A day in my book....

I've been painting, painting, painting....

Like a lot, as I am so very blessed that since

I began with the first Home portrait painted

for Rhett, I have been non stop with orders

for portraits of homes.

Yesterday, however, I took a break from that.

Yep, shut it down for a whole day.

Why you may ask (or not lol)?

Because I was asked to keep my great niece, Lillian

(yes, my namesake) as she was off for the holidays

but her parents, both teachers had one more day.

She came all dressed up as we were going to make

mass with Bean at her school, to end this year.

A beautiful mass.

Then once the three grand girls were finished their school parties,

their Mom brought them to the cottage along

with an extra who is almost like another grand girl for me,

Bean's best friend, Mia.

A cottage FULL of estrogen!

I had bought all we needed for an art project

because estrogen induced little girls love, love, love art.

We made candy cane reindeer's!

I had all set up at the dining table along with snacks.

I showed them one and they went to town 

decorating their candy canes.

They wanted me to make a you tube video and I did.

It didn't last long but we did decorate quite a few reindeer!

There are a few things I am quite proud of when

the grand girls plus friends, nieces visit...

The television is rarely turned on and aside from

me taping a you tube video, no one asked

for a phone, and iPad, a computer.

Instead they retreated to the play room to play 

with all the things this Mumsie keeps there for 

their entertainment.

From the age of 3 to 9, all got along and played.

A beautiful day had us outside and not to be outdone

by a bunch of little girls, I suggested a game of

MOTHER MAY I.

You remember that game.....

My grand girls know how to play as we play it often.

We had to explain the rules to a few.

Then we got into our game.

For whatever reason, these little girls

only wanted to see Mumsie do ballerina twirls

as it is all the "Mothers" ever asked me to do.

"Why am I only getting ballerina twirls?"

the answer?

"Because its funny to watch and you are too old for cartwheels"

Phahahahahahha

There is something about when the girls visit Mumsie....

Mumsie plays too, no matter what it is we playing.

Mia, during the course of the day, made a statement

"I can call you Mumsie too?" 

Of course, as she has only called me that for the

last few years. It makes me proud of how most of

the grand girl's friends call me Mumsie.

And the TV and the electronics remained unimportant.

The day flew by as we played games, did art in the studio,

played Wizard of Oz and Barbies, babies and school.

It is a true statement when the last of the grand girls were

picked up this Mumsie was pooped with a big smile and

an even bigger heart. I straightened up the cottage and

made my way to bed with a book in hand

but my thoughts were on this day.

I am proud of all the Cottage means not only to me

but to a bunch of little girls, who love spending time

here. I like to believe it's not just the Cottage that they love

but the owner, the Mumsie that lives here as well.

I know these times are a passing, that sooner than

I want to admit, the time will come where I will not

be the place they want to be on their first day of Christmas 

holiday. But for now, a tired Mumsie was 

a happy and loved Woman!

Cami-girl gets a car....

....AND YOU GET A CAR, AND YOU....

No it's not an Oprah moment,

but my second to youngest god child, Cami

finally received her wheels!

It took her a little longer as most of her friends,

one, she had to do a few things to get her life in order,

then she had to get her license and a job,

Now while waiting to join the National Guard,

she had to save enough money...

This is where her Nannie came into play.

Let me take you back almost 20 years ago....

Cameron Tamplain is not only my godchild, she is also 

my great niece, born to my nephew and his teen girlfriend.

My nephew was so not ready to be a Daddy and her Mom

did the best she could at the time, loving her was one thing

she did well. My sis, Rosie, being her Gammy helped where

she could and I was the best Nannie I could be as I was 

also still raising my own rugrats.

But I did one thing that stands out to me, in her life.

I did not know what her future would hold and

I knew all holidays as a young child she would have

what she needed. So I opened her up a savings account.

Every birthday, every Christmas, every Holiday,

I would put the money I would have put into a gift

she would forget about, into this account.

It did not seem like much but by the time she was

16/17 there was 2,000 dollars.

At that time I was going through a divorce and had

to stop adding to it so I cashed it in and just waited.

Waited for her to finish growing up,

waiting for her mom and her Daddy,

who have now grown to be two fine parents after

their own growing up and her Dad sobering up, starting

a sweet little family as well as her Mom.

So time passed, I reminded her Dad about the money

that he had totally forgot about.

