I made minestrone soup today and had that for supper, forgot all about the sauerkraut. There are some indiv. containers of sauerkraut and sausage I had made up one time and froze, hope they are still good to eat. Guess I'll try one tomorrow and find out. My Aunt told me to come up to her house tonight, she's making all kinds of appetizers for she and her two grandaughters who are spending the night; but I'm another one who doesn't like to be on the roads at this time.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. Henri Matisse Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us. Henri Matisse What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. Henri Matisse Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. Henri Matisse An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc. Henri Matisse He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back. Henri Matisse With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft. Henri Matisse Creativity takes courage. - Henri Matisse Creativity takes courage. Henri Matisse There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted. Henri Matisse It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else. Henri Matisse Exactitude is not truth. Henri Matisse I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things. Henri Matisse It is only after years of preparation that the young artist should touch color - not color used descriptively, that is, but as a means of personal expression. Henri Matisse I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me. Henri Matisse An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language. Henri Matisse Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul. Henri Matisse Time extracts various values from a painter's work. When these values are exhausted the pictures are forgotten, and the more a picture has to give, the greater it is. Henri Matisse You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover. Henri Matisse A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light. Henri Matisse I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish. Henri Matisse I have been no more than a medium, as it were. Henri Matisse In love, the one who runs away is the winner. Henri Matisse Work cures everything. Henri Matisse My curves are not crazy. Henri Matisse Jazz is rhythm and meaning. Henri Matisse I'm growing old, I delight in the past. Henri Matisse Biography Nationality: French Type: Artist Born: December 31, 1869 Died: November 3, 1954

An interesting group to have a birthday party for. Don, you are so good to bring the quotes to us, I appreciate them, read them every morning, but don't always comment, interruptions by my feline housemates often derail my train of thought. Happy New Year to you and MIssy

three different devices, and three browsers... finally have the combination that gets me here. Thank you all so so much! I appreciate your kind thoughts. I am much better, but it has been a hard few days (I "only" cried four times yesterday, for instance. Yes, I'm counting it to keep my eyes on progress). Your words greaty helped. Marie Cate, everyone commented on her eyes, so they must have been striking. I am TOTALLY biased, so let's base it on sheer numbers of admirers.