Ordinariness

A post from about a year ago that is entirely appropriate now also. I thought I'd post it again because as I've said, we don't go back and read the old ones.

Some of my old tablecloths.

There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Of course, we have special events in our lives, but ordinary days need to be celebrated also. You have power over your daily life; no one else. What you do with it is entirely up to you. Celebrate even the mundane daily tasks. As I've said before, I like to putter. For me that can be taking apart a sock drawer and weeding out the socks with holes in them to discard or the silverware drawer and cleaning out the little crumbs that get in there. It can be re-arranging my office or a shelf in my office or living room or just the pictures and "fluff" on the wall. It can be "seeing the room with a different eye" and thinking "Ah, yes, I can do "this or that" there and a little "tweak" over here. It can be draping a beautiful silk scarf over an end table or coffee table or dining table. Little things make a difference. Whatever it is, look at it differently!
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Pursuing Your "Passion"!

It was about 2 years ago now that I first gave any serious thought to painting roses. The first picture below was my first attempt at viewing a video while pursuing a fluffy kind of rose. I flunked royally!! I've said it before and will say it again that my roses will never rival the popular artist of the day. They need have no fear of me! Trust me on this, I'm no serious threat to anyone, but I do have an aim/goal in life and that is to satisfy this passion in me to at least paint a decent rose painting. I want them a bit shabby and sort of impressionistic–oh, not in the true sense of impressionism, but in what I would call just a "hint" of being a rose. I think I've succeeded in that. It may not be everyone's "cup of tea" but I don't aim to please anyone but ME. ;-) It has been a real struggle, especially since we have no artists in this area who can or will teach a class and I have absolutely no inherent talent. ;-) Even Michael's recently told me they've cut their painting classes for anything. That was hard to take, but I could get a class on making Wilton roses outta nougat or paste or some such thing. Nuuuuuuu, I told the lady. I wanna paint a rose. She looked at me sadly and said, "Good luck." So I just practice, practice, practice and show my incredibly "unartistic" "ROSE." You can see my "progression" below but just bear in mind that the colors I use are for practicing and I can see how the colors form the rose. I am doing this on that awful ole newsprint and it's kind of a grayish recycled color background so I've made little dabs of color to see how it looks on different colored backgrounds. Some of these practice pages I've shown before but I've gone back over the roses with other colors and "redone" them - such as it is. I'm becoming more satisfied with the "consistency" of them anyway.

Now, why do I post this to show you??? Well, it's not about becoming perfect as an artist; it's about pursuing your passion. I'm a "passionate" person by nature and don't give up very easily on much of anything. But I have a passion for painting a rose or at least giving it a try. If you have a passion - no matter WHAT it is - pursue it. Don't give a hoot what others think or say. Don't even ask for their opinion; although, there are many who will give it without you even having to ask. But don't ask! It is your passion and yours to pursue. Don't listen to them or let them deter you from your passion to do whatever you want. (Within legal limits, of course. I mean I don't want you to become the perfect bank robber!) So that's why I post my "roses" for you to see and to keep me humble. I truly only care about what "I" think. Others can say whatever they want but I don't care one whit. Although, I have to admit my ebay group has been extraordinarily supportive and kind in their comments and encouragement of me. I probably drive them nuts though at times!! LOL Go forth and pursue your dreams. Enough said!!

I have to admit that this one pretty much looks like my hair on a "bad hair day" though!! LOL

And the Winner Is...........

I decided to draw the name for the giveaway of the little cupcake painting early this afternoon because it can get a bit screwy around here in the evening with me getting hubs off to any meetings he might have. Tonight is his model RR train club meeting preparatory to actually running the trains on saturday! Sooooo the winner of the painting is..........

