Wrap It UP!!

    It is just about my birthday time, and my girl, Emma, reminded me, that I was way behind on my gifts to myself. Yes, I need a supply of many, just in case. A rainy day, or every other day, you need to celebrate your birth! If not your birth, find something to celebrate, and give yourself a gift. A gift of time, or some fresh blueberries served up in Grandmothers china, or A Purse!
   My peeps know I have extended my birthday celebration into June, July and August, maybe now a week into September. Its now headed to the end of July , I need to get busy. So, while Em and I were headed to the movies , over the weekend, I ran in a store. Just looking??? A shoe, a nightgown to catch my eye, so I wandered over to the PJ section of this overpriced store. Surely they all have a sales rack, I hate to pay top dollar, for anything but....... well, I found a summer gown, grabbed it and walked over to the sales lady. ( who looked sour!)
   I told her it was my birthday gift, she said, " Oh Happy Birthday!" and I proceeded to explain that it was not my birthday, but I was getting ready. She hummm-ed, "Oh My husband told me to buy my own  present, but I could never feel right about it, I would never spend much money on myself!" ( sad face) I grabbed her hands ( Yes, I know I touch people) " Oh my goodness, go buy yourself something, today, you deserve it! be good to yourself, so you can be good to others...plus your husband said you could...and you asked him, that was nice!!!" I thanked her, and wished her a happy day, and Emma shook her head, like, "I know the story mom!"  I grabbed her arm, ever so gentle, " Don't ever forget it, buy your own flowers, your happiness does not depend on other people!!" " Always have a few items, stashed away, for others AND give unto your self first! ( I think now, I was talking to air! All my girls, and boys know my gift giving plan. No delayed gratification here!!) Then the next day, I went by myself, to peep at things, came home with a darling wrap for Emma and myself ( I always buy for others too, so don't let your mind go down the selfish slide) and a small bracelet for Emma, back to school presents!!! ( I will find a reason, not that there has to be one!!)
 Today I had, my berries is granny's bowl, Happy Birthday Bon, made a meatloaf for supper, early, so I can read and write and paint in the afternoon, another gift!! to myself and the family.
 You just need a plan, A,B,C and maybe a D!!!!
  This is a gift I give to you today, be good to yourself. Or to quote Bill Murray....
  Someone asked him this question, " What is it like to be Bill Murray?"
  He replied, " Nothing prepared me for being this awesome, Its kind of a shock to wake up every morning and be bathed in this purple light!!"
   Purple light, what ever your light, celebrate your awesome self!!  

July Construction, Raising a Roof

    To begin with I had to look up ( My secretary Bill did!), the meaning of Raise The Roof! I thought it could mean to build a roof, or have a big party. The meaning is to yell or be angry enough to raise the roof. To see RED and raise the roof, or a ruckus, that could raise the roof. So you will have to decide if the title of this blog goes with the blog. Certainly there was some construction, and some ruckus on my back patio, but no anger to be had.

   The weather was near perfect, a slight breeze and summer heat, a nap was called for. So I decided to have one outside, even if I did not sleep, the quiet afternoon would be a place of meditation for the soul. I sprawled out on the lounge chair, with a pillow from inside, I was serious. I just listened to the birds and counted my blessings, that no one was using a leaf blower at this time. When I looked up, to see what a tad busy bird noise was. There was a brown bird, cute little body with a long beak, sitting on a piece of fence ( non functioning fence/gate that I just leave up, because I like it, a gate to no where! its awesome!) I sat up on my elbow and began to watch him or her. I think they were building a nest. So many twigs and pieces of yard material that they were throwing behind the rakes on the wall. Shovels, old bats, garden hoses, that was the outside wall of their refuge. The inside was a castle, or at least from what I could see. I was afraid to move, I did not want to make them feel watched! They were working so hard, then I heard screaming babies! Oh my goodness there are babies in that nest, one of those birds must have been bringing food. So I continued to watch and listen. These babies were so well behaved, as soon as, the parent left the nest, they shut-up! Gosh, these bird parents have taught their kids so well, no one will know they are their to eat them. Plus they have designed an extreme house to enjoy and raise their young. I watched for a long time, it was pure pleasure at its best.
     I tired the next couple of days to see in the nest without them thinking I was trying to eat them, but to no avail. I warned my family to not touch anything on that rack, for fear of disturbing this precious perch of birds. To my knowledge they may already be gone, I have left them on their own.
    It was an amazing thing to witness, the slow and steady process of love. Food to your babies and adding more nest material to your abode. ( Iam sure the kids had destroyed at least one room!!)
   I am also reminded at how little it takes to make me happy. A good nap, on a nice summer day, or no nap at all! Just some visitors, checking in for a time.
   I think I will leave the nest up for awhile, to remind me, to be quiet and look around.
   Or.....maybe these birds are not finished with it yet!! They may be building condos! I better go get my pillow and watch!

