Now playing on my iPod, Bobbie Gentry, "Ode to Billy Joe".

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I've never understood that song. What did she and Billy Jo throw off the Tallahache Bridge? So I googled it. First, Bobbie Gentry admitted she did't have anything in mind when she wrote the song. She didn't even know what they threw off. The most popular idea seemed to be a baby. But now I find they made a movie of this. Billy Jo was black, and he was gay.

Okay, I'm not sure I want to know any more about the story.

A long time ago, I visited Paul and Tracy when they lived in Aspen. President Bush and Margaret Thatcher came to town, and I bought this commenorative envelope. I stood out on the highway and watched the cars come in. I'm sure Bush and Thatcher were in one of the black limosines, but the windows are dark and you can't see in them.

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Got my income tax finished and e-filed today. I think I better rest now.

The people in the humor writing class have talked about a writer named Dave Barry. I downloaded one of his books to my Kindle and finished it last night. I laughed all the way through it. The name of the book I read is "Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys." It's a good read.

New Artwork on display

Vicky's beautiful rabbit.

Terry's colors in her snow picture are incredible.

Wow! Linda just whipped this one out during art group this morning. She should be proud.

Les has three beautiful oil paintings up on the wall.

Isn't this a gorgeous fish? Another one of Conley's paintings.

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My horoscope just told me in so many words to stop shopping. Darn! I want a new tube of paint - that beautiful red color Linda used on her bird.

Took this picture out my upstairs window yesterday. Typical spring day in Pinedale, right? I think Winnie the Pooh would describe this as a "blustery" day.

And she's not even Irish! Kasey tells me that Mamma painted her nails green because everyone would pinch her if she wasn't wearing pink and green.

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Tracy called yesterday. She and Paul are planning their summer trip to Pinedale the 4th of July week, and have a campsite at the lake reserved. While we were talking, she was on her computer and reserved a campsite for me the last week in August. They had that site reserved last year, and then weren't able to come. So Barrie put a tent up, and she and Kasey stayed up there, and I went up during the days.

Judi spent some time up there too. Maybe this year some of us can get together and do some pleine air painting .

When I told Kasey we had the campsite, she informed me we can't go camping until it quits snowing.

Monday March 21

Now playing on XM Radio - Alabama, "If You're Gonna Play in Texas, You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band."

First Day of Spring

A lot of noise and laughter was coming from downstairs, so of course I had to get down there and check it out. Kasey and Barrie were telling Jarvi to "bring the boots." Barrie and I used to do this with her when she was just a pup.

Barrie's big white Sorrels were in the bathroom. Jarvi brought gloves, hats, toys and whatever else she could find. When she finally brought one boot, we all cheered and clapped for her. After she brought the second boot, she laid down and panted. Poor old girl! She's still a pup at heart, even though she's 15.

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The ABC News on my Yahoo page listed three news items, all videos.

• Watch: Child Killed in Family Park Accident
• Watch: College Student Gets Sucker Punched
• Watch: Tiger Woods New Girl Friend

I think I can live without watching any of those.

I really wish I could make a painting from this picture. Maybe I can someday. This guy is gone now. He was a close neighbor to my brother. Either his widow or his daughter posted this on Facebook and I snagged it. I can just SEE this as a painting, and wish I had the talent to do it.

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I see the libarary is showing an R rated film for the Daphne Platts Film Festival. Love it! Does anyone remember when the local movie theater refused to show the movie "Brokeback Mountain", and Daphne showed it at the library, free of charge, and free popcorn? What a great lady!

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I tend to forget the Iditarod Race, but it's not over yet. There are still about five teams out on the trail, but they're close to Nome, God, they must be tired!

My Friend Sally posted this photo about the time change last year. I thought it was funny enough to save and post again.

When I was a member of a photo group, we had scavenger hunts. We were supposed to take a picture of something that showed "The End." I thought this picture did the job.

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I can see I'm going to have to make some changes while I am taking the humor writing course. I have been trying to struggle through Shakespeare - you know, improve my mind and all that stuff. Well, Julius Ceasar is not conducive to humor.

Thursday

The daffodils are open, and Kasey posed for a new picture for me today.

I am taking an online class on humor writing. So the next time you see me, I should be really funny. Be prepared.

Just read on the internet that Sandra Bullock contributed 1 million dollars to the Japan earthquake relief. I remember she did the same thing after the big earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 and the destructive Tsunami resulting from that.

Wednesday

I ate lunch at Rendezvous Pointe today with Judi after art group. Carl and Peggy W. sat with us.

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Barbara always comes late to art group, but today she was especially late. She forgot to set her clocks forward. She had baked a cake for us, and had Vicky frost it. So Vicky brought the cake. It was delicious.

I watched "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid the other day. I've seen it before, but not for a long time. Great movie.

Tracy's Grandad LeClair had stories about Butch. His father, Edmo, had been an Indian Scout and a US Marshall through the years. The old LeClair Ranch was on the Wind River over by Riverton. Tracy's great grandad knew Butch pretty well. It seems that when Butch was on the run, he liked to stop at the LeClair Ranch in the middle of the night and trade their tired horses for fresh ones. And he always left money in Edmo's saddlebags.

He also told that Butch had come back from South America and hired him to take him up in the mountains with a pack horse. Butch took the packhorse off and came back with the packs loaded. When they got out of the mountains, he left with whatever was in the packs.

Well, the story about trading horses I believe. I'm not sure sure about him coming back from South America. After all, I just saw him killed the other night on my TV screen!

Tuesday

Judi stopped by this morning with two daffodils so Kasey can watch them open. It's neat that they they aren't fully opened yet, and KC can see it happen.

Kasey talks about buying flowers for the pots in the yard. She loves flowers. I hope Beau has her nursery again next summer.

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Watched the live finish in Nome of John Baker in the Iditarod this morning. He broke the record set four years ago by about 3 hours. I got tears in my eyes watching it. His daughter was there, and people from his village, including native drummers and singers . He won a new Dodge pickup, plus over $50,000.

The second place winner, Rayme Smyth, was not far behind him.

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I have Barrie's computer up here to install programs on it.

Monday

Still in progress, but I don't have any photos to posts. This silverpoint drawing is on toned paper. I mixed a little sepia watercolor into the gesso. It's hard to get darks and contrast, but the "old boys" used white ink or white charcoal for the highlights, so that should help.

I am really hooked on this silverpoint. But I'm not sure about the toned paper. Maybe I made it too dark.

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I see my friend and old teaching partner, Cristy, is getting a new Mac powerbook. I'm envious.

Barrie picked up the computer that Mike repaired, but I haven't seen it yet. It will have to have all the programs reinstalled.

She (Barrie) said spring is really here. It took her several tries to get up the driveway yesterday, in 4 WD, and without her trailer.

The bread I baked yesterday was good. I cut the heel off while it was still hot. Then Barrie came along and cut a piece (still hot), and the loaf kind of squashed.

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Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them , 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug. They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

They are SO on my shit list ...