The Daily Mews

Stone Cottage, Take Two

2010-02-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

I got some feedback on this one from a gentleman I have taken some painting classes with and tweaked it some. I knew I did not like it. Ed helped me see why. A bit better.

Here is the original:

Painting lesson

2010-02-10T13:04:00.001-08:00

I attempted to give my creative nephew Daniel an art lesson today, he wanted to paint a snowy tree. Man, that is one tough subject! He has to complete his, I think he lost interest with it since it was hard...he is 13 now... But here is mine. I don't hate it, even if I hate snow...

The closest thing we will ever get to a nanny...

2010-02-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Here is one I finished up today, after letting it set for a few days to dry, so that I could put in the grass she is eating.

Buddy's Tractor

2010-02-06T12:36:00.001-08:00

I decided to do a painting of Buddy's tractor (Buddy is my father-in-law). It is by no means perfect, but a decent first attempt.

Spanish Moss

2010-02-05T14:10:00.001-08:00

Here is my first attempt at Spanish Moss. A little more practice is definitely needed but I think it is a decent first attempt.

Still Waters

2010-02-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here is another landscape from a photo I found online. I liked the colors a lot. The green flecks in the water are water lilies. I completed this one today. Now, what should I do next?

Stone Cottage

2010-02-05T09:55:00.001-08:00

Here is another from a magazine. No idea where the picture was taken. I definitely need some work on buildings, that part is definitely weak, but it is good to challenge yourself! The picture of the painting has a glare on the top part, I apologize for the bad photography! I finished this one yesterday.

Five Hay Bales

2010-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

Here is another from a photo of hay bales. I really like hay bales. Hm. I had fun with this one, doing the grass in the foreground and the clouds were fun to do as well. I have not done clouds in a few paintings, they do not scare as much anymore.

America the Beautiful

2010-02-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

I had not painted in almost two months when I finally got back to it today. I did a landscape, using the principles I learned from my Direct Painting class (in November), to do a photograph I had fallen in love in on the internet when I did an image search for "hay bales." I love the shape of the bales, the way the light hits them, the deep shadows. They are very sculptural, as someone commented on a previous hay bale painting I had done. I may have to do some more!

I am pretty proud of this one, I like the fact I was able to get a variety of levels in there... foreground of the bales and grass, some hay fields there in the middle, a grouping of trees far off in the distance, even more distant foothills and them the snowy peaks.

Benjamin's birthday planning

2010-02-01T09:55:00.001-08:00

We found some cool volcano "mud" (like silly putty) and that set the theme for Benjamin's upcoming third birthday party. Here are photos of the tee shirts, the first run of the cake, which will have steam coming out the top (dry ice) when we do it for the big day, and the invite.

My paintings for the not so new, new kitchen

2010-02-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

The last things I worked on in late November/early December were for my kitchen, and I thought it was about time I posted a picture or two! I want to do another, of a red pepper on a green background, and maybe eventually a bowl of guacamole.

Limes

2009-11-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

First I did this larger still life of some limes as practice. I think I like it better than the 6x6 I want to use in my new kitchen! I need for it to dry for me to get a decent picture, so please excuse the odd angle...

Here is a 6x6 canvas of limes I hope to put in my kitchen. It will for with one of an avocado, in the works, and some future works of an onion and a pepper...Quacamole...

I used a 2 3/8 inch profile canvas and painted the sides.

Some small still lifes

2009-11-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

Here are two I worked on this week, An Orange and A Pumkin. Both are 3x3 inches, with the sides painted, so they do not need frames.

Another painting class...

2009-11-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I took a Direct Painting class from Ed Gowen, and learned a lot. We did a color wheel the first day, which was very educational for me. Then we did a still life the second day. I spent about 1.5 hours on the apple, and when I was done, decided to have fun and do another, maybe 20 minutes. From a distance I actually like the quick one best, but up close the other still wins. Can you guess which is which?

Since getting home I have set up a still life station near my easel to try my hand at some stuff. So far I have done a larger group of four limes, a small pumpkin, small orange, small lime and am currently working on an avocado. The smaller lime and avocado will eventually go in my new kitchen.

My space is small but it works for me. We certainly do not have room for a studio, and I am not really needing one at this point. I am close to the kids this way, which is priority number one!

My new Etsy store

2009-11-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

I apologize, the links I put in for the various post do not seem to be working, and being the non-techie type, I am not sure how to fix. But if you are interested in a particular painting for purchase, go to www.etsy.com and enter the title of the painting in the search field. It will pop up that way (with a bunch of other stuff too...) Happy hunting!