62,65,68

   These numbers probably have some meaning to many baby boomer humans.
    We grew up in such a time of great change, and it was grand.
    Was it difficult, yes, as much as any teenager, but we had Omar.

     Lawrence came out in 62, Doctor Z in 65 and Funny Girl in 68, these were building years for me.
     Years to be molded and changed, and I had Omar Sharif.
     He was young, and beautiful, and oh so not the local surfer or high school football star.
   
     I loved Omar, and I think there may be others.

     10, 13, and 16, these were my years between angst and awesome.
     Omar made me swoon. There were scenes in Doctor Zhivago, that changed me. I had to remind myself to breathe, when he said "Laura". Then in Funny Girl, when Fanny looked at Nicky, the world stopped spinning. These were huge love stories, for a young girl learning about love. I wanted my heart to stop, when someone touched my face, I was a born romantic. Even in Lawrence of Arabia, I was a little torn, because of my love for Peter and Omar. Mr. Sharif won out in the end, second only to Robert Redford, and oh so many others!! These men of the movies grabbed at my heart, and held on for the ages.

   Yesterday, I was stunned during lunch, when a dear friend just casually mentioned, "Oh isn't it sad about Omar Sharif??" dying??!!!!" My other friend and I hollered, "WHAT!", " What are you saying!" We put our hands to the heavens, and reminded Natty that you have to warn us of this kind of information.
  Mr. S is a part of our youth, our DNA, he is our person!!! She understood.....but....how old is Natalie?
  She is our baby friend, whom we adore, and are thankful that she had older sisters! So we feel like she knows, but.........did she love him to the core.......would have traveled to Egypt.....if he had just asked....
  I have just been spent since I heard the news, sad that he is gone, but soooo thankful for having him to love.
  I will watch his movies, forever, and try and remember that young girl from so long ago. I know she still resides deep in my soul. Mr. Omar Sharif, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
AND Bernacious, slip us a quiet note next time, we are old, and our past loves live high on a pedestal, and I am a firm believer in not knowing so much is a good thing!! ( I have blotted out all of this death talk, surely he is still alive!!) ( love you girls) ( lunch was awesome)

A Room With A View, or Just A Window.

