Author: Yarrowhouse

The Anniversary Giveaway

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Good Day Wonders.

In honor of my first year blogging and a full year of you encouraging me to pursue the arts I am giving away a package of art supplies used to create this painting.

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As much as I tried, Dr. S says it is not finished enough to give to someone and for once I agree.

The package will include
12 piece Reeves acrylic paint set
Canvas
Paintbrush set
And something special that I have yet to determine.

All you have to do to enter is to critique my painting. I can take it! I will draw a winner on Friday at 6 p.m.

Until next time, thanks for perusing and keep wondering!

Mundy Madness – No, No, No!

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Good Morning Wonderers!

Do you remember this painting?

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I was so proud of it. What did I say? It was on my level. Well this is Dr. S., my art instructors reaction.

“No. No. No! I don’t care what ethnicity you are, nobody’s hair lays like that! And why is she laying down? Fix the hair!”

I took my little painting to the back of the room with my paintbrush between my legs, crushed. “It’s only my first painting class”, I thought to myself. I took it home and didn’t bother with it at all. The whole painting was an accident in the first place. Remember I told you I used permanent maker to draft out the sketch, in which again, Dr. S. said, “No, no, no!” I explained to him that I was trying to cover over the marker and thought I could get away with it.

Well wonderers, I tell you, I worked on that painting and I worked on that painting but at the last moment I didn’t get to take it back to class because of some mishap or another. So, I decided to take it to the first guild meeting I ever attended. I had only just joined in October.

Well apparently, there is a face associated with his expression because as soon as he looked at it, the whole room echoed, “No, no, no!” In which he quickly added, “Where’s the squirrel?”

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So….,
I’m back on it wonders hoping to here a yes, yes, yes when class starts again.

Until then thanks for perusing and as always, keep wondering.

Putting up the easel – The Giveaway Project!

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Good mornings wonders.

I’m feeling inspired this cold rainy morning and I’m putting up the easel. At least after someone else wakes up and brings it and all my paints up stairs, I’ll be putting up the easel. But in the meantime, I’ve been sketching a layout for the first selection of my first giveaway. I plan on announcing it for my anniversary blogging date January 20, 2013. The rain inspired me to this sketchy sketch. As much as I would love to free style, I have learned sometimes that is not the best way to go. Tell me what you think?

It’s 1:11 p.m. Time to take a nap!

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Got the foundation in. Now comes the hard part – texture!

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Stepparent

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Good morning wonders.

I dislike the word stepparent. So many people do not understand the meaning of the word. The dictionary defines it as someone that your mother or father marries after the marriage to or relationship with your other parent has ended. Well step parents I’m here to define it a little more for you and as my grandfather would say, “If you throw a stone at a pack of dogs, the one that hollers is the one you hit!”

Disclaimer: I’m speaking to the stepparents whose spouses have visitation rights and don’t use them.

I think the definition of stepparent should include the perspective of a child. That’s the missing element. So from the child’s point of view I’m redefining the definition to include some points of reference from the child.

If you are a stepparent and your spouses children are not allowed over your house, you are not a stepparent.

If you are a stepparent and your spouse is mentally, physically, financially or socially supporting your children but is not supporting their own, you are not a stepparent. As a woman I have never been able to understand this one myself. I don’t know how you would expect a child to understand.

If you are a stepparent and your spouse has had no communication with their child, can you help them? It won’t be easy in all cases but we have FaceTime, Skype, Twitter, Instagram and a host of other ways of communicating that distant should no longer be a deterrent.

Look I know a lot of you have reasons for why your not involved in your children’s lives but if it’s not a court ordered situation to stay away, you may need to look deeper and find a way to make a place into your child’s life. As far as my definition goes:

Stepparent – you stepped into a child’s life because you saw there was a need. But fulfilling that step makes you a parent.

Step parenting is not for the weak hearted. I want to see you be brave.

Night Clarity

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Wonderers:

This is my time. I do most things this time of night. Housework, homework, special projects and I even watch my prime time television this time of night. I’m usually out like a light around 8 p.m. But 12-4 a.m. Is my alone time. Time to be by myself with no traffic running interference with my mind. But tonight is different wonderers. After a week of being by myself I realize I don’t really want to be alone. That is surprising to me because I have felt alone all of my life. Except for my immediate family, I really don’t interact socially outside of normal circumstances. I’m not saying I don’t socialize. I do within circles. Work people I socialize at work. Just to hang out with people has never been my thing. I’m always amazed when I leave a group of people and realize the impact I’ve made in that circle because I always feel like I’m outside of it all. I admire extroverted people but I’m not one of them. I’ve never felt the need to be with people for me but for them. If I can help someone that’s what I live for. But tonight, I feel alone.

