Showing posts with label photo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photo. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Lovely Afternoon

It was such a nice bunch of women gathered to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my sister Beverly!  The food was amazing and the room was perfect.  I was really impressed with the gifts.  Lovely Afternoon!

Mary Ellen, Beverly, Beckie, Barbara

Barbara with new daughter-in-law Jennifer

Bride-to-Be Beverly with niece Mary Ellen

Beverly with sisters Elizabeth & Susan, and friends Sharon & Kathy



Susan and Elizabeth are Bob's daughters.  Sharon & Kathy are long-time friends.
"The Core" Beckie, Barbara and Mary Ellen





The three of us are "the Family".  Barbara is my sister-in-law.  Mary Ellen is my daughter.
Beverly opening gifts
I'm so excited for Beverly.  She is one of the best people I've ever known, my sister!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Christmas in July!

This is a painting I started in 2009.  I found a photo of George Clooney and decided to try to paint him as Santa Claus.  I'm not very good at portraits and especially with acrylic verses soft pastels.  Anyway, I did his face and then stopped.


Maybe I should have left it at that, but I'm trying to "clean-out" the half finished work that sits in the studio and takes up space.  I mean, what are you supposed to do with them?  Actually, the correct answer is:  BURN THEM!  That it the advice given by experts when it comes to your pieces that are just not up to the quality you want to project.  Every artist has them, in some cases, many of them!

So, what I did was use Thickener, which I love to use for some reason, and thicken the white paint to make all the fur on Santas hat and coat.  It is very thick and will take at least 5 days to "cure".  I hope it stays thick, it makes it look like fur.   But now, when I look at it sidewise, the white looks so stark compared to his face.  I don't know, am I ever satisfied?

Here, see for yourself!  Actually, let's NOT try to count the flaws this poor guy has!  Maybe if it were Christmas, he could inspire someone!

 Santa #2
11" x 14" x ¾" acrylic on stretched canvas
March 2, 2013


Now tell me, would you have known this was George?  Ha! Ha!  I'll say one thing, that REAL GEORGE is ONE HUNK of a GOOD LOOKIN' MAN!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

DSFDF Artist-Exchange Challenge

DSFDF Challenge entry
acrylic on 10" x 8" x .75" on wrapped canvas


Reference Photo of unknown exchange artist

Most of you know about Different Strokes for Different Folks - DSFDF. It is an extremely well attended challenge just over 1 year, hosted by Karin Jurik, an artist in Atlanta. This Challenge was done last year and apparently it was so popular that Ms. Jurik repeated it this year. I wasn't painting at this time last year and did not know anything about this or any other Challenge, so I am very glad to be able to join it this year. There are an amazing 180 entries, that is 180 artists painting each other, compared to last year with 130 artist entries.

However, humbling, is the word that comes to mind. It is so intimidating to paint someone else, but I've looked closely at the 43 paintings entered so far and almost everyone tells of their own struggle with this challenge. I considered painting it over - and perhaps over again, but felt that all I would be doing is wasting time. It was a challenge, not a commission. Hopefully the learning from the project will suffice!

To the artist that I have been entrusted with, I am sorry that I am not a better artist. It would have been my pleasure to paint a wonderful likeness winning your approval. Please know that I would have liked to do a better job! Since you are also painting me, I can only hope that you are struggling as I did! My skin colors and facial detail are not my strong suit. I love portraits but so far haven't learned enough to do them justice.

Aside from my painting, this challenge and the work of the other artists is fascinating and a learning experience. Please take the time to visit DSFDF and see for yourself!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

NZ Art Guild Challenge #9 - old house

Taramea Bay Road, Southland, NZ
acrylic on 11" by 14" by 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas
Creative Mark "The Edge" painted on sides
available $179 plus $11 shipping
email me for PayPal invoice

The NZ Art Guild Challenge #9, this old house! I was very enchanted with this house when I first saw it. However, I had just finished a house on a lot for the London challenge with The Virtual Paintout. So, I turned the house around and visualized it as looking out the front door!


Then, I had to find something to look out onto. So, I went to Google Street View Maps and ventured around New Zealand. I started at the tip and ended at the middle where the country divides, near Nelson. I believe that is called the South Island. I loved everything I saw, but decided on the image I found at the bottom of the country in Southland. The house had a beach feel and look, so I thought it was important to have a beach or coastal look.