  When idle, I will move furniture. That was the problem, or solution this July weekend. People all over, are cooking potato salad and trying to put on their red, white and blue. Flags are hung on every conceivable pole, as they should be. Its a grand parade of July happenings. All my kids were busy, so hubby and I were left to our own imaginations. I stirred together some food, its what we mothers do, and brought out the red napkins. We looked at each other, one minute too long, and I said, " I think I will start moving some paintings around." The box was then opened, " How about that table and chairs in Ward's room, I could use for a desk, in the computer room?" Hammers, and humming began. I always see, or think I see a vision. Nine out of ten times, its awesome. My record remains in tack, with my throat closing up. You see, change and I are not always good neighbors. I like where my stuff is, and I don't let others touch my area. ( They do touch, but a fuss may ensue)
     We had some pictures, we took in Belgium that got lost on one wall, so I took them to a hall. Fresh white enamel( I love shinny) walls made the photos pop, and I hung them all in a straight line from ceiling to floor.( maybe I will take a picture to show you, or just trust me, it looks perfect. Two pieces of an old, old, painted green fence, I also moved to another wall. I have no idea where it came from, but it spoke to me, " Where had this fence been? and who had loved it before me?" It is weathered, and worn and a piece of art.
  Now one wall in the den is empty and that inspires me, to search for something to put there, or frame some of my art to hang, so many options. It is good to change the view, occasionally.
  If you follow my blog, you will know that I always type in the kitchen. The light is heavenly coming in a big bay window and it connects to the screened back porch, that also is a sanctuary to me. But the day was young, I needed to try and type from a different spot.This is so hard for me. Most people take their computers all over the place, I seem to only be able to write in one place in the house. My family, thought, that if I was closer to our main computer, it would be a faster hook-up? ( I don't know computer talk, but my computer was very slow) So here I sit, in Bill's office, computer room, as I call it.
  The table feels good, I have enough space, and I like what I see. A window to my right, with light shinning in on me, to my left past the hall and stairs, is the dinning room, that I never see much and I love it. Lucy the Lab, is behind me, which is always a plus. I see oil paintings of my boys on the walls, and a shelf with all the clay pots and vases all my children made over the years. ( some of my most cherished pieces) There is a bowl, a pink depression glass bowl, holding glass perfume stoppers! ( I find the strangest things at antique stores!) that makes me smile. I wonder why someone saved the tops and not the bottoms, of pretty glass perfume bottles, of long ago. I guess they knew someone, one day, would love to have them! Your welcome!
There are all the prints from Matt, framed going up the stairs, of Brian Andreas art, that he bought for me, when my Ward died. I read them each day, and I look at them now, in this new spot of mine.
    I think I will like this place of writing, it feels like home.
    Change can be good, even if we fight it all the way to another room.
    Bill and I had a great 4th of July, at least from where I sit now, I can share this all with you.
   

Paris Clothes

  I have been in a creative slump, a mini one, but it has concerned me.
  The wedding is over, I can think, yet.....putting paint to paper...I feel stuck.
  The weather is perfect, and I think that may be the culprit. How do you just paint, when you need to be out in the sunshine. Yes I could drag all my stuff, out back, and I may, but.....moving stuff around can also, stop my progress.
  This morning, I was thinking about my little problem, and got out my Paris uniform. Black shirt and pants(shorts) and ruby red lipstick ( I wear that all the time, but this morning it was with a plan). I feel inspired, I feel free, and I have that itch, to explore my art. Its my clothes!! wearing cute colors in the summer, sandals, matching earrings, little dresses, stop my mojo! No wonder Europe has so many artists, they paint to see the colors, they don't wear them. I am waiting for my family to say, " Mom, why are you all in Black?" Its coming, that is a fact. This girl is ready, " I need to paint the colors, I need to see them on the paper." How do you explain art? Often I will paint the same picture, with different mediums, and at different times in my life. I love to see the differences, and remember how I felt while painting. I can look at the picture and tell you, about me. I hope all the art you look at, you can see the person, know the person, from the photo they took, to the brush stroke that was used. Art is amazing, and we are all artists, trust me.
BIG LEAP......
  My farmers market is full of artist. My lettuce man, arranges each piece of lettuce in a bowl and it looks like a big rose. All kinds of colors and shapes of leaves. The flavor of farm to table is art. This summer, the lettuce man, inspired me.
  A friend of mine from high school, travels with his wife, all around the world . He takes pictures, that will take you to your knees. Singular shots of beauty, in all corners he travels. His work should be in galleries, he is a master. He inspires me.
  A friend of mine from high school, preaches, and fishes with a voice and hook from God. He is a storyteller, and an artist. He has a "fish tale" that will inspire all.
  This week, our supreme court, became artist, they changed the colors of perception.
   Also the stars and bars, of a long ago flag, is coming down for the right reason. Not to diminish our heritage of being southern, but to be put away as a reminder of what was wrong. People can inspire.
  We are all artists, and some just need some old black Paris clothes, a few precious friends, a country that embraces change, and time.......take time, to love, and look around you....its a masterpiece.

