It's Thursday

Hello Friends, Family and Followers,

Not much is happening up here in Olsonburg. I have a cold, which pretty much pisses me off. We had some crazy sunsets this last week, and our semi-professional photographer, Carl, has been taking some pictures and sending them to me so that I can share them with the gang on my blog. So here they are.

1. Notice the brilliant oranges in the sky which reflect down upon the still water.


2. The sun is trying to break through before it says adios for the day.


3. The very next day brought about a completely different type of sunset. The storm had passed.


Now for the other talent of this house, the artist, me. This is the latest painting from my art class. We are painting snow, which means leave some white paper showing, which is hard to do when you have a full pallet of so many colors to play with.


This is our first painting of the session, we always start with pears. I now have a full collection of pears. Each painting very different. I will do a comparison one of these days.


This is a painting from a photograph that my friend, Leah, took of an old abandoned chuch somewhere in Oregon. About 3rd grade level.


I hope to feel better by tomorrow, because I want to go to the gym, and to the Grand National Roadster Show on Saturday.

Ta Ta, Kathy

My Art

Well, I'm back in watercolor class, again. I'm trying something new this time. Using pen with the watercolor to enhance the art. This is the palm tree in Mary's back yard.

This is the painting from my last class just before Christmas.

I guess you might say, I sure like bright colors.

Kathy

What's Up...

Last week the Metropolitan Water District emptied most of the water from the reservoir behind our house. They do this when a big storm is on the way so they can store the water and have room for more (I'm guessing). This picture was taken on Friday.


My little sweetie, Lili.


By Saturday they started filling it up again and the clouds are approaching.


This shot was taken yesterday, as the storm went through. Now the water is up to the very top rims.


My birthday dinner with Mary and Per at their new home in Vista. We really enjoyed the evening and spending some quality time with them. Mary's birthday is 3 days after mine, so we try to spend it together when we can.

Carl, Me and Mary

The sunset from their back yard.

ta-daaa.

Friends since high school. We've been through a lot together.

Their 2010 Christmas card shot.

I've been keeping busy working on websites and doing laundry and managing the house and being the personal assistant to dad and brother. I started my art class again last week, watercolor painting, which is a nice break from the routine. Started back to the gym after all the holiday over-eating.

That's all for now.

Kathy

Pismo Beach New Year's Eve 2009

Pismo Beach on New Year's Eve is becoming a tradition for the Britt's and Olson's. There were 8 of us this time, plus one dog. Joni and Brandie joined us, so did Stephanie, Sean's girlfriend. We met up at the Mission Inn on Wednesday in Neil and Rondi's room and watched the sun set.


Dinner reservations at 6pm at Jocko's in Nipomo for the best meal of the year. I had halibut, baked potato, salad, bread, and probably a lot more. I also had quite a few Vodka Tonics.



On Thursday we took a walk on the beach before breakfast. Carl, Lili and I stayed at the Sea Gypsy, right on the beach. They allowed dogs there. Nice place for an oldy moldy. Lili loves the sand and the seagulls and all the other dogs being walked on leashes. That is one hell-of-a long tongue, she had a great workout. Sorry about removing the top of Carl.


Here they are enjoying the walk in the brisk morning air. Video.


We all met up for breakfast at Zorro's in Shell Beach. Sean and I had Chili Verde omlettes, I copied him. Food was great, seating was tight. Neat place.


After breakfast we all decided to go on a wine tasting tour. We drove over the hills to the Edna Valley to Wolfe's Winery. Mark was our host and we all tasted about 6 wines. The whites were best. This photo below is a composite of 4 photos I took, sort of self-panoramic. You may want to click on it to see it up close. The countryside up there is spectacular.


Tasting the wine.


Some video of the winery.


Carl and I with our Reds. I wore my wine colored shirt, so if I spilled it wouldn't show. Much.


Stephanie and Sean, wine critics.


Brandie, Joni and Rondi.

Carl was in charge of the pooch. I was pushing her stroller that we borrowed from Carol. Lili's legs would give out after a bit, so I pushed her while looking like a crazy woman.

A seagull and a pelican, sharing a lamp post.

We stopped by the market for supplies, food, wood, and stopped by a sandwich shop to get our dinners. Then headed to Grover Beach and the dunes. Got there by 4:00 ish.

We set up camp before the sun went down and it got really cold. Sean built a warm fire and kept it going all night. He burned through 7 boxes of wood.

Me Joni and Carl. and Lili.

Carl enjoying the sunset. The tide was way out and would soon work its way back, very close to us.

Joni and her tripod. She took some good pictures.

Beautiful sunset on the water.

Happy guy.

Happy gal.

This is our camp.

It got really cold when the sun went down.

After burning all of the wood, Sean burned the boxes and they went up in a huge flame.

Friday, New Year's day, we all met up for breakfast at Penny's American Grill, then headed home. Lili was exhausted.

Happy New Year everyone. We wish you all good health, decent income, and much happiness.

Kathy