Awards and meme

Last week my dear Artist friend Donna Gotlib sent me this special award of appreciation. She recently lost her mother Elizabeth after a long struggle with Alzheimer s disease. Donna was the most loving and protective caregiver to her sweet mother. She often refers to my relationship with Pepper as parallel to her relationship with Elizabeth! Check out her delicious illustrations on her blog. Her art is up for a very short stint so catch it while you can!

The sweet Mary from Beadfluff gave me this Tulip Award.Not quite sure the meaning but it came with a meme of questions. For you Mary..... here are the answers!

1. YOUR NICKNAME - Giggles which I have had since I was eleven years old. A ministers son first called me that at a church camp. I lost it along the way, but it's appropriate because I giggle daily. When I started blogging it's the first that came to mind!

2. YOU ARE - Deep thinker with a busy mind, clever, whimsical, passionate, with a thirst for knowledge. Oh no I'm not going to air all my bad habits, dirty linen so to speak, here!!!

3. YOUR MOST SPECIAL PERSON - very obvious through this blog, my daughter and son-law who I think of as one!
4. YOUR FAVORITE SONG - Imagine by John Lennon

5. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD/DISH - perogies, and chili Pepper house Chinese food, I had both this week, which is rare!!! Lucky me!!!
6. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU STRESS - Money, money, money and making big purchases, again money, making life altering decisions, oh and last of all Friction!! Thankfully I pull myself out with loads of faith!
7. YOUR FAVOURITE COLOR - That is a loaded question, because it depends on the era, the item, and whether it's clothing or decor. I love all color but gravitate towards jewel tones....yet I have plans on updating my decor in citrus colors...I do love black...anything sleek and black!!
8. THINGS THAT YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR BAG - clip sunglasses,Ibphrophen, wallet with cash, lipstick, brush, notepad and pen in that order!!
9. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED - Last night when my son-in-law sang me his newly composed song....I made him play it twice and I cried again!! I don't cry easily either...only when something really touches me!! I hope one day I can put it on my blog!!

10.SIX RANDOM FRIENDS TO SEND THIS ON TO - I choose Luluspetals, Cookie, Forgetfulone, Queensize, Rosy, I put five cuz I'm a rebel!!

One Minute writer My Favorite day

My favorite Day
One Minute Writer

My favorite day is one dedicated to creativity without interruptions.
A day completely free obligations, where I can be totally present for my art!
Where my soul can fly free!~~~~Happytiler

Of course I have many favorite days spent with friends and loved ones too!!
But this is today's one minute writer prompt......
check it out to see what others have to say!

Sunday Scribbling "Indulgence"

Many Faces of my little girl, now an adult.

Sunday Scribblings Prompt this week in indulgence!

At three months old her dad and I took her into the Irish Rovers open door pub/restaurant at Expo 86. It was a festival atmosphere with full Celtic band playing. Older women scowled, men smiled welcoming affirmations, and some addressed us saying this is how all families should be. Many young people hovered with positive comments.

Alert and bobbing on my knee in time to the music, she ate, then slept while the band played on. Fastidiously changed and fed, (probably too much,) she never cried once.

From the beginning I promised myself I’d never be a whiny mom complaining about being tied down. Instead I had a diaper bag full of everything necessary to keep my treasured baby happy, plus a little Oscar cooler with a six pack of baby bottles. Off we went to discover the day! My daughter could sleep through anything and still can!

We enjoyed expo with our season’s passes, ambling through each exhibit, listening to different music along the way. People constantly stopped, remarking what a good baby she was. Most rewarding was a comment from a child care worker who’d been observing us all evening at Irish Rovers pub. Expressing how impressed she was with my mothering, and interaction with baby. Continuing to praise me, by saying she sees hundreds of children, but Pepper was the most well adjusted happy baby she’d ever seen. Her beautiful statement was just what a new mother needed and trumped all the negative gestures from the judgmental women glaring at me! In that instant I knew my indulgence was Okay!

