THIS DAY...

 THIS DAY REMAINS WITH PEOPLE PICKING UP THE PIECES

IDA LEFT BEHIND.

TODAY IS ALSO ONE OF THE DAYS MY GRAND GIRLS WILL

NEVER FORGET AS THEY LAY TO REST ONE OF THEIR

OWN DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAS FAUGHT THE BRAVE FIGHT

AGAINST DIPG, A TERRIBLE BRAIN CANCER.

BEING FROM A SMALL TOWN AND A SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOL,

YOU KNOW ALL YOUR PEERS, AND ALL YOUR SISTERS FRIENDS.

THIS SWEET GIRL WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF OUR JOLEE.

ALL OF US, AND EVEN MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE

COME TOGETHER TO HELP, PRAY FOR THIS SWEET GIRL

AND HER FAMILY.

I CANT EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING

AS THE LOSS OF A CHILD IS JUST HARD TO UNDERSTAND

AT ANY AGE. THIS LITTLE GIRLS LIFE WAS FULL OF PURPOSE.

WHEN SHE WAS HEALTHY AND WHEN SHE WAS SICK.

SHE WILL HAVE HELPED OTHERS WHO WILL SUFFER

WITH THIS DREADED CHILDHOOD CANCER IN THE FUTURE.

HER 4 PARENTS AND EXTENDED FAMILY SHOWED SUCH

BRAVERY AS THEY FACED THIS DISEASE AS WE

ALL WATCHED IN AWE. OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED

SUCH COMPASSION, RAISED FUNDS, DONATED TIME AND

RESOURCES SO THESE PARENTS COULD BE WITH THEIR LITTLE

GIRL THROUGHOUT HER BATTLE. HER PERSONAL 

FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF ONE

SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL.. SHE HAS PLAYED A PART IN ALL

OF OUR LIVES AND HEARTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO

AS SHE GOES ON WITHOUT US TO A PLACE WITHOUT PAIN

OR SUFFERING. 

SO TODAY, AS YOU WAKE AND DRINK YOUR COFFEE, READ THE

PAGES OF IDA, CLEAN UP AFTER IDA, HELP YOUR FELLOW

MAN, DO IT IN THE NAME OF KYNLEE BEUCHE.

MY GRAND GIRLS, ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS WILL

JOIN WITH THIER SCHOOL FRIENDS TO LEARN A LESSON

THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT EXPERIENCES BEFORE.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE 

TO BURY SOMEONE YOU LOVE AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE

BUT IT IS PART OF LIFE AND WE ALL HAVE TO FIND SOME

TYPE OF PEACE WITH IT ALL.

I OFTEN SAY, WHEN HAVING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS HARD.

"IF YOU THINK ITS HARD FOR YOU, JUST REMEMBER HOW HARD

IT MUST BE THEM"

THERE IS SO LITTLE WE CAN DO TO COMFORT THE FAMILY 

OF THIS SWEET CHILD BUT I DO BELIEVE, AS HARD AS

THIS DAY WILL BE FOR THEM ALL, ESPECIALLY HER

PARENTS THEY WILL GAIN COMFORT IN SEEING A CHURCH

FILLED WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED, WATCHED AND

LOVED THEM THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE THEIR LIFE

HAD BECOME.

THANK YOU TO HER FAMILY WHO SHARED HER AND HER

STORY WITH ALL OF US THROUGH CARINGBRIDGE,

ALWAYS UPDATING US ON THE HAPPENINGS OF KYN.

NOW SHE SHALL REST IN PEACE AND HER FAMILY

WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GO ON WITHOUT HER UNTIL

THEY CAN BE TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN.

NOT AN EASY TASK.

KYN, FLY HIGH SWEET GIRL AND LET YOUR ETERNAL LIGHT

SHINE UPON ALL THOSE WHO LOVE YOU.

IDA WILL NOT TAKE AWAY PRIDE.

 It has been very hard for me to concentrate on blogging

or do anything, really with the aftermath of Ida becoming

just a little more evident with each passing hour.

My hometowns, Golden Meadow, Galliano, Cut Off, Larose,

and all the other surrounding towns are devastated with very

few homes not damaged from this Category 4 storm.