June Bug, Slow Down

    Is there a June bug? There must be, I have heard the simple term, most of my life.
    This June bug, metaphorically, is on crack.
     We are on our third week of high 90's, and I cannot get enough of it.
    I dare not look at a calendar for fear, of winters breath! ( you know I will borrow trouble, way in advance!) ( but....I need to store- up, this sunshine! so my timeline is brief)
    I need to share just a couple of things before, this month escapes me.
    One, read the book Bettyville. Especially if you have older parents, or you are old!!!( Its coming!)
     Second, NEVER LET YOUR BROTHER BE IN CHARGE OF THE SHOES!
     Recently, my son Hart, was married in New Orleans. A lovely affair, with new (OK, mine were old, but brother does not need to know) shoes. All of us ladies, painted toes galore, pulled out the heels. Cousin Leigh ( most prepared woman I know) had a bag for our flip-flops to bring, for wearing, as soon as the "I-Do's" came out of their precious mouths!
     When we entered the reception palace, off they came, and went into the cute pink bag. Three pairs of beautiful high heels! Under the table they went, and the party could begin.
     The evening was full, and came to an end. Brother Benjie, had the bag! The cute pink bag, with all the shoes. What happened after that is up for discussion. We called a cab, Leigh made friends with the driver, and we headed to our pad. We get out of the cab, laughing and talking continues, when Leigh says, " B, where is the bag?" Please note, the cab is long gone.
    My brother says, " I left it in the cab, or I did not have it?" I just keep walking, thinking good-bye shoes. Leigh and Bill(the hubs) ( organized people) start calling, all over New Orleans! Nothing, nada, no shoes!
By now laughter has consumed us. I'm sure there are street walkers very happy this evening to have some new heels for their clients!! We are too tired, so we all retire.
    This story is not near over! The next morning , Benjie feels semi-bad? about loss of our shoes, and he offers to buy us some new ones. ( Good parenting mom and dad) So we three girls, tell him they are Manolo's, and every other expensive shoe we can think of!!! He begins to back pedal, a bit.
We are hysterical, from fatigue and its just so funny, so we all head off for breakfast and to catch planes, trains and automobiles! We are not even out of the car, when I tell him I spotted my shoes on some LARGE woman, on the corner , and I want him to go get them off her stank feet! They are turquoise, I know my shoes. We are now crying and the people are scared to seat us for breakfast! Leigh says that when he is ordering her new shoes, 10 is her size, but she will squeeze into a 9 if they are cute and expensive. Malia, our third sister with lost shoes, says that the ones that are lost, were some of her favorites! We will not let up!! Only a man would leave shoes in a cab!! It was the most fun of the entire weekend, and it continues to make me laugh. I think I will send him some pictures of shoes, that will be to my liking! Plus he has to buy Leigh-Leigh a new pink bag! We were all walking back to the cars, to say our good-byes , Benjie and I hung back, and he said, " You know its all worth it, for this story!"  " The Best!"
  This has been a hectic month, hot and filled with love, a good book, a few stories, wonderful fresh food from the farmers market ( The lettuce story to come) and it needs to slow down, you old bug you!

  

And The Brass Band Played On

    We may not all settle down, after the New Orleans Wedding, but we will try.
     The return to normalcy, to each of our own normals, is welcoming.
  
   It was a wedding for the books, and I choose to remember the best parts.

   My kids, all grown and cute, stood out among the multitudes. I think all mothers, probably think the same thing. Not often are we all in the same house, town or country, so this was nice. Brian, so tall and loving every minute of a party, he lead the parade. Keith, quiet and steady, sweating like someone who lives in New Hampshire! Hart, the groom, excited and nervous. ( I was not really going to TWERK!?) Ward, with us in every thought and heart. ( I carried his picture with me, down the aisle. He was never far from any of us)
Emma, taking care of so many, she looked beautiful. Kelly, Emily and the new Nicole, help round out the Baron Family. It was a very exciting time for us, to celebrate happiness.

I had many favorite things, too many to mention, so I will mention two. ( how can I only mention two?)
   The brass band, playing jazz and dixieland music, as we walked down in the park. It was fantastic. No wedding music, or terrible singing, just good music to celebrate love. For one second, I almost started to sing, but instead tapped my feet for a long time.
   Second favorite were the trees in this park. HUGE, OLD, Oak trees, bowed as we strolled down the walk. Moss hung long and low, on every thick branch, it was breathtaking. You wanted to tip-toe, around them, they were the star of this show. I will never forget them, never. The oaks stole my heart, dripped in humidity, and the brass band kept it pumping.

Joy was in the park, that sweet day, and for that I am thankful.
May all weddings have hope, moss covered trees and a brass band to start your journey.
Hart and Nicole, it was grand.
We love you both, very much.
Keep marching........