Giggles #169 and #170 and goodbye....

You know how you get up one day and suddenly you say, "Enough is enough!"

That's how I feel about this blog!

As this is my 300th post, I have decided to finish it off with the last 2 giggles. (I know I promised you one a day for a year, but have had enough!)

I am taking a break from FY and her shenanigans. Bless you all and keep you safe in this crazy world we live in.

Giggles #169

"Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative."

Giggles #170

"Which do you prefer, exercising for one hour a day or being dead for 24 hours a day?"

I know a lot of you have enjoyed reading these 'giggles' as much as I have enjoyed concocting them.

Remember, 'A giggle a day keeps the doctor away.'

So, keep giggling!

Art Class

I am so excited!

I bumped into the lady who had given me 'beginner' lessons about 4 years ago, and who I had lost contact with. Her name is Pauline and she is fantastic: chirpy, enthused with energy, complimentary, encouraging and a jolly good teacher.

(What a difference to the 'weasel' whose class I attended for only 3 weeks and then ran away with my tail between my legs, believing that my stuff was shit!)

Pauline was very happy to set up a weekly art lesson in her kitchen, and yesterday was my first lesson. (There will be 2 other ladies joining me after the Summer holidays).
She is imbued with so many novel ideas, including collage, making paper, experimenting with different textures etc. How exciting!

Today we used charcoal and observed a bowl of lilies. She stressed that I concentrate on only one part of the arrangement, and not try to tackle the whole thing. She also showed me how to shade around the part I was looking at in order to make it more evident and bring it to the foreground. Of curse, a putty rubber does amazing things to charcoal too. What fun!

Now, at last, I feel I will 'grow' in my art, as a lot of my stuff is stale and monotonous and not quite 'there'.

Of course you will all see my weekly attempts at self-improvement.

But, most importantly, I will have a 2 hour 'outlet' from the 52 Nursery kids that will take over my every moment from September. So, a 'win-win' situation all round!

Giggles #168

"Inside every fat woman there's a thin woman waiting to get out, so shut her up with another packet of biscuits!"

just plain fun to read

I found this on a random site I was reading this morning and as we were invited to copy it and use it ourselves, I did. I have just finished reading two great books. 'Sotah' by Naomi Ragan ( intense and compelling), and 'Tell it to the Skies' by Erica James (lighter, but equally compelling).

Feel free to indulge yourself in copying this too, and most importantly, have fun reading a book, it takes your mind off all your problems!

Giggles #167

One Word Spark

I found a new site a few weeks ago and have been writing on it.
One word appears and you click the 'go' button and then you have 60 seconds to write whatever comes into your head, don't think, just write.
From today I will also post them here, and try to match them with a piece of art (as I like to do).
Anyone like to join in? Debs? Fern? Teri? Marianne? Human Being? Suki? Lolo? Lynn?

Today's word: Spark

one spark

is all it took

and now my grandbaby

is growing inside you.

thankyou.

Cats, cats, cats

An attempt at drawing some cats-
a tribute to all the cat owners and lovers out there
and for Sjimmie, the cutest little kitten of all time.
Happy Animal Wednesday everybody.
(ps. we're all much better and Steve's doing fine, thanks again for all your caring!)

Giggles #166

"Do we have to conquer it? Can't we just sit here and admire it?"

Steve Update

Steve's lower lip is black and blue and the right side of his jaw is swollen and he can't bring his top and bottom jaws together properly yet.
He has had a very rough few days; mainly emotionally and psychologically. Today it was very hard being back at work. He felt shaken and on edge watching everyone around him with deep suspicion.

He IS back at work.
He IS more chirpy.
He IS talking about it each day.
He IS determined to maintain vigilance on the streets at all times.
He IS full of praise and regard for the ordinary 'man/woman in the street' going about their daily lives.

Thanks for all your very kind thoughts and loving words.

You are a wonderful bunch of (blogging) friends.

Cactus Monday and Giggles #165

"Oh, I didn't notice you there, Charlie!"

Happy Cactus Monday fellow cactuteers!

Canned (IF)

" GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD!" (IF)

(See my last post, they do seem to go together!)

Mugging, Violence and Ugliness

Last night, our son, Steve, was mugged on the way home (at 1.30am) one block away from home.
Three young men (about 18 years old) were walking behind him and jumped on him punching him in the mouth, head and jaw, shouting 'empty your pockets'.....and other less choice words.
He was beaten to the ground whereupon they grabbed his rucksack and demanded his security number for his credit cards, or they would 'kill him'!
Without resistance he handed over the bag; they ran off, leaving him shaken and scared and bleeding from the mouth.
He ran home and banged on the door shouting 'Ma, open the door, I've been mugged!"

The stolen money, mp3 player, credit cards, mobile phone, camera, train tickets, bag, front door keys etc were all of no consequence whatsoever compared to the fact that Steve was NOT stabbed or put into hospital, or even worse.

My question is '"What is happening to our world? What is happening to the human race? Where will all this violence end?"

May you all stay safe this coming week, and be vigilant, always vigilant, and if you do pray, then pray for our world! We all love you Steve!

(Somehow I don't feel like posting a 'Giggle' today! Know you all understand!)

Giggles #164

"I'm a specialist in my field!"

Beach (Inspire me Thursday)

Steve drew this many years ago.
He called it 'Life's a beach!'
It's one of my favourites.
Beach: IMT

Grandie

I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDIE!

DUE DATE 31/01/09 (just 4 days before my birthday, a little Aquarian).

MUM AND BABY (now nearly 13 weeks) BOTH FINE, DAD STILL IN SHOCK!

GRANDIE AND GRAMPS OVER THE MOON!

Giggles #162

Henry is having a catnap!

What the hell is this?

This is another one of my 'what the hell is this?' painting.... and have no idea why I stuck the cheetah in as well!

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone!

At Last!

School's out!
once were kids
now turned to monsters
gone!

Gone for the summer!
on to the next class
gone and forgotten

New ones will appear
weep in the door
try..me.. again..

But Not For
FIVE
WHOLE
GLORIOUS
WEEKS!

Giggle #160

"Maybe we should start recycling our newspapers!"

Perfect Cactus

Happy Cactus Monday fellow cactuteers!

and a BIG thankyou Teri (see below).

Last Friday I received this amazingly beautiful painting from Teri, as a 'thankyou' for sending her some 'giggles'.

The Saguero cactus lives in their park in Tucson Arizona. The hole in it is one built by and for the birds. The smaller round ones are barrel cactuses. In the background is the Catalina Mountain Range.

It is so perfect and will join my original collection in my little art corner, so that I can look at it every day for inspiration.

Teri and I connected through IF about a year ago; then I discovered she was drawing cactuses on a Monday. I got 'Senita' soon afterwards and joined her in this weekly adventure.
She always compliments me on my (very amateurly done, often just fun or silly) Monday drawings, whereas hers are fantabulous (as you can see).

Thanks again Teri. I love it!