Then I got really, really interested in where I am, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida in relation to New Zealand. So, I went back to Google maps and finally to MSN encarta World Atlas.
This first globe represents about 1/3 of the globe. You can see in the bottom left corner, Southland, New Zealand and in the upper right corner, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
The second globe represents the second third of the globe. It looks to me like Jacksonville Beach, Florida is about the same distance from South Africa. People go to Africa all the time and never think anything of it, but when you say you are going to New Zealand, everyone thinks you are going to the other side of the world!

This last globe just shows the last third of the globe. Now that is the other side of the world!

I've never had much interest in traveling outside North America. There is SO much in the United States to see, somethings I've seen and would love to see again and so much I've not seen. AND, Canada has a special place in my heart and interest.

However, now with the art challenges, meeting artists all over the world and Google Street View Maps, I am beginning to want to travel. South America, Africa, New Zealand and Australia to start with! Just think, with a computer, a bag of cloths and plenty of art supplies, you never have to go home again if you don't want too!

For your information, in case you're wondering, I DO still want to go home!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Grand Tour - 2nd in a Series

Moriah, New York Sidewalk
acrylic 11" by 14" by 3/4" wrapped canvas
available $115 including shipping
email me for PayPal invoice

Oh, so many memories here! In 2003, my Mother and I bought an RV and toured 10,501 miles in 10 weeks. I called it our Grand Tour or Driving Miss Daisy.

Mother was in poor health, passing away only 7 months after the trip. She used a wheelchair much of the time and was on a morphine pump due to severe back damage. She was on oxygen; that is why we got the RV, we could run the oxygen machine with the generator. And finally, she was in early stages of dementia. As I pushed her wheelchair with her portable oxygen tank attached to the back, all I could think was "Momma, I'm so proud of you" and I told her that all the time!

She was delightful on the trip. It was like she put all her problems aside to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Her joy was childlike and she relished every minute.

We were about the same size so I would dress her in my clothes, usually matching outfits, jewelry and fix her hair - the way I wanted it.
Then off we'd go to sightseeing, trying not to miss a thing!


I have already painted one photo from the trip, but didn't label it as part of the trip. It was They were never alone ... they had each other, dated July 31st of my dogs, Bill and Garth.

This scene was a front yard of the most quaint house, totally in ruin, but beautiful none-the-less, that I've ever seen. I want you to really know the feel of this piece, so I'm including a picture of that house. Click on each image to enlarge it. The wood detail is spectacular!




It is in Moriah, NY which is a lovely little town on the east border of the Adirondack State Park and just miles west of New Hampshire. It was such a lovely town, I could easily see myself living there. Mom and I went to a coffee/diner early for breakfast and just watched the morning unfold. Those are the memories that you can Cherish.

I started this painting last week as my entry to The Artist Challenge, No-Theme Theme, but about 3/4's of the way complete, just "changed my mind"! Now I know why. I needed to do this for The Grand Tour, and had a lot to say, too!

Enough for now, I did sort of leave the subject - the painting, to take a trip down memory lane. But that's not all! I will try to find photo's of the trip that might be interesting each time - I'm lucky enough - to paint another painting from The Grand Tour!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Art Challenge #13: The Patriot

Suffragette
acrylic on 9" by 12" by .75" stretched canvas
available $60 including shipping
email me for PayPal invoice

I learn something with every challenge. For instance, I had no idea what the word "suffrage" meant. The definition simply is: the right or privilege of voting.

This challenge for The Artist's Challenge is The Patriot. The definition of patriot is: one who loves and defends his or her country. Wikipedia gives so many definitions that my head was spinning! I did know that I wanted to paint something about the women of the early 20th century that fought for the right to vote, suffragettes. I looked up photos on Google and found this one.
I have to say, the idea of creating my own colors from a B&W photo was also very intriguing. I was not disappointed!

I found a few quotes that really impressed me, therefore, I'm including more than one today!

Carry out the republican principle of universal suffrage, or strike it from your banners
and substitute 'Freedom and Power to one half of society, and Submission and Slavery to the other.
~Ernestine Rose

Proof that they do not understand the republic is that in their fine promises for universal suffrage, they forgot women.
~Delphine de Girardin

Suffrage is a common right of citizenship. Women have the right of suffrage. Logically it cannot be escaped.
~Victoria Woodhull

Suffrage is the pivotal right.
~Susan B. Anthony

Can you imagine what these women went through to stand up and fight for their beliefs? They must have endured great opposition and hostility and yet they prevailed.

