Comicalness ~

A Text Between A Daughter & Mother...



Baby Girl: Allow me to introduce you to the new man in my life... Mr. Coffee. He gets pretty hot. ;P

Mom: U r funny! Don't let him burn you!! LOL! Oh I crack myself up! :D

Baby Girl: Har har har. :P :)

It's Christmas Time ~

Merry Christmas! 

Through A Child's Eye ~

I don't particularly like Halloween and all the spooky, scary, totally over the top mix of horror and gore that goes with it. Although, I do enjoy looking at it through a child's eye. To a child, it is one day out of the year that he/she can dress up like their favorite hero or someone they would like to be. Or a day the children are free to express their imagination in a concrete way by becoming a beautiful flower or a giant piece of pepperoni pizza!



When my children were younger, we would discuss what they wanted to be and start making a list of items to gather or buy at the local craft store. We would also scour the racks of thrift stores for unique products that could be altered. The preparation of "the costume" was full of anticipation; just waiting to see the finished product. As the final touches were added, I can recall the expressions of sheer delight and glee that could be seen on their little faces. It was priceless!



The night of Halloween , with all the carved pumpkins lit and my little ones empty bags waiting to be filled; the kids could be seen skipping joyfully up to each door in the neighborhood shouting, "TRICK OR TREAT!"

*In the photos above are three of my nieces, Alexis, Deja and Denille.

All We Need Is Love ~

I love how the universe sends me little reminders of how much I'm loved! Right when I need it too! Yesss... even through a strawberry!

;)

What We Crave Most ~

Look at us, running around. Always rushed, always late. I guess that's why they call it the human race. What we crave most in this world is connection. For some people it happens at first site. It's when you know you know. It's fate working it's magic. And that's great for them. They get to live in a pop song. Ride the express train. But that's not the way it really works. For the rest of us, it's a bit less romantic. It's complicated, it's messy. It's about horrible timing and fumbled opportunities. And not being able to say what you need to say when you need to say it. At least, that's the way it was for me.

Look at us, running around. Always rushed, always late. I guess that's why they call it the human race. But sometimes it slows down just enough for all the pieces to fall into place. Fate works it's magic... and you're connected. Every once in awhile, in all the randomness, something unexpected happens and it pushes us forward and the truth is... what I'm starting to think... what I'm starting to feel, is that maybe the human race isn't a race at all.

To See The Beauty ~

During a recent conversation, my mom shared with me early one morning, while the kids were still sleeping, she went in her back yard to drink her coffee. As she sat there, she couldn't help but think how much her life had changed since she took custody and guardianship of my sister's four children. As I listened to my mom talk, I could hear the sadness in her voice. She went on to tell me how even her back yard is in a complete disarray. I tried to encourage her and lift her spirits by pointing out what a blessing she was being there for my sister and the children. I also pointed out how the back yard has been a place of refuge and allowing the kids to be kids. It's a good thing.

Not long ago, I watched the kids for my mom and took some picture's that caught my eye while I played with my nieces and nephew. I love my mom's back yard. It's as if you are walking through an outdoor garden article in a Country Living Magazine. I sent her this collage and told her she may have to look at everything through different eyes to see the beauty.

The River ~

I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched. On the river the heat mirages danced with each other and then they danced through each other and then they joined hands and danced around each other. Eventually the watcher joined the river, and there was only one of us. I believe it was the river.



A quote from the movie "A River Runs Through It."

It's Been Ruff ~

Our Simone has always had a distinct smell to her breath; not pleasant. When I thought that it could not get any worse than it was, it did. Her breath smelled of rotten fish. I noticed she wasn't eating her food, although when it was meal time, she was the first to come running to her bowl. The dots were not connecting. When wanting some kind of an answer, I google. Apparently, the "rotten fish" smell was probably a tooth with decay and infection. Our vet found a tumor growing on her gum and also an infection from an abscessed tooth. He gave her an antibiotic and we scheduled an appointment for surgery. Her tumor was sent away to see if it was cancerous and it came back benign. Simone had five teeth removed and needs to go back in six months to be rechecked for two more that are in question.

I am quite thrilled to be able to say, she is doing great and acts like a different dog. She has never been able to eat hard food and now she can. Simone is a sweetheart; full of love and wants to spread it around with wet kisses and fresh breath!



