Carole Sikes Artist / Writer in Austin, Texas

              WINTER COMETH   12" x 12"    oil on canvas Have you ever had a really smashing idea only to find that there are literally worlds of people who had the same idea and most likely already had acted on it ?   My first confirmation of this happened when I was still wearing high heels that I constantly ruined while driving my car. I envisioned a simple pad to put under the accelerator to protect the leather heel of my right shoe only to find that very thing for sale at the local car wash. My husband and children had even helped me dream up a name; it would be marketed as "Heel Protect"! Its only worth was a lot of laughs around our dining table, but I suppose the inventor didn't make a fortune on the idea either. As a practicing artist I continue to discover other painters running with the same ideas that I have had when standing at my easel trying to solve a painting problem or when attempting to do something fresh and new. I believe the solution

                     Thanksgiving was wonderful. The weather was perfect, the leaves did their thing, our son and his family from Dallas were happy at a near-by resort hotel and the Thanksgiving buffet where we dine each year was especially good. I cooked the meals we all shared here at our home ahead of time and in concert with our daughter who lives in Austin. Yes, Thanksgiving was terrific but Christmas is joy. The children are older (aren't we all)! Gift giving is still front and center but Santa has taken a back seat. And the birth of baby Jesus can be celebrated in recognition of what it's really all about. May years ago, our son said, "What do you think of our coming to Austin for Thanksgiving every year and to Memphis for Christmas?" I confess I felt second place and not able to compete with all the Christmas excitement in Memphis. There were 11 little cousins all about the same age, not to mention lots of aunts and uncles, when they were gathered at the