Cindy of Cottage Remnant

Cindy, I've sent you an email so please get in contact with me asap so I can mail it to you, sweetpea....... Congratulations......... :-)

My Thoughts on Feminism

This is also another post I posted over a year ago but thought I'd repost it since it is important in today's world. And I thought I'd throw in a bit of eye candy for ya little chickees!
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I've been busy today doing housewifey things like vacuuming, swiffering, dishes and mopping. I know some people look at them as chores, but I truly love taking care of my home. And my hubby. I appreciate him. I apprciate all men. I'm not a fan of feminism. I believe men and women were put on this earth for a purpose. Man takes care of his woman and woman takes care of her man. Plain and simple. It took me a very long time to come to this realization, but it in fact works quite well. Of course, there are "special circumstances", but by and large it works well - especially when everyone doesn't see themselves as the "exception!" I've heard it all from "but no one understands my situation" to "oh, they weren't talking about me." Not true. We sometimes have to rationalize our choices. Working outside homes tears families apart. Period. Stay-at-home moms are to be revered because so many don't do it any more because society looks down on them. Well, I'm here to tell you that this woman doesn't! Motherhood is denigrated to the point that society makes them uncomfortable saying that they are housewives or stay-at-home moms. NOT ME! I've been on both sides and I can absolutely unequivocally can tell you staying at home is so much better. I love it.

Several months ago I was at the beauty shop waiting for my turn to get my hair cut. The hair dresser asked me if I was in a hurry since I was scheduled for a 12 noon appointment. I said no. (It just turned out that noon was the best time for me.) She said that since it was a lunch time appointment that she had thought that maybe I was doing it on my lunch hour. I looked at her and though to myself, "Does she really think I'd go to work looking like this?!" Hah. After I said no, I said I'm a stay-at-home wife, mother and grandmother. A man sitting there waiting for his turn laughed. I'm not sure if he was "FOR" me or "laughing AT me"! Whatever......I didn't take offense at all. I find humor in the strangest places - and almost daily!!

Keep up the good work, moms who stay at home!! :-) Oh, and I had a woman many years ago ask me if I dyed my hair. I looked at her and said, "If I was going to color my hair, do you honestly think I'd dye it THIS color?!" We both laughed. I guess that was a compliment to the natural color of my hair? No, it ain't nothing special, kiddo!!

Cotton Sheets

I wrote this post when I was new to blogging so most people, if you're like me, never go back and read the older ones so I thought I'd post it again. It's still applicable and I thought certainly worthy of being repeated.
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Something I thought of today while toweling off from my shower is freshly scented towels. My granddaughter asked me a couple of years ago what kind of laundry detergent and fabric softener I used. I asked her why and she said, "Because your sheets and towels always smell so good." What a compliment!! She noticed!! And I did tell her. But I have always been sensitive to smells - in the good way, not the allergic way. I love lovely scents. I have so many perfumes I'd never have to purchase another bottle in my lifetime. But today my towel smelled of a new fragrance I bought recently. A perfume. I must have placed the towel to my neck when I had just sprayed it on. It smelled wonderful. So what I'm going to do is just very lightly spray a tiny fine mist from a favorite perfume onto my towels from time to time. It'll keep the linen closet smelling fragrant and being ever so lightly sprayed I'll smell that scent when I'm toweling off. My "scents" from perfumes are in my clothes so why not have them on my towels. Just light fragrances, nothing "overpowering" is good.
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That's the end of that post but I thought of something else. The same can be said for sheets also. Spray lightly.

I mostly buy 100% cotton sheets with a decent thread count - not 600 but maybe 300 for everyday unless I get a good deal on them somewhere.

I had a friend several years ago that started buying cotton sheets because I had told her how sensual they are to the body. She bought some and then washed them and called me to ask how I got the wrinkles out. I said I ironed the top sheet but the bottom one stretched out when put on the mattress. I thought she was going to faint! She said she didn't intend to iron sheets. So she threw them out! I about died because I would have taken them in a heart beat. Anyway, as I age I don't iron them anymore. I simply have come to love the wrinkles! See these that I just took out of the dryer and am folding. I think they're beautiful. But then I find beauty and joy in very simple things. ;-) I truly do!!!