Five Minute Friday - Song

I ducked out of doing the five minute friday last week.  Just wasn't feeling it, but I'm back at this week, albeit feeling a little shy about it.  My mom mentioned to me this week that she had read my blog and I felt, well, shy.  Like I was more comfortable for strangers to read my stuff.  Weird huh.  Especially weird because she is truly my biggest cheerleader, always so incredibly supportive, and just all and all amazing.

So,....yeah.  :)

This week's theme is "Song".  Remember how it goes -- no over-thinking, no backtracking, no editing, write for five minutes.  If you want to play along head on over to Lisa-Jo Baker's blog and give it a go:

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Have you heard that song "Brave" sung by Sara B. (yes, that means I can't remember her last name).  It is awesome.  Such an empowering message about what would happen if you were honest and brave.  I could listen to it over and over again.

And what a great message for our young kiddos to hear especially the ones who would be more apt to keep quiet and avoid their own voice.  It makes me feel more powerful, more confident.

It reminds me of a painter that I have recently found.  Her name is Karrie E. (yes, again) and she used to have a program called Karrie on Canvas.  She is an abstract painter and she does tutorials in a really fun and fresh way.  I'm going to take a stab at one this weekend (now that my brushes have arrived - woohoo).  Her mantra is Be bold and brave.  I love this.  She is a