Down on the Farm

2009-10-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Down on the Farm
Oil on Stretched Canvas
16 x 20 inches

This is a work I did in a class taught by Ed Gowen this past weekend. He normally teaches the Bob Ross style of wet on wet painting, but he changed things up this weekend for us, and it was a challenge! We started with a canvas that had been painted orange, and it was very effective for getting the sunset and autumn colors in there. Next we almost sketched the shadows on with black gesso and the treeline with gray gesso, and then just almost colored over with with the paint.

First work back after ktichen renovation hiatus

2009-10-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Early August found me packing up my kitchen, and then packing up the kids for a two week trip around the great Commonwealth of Virginia, for a new kitchen. So the painting stopped. Took me awhile to get back into the groove, and this is the one lonely painting I did in early October before I got back into the swing of things fully.

Blue Ridge Dreams
Oil on canvas panel
8 x 10 inches

Mountain Reflections

2009-08-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Mountain Reflections
8 x 10 inches
oil on canvas panel
for information to buy this or other paintings, please see my Etsy store .

I enjoyed the brightness of the colors in this piece, and the reflection was a good challenge.

Another lonely hay bale...

2009-08-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Another lonely hay bale...
8 x 10 inches
Oil on canvas panel
for information to buy this or other paintings, please see my Etsy store .

This was a second version of the hay bale painting. I like the background more on this one, the foreground more on the first.

Hm, now I know why Monet painted so many hay stacks!

A Lonely Hay Bale

2009-08-04T12:49:00.001-07:00

A Lonely Hay Bale
8 x 10 inches
oil on canvas panel
for information to buy this or other paintings, please see my Etsy store .

I say it is lonely because as I was working on this I checked out an art blog I frequent (cannot even remember which one) and someone had a painted several hay bales, making my solo one look lonely. But it looks happy nevertheless surrounded by the bright grass of summer, and with some cool shade behind him. The inspiration for this one was a photo my husband's cousin Jimmy Boylston took and had on his site. He had some great photos and I thought I would try my hand with a hay bale. I am pleased with this one.

Another Lonely Tree

2009-08-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Another Lonely Tree
8 x 10 inches
Oil on canvas panel
Not available

I wanted to do a tree with a palette knife. Most of this was done with a knife, except some of the clouds and sky. I like the clouds in this one.

Wooded Fountain

2009-08-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Wooded Fountain
16 x 20 inches
Oil on stretched canvas
for information to buy this or other paintings, please see my Etsy store .

I did this in 2006. I like the brightness of the fountain and surrounding foliage, surrounded by the dark foliage of the woods. It almost feels like a hidden and secret spot in the woods.

Japanese Maple

2009-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Japanese Maple
12 x 24 inches
Oil on stretched Canvas
for information to buy this or other paintings, please see my Etsy store .

I actually did this painting in college (16 years ago) and it was my first painting that I felt was good enough to hang up, and it has been up in my homes since then. I think it is time to find it a new home.

Foggy Valley

2009-08-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

Foggy Valley
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas panel
Not available

This was another one that I did much of it with a palette knife. Some blending and aspects of the sky were done with a brush, but mostly with knife.

Avocado

2009-08-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Avocado
8 x 10 inch
Oil on Canvas Panel
Not available

This is a piece similar to one I did a few weeks back. It was really a way to use up some of the paint on my palette, and practice, because eventually I plan on doing this on a 6x6 canvas, along with other veggies, for my new kitchen.

Clouds above the Blue Ridge

2009-08-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Clouds above the Blue Ridge SOLD
8 x 10 inches
Oil on canvas panel
Not available

Here is another of the Blue Ridge (as imagined in my head...since actually getting out and doing some plein air is not going to happen with the munchkins...) I did mostly with a palette knife. The sky and darker parts of the clouds were with a brush, the rest with a knife.

Completed magnolia flowers

2009-07-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Here are the two magnolia flowers I was working on a few days back. They are 3x3 inches. I would be willing to sell them for $15 each.

Distant Mountains

2009-07-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Distant Mountains
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
Not available

Here is something I did two days ago. I was pleased with the water and clouds both. It was a chance to practice clouds and mountains (with a knife).

Blue Ridge Sunset

2009-07-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Blue Ridge Sunset
12 x 24 inches
oil on stretched canvas
For information on purchasing this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Here is my painting from class yesterday. I am pretty proud of it, I feel like I "get" clouds now and can do them again well, without it being a fluke. It is 12x24 oil on stretched canvas. The price is a bit higher than my other comparable pieces because I would lie to recoup my class fee ... but I am open to offers!

