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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Drawing With Grandkids, Lunch with Carlos, Diving into Forks Over Knives

We had two weeks of three days each with kids and grand kids. My son and his exceptionally wonderful wife came with their baby, Allie Bel, for three days from Portland, Oregon.
What a joy having them in our home, waking up to be able to play 'Patty Cake' with Allie,
to give her fat crayons and watch her draw a picture to put on the fridge!
 
Then a few short days later our two 8.5 year old twin grand children came to stay with us, without their parents, for three days!
Again, we had a ball.
I taught them to use the new sewing machine they'd received at Chanukah. But since neither parent sews I got to be their first teacher. They became proficient at it quickly and went on to design outfits for her and then for their dolls. Sweet! He even made a shirt for his baby cousin, Allie.
 
I also introduced them to American Idol on TV and here they are watching it with me.
Although they drew while here, I only eked out this one drawing in six plus days!
 

Now the kids and grand kids have all gone back home. And I am back to my usual life. Working, and going to lunch at Tacos Jalisco, and drawing there (yesterday). Carlos was eating his lunch before the big lunchtime crowd arrived and he invited me to join him at his table. We sat and talked, and I drew him while he ate. No, this does not look much like him in reality, but as well as I could do in the moment. My food came, and he got up and went back to work so you see him in the background too.
He does have wavy black hair and big brown eyes!

Carlos shared with me that a customer came in and saw the poster we have about my book: "One Fish Taco and Half an Order of Guacamole A Year of Drawing over Lunch at Tacos Jalisco" and picked it up in its frame and showed it to him behind the counter and said "This is what I want for lunch! One fish taco and half an order of guacamole!" Nice to know my book cover picture sells lunches there!!! (see side bar for more book info)



I've also discovered the film Forks Over Knives (Amazon) and have gotten back to cooking after a twenty year hiatus. DH took over cooking way back then to get away from my very veggie heavy diet. But now I am back to it in spades. (no meat, dairy, flour; lots of veggies, grains, fruit) So far I am enjoying the preparation of things called Yam and Lentil Stew in orange juice, and tonight I am tackling Mushroom Stroganoff. Now I am off to the grocery store for a few needed ingredients.

Linking to Paint Party Friday & Sunday Sketchers, get there via the link on my sidebar to see lots and lots of fun art!

39 comments:

  1. You had a great time with all your family for two weeks. you are forgiven for turning out only two drawings. :) Fun ones too. Love how you did the Kids in front of the TV. HPPF This wasn't showing up in my dashboard again.

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  2. lovely painting today Lynn, so glad you could enjoy your grandkids, a blessing indeed.

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  3. Glad you had such a great time with the grandchildren. I bet it is fun coming to stay with you and learning to work their sewing machine - kids love it when you spend time with them.

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  4. Great painting Lynn and glad you had a great time. Nothing wrong with getting back to normal. It's fun for all of us to see your work at Jalisco's. Happy PPF!

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  5. I LOVE your grandchildren's portrait. It looks like they were having a grand time with grand mom. Blessings!

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  6. What a wonderful time spent with the kids. Lucky you an really lucky them! Back to normal has its merits.

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  7. I like getting back to normal. Great drawings - so charming and full of character. It sounds like you had a lot of fun with your grandchildren.

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  8. Love the picture of the kids watching Ameerican Idol. Having a break in routine I find always brings a c\flush of inspiration.

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  9. how wonderful to spend time with family (and to have your son have an exceptionally wonderful wife!) great sketches!
    happy Easter, happy PPF and thanks for sharing!
    hugs,
    peggy aplSEEDS

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  10. Good to hear you had such a grand time with the children and love your sketch of them watching TV. Also love the sketch of Carlos. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  11. Love your stories Lynn. I wish I could watch American Idol with you, love that show, special when the finalist starts fighting for the first place. I always get hungry when you start talking about your Taco restaurant and Carlos, think Ill cook some Mexican food tonight for my family. Have a beautiful weekend Lynn :)

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  12. Sounds like you filled your grandmother roll to perfection!! A new perspective for the kids, there are never too many people loving them!! Great illustrations..the kids look cozy and Carlos looks happy!! Very fun pieces!

