I thought it would be a good idea to post tonight, just twenty minutes till twelve and it will be the 24th on July, 2014, the one hundred year anniversary of my uncle’s birthday.  Since he isn’t up to a big party, here is what is happening.  Around 11:30 a reporter is going to arrive at his house for an in depth interview and photos.  She was at my house this evening, and God bless her, she has purchased balloons (so did I ) and a crown and signs, etc.  At twelve o’clock I am rounding up as many people who want to go and we will proceed to his house.  There, I hope to bring him out to the steps of his porch, so that all the people can sing happy birthday!   I hope it will be meaningful for him.  I’ve actually baked him a small cake and we are going to put a sparkler on it.  A simple candle did not seem to suffice.  I hope the rain holds off or is finished by then.  Happy Birthday, Uncle Frank!

I don’t know how many of the people who went through the art gallery at Twin Lakes will have access to my  blog.  I gave out some of my business cards for the ones who seemed interested so some of you might browse to this site.  I hope you will see my sincere THANK YOU and pass it on to any others you might know who voted for “The Mountain Stream Heals All.”  Of course you can look at her any time you go to the gallery on this web site.

When an artist enters a show it is natural to hope for an award.  Any of us who have entered often have become conditioned to the unsettling seas of the award ritual.  We artists take it as a special recognition just to be included in the first selection.  It means our work is appreciated by a qualified and experienced juror.  After that, we are also conditioned to accept the award decisions.  If we spent much energy getting upset when there are choices we don’t agree with, then we probably wouldn’t bother to enter other shows.  The juror is one person and his or her choice is an opinion and it is important. It lifts the artist’s status to the next level. But The People’s Choice Award lifts the spirit of the artist and gives the incentive to paint again!  I consider it an extremely high honor to be awarded People’s Choice in any show because it tells me that YOU, THE VIEWERS enjoy my work.    Thank you for coming to the show, for looking at art, for studying and enjoying the paintings of Diana Williams and thank you again for voting for “The Mountain Stream Heals All.”

Let me fill you in and catch you up.  First, I was so blessed to be awarded first place at the Dressler in Somerset.  I went there on the advice of a new acquaintance a few weeks ago.  Since there was an upcoming show, I entered three pieces.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to attend the reception because that was the same time and day as my grandson’s rehearsal dinner.  But the art group called to tell me I’d received an award and asked if there was any possible way I could make it.  I looked at the travel routes and times and figured I could get there but couldn’t stay long.  I’m so glad I did because in that short amount of time I experienced such cordial new people and was welcomed so warmly.  Artists are great people and that is one thing that makes this all so nice.  Since all my most recent pieces were already in the Westmoreland Show, it was Red Mushroom that took the award.  You can see her in the gallery on this site.  I have to say that the most fun thing of the evening was seeing an old friend whom I have not seen for two years.  This museum is near his home so I contacted him to ask if he would be attending.  He was already planning to be there so it was a special treat for me.

My grandson had a beautiful wedding.  The odd thing is that a week after I fell, his dad fell and fractured a vertebrae six days before the big event!  Do you know that sometimes these breaks can be cemented together?  Well, that is what they did and my son in law recovered well enough to enjoy the wedding too.

Of course gardening is taking a big chunk of time right now.  My husband does all the vegetable garden in a plot approximately 45 x45′.  He has also picked up a lot of my flower care duties.  Even so, there is a lot for me to do.  I just discovered that the deer are munching off all the blossoms of my hydrangea.  There is only one place within the fenced off area where I can move it, but that means I will have to clear out the creeping phlox and the other ground covers that are there.  Then Bruce can help me move the plant.  Maybe next year I’ll get some blooms.  I’ve had the plant about seven or eight years.  It is about time I get it to bloom.  Yesterday I transplanted six Streptocarpis.  I will try to get photos when they get blooming well and post it here.

Now, I am thinking that I need a couple of new dresses for summer, so I must spend some time sewing.

There are retirement parties, graduation parties, holidays, and don’t forget my uncles one hundredth birthday is this month. HELP!

Actually,  I have made some amazing progress on the work for a big show.  I wanted to enter it in the Mr. Fred Rogers show, but there was no way I was going to have it ready for the July 1 entry deadline.  I entered a couple of other things and we’ll se how they do.  I don’t want to show this piece on this blog until I’ve had it in a show so it will have to wait probably till next summer unless I find an important show where I think it will work.

So for now, that’s what’s happening.  Diana