Ever since we have gotten our Miss Sophie, she has walked with a little skip in her left hind leg. We went camping two weeks ago and the second day in, she was keeping her left leg tight up into her. She loves our trips, but I could tell she was over it by Wednesday. I took her to our vet and it's what I expected... she has to have surgery on her knee. Apparently she has ruptured her Cranial Cruciate ligament. I dropped her off at the veterinarian hospital and her surgery is around 11:00 this morning... please say a prayer for her.

*UPDATE ~ Sophie is in recovery. She went through the surgery fine. They had to repair more than expected.... but she is good!!

:)

Hugs and a heart felt thank you!

Where I Belong ~

Take time to smell the coffee!

I have wanted to go to The Queen Bean Coffee House for quite a while now and just hadn't taken the time to. In the past year or so, my daughter and her advisor would meet there to go over their research and other things on their agenda that needed to get done. She would come back and tell me about how the Queen Bean was decorated or what was going on and I would be oh so envious. We finally went to the Queen Bean and it is now a place that we catch up on what is going on with one another.

This charming little coffee house is indeed an old house located downtown that has been renovated into a business and has a BIG homey feel to it. In no time, you find yourself relaxed and not wanting to leave. On some evening's toward the end of the week, The Queen Bean will have poetry readings or a band come in a play music. Awesome, Awesome place!

I'm Tickled PINK!

It's Texture Tuesday and Kim's assignment is PINK! I couldn't make up my mind on which photo to use... so I just used all three! :)


This photo was taken on one of my morning walks while on holiday in Monterey, California. I got up before the sun kissed mother earth on it's side and was able to witness it ALL in it's magnificent glory! And then I thanked them both for sharing it with me. I used Kim Klassen's texture sweettart.


When my daughter was a toddler, she would wear a pink tutu over her jeans or leggings and dance throughout the house. When she put this pink dress with tulle peaking out of the bottom over her jeans, it made my heart smile with how some things stay true to one self no matter how old you get. Sweet! On this photo, I used Kim Klassen's texture not too shabby.


This photo was taken in Monterey along Cannery Row while listening to a young musician playing beautiful music on his guitar. My husband and I had just learned that his test showed no trace of cancer for the first time after doing numerous rounds of chemo. We were both relaxed, sitting in the sun and sipping our coffee's. People who have survived a near death experience often say "life flashed before their eyes." I wonder if this moment, full of emotion, would be one that flashed before mine. On this photo, I used Kim Klassen's texture Aurora.

You can see more "Pink" textured pics by clicking here.

Kinetic Energy ~

Life is like riding a bicycle.
In order to keep your balance,
you must keep moving.

They Are Made ~

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life, that fills them with compassion, gentleness and deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Running Away ~

It's been a little tense here lately. Recently, my husband finished the first phase of a beach house he'd been working on for five straight weeks. Companies he worked with on some of the orders were not following through and made the job difficult. Needless to say, Charlie was feeling exasperated. When he would come home after working 4/10 hour days, he would snap at me over the littlest things. Then there was also my daughter who graduated from college with her Master's going through a lot of emotions as well. Let me just say the phrase, "You hurt those who are closest to you," really hit home.

While my son Rob was at work he'd text me a quick, "Hi mom ~ how's it going?"
I replied, "Shh... Don't tell anybody, but I'm running away."
He replied, "I won't tell anybody. Where are you going?"
I replied, "I don't know yet, I'm thinking about an ole' fishing town with a diner at the end of a pier where I could serve clam chowder or a diner called the Whistle Stop, nestled in a small country town next to a train track, and I could bake pies and serve fried fish and hush puppies."
Rob replied, "Can I come?"
I replied, "Yeah, you can come with me. You can be my cook and go fishing whenever you want."
He replied, "Let me know when."
I replied, "Okay."

I didn't ask him what was going on at home that made him want to run away nor did he ask me. We just understood where the other was coming from.

Texture Tuesday ~ The Golden Edition

It's Texture Tuesday!

This weeks assignment has to be a photo with people in it. What girl doesn't like to play dress up? I know I did... and still do! ;)

I used Kim Klassen's texture called not to shabby.

The photo below is what it looked like before adding the texture.



Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can see more photo's by clicking on the Texture Tuesday badge below. Make sure you check them out!

I See You ~

Dad,

Even though you're not with me anymore, I see you all the time. I see you in Jessica; the determination she has to figure out how to do something and ability to freely speak her mind. I see you in your grandchildren, Rob's mischievous smile and his sneaky cheating hand when playing any type of game. I also see you in him when he goes camping or fishing by himself. I see you in Diandra; a heart for research and the bow in her legs. I see you in Vincent; curious and observant nature. I see you in Evan, how he gets a particular look on his face right before he throws a fit. I see you in me, with the love for family.

I see you everywhere. Thoughts of you are always in my heart.

Temporal Arrangement

There are times to be quiet, times to speak your mind, times to leave and times to stay. But whatever you do ~ do it for the right reasons and live without regret.

Tides Ebb And Flow ~

Yikes! Where has the time gone? It seems like it has been forever since I last posted anything! I've been so busy with training someone for my current job and now I am being trained for my new job. I feel a little out of sorts and trying to get into the new groove of things. I hope I can get my mojo back! Not only do I have the job title change and the responsibility which comes with that, but my baby is graduating with her masters from college. It's been crazy with the end of year festivities and planning of celebrations. By the time I get home, I'm exhausted and just want to collapse.

Darn it, I missed the party last week and I'm a little late for this one. How does the saying go? It's better to be late than never show up! This week's Texture Tuesday challenge - our image must contain at least one layer of the 'yesteryear' texture. With the school year coming to an end and summer almost here, I thought this photo above, I took a few summers ago was not only appropriate but also welcoming. The ocean is calling my name!

My momma always told me to be sure to bring something to a party. So, what the heck! I'll bring my last week's image too! Last week's challenge was to post a photo that must be vintage inspired and contain at least one of Kim's textures; I think I used the texture silence.

I looked through my photo albums and came up with a vintage VW bug. ;)



You can see more photos by clicking on the Kim Klassen Texture Tuesdays badge below.

* ~ Live In Peace ~ *

It's Texture Tuesday! I love old barn's and the way the tin roof on this one looks like a pieced quilt. I added Kim Klassen's Peace texture and really liked the way it turned out.

Here is the photo before adding Kim's Peace texture.



You can click on the Texture Tuesdays badge to view more photo's!

All I Ever Wanted ~

When I was in the 2nd grade, my teacher, Mrs. Galardie, asked us to write a paragraph on what we wanted to be when we grew up and draw a picture above our paragraph. I immediately drew a picture of me all grown up. I had a dress on with an apron tied around my waist, and was standing in front of a stove top/oven range with the door open to the oven, pulling out a pan of brownies. I also had a little boy and a little girl next to me with smile's drawn on all of our faces. Dad of course, was working.

As I drew my picture, all of the other children were busy chattering about what they wanted to be and drew themselves as doctors, nurses, teachers and astronauts. I recall a little girl sitting across from me, gasped when she asked me what I wanted to be. I said most proudly, "A momma!" All the children chimed in with the same sentiments as, "YOU want to BE A MOMMA?" My teacher was standing near our desks and said in a very nice but scolding way, "Now children, being a momma is one of the most important roles in one's life and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a momma (I looked at the girl and stuck my tongue out at her)." As my teacher walked by my desk, she gave my shoulder a squeeze and said as she looked at my picture, "Angela, what a beautiful picture! May I ask what you are pulling out of the oven?" I said, "Brownies! My momma ALWAYS makes us brownies." When we are little girls, we want to be just like our momma's.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I've collected apron's for as long as I can remember. The picture below are just some of them.









Below are some apron's my great gram and grandma made themselves. When they learned that I had a quite a collection going, they quickly added to it.











Being a mother means that your heart
is no longer yours; it wanders
wherever your children do.

Not so long ago.
We give and take
And take and give
Along time's endless row.
Love is passed
And love received
To be passed on again:
A precious heirloom
Twice, twice blessed,
A spiritual cardigan.

I'll put it on
And treasure it,
The me I have received,
And when the roles
Reverse again,
I'll have what I most need.

So may our love
Go on and on,
A hundred thousand years;
Through joys and other tears.

- Anonymous

Happy Mother's Day!