I love indoor plumbing....

It's been a not so fun weekend here at the Everyday Occasions crib.

Why?

The stomach flu, y'all

The Bubs seems to have escaped unscathed but the Hubby, E-man and I have all been felled by the dreaded stomach bug.

Um..........Uh oh! Gotta go!

"I wanna paint like you, Mommy!"

That's what the Bubs told me when we were chatting in my studio. He'd come in a few moments before and leaned on the back of my chair to peek over my shoulder at what I was painting. It was one of those slow days around the house. He had the day off from school and the Hubs had the day off from work. Some days we like to just chill out and enjoy being home ...no major cleaning projects or grocery shopping treks.

For a child who's used to a more structured day, chillin' out at home can be a relief....for a little while and then they start expecting you to come up with some activity for them to do! I'm pretty sure that's how the Bubs was feeling when he said that he wanted to paint like I was. He'd mentioned his interest in painting a couple times before and Poppi went out and got him a few canvasses to have fun with.

So he painted. It was fun to watch him- no fear, no hesitating or second guessing. We talked about how to use a paint brush and paint, what colors he wanted to use...and enjoyed being together. I know having that time with him is a memory I'll treasure. I hope he'll come to treasure it, too.

In the company of artists and crafters~

I attended my first artist's and crafter's guild meeting recently. I didn't even know that we had such a thing in our local area and was delighted when I stumbled across an ad on our newspaper's website.

The meeting was informative and the members were supportive and very open in giving advice and support. The president herself was like an excited little fairy with glasses....I loved it! I did notice, however, that there was a streak of no-nonsense steel underneath her fairy-like demeanor...loved that, too.

It was invigorating to be in the company of such creative ladies and gentleman. Some of them have been running their own creative businesses since the 70's and others, like me, were complete newbies. There were photographers, farmers who make their own natural beauty/health products, crafters, jewelry makers and even artists who use found objects to make signs or home decor, knitters and the list goes on.

About 15 minutes into the meeting I made up my mind to join...y'know, when payday rolls around! They were organized, supportive and had access to a lot of different resources.

I did get pretty nervous when we went around the room and introduced ourselves and our artistic/crafty pursuits. Eek! Some people had brought samples of their art to pass around and were eager to explain their pursuits...they were quite eloquent, dang it. I felt a bit like an idiot after I gave my rather vague introduction, but I'll just have to gird my loins and get better at talking about what I do. I'm going to be doing plenty of that when I start showing my work at shows/festivals, right?

What did I learn? Having a good product is paramount, advertise whenever possible (websites were mentioned a lot) and be passionate about your creations.

By the way, my sincere apologies for not posting a lot lately (baby, house business, chores -yuck). You were all in my thoughts...even on those days that I wasn't able to hop on the computer!

Singing at a funeral....not as easy as I thought.

The trio that I sing with was asked to sing a selection for a funeral that was held yesterday. I didn't think much of it, other than I was honored that we were asked and thoughts of sympathy at the family's loss.

The difficulty that I would be facing in singing for such a service didn't fully dawn on me until the family processed down the aisle to the distinctive sounds of a bagpipe belting out Amazing Grace. With one glimpse at their faces as they took in the sight of the casket at the altar and the way some of them held on to one another, my mind flashed back to Mom's funeral services.

Yikes.

The service was lovely and the recounting of her life touching and even, at times, funny. Then it was time for us to sing.....and I had the solo part.

With one final prayer the song began.....

I just couldn't look at the family. What can I say? Memories of one of the hardest days of my life and being a sympathy cryer will do that.

How in the world did I ever think that singing at such a service would be nothing to worry about? Silly, silly me.

Happy 81st Birthday, Dr. Martlin Luther King Jr.

We remember you, Reverend, and we celebrate your world-changing life. Happy Birthday and thank you.

P.S. I still cry every time I hear this speech...

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself...

Y'know, I've really tried hard not to be that SAHM who wears sweats and never does anything with her hair. Even if it was just the simple act of wearing "real" clothes instead of my lounge/pajama stuff all day it was a little something I could do for myself that made me feel productive and put together. Well, I've fallen off the wagon...big time.

Ker-splat!

Mornings at my house, like everyone else's out there, are a circus. I'm feeling really accomplished if I have on matching socks and have brushed my teeth, after I've gotten the boys ready to go. Pitiful, I know.

I need to get back in the habit of throwing out a fresh outfit for myself along with the boys' stuff every night.....

**Several days later**

Okay, I've tried to make an effort. I even managed to eke out a moment or three to run a hot iron over my clothes. A nice blue button down shirt and some new slacks that I'd gotten with some birthday money.

I was quite delighted that I'd been afforded such a luxury as ironed slacks (not worn out jeans, mind you) right up until I was asked in Wal-Mart if I worked there.

*SIGH*

I tried, people, I really did.

A prayer for Haiti

Father, I come to you burdened by a plight that's not my own but I feel it as though it is. I'm weighed down by the desperation of a country crippled by disaster, fear, chaos and anger. I come to you for Haiti.

I come to you knowing that you are more than able of dispelling that fear and anger that would try and rip the country apart. I come to you with every confidence that you are and will continue to be the peace in the midst of their chaos...and their pain.