When I get out of this room, I am seriously going to try to make a friend. I am going to open myself up to socializing more and allowing people to get to know me. I know I keep people in a box but I think it is time to broaden my personality and let down some walls. I am classified as the personality type of ISFJ – introverted sensing feeling judging, if you care to know a little about how I flow. You can check out your personality type at
personalitypage.com

So that’s me in the nutshell, wonderers. I’m naming 2014 as the year of reinventing or maybe I should say reinvesting myself. That’s fitting I think. 2013 was my resurrection year. I have physically and mentally been put back together and I think it is time to get back out there and do my thing.

My garage is empty. I missed all the end of the year dumpster diving and treasure hunting but my portrait class starts next week and I’m coming up on a year of blogging. So much to look forward too. I think it’s time for a creative giveaway. I will be working hard to come up with something worth sharing,

Until then, thanks for perusing and listening wonders and as always, keep wondering

My Get Well Quilt

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Hello Wonderers:

I woke up this morning to a wonderful breakfast courtesy of my granddaughter J. She left it on my nightstand because I was sleep.

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I especially loved the details of her mind. The glove is definitely a special touch.

You guys have to go over to Prettyladybaby to see what she’s been up to. She is having a 100 blog giveaway Friday but I must show you the get well quilt she sent me for recovery. My picture doesn’t do it any justice but I’m sure she has a better one. I call it the rainbow guilt. It’s light but very warming and it is the first to bare her logo name.

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I didn’t get a chance to show you guys what me and the children did for the holiday so here is a recap.

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We made lots of goodies for our neighbors and friends. Shifted around a lot of dentures at the senior citizen community center. They loved them but we will have to make them much smaller next time. Alex and mine first time at making candy. We went on and made Caramel popcorn when we got tired of cutting and wrapping the candy. A Christmas Eve dinner for a family we met at the rehab center that got to go home. Coconut macaroons for everyone who rang the doorbell. Whether they liked them or not. And… Cinnamon muffins just because they make the house smell like Christmas, to me that is. Last but not least Kerrie and I started on the Artsy Oven Mitts.

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This face says it all so please go over http//www.prettyladybaby.com and show her some love. We are two down (my templates) 108 to go!

As always thanks for perusing and keep wondering

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Mundy Madness – I’m Recovering Fine

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Good morning wonders:

This morning I was watching a yoga program when the instructor questioned mental adversity – was I using it as a stepping shield or a stepping stone? Noticed I said “watching” but I’ll say stone and I’m going to attempt to use my humor to throw a few this morning. For those who don’t know me humor is my defense mechanism. And if I can find the humor, All is well!

I have been in the bed for a week now with five more weeks to go and I have already discovered I need to build another house. This is my senior survivor moment.

To get around on my own my house will need a mini kitchen upstairs. A Bowl of oatmeal would be a survival food but no one knows how to make it. I said to my husband “I’ve been making oatmeal for these kids all of their lives how come they don’t know how to make oatmeal?” He just shook his head saying, “You answered your own question!” What ?

I also would have never suspected my children do not have a standard eating pattern. Well I’ve been feeding them for over 30 years breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and dessert without having to be provoked. They are willing to do it, some of them came home to do it, I just have to ask! People lunch is around noon. Hint, hint.

My new home has to have eye level cabinets along with an eye level stove. I would have never known how much bending and squatting I did in the course of a day. But reaching back into the depth of a floor cabinet is senseless. And it is amazing how everything ends up on the floor. If it wasn’t for J I would be depressed living in the mess I made. She keeps picking up my things for me singing, “Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up!” But the everybody sounds different than the rest of the song.

I need a dumbwaiter! Everybody brings things up, nobody takes things down. If I had a kitchen upstairs I could wash dishes. Sike!!!! No housework for me!

Oh wait, I have been brainstorming. I repurposed a Christmas gift temporarily.

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Desktop easel transformed into a bedside tv stand. My greatest creation this year!
Okay morning pain is calling me. Time to wake someone up so I can get something to eat so I can take a pill. I’m thinking instead of building a new house, I should send one of the kiddies to butler school. It might be a wiser investment.

