Moments of Grace Art Show

So this past week my mother had another art show. It was great. Not only was the art work fantastic as usual, my brother got to surprise my mom. He lives in California so we don't get to see him often. It was pretty sweet to have him walk up to her while she was talking to someone and just tap her on the shoulder. Loved it!

I have posted some of her pieces below and I encourage you to check them out and leave a comment about any you like. The show was titled Moments of Grace and it covered artwork from 2005 till the present. Most of the pieces I have posted here are newer. Enjoy! (And as always - if you are interested in purchasing one, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the artist).

Liquid Chicken

Did you know that chicken can liquify? Let me explain how I know this.

When The Husband and I were still dating, he decided to make a special dinner for me. He came over to my apartment and told me to go relax while he cooked dinner. After looking through my kitchen, he decided spaghetti with chicken would be perfect.

I sat in the living room, enjoying a glass of wine, and listening to his proceedings in the kitchen. After about 15 minutes, he came rushing past me with a plate of something smoking black, headed to the balcony.

He came back inside and said calmly, "Did you know chicken can liquify? I didn't." I had to go check this out. On my balcony was something that looked like warm tar...it smelled worse than that.

Apparently, he had taken the chicken out of the freezer and put it in the microwave to defrost. However, he didn't hit defrost so it was cooking the whole time. So lesson learned - cooking frozen chicken in a microwave doesn't work. I almost had to buy a new microwave because it smelled so bad - for about a month!

Even with this small set back, he was undeterred. Back to the kitchen he went. The problem this time was that I didn't have any more meat in my freezer or fridge - except lunch meat that is. Can you guess what happened?

Yeah, with the table set nicely and candles lit, he called me over and placed my meal in front of me. Spaghetti with turkey lunch meat. He had literally broken up pieces of lunch meat and mixed it into the noodles, firmly believing that lunch meat was better than no meat. It's not.

Needless to say, his culinary endeavors have greatly improved over the years. How couldn't they?

Sidetracking on purpose

This morning has brought some serious frustrations into my world. Because I just can't seem to deal with them anymore today, I decided I am going to share some from The Wee One. That always makes me smile.

She has been talking more and more lately and every day is a new little gem. There are times when she is perfectly clear, but still plenty of moments when you pretty much have to be around little kids to decipher the code.

A few weeks back she brought home a cute little popsicle reindeer she'd made. Holding it she told us about it. "I made crap. It has eyes."


She is getting a bit bossy for my taste, but I know she gets it honestly. As I put her to bed the other night, I asked for a kiss. Her reply was not as sweet as I would have liked..."No. You go kitchen, Momma."

Most of the time, she is pretty polite. I get lots of "please" and "thanks, Mom." She even gives an "Excuse me" after producing a fake burp.

Bargaining has begun. When you say, "Would you like some milk?" She responds with, "How bout some juice?"

Gotta love when kids learn to talk. : )

Unrest in my heart

Today is a sad day for the nation. Congresswoman Giffords and several others were victims of a public assassination attempt. I am saddened that someone in our nation feels/felt that this type of action is appropriate. I can't seem to shake my unrest about this matter, and I don't know why it is affecting me so much. While this entire situation is obviously sad, it is just as sad to think that shootings happen in our nation all the time. Just this past week, several people I know well were deeply affected by a school shooting. However, this current situation just seems to be hitting me extra hard.

Part of it for me is that this marks the end of a "peaceful protest" era for the nation. We have had major debates, ideology conflicts, and protests, but for the majority of my lifetime, we have not had any assassination attempts. The attempt on Reagan is the last one we have had. That means that for the past 30 years we (the US) have disagreed about some incredibly serious issues affecting our nation and world, in relatively peaceful manners.

That is gone now. I know that this specific situation is most likely due to one individual who is probably somewhat "off his rocker," but that does not relieve the uneasy feeling I have. I pray for peace and comfort for the family and friends of those killed and injured in this horrific attack. I pray for peace of those who were witness to it. I pray for patience and enlightenment for the nation as a whole. I specifically pray that we, as a nation, will hold judgement and come together to solve our problems, rather that allow this senseless act divide us more.

This is probably somewhat disconnected and rambling. I just can't get my mind together regarding it all. Ultimately, I am sad, but I have hope that we will strive for tolerance, peace, understanding, and cooperation, and not allow this one act to push forward any further acts of political/civil violence.

Little Singer

On the way home today, The Wee One started singing to a song. Little Big Town was on the radio and apparently it inspired her.

I heard "Barmn Barmn Barmn" from the backseat. Turning around I saw her making a strumming motion with her hand across her tummy. She was playing guitar along with the music.

Then instead of singing anything close to the words of the actual song, she started singing her own tune..."Eat a cookieeeee. She messyyyyyy. Eeeeeeeee"...then it was back to strumming and "Barmn Barmn Barmn". She repeated the song a couple of times and then seemed satisfied that she got it all out and just stopped.

I should also mention that she was eating a very messy chocolate oreo cookie in the car. This is her first original song, but seems like she will be one of those "true-to-life" songwriters. Hahahaha

Diaper Anyone?

So it seems that at some point in parenthood, your child finds a way to embarrass you. Mine found her opportunity not long ago.

I had answered the door to find one of The Husband's students. He needed to get a signature from The Husband so I let him in and while I called to see where my man was. As I was on the phone, The Wee One came running out of the back of the house. She came up to me and offered me what was in her possession.

"Momma, need diaper?"

She had gotten into my bathroom cabinet and brought me a box of tampons. Needless to say, the student thought this was pretty darn funny.