Wikipedia defines suffrage as: Suffragette is a term originally coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for the more radical and militant members of the late-19th and early-20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). However, after former and then active members of the movement began to reclaim the word, the term became a label without negative connotations.

I think I would have the courage to fight for my beliefs, but I'm not sure. There are so many important issues today, and I'm not on the line for them, so it does make me wonder?

Well, enough of the history lesson. I hope someone found it interesting and someone learned something as I did!

The challenge debuts tomorrow, July 18th. I couldn't wait to post all my new found information one more day!

Good Morning dear ones

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

You were not made from a common mold

Babar Sher Crimson
acrylic on 10" by 10" by 1.5" gallery canvas
available $60 + $8 shipping
email me for PayPal invoice

This is the 3rd of four lions I started a couple of weeks ago. I still have one more and I'm sorry to say, it has taken me a little longer than I had hoped.

This lion is painted in almost all iridescent golds, copper & bronze. There are touches of 4 other colors, I'm sure you can see black and white! Also, there is a touch of pink on his nose and a touch of yellow orange azo under his wiskers. For me, very minimalistic!

The background is so yummy because the sides of the gallery wrap canvas are slightly contrasted to the front background. The background is Qunacridone Magenta and the sides are Hibiscus. OOOww, this is a pretty combination!


I know you can't wait - ha! ha! - but I'll give you a hint, the next - the last - lion will be on a green/gold background. Maybe this lion will be green, too!

I thank God for the way he made you, distinct, special and unique. You were not made from a common mold.
~ Erwin W. Lutzer

I WILL see you tomorrow!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Self Portrait Global Love In Challenge

Self Portrait No.5, Cherry Chin
acrylic on 6" by 8" canvas board
nfs, my personal collection

There is a lot of story to tell. I started Daily Painting in February. During that month, I read on a painting board on WetCanvas about one new artist that challenged himself to paint a self portrait everyday for one month. I thought what a good exercise!

I had my daughter Mary Ellen come over and I used several wigs to create various looks. We took over 100 shots and about 10 of them were really good. Another 20 or 30 were very useful in painting self portraits.
In this image, I was wearing a waist-length "vamp" wig. The over-all look of this wig was not useful for painting self portraits, it just doesn't look natural enough and besides that, it is a ridiculous wig! But this photo, I thought was, was fun.

After painting my version, A Greener Jimmy, of Jimmy Wright's Self Portrait with Green Hand, I wondered what I'd look like done in vibrant colors. Well, I'm glad to say I really liked it and it has become one of my signature pieces.

Then in May, I found David Lobenberg's Self Portrait Global Love In which I wrote about in my May 22 post Art Challenges. I love self portraits so I jumped right in and contacted Mr. Lobenberg. I sent mine in on June 1st, I was so excited. I received a confirmation and when the challenge was posted, mine was not included. I wasn't sure if it was an oversite or if there was going to be additional postings over a period of time. I knew Mr. Lobenberg had spent a great amount of time working on this project and it had turned out to be very popular with over 50 entries. But I needed to know if something had been wrong with mine. Here are the wonderful words he wrote on the Blog about my inquiry.

"(...) I even missed posting (to date) two portraits...nuts?? (...) Also, I missed posting Beckie Saar Leone's wonderfully colorful and expressive SP. She emailed me wanting to know if there was something wrong with hers...hell no!"

I don't know what Mr. Lobenberg's plans are for continuing this challenge in the future, but I hope it is an ongoing project. It was very successful and a lot of fun.

I can't leave the subject of Self Portraits without including a site artist Fred Bell told us about on Facebook, the 5th Annual National Self-Portrait Exhibition. There are some incredible self portraits there, a must see if you also love self portraits.

And finally, a note about "Cherry Chin". As my daughter and I were growing up together, we frequently noted how different we look from each other. She is a beautiful female version of her father! Somehow, we developed the nicknames for each other "Cherry Chin" and "Shovel Chin". I'll leave those images with you!

