I hate Mondays vs. Home Improvement

I hate mondays! I don't hate a lot. But mondays are the arm pit of mothering! I've lost my groove from the weekend and I have all this freakin' house cleaning to do because we "hung" out all weekend! It's maddening. I don't want to be a housecleaner.....I don't like doing it, though I like the resutls....my mom, when she was me, had it made....literally, beds, kitchens, baths everything...even landuary....Faye or Suzy, depening on the year would come in and clean up what the Tipton kids put down. They were great....really....part of the family....and man, I wish I had one of them now!!! I envie you mom, having 2 jobs is really difficult sometimes down right miserable....but at least I get to be with my kiddos...that's the bright side of it all....I am very grateful for that! They are trully a light in my life.

Had fun with good friends this weekend and are still making our way through the front yard. Matt and I finally did it! We cut down the shrubs hiding the house. I've been wanting to do it since we moved in, and thought it would be a bigger deal. But really, it took us all of an hour and a truck! Thanks Uncle Steve!:)

It is going to be beautiful when we are done. I have lots of plans. Just time is what we need. We will see how long it takes. Hopefully by the Luau we will have it looking good. Which is beging of August. Invites went out today. Here are some pixs. Have been picking up the camera more now that I am finishing my recent mixed media piece. I will post on that when it is complete. Almost there!

good day!

Tomorrow is MOM's birthday. She hasn't been feeling all that well that past month, but she is starting to turn around. I have so many things that I could say, but so little time to get it all out the way I would perfer. Therefore, I will say MOM YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST. I LOOK UP TO YOU IN SO MANY WAYS, WAYS YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF AND SOME THAT YOU ARE.

BEAUTY IS A SWAN FLOATING IN THE WATER---FLOATING THROUGH THE WATER LIKE YOU. YOU ARE A SWAN. ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ...........STILL ARE.........ALWAYS WILL BE........I've watched you as a mother all my life and I have done nothing but admire your beauty, strength and humor. I have watched Dad love you like I hoped to be loved, and am. I have never seen two people so happy (really when it comes down to it and all of lifes "stuff" get out of the way), than you two. I am proud to have you as a mother and to have you both as parents! Your beautiful. 66 is not admired in this country, in this society we live it...but I admire it. I hope to get there, with age comes beauty that is only available to those who have lived a life. A person with wisdom is only wise once they realize that true beauty comes with age. Comes from living and experiencing what life gives out.

I love you, you are my mother but also one of my best friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Back from Paris

I have to admit, it's been a while but when your eating gourmet sweets and drinking bottles and bottles of le Vino under the Effiel Tower who wants to write on a blog! Ah, summer in Paris, OUI!!!

How long has it been? Weeks I believe. I have been mulling this thought and that thought over and over in my brain like kneeded dough. I haven't really wanted to share. I've been deep in my well of SELF and exploring around like a little kid exploring without it's mother.

Now in reality, the one you and I are standing in right now----

LIFE is hetic and busy. It seems to always be the case. Who's isn't right? I figure we all get it. We all have our "things" to do.

I have been exploring a new project. I started it this weekend and am very excited about it. The Picture up top is the my finished project I completed last week. I worked on it for a couple of weeks. Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite poets. She is a master of language and capturing the essence the smallest of happenings. I was inspired by the quote. It is the best way I have ever encounter of the idea that "life is short" that this isn't a "dress rehersal" -- take it and love it because it will, at some point, go away.

Now to me that is very inpsiring. Some may not like to think about life like that, that it's sad, or "morbid" as my mom would say. But to me it's beautiful. Life is SO sweet. I am one who connects to nature and find myself connecting more and more in my artwork. I started off stretching my own canvas. I used acrylic paint and natural bark found in my backyard. I also used needle felting, "row" they call it, for the wing and feathers. The letters are a mixture of things; beads, yarn, stamps etc and the photo's are my original shots taken last fall, sown on with a needle and tread.

I am also reading a VERY good book. And having lots of "summer time" with my lovies. Will post more this week, now that I am back from my rendezvous with Paris and tired of my "welling" I will be more here in the now of everyday reality. Until next time............

P.S.

Who ever is interested. Check out Trevor Hall. He's a great artist/singer guy. Really great!

It's not halloween....it's Cindy! We were having fun one night after she came home from her studio tye-dying (how do you spell that?) scarves she sells. It was really fun to try to get how she looked like Frankinstein iCan't wait for Halloween Cyn (I'm going to win!)

Anyway, been obsessing with my painting/mixed media piece and have been in the studio every spare minute I can get. And at the same time building a website for my photography.Been a busy one to say the least. I am very excited.

I have had my hands full with my beauties, and kids next door all day .... the rain is cramping my syle, it's hard to jump on the tramp right now. Tatum thinks she's always "dirty".

I will say it's summer crazy here in full force, and we are having a good times playing,, jumping,painting, playing in the water, learning ballet, and watching matt cook yummy meals and eating them, and the BEST desserts this side of the planet. I am NOT kidding he is QUITE the baker!! AMAZING.......taking a bite and trying not to eat them! (really Matt the baking is worthy of your own show!

Above are some shots just thought I would share.......still shooting the world around me.....xxxooxo to all.