Easter 2011

Still here, struggling today after too many hours on my feet which made my knee, back and leg from my back unhappy. I have not created any art this year, except perhaps through cooking but I do plan to. Unlike many of you, I don't feel the pull to art, usually I begin to feel some fulfilment from it after I get into it. I'll save that topic for later. First, this is a fresh pic of the offspring, Easter morning just after church. Words cannot describe the joy of announcing that Big Boy was home for his last weekend visit since he GRADUATES in early May!!!!!! He will be living at home probably until May 14th, his wedding day. VolleyGirl graduates from high school May 27th and will attend college here, at least her first year. They are a joy to have around so it's gonna be a year to remember, the last one under the same roof together!

My in-laws usually request that I bring dessert for my meal contribution and this year we were to celebrate my MIL's birthday so, as usual, unknowingly why, I try out a new recipe. My MIL loves chocolate so I chose to make a Dark Cocoa Buttermilk 3 layer cake with Cocoa and Mascarpone Icing. I also made a coconut cream pie cause it's a favorite of everyone (below) and

I made a Truffle pie to take to my brother's house for a get together later in the day (below). Oh yeah, I have been dieting the past couple of months, so I didn't have a piece of either and only a very small piece of the cake. Still have much to lose but am down around 15 lbs now.

Since three of the desserts were to be whisked away, I urged VolleyGirl to try her hand at a new recipe I found of Chocolate Dipped Macaroons since the guys here love coconut. Let's just say VG has yet to embrace the enjoyment of baking.........but I didn't either at her age so big deal. These were outstanding....okay, I did indulge these and this will be included in holiday baking in the future.

I hope all of you had a blessed Easter! Though I have been absent, I thought of you often and need to catch up. It is good to see Soulbrush back online.....Apollo and I have missed her!

Finally.....

Yep.....broke the long, dry spell. With what....food, of course. Did this while watching a sorry football game.....probably will be a couple more fall/Halloween little drawings soon. Always like working with pencils the best, what I'm most comfortable with. Probably the last week of volleyball, BigBoy was home over the weekend so of course I baked him a blueberry cobbler and his favorite cookies. VolleyGirl is out of school today, we may shop a little. Hope all is well, hope to catch up with everyone soon.

Signs of Spring Break

You know it is Spring Break and the kiddies are out of school when the grocery bill at least doubles. The dirty laundry multiplies, as if it were mating overnight. This year's break is sprinkled with something new....prom dress shopping! Did that last Saturday and just a bit the Saturday before. I have already completed my preparations for supper, chopping, etc. so off we go again! The challenge: sifting through dresses that either cost too much and or were made for a stripper to zero in on a one that is certain color, certain neckline, certain material, certain backline........certain challenge! She doesn't want blue, black, red, white, plunging neckline, bare backed, netting which makes any "poofiness" to skirt, "does my stomach look big?" Wow, hon, looks like you swallowed a grape - maybe...........where's my magic wand? Wish I could twitch my nose like Samantha on "Bewitched"!

Hurry Up Sunday!

Today has not been the best of Saturdays for various reasons. The blueberry cobbler I made for BigBoy did turn out well at least, the 'boy' ate almost half of it. Guess it would all be gone if there had been vanilla ice cream to go with it.
Mr. Unplugged did not start the day in good spirits which quickly involved and enveloped me as well. A foul mood such as this morning's makes me work alot and I was on my feet five hours then the pain really kicked in but the stubborn streak did as well. Yeah, I know, stubbornness is not a virtue, at least not in this case, but I could make the argument that it can be a useful characteristic at times......save that for another post.
Just yesterday a friend was telling me about her children "fussing and fighting" as she excused herself to count to ten with one of them. I warned her that it would not get that much better. Today, my almost twenty-one year old son and sixteen year-old daughter set out to prove me right. They chose a bad day to pair the "fussing and fighting" with "sick and tired". They were warned that I was about to scream. Sure enough, "would you two leave each other ALONE!" I've not done that in a long time and fortunately for them it was in a mezzo soprano tone as opposed to a high soprano which I've been known to do.....it is very attention grabbing, if not down right painful. Naturally, shortly thereafter, I apologized for yelling at them...BigBoy is sensitive and VolleyGirl, well, she can be too, depending on her mood.
The house is once again quiet. Probably no coincidence that Mr. Unplugged and BigBoy have gone out for awhile. Ahhhh, my blood pressure has lowered, however, the urge to 'scarf' down ice cream has not. Hey, I know it's bad for you but I'm not picking up a cigarette, hitting the bottle or popping a pill. Hmmmmm, maybe I should count to ten...1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. There. I still want it.
Okay, though it's close to 9 pm, I will go paint instead, until time for bed.