The Weiner Dog

2009-07-19T14:01:00.001-07:00

Here are two small canvases, 4 x 4 inches each, of a dachshund for my sister.

The Blue Man Cometh Along

2009-07-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the DSDF challenge now...still not done...

What is on my easel...

2009-07-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here is what I am working on now:

It is for the Different Strokes for Different Folks challenge (http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/)
It is to work on the human form. Since I know I need that work, I decided not to worry about colors and do him in all blue. I have decided to do the chair and background in two other colors, I think. I certainly do not have him right yet, but I feel like I am learning a lot! Which is the entire point... It is due July 29.

Birthday Party Planning

2009-07-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

My oldest son will be five next month, so I have gotten into party planning. We decided upon a bug them (really a variation of last years garden theme, when the invitations were actually seed packets I designed, very cute!) I knew I could not top last years invites, so here is this years...still cute!

The favors are bug catcher tongs, small bug beach balls, and abug "case" with a magnifying glass lid, all in a canvas bag I painted with a caterpillar.

Magnolia Blossoms

2009-07-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

I got a stack of small 3 x 3 inch canvas panels and tried to work on a magnolia blossom, from a photo. Here are three of my attempts. Number one and two are not complete, the third is. I will work on them some more later.

Gallery of failed works...

2009-07-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

There are several paintings I just did not like and either did not finish or finished but never posted them. This post will be of the not-so-good pieces I have done...
The first is a weeping cherry tree I did with a palette knife. Enjoyed the knife, hated the results. Did not finish it. The second is of a fall scene. I finished it but do not like it...

Final Emma

2009-07-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

Well, here is the final Emma, complete with a glare spot on the top of the canvas. I really need to learn to take better photos of my paintings. I need a class! Anyway, this painting represents the first painting I have sold and my first commission...a friend wanted me to paint her little friend from a photo. It was fun to do, a challenge, and I did learn a lot (like how to do grass...)

Hope you like it too!

Emma

2009-07-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Emma
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas panel
SOLD

A friend threw a challenge at me, if I could do a picture of her dog, that maybe I could make a sale. Honestly, this was more about the challenge part than the sale part. I had fun with it, though I am not sure I am done, I may work on the face some more. She had a great picture to work from, so that was good too! Here is Emma (I think that is her name...hopefully I have not gotten it wrong!) at this point!

Gigi

2009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to paint a picture of my oldest son's favorite friend, Gigi the Giraffe. It turned out quite cute. Maybe I can become a stuffed animal portrait painter...

Another mountain scene

2009-07-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Western Mountains
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
Not Available

This is loosely based on a photo my sister-in-law took on a trip out west. I say loosely because even if I thought I has done a good job on it, I am not sure I could rival the pure majesty of the scene and Kelli's photography skills... I might try it again one day...

The duck!

2009-07-07T12:57:00.001-07:00

My youngest son, when he came home from the hospital after seven weeks (he was born at 31 weeks) was pretty much dependent on the soothie pacifier. So, I found these neat pacies with little stuffed animals attached to them, and got a frog and a duck. I thought it would be easier to keep a hold of them with the animals. Within two weeks of being home, he stopped using the pacifier part and started sucking on the animal itself. Until the last few months, the duck and frog had become interchangeable, but then the duck became his favorite. He LOVES this thing. I got a new one and he refused it. He likes the smell of the old one. EW! So, here is a painting of the new one. If I can get the old one from him long enough to paint it I will do that one as well. I decided to do this after painting my oldest son's giraffe last week. The youngest keeps looking at the painting and saying "mine!"

I've attached a picture of Benjamin at about four months with a still clean and non-smelly duck, the two ducks side by side (might have to paint this picture if I cannot get the old duck from him) and him with his smelly old duck...ah, lovies.

Fall Trees

2009-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Days of Fall
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
$60, free shipping in continental US

I did this from a picture from a magazine. Most of my inspiration is such, since I am the stay at home mother of two small boys, doing some plein air painting is difficult. This turned out a bit darker than I wanted, but I am still pleased with it.

Yet another attempt at the Magnolia tree down the street

2009-07-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Magnolia and Friends
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas board
Not available

I tried once again to paint the magnolia tree down the street, and two other trees nearby and I think I just need to give up. My husband likes this one but not me! Sigh. I think I need to do the magnolia ALONE and once I have mastered that, move onto the entire group.

