Nothing's Buggin' Me

I'm still in my happy place, and you can't make me leave. I'm not listening. Lalalalalalalala.

This is a drawing inspired by my good friends, S and S and their two little s girls. They are just the most adorable little things. I saw a photo of them recently, and they were so enthralled with a grasshopper that Daddy S had caught. So I decided to build them a bug carousel.

Daddy S recently walked a marathon trailwalk in Hong Kong in my husband's honor, which I found deeply touching. He wrote that, "Peter was a true inspiration for me and showed me by example how to seize challenges, achieve through grit and determination, and live life as fully as possible." The charity walk was a nonstop 100km trek across Hong Kong, which is about 62 miles. My jaw dropped when I heard that! It took him about 33 hours to finish, walking all day and all night long. I cannot imagine and am just stunned by his stamina and determination. Daddy S is a big Sweetheart and will get a gigantic hug from me the next time I see him.

IF - Entangled

Entangled

Our vines
Intertwine
Your life and mine

Lines play
Then stray
Never really going away

Momentarily
Gently, tenderly
Become tangled with me

IF - Music

Lured by the music.

Nona asked me once why I don't draw more realistic stuff. I guess, I answered, I'd rather live in a world of childhood innocence and fun. There's too much that I'd rather not know, too much that I'd rather un-see. Heck, I'd buy a chunk of real estate along the banks of de Nile, if I could.

Sweet Nothings

How to Whisper Sweet Nothings in Your Girlfriend's Ear

shamelessly copied from eHow.com

Things you'll need: Breath Mints, Girlfriend

1. Check your breath. There is nothing that will sour sweet nothings faster than bad breath.

2. Set the mood. You can whisper sweet nothings anytime, but knowing when to do it is important. Wait for a particularly intimate moment, like while watching a movie together or when you are stroking her hair.

3. Think about not only how the mood is striking you, but also how she feels. Knowing your girlfriend is important to finding the right words. Think about things like how beautiful she is when lying next to you, or how nice her smile is.

4. Try to put your feelings into words. Think about how to vocalize your feelings and emotions.

5. Lean in and whisper your declarations of love.

Tips and Warnings:

• Get close to your partner when whispering. Sweet nothings are an intimate exchange between the two of you. Make sure what you say is for her ears only.
• Don’t be overtly sexual. They are called sweet nothings, and not dirty talk, for a reason.
• Don’t be overly poetic. This should be a vocalization of what you feel, not stolen prose.
• Try not to be corny by using lines from old movies. Chances are she has heard them already.

P.S. A Tarzan yell does not count as a vocalization.

* * * * *

Thank you for your patience and kindness and understanding during my previous post. I didn't expect to be as affected as I was. I thought I had a good handle on things, but I was blindsided. Things are good, though. I've got my cogs spinning again. Thank you.

IF - Blur

Happy birthday, my love. Your girls are missing you.

IF - Skinny

Walking the Skinny Mile

Roll Out the Red Carpet

Ces and her Oaks

"It's just squiggles and lines," she said dismissively.
"And Seurat just had dots, " I said.

I received several awards recently which mean so much to me. They each represent sisterhood. Two of them were created by my dearest sisterfriend Ces. Is there anything closer than a sisterfriend? If there is, she would be it. She offers me her hand, and it is always full, never asking, only giving. When my life took a difficult turn, she was there to gently nudge it back on course. Her squiggles and lines have intersected my squiggles and lines, and now they are inseparable, indistinguishable. She makes me laugh with her playfulness and cry with her generosity.

Ces created the following two awards:

The Deborah Award was created to honor a dear sisterfriend who is forever blowing kisses – “poet, friend, not just a mother but a soldier’s mother, too. Oh, the sleepless nights, the anxiety and worries, yet she is perpetually pleasant and cheerful, kind and gentle, diplomatic and tactful. She exudes courage, hope, and faith."

The Arija award was created to honor another sisterfriend: “a thinking, seeing, feeling, loving person who celebrates life every day. She is an artist, a photographer, a fascinating woman with great sense of humor, wise and thoughtful blogger and a loving and caring friend."

The Friendship Award was created by a new and wonderful friend, Kathi of Beautiful Mini Blessings. Kathi creates incredible miniatures and is in the process of renovating a dollhouse as masterfully as any craftsman-carpenter on This Old House. I am currently in the process of willing myself smaller so that I can live in one of her creations. On friendship, as she so gracefully put it, even though we may be far apart we are close at heart. This award is for someone who has inspired you or brought joy into your life.

I would like to share these awards with the following ladies who bring me joy and inspiration and who enrich my life. Thank you so much!

aimee
Dusik
Janine
Carolyn
Kathi
TattingChic
Caren