Merry christmas from tuscawilla

Merry Christmas to all from Tuscawilla south! I woke up to a trio of Sandhill cranes at my feeders and the handful of Painted buntings that have been frequent visitors, which is a beautiful gift that I never take for granted. I feel so fortunate and blessed to be surrounded by nature and such beauty. It is truly such a wonderful gift. 

I wanted to share with you all today the revised portrait of my father, Dr Robert Michael Predny (aka Bob, Dad, Papa). I attempted to do this portrait a few years ago, but I felt that it was really off and did not quite capture him, so I decided to revisit it. I feel that it is much more accurate now and that it really captures his essence beautifully. I love the way it turned out, and it is one of my favorites, much like my father. 

I put this portrait on display in the Alachua County Jack Durrance Conference Room the past few months alongside the portrait that I did of my mother many years ago. This was especially meaningful and significant to me as my parents met in Gainesville while they were both attending the University of Florida. My father was in a PhD program for Chemistry, and my mother was an undergraduate and Gator band member who ended up getting her degree in English and education. They were both active members in the Saint Augustine Catholic student club, the Newman Club, and this is where they met and fell in love. My older sister, Robin Michelle, was born in Gainesville- a Christmas Eve baby, which was very fitting for them, and my older brother, Christopher Robert, a bit over a year later. My father taught at Gainesville High School for a year and then they went to Baltimore for a year for my father to do postdoc work at John Hopkins before they ended up relocating to the Chicagoland area where my father was born and raised and where I was born and raised, followed by Mary Lorraine, John Michael, and Emily Jean. 

My father loved Christmas. He was a devout Catholic, and it seems that it was always his nature to be a dedicated Christian. He also loved tradition and there were many traditions that were integral parts of our family and lives, including the Advent candle and prayers, decorating the Christmas tree and Christmas cookies, singing Christmas carols around the piano, gift exchanges, favorite recipes for Christmas dinner and visits with family & friends.
I have so many wonderful, cherished memories of my childhood during Christmastime and in general. Both my parents did an amazing job of gifting us with a wonderful array of experiences and traditions throughout our childhood and lives. 

My father also loved Christmas as he loved shopping. He loved to shop around for deals, and there were many hours of my childhood spent driving around to various stores and sitting in the parking lot in either the freezing cold or burning hot car while Dad disappeared into countless stores for countless hours searching for Lord knows what best deal on whatever he fancied at the time. He loved technology, especially cameras and video cameras, VCRs, DVDs, and computers, anything Disney or Star Trek related, fun t-shirts and most foods. He would often buy Christmas gifts for himself throughout the year, and then he would have my Mom wrap them for him from "Santa". And then on Christmas Day, he would hand someone his camera and tell them to take a photo of him opening all his special Christmas gifts- from his kids and from "Santa", haha. Such fun times and hilarious memories! 
He was also very particular and there were countless gifts that I gave him over the years that ended up in the black hole of either the den or the dining room table that he would spend an hour or so clearing once or twice a year just before family arrived for a holiday gathering or other special occasion, including a portrait of him as Spock that I did many moons ago, a print of a portrait of his father, and many more. I know that he loved and appreciated these gifts, I just think they he couldn't figure out where to put them except in his general stashes and piles of special things that he cherished or felt attachment to, which were so plentiful that they filled up a few rooms ;) 

I have so many vivid and amazing memories of this time of year with my family and especially of my Dad. He was such a fascinating character and human. It was very special for me to paint his portrait and think of what an interesting, brilliant, dedicated, quirky, intense, and at times contradictory man that he was. I love him so much and miss him dearly. I will always be eternally grateful for the countless gifts that he (and also my mother) gave me over the years, including my beautiful property and home on Tuscawilla, but most of all, always being supportive and encouraging of almost everything I always did, especially my artwork. I feel so fortunate and blessed to have had such an amazing father.
​Thank you Dad aka Papa. Love you more.