I explained that when he thought she was ready to be

responsible with the money I had it ready for her.

This week he and I spoke and she had found a car

in Mississippi. 

Then she and her Gammy drove to my house to get the

gifts I have given her over 16 years,

enough cash to buy her first car!

It was a wonderful day and I am honored that

i was able to give her her first car.

It may not be much, but it is hers, paid in full

and she seems not affected at all that her Nannie

gave very few gifts as a child.

So if you have a little child you love,

be the one that instead of giving those toys they

won't play with by the end of the day, clothing

that they will either not like or will outgrow so quickly,

think of opening them a savings account so that

when they become "ready" you can have a hand

in their first car, house, etc.

I have never regretted this decision and if anything,

was honored that the smile on her face

when those keys were handed to her,

well, I played a small part in it!

I love you Cami-girl!

Thanksgivings and days of past

As I type this my oldest sister, 24 years my senior,

Lies in an ICU where after a few very scary days, is

Finally stable. Still very sick but we are so thankful 

She is still with us. It’s so common to say,

“I am thankful for her life” yet I am. As she tells me today

“Remember Lil how we always used to sit on the 

Cabinet at the big house”

And  I realize she is talking about our family home.

I had forgotten how just like her generation,

We all sat on the red and white kitchen cabinets too.

My mind and heart is flooded with those old memories

again. When Mom and Dad were both alive and it was

not questioned where we would spend our Thanksgivings.
It was always at the big house with all the family in tow. 

Then after Dad passed, I with my young family,

It was Thanksgiving at Veronica’s  And the next generation

Stayed longer to play board games and many of them

Followed me home after for a few nights of sleep overs. 

“I was there, Lilly, I was in the big house and we were all

There and I felt like I was falling off the counter

But mostly I was falling from all of y’all”

And I realize We are at yet another realm of our lives  

My children are grown with their own lives,

Minta, who used to be my sidekick, stands on the side
Of her mothers bed. Life, ever changing.
I awaken this morning to coffee already made and
A turkey prepared and put in the roaster by
The boo before he leaves for call week at 3 am.
I am thankful for this new normal.
A new Thanksgiving, a good one and different all the same.
I realize as I stood at my
Sisters bedside this morning that another era
Is approaching us. The first the Boo has without his own Mom,
The era where I know years will cause me to say goodbye to so
Many I love. Today it makes sense
When my Mom used to say
“Growing old is not all it’s cracked up to be while so many around you
Die”
And so what do I tell my dear oldest sister as she explains
“I knew if I fell off that counter I was gone from y’all”
I say
“ you know, it’s said Heaven can be whatever we want it to be
And for you, maybe your Heaven will
Be all of us together again in that big house on Dursette street
With all those we love, all the generations”
She contemplates this and finally shakes her head yes.
And I tell her with tears
“But not yet Taunt Mone”
She again shakes her head yes.
Today I am thankful for it all and for her
And for all the changes in my
55 years of living and for this Thanksgiving, and all those past
And all to come.
But mostly I’m thankful for all this World still has to offer me
And that when my time comes,
“I get to make my own Heaven and what a heaven it will be!”
( typed this on my phone so forgive any typo"s!)

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS NOT ONE SIDED....

How many times have I spoken of 

"wearing my rose colored glasses"?

More than I dozen I am sure and for whatever 

reason my world is nicer like that.

I have been so busy and can, I think, call myself 

an artist as from the day I painted a painting of 

one of my friends home I have been non-stop in painting

homes. No complaints, honestly, just find myself painting

morning until night.

Wednesday, however I took the morning to attend the

grandgirls Thanksgiving mass where I witnessed the smallest

of good deeds that melted my heart and found me

wiping away a few tears.

Cathy, the grand girls other grandmother (KD's Mom)

struggles with Parkinson's disease.

Cold weather makes it harder for her yet she wanted

to make mass so I scooped her up and we headed 

to St. John mass. Only the Bean is old enough for mass

as the other two rug rats cry when we leave.

Bean is always so conscious of making sure she spreads

her love between her two grandmothers.

I know she is just 7 but she understands, somehow,

that we both adore her.

When it was time for communion, although she will not

make her first communion until Spring, she likes

walking up, hands crossed over her chest, and get

a blessing. She held my hand up and Maw Maw was

in the back. It was a hard day for Maw Maw,

having to use her cane but she made the trek up there.