Blue Ridge Tree

2009-07-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

Blue Ridge
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
NOT AVAILABLE

My work seems to come in spurts these days...I did three paintings two days ago, finished this one yesterday. I am waiting for the others to dry enough for me to get a decent photo, so this is the only one I am posting today. It is from a photo a friend took (thanks Wendy!) I am not 100% sure where it is, but I would bet from somewhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love the idea of doing plein air painting around here, but that cannot happen... no way I can handle it with the boys! Maybe one day in the future. So, in the meantime, photos provide most of my inspiration. Though one of the paintings I did the other day and have yet to post was of my four-year-olds very favorite stuffed animal.

I really like the way this one turned out, though I realized after I started it I have done this sort of composition before, landscape, tree on the left, and probably need to get more creative!

Finally, some new things

2009-06-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

We were on vacation in mid June and getting ready to go I was not painting much and then I had a hard time getting going once we got back. One piece I am not posting yet, I am not happy with it. But here are my ones from yesterday (yes, three!).

The first if for the blog Different Strokes for Different Folks, the second my attempt at a piece for the new kitchen when it is done (I found one I LOVE online but my husband seems to think I should not spend $$$ on paintings when I paint.) The third was a variation of that theme (I call it guacamole) and was done entirely with a palette knife...interesting experience...

All three are 14 x 18 inches, oil on canvas board and available for $60 each, shipping included.

Summer Veggies

2009-06-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Summer Bounty
14 x 18 inches
Oil on Canvas Panel
$60, shipping included for continental US

Here is another painting done for the Different Strokes for Different Folks blog. This one I will be sending in! It was my first still life, and I enjoyed the challenge.

Heart of the USA

2009-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Heart of the USA
14 x 18 inches
Oil on Canvas Panel
$60, shipping included for continental US
the blog Different Strokes From Different Folks, where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations, though I am doing after the deadline so it will not be on that site. It was a black and white photo, and I thought the idea was interesting to create your own color scheme. There were some very neat and well done paintings in the blog. I enjoyed seeing the various interpretations. As usual, my photography does not seem to do justice to my sky and clouds. Here is mine!

Fall Foliage, take two

2009-06-07T13:20:00.001-07:00

Fall Foliage
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas panel
NOT AVAILABLE

This is another attempt at taking a picture of the fall tree. The colors are more accurate in the previous post, but the sky is better rendered in this photo.

Fall foliage

2009-06-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

I did this yesterday and today, from a picture from a magazine again. The picture just does not do justice to the clouds. Need to work on my photography I guess!

Here's another of the apple orchard

2009-06-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Apple Orchard II
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas panel
$60, shipping included for continental US

I feel more like an impressionist with this one. Lot less definition, broader paint strokes. Definitely different from the first, but I like it...

My four-year-old's obsession with volcanoes

2009-06-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

My son has been asking for a volcano, so that is what I am working on. I got some photos of the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica and I am loosely basing this current work on that. No lava flow, but a dynamic sunset and a bit of ash and steam coming from the top.

I am done with it now, as you can see... and while I have hated it at times I think I have come to live with it...

clouds I have been working on for some time

2009-06-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

and do not think they are salvageable, but since there is so much paint on that canvas, thought I would post it anyway. I wanted to get the effect of the sun peeking through the clouds, but ... failed. Ah, here goes.

Sunlit Clouds
12 x 16 inches
Oil on stretched canvas
$45, shipping included in continental US

May 31st

2009-06-01T17:01:00.001-07:00

Apple Orchard I
16 x 20 inches
Oil on stretched canvas
$90, shipping included in continental US

Here is my effort from yesterday and today. It is from a photo I ripped from a magazine of apple orchards. I am fairly pleased with it, though it could definitely be better. I might try to do it again to see how I can improve upon it.

Clemson Goats

2009-05-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

I did this today for my father-in-law, who has, in retirement, become a goat farmer (his brother actually owns them, but Buddy spends a lot of time caring for them as well...) I had done one for Billy (the goat owner) last year, in a natural setting, grass, trees, etc. But my mother in law HATES the color green, so I decided to put the goats against an orange background, since Buddy is a HUGE Clemson fan. This will be his fathers' day gift...

watercolors from vacation

2009-05-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the watercolors I did while on vacation. The photos are not good, as usual, my clouds seem lost. But here they are regardless...

Another painting

2009-05-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Cloudy Day
16 x 12 inches
Oil on canvas panel
$75, shipping included for continental US

I actually got a painting done today, despite a really bad night of sleep, an injured back and a really grumpy two-year-old. I guess I needed the creative exercise... I am very pleased with my clouds in this one.... not sure the rest is as good!

