Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours! May the spirit of Christmas live in your hearts all year long! Love and joy to all who read my blog and to those who need it most!! May you find happiness in the small simple things life has to offer. Wishing you enough of all that you need!! Sending love to all!! Thank you to my blog friends for all the love you share during the year! I appreciate each and everyone of you!! Peace to all of you!!

Culinary Liberation Paint Party Friday

This looks completely different in person! For some reason I'm in child art mode!!

Cupcake was away a full week, and Beardo a few days! Oh my, life was slightly simpler save the dog I babysat! I didn't have to drive anywhere unless I wanted to! I had to search for extra dishes so I could put the dish washer on after four days! I ate things like left over pizza with smoked oysters, poached eggs, and  a salmon sandwich for dinner! Not all at once of course!! I had one load of laundry. The house stayed tidy....save my art supplies strewn everywhere and quickly tidied before they arrived home.

Can you tell I have a great idea for a kids book brewing!

 Still, something was amiss without my little buddies...The house was void of laughter, teasing, meaty conversation, and real joy that comes from loving people so much you could cry.....

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Still as much as I love my alone time, 
I love my kids more!

 Plus they do hundreds of things for me

that makes life special!!

I found this poem from 2007, I wrote it at 51, 

I thought I'd share....Except for this one line 

"Once in a while I manage a spurt
Bustle around, somewhat alert" 

which is no longer applicable...

The rest still holds true!! 
Let me know if you can relate! 

Culinary Liberation

I used to be a merry kitchen Bitch
Whipped up anything, without a glitch
A gourmet meal, a dinner for eight
Precisely timed, nothing was late
The kitchen was clean, pretty table was set
I’d chatter with company, it was never a fret
Times of soup in the crock every week
Baking galore is now quite bleak
Culinary abundance is finally gone
Enthusiasm for cooking is more of a yawn
Once in a while I manage a spurt
Bustle around, somewhat alert
Then in an instant it becomes mundane
When Supper hour approaches, I feel disdain
I rather go out, pass on the work
It’s a redundant chore I’d rather shirk
I’ve done my duty for my family and friend
Surely I’ve earned a liberty transcend
Into my writing, computer, and art
It’s these passions now that capture my heart
A potato, or salad, sandwich or tea
Things without mold from the fridge that I see
I eat random times, when the urge strikes
And damn it, i'll eat more to my likes
Smoked oysters and cheese placed on a bun
Sole, and seafood, from which the kids run
Finally it’s my turn to make my own choice
For years I made food my family would voice
Although I’ll admit at times I’ll succumb
After all I live with the guilt of a MUM! 

Written in 2007 by Happytiler

Did you ever love to cook?
 How do you feel about it now? 

My Contribution to Paint Party Friday

Shoes and Questions for Paint Party friday!

So funny how blogging is! This post took on a life of it's own
bringing about many questions and memories!
This is my contribution to Summer of color week four red and yellow, ICAD
and Paint Party Friday all amazing blogs to visit!

Are you someone who needs or wants to be noticed?
Do you think it's important to be noticed?
I once had a friend who was so meek, no matter where we went
they always forgot to serve her coffee or take her  food order!
Since she's gone through menopause she's less tolerant
and  found her voice!

What do you focus on?
 I have always focused on my immediate family even when I worked full time
they were always my priority.  When times were tough I took solace in their support.
 In turn I have been paid back ten fold with a really loving close knit  family!
Now I focus on art too!!

Do you celebrate your creativity by making fancy cakes,

dressing funky, decorating your house with color,

 putting on the Ritz for special occasions?

  

I used to have pink seat covers in my jeep, and several bumper stickers! The only ones I remember are  "Princess" for my daughters side and "Goddess" for my side, plus"Mean People Suck" and " Mean people breed little mean people"along with a license plate holder that said " Love Goddess"  

The best part was watching in my rear view mirror as people discussed or chuckled at my window stickers! Now that I create art I no longer have any bumper stickers!

Do you know your worth, to your family, your friends, your community, your blog buddies?

My friend told me that her daughter, a single mom of two children had taken a poem off my blog,  printed it out and framed it. Each day she'd read it to  get through the tough times!  I'd have never known had my friend not told me!

I was honored!

Are you Happy?

My friends baby died six  years ago, 
I was so upset that I had no way to help her.

Her younger friends busied with organizing the funeral
and family watched her disabled son. 
 I wrote  a poem in a blog post to honor my friends child. 

When I arrived at the funeral 
everyone in attendance was handed a leaflet.

 I read the leaflet shocked to see only my poems  
with the photo I had posted to my blog. 
Beardo looked over at me, tears streaming down my face
 and said,"Well, you wanted to help, looks like you did!"

To read an abridged version of their beautiful story of joy after grief go here!
 

Are you able to show your true self to the world?

Weird 

 

I’ve  never fit in my  family

With my quirky little style

Colorful, brass and brazen

I stayed just a little while

I must have been an Indy kid

Back in the hippy day

Swimming tumultuous waves at home

Just to find my way

Different clothes, shoes and tastes

A philanthropist at best

Misunderstood by many

Neutral with all the rest

Life took a glorious twist

I found my own tribe

People who could appreciated

My unusual vibe

My parents died not knowing

The artist trapped inside

Creating funny  characters  

With a monumental pride

Often an embarrassment

Not willing to conform

Wearing Christmas lights at a dance,    

deflecting  the norm

Weird is wonderful I say

Not boring or contrite

It’s the act of artistry

It makes the colors bright!!!

Written by Happy tiler 2009

Do you ever feel like a weirdo?
  When I was eight months pregnant I went to a little restaurant across the line.  Of course pregnant ladies always have to pee. When I returned from the  bathroom my husband asked, "whatcha got there?" I turned around to see a trail of toilet paper leading from the rear waist of my pants all the way down the isle around the corner to the bathroom..Unbeknownst to me, my inner weirdo came  out to play without my permission!  I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants!!

Are you a homebody? Do you love your home?
 With an recent  train derailment explosion that took out most of a town in Quebec and the  floods in two major cities in Canada rendering people homeless, we have been so in love with our home which isn't always perfect, but it's perfect for us!

Over half of my index cards done for the month of June!

  Many people needing love and comfort this week, 

just know I  am thinking of you and sending you love and light!