My whole life I have heard, 

"One big storm and our bayou will be gone"

We all sat on edge as we realized this was the perfect storm,

the one that could cause this catastrophe some of my

family came to Plaquemine, others were spread over a

few states. My besties had to evacuate as well.

We bunkered down... and She came through...

She tried, with all her might to end the life we knew...

but she could not do it.

There is too much pride, to much love for our towns,

before and after, people began to come together to help 

their fellow neighbors, friends and strangers.

My besties, both with devastation to their personal homes

have survived and will rebuild and continue to live on our bayous.

This blog speaks of the type of people who have surrounded

the first 40 years of my life.

Now I want to speak of the four people I call my children.

My son, his wife, my daughter, her wife...

Amazingly proud I am of these 4 humans.

Jesi and Del evacuated here as they were getting ready to 

move to NOLA for a career change.

Roddie was home from offshore and Katie was on call.

Before the storm Jesi and Del cooked and began picking up my yard.

Roddie although he knew they were here to do that,

still came to assure my things were picked up properly.

After.... all 4 of these children not only were here

if we needed anything, but Katie a hospice nurse, 

went right back to work to help her patients through

this difficult time. Roddie headed to our bayou with two 

of the grandgirls to see what could be done.

Jesi and Del heard of all the help that was needed and

made their way to the bayou to help one of the besties

get their house in order so they can come home.

It is a true testament of "you did something right" 

when you see your own children coming up to the plate

to aid their childhood stomping grounds.

Jesi and Del remain down there and will stay until 

either they are not needed or their restaurant opens up.

Roddie will be going down there every day to help where he can.

Katie has been working daily to make sure her own hometowns 

have the assistance they need as well as her parents.

IDA cannot, will not wash away pride.

Pride for what we work so hard for,

Pride for our communities,

Pride for those we love.

For me, in my little but vast world,

My Pride has brought me to tears more than once through this.

To see my children, their spouses do all they can for those 

less fortunate than themselves, well I am beaming with pride.

I had to call their Daddy yesterday to brag with him

as he would be the one who understands what it means to us

that we have made mistakes along the way of raising these two children

and they will make mistakes as well, but in the end, when most of

our parenting duties are done, we cans sit back and say,

"WE DID SOMETHING RIGHT"

I did not write the end of this story, the sentence I am about to share,

yet I have used it over and over since it was read to me:

IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT BEING AN AMERICAN LOOKS LIKE,

WATCH THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH LOUISIANA IN THE NEXT 

COMING MONTHS.

A to the MEN!

Antique seatbelt still popular today.

Being a child of the 60's seatbelts were not a thing.

They were there, of course but no one used them.

Raised in small towns with two roads and a bayou between them,

we were taught that a seatbelt and electric windows would 

cause us to drown if we went into the bayou, and lots

of people went into the bayou in my day.

Hence came the "antique seatbelt"

We all know of it, it is released at any sign of danger 

or fast breaking for anything,

the old right arm and hand outstretched to the 

front passenger by the driver.

Often my parent or a driving family member has used

this type of seatbelt on myself as I have also done.

Monday, driving home from Baton Rouge, the 

car in the front of me had no breaks so I found

myself putting out the antique seatbelt, even though

the passengers seat was empty. 

Which got my nostalgic mind thinking the way it does.

What a sign of love this is to the people we love.

A hug is a necessary thing for all of us, whether we 

believe it or not. Covid has been hard for me because

hugs and close contact are not warranted right now.

So I was thinking about all the outstretched arm seatbelts

we have gotten or given over the course of our lifetimes.

As I pondered this thought I realized that this procedure

would not really protect the person sitting to our right,

but we still extend it. 

It is a way of not using words to say,

"I care what happens to you, I love you, I will protect you 

in any way I can..... I got you"

what a comfort to know that even in a world where not

many want to discuss feelings, this unspoken task

is one that is spoken world wide.

Share what this outstretched arm, this antique seatbelt means

to you whenever you extend it to someone you love.

Who knows, it may be just what they need to hear at any moment,

" I GOT YOU"

love to you all.

IN A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW...

IN ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW...

IT WON'T MATTER

WHAT KIND OF CAR I DROVE

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE I LIVED IN

HOW MUCH MONEY I HAD IN THE BANK

NOT WHAT MY CLOTHES LOOKED LIKE

BUT THAT

THE WORLD MAY BE A LITTLE BETTER

BECAUSE I WAS IMPORTANT 

IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD. 

