Roasting Marshmellows in July

Currently there is a fire in our fireplace and my husband is patiently roasting marshmellows with Abrum and Olivia. Sounds odd for the middle of July you might think, and when you ask why I will tell you that is what Abrum asked for in the ER this morning. WHAT!? Abrum spent his morning in the ER this morning with an infection on the inside of his abdomen from a bug bite. I do want to mention that yesterday my lovely husband took Abrum to the peditrician when daycare called saying he couldn't stand up straight and was really cranky when he awoke from nap. The doctor said it was just a bug bite...my husband, the one who always asked why in school and never just took the teacher's word for anything, said look again please and indeed there was a hard mass never the bug bite. So dear friends, the next time you get irritated at "why" or frustrated at one more question...that persistance might have been what saved my dear boy's life.

Artist Block

As an assemblage artist I find myself often, not lost for ideas, but at a lost for supplies to visualize the ideas. My husband and I spent Friday looking all over a local town for junktiques...antiques that I can afford to buy to add to my art pieces. We went home happy and full of bags to begin. A lunch at Super Taco and then to the studio....where I sat, and sat. I have found myself now at a loss for motivation...the weekend is never a good time to start a piece, how can it be with amazing little ones running around hoping for your time to spend with them?

As my husband tried to help motivate me by constantly reminding me to, "Go make Art!" I headed down to the studio with little feet following. As my current new piece is about little boys I began going through my bags of new finds which are mostly old boy toys. I began frustrated at Abrum who was so excited to see what else I had found for him to play with. Then I realized that watching him play was just what I was trying to capture and I listened and watched where he placed everything and how he used the toys. And then I realized, once again, that time is precious and we will never again have this day together so back up the stairs away from the studio we went...to play.

And as I sit here in the early morning hours watching Electric Company with my babies, explaining and teaching every chance I can I realize what a struggle it is for a mother to be an artist.... Perhaps that will be another piece...

Tomorrow the studio, today the babies.

Under My Feet

As a mom of two there is always something on the floor of our humble house. Currently there are about fourty different shoes, that may or may not have matches, legos, a dump truck, a beginner reader, teacher supplies and of course crayons and wheels. And often under my feet I find my two beautiful babies! I am always amazed at the love that comes out their mouths. Recently Abrum has decided to marry me. As a mother of a boy, it's been what I was waiting for. However, he has now found playful banter with his father. Just the other day I overheard them arguing over me with Abrum telling my lovely husband that he was going to take the marry away and marry me himself. When Dad said, no my wonderful four year old yelled, You wanna a piece of me? Now that is love under my feet.

Still in Summer

Summer time works differently. At times it moves fast, and it other times a minutes can last days. Lately it has moved fast...in the last two weeks that I have been freed from everyday school life I have traveled to Florida for a short turn around stay, rearranged the house for the upcoming Florida guests, searched high and low for the best grill to purchase and came across the new love of my life, the ice cream maker. What family fun! Together we have come up with some great and gross ice cream ideas... Abrum did suggest pizza ice cream. The entire family gathers in our small little kitchen to measure, mix, squeeze ingredients, stir the pot of soon to be frozen treat and add the ice and salt to the machine. And then hours later, we taste the treats and pass judgement. We have not gone wrong yet with our flavors of Mexican chocolate, Lemon Lime sorbet and blackberry cheesecake. What a grand additive to Summer.

Summer In South Carolina

It is offically summer. Not by the simple fact that school is out but by the bugs. One of the greatest reasons for moving to South Carolina from Sunny Florida came after the move. No, it isn't the weather which is currently 66 degrees outside-I do love that though. It is the fireflies. They are magically! Little balls of fairy magic chasing each other around the backyard. And tonight as it got real dark my son caught a glimance and was outside in an instant noting, very loudly, each one he saw... then joined by his sister who decided she wanted most to be a super hero with stretchy arms so she could catch all the fireflies.... and then of course letting them go...because that's Olivia. It is a great image to pack with me as I head back to Florida the place of my birth, my amazing sisters, and wonderful parents, great old friends and sandy beaches... and hot hot weather with mosquitos and NO fireflies. Keep your eyes open.