Say goodnight, Cherry Chin

Friday, June 26, 2009

Art Challenge #12: June Bug

June Bug and the Bee
acrylic on 12" by 12" canvas board
available $60 includes shipping
email me for PayPal invoice

There are two challenges a month at The Artist Challenge - A Private Art Club and June Bug #12 is the last one this month. I say it each time, if you like challenges and haven't checked into this one, you are missing something. Vikki North, the site administrator, is always bringing in guest speakers, finding special additions and in general making it fun to be a part of The Pub!

I just read the best article about photographing your art work by Guest Speaker Randall Bellows III, Professional Photographer. If you're not a member of The Pub, this would be a good reason to join - and it's free! Mr. Bellows has three sites, a Fine Art Site, he also has a Fashion/Portraiture site and a Blog site. I haven't checked them out yet, but will be doing so very soon. His guest speaker topic was worth checking out further.

This painting is another one of my literal interpretations of the subject. I can't wait to see what ideas the other artists present. Wikipedia gives so many definitions of June Bug. You could almost paint anything and it would qualify under one of the definitions!

I got my two bugs from a wonderful bug site, North American Bug and Spiders.

My bee is a Halictid Bee - Augochloropsis sp. commonly known as a "sweat bee", who's elongated "polka dots" in the compound eyes are optical illusions, akin to the "pupil" in the praying mantis' eyes, photographed in the wild at Winfield, Illinois by Sean McCann.


My June Bug is a Cotinus nitida, one of many beetles also colloquially known as "June bug", Photo by Stephen Friedt.
I included the original images so you could see what they really looked like, especially the bee. My painting of the bee is so colorful you might think I embellished it. You can see I did not, nature took care of that all by itself!

It is better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise.
Mark Twain

What a happy time!
Goodnight

Thursday, May 21, 2009

iCoyote - a Utah Photographer

Claret cup cactus growing on the side of a rock overlooking Kane Creek near Hatch Wash. This was published yesterday in a photo of the week contest in San Juan Record, Hometown Newspaper for San Juan County, Utah.

I've know iCoyote, geez, it seems like most of my life. He is a self described hermit and I have to agree, he is one person that knows who he is and lives what he knows. I am the privileged one that gets to call him my friend because he is somewhat of a recluse. I believe he will be the kind of man that disappears into the dessert when his time comes. You hear me i? I believe in you!

Talent? Yes, and then some. His photo's are amazing. He has allowed me to add his website to my "If I only had a friend" list. Go see for yourself and then come back here to tell me you saw it too! My favorite is WYSIWYG (or not)? Choose "leftover cheese", then click on that image. It's like a puzzle and always a surprise on the other size.

I asked him how he would describe his photography and honestly, did not understand it all, so I'm going to use his own words:

As to being a photographer & whatever else I do- What that is, is nature photography, including landscape, macro, wildlife, and humor/anthropomorphic such as rock smilies or drama queen trees. I use the computer in several ways: to give an image the look that I saw when I took the shot; to create humor, such as enlarging a prairie dog image to human size; or to generate a photo realistic landscape from scratch.

Did I forget to mention he's pretty smart? Seriously, check him out, he's got talent.

Goodnight Duncan, thank you for sharing this with me.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Nor'easter Upon Us


Oh, the joy of being dirty - or - a day in the yard. Either way, there is such satisfaction when you've spent a day working hard and getting that sign taken off the road

"Worst Yard in the Neighborhood"

Well, I didn't have the sign, but I'm sure I could have qualified for it had there been one!

Mary Ellen and Ron are so wonderful about helping me do my bi-annual yard work. Here, the leaves fall from September to April. I think, why bother until they are all down? That makes sense doesn't it?


But I wasn't sure you could really see how dirty I was, so I got Mary Ellen to take another picture showing my arms. At least my hands were clean. I took the job of blowing the leaves. Must of blown for 3 hours and we only did the front yard. Next time, I should wear a mask, just think how much dirt I breathed into my pretty pink lungs!

While I blew, Ron chain-sawed large limbs, weed eater and pack horse to the street.

Mary Ellen did the most amazing thing, she cleaned my garage and I was actually able to put a car in it for the first time in about 5 years. And she said, "I'm not working as hard as you guys are, I hope you don't mind"! I told her, ME, in a few days or weeks, you won't be able to tell we even worked in the yard, but the garage will still be done. What a gift! But wait, as if that wasn't enough, she washed my car, too!