Magnolia # 2

2009-05-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Magnolia II
11 x 14 inches
Oil on stretched canvas
NOT AVAILABLE

I will post a new photo when it dries more, the liquid clear has such a glare that I cannot use a flash, and then it does not focus well. The last few photos have not done justice to my clouds, I do not think. I tried the magnolia again and am happier with it, still not thrilled with the attempted weeping cherry.

This will be my last post for a few days, we are heading to SC tomorrow for vacation and a family reunion, but I do plan on doing some watercolors while down there.

waterfall #3

2009-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Waterfalls
11 x 14 inches
Oil on Stretched Canvas
$ 60, shipping included in continental US

I have just gessoed a canvas with some black gesso and will try another waterfall. I did one in class, and another for Al a few months back. Both turned out well, but I am hoping to improve upon my previous efforts.... Hopefully I will get a photo up today.

OK, as you can see I did finish it so here it is...

Last two days.

2009-05-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

I did these in the past two days, trying to keep the paint strokes a bit freer, looser paint (less paint). Like I said, I am trying to figure out who I am as a painter...

The first is from today, the second yesterday...

magnolia attempt

2009-05-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

There is a circle near me, where a huge magnolia tree towers over a weeping cherry and other trees. I love the "One Way" sign that stands in front of it. I hope to paint this tree in all season, with the cherry behind it. This is an attempt at it... I like the knife work, but am not sure that is the way I should go. I enjoy painting with a knife, but I do not enjoy the results as much as not using a knife. I need to find myself as a painter. This shows that.

My first work post class...

2009-05-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

I did this in a day, with kids home!

my work from class

2009-05-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

The above was from the second day...maybe one day I can figure out how to get them to show up in the order I selected them... It was learning clouds, waterfall and rocks. I was not happy with it at class, but once I got it home, have been happy with it.

This is one from the second half of the first day...lesson on mountains and still water. I like this but find it a bit bland...

This is the first one from class, a study of two types of pine trees and deciduous trees in the fall and summer. John-Paul, my four-year-old, wants this one for his room.

Painting, painting painting...

2009-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have been a painter off and on since junior high. Recently I took a two day intensive Bob Ross style painting class, and have decided that it is time to decide if I can develop my talent enough to do this for real or hang up my palette once and for all. (The gentleman who teaches the class is Ed Gowen...his website is www.edgowen.com.) So I have been trying to paint some each day, not easy with two small ones in the house. But I am going to do it anyway! I have decided to use this blog space as a chance to show off my work, and if I really stick with it, the blog may open an opportunity up to become part of the daily painters website, where I can sell some stuff (hopefully). Here is the website:http://www.dailypainters.com/paintings. I know I have to develop a lot, but if I am not doing it regularly I will never develop at all. So here goes! Here are the pictures I have done since the class, and in class.

Now if I can figure out how to post them AFTER the text...maybe a new entry is necessary...

Those damn cats!

2009-02-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

As I begin to feel myself lose my grip on the very end of the rope I am hanging onto trying to do what I must in the aftermath of my mother's death in December, I realize I really need to prioritize the things in my life.

The issue at this time? Trying to find homes for her two cats. I was able to bribe one of the cats into a no-kill shelter. He decided to play his "meanest and worst cat that ever walked on the face of the earth" when we walked into the cattery at said shelter. I am home now, two days later, listening to him meow. If he is not meowing to get outside (which means he will go right back to mom's house), he is hissing or growling at the most laid back cat in the world, Knobby. I should mention I am allergic to cats, but had decided to sacrifice my own health to care for my mother's beloved cats. But I discovered something in the three days he (the cat, his name is Tiger) has been in our house. I am not the only one allergic to cats. Evidently so our my boys, and evidently Knobby does not bother them either. So I am pulled between trying to either provide or continue to find a home for Tiger and Sam (who is still at mom's, but I had thought we'd bring him over soon too) or protecting the health of my children.

Obviously, the kids come first.

But that does not answer what to do with the cats. Leave them at mom's, hoping that with each passing day they do not get more and more "wild" from very little human contact, in hopes eventually someone want a cat who saw a poster I have hung up somewhere? Drop them off at the pound or some other place that will most certainly destroy them both and directly defy what my mother would want for them? Take them myself to the vet to have them destroyed, comforting myself that at least I was with them when they died? But having to pay the hefty euthanasia fees?

It is not as easy as it sounds. Any way I chose to go, I am left with a huge helping of guilt. I cried before taking Tiger to the no-kill shelter, I felt so guilty. My mother died less than two months ago. The thing that brings me to tears should not be what to do with her damn cats, but the grief of missing her. And there is some more guilt! I cannot even get my tears to respect my priorities.

I guess the stress and tears over finding homes for these two cats helps me keep my mind off the fact that my mother, who was such a huge part of my life and the lives of my children is gone.

