A few good things

For some, or perhaps several reasons, I have been in a bit of a funk lately. As the kids and I sit down to dinner after another long day, I am struck by some simple things that I am very thankful for:

Stouffers microwave dinners
Publix chicken fingers
My Mom bringing me toilet paper, sunflowers and candy
Having text conversations in Olde English with my sister
A fried egg sandwich and wine refill from my sweet husband when it is way past my dinner time and I am imploding
Kisses on the nose from Patrick
Mary Clare proclaiming she wants to marry a boy that talks just like Moto Moto from Madagascar because apparently she likes deep man voices (???? Already?)
Cool breezes and drawing outside
Calls from my Dad just to chat...and listening to him get distracted and not be able to pay attention just like me
My kids laughter even when they're being rotten little stinkers (like right now)
There are so many things to be thankful for. These are just a few.

Whistle while you work

Just got back from the most relaxing beach trip EVER and very much wish I could sit on that deserted beach forever, doing what we want when we want to and never having to go to work or worry or be stressed or overly taxed and tired...

Ah, wishes.

You don't always get what you want...hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go.

Words of Wisdom from a 4 Year Old

This morning over breakfast, Stephen asked me if I was sad. I told him I was just tired, to which he responded, "yeah, it's no fun to go clean a house on your birthday." Mary Clare then announces with a little swagger, "Well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do..."

That made my morning and gave all of us a laugh...

"My" Caterpillars

The other day as I as walking across the yard from the recycling bin, I saw something move next to my foot. On closer inspection, I found a little caterpillar. And another caterpillar. and another and another and another...and a million caterpillars overtaking my pitiful patchy front lawn. Apparently my little tufts of green grass are their favorite food and they all came to stay. None of my neighbors have this pandemic of caterpillars. I have had them on my leg, in my shoe, and on my arm just from walking to my car...that's a little yuck.
Mary Clare wanted to put a few in a jar to let them grow into butterflies. Thinking they wouldn't make it through the night, I humored her and fixed them up a jar complete with a mesh top (very handy for sprinkling water). A week later, we still have the caterpillars...and now they are my pets. I feed them grass and water twice a day and they live on my kitchen window sill. They have gotten pretty big and they eat a lot. We'll see what happens, and if they keep living. Mary Clare thinks they will make a "chrysalis" (such a smarty pants). Yay caterpillars!

growing and growing and growing

So, speaking of all things growing...

Oh. my. gosh.

my workload is GROWING. I'm daily adding to commissions, art shows, art classes, and demonstrations.

I am so very excited about it all, but it is starting to crush me!

Just today I have arranged two new pastel demonstrations: one at Forstall Art Center and one at the Hoover Public Library.
I still feel so funny that people are asking ME to do these things, paying ME to teach pastels! It is mind-boggling.

Today I hung my largest painting yet at Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church/Preschool and felt so warm as I saw how much everyone liked it.

I have several challenging commissions on my plate, where its even down to the desired expressions on the people's faces that I have to create for my clients.

I am so very overwhelmed that I am actually getting to do this for a career...that it is working...that it is so fulfilling and is so marvelous to be able to create things that draw out feelings, express emotions, capture thoughts.

How did I get so lucky!

I still feel like just a kid!

Want some bird seed?

When my sister and I were little, she had a Big Bird toy with a pull cord on the back.
When you pulled it, he would say things like "I live on Sesame Street," etc.
Well, Big Bird was loved, his cord pulled A LOT, and he went a little funny.
He was known to say (and we can hear it perfectly in our minds to this day; sorry you're missing out!) "I live on Sellll..same street" and, "Want some burrrrrrd seeeeed?"

So I ask you, "Want some burrrrd seeed?"



Because apparently this is something I am good at growing...by accident.

My real garden has been spontaneously (and frighteningly fast, I might add) overtaken by morning glory. At least the one thing that grows in there will be pretty! I do still have a few squirrelly tomato and bell pepper plants, 3 carrots and some herbs. You can't win 'em all, I suppose! I'll try again in the fall and see how winter veggies grow in my patch. Good thing we don't depend on my skills (or lack there of) for sustenance.

Bad Blogger

So, I'm a really bad blogger...

I decided when I started this one, that it would be a spot to say things I felt like I needed/wanted to say, just for the heck of it. And if I didn't have anything worth saying, I wouldn't. So lately I haven't had anything to say :)

I've just been drawing and painting and playing and cooking and cleaning and thinking and reading and teaching and living and growing.

Life is going well, lots of good news lately in my "art career": Best of Show for cow painting at a show in Georgia, I was accepted into the Pastel Society of America and was (to my happy surprise) chosen to exhibit 13 pieces of art at St. Vincent's Hospital next summer after an interview I thought I bombed. I sold my biggest pastel picture to date to my wonderful Aunt to decorate her new law office, and did a new picture (that I have now stolen) that I am very proud of; it stretched my techniques and I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Meanwhile, we are trying to relax more and enjoy life...like Roman Italians (thanks Anthony Bourdain!)