As I received my host and Bean her blessing,

I continued on but Bean stopped.

It took me a moment to realized what she was doing.

When I did my hear filled with pride for this child.

She let go my hand stopped, right there in front of

the whole congregation while her Maw Maw 

received communion.

Then I realized exactly what her plan, where her actions

were going....

She was waiting for her Maw Maw to help her back to her

seat. Oh, BE STILL ME HEART!

As Maw Maw Cathy walked away from the altar,

cane in hand, Bean held her other hand and walked

slowly with her down the aisle and all the way back

to our pew, made sure she was seated, then took her

place between her two grandmothers.

I bowed my head in prayer to cover my eyes 

that were wet. I don't know what Cathy and I did

to be grandparents to three sweet children but,

in the season of Thanksgiving, I am so very thankful

that our oldest grand girl is filled with the gift

of kindness and giving.

(written with Cathy's permission)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MINI’S SURROUND ME...

I bought a refrigerator the other day...

It’s avocado green, cost 22dollars and...

Is 6 inches high.

You can’t store many groceries in it but it is 

Jam-packed with memories!

Yes, it is one I found when Tiffy and I were at the 

Pink Elephant I spotted it and immediately the memories 

Came flooding back. It is the piece that began my love for miniatures. 

I have thought of this piece many times and the rest of the kitchen set

That went with it so you can imagine my excitement over it.

Back in my early years of schooling, when I finally returned

In mid first grade, it was customary at Christmas time

For your parents to send a Small gift to school for the school

Xmas party, Santa would distribute those gifts. 

I remember unwrapping the sweet fridge and thinking 

I had the best gift of all the other children. 

I was not the only one who must have believed this
 as lots of my friends wanted to play with it.

I was not a selfish or mean child but that day I wanted my 

Possession to be only mine. I did not take it out the packaging until I got home. 

It may have had other pieces to it, but I only remember opening it up

And admiring the tiny ice trays and the glass looking ice cubes in it!

From that day one, everything little would infatuate me. 

And that same year, on Christmas morning was the

Sink, stove and dish washer to match!

One of my best gifts of all time. 

A long introduction to the fact that I love miniatures and I adore toys. 

All over my cottage I have mini reproductions of life sized things. 

.I have enough furniture to fill a few dollhouses and even built dollhouses for a while. Matter of fact, one of my reasons for completing my shop was so that I and the

 grandgirls can build a dollhouse together. 

 Friend, Connie, asked me the other day to post pics of my collection

And I had to tell her it is vast and all over my Cottage. 

Soon I will post pics. 

So now I am where I want to be with this blog...

What will happen to all my collections, mini’s being one of many?

I hope they are preserved, loved and added on to by the next owner. 

I cringe when I think of all my treasures being garage sold 

Or thrown out. I have shared this a few times with

Gypsy baby and she has replied the same way each time,

“Biatch, when you die, I’m just moving in my clothes!”

This always makes me laugh and gives me some peace,

Message of today:

Love something that is inanimate, share that with others.

Don’t let it be “off hands”
in that way your love of these objects carry on
the love you have of your people.

I DON’T DO IT FOR THE GLORY

(First excuse any typo’s as doing this on my iPad)

She walks in hot and disheveled. 

She asks for nothing except if the owner of

One of my favorite antique stores would be interested

In some rare, numbered plates. 

I am checking out an old doll refrigerator,

One I had as a kid, same color and all....

She is different from the beggar in the parking lot

Who holds a sign and asks Tiffy and I for money.

At first I am not sure if her identity is male or female

But then she turn to me and she is very female, 

Holding a sweet baby girl in her arms. 

She is a big baby, but her Mother carries her. 

They both are hot and sweaty, the baby not so clean

But definitely loved. 

What makes her different to me than the beggar I just told

“I have no cash”?

Because she is willing to give up something for help,

At first the male owner tells that he has lots of plates. 

As she pulls them out of her back pack, 

I realize she is not going to give up just yet. 

I don’t know her story but I know it’s one of survival. 

I understand survival. 

I open my wallet to pay and I hand her a few bills

Where no one can see. 

She asks “what’s that for?”

I shake my head, turn and continue checking out. 

I try to mind my own business but the owner has seen 

What I have done. He buys the plates. 