My daughter still loves Celtic music Floggy Molly, and Drop kick Murphy’s, being top on her list. Last St. Patrick's Day she was at the Nine Fine Irish Men in Vegas a place she also loves!

A photo taken on St Patrick's day with a random lady. Since her husband died in order to stave off loneliness, she dresses up nightly to spend time with people at the local bar. Pepper has met her on two separate occasions now!

Altered Stool

It all started with this eyesore, from the seventies. It's lived in four different homes.In the first home it was used at a very beautiful nook we had installed. Since then I've used in all my on-suites to do my makeup.It's been stood on as a paint stool, to get into cupboards, it's been used as a sewing chair and craft chair, It's been recovered a few times. The last time being twenty years ago. It has never matched this house, but it was so useful that I couldn't part with it! I kept planning to do something with it, but never did. No one but my family ever saw it. As you can see it is now bent, rusty, and pretty much done!! I had to bring it out of the garage to get a photo!
So a few month back we picked up three of these stools. One for Bryan to play guitar, one for the garage, and one for my bathroom. But low and behold this stool was way to high for my doctor Ruth type short legs!!! (Visualize them swinging on this chair!)
My wonderful son in law decided to trim it to match my freakish short legs. But when he turned it over to power saw the legs down, the base got a bit scratched up!! So I decided to paint it!!



I painted it with loads of acrylic, then took a paper and pulled the bulk of the paint off, which gave it a smudged affect! I still need to get varnish and do several coats so it will hold up, but I am using it til then!

It does double duty as a table to hold my beverages while I bathe. Then I sit on it to do my make up too! I love it. But this dear little stool with the chopped off legs, has been the catalyst to many other changes in that room!! Stay tuned for the frantic whimsy that has taken over my on-suite.

Mishandled Guitar

I heard it on the News!! They didn't get mad, they got even. Comically too!!! Only after another passenger spoke out in shock as she witnessed baggage handlers tossing guitars around on the tarmac were the band mates alerted to the mistreatment of their guitars. After several failed attempts at compensation from United airline for their busted equipment they decided to write a song then post it on youtube...it's excellent. I guess this will be there big break....pun intended!!! Check it out you won't be disappointed!!!

Sunday Scribbling " Human"

My sunday scribblings is late this week, the prompt being " Humans" reminded me of this story, I hope I haven't told it before!

I have an infectious giggle. Humans seem drawn to that, albeit some may find it annoying at times. In the nineties I went to a local taping of the Jim Brynes variety show with friends. During the show my giggle echoed through the packed studio. My infectious laugh, turned heads, soon everyone was giggling. Some of the skits were so funny I couldn’t help myself. I do relinquish a laugh easily though!

The comedians figured out I was the catalyst for the big laughs directing their gaze towards me. Bruce Greenwood came on stage (an actor I’m not particularly fond of) threw a few flat one liners in my direction. I didn’t laugh. He was there to sing, but seemed hurt that I didn’t laugh. He tried again to no avail. In that moment I realized it doesn’t matter how much fame you attain, lurking insecurities can pull you down. He just became goofier as he tried to garner my giggles. He never did!

Every other comedian managed to keep me in hysterics.. Even the pianist turned around, kibitzed with me! After the two shows were taped, all the comedians came up to the table, shook my hand and thanked me personally for laughing so hard. It was a thrill I won’t forget! My friends said they should use me for laugh tracks!!

Illustration fridays Shaky

This morning I wanted to play with color digitally for Illustration Friday! So I decided to make some houses on shaky ground!! Don't we all know people who live metaphorically on shaky ground? Personally I don't care how beautiful and perfect their homes seem I have no desire to trade places with them.

As I enjoyed observing youth during Canada Day I realized my inept self esteem of youth. In retrospect I was way better than I ever thought I was!! Sadly, my later years I rarely give it a thought. That's probably a good thing!!!