Yes, these new paintings are a big departure from the old. But you can see how they are related to the Monochromes and Black and White paintings from 2008. They are directly inspired by the image on the lower right...only with a totally new medium (acrylic) and approach.

New Paintings

These are my latest 18" x 18" paintings. Hope the curator likes them when she comes for a studio visit Saturday afternoon. They are lots of fun and can be rotated and rearranged in every which way.

Don looks forward to the Gilroy Girl Photo Fest . . . he hasn't heard about it yet :=)

Getting ready to Fly

mmmm...
Transplanting baby Manoa Lettuce.

Getting ready to go off island to Island Park.

Don's behind the camera.

We're looking forward to eating lunch at Bear Country Bake Shop in West Yellowstone, driving a SUV, being the first to arrive (we hope), seeing everybody soon.

Small Updates

I just made a couple of small updates to the layout for the week at the cabin. Here's the latest version (click on it to enlarge):

Where the heck is Outland Pines Lodge?

First, make sure you have everyones cell phone numbers, so you can call if you get lost. Lynne and Don are arriving first and Don's cell phone # is 808-269-3111. They will stop at the management office for keys.

OK, so we're all traveling north on I15. In Idaho Falls we need to turn onto US 20 E heading towards Rexburg. 80+ miles past I15 we need to look for the intersection with Kilgore-Yale Road. There's supposed to be a Phillips gas station at this intersection. We turn left heading west on Kilgore-Yale Road and go approximately 7.5 miles. Look for Arrowwood Drive on the left side of the road. Should be easy once you see the dog. Continue on Arrowwood Drive for about 1 mile. You should see the sign on the right for ARROWWOOD. Hereabouts we should have to make a choice to turn right or left; so we turn right (no street signs here). Outlands Pines Lodge is the second building on the right. Good Luck, and don't call me because I'm more confused than the rest of you.

***Update from Bre***

Sorry to encroach on your post, Dad, but I didn't want to do a new post and I can't add a comment. Anyway, I just spent a half hour trying to figure this out on Google Maps. So I basically used Google maps to measure 7.5 miles from the Gas station, and I think this is where the picture of the dog was taken:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Co+Rd+A2%2FKilgore-Yale+Rd&daddr=44.466009,-111.505265&hl=en&geocode=FelMpgIdncNc-Q%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=44.463865,-111.505179&sspn=0.019081,0.032616&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=44.465935,-111.504944&panoid=SKFWcARmB40IGKGD6M96Aw&cbp=12,249.58,,0,5&ll=44.463865,-111.505179&spn=0.043737,0.077162&z=14

That is supposedly where we turn left onto Arrowwood Drive, but Google Maps doesn't acknowledge an Arrowwood Drive yet. If you click on the controls in the upper-left corner, you can pan around.

So here's the map from the I-15 up to Island Park:


View Larger Map

And here's the map from the gas station on US 20 to Arrowwood Drive:


View Larger Map

Hopefully all that gets you within 1 mile of the cabin! (But GOOD LUCK from there)

P.S. I'm having fun with all these maps. I'm tempted to put up a picture of the gas station where we turn onto Kilgore-Yale Road. Oh, what the hell, here it is:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=I-15+N&daddr=A-2+Clark+County+Rd%2FKilgore-Yale+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FYbllgIdekVR-Q%3BFVt_pgIdkJBa-Q&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=9&sll=43.951305,-111.689758&sspn=1.223956,2.087402&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=44.452504,-111.361181&panoid=kfIYNRuA5-4olxFeXoKEFw&cbp=13,69.78,,0,5&ll=44.024422,-111.730957&spn=2.820156,4.938354&z=8

Bed Head from Hell!

Good Morning Keala!

Uhm, Keala, You got something in your hair!

Whoa! Turn your head some more!

Yikes! Thats the worse bed head I've ever seen in my life!

When I had short hair I had some bad bed head, but not like that!

Maybe we'll figure out a way to fix it!

Jane

Um, have I mentioned how cute my baby is? Just sayin'.

Our Point System

Erika mentioned recently about her job chart for her kids and how much they love it. I thought I would show the one I just made for my kids last week. Four different rooms represent the different chores they have during the day.

These tokens get taken out of each room as each assignment is finished and moved over to the 'bank' where they deposit their points for rewards. Each reward is recieved after 3 tokens are earned. So they earn tv time, friend playing, snack time, etc after they accomplish 3 assignments each. They are so excited to brush their teeth, make their bed, get dressed, and on and on because they are excited to earn their points. I don't know why it is so much fun, but it is!

Dish Duty at the Reunion

The girls tell me that each family will be responsible for cleaning up after breakfast, lunch, drinks, and snacks at the reunion. Only disposable plates, utencils, and cups will be used. (Nikki is bringing these -- Thanks Nikki!) On their assigned nights, Ross, Kathy, Lynne, Don, and Adam will assist the cook to clean up the dinner preparation utencils, odds and ends, et cetera. Families will clear their own places and leave the table, chairs and surrounding floor clean. So, do we have this right?