As she leaves she tells me in a low voice 

“God bless you”

I say nothing. The owner says to me

“ I was not going to buy those plates but I couldn’t let

You be the only one who helped.” 

I meant to keep this to myself but this morning my thoughts are only

Of this Mother and child. 

I hope they ate
 well last night. 

I hope they had a safe place to lay their head. 

The baby watched me the whole time. I hope as she grows life

Becomes easier for them 

Yet I have great respect for a Mother who carries her baby through

The scorching heat of Louisiana, selling something 

That probably was important to her but not as important as

Her child. I hope one day the Mother tells the child

About the kindness of strangers that was bestowed

To them “ That day”

Some may say I write this for the pat on the back. 

They would be wrong. 

I write this because whatever her story is, if we can,

We should help those who really are trying to help themselves. 

If I can spend two free nights at LeBerge Casino with my niece,

Who is more like my sister, and I can gamble a few

Twenties that I earn by selling my art, I surely can make sure this lil

Family eats. 

I don’t do it for the glory. 

LIBBY AND THE AUDIOBOOK...

If you are a big reader and not a music listener in the car, you have

to get the APP, Libby.

It is literally your library in your hand! 

I always listen to books in the car so this app has changed 

me from having to go to library to get cd books.

You can also read from the app.

Just link all library cards you have and you are there.

Which brings me to this blog....

Yesterday on the way home from the Boo's "La Maison"

(What we call his cottage home he is renting)

I am listening to a book as I always do and a sentence strikes me"

"I smile at my Daddy, the best gift a father can give his girls is worthiness,

that she is enough...."

Wow! It gets me thinking about a lot of things, to the point

that I still am thinking of it this am.

Us Mamma's we have to bring our girls up to be 

strong and independent or this world will eat them up.

But their Daddy's Oh their Daddys!

I think of my own Baby Boy and what he has with his girls.

I think of all the little girls out there without Daddy's.

I have a saying I always used to say,

"the best gift a Father can give to their children is to love their Mother"

So this other saying goes hand in hand with that.

The way a Daddy shows his daughters what they 

are worthy of is to show them how worthy their Mother is.

The old Poem, 

Teach a child....

says so much, so to you new and old Daddy's out there:

and Ange' and Sage, just starting their little family so young.

If you babies see affection between the two of you,

they may roll their eyes, they may be embarrassed but 

they love it. They will think, as I do,

"That is what I want when I grow up."

Save all arguments, disagreements, hostility for privacy.

Of course, it is also good for kid's to see their parents

work out a disagreement, but let them see partnership,

that no one is not more important than the other,

from the Daddy to the Mommy to the littlest of the little.

Worthiness. We all need it.

It is easy to forget the love you shared when the first

baby comes, like Ange' and Sage is feeling right now.

Because life and worries and finances and kids,

well they kind of get in the way.

So, I want to share two things in my own personal life

as to why this sentence hit me so strongly...

First, I was the baby of a large brood, some of my siblings

were already out of the home, my parents rarely showed

affection in front of me, towards the end when my Dad got 

sick he even made Momma cry sometimes, but up until 

the last day he could, every morning, Every morning,

my Momma was greeted with a cup of coffee in bed.

I have always remembered what a show of love from

this man to my Mother.

The second was my personal worthiness to my Daddy.

I may have shared this one before but it is worth restating.

I was teased lots as a child.

First because I was bald after chemo and then for a long

time for the curly mop of a head that replaced the baldness.

The way I dealt with it was I laughed, I laughed with all the

bullies and even friends who laughed or made comments 

about my hair. 

Yet at the end of the day, after the bus dropped me off,

I would go home and cry, not every day but especially the

days when one certain boy thought it was funny to take

his lollipop and smack it in my curly hair to see it stuck.

As I cried my Daddy, in his no nonsense way, would not

hug me or tell me it was okay or want to fight the bullies,

no every day when this event happened he said one sentence,

"Lilly, it does not matter what the World thinks of you, 

because when you come through that door you are loved."

Self confidence was given to me daily from that one sentence.

I believe it is a large part of why I am the confident person I am today.

So Daddy's you have an important job,

Show your children, especially your girls, their worth,

every day. Show them the worth of their mother and that

a family needs every part to be happy and healthy.

Thanks for reading my long thoughts this am.

I treasure all of you who follow me!