Family Life Goes On

I recently returned from a trip to Kentucky and Ohio. I enjoyed a Memorial Day weekend trip with my parents and my husband. My sister and her husband also made the trip, and it was lovely to spend time with my family, away from the day-to-day worries of revitalisation work here at The Holy Moly in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The last time I made the Kentucky trip was by myself in 2008, before my move to Australia. So, it was a pleasure to have my parents and my husband with me this time.

I have missed my Kentucky family. A lot has changed. I miss the family members who have died since I last visited, but it was good to see the new ones and reunite with others!

It must have been around 2005 or 2006 when I went to visit my Aunt in Ohio. I'm not sure how long it has been, but it was good to be in her home again. Simple family life, sometimes it is hard to manage, but it is one of the best things in this world, and I always thank God for it.

My family's Memorial Day weekend traditions take us back to cemeteries in Kentucky, where we reminisce, cry, and laugh.

I often feel sad that I don't know much about my heritage, but I am thankful to have this Kentucky-connection with my roots -- knowing where my parents got married, where my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried, and where my cousins are being raised today -- what a blessing that is!

It was a pleasure to meet the newest member of my family, little Bentley! He looks just like my Uncle Harold Hale, and he's a treasure -- such a pleasure to be around. I am thrilled that I got to meet Bentley and his big brother, Briley! I now have a couple more reasons to be thankful for this lifestyle that allows me to come and go back and forth from Australia to America.

Alex and Kevin

I'm so happy for my daughter and her fiancé!  They recently became engaged. I love them both and wish them all the happiness in the world.

Meanwhile, in Australia….

I've enjoyed the past few months here in Australia, and I look forward to returning to the U.S.A. in a couple of weeks.

Time seems to move slowly here in Oz, but that is a beautiful thing.

I have spent some time doing a bit of artwork. Keeping things simple, I have been painting with water colour pencils on A4 water-colour paper. I use iPhoto and Comic Life to manipulate photographs of my paintings. Most of the time, my paintings are based on birds and animals that I have personally photographed in Australia.

Here are a few of my latest pieces of art:

Cockatoo Landing in Tasma Gardens

Magpie on the Wibbly-Wobbly Wall

Backyard Wallaby

Curious Kangaroo

I'm not sure what I will do with these little paintings. I just like painting them.

Also, I've been knitting! My friend, Jacqui Olver, taught me to knit, and I have had plenty of time to make a few things! It's a new hobby for me, and I love it.  I have had time to make a couple of scarves for Adrian. I don't know when he will be needing to bundle up for cold weather, but he's ready, whether it's cold or not! My hubby is such a good sport, to model these things for me in the middle of an Australian summer!

My little Jelly Bean and I even have matching scarves, thanks to free knitting patterns on Pinterest! We're ready for the cold weather, too!

I suppose Adrian and I will need to aim for being in Australia in winter 2017, so we can bundle up with Miss Jelly Bean!

A Life of Randomnymity

In my last post, I wrote about enjoying unexpected free time, before leaving Clarksdale, Mississippi, to return to Daylesford, Victoria.

For some reason, I don't consider any time in Australia as "free time." Although my activities here are often random, I consider that all my time here is time to enjoy life and be happy. 

As I write this, I realize that I'm ashamed of myself for not having the same frame of mind when I'm in the U.S.A. Perhaps, in the past, I haven't thought of life in America as my choice, as I was born there. At this moment, I'm regretting any lack of appreciation of life anywhere at any time, and hope that my attitude will be better, the next time I'm there in my Mississippi home. I will be there by choice, as I have been here in Australia by choice. 

I don't know if I will actually have "free time," the next time I'm at The Holy Moly; but, hopefully, my attitude will be the same there as it is here -- thinking that all my time is time to enjoy life and be happy. 

I feel guilty when I realise that I have not been counting blessings!