Facebook intrigues

2008-11-28T11:36:00.001-08:00

I think I was removed as a friend from a couple of high school acquaintances... I would think it was a fluke, but they are sisters... The only thing I can figure is that they saw the link to this blog, read my post An Open Letter to Catholics who Supported Obama and were offended, having both been raised Catholic and one still openly practicing it, and having Obama's page linked to their own facebook pages. My intent was certainly not to offend, but I knew it was possible that letter would. What surprises me is that rather than (1) tell me they respectfully disagree with me or (2) tolerating my opinion and moving on, they choose instead to cut me off without a word. I seem to run into more and more intolerant liberals these days. Which, golly, I thought I was supposed to be the intolerant one! I mean, aren't liberals the open-minded sort? The ones that are tolerant of ALL viewpoints? I am beginning to believe they tolerate only their views, and have no patience for those who disagree with them. I knew for sometime I disagreed with these ladies in the political realm, and have been offended by various remarks, etc., that I have seen on their facebook pages but rather than cut them off I choose to ignore the offenses because I respect them, and their views, even if I believe they are not in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. I considered them friends, and quite frankly I think friends deserve better than that. I suppose they think they did the right thing, I mean they could have told me that they disagreed with me. Oh wait, that would have open up a dialogue. And you have to be open-minded to want that. Needless to say I am disappointed in them both, but won't cry over spilt milk. And I could be wrong, there may have been a glitch that removed them both from my list of friends. A huge coincidence, but possible...

My Christmas letter...

2008-11-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, as I sat down to write
A Christmas letter for all those far far from sight.
To send to the friends and family of we lucky Mews
To tell all the exciting, and not so exciting, ‘08 news.
Despite outsourcing, relocations, & because we have not won the lotto, Al is still happily and gainfully employed at Advance Auto.
He loves to compute with his trusty friend Trey
Whom Susan named in a fit of dismay,
Howard Albert Mew the Third,
Having to make room on the couch for him, how absurd!
Susan stays busy cooking and cleaning,
Not to mention the two boys who need preening.
Her newest quests being digital scrapbooking,
Creative leftover remaking & getting ready for homeschooling.
Al and Susan made a journey alone
To be reunited with Al’s high school friends, now all grown,
It having been twenty years since their last meeting,
It was obvious their youth was a-fleeting.
John-Paul is now four, potty-trained and whiles no fool,
Still digs for pirate treasure on the playground at preschool.
Benjamin soon will turn two,
Loves cooking, singing and music class too.
He loves most of all, his brother John-Paul,
And doing everything and whatever and all
His brother does, the good and the bad,
Which sometimes makes his mother quite mad.

Al’s parents remains in good health and form
Spoiling their grandsons is to them the norm.
Delaine had some heart problems at the first of the year,
But she has improved and left all of good cheer.
Susan’s mom often enjoys the boys
For a morning or afternoon, her wee bitty joys.
Though at times Betty is quite sad
For she lost her best friend, and it does make her mad.
And after being properly diagnosed bipolar
We have all thankfully gotten off the roller
Coaster of Susan’s sister Ann’s illness,
No more do we distress.
And there is nothing Ann dreads
Now that she is on the right meds.
She lives in the County of Isle of Wight
And her recovery and future look bright.
Susan’s brother-in-law Alfredo and his boys are well,
Despite having to wish Ann farewell.
Alfredo even has two guys who work for him
And his work calendar stays quite full to the brim.
Mauricio is 13 and a football player,
While Daniel is 12 and a violin player.
Both boys enjoy scouting
And by the looks of them are sprouting.
That’s about all to report on our year,
So, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good year!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T16:49:00.001-08:00

Somehow Thanksgiving has become my responsibility. My mother passed the baton onto my sister, who gave it to me. Last year I did it because Ann had just gotten out of the hospital, after a year or so of battling mental illness and addiction. She's better, but she also does not live here anymore, so I am not the official Thanksgiving host, not to mention other holidays. If that doesn't make you feel old I am not sure what does! Now I should mention my brother-in-law will cook the turkey, he always does, on the grill, so that is one thing I do not have to worry about. Thank you, Alfredo!

I have to admit I am not a huge Thanksgiving dinner fan. I like the turkey and mashed potatoes, bit the rest I can leave... So it is hard to get enthused about creating a meal I really do not want to eat. I am trying to make it my own, but some folks are too darn attached to some items. I can say that I have successfully exorcised the dreaded green bean casserole from the menu. Alleluia! But I did still buy the french fried onions.