                                                             forest witcraft

One of my favorite things about school nursing

was the daily interaction with children.

I loved their spunkiness, their tenacity,

their willingness to always see the good in the world.

As my children grew up and was finding their own way

I had over 1,000 children to influence daily,

to act childish with, to show them that even adults 

did not have to grow up completely.

When I had to retire from nursing, a career I loved

and a job I thrived on, this was the one thing I knew

I probably could not live without.

Thankfully I had the grand girls that helped tremendously

as their little minds were fresh and I could instill these 

same qualities I shared with other people's children.

I often say, I am not the quantity type of grandparent,

more the quality type. Because I am now an artist

with a growing business, I don't have endless time to spend 

with my GrandGirls but when they are with me, we

spend our time doing things. At any given time you can find us

baking, crafting, board games, pillow fights, etc.

But mostly we spend lots of time talking.

Talking about their lives, things that scare them,

things they worry about, their friends, my own fears....

just life talk and they know here at the Cottage,

even though I am not always a push over, you 

will never get in trouble for telling the truth, no

matter what that might be.

This Friday I had our sweet Jolee over for the night

as they take turns coming sleep on that week night.

As I was fixing supper, she came to me and said

she wanted to use the bathroom but could not close the door...

"Can't close the door?" I thought.

Maybe one of the drawers was opened a bit and 

was stopping the door from closing? 

Whatever the reason, I walked with her to the bathroom

and could clearly see there was no obstruction.

I looked at her quizzically and she said,

"I was playing a joke on you, did I trick you?"

I guess I still looked confused as she then stared to cry.

"What is wrong JoJO?" I asked...

then she innocently said, 

" I came to use the bathroom and thought of 

the doll Annabelle that came to life and it scared me

but I didn't want you to be mad at me"

There are times that I am stubborn with them on the fact

that they sometimes need to toughen up when it comes

to bugs, germs and yes, even a Cottage in the night.

But this was true fear that caused this little one to seek me out.

I calmly comforted her, told her if she is frightened then

she is frightened and it 's okay to tell me, I sat in the library

while she did her business with the bathroom door opened

and we went on with our night never to discuss it again.

Yet it has not left my mind that this sweet 7 year old child

was able to honestly tell me what was bothering her.

I strive to give them meaningful days with me that

they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Which also brings me to other children in my life.

Since the GrandGirls take up a lot of my free time

I don't spend as much time as I once did with my great, great

nieces and nephews. However I am so blessed

to live in a neighborhood where their are children that I 

love sharing in their lives. 

My little Emma, just a stone's throw

from my kitchen door has a piece of me. On any given morning, 

I can hear the door bell ring and know it may be Emma.

Often she comes in the morning just for a hug or a snack.

I try and teach her something each time and I always, always

hug and I tell her "I love you".

She now will repeat it back to me most days.

I want Emma to have memories of growing up as my 

neighbor. If I bake, Emma gets to enjoy that.

If I buy snacks, I think of what Emma might like

and try to keep some of her favorites in the Cottage.

Recently I have gotten very close to my newest neighbors,

Ash and her little family, her three children being close

to the ages of the GrandGirls.

Yesterday as JoJo and I planned our day filled with art projects,

we called two of Ash's children to come and play.

When I tell you these children are like sponges, soaking up

everything I was to teach them that day, it is not an understatement.

I taught them about resin, what it is, about the chemical mixture

that makes them like a scientist, the proper way to mix it, etc.

I taught them how to use my old school die cutting machine

and they ate lunch with us as well.

They were so well behaved, expressed more than once

how much fun they were having and was not ready to 

go home when the time came.

I share this with my readers not in a way that I mean to brag,

nor for the pat on the back.

I get as much out of this as the children do and as many people

say when speaking of children,

"These are the best because I can send them home when I have enough".

I adore children but I also adore my time for myself.

Balancing my life is not always an easy task and I often worry

about what part of me am I not sharing enough of.

I try to live by the poem that starts this blog because

it is important to me that I share the gift the Big Man gave me,

the gift of gab, the gift of sharing myself with others,

and to make a difference in the life of a child.

If you are also blessed with this gift, share it.

and give them memories that will stay with them forever.