Note to self for prayers tonight: Please Lord, help my three, ...uh, I mean two children be kinder and more respectful to each other tomorrow and each day after. Thank you for making me a high soprano - just in case they aren't.

Day for the Fathers

Happy Father's Day to my Mr. Unplugged pictured above with his beloved Apollo.

Thank you for making these two great kids possible!

......and thank you dad, for all the love, kindness, humor, patience, good sense, hard work, talents and the wonderful memories that are cherished so dearly now. Glad you liked all the shirts, bird boxes, Goo Goo candy, caps or whatever we could come up with to somehow honor you on this day in those years past. Though you are far from my touch, you are never far from my mind and always, always in my heart.

Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there!

A Whole Lot of Not Much - But Alot!

I STILL did not have time for any art yesterday, just doodling while on the phone with BigBoy last night - very late! Obviously, the food is still on my mind. VolleyGirl has a tournament this Saturday, but it is local thank goodness, but will still be long. There is more food I must prepare turkey sandwiches Saturday morning before we go. Sadly, I have just learned my next door neighbor's mother has passed away just over an hour ago at age 92. I should have something in mind to prepare to take over for them as well.

The always generous Soulbrush honored me and many others with this award yesterday. Thank you so much Mrs. Brush, you are too kind!!!!

I also received yet another gift in the mail from a blog friend which I plan to post in the next day or two! Apollo is sleeping on what he will carry on about tomorrow. BigBoy comes home tomorrow afternoon for Easter and VolleyGirl gets out at 1:00 tomorrow to begin a break that continues through Monday! I need to get myself busy, groceries, cleaning, always washing....but I should get to work on art when BB comes home since he takes over the royal duties!

Blessings to you all during this Holy Week.

First Watercolor in over 25 years........

I didn't intend to attempt a real picture but I can't really play with it, I have to try to make it work and then just learn from it. I went back and forth on whether it was a serious attempt, the middle is supposed to be layers of mountains but the colors are too dark/bright for the effect it needed. I rushed the grass and left tree for sure. I was working on it yesterday morning and I bet the phone rang at least five times...always check it when you have kids at school and off at school. My husband works from home and called me downstairs twice............finally finished it last night. It is 9 by 12. I enjoyed it and think there is another brush or two that I need, will definitely do more. But I did it and you all have had a HUGE part in inspiring me!!!!!

The Last Christmas Drawing, Kid's Pics and Sticky Buns...

The candle was quickly done in pencils late one night just before Christmas. Apollo is in hog (or dog) heaven when BigBoy is home, he wouldn't be still so his head is blurry....VolleyGirl posing in some of her new clothes....Claus brought her a new camera, why she's using mine.....both would be horrified that I posted their pic. Apollo, the "Canine Messiah", would feel he deserves more!Finally, probably my last "holiday" baking. I made sticky buns for the first time New Years Day. They were easy, sticky and yummy. If anyone's interested in the recipe, let me know...I'll post it!

Putting away decorations today and pondering my resolution for this year: Clean out this house! It is just one (sadly, there are many) thing that stresses me out, too much clutter. Every closet, drawer, nook and cranny needs going through. In past I have gotten rid of items and then came upon an occasion when I wished I had it, can't let that scare me cause too much has got to go! The difficult thing is that I will have to pace myself due to the back, knee and fibromyalgia, and now club volleyball starts up this week which means running VolleyGirl around and sitting on bleachers. Resolution: I will complete at least one project a week. I also will be back finishing and framing the "Maytagaramas". I look forward to moving on to other paintings, drawings and want to do some watercolors. Okay, on to the tree.......