On the menu: the classics for us, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, stovetop stuffing. Instead of canned cranberry sauce we are trying a spirited one with port and orange liquor... A squash casserole is the green bean casserole's replacement, and in hopes of getting rid of candied yams next year I am doing a sweet potato and butternut squash bread pudding. I'll let you know how it goes...

Oh, and of course the sweet potato and pumpkin pies will be there...an eggnog pumpkin pie.

So, as far as what the holiday is really about, I have much to be thankful for. Ann is doing much better, and that, honestly, would be enough for me. But we have the resources to buy all that food I am dreading cooking. Thank you God! We have our health, and we are never without something fun and exciting to do with the boys... We have our friends and our family, and we have the ability to worship God openly.

An Open Letter to American Catholics who supported Obama this election

2008-11-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

An open letter to my fellow American Catholics:

It was with shock and shame that I learned that Barack Obama received a majority of the Catholic vote. I am still reeling with the news that a majority of Catholics have helped put into the White House a man who has said publicly that his first act as President of the United States would be to sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act. This act will overturned every late-term abortion law there is, allowing the barbaric partial birth abortion procedure to once again be practiced. It will overturn parental consent laws, which means your teenage daughter, who has to have your permission to get an aspirin from the school nurse, can abort your grandchild without your knowledge or consent. And it will allow our government to use our money to pay for abortions in this country and overseas. Obama, additionally, has voted against a bill four times that would require medical attention be given to babies that survived a late-term abortion. He would prefer these babies be left in a closet to die. Obama will set the fight against abortion back years, if not decades.

I am not saying they needed to vote for John McCain, but simply abstain for voting for a man who is so entrenched in the Culture of Death our late and great John Paul II and our current leader Benedict XVI have preached against. The next president will have the opportunity to appoint probably two Supreme Court justices. Rather than electing a man who will appoint individuals who will view the Constitution in the way the writers of the Constitution intended it, thereby allowing Roe v. Wade to be overturned in the upcoming years, we have elected a man who will appoint people who think the Constitution is a living document that can essentially be interpreted to mean anything their political agenda dictates.

I know there are other issues, important issues, at play in today’s society. I think I can accurately say the war in Iraq, concern for the poor, the economy, the environment are probably the issues Catholics are most interested in besides abortion.

Mother Teresa said that abortion was a war against the unborn. If we are going to be against war, which one should take precedence? The one that was begun over 35 years ago and has cost, on average, almost 1.5 millions lives a YEAR? Or the one that was begun five years ago and has cost almost 13,000 lives, total. If the idea of some of these causalities being civilians, and worse yet, children, makes the Obama supporter particularly hate this war, and want it to end, should not the fact that every fatality of our war against the unborn has been an innocent and defenseless baby be even more loathsome? Why vote for a man who promises to end one war yet also promises to escalate the other, the far more extensive and horrible one? If war is so horrendous to you, you should not have voted for McCain, but neither should Obama have earned your vote. And if you are willing to vote for the lesser of two evils, in the arena of war, McCain would certainly have fit that description.

If poverty was the motivating factor of yours in voting for Obama, the desire to see our government do more the protect and assist the poor, and that is why typically you vote for Democrats, I can only wonder if you honestly believe the lie that abortion helps cure poverty. Of course no one wants to see a child go to bed hungry at night, but if we as a nation and we as the body of Christ cannot find a better cure than exterminating the victims of poverty we are not trying hard enough and have settled for the easy answer. Most Planned Parenthood clinics are in poorer neighborhoods. How about we try to truly help these women care for their children instead of encouraging them to kill them? How about reducing the tax burden on individuals AND businesses so that people can be more generous to the local organizations that help the poor, the ones that have been found to be more effective and efficient that the government at serving the needy, and that businesses can grow their businesses, hire more people, provide training and better benefits to their employees, and give more generously to their communities?

Obviously, the state of the economy is a huge issue these days, with the unemployment rate “soaring” to six percent and the possibility of a recession around the corner. If fear of a worsening economy lead you to vote for Obama, I have two points to make. One, a lot of our economic crisis stems from the housing market crisis. Which was because too many subprime loans were given to folks that the banks knew would have a difficult time paying them back. It was the Democrats that pushed for these, and Republicans and the Bush Administration that wanted more oversight to prevent this sort of thing from happening. So, by electing Obama, you have put into the White House a man partly to blame for the very economic crisis you elected him because of. Getting past the sad irony of that point, here is my second. At what point are we as Catholics allowed to put our own economic well-being ahead of the lives of millions of unborn babies? Assuming Obama can fix the economy, which I sincerely doubt, is that justification enough for electing a man who has made it one of his goals of expanding abortion in this nation and abroad? Who can say that their personal economic health is more important than the lives of those babies to be killed by abortion?

