Judy Butler 1944-2010

I am writing you today to let you all know that Judy passed away in her sleep on August 7th at her home. Judy's Celebration will be Saturday August 21st at 10am at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville. Please come and bring your best memories of Judy as we celebrate her life together. There are 2 scholarships set up in her name and Judy Wanted you to donate to them instead of sending flowers.

the info on the scholarships can be found here in her website:

http://www.judybutler.com

Judy's Health

As many of you know, Judy is in the final stages of living with Ovarian cancer which has been very aggressive and unaffected by chemotherapy. She is resting in her home on a pain drip and oxygen. She is very weak and sleeps most of the time. She occasionally asks for water and wakes when she hears someone come into her room. Hospice has been here and helps her out tremendously.
We have enjoyed being able to spend this time with her as she prepares to explore the Universe on her next adventure.

I will post here on her blog when she passes away and let you all know when her memorial service is. Thanks for following her blog. I will leave it online for your enjoyment. Feel free to use any of the information and images here for any reference you may need. She would love to know that her artwork and words live on through this medium and are able to reach so many of you, whoever you are. Thank you all.


Much Love,

Kelly
-Judy's Daughter

Staycation in Nashville Jan 2010: Opryland Hotel Gardens

Judy Butler Drawing in Journal Pointsetta watercolor and felt pens 2009

People come from all over the states and the world to visit Nashville and all of its treasures. One of those great destinations is the Opryland Hotel gardens. It is 14 degrees in our back yard in suburbia Nashville only 6 miles from the hotel. We took our Grandson last week to visit the hotel to see the spectacular Christmas Decorations.

You can Valet Park at any of the lobbies, eat in one of the Restaurants that will validate your parking ticket. (Saves you $20.00 for three hours). This gets you Palm trees and coconuts like you were at the beach. Now that is a Staycation worth its weight in gold... Staycation worth its weight in gold.

How about Palm Trees in Nashville in January?

Following are some of the photos from our Christmas visit.

Flowers of the Opryland Hotel Gardens:





I had so much fun at the Opryland Hotel with my family last week that two of my friends and I went back yesterday to enjoy the gardens and shops.

I belong to an Internet Blogging group called "Cactus Monday." We post something about cactus every Monday. We all draw cactus, take photos of cactus, or do fun activities with cactus. I have a little Cactus plastic figure that I keep in my purse and take his photos in interesting places. Here is my post from my Art blog about Cactus Monday enjoying his time at the hotel.

Cactus Mundi went with us and had a great time. He hung out with Elvis...jumped right up in his Blue Suede Shoes, giggled about the Elvis Christmas stockings, had then warmed up next to the big fireplace in the lobby.

Cactus Mundi warmed up in front of the big fireplace in the lobby.

For more Cactus Monday fun visit Teri's blog
http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/

Judy in her scooter, left Joan and right Toni

The camellias started to bloom since I was there last week. Just amazing in the gardens.

2003 Trip to Memphis with Toni: Visiting the Memphis Zoo

Judy Butler drawing of the panda with pastels, 2003

My only photo of the panda at the Memphis Zoo. One glimpse then he got up and wondered out of view. Dang.

In 2003 Toni and I visited the Memphis Zoo. The Panda exhibit is the centerpiece of the Zoo's exhibits. In the gift shop Toni bought this cute little hat. Several years later our friend Joan brought me back a similar hat from Hong Kong. We love our hats.

Toni and I have literally traveled around the world together. She is my good buddy for being up for most anything in the adventure travel area. Here are some other photos of the Zoo.

Is this cute or what? The only panda in a carousel I have ever seen.

Beautiful wisteria vine. It was growing in several places around the park.
The Zoo is one of my favorites that I have visited over the years.

I highly recommend it as a geat destination.

Elizabethton and Sycamore Shoals Vacation 2002

We celebrated our wedding day in an East Tennessee State Park. Fitting I would say for two people who have spend so much time in the out-of-doors. How Sweet It Is! We lived in Knoxville at the foot of the Smokies for several years before finding our way to Nashville as our permanent home.

We love going back to the hills and mountains where we fell in love. On one of those visits in 2002 we toured Sycamore Shoals State Historic State Park. This lovely spot along the Watauga River played an important role in the development of America and the concept of the majority-rule system of our democratic government. In 1772 this spot was the first permanent American settlement outside the original 13 colonies. It became the center of frontier life during this important period in the foundation of our country. It just gives us goosebumps to visit historic parks and relish in collective past.

A page from my art and travel journal.
Watercolor drawings of things seen along the trip.

There is a small museum in the Sycamore Shoals State Historic State Park where they had patterns for sale for basket weave stars. I bought the pattern with high expectations for making these stars for Christmas presents. So often I dream about these big kinds of time consuming projects that stay in my dreams and never materialize. In my 30's and 40's I did a lot of basket weaving and still enjoy it when my hands and arthritis cooperate. But miracle of miracle, I actually made about 10 of these. They are beautiful and the two I kept have been hanging in my kitchen all this time since 2002.

At the top of the photo is one of my handwoven baskets in the Amish style done about 25 years ago and hanging below it are two of the Stars woven at Christmas 2002.

This photos is a silhouette of the stars shot through the glass doors against the light of the yard.

Below is a Historical reenacting and living history that is a highlight at many state and Federal parks. Here a volunteer showing a gun of the time period and...

another authentic weapon of the time period.

Flowers of Land Between the Lakes

We love staying in our beautiful Tennessee State Parks and Paris Landing is one of our favorites. They have lovely chalet-type cabins with all the amenities of much more expensive accommodations. Every state park has one cabin that is dog-friendly since we travel with our daughter, her husband, their baby, and their big black lab, Random. The cabins are large and perfect for our family.

Not far from the park is the natural area of Land Between the Lakes. Wildflowers grow abundantly in this large natural area between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

Indian Pink, Spigelia marilandica Loganiaceae, also called Pinkroot.

A perennial that grows about two feet tall with flowers about one inch long.

Grows on mountain slopes and thickets. But these photos were taken at the Woodland Nature Station in a cultivated flower bed. The Nature Station features native plants and animals of Land Between the Lakes. May 15, 2007

Field Buttercups grow along the roadside and edges of the pastures of the Cross Creek Refuge. Imported from Europe they are invasive especially for farmers. Ranunculaceae, the Buttercup Family. May 2008

Woodland Nature Center at Land Between the Lakes, Tennessee

We went on vacation to Paris Landing State Park for a long four day weekend. As part of our travels in the strip of land between the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River in East Tennessee we discovered wonderful natural areas and special places for preservation.

The Woodland Nature Center at Land Between the Lakes is home to owls that cannot be released. They are great photo subjects because they can't fly away. But it is very sad that they are tethered to their stand. They are beautiful but seem sad.

Screech Owl

Below Owls are fun to draw with their large eyes, colorful feathers, and quizzical expressions. Medium: cake watercolor and ink pensJudy Watercolor

Photo Above Barred Owl

Great Horned Owl--Above Judy Watercolor and Below Photo Land Between the Lakes

The park provides a great service taking care of these injured animals but it is really sad to see their limited mobility. It is special to be able to get really close to these wild animals. I enjoyed taking pictures of the details of feathers. Resource photos for artists is an important way to observe the structural details for your drawings of animals you would otherwise not be able to see so close.