Facing the changes of getting older

Growing older, it's a strange thing.

For instance, when did I become 57 and why did I not know this?

Why does my body understand this and yet the mind feels much younger?

Ages have never really bothered me...

until recently.

It's small things that get me in the gut when I am not looking.

Like how can I have two children in their 30's?

How can my oldest grand girl be 10?

(or like I tell her, at the Cottage, no double digits she just had her 

first anniversary of her 9th birthday)

Why is my hair volume growing smaller but my nose gets bigger?

Why do I awake energized but when I try and get out of bed the body resists?

Why do I love my own company more as each day passes but

I long to see old friends, sit and visit with those said friends over coffee?

Why, do I awaken before the sun rises and want my Pj's and bed before 

that said sun goes down?

Why does the image in my head of my facial features not match

the view I see in the mirror?

Wrinkles are a strange thing as well.

Although I don't fret over that much, why when I put on makeup

to cover imperfections do more wrinkles exist?

But the one thing that seems to be the biggest challenge with getting older

is not the number the birth certificate says but the way

my mind tries to figure how much longer I have on this God given Earth.

"Will I still be here when the grandgirls are adults?"

"Will my children visit me as I get old and frail?"

"What is after this life and why do I fear the unknown of that afterlife?"

I can add questions probably daily but overall,

If i had to be honest, it's a pretty sweet life I lead.

Yes, the body is not what it used to be but the mind remains.

I am as content with how my life is turning out as I am with the

changes that come with age.

It's a good life and a peaceful life no matter what face stares back 

at me in the mirror.

A blogger I am....

 A blogger I am, and yet I have not been blogging as much as I should

nor getting my words out there for more to see.

So today, I press on trying to once again blog at least weekly

and to get as many subscribers as I can.

So this morning, let me REINTRODUCE my blog.

lilbitofmumsiesworld.blogspot.com

Is the name of this blog, my old one,

lilbitofmyworld.blogspot.com

is still out there in cyber- world and is jam packed

with writings that I began in 2008.

I am a divorced mother of two adult children,

Roddie and Jesi Riera.

I have two daughter in-laws, Katie and Delainy

and three wonderful grandgirls who call themselves the triple J's.

I live in a cute cottage in the Garden District of Plaquemine

that most know by Mumsie's Cottage...

How did it get its name you ask? (I am sure you asked that)

When my oldest grandgirl was 3 and I had just decided to buy the Cottage,

I took her to ride and view my find.

She was very much into nursery rhymes back then and as we 

drove up she exclaimed,

"Mumsie, it is just like the cottage on Goldilocks and the three Bears!"

and the name stuck. It is now the name of my art business as well

Mumsie's Cottage specializes on home portraits painted on slate and

old music sheets. The story of that I will write again here soon.

I am very blessed to have painted over 160 homes and have over 70 

clients waiting patiently for their own homes to be painted.

I was a nurse for 30 years and retired in 2014 due to medical complications

cause by radiation I received in 1968 for cancer.

Yep, I am also a childhood cancer survivor from back in the day

before MRI's, Ct scans and  protecting normal body areas from radiation.

No bitterness about being a survivor however, I know that every day I awaken

and am able to do the things I love is another day I am grateful for.

Also working on a book about the life I have lived and stories from

my battle of cancer as a child.

In a nutshell this is me, Lilly, Momma, Mumsie.

Stay tuned for more interesting topics....

Follow with me on this journey called life by 

subscribing to this blog.

Thanks so much to you all!

BE bold

LAST NIGHT I HAD THE STRANGEST DREAM...

Well, it was last night but i was awake.

i was having trouble reading something

so I decided to look for the bold button.

yep, the bold button in my mind.

Crazy how thoughts hit us and how much

computers and the digital age are molded 

into our daily lives. that a thought such as

making my brain be able to see things in 

dark print would be as easy as pressing that bold button

on the screen.

This got me thinking about bold in another sense o

of the word. Such as being bold in life.

how much easier it is to press the bold button 

on a keyboard than it is to stand tall and be bold 

in todays world. I consider myself to be a fairly

fair person and it takes quite a bit to get me angry

yet when being pushed to far, I will speak out for myself.

there are still those cases, however, when I 

don't feel bold, when I feel that going with the flow

is easier than standing up for what is right

or best for myself. last night I had to press

that bold button in my mind, in my heart.

as i did this I realized, in this instance I needed

to stand up for myself and not allow a situation

continue by being quiet, being passive.

I am not a procrastinator in most areas of my life.

when I am it is usually because I am not being bold.

there is so much in life to be happy about

and when a situation finds you more unhappy than happy 

it is time to be bold and walk away.

It's a hard thing to be bold and yet we all need

to press that button in our minds 

at times.

I was speeding...

 Yep, I was speeding.

