I took this little test, linked from Annette's blog.
What Part of Spring Are You?
You Are Blooming Flowers
You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future.
You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions.
You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane.
You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.
I DID NOT EDIT it to suit my own vision of myself. And I'm posting this on one of the most difficult days of the week.
Still cleaning! I was in a cupboard the other day and came across these glasses. Remember when we drank this little bit of juice with our breakfast. My guys drink 1/2 litre of juice at a time, usually the bottle lasts one meal, and that's if it's not hot. When I packed Daniels lunch it was a 3quart box of juice. Our eating habits have changed considerably. I'm finding my cookbook being adjusted constantly, the old recipes are just that "old" we are so much more aware of fat and sugar and carbs etc. I've made considerable changes to favorites. But I really don't remember fat people when I was growing up so what happened? Enjoy a glass of sunshine in a bigger glass, and offer me suggestions on what to do with these. So far, they've been Andy's vinegar containers. He puts vinegar on everything. Yuk! If I continue to let him use them there will not be any left for my kids to take to the Antique Road Show.
This past week I got to spend and enjoyable couple of days with my friend Janice and her Mom. We trecked out to Niagara and enjoyed the bulbs in the green house. What an inspiration to come home and do some gardening. So you can imagine how exciting it was when we actually got a Saturday that was warm enough to do that. I hadn't planned on it. It was going to be laundry day, and toilet paper replacement but then I looked out my sunny window. All I could think of was my husband will not be tip toeing through the tulips. So, I abandoned the laundry...
A couple of years ago I planted a bunch of crocus' throughout my back lawn, and this morning when I looked out there they were all ready for spring. Last year the rabbits did their thing with them and I hardly got to enjoy them so, I went out today and raked and enjoyed them before the bunnies come hopping by. I have plans to increase these things this fall. I'll be moving my grapevine hyacinths to make a plaid in my lawn. Won't that be cool. It's such a welcome sight after a very long winter. You can see the grass is still yellowed.
The cat was wondering what I was doing with his favorite grapevine cones. Well I was getting ready to set up barriers. I gave them a quick spray of red paint.
This is a frequently travelled route, to maintain the pond, you can see the filter tank now, but once the vegetation gets going, it not visible. Andy often checks it so I expect collateral damage in my plants, so I've put bright red twig cones secured to the ground to protect my astilbe, and more large branches.
This area has not only those valuable car parts but my hydreangias and Lenten Rose, and all those day lillies and Iris' so it gets a big barrier. I've even place large branches around the pond to keep the traffic off my Hibiscus which doesn't look like anything more than dried up sticks at the moment.
Most people have lawn furniture to sit on, I use it to baracade my husband from my garden.Each chair is strategically place over a growing plant that may be mistaken for a stepping stone. The white chairs in the background protect my clematis, and each clematis has a barrier around it as well, just in case he moves the chair to step there. We would have starved to death if he was a farmer. So today's "in service" will be a garden tour. "Don't tip toe through the garden".
I had to post this tune with the animae, since Sasha passed the "in service" for toilet paper replacement, and animae is his "thing."
I think the biggest mistake I've ever made was to do too much for my family, my husband and sons, not necessarily my sisters and such. As you see I've been conducting an "in house experiment". This empty toilet paper roll has been on the wall for one full week. It's our main bathroom, there are three of us. I hid a full roll in a little cupboard just across from the toilet. My men have not found it, nor have they had the knowledge to replace this empty roll. They have gotten up in the middle of the night to use the facility, realize there was no paper on the roll, and walked downstairs to the powder room. So last night the roll ran out in there. It was two in the a.m. when my husband realized this. You can imagine the fuss. I just laid there and snickered. So today we had an "in-service" on how to replace the roll,and directions as to where full rolls might be located. Of course my husband wants that whole wack of 24 rolls just sitting there next to the potty, not happening dude. My next experiment might be emptying the drawers of underwear, and having a laundry basket full with clean ones, just to see if they can find them. I've often thought I should sew my husbands pants to make them tighter so he would lose some weight, but I'm too busy for that right now, so maybe later. It's all very scientific you know.
