Good Morning Wonderers:
Since two of my favorite followers commented on my recovery painting, (your all wonders to me), I have made an executive decision to send both of you the prize. Send me your address.
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The Anniversary Giveaway
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.
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!
Stepparent
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
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
Mundy Madness – Tapping Out on Christmas
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!
Back in the Saddle Again
Hello Wonderers:
One surgery, 8 pt episodes and numerous bags of ice, I finally got my phone back. When hubby said he was taking over my recovery, he meant it!
I’m throwing these crutches away when I’m done with them this time. Now that my leg is back on straight I’m ready to rebuild it. Faster, stronger……. Bionic Woman!
I missed all you guys
Mundy Madness – Reading is Optional
I was shopping at the local Walmart one day heading south down the cereal isle when out of no where a small voice from the shopping carts shouts, ” That’s what you need Mom-Mom!” I started looking around trying to figure out what the child was talking about when he suddenly blurts out, “Two shakes and a sensible diet!” OMG! Low on the bottom shelf was Slim Fast shakes. He couldn’t read but he linked me up with the box he saw on tv and who knows how long he’s had the notion that it was something I needed. I guess the hand writing is in this isle. Out of the mouth of babes comes wisdom and all that crap. My baby thinks I’m FATTTTTT!
What else could I do, I put the shakes in the cart. All the other moms out there were watching for my reaction. I thanked him for his concern and put the shakes in the cart and turned west towards another isle. As I was walking away I noted to self. PBS channels don’t show commercials!
Home Shopping
Hello Wonderers:
It’s a three day weekend and my husband has to work. So what’s a girl to do, you might be wondering? Shop of course. Unfortunately for me I have to shop at home because September is my anniversary and my birthday month so I dare not tamper with the budget in case there is a diamond on the horizon. Hint, hint.. 🙂 My friend salpal1 at whatimuptotoday.wordpress.com taught me how to create that smiley face.
So shopping at home means room update. This room is a clean slate because I have been conflicted about what colors to use. One of my favorite colors is red but I promised the hubby that I would not paint a room in the new house red since he allowed me to do it at the old house. The family room and dining room.
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So here I am with all these beige walls. I was thinking blue but the inner me says RED.
Remember this table?
I have not done anything to it yet except I put a knob on the drawer and I moved it into the bathroom next to the mud room. I also gathered up some Liz Jardine poster prints I brought back in 2004 that have been rolled up on top of the china closet since. I didn’t remember them until we moved and they were discovered. I framed them about six months ago but they have been in the closet waiting for me to give up on blue. There is also a Charles Bibb calendar page I framed and hung in the room.
Some white towels from an upstairs bathroom and a plant from the livingroom and ta da I’ve done something with this space. Maybe my husband will like it and encourage me to paint the room red. But not this weekend!
Until next time, keep wondering and enjoy the weekend.
My Award nominees
I will have to change the criteria a little. I only follow about 10 bloggers at this point and I’m not sure if you can nominate anyone who has already been nominated or if the nominees have more than 200 followers, so I am going to nominate the blogs I love and you guys will need to govern yourselves accordingly. Here goes……
My nominations are:
Contoursoflife, A journey called life in first person because writes so eloquently and honest.
contours office.wordpress.com
Passing down crazy. Love her projects.
passingdowncrazy.wordpress.com
Yoonanimous. She tells the best stories with such detail and I love her sense of humor.
yoonanimous.wordpress.com
Whatimuptotoday. Here you will find the best Friday lists and gorgeous pictures to go with the blog.
whatimuptotoday.wordpress.com
House of 34. The best DIY projects. She is very creative and detail oriented.
houseof34.wordpress.com
Pretty Little Things in a box. Just because she has pretty little things that she makes. I enjoyed her reading list also. She’s been nominated before I know and if I can’t nominate you again, just know I enjoy your blog
prettylittlethingsinabox.wordpress.com
Feed Your Head. Very thought provoking. ”
feedyourhead.wordpress.com
Girl on the contrary. She is so quirky.
GirlontheContrary.wordpress.com
Pretty lady baby. Because she’s my baby. I got my first PrettyLadyBaby bag. She’s really getting good. She might one day be my favorite high end store BambiLeigh.
prettyladybaby.wordpress.com
Daycare Chronicles. She just deep in her writing. I aspire to write so well.
Daycarechronicles.wordpress.com
Here are my questions.
What is your favorite word?
What is the one word that describes you the most?
What do you consider your strongest belief?
What is your secret indulgence?
What brings you peace?
What senses do you cherish the most?
If you could be a superhero what would your power be?
Why do you blog about your topic?
What’s one thing that you desire to have everyday?
What defines love to you?
Hope I did you proud BambiLeigh. Thanks again!
Until next time, keep wondering
My apology and 22 days in(30 day challenge
First, let me apologize for leaving the scene without an explanation. I’m a young blogger without all the social grace needed. It was very rude and I apologize. I did read everyone’s blogs and even commented on a few. I just did not have time to blog on About The Yarrow House although I did wonder what you guys were up to. It will never happen again. I promise. Apology accepted?
Now 22 days in. I’ve learned a lot of F words. I feel fitter. I can do fifteen push-ups but my arms feel frailer. I’ve eaten some fantastic foods and had some family fun Atleast until they quit on me in week three because of fatigue. I seen thousands of fotos of other people progress (flaunting) their progress. Haha I’m so proud of them. But mostly I’m still FAT. I still have 7 days to go. I’ve lost four pounds only six more to go to meet my realistic goal.
The Wonder of Yarrow House 