"WHEN THIS YOU SEE, THINK OF ME"

BIRTHDAY REFLECTION... MINE AND HIS

Another birthday come and gone,

one for me and today for my son.

I talk about it so much, how getting older

just speeds up all things and it almost seems surreal sometimes.

The birthdays that seemed to take forever to get here

when you were awaiting a new bike or another gift you dreamed of.

Then with each passing year, it goes a little bit faster less of

something you look forward to.

while I am a firm believer in age being merely a number,

I still stand in awe of the process of growing old.

gone are the desires of a new car, a bigger house,

the newest gadget.

Replaced by the things that you know bring you joy,

your adult children, your grandchildren, your daughter in laws.

I have become so content with who I am and what I stand for.

I no longer have to stand on my soap box the get my point across

yet, I still do sometimes... Only now I know when it's time to step down

and I can let more go because simplicity is what I seem to want.

When my Dad died at 63, I was 20.

Not even today's legal age.

I remember thinking he is old, he had a good life.

This year I have become so aware of the fact that he was too young.

Too young because I think in 4 more years i don't think I will be ready

to hang up my life.

How does the song go?

"EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO GO NOW"

Yeah, that could be my mantra.

Having found the below quote I find myself repeating the last sentence

quite often these days,

"Things are of quality, not quantity"

Peace is what I want and I will not settle for less even if it means

having to have the difficult talk with a child 

or distancing myself from some.

It does not mean I love them any less, for me,

it merely means I am realizing just how short life is

and I have no time for stuffing things that make me bitter inside.

I am a true romantic, wanting to always try and see the good in all

but closing the circle of people around me to be a tighter bunch.

Now for the aspect of my having a Son who turns 36 today...

How can that be possible? Did I have him when I was 10????

How come when I look at him I still see the little boy

who consumed my 20's and 30's along with his sister?

He makes me so proud and remains one of the best birthday 

presents I have ever received. 

He can be a tad sassy sometimes but always helpful whenever he can be.

Having the very rare last name of Riera, given to us by his Father

gives me pride as well. When our small towns see this name

they know we belong together, that they are my people.

He is a balance of both his parents and the mere fact that

I have him is never seen as nothing less than a miracle.

When I watch him with his little girls, I melt a bit.

He is one of the best Fathers and providers I know as

he balances a work ethic, being a good husband and a dad, 

providing for his family, but still finding time to enjoy his life.

He and his sister remain the two best things I have ever 

accomplished in my life.

I am so very grateful that I had the chance to be a Mother to them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RODDIE JOHN.

As the Dixie Chicks sing"

...MY LOVE WILL FLY TO YOU EACH NIGHT ON 

ANGEL'S WINGS, GODSPEED LITTLE MAN, GODSPEED..."

 

QUE' SERA, SERA...

 WHEN I WAS JUST A LTTLE GIRL, I ASKED MY MUMSIE,

WHAT SHALL I BE?

SHALL I BE PRETTY, SHALL I BE RICH?

HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID TO ME

QUE' SERA, SERA,

WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE,

THE FUTURE'S NOT OUR TO SEE, 

QUE' SERA, SERA...

I have sang this song most of my life, way before

the word Mother was changed to Mumsie.

My momma sang it to me, I sang it to my children.

Then the GrandGirls came along and changing 

the word Mother to Mumsie became a hit with them.

I have and still sing this to them every night they sleep

at the Cottage. 

I have taught Jilly how to play it on the piano and

many times when she plays it, I can hear all three of them

singing it surrounding her at my red piano.

I don't think they have any clue that "Mumsie" in the

song is not accurate, that I changed it.

It makes my heart happy each time we sing or make

reference to the song.

Yesterday the three of them came to the cottage

to work on their Daddy's birthday gift.

While here, we were playing Tenzi's

(if you have not heard of this dice game, look it up, it fun for all ages)

they decided they wanted to give me a massage like at a spa.

Well I was all for that, as I laid down on the round chair 

in the library, I could hear them discussing low music 

to sing like when getting a real massage.

As I felt their small hands on my head, back and 

shoulders I closed my eyes and they began to sing...

"When i was young, I asked my Mumsie..."

out of all the songs they knew it is this one they chose to sing.

I barely could get my phone on record before they finished

but I did get this little snippet of their sweet voices:

"BE STILL, MY HEART"

As I realize, this song is engrained 

in their heart as a memory.