    Hugs Giggles

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  13. Sketches are wonderful and your menu sounds great. Happy PPF. xox

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  14. Beautiful sketches, and what a wonderful story!

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  15. We need those grandmother "fixes" from time to time and they always open our eyes to new ideas. Now you are a salesperson for Carlos...love it. Just make sure you keep painting at tables, not waiting ON them.

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  16. It's a hassle when everyone comes home and breaks the routine, but also very nice people live close together, I also spend a lot of time but I work with a sorrisa term on the lips. Your drawings very natural and free as ever. Saludos

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  17. So happy you got to spend time with your family! As usual, love your sketches!

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  18. Wonderful stuff, all of it, love the sewing machine idea, how lucky they are to have you.

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  19. Love your Journal and your sketches. I agree, Family is a wonderful Thing.
    Happe PPF and hugs
    Erika

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  20. Great drawings today! American idol one's fun. Haven't seen the movie you mention but I liked fat sick & nearly dead

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  21. Glad you had a ball with the kids! Valerie

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  22. It sounds like you had a wonderful time with your family. My husband did most of the cooking for many years but gave it up awhile ago so I had to take over. Now, that he is feeling better, he is starting to cook again. I am only too happy to give him back the stove.

    I enjoyed your pictures of your grandchildren and Carlos. Your works has such a happy feel to it.

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  23. What fun grandkids are to have for a visit! It sound like you squeezed out some great camaraderie in the time you had with them. Great post here, Lynn. Do you know I think Carlos actually lives here in Richmond VA? He is the dead ringer of someone I know but he goes by the name of Michael!

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    1. Too funny, my Carlos painting doesn't really look like him, so maybe I was channeling Michael!! ;-)

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  24. Back to cooking, how fun! I love to cook.

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  25. Paintings can wait - grandkids grow up (way too fast)! Love your paintings and your veggie dishes sound very interesting. HPPF

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  26. Your grandkids are so lucky to have you,

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  27. glad you had such a nice visit with your grandkids and that your bookcover inspires order selections. LOL. Great that you are cooking again too. Returning to it refreshed from all those years not cooking, no doubt.

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  28. it must be so uplifting to have that precious time with your grandchildren. Love the AI sketch! I watch it too :) Your return to cooking recipes sound really yummy too. Have a great weekend.

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  29. Spending time with family and making memories. Then being able to draw them. Glad you had time to do this. Beautiful.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  30. Hi Lynn, So glad you joined us at Paper Saturdays and yes ofcourse drawing on paper is included anything to do with paper is great. So I hope we see you again next week :) BTW loveeeee your drawings. ManonX

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  31. Hi Lynn,
    love this post...sounds like you had so much fun.. :) great treat. x

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  32. Hi Lynn, I'm happy you are able to spend time with your grandchildren. They are so fortunate to have such loving and nurturing grandparents! I enjoyed reading that you have jumped into cooking. The yam and lentil stew sounds like music to this vegetarian girl's ears. Perhaps you can share the recipe. Hugs, Terri

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    1. I got these recipes at Forks over Knives website I believe it's called chili.

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  33. What a grand, fun time, Lynn. Your sketches reveal the wonderful time with your grandchildren and family. hee :)

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  34. Your watercolor drawings are wonderful! I'm smitten.

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  35. I just got this movie today, can't wait to watch it! yet, I am a bit nervous to... Lovely drawings!

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  36. Twin 8.5 year olds and you still had time to draw. . . YIKES. Wonderful. What fun you had. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  37. good job with the post!! It was thoroughly enjoyed!

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Thanks for leaving your comments as I love hearing from you. Your words of encouragement are why I continue to draw!