I had to add a post script to this post. As I walked away from my computer to put another load of wash in, I also took out a load of dry stuff. In the dryer screen I found this "washed" bus ticket, I have now washed a GAME BOY, a monthly bus pass, at the beginning of the month, and now this. I guess I know what my new "in service" will be, perhaps I'll just start laying out a schedule of how to live without your mother/wife doing everything for you. I'll be ironing this ticket, because he WILL BE using it.
When visiting Poland some 30yrs ago, I loved this Palace. The streets were not so empty as you see here. But, I could easily have transformed myself into that time. And it would be remiss of me to not tell you a little about it.
Wednesday is my painting day. Well I slept through the alarm, and didn't make it. I can't believe I did that. What's happening to me. On Sunday I forgot my key and got locked out, today sleeping through the alarm. Well by the time I got up, I couldn't gather myself, and thought "Oh Crap", I'll just paint at home. HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's income tax stuff all over my table and laundry up to the ceiling. Guess what I didn't do? So I threw some laundry in, changed sheets and it's 2 o'clock. Time to start thinking of dinner. What the ... is that all about? This was my job for today. Remember these calendar frames. You bought the calender and frame and when you turned the months you got a whole new scene. Well now good luck finding a calender like that. So being environmentally friendly, I decided I didn't need to know what day it was, but I could not throw out wood. So I twisted the purpose of this frame to make a little spring treat for my little niece (who lives in a box).
click any photo to enlarge
I went to Curry's and got a canvas board, it needed to be cut to size. I gessoed and ...
I chose a Mary Owen design, that I don't remember where I got it from. A little cutesie.
This is what I ended up with. My dilema is that the lower portion is a chalk board, and I'd like to protect it with some kind of varnish. What do I use. So if any of you have ever painted a chalk board please let me know. There were no directions on the bottle.
On St. Patrick's Day people who are not even Irish celebrate with enthusiasm. Well for all of you who pretend, I thought I'd share this with you. Monday is my vacuuming day. And as I love to not get dressed and stay in my p.j.s, I was doing so I was vacuuming in my p.j.s down the steps. Well the road didn't rise up to meet me. It was my steps. I got my slipper caught in my p.j. bottoms, (they are baggy) and the steps jumped up into my face. Imagine that. All I could think of was, I'm not even Irish. Silly as that may sound. Well I must have been an acrobat in a previous life, all twelve steps and I landed on my feet, and not hard. It reminded me of my niece who did handstands all summer vacation one year. We forgot what colour her eyes were, because we were always looking at her ankles. I think that's why she's so tall. Anyway I'm fine, God truly was holding me in the palm of his hands. And I'm not even Irish.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
O.k. this helps with at a loss for words as well. Sometimes I'm just too emotional to post, and rather than insult anyone, I can reach out and friendship someone on Friday's and take stock of my postcards at the same time. So today's postcard is not really vintage, but I always thought it was a great reconnection tool for small business. Unfortunately the business in question is no longer. But I can certainly use it. I'm actually going to send a card to a friend who I have not heard from for a great many years. I'm hoping her kids have a computer, and she knows how to email. I know she's not a letter writer, but it's been a long time. So we need to reconnect. Happy Postcard Friendship Friday.
I always thought I watched well. I love reading and seeing what other people are doing and am forever amazed at the talent the ideas. Like Kelly Kilmer! Like Nancy! and Marissa I love that Marissa is a great Mom. I am so inspired, I think Leslie nudges me on well, I love that she takes on these projects and just goes to town with them. I'm always thrilled to see her results. She a great teacher, we miss her desperately in painting. And Carmi well that's a whole 'nother world. Love her ideas and her preserving all those lovely old linens. I've been blessed to be a watcher from the sidelines with these ladies and most of them I've hugged. And then there are those ladies that I've hugged only via blogging. I'm inspired in so many ways, I only have the time to watch from the sidelines.
