What Fun Retirement Can Be!

     My watercolor class at the the Fairhope Art Center is sadly coming to an end. Catherine and Matt gave me the class as a birthday gift and it has been wonderful!  I appreciate them so much for this terrific gift.
    I'm taking the class with 7 other very talented artists from the local area under the direction of, Kathy Shepard, a fabulous watercolor artist from Pensacola.
    Retirement has been very fun so far!  I keep very busy; by subbing in Fairhope a bit for my teacher friends, and spending time with my artwork, family and friends, now that I don't have the responsibility of a "real" job.
     On November 19th I am participating in the St. Francis at the Point Annual Fall Festival from 8am until 3pm.  I will be selling my cookbook, notecards, handmade baby items and my latest wooden plaque creations--all fun gifts!  So, if you are free that day come by and enjoy the Festival!

Exciting Times Ahead!

     Summer has started with fun and excitement ahead.  Since, Catherine and Jon sold their house in Huntsville in May they have moved  their personal belongings to a storage unit in Daphne and are soon to be proud owners of a home in Fairhope!  Little Beau and his parents will be happy to have a place to call their own.  It has been a blessing to have been able to help them out with  temporary "lodging" and now they are ready to be settled in anticipation of the new arrival.
     I've accepted a position with University of South Alabama to teach two continuing education noncredit workshops in September.  See the "Special Events" section on the website for details on the classes and plan to join us for fun and enlightenment!

Almost a year has gone by!

     Wow! The months have flown by since my last post!
     Life took a sudden, swift change in August, 2014 when our daughter, Catherine, got a new job with Austal USA and our son-in-law, Jon, secured a position with Barnhart Crane and Rigging.
     When I returned from the FDA training in Washington, DC in July we got word that their new jobs were in the works.  Then things moved swiftly as they put their house in Huntsville on the market and moved down south.  Baby Beau and the family moved in with us and the family "boomeranged" overnight!
     That was the first week of the school year.  We suddenly had a precious one year old in the house and more mouths to feed.  The empty nesters were jolted into cooking, washing lots of clothes, babysitting and entertaining the new additions to the household.  Adjustments were gradually made and everything fell into place.  Many months went by with very little action on the sale of their house.    We learned that another baby is now due in November which made the sale of their house a top priority.  Another realtor was chosen and within a few weeks the house has sold--that happened during the last week of the school year!
     The fun part has begun to find the perfect home in their budget on the Eastern Shore.
      I made the dificult decision to make this school year my last one to teach since my attention needs to be on my own family.  The very sweet and caring staff at Fairhope Middle School surprise me with a lovely cake and a beautiful engraved pewter platter on the last school day.
     I plan to be very busy enjoying the things that I love like spending time with my friends and family, painting wedding dresses, promoting my "From LA to LA" cookbook, relaxing at our new northern retreat and the Delta camp along with whatever else comes my way!
   

Exciting News!

     The FDA training workshop trip to DC was a wonderful learning experience!  I met so many new FACS and science teacher friends from all over the United States.  The workshop was very intense and interactive.  Each day was full of educational work and professional development activities that I will be able to use in my classroom with students. We had the opportunity every evening to explore our wonderful Capitol city.  It is a very historical family friendly city.  I loved visiting the museums, the Smithsonian's and touring the war memorials.  Regardless of your political views, Washington, DC is a place worth experiencing!
     Below is a picture of a few crazy friends celebrating after graduation!

     During my DC trip, I learned that my daughter, Catherine Reynolds, and her family will be moving down to our area in August.  It will be wonderful to have them close by after so many years of living in northern Alabama.  I can't wait to spend more time with my little grandson!  

     According to his other grandparents he is reading already at 14 months!  I've missed so much!

     A Baldwin County newspaper article will be hitting the press this coming week, August 5th, featuring my cookbook From LA to LA and the new Wedding Dress Portraits.  So, pick up a copy and share with your friends!

     It looks like it is time for me to turn my attention to the start of school and preparing for Catherine's "big move"--I think it will be a very busy few months!

     Enjoy the last days of summer vacation ya'll!

Grant Opportunity!

     You really never know what's around the corner in education so, adopt the motto to always be prepared and flexible for the unexpected!
     After applying for an FDA grant to study food safety and nutrition this past spring I was notified in May that because of a small technicality I was declined acceptance.  However, all that changed in an instant this week when I got the "call".  I was notified by the national training coordinator  that a member of the selected class had to cancel because of an emergancy and since I was next in line was asked to attend.  I have been running to get packed and ready for the last few days.  It is a very exciting opportunity to study with experts in the field at the FDA, in the microbiology labs at the University of Maryland and at the USDA Agriculture Research Center.
    The purpose of this grant is to learn and teach.  I will be sharing this experience and information with my students in the classroom.  Then after attending the NSTA conference and an FDA teacher training in Long Beach, California in December I will hold a professional development training on this topic for FACS and Science teachers.  This is an all inclusive grant and should prove to be an awesome experience.  Cheers to the FDA class of 2014!
    Please pray for safe travels as I will be leaving soon!

Summertime Bliss!

   Update:  For those of you who are interested in the *Hand Painted Wedding Gown Portraits I've updated the Gallery on this website to include more samples of the dresses. 

    Check out the Gallery!   A keepsake wedding dress portrait would make a unique Christmas gift for the lady who has everything.  Contact me at fcscyndie@bellsouth.net

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  This summer has been such a peaceful and joyful time!  I have had time to work on projects that have been on the "back burner" for quite sometime.  I'm a list making person and to finally scratch off things brings joy to my heart!
     Today I made Fig Preserves for the first time in my life!  My mother was the "Queen of the Kitchen" making delicious seasonal preserves and jams.  Sadly, it comes a time when we have to step up to the plate and learn to do things on our own.  I must say that I was successful in making the preserves even though they are a tad short of a home run (missing Mom's loving touch).  Recipe below:

Fig Preserves  

16 cups fresh figs                     7 cups of white sugar

4 cups water                             1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

1. Wash figs in cold water

2. Place in a large bowl or in a clean sink, cover with water and soak for 20 minutes

3. Make syrup by boiling the 4 cups of water and 7 cups of sugar for 10 minutes in a very large   pot.

4. Add figs and lemon slices to the syrup and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally

5. Pour figs into hot, sterilized jars and spoon syrup over figs, leaving 1/2 inch of head space.  Top jars with lids and screw bands on tightly. 

6. Enjoy with your family--great on hot biscuits!  Great thoughtful gifts!

     Have a blissful day!

     

Wedding Dresses!

Your wedding is so special. Remember the day by having a Wedding Dress Portrait Keepsake!
Original *Wedding Dress portraits painted on 11 x 14 inch canvas $200.00.  

*Several close up front view pictures of the bride in her wedding gown will be needed along with the exact wedding date and the suggested background color.
Contact Cyndie at fcscyndie@bellsouth.net