For the rest of their lives they will sing this song,

bringing back memories of me and the cottage.

If really lucky, they will always believe

that the word Mother was never a part of 

the song sang so many times.

 

HISTORY OF AN ARTIST

 Yesterday, a new client I am working with who lives in Ohio

asked me how I got started in this art business of Home Portraits.

I have been asked and told the story many times and maybe

have even posted it here somewhere, but its a good story to tell

and I want it here for prosperity's sake.

THREE YEARS AGO, THIS AUGUST, I WAS MAKING 

A LITTLE MONEY SELLING MY CRAFTS.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CRAFTY AND THOUGHT OF 

IT AS A HOBBY THAT COULD BRING ME IN A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS.

YET, I ALSO FELT LIKE I WAS TO DO MORE WITH THIS

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH IT.

AS A CHILD, HAVING HAD CANCER, I COULD NOT DO A LOT

OF SPORTS AND THINGS MY FRIENDS WERE DOING SO 

MY PARENTS PUT ME IN ART LESSONS WITH GODLYN SERIGNY.

EVERY SATURDAY, MY DAD WOULD DRIVE ME TO HER LITTLE HOME

FOR A FEW HOURS OF PAINTING LESSONS.

I LOVED THE SMELL OF LINDSEED OIL AND PAINT AND 

IF I SMELL IT NOW, I AM TRANSPORTED BACK TO HER HOME.

I DID PAINTING LESSONS WITH MRS. GODLYN FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS

BUT THEN BECAME A TEENAGER AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT 

ANYMORE AND ALTHOUG I WOULD PICK UP A PAINT BRUSH EVERY

ONCE IN A WHILE, I DIDN'T DO MUCH OF IT AS I GREW UP TO

BECOME A NURSE, WIFE AND MOTHER.

THEN CAME A DIVORCE, AN EARLY RETIREMENT FROM NURSING

AND GROWN CHILDREN AND I KNEW I WANTED TO DO MORE

WITH MY LIFE BUT WAS NOT SURE JUST WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.

IN MY MOM'S LAST FEW MONTHS OF HER LIFE,

SHE BOUGHT MYSELF AND MY 6 SIBLINGS A BEAUTIFUL ROSARY

THAT WAS HANDMADE TO THANKS US FOR TAKING CARE OF HER.

MY SIBLINGS AND I  OFTEN PRAY ON THIS ROSARY WE

CALL THE "MOMMA ROSARY" AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY

WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING WE NEED TO PRAY ABOUT OR FOR.

SO ONE NIGHT BACK THREE YEARS AGO IN AUGUST,

I SAID A MOMMA ROSARY TO HELP LEAD ME TO WHERE AND WHAT

I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

THE VERY NEXT MORNING I FELT CALLED NOT TO PAINT MY COTTAGE

BUT TO PAINT MY NEIGHBOR, RHETT'S HOME.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HIS HOME AND HAD IT BEEN FOR SALE WHEN

I WAS READY TO BUY I POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THAT ONE.

I TEXTED RHETT TO ASK IF I COULD PAINT HIS HOME.

HIS FIRST REACTION WAS "MY HOUSE IS BRICK"

I CLARIFIED THAT I WANT TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF HIS HOME.

"OHHHHH, YEAH GO FOR IT" WAS HIS RESPONSE.

THEN MY MIND JUST TOOK OFF I FOUND AN OLD CERAMIC FLOOR TILE

AND AN OLD NEWSPAPER FROM THE 1800'S, PUT THOSE 

TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND BEGAN TO SKETCH AND PAINT HIS HOME.

I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW WHAT I HAD CREATED.

I NOT ONLY DID NOT KNOW THAT I COULD PAINT LIKE THIS

BUT I ALSO COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD DONE THIS PIECE.

I SENT A PHOTO OF THE PAINTING TO RHETT AND RIGHT

AWAY HE WANTED TO BUY IT, FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK AND SINCE THAT DAY, I HAVE NOT RUN

OUT OF CLIENTS AND ORDERS TO PAINT HOME PORTRAITS.

THAT'S MY STORY, A TRUE GIFT FROM GOD.

THANKS TO ALL WHO TRUST ME WITH THEIR HOME PORTRAITS.