annechovie 7/16/09 annechovie 7/16/09

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY, MISS LULA!

My grandma back in the 40's

I want to wish my beloved Grandmother a very happy 90th birthday today! Quite a milestone by any definition. She is a wonderful person and I feel very blessed to be her grandaughter. She is still active and manages to maintain her beloved rose garden and share her blooms with folks who are lonely and under the weather. She is an extremely warm and nurturing lady who has passed on her love of reading, cooking, gardening (and tea!) to me. Happy Birthday, Grandma!!

annechovie 8/29/08 annechovie 8/29/08

HAPPY 67TH ANNIVERSARY TO A SPECIAL COUPLE!

My grandparents together in the early 40's when my grandfather was a Marine.

Tomorrow is my grandparent's 67th Anniversary. Quite a milestone! They are two of the most kind and generous people you will ever meet. I want to wish them a very happy anniversary and thank them for the wonderful and loving example they have been to all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I feel so blessed to have had them in my life for so many years. They still lead active lives at 90 and 89. They are an even better pair now then they were all those years ago! Love you, Grandma and Grandpa!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

annechovie 7/16/08 annechovie 7/16/08

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS LULA!!

I just want to wish a very happy birthday to my grandmother, Lula Harwell (or, as she is known to many,"Lulu") This Glamour Gal turns 89 years old today and I feel very blessed to have had her in my life for so long. She has raised four children, has 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and has been married for almost 67 years!! No small feat any way you cut it!!

I can remember coming over to her house when I was little - she was always very patient and would allow me to rummage through her jewelry box and try on her exotic long necklaces and clip earrings. I would play the organ at headache-inducing volume levels, complete with the bossa nova beat in the background and pull out the "Monkeys in a Barrel" game and scatter it all over the floor.

"Miss Lulu", as my grandpa calls her, should have worked for the fruit growers association. I can never remember a time when I saw her that she did not offer me a pear, grapefruit, apple, orange, tangerine, cherries, berries, banana, figs or kiwi. Heck, she even carries fruit when she travels!! A former English teacher, she is a voracious reader and a spelling editor for my grandfather and his newspaper columns and books. She is known for her love of roses and gardening, which I, and several members of the family, have inherited. She could spend hours at a plant nursery and has taught me the names of many different tree and plant species. Rarely could you leave her home without a hand-gathered bouquet from her garden (at times inhabited by a spider or some tiny insects, much to my chagrin). She is a gracious and hospitable woman who has always made everyone feel welcome in her home with her love of cooking, entertaining and laughter. She has had some bouts with cancer and ill health over the years, but manages to keep up with her daily walking and gardening still. As we like to say, "She takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'!" Happy Birthday, Grandma, and thank you for all you have invested in the lives of your family, friends and strangers - you are very loved!

annechovie 4/4/08 annechovie 4/4/08

PINK FRIDAY

"Pink Espresso" painting - Anne Harwell on ETSY

"Villa Borghese Gardens" painting - Anne Harwell on ETSY

"Studio Interior" painting - Liza Hirst

My grandmother with her white gloves and bold floral head gear- 1967

Painting - Kaffe Fassett

Jan Showers Design

Painting - Kaffe Fassett

House Beautiful

Pink is one of my favorite colors and I thought I'd include a few selections from my files. Some of them I have had for quite a while, and so am not sure of their source, but wherever possible, I have labeled them. Hope you all have a nice, relaxing weekend!

annechovie 3/5/08 annechovie 3/5/08

PIECES OF MY EXISTENCE

My favorite place - the beach

Today's post title is a bit of a facetious play on that often stereotypical "artist attitude" of psuedo-depth and melodrama. I am not the kind of artist who is either angst-ridden or feigns being so impossibly deep that an observer needs days to ponder my work and look for the hidden meaning. I am not ashamed to admit my work is not that profound nor do I have any desire to live a tortured, dark existence. To me, there is enough darkness, evil and sadness in the world already. I don't find any particular thrill in wallowing in it or trying to represent it in my work. I like happy. I like cheerful. I like vibrant. I like peaceful. I like good. I like to remember the sweet moments. Forget the bitter. Keep distance from the destructive. And I am not ashamed of it.
Call me shallow, but I generally paint things as they appear. A chair is a chair. A room is a room. Although all my subjects can represent far more than just how they appear on the surface, my goal is not to appear unduly complicated. So, in the spirit of simplicity and straightforwardness, I present a few snapshots of the things that surround me on a daily basis. We all know that people see things differently and associate what they see with deeper things based on their own particular outlook. That is why I so enjoy seeing other people's homes. The voyeuristic pleasure afforded by observing others' surroundings and living quarters is something that is a habit, a hobby and a true passion of mine. A person's "digs" are worth a thousand words. That is one of the things I enjoy most about being a part of the world-wide blogging community. My fellow bloggers have delighted me with allowing me see their homes and the homes of others. While I am still a shelter magazine addict, blogs offer a "meantime fix" that keeps me going until next month's issue arrives in my mailbox. So, here's to all of my beloved bloggers who have shared all this visual wealth and inspiration with me. Thank you!