A couple of days later, a man came by & offered to clean the roof (very steep) and pressure wash the pergola and sidewalk. Yesssssss!

Now, the sad picture of me. The debris after this storm will be massive. There is nothing I love more than for it to rain - really, it is the regeneration of all life, so I'm not ReallY complaining, but, now .... we get to do it all over again.

At least there is still dirt!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Degrees of Separation

This is a picture of my ex-husband Jim Kastelic. On his right, his cousin Kathy Ebbs. On his left, our daughter, Mary Ellen Kastelic. This was taken in 2007. It was the unfortunate event of Jim's fathers funeral. However, being the family historian I am, I told Mary Ellen, you get pictures of everyone, make groups, get cousins, families, aunts & uncles, whatever you can get people to do! She, being the obedient daughter she is, complied beautifully.
This is a picture I took in 1992 of Mary Ellen and Jim, at Mary Ellen's high school graduation. When Mary Ellen was a small child, she wanted a 'kiss' picture of us. I was amazed that our profiles looked nothing alike. I always knew she was 'her father's daughter', so when he and his wife, Mary Lou came for Mary Ellen's graduation, I had them 'assume the position'!


But this story is about something else, it is about the coincidence of knowing Jim! We knew of each other since we were very young children. He was from the same town, Cherokee, Kansas, my grandparents, Flo and Doc lived in. Jim and my sister Beverly were in the 4th grade together. Years later, I attended college 12 miles from Cherokee, in Pittsburg, Kansas. I had hooked up with another guy from Cherokee, Bill Nevin and he set me and Jim up on a date for Labor Day, September 1967. There was something from the very beginning that made me know Jim was special to me, but we did have a stormy courtship with a breakup mostly due to separation. I left college a year after meeting Jim and went back home to Florida where I eventually spent two years in X-ray school. Jim went off to Viet Nam and then back to Kansas City where he lived and worked. Long distance relationships are not easy! We finally married in April 1971. I would do it all over again in a heart beat. The result of our marriage was the daughter we made together - out of our love for one another - Mary Ellen. She is another story, but I cannot hesitate to say, she has brought us both nothing but joy and love!


Coincidence #1: knew of each other since children
Coincidence #2: my sister went to school with Jim


While in college, I sang in a group called "The Cellar Singers". Yes, we practiced in the cellar! It was a group of 8 girls and one of them was Mary Lou Reed. Yes, the same Mary Lou that is now Jim's wife. They met a few years after our divorce while working together in Kansas City.


Coincidence #3: Jim meets a college friend of mine and marries her. How could I dislike my ex-husbands new wife? She had once been my friend! That made it real easy.


In the last few years, Jim has developed an Internet friendship with a woman in Arkansas, Deb. She has a sister, Linda, living in Texas that she recently visited. While there, Linda told Deb she had found a blog that she was enjoying and wanted to show it to Deb. I don't know how, but Deb figured out this was written by her friend's ex-wife, ME! Deb tells Jim about it and they are all looking at it and I haven't even told anyone yet!


Coincidence#4: Jim meets Deb, Deb visits Linda, Linda discovers my blog, Linda tells Deb, Deb tells Jim, Jim tells Mary Ellen, Mary Ellen tells me, and I am writing about it now!


Well, I just have a few things to say.

What a small world!


Just how many degrees of separation does it take for this to happen?


Glad to meet you Deb and Linda. Please leave me a comment sometime. You must both be very special, beautiful and smart girls!! to have found me!! We should now be friends, too!


Here is a TV quote on friendship I like:
I knew I’d made a friend. The bonds we form with other people, can handle any setback
Genuine friendship will survive any dispute or competition.
And true partnership provides strength in times of trouble and confusion.
Kyle XY 8/8/06


Another TV quote, that for me, sums it all up:
You don’t have to Love somebody forever to be happy you loved them at all.
“Estelle” on Middle Ages 9/24/92


And finally, a quote - not from TV:
You never know what your going to get in this life, so don't miss one thing!

Goodnight

Friday, May 8, 2009

Paint Beckie in the Shower!

This may be the craziest thing I ever do, but I wanted to have a nude painting of me! The story of how it came about is probably the best part of the story.


This is Self Portrait #7

acrylic on 6" by 8" canvas board
This one I painted.




