As I moped around the house today trying to think of something to write, which, since this is largely a blog about artistic pursuit, and I’ve been sick and not painting, I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Then Reese suggested that we make a little video of me playing a song on the ukulele. These past seven weeks of illness and convalescence have provided both time and opportunity to learn a new trick, the ukulele. Hey, I’ll be the first to admit that I can only think of two people in my life who will enjoy seeing this, but whatever. Life is full of risks and new adventures, right? So, before watching, a couple of disclaimers are in order. First of all, my voice is a little wonky because I’m still quite congested and cough-y. And secondly, I’m a newbie on the ukulele. That said, entertaining myself by learning to play has been the best thing EVER about this long bout of sickness. So, with little ado, here’s one verse, a mere 36 seconds, of All My Lovin’ by the Beatles. Please accept my advanced apologies for the amateur performance.

Several years ago, I spent an inordinate amount of time in what I called yard play. It didn’t seem fair to call it yard work as I thoroughly enjoyed being outside, digging, planting, weeding, pruning, landscaping, designing, planning, and watching things grow. One day, in the middle of said yard play, while talking to a friend on the phone, she asked, “You’re not one of those crazy garden ladies with twigs in her hair, green stains on her clothes, and dirt forever under her nails, are you?” I had never thought of it before, but happily admitted that I was. The garden eventually started to fill in, and didn’t need as much tending, except for an occasional whack job when some rogue plant grew beyond it’s intended border. But, fairly recently, as our lifestyle and outdoor needs evolved and changed, it only made sense that the back yard warranted a new look. That’s when Reese dug a huge hole for the fountain, and I started work on a new patio.

Originally, it was planned to have the entire patio finished by now, but this #@*%! lingering illness really threw life for a loop, and there just hasn’t been a single drop of energy left to accomplish the goal. There is delight in the fact that slowly but surely, the backyard master plan is all coming together. The water lily in the above photo is one more completed piece of our Hazel backyard puzzle.

“Never do for a child what he can do for himself.” I think it’s a quote from Susanna Wesley, though I’ve not been able to find proof, except for a fuzzy memory of a book read long ago.

The Amazing Reese and I took this to heart, and encouraged our daughters to have personal responsibility at as early an age as possible. For example, if they were coordinated enough to hold a toy and walk at the same time, they were certainly capable of holding their own diaper after it was changed, and throw it away.

My mom goal (or rather desire) was to raise healthy, mature, independent, emotionally well, fully functioning adults. Up to a certain age, we help them become THE whatever kind of people they are going to be. We, as moms and parents, have no control over how our offspring respond to us, or if they choose to grow, or if they even want to act like humans. We pray. We offer grace. We show mercy. We encourage (not nag.) But, we have no control over the outcome.

All that said, from the very beginning, I’ve loved the whole experience. My firstborn turned 24 yesterday (Mothers Day) and my youngest is 17. It’s a privilege to have been chosen out of the entire universe to know and love these four beautiful (inside and out) young ladies.

So, thank you my sweet daughters. Thanks for all the great years as your mother, but best of all, now that we’re all getting older, thanks for letting me be your friend.

It’s limerick time on this blog,
which happens when life is a fog
of chores left undone
(here’s a horrible pun)
and swine flu becomes a news hog.

What happens when life is a mess?
Does one feel the need to confess
that watching TV
and eating (omg!)
a bonbon is life’s only quest?

It’s true I’ve been sick for a while,
much ado for a cough that on file
is hacking and wheezy
and even quite sneezy
and something I’ve come to revile.

Each day is a hope to be well,
completely on track for a spell
of excellent health
(akin to great wealth)
is a story I’m anxious to tell.

Yesterday, I went for a walk
with Hilary, my daughter, we talked
about this and that,
and then you know what?
It happened. I started to cough!

“NO FUN!” I cried, “When will this end?”
I thought I was turning a bend,
a fork in the road,
but my body, it showed
that it still needs some time left to mend.

So, that’s what I’m doing today
lying low…keeping sickness at bay.
The best thing by leaps
and bounds and big heaps
is playing the ukulele.

For that I can do while I’m sick,
practice and learn a new trick;
new chords and new strumming,
perpetual humming,
uke playing…my new favorite kick!