Today I attended a funeral of a little humble lady that was a constant in our parish. She was 96years old. She never missed a day of mass. Once when we went out for lunch she began telling me about her youth, and I'm all but 100% positive that she and my mother traveled the same route during the W.W II. They were both in Siberia, both in Africa and both in England all before coming to Canada. She'd out lived her husband, son , who both died in Siberia, and then her daughter and son-in-law. Her grandchildren did not live close by, she lived on her own. I was amazed at her strength and commitment. Up until a few months ago she didn't even see a doctor regularly. A few months ago she broke her arm. And then a week ago she had a bad fall which eventually ended her life. She went out of this world as quietly as she lived, but not alone. I think her grandchildren were amazed at the number of parishioners that attended the funeral celebration, and I know they were amazed that we all seemed to know all about her. They were amazed at how involved this little lady was. I guess you can think you know someone and yet have a lot to learn about them. I couldn't help thinking of how she must have been devastated when her daughter died 33yrs ago, losing a child and a spouse in time of war was one thing, but losing your child to illness is quite another, and of course my waterworks were endless. I just have to think about someone dying and my tears are endless. My poor friend just couldn't calm me down, I forgot to tell her to just ignore me, or I'll have the whole church sobbing. At one point I think I wet my candle wick and the flame almost went out. It took me well into the afternoon to sort of settle down. In my head I know we must die,and certainly at 96 but I wish my heart got the same message. Farewell dear lady.
I'm still in the tidy mode. This is a little book we did in our bookbinding class quite some time ago. I've designated it's purpose for "at a loss for words" you know when you want to write something and just are stumped. I've even put my polish sentiments in since it's such a hard transition for me, I thought I would write down all those special thing others write to me and plagiarize. So far it's filling quite quickly. It has seven signatures so I've divided it up with 1/3 in Polish, well two signatures, and the remainder in months/seasons, Christmas sentiment, Valentine etc. You have to admit the spine and stiching are quite attractive, and it's small enough on the book shelf not too be in the way. I've even put some of my stamp sentiments in since I don't always know where they are. oops now you know how organized I am. I may have to make another one to put all those religious cards into, just in case someone needs one. I just attach them with photo corners and then they can be removed. Hey that's not a bad little project for my mom and me on those long days.
I've over the years collected postcards of Historical Costume, polish historical costume. This particular one is a Polish Peasant Costume from Kujawy. I think Alice and Teddy Podbielski danced the Kujawjec. It's slow paced and I know they had few laughs at it's expense. I can still see them. I don't remember Teddy looking like this guy but what can I say, it was a laugh no less. So in hounour of vintage postcards, this is 1932, vintage enough, and certainly happy friday.
Unless we were deathly ill, there was no sitting around in my mother's house, and even the deathly ill was up for question. Anyway, today's adventure, much like the other days is to tidy away all those little bits that I have lying around. I've got this bin labelled embellishments. I've even sub-categorized them into books that I though I would use them in. This category happens to be a women's place. Can you imagine my mother hanging on to all this, and now I'm hanging on to it. I believe these are bra clips, yes she must have made her own bras. I'm sure there will be more of this sort of thing. Yesterday I sorted through one of the many bags of religious literature that she collected over the years, I have no idea what to do with it all, but I guess I'll have to find a home. Throwing it out is not an option. Since I've been ill, I've had these strange cravings, so check out my cooking blog for an interesting dinner.
I took Leslie's advice yesterday,and climbed under those sheets with a pile of books. I've been doing some research for a group of canvas I'm planning. I think I've grown up with my painting and I'm having a hard time fitting into the parameters. Oh well I'm doing my own thing. So my sketch pad is a rockin'. ...Enjoy
You'll have to forgive me if I don't blog often, I'm still quite feeling not so good. Yesterday's outing knocked me back a bit again. It took me a couple of hours to change my sheets today, I just had to keep sitting down. so now I have to put clean ones on, it ought to be time for bed then.