Finally, the environment is a big issue as well. We as Catholics believe we need to care for this earth, and our current pontiff has even been called the Green Pope because of his environmental awareness. But again, are the lives of whales, owls, and other threatened creatures more important to you than the lives of the over 4,000 unborn babies slaughtered every day in this country? Can we not strive to reach a balance, one that allows us to respect both the environment and human life? Some may maintain McCain did not propose enough measures to meet the environmental crisis as aggressively as needed. Fine, then do not vote for him. But it is hypocrisy to vote for the man who has shown absolutely no concern for the vulnerable baby in his or hers mother’s womb and even made it clear he plans on making sure even more are killed.

The Catholic Church’s position on abortion is clear and concise. It is morally reprehensible. There is not grey area in the taking of an innocent human life. It’s teachings on war and the death penalty are not as clear. Have Catholics forgotten the clear teaching on abortion? Maybe it is not being preached enough from the pulpit, I know I have heard few homilies that expounded on the evil of abortion and the need to work tirelessly to end abortion on demand in this country. But there was no lack of letters, statements, and the like before the election from a few Bishops and other Church leaders reminding is that when we vote we need to make sure we keep the teachings of the Church in mind, especially in regards to abortion.

The blood of innocent babies is and will be on the hands of Barack Obama. But we need to really think and pray about whether that culpability also extends to some degree on those who helped put him in a position to escalate the war we have been waging on the unborn in this country. Finally, we ALL need to pray for him and all the leaders of our nation, that they may realize the responsibility they have to protect those they lead, even the unborn, the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, as well as those convicted of horrendous crimes and are condemned to die for their crimes. Lord, have mercy on us all.

Out of the mouths of babes

2008-03-21T14:00:00.001-07:00

OK, one of the reasons I did this blog was to record some of the hysterical things John-Paul says (and Benjamin in the hoepfully near future). So, be on the lookout for those. But here are some from the past that come to mind:

As he darted in front of my mother on the way to the kitchen "because I'm faster..."
When asked if he wanted some green beans: "No, I don't like green beans, they have too much caffeine."
If he doesn't like something I have suggested: "That's not a good option."
Upon noticing (presumably for the first time) his uncle's balding head: "You got a haircut, and they cut it all up here."

Stations of the Cross with a three-year-old

2008-03-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

I am the first to admit that I have not been very Lenten this Lent. Come to think of it, I wasn't last Lent either. In both cases I use the lame excuse that circumstances beyond my control made my life Lenten without me even trying (last year it was the nine week premature delivery of our son Benjamin, this year turmoil with my mentally ill sister). Every year I do go to Stations on Good Friday. And I took John-Paul, the 3.5 year old, a couple weeks back on a Friday night. While it was a good experience for him, it was less than "spiritual" for me. I spent the whole time with him on my lap in the back explaining things to him. Now I am trying to figure out if I should take him with me today. Benjamin will be there, so I'll distracted enough already. So, do I take JP and hope he gets something out of it or do I leave him at his grandmother's and hope to get something from the experience myself? Of course, he'd rather be at Grandma's house.

Why does it seem you sacrifice your own spiritual attentiveness in order to properly teach your children how to behave properly? Neither have ever been left in the nursery during Mass (much to the chagrin of the one usher who every week would tell me where the nursery was when I would be walking the halls outside the Church trying to get Benjamin calmed down when he was much younger.) I am proud to say both boys can sit through Mass without too much of a problem, but when was the last time I actually was able to pay attention to the entire Mass? Ah, Palm Sunday, when I left the kids home with Daddy. And even then, not as much as I would have liked. Hm, maybe the kids are just an excuse for my own wandering mind. And as far as distractions are concerned, they are cute ones.

Oh, and I left John-Paul with Grandma. Next year I'll take him (and no doubt leave Benjamin with Mom.)

My First Blog

2008-03-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

I recently learned that a couple of friends of mine, stay at home moms like me, have blogs. I am completely impressed. Their hands are much fuller than mine are. So I thought that maybe I ought to try my hand at it. I figure this is a good way to keep folks up to date on our lives, as well as a good way to put those funny stories of the boys down that I would otherwise not record and forget. And God knows I could use some more discipline in my life, so this may help. And it has been awhile since I have done any real writing, so maybe this will help keep me more literate. We will see. It may not do any of those things, if I don't get to it often. A blog is what you make it, so let's see what I can make of it! So here goes. Wish me luck!