Playing For Change | Song Around The World “Stand By Me” from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

This totally made my day. Enjoy! I found it on The Jamjar.

The Amazing Reese is once again proving how amazing and Reese-like he is.

Life isn’t always fun and games. The very monotonousness of the everyday had both Reese and me contemplating how to jump start passion for living. What were some of the things from life past that brought satisfaction and/or an amount of pleasure? For me, learning how to paint has been a deeply satisfying journey. Blogging about the process has been a double treat. I love writing probably as much as or more than painting. Reese, while being super supportive of my ventures (which includes enthusiastic praise and custom picture frames) had sort of fizzled out on the fun life scale.

Intense self evaluation must be the genesis of many a typical mid life crisis’. While reluctant to use the phrase mid life crisis, the term and meaning is real. Without intervention, the possibility (or probability) with regards to Reese for deep unhappiness was imminent. Remembering another lifetime, as a teenager, Reese thoroughly enjoyed helping his mom keep a hive of bees in their side yard.

That was a while ago. Then we had babies, and cars, and a house, and work, and work, and work….well, it’s a typical scenario. Not to diminish the wonderfulness of sharing/raising a family, but some days it just feels like life is a giant sucking sound.

So in the last few months, Reese has rediscovered his joy of beekeeping. With some Christmas money, he bought himself a bee suit and some supplies. And just a couple of days ago, he launched this website to start what he and I both hope to be his new adventure. Last Saturday, he collected a bee hive and we were able to salvage several jars of honey (see accompanying photo)…not always possible with a wild hive. Also in the photo is a loaf of the fresh bread Reese has been baking for us, another of his delights from early married life. Reese even grinds the wheat berries to make this yummy bread. To bring everything full circle, Reese will use his own honey from his own bees to make his next batch of bread. Yum. I can hardly wait. Did I mention how amazing he is?

Below is a ridiculously long list, in no particular order, of what happens when one is forced to be still in the endlessness of convalescence, and therefore watch movies. We’ve discovered Red Box, where for $1, one can rent from a wide selection of movies. It was great to have a relatively cheap source of entertainment. Of all the movies watched in the last three weeks of unwellness, the one that was the most powerful by far was The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

There has also been ample time to mend (sew by hand) pillows, shirts, skirts, blankets, etc., practice the ukulele, and read a silly book.

Mostly though, I’m tired of being tired. I’m sick of feeling like I’m going to drown every time I cough. And honestly, I’m looking forward to resuming work type activities. It will happen soon enough….I’m definitely on the mend.

Regarding Freaky Friday, Joy has promised that if she and I ever switch bodies/places, she will not pierce anything on my behalf. I thanked her.

1. Murder by Death
2. Freaky Friday
3. Baby Mama
4. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
5. Yes Man
6. Marley and Me
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
9. Rachel Getting Married
10. Role Models
11. Australia
12. What Just Happened
13. Priceless
14. Bedtime Stories
15. Faith Like Potatoes

This photo just about sums up life lately….one medicine after another on a quest to wellness. Earlier this week, I did venture to the studio to finish the art for the wine bar (due to open in early June.) After setting up the work space for about 15 minutes, I felt an urgent need to lay down and take a nap. The uncompleted project work area (mess) is all over the floor in the studio. Maybe I’ll be up to tackling it later today…

Please take 7 minutes to watch this. It’s totally worth it, I promise.

About the only thing artistic that’s happened around here lately is dyeing Easter eggs.

Joy mentioned that some of her friends might drop in mid-afternoon on Saturday, so I boiled a few extra eggs thinking that even teenagers would enjoy dyeing Easter eggs. Right? Alas, her friends never showed. And by the time Joy and I finally got around to decorating the eggs, Joy was feeling right cheeky. (We’ve both been convalescing and cooped up for days. During the time stuck at home, we’ve watched a LOT of movies. That’s another phrase Mrs. Wolfe warned against…a lot.) With just the two of us at home, 18 eggs seemed like an almost overwhelming task to complete. Getting started, the first egg Joy decorated and dyed said, “Mom made EGGstra.” Good grief. It probably took us two hours to finish these silly eggs. The best thing about that was that it was a very pleasant diversion from watching movies.

Also, a sad update on the firetruck wreck from a couple of weeks ago. The young lady who was hit while riding her bicycle passed away.