First one since I was 18.

It was in St. Gabriel, an area I pass quite often.

The difference this day was my sister, C was with me

and we were talking....

What, me talking?? yep...

As I said I pass this area quite often but not at this time of day.

I never noticed the flashing yellow lights that marked

a school zone. I did notice the officer come out from behind the

tree with his radar in hand flagging me down.

he stated "Going 44 in a 25" had me turn around and

I heard him call in my license plate number.

C said, "Oh he won't give you a ticket"

His nonsense approach told me otherwise.

I was just realizing it was a school zone ticket.

How could I have missed that?

I deserved the ticket, I was speeding and I take school zones seriously

having been a school nurse for a quarter of my 30 years in nursing.

I appreciated this officer, he didn't give me any sass,

didn't give me any leeway to talk myself out of the ticket.

As he came back with my ticket, I apologized and he kindly said

probably after finding out I was not a fugitive or had a warrant

for my arrest, "We all make mistakes, Just be careful."

As I pulled out C wondered, " Can you get it fixed?"

NO, I had decided I was not going to get it fixed.

I was speeding and I had a lesson to learn. 

I was going to pay the ticket.

I waited about a week and called the St. Gabriel Police Dept.

The kind woman did not ask for a ticket number,

only asked, "What was the speed limit and how fast were you going?"

44 in a 25, was my answer.

"$170 and make sure you send a money order."

Okay, not only was I going to pay the ticket but I would

be forced out of my comfort zone to  buy a money order.

No check would do. I purchased the money order,

and it sat at my desk along with the ticket for a few days.

By this time, I wondered how long I could sit with a ticket

before they would arrest me.

I real criminal I am not, the real things don't worry about 

arrest warrants...

On with the story.

My court date was coming up, better mail this thing.

As I sat down with ticket and payment in hand I thought

of the purpose of speeding tickets.

In my case, it worked. I knew I would be more careful

around school zones and in general when regards to speeding.

I wondered if one of the reasons, besides some writing bad checks,

having you send a money order was, in fact, to get me out of

my comfort zone, to have me think of what I had done.

With these thoughts in hand I decided, I needed to make the officer

a thank you card. Yep, A 'Mumsie's Cottage' original

complete with a long love letter on the inside.

Finally the ticket was in the mail and I could put the

whole ordeal behind me. 

Even with that, I know I will never receive another 

speeding ticket in a school zone.

BE Kind...

One thing some may not know about me is

every January, I find a word, one word that I want to focus on

for the year. Although I started my 2021 in the hospital 

with Covid, I still picked my word...

BE

Yep, that is it, Be.

For me the word BE can be a complete sentence.

It's meaning, to slow down and take it all in,

Just Be.

Just like my reasoning for picking the word,

I try to find things that allow me to just 

be in the moment, enjoy the quiet, the time

as it is, right then, right now.

Covid stopped visits for me and hugs, and kisses

yet it has not changed me.

A few weeks ago I was able to resume coffees at the cottage

with dear friends and I was reminded of just

how much we have missed in this year.

I was present in the moment, listening to my good friends,

catching up on happenings of the year.

I allowed myself to enjoy the moment, to 

get off the chair in my studio, to wash the paintbrushes for

a few hours and just 

Be.

I would like to say we all benefitted from this

but I know, just one year taken from me, as I get older is a big deal.

Today, Jolee and I will visit my big sister in Larose nursing home.

She is 23 years older than me and not as healthy as we wish.

To have had a year where the only way us siblings could

visit is at a window where we could hardly hear let alone hug.

Today we will hug her and we will kiss her and I may 

just shed a few tears that we all made it out of this year still intact.

We will shower her with love and kindness that she has

not been able to have from us for a year.

I strive to BE kind, even on my worst days.

Not only to those I love but to complete strangers.

I don't always succeed. Sometimes I don't have the conversation

with the cashier at my favorite grocery store,

I don't greet a good morning to the ferry workers that

tirelessly tow us from one bank to the other.

Yet, when I remember these things, when I do them even when

I am not having the best day, I BEnefit...

There is that word again, BE.

Yes, it does matter, that word nice.

Many times in my children's lives I would point to this sign

when they would fight or have an attitude with me.

Did I still scream at them? Of Course

Did they talk back to me? At times

but the main vibe in the home was....

BECAUSE NICE MATTERS (BE again?)

and I finish up with saying, 

Be kind to all not just those you love dearly.

Even the most hard and cold person will

bend a little with a smile and kind gesture.

BECAUSE NICE MATTERS

 

Home portraits, not just a painting.

One day a few months ago, I heard

Jemma tell one of her friends,

"See that lady? She is my Mumsie and she is a famous artist"

It made me laugh as famous I am not,

but it was in hearing that statement that had me realize

I am an artist.

