing event. Please respect the artist works shown here and do not copy in any form. These photos belong to the PAA and their artist. I am posting with the permission of the gallery director. Now scroll down and enjoy and plan that little trip to see us.

Until next time........Hugs,
Regi

It's another Doodle for the Chazman

School has started and it's going to be a very good year. It's hard to believe that summer is gone and I so wish that Mother Nature would realize that too and bring in some cooler weather. It's very much needed, wanted and desired!!!  I don't usually whimp out this early with the heat....seeing how I have lived in it all my life but HEY let's just be realistic here....sugar melts when it gets hot. ROFL....sorry...I just couldn't help myself on that one.

Those that follow my blog know that I draw and doodle on the Chazman's snack bags each day. It's our secret way of me being able to remind him during the day that I love him. Yes, yes...a doodle and little x's and o's. I will do this as long as I can get away with it and if that's up to the time he is in college then so be it!! I normally let him pick a theme and the creatures that live outside our studio window are the choice this week. We could sit all day and watch all God's creatures that play just out of our reach. It seems we have a family of lizards and Chaz loves to watch them. They run up the poles on the patio...chase each other....eat bugs (YUK...that is Chazman's fav thing to be able to witness this feat) and of course sit and watch us. This week we are all about the lizards. Of course, I can't just sit and draw a normal lizard. I wanted one with flare...one that looked as though he not only liked to watch the Chazman but one that might actually speak to him. Meet Izzy...the snack bag lizard and one of the characters that I will be using for a children's story later on.

Doesn't he just exude (is that even a word...well, today it is) attitude. The Chazman liked him so much yesterday that he carefully folded him up...put him in his back pack so he could have him with him again today. My lil man....just makes my heart soar.

Until next time.......HUGS,
Regi

Paper Bag Monday....

I can't believe that yet another weekend has come and gone. Why is it that the week seems to just drag on by but the weekend seems to fly on by? Guess the saying is true....."Time sure does fly by when you are having fun". Hope your weekend was a FUN one.

Sunday nights are when the Chazman and I sit down and discuss what he wants doodled on his snack bag for the week. Can you believe that a rough and tumble boy can take care of the same old paper bag for a whole week? I guess he really loves them!!! He still wanted his beach theme but something a bit different. He wanted beach creatures in this one. So here is what got doodled this week...............

Chaz said this morning when we were packing his snack that he wished he was really looking out this window. He would even gladly give up his crab catch to the parrot...LOL!!!!

Until next time.......Hugs!!

Regi (and the Chazman)

Simple things......

It doesn't take much to make my lil Chazman happy. I guess really I shouldn't call him "LiL" anymore seeing how he is seven. He is growing so fast and Mommie is losing her baby even faster. I am very fortunate in one thing with him though, he has the heart of a faery and a gypsy's soul. Humm, wonder where he got those from? ^_^   Not saying that he isn't a rough and tough boy because believe you me....he IS!!! Just ask Daddy, who is having a hard time these days during "playtime". He is almost being knocked over and or out on some occasions by his lil man.

What I mean by a faery heart and gypsy soul is that he holds things dear to his heart....he appreciates the small, simple things. One of those "simple things" I was told by him today are his plain old brown paper bags I send his snack in each day. Of course, I can't stand seeing a plain, old anything...so I turn them into drawing paper.  Ever since the Chazman started school I have always drawn or doodled on his snack bag. Just so he would have something fun to look at while he enjoyed his midday snack. I also did it so I could write a "Mommie love note" on it without making him feel embarrassed by the other "guys" he might be sitting next to sharing that snack with. (Mommie love notes=hearts or XoXo's)  The comment came today because I had not drawn anything on his bag for today. Times are a bit difficult around here lately and my mind tends to wonder off in strange places and ok ok I just kinda forgot to sit down and do it last night. BUT that so won't EVER happen again since I now know that they are bringing a smile to my child's face and as he put it, it let's him know that I am thinking of him even when we are apart.

Something so simple....I never realized what am impression it had made. My love for him turned around and gave me one big HUG and tug at my heart. Have you done something "Simple" for someone lately? Try it...you will both like it!!!!

Chazman's snack bag for tomorrow.

Until next time........HUGS,
 Regi