There are those who would try and take advantage of these people while they are weak and in need. Be their buffer, Father, and their protector. Make the crooked ways straight so that aid may come to Haiti swiftly and effectively.

Thank you for the things that you have already done...for I know you were there even before I knew what had happened.

Continue to embue the relief workers, doctors, missionaries and all helping hands with strength and grace. I know the pressure must be overwhelming. Help them combat the helplessness that can so easily take hold in the face of needs so great.

I come to you, Father, for Haiti.

Chasin' the baby and paintin' flowers....

Now that the Bubs is back at school that's mostly what I've been doing. E-man is 9 mos. and mobile. Whew, that kid can move! He landed his gorgeous brown eyes on an electrical outlet yesterday and made a bee-line for it. I thought I had them all covered, but I must've missed one...thankfully, I was right there to ruin his fun! Crisis averted.

We're heading to the doc later today to get him checked out. He's got some skin irritation on his face that we can't figure out. Hoping we can get some light -or cream- on the situation.

We've been introducing E-man to the wonderful world of solids, lately. And, yes, we all make the ridiculously goofy faces when he's being fed! Hilarious....I really should get a pic of that, come to think of it.

Anyway, if you're part of the masses being hit with this Winter weather, stay warm and safe! (The Hubs is holding out hope that we'll get snow...)

Lady with no name...

I love looking at this. I saw it in my head a while before I was able to put her on canvas (or hardback book cover in this case...I think). I'm usually quite hesitant about painting people, but she was so clear in my head that I knew I had to give it a try.

Her outfit and the background are made of tissue paper that I painted over. This may have been one of my first tries with that technique and I like the texture that it created.

I painted this a little over a month ago and I still don't have a name for it. Silly, I know, but I have so many words and ideas that pop into my head when I see this that I can't make up my mind.

Any ideas?

**Update~ I was so inspired by Robin's comment that I decided to go with the title "Bird Charmer". Thanks, Robin!**

The Villian is being played by....Who?

When I was a little girl, I would imagine myself as a character in fantastically wonderful and, often, hilarious stories of my own making. Sometimes I would play the whimsical princess who ruled her land with grace and compassion (yes, there was a prince and he was the typical boring, too-pretty type...but I was 8, so I didn't know any better!). Other times I would dream that I was a world traveler who saw and did amazing and life-altering things, with a camera in hand and sturdy boots on my feet.

No matter what those imaginings created, I was never the villain, never made to feel small and inconsequential.

I have learned, in my few years of motherhood, that I can often be perceived as "the bad guy" if only for enforcing a rule that the child had been REPEATEDLY warned about. That rarely bothers me anymore as I know that I (and the Hubs) have to do this in order to raise happy, healthy, moral and productive children.

There are other times, however, when the label is slapped across my chest and it is unwarranted and completely unexpected.

I have, just this morning, been slapped with that unlovely (and unloving) title. By a family member, no less.

Words, which I've never expressed verbally or otherwise, were unceremoniously shoved in my mouth. Accusations were flung about with the same relish as a small child left with unattended Kleenexes. Blame was laid at my door, complete with shiny gift wrap and a garish bow.

I'm not sure how it happened, as I'm one of the supportive characters -or thought I was- but happen it did. Now, I'm dealing with the fall out....and I want my Momma.

From the Everyday Occasions scrapbook~ Christmas

I know that I'm a little late with these pics. Some of you may even be tired of Christmas stuff right now, but I have family that would come down from "up yonder" and string me up by my toe nails if I didn't post these! Well, maybe not...

They'd just politely remind me that they're still waiting to see pictures and ever so subtly use guilt, but politely. Aunt D's more direct. She'd just call me up and say, "I wanna see some pictures!"

So here are some pictures, if somewhat late~

Gadgets & Art

The Hubs got me a scanner for my birthday this year. Not just any scanner, he got me a scanner that I could use to scan my art. NICE!

Well, it's now January and my birthday was earlier in December....and I finally got the chance to try it out the other day with some new pieces.

What can I say? It's been a bit crazy 'round here.

All of the flowers in these pieces were made by layering different pieces of paper and filling them in with paint.

The Hubs likes that they kind of sit up off of the "canvas".

So far, I've been trying my hand at poppies and little blue flowers (the name has completely espcaped me). I'll be posting those once I get some more supplies and scan them in with my snazzy new scanner.

Thanks, Hubby!

New Year's Eve Fun (and we did it in our P.J.'s!)

This photo I took at around 11:55 p.m. last night pretty much sums up our New Year's celebration....and I love it! The glasses we used for a toast at our wedding filled with sparkling juice and the baby monitor in the background...sweet memories from our past combined with an everyday fixture of our present.

My camera captured no celebs (in various states of undress and/or drunkeness) and we were rockin' our p.j.'s instead of designer labels while we played a heated and hilarious game of Mario Kart on the Wii.

I haven't really thought of a resolution....is that wrong of me? I only know that I'm trying to cherish those around me, stay available to what good things are coming our way and be supportive through the tough circumstances that inevitably come in life.

You, my lovelies, have my prayers and well-wishes for a healthy, happy, safe and delightful new year!