I used layers of wash in light blue permanent, medium magenta, and raw umber. I then put 2 thin coats of iridescent gel, 1 coat of blue interference and finally coated it with a coat of glass bead gel, wiped it off ? and then put it back on!


The next painting is by my artist friend Dan Lacey. It is oil on 8" by 10" canvas sheet. I didn't think I could paint water and he does know more about painting water than I do!





The last picture is the reference photo I took myself!




I posted a note on Facebook regarding nudity. The upshot of the replys was "I don't understand what your problem is, Beckie, nudity is part of the body. Would you hesitate to paint an elbow? a belly button? a nose? Why then would you have a problem with nudity?"

I thought about this and realized that limiting paintings to "dressed-only" was denying one's self to a limited view and "all that God intended".

That, however, was not the intent of my note. I wanted to have a nude painting of myself done. I was just concerned about sending a nude photograph through email - AND - how far could you trust the artist you were sending it too?

I set up my tripod, ripped off my clothes and jumped in the shower! It is not easy taking "timed-release" photos of yourself in the first place, try doing it - multiple times - dripping wet - in & out - in & out - of the shower. My bathroom was a sopping mess!

So my challenge to any artist reading this, send me your rendition of Beckie in the shower. I promise I will post anything (I think) that you send. Let's see how long we can keep me wet!

Goodnight

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Happy Mother's Day Grammam

Noma Hattie Clark Saar - my Fathers' Mother.
Born August 20, 1894
Died October 14, 1987

She was such a dear friend, we had so much fun together. After high school, I lived with her for short periods from time-to-time. I would wash and color her hair, trim her nails.

She became a widow in 1957, but never changed her routine. During the day, she did light cleaning, watched the soaps and whatever else struck her fancy! At four o'clock, she took her bath, powdered (oh she smelled so good!) and prepared the evening meal. This was what she had always done, when she was married, she was always ready for her man!

She had a candy jar on the coffee table, which was never empty.
She had every flavor of soda on the basement stairs.
She had homemade cookies & cake on the server in the kitchen.
And cook - how we loved to eat at Grammam's. When it was just me and her, our favorite meal was chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and lima beans. And her chicken 'n dumplings were wonderful. She made her cobbler with a cake topping (my other Grandmother Flo made hers with pie crust).

But oh god, her driving was the pits. She would roll down the window, set her elbow on the ledge and never take it off. I used to try to turn corners that way just to see if I could do it. It wasn't easy.

She was a wonderful knitter. At one time she co-owned a shop with her daughter-in-law Gay. I had her make me lots of baby sets before I was married just in case she was no longer knitting when I did have a baby. She made us all matching Christmas stockings.

She spent her later years in a nursing home due to a series of life threatening infections. During those years she had numerous catastrophic events but always rallied back. She maintained her mental health until the end.

She never smoked or drank. She enjoyed a dirty story and a good movie. She made the tightest bed I ever slept in. She was a great sport, friend and Grandmother.
Until I see you again,
Goodnight

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Happy Mother's Day - Mommy Flo

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1st - Scott & Flo Wimmer c.1930
2nd - Flo Wimmer c.1940
3rd - Flo Wimmer c.1950
Born October 17, 1898
Died October 8, 1981
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My Grandmother, Flo Ellen Wimmer married her 3rd cousin Winfield Scott Wimmer. Scott was a dentist in Cherokee, Kansas. There were called by all Flo and Doc. To us, they were Mommy Flo and Daddy Doc.
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Doc lived in Liberal, MO and Flo lived in Liberal, KS. As their mail would occasionally become mixed up, they were aware of each other's families. On a hunting trip with his Father and brothers, Doc met and fell in love with Flo. The day they met, Flo had just graduated from high school. She was in her pretty graduation dress sitting at the piano and flowers were everywhere. How could a young man resist? The rest is history!
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Mommy Flo was my sister Beverly's and my 'favorite and best'. How we loved her. I remember combing her hair playing beauty parlor! She was strong and pretty and very social, actually ran with the in-crowd, the socially elite! That must of been something back then, the 30's through the 50's. I'm sure society still has their socially elite, but in these days, in my 'social' environiment, that is something I don't see.
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We were both born in October, 50 years apart. She was a victim of alzheimers and passed away in October 1982. If still alive, she would be 110 now - yikes!
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Happy Mother's Day Mommy Flo, until we meet again ...
Goodnight