I'm an artist, but my walls are bare. I just don't have what it takes to say, "o.k., that piece is finished, let's hang it honey". Of course it would help if honey could hammer in a nail without getting blood all over the place. Well I almost finished another great little project today at a HADA Big Brush Workshop. I'm loving it, but I ran out of steam about an hour before finishing, so the piece will have to wait until Wednesday's studio time. And then I'm getting one of those Black and Decker hanging thing a ma jigs and hanging some of this stuff up. My living room looks like a studio with canvas' all over the place. I always leave things out to see what the living room painting fairy does. She does o.k. I always think, holy crap did I do that? And the answer is usually yes, you did, and it's not half bad. My self portrait is still mostly unfinished, I'm just not liking those warts on my chin...
Carmi often talks about vintage postcards. I really have never paid any attention to postcards until she peeked my interest. I know what you're going to say, "you don't need another interest", just clean your house". Well I was doing just that, trying to sift through all that stuff from my mother's house when my sister Barb and I came across these post cards, they are blanks, I suppose you purchased them at Canada Post and they were pre stamped at 8 cents. Must have been in the 1800's because Canada Post doesn't even have an 8 cent stamp any more. What a laugh. I'm not sure what I'll do with them but I instantly thought of Carmi. Now I suppose if I needed an excuse to not continue the clean up (I know I'll never be finished) I could do some research on how old this postcard is, but I'm on a clear this box mission today, as I'm not up to vacumming just yet, too pooped. (literally)
I can't sit still. It's something my mother never allowed us to do. We always had to be doing something. I of course prefer to do something fun, not just house stuff. So on that day when she shared her germs with me I showed her my new tools. Thinking she'd say what a creative daughter I have. "who's going to wear what you make?" was her encourageing remark. "Oh mommy dearest" I thought. Anyway I got me some new tools. All to do something with the mutitude of beads she had me buy for her advetures. I did buy some of my own beads though. It all started in November when we had that little workshop with Nancy, and we got the bug, and went down to Queen St. the beading capital of the world. I was totally confused, and then we took a class with a lovely young lady named Emma. She made it all look so easy. And look what happened. I couldn't sit still, so lied down and finished my braclet, must get myself a breakfast table or a lap desk and that would be great to work on, but my macrame board did o.k. too. Good thing we don't always listen to our mothers eh!
You'll understand if I tell you I've spent some time in my bathroom this weekend, and feel compelled to start with this commercial. Well today was the first day I could muster up enough energy to resume a little of my beauty routine. My nose felt really dry and scaly so I thought I would exfoliate myself. I have one of those little neutrogena machines that you velcro a little blue pad to and it soaps up and remove dry skin, (I have some much dry skin I should be invisible by now). Anyway, as I was doing this I realized this was not skin, it was little bits of tissue, cheap tissue, my husband buys. If I wasn't so sick boy....... The commercial is the Charmin one with the bears who have leftover toilet paper on their bottoms.
I thought I'd get in another visit with my mom last week, on Friday. Well she gave me some bug, and I'm down and out. I haven't been sick like this for I don't know how long? So as I'm laying here looking at all this dust and housework, I'm thinking what the H---l do I do all day? Over the past few years I've run out of steam, and now I'm sure I've run out of desire. Anyway, I can't just lay around so alphabetized my paints, took stock of paper and then fizzles out. I thought I might paint a little but I'm just too tired. did a very little bit of research for my next design, and plopped. Coughing up your lungs all night doesn't give you too much sleep. I think I might have even scared the old man, he asked if he needed to take me to the hospital. Anyway my mother is fine, she just showered me with her germs and continued on her merry way. I always thought she'd kill me with housework but I guess she has other plans. Well my sweet son brought home a couple of movies for me to watch, and these are his words" since I've seen them before, I could doze off and still know the outcome of the crime". They are Agatha Christie movies and yes I have read and seen most of them, but never tire of watching them again. So I'm going to try to eat something now, and go back to rest. Beware of old people with germs.