Until next time, I’m recovering fine, but keep wondering.

Mundy Madness – a Thanks Mom

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Good Morning Wonderers!

I was thinking I needed to thank my mom for all the things she put on me because her mother put them on her. I’m talking about the things that bring me unnecessary stress. The things that make other people think I’m overwhelming at times and definitely a tyrant.

Thank you Mom for raising me to believe my house has to be clean bringing in the new year. Yes Mom, I cleaned out my shoe closet , my clothes closet, my night stand drawers. I dusted and vacuumed my room and cleaned my bathroom. You would be proud. While I was at it, I rearranged the furniture too and got everything up from under the bed.

Thank you Mom for saying all your laundry had to be done bringing in the new year or otherwise you will be washing clothes all year. I dispelled that one last year lady and called my girls and told them that one is a myth. But habit is habit, I washed all the clothes anyway and swept and mopped the laundry room floor.

I cleaned out the refrigerator Mom and went grocery shopping for collard greens, black eye peas and rice. We have to have that and EVERYONE has to eat it for the household to have good luck and plenty of money. Alex, your holding us back buddy. We might have hit that Megabuck by now if you would just eat your share of black eye peas. You have to do better buddy!

I don’t have the energy to rant with the grown folks around here about cleaning their rooms but you guys better have your bedroom doors shut when the new year rolls through the house! And clean your bathrooms! I mean it!!!!

Okay wonders, I hope your ready for the new year and that your homes will continue to be blessed. I want to extend a Happy New Year to all of you! I am definitely having my last surgery for the year this morning and will see you guys in the new year. As always, thanks for perusing and until next time, keep wondering.

Oh and by the way, y’all can visit me, my house is clean! (thanks Mom, I love you)

Mundy Madness – Tapping Out on Christmas

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Good morning my fellow wonderers.

Yesterday I was soaking in the bathtub questioning why I was feeling so defeated about Christmas. I had to admit to myself that my expectation and what I was actually achieving didn’t measure up . First off I haven’t been feeling well and had to address some health issues last week. I had gotten home from the hospital Friday and was resting when the hubby calls stating he had a viral infection and was coming home. Why is it whenever I have a down time someone else has to be down too? That sounds insensitive I know but can’t I be sick alone. I remember when I worked I never told anyone at the house I was sick until everyone got home from school or work. If they knew I was home I would get a phone call someone else was sick too and I would end up nursing everyone else back to health. I just went to bed. Tapped out after I washed all the sheets and blankets. Turns out he did not have a viral infection just a rash.

Saturday I still wanted to be all and everything for Christmas for my grands but it wasn’t working out. It all came to a head over the weekend when I decided we would make candy. We always made cookies but never candy before. We started with making caramels but of course it didn’t get hot enough and we ended up with Caramel sauce. Great taste and I think it will be good on waffles Christmas morning or Ice cream for dessert. After I cleaned the kitchen I announced we will make coconut macaroon later that evening. When I came back in the kitchen there was sugar all over the floor. Come to find out J had knocked the sugar over and they got up as much of it as they could. I still had about 5 pounds of sugar left for my candy making but when I realized they had gathered up the sugar from the floor and added it to the clean sugar — TAP OUT! I went back to bed. What kind of mess was this?

When I woke up, my son had the girls mop the kitchen floor and he went to get some clean sugar for me. J and I made coconut macaroon dots. Do you remember that candy? The candy that you ate off of paper! I just gave up.

I told my husband I was going to take a bath, roll up my hair and just wait for Christmas. It’s just to late to get candy in the mail and I was just going to accept it as it is. What was done was done and it was going to be okay. The bathtub was going to be an attitude adjustment. While I was in the bath, J my two year old granddaughter comes in and I say, ” Its my quiet time!” She replied, “You want some help?” and starts taking her clothes off. I tap out and put my hands up and help her into the tub. We watch Netflix and Polish our toe nails when it becomes apparent to me this is what Christmas is about and I vow to just spend time with my family be it doing chores, baking cookies or just playing a game. Whatever the days bring the rest of the holiday belongs to them.

This morning I check the second batch of caramel which turned out perfect. We had even made some caramel popcorn. The macaroons have loosened off the papers and I still have time to get one box of candy in the mail for my dad.

Christmas is going to be alright after all! Thank you my little two year old!

Until next time, thanks for perusing and Merry Christmas Everyone!