Anyway, returning to my present thoughts of living in the moment, every moment, here's a bit about what I have been thinking about since returning to Tasma House two weeks ago.

(Random thoughts, I have them all the time. I guess they have become routine.)

In the spirit of randomness, I snapped an iPhone photo of two magpies in the garden a couple of days ago. I almost trashed the photo, because, of course, the photograph wasn't necessary; but something about the beauty of the moment, made me save the picture and think about it. 

A moment of inspiration on Table Hill rd.

I didn't think too long, before I picked up my pencil and started drawing in my sketchpad. I didn't really like the drawing, at first; but I wanted to be busy and happy with something to do.

It crossed my mind to make a musical poster
for the Table Hill band out of my magpie drawing,
but it wasn't really needed.

Sometimes, I can stress myself out by worrying about the details of a drawing, until I remember that I am just drawing, because I want to draw.

Worrying about the details in drawing this brick driveway
could drive me crazy!

So, I drew a few bricks in the incredibly detailed landscape and decided it was time to randomly do something else. I played with my picture in iPhoto and Comic Life and found happiness in creating this digital piece of art. I was happy with my decision to stop worrying about the bricks and just enjoyed the memory of a magpie that randomly inspired me to make art.

Unexpected Free Time!

The new owners of the ice cream shop decided to close last week, rather than at the end of October, and I find that I have been blessed with some free time!

I've been enjoying time to draw and play with a couple of photo editing programs. Here are a couple of my latest comics:

These pieces of art seem to give me an American halloweeny feeling, but they make me feel nostalgic for my home in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

I understand that my new tenants in The Holy Moly have received their American visas and will be arriving in Clarksdale during Thanksgiving week.  I wish them success regarding the ownership of the restaurant/bar they are creating in the space that used to be known as The Holy Moly Drug Store at the corner of Third & Issaquena.

I am thankful that they chose to purchase The Holy Moly Drug Store business and settle in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as part of their visa requirements. I am thankful their decisions and their actions have helped me move forward and out of the ice cream/coffee/soda fountain/fast food business!

Unexpected Free Time!

The new owners of the ice cream shop decided to close last week, rather than at the end of October, and I find that I have been blessed with some free time!

I've been enjoying time to draw and play with a couple of photo editing programs. Here are a couple of my latest comics:

These pieces of art seem to give me an American halloweeny feeling, but they make me feel nostalgic for my home in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

I understand that my new tenants in The Holy Moly have received their American visas and will be arriving in Clarksdale during Thanksgiving week.  I wish them success regarding the ownership of the restaurant/bar they are creating in the space that used to be known as The Holy Moly Drug Store at the corner of Third & Issaquena.

I am thankful that they chose to purchase The Holy Moly Drug Store business and settle in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as part of their visa requirements. I am thankful their decisions and their actions have helped me move forward and out of the ice cream/coffee/soda fountain/fast food business!

The Holy Moly Drug Store Business Sold to John and Naomi Casaceli

That's my big news!

I'm excited to share this information now! My husband, Adrian Kosky, and I have sold our fast-food business (The Holy Moly Drug Store) to an Australian couple who are relocating to Clarksdale, Mississippi.

From September 29th through the end of October, 2015, Adrian and I will be continuing with the coffee shop/ice cream parlour/fast-food business as we ran it, but we will be employed by John and Naomi. After the end of October, Adrian and I will retire from The Holy Moly Drug Store work; and John and Naomi will be taking over the business and making upgrades that will allow more of a variety of food and beverages in the restaurant.

Adrian and I are happy to hand this work over, and we look forward to the Casaceli energy and enthusiasm that will be so good for Clarksdale!

What will I do with all my free time???? I don't know, but I am really looking forward to finding out!

The Holy Moly project will definitely continue, as Adrian and I enjoy having these additional tenants in the building.  My husband and I hope to focus our combined creative energy in The Holy Moly Theatre and other areas of the building.

The Holy Moly Theatre
August 2015