I am a mixed media artist.

After having now, over the last two and a half years,

painted over 150 homes I still love what I do.

It is a passion and every new project, every new client

excites me. The people I meet, the stories I hear,

the lifetime friends I have met are part of the bonus for me.

Some question what a mixed media artist is,

in knowing this let me explain a few things.

One client expressed, "Working with you is not just a painting,

it's an experience" I could not have said it better.

From the time an order comes up, my thoughts and prayers 

while painting is for that family. Slate is my canvas, old music

part of my media. I begin to scan through all the old music I have

to find the perfect title to go with the history and stories 

that the client tells me about. I ask lots of questions during the sketching phase.

I know when I have found the perfect music sheets.

I just feel it somewhere in my soul and have had many encounters

that have me believing there is more to life than what we live on this Earth.

There is also a special paper I choose to add to every painting even if it

is just a small piece. Here is the story behind that:

A few years ago, Randy and I went to an estate sale and I found a 

gallon ziplock filled with old papers and a pad of ecru paper that looked as

though it was embossed with braille. I bought it for two dollars and took it

home knowing somehow, that what I had purchased had far greater worth

than the price tag said. when I returned home I found a newspaper article

explaining how A musician had a blind son and wanted that son to play

his music. He had his pieces set into musical braille and that was the tablet

that was in the bag!

What a wonderful find for a mixed media artist!

Once I lay my papers onto slate, the painting process begins.

I always get so excited when adding that first brush stroke

and have never tired from any painting.

After the painting is done, having shared many text conversations

with my client it is time for the "extra's"

Finding the pieces I will use to tell the story of the home.

Last names, what letters to use, what extra pieces to add,

it's all part of the process. I always like to add an "established" date.

Sometime I will use the year the home was built, other times,

the year the home was purchased. My favorite date to use

when I am painting for a family is the year they were married.

As I explain, when a family begins, it is not the year they

bought a particular home but the year they said "I do" to each other.

This date is one they naively began a life together, finding that

being a family starts on that day. This date is to remember all the good times

along with the hard times that have found them still together,

with children and pets added along the years.

I love using this date to show the hard work of a marriage/relationship.

Sometimes I use all three as in the case of my last painting done for

Charley and Keith.

I find ephemera in my vast collection that tells an individual story

of who these clients are.

Lastly, behind each painting I add my logo as well as a "love note"

from myself to that client/ friend from Mumsie.

This is a brief explanation of what a mixed media artist is.

I use many textures and pieces to make each painting unique,

telling a story of memories for that family.

Only once did I forget to add a love note and in doing so, realized

just how important this touch is.

When Jill, a returning client, got her family piece she expressed she and

her family's joy over it but that her husband was looking forward to 

the  "love note". I could not believe I had forgotten that important piece

of my work. I mailed a handwritten love not to them so they could

add it to the back of their slate. Jill texted me when receiving it,

explaining how they did not expect it and how happy it made her 

dear Hubby, Matt. they have added it to the back of their slate.

Although, I could not believe I had forgotten this touch

it was necessary for me to see just how important it was.

This is my explanation of what a mixed media artist is.

I hope each client, after receiving their piece has this feeling,

"IT'S NOT JUST A PAINTING, ITS AN EXPERIENCE"

Parenting vs. Grandparenting

Parenting Vs. Grand Parenting

One of my very good friends, Tina posted a wonderful post

just reflecting on her thoughts on the above topic.

She brought out such good points recognizing many 

differences she has seen and felt in her heart.

Tina and her hubby were great parents. 

I know this because their son is the epitome of

what a good Husband and Father should be.

A hard worker, just like his parents.

Her facebook message of reflection had me 

agreeing with so much she said.

I just had to share my thoughts on this subject.

Here is the paragraph I commented under her post.

 I Love your reflection and we tend to think with the same mind and heart. 

I have many times had to same perspective.

 I now believe, it is why so many say what they do about becoming a grandparent. 

As parents, we just cannot love the same as we do the next generation. 

We have too many responsibilities at that age for them, ourselves and our families.

 So I try not to regret the things I was unable to do 

for my children when compared to the grand girls.

 Yesterday, however my daughter called me and just in conversation

 she brought up how she feels we all need mental health days. 

She reminisced how much she always loved her birthday

 because on that day I always took off work 

and let her skip school to go on an adventure. 

I beamed inside. A wonderful memory for both of us.

 Yes my grandgirls, I hope will have many more memories and traditions

 surrounding Mumsie and the Cottage, but I didn't do so bad as a Momma. 

You and Tony did a wonderful job with your son.

 Just look at how he and his wife parent their babies.

 They learned it somewhere.....Hmmm thanks Tina, for the beautiful writing,

 it has sparked me to write a blog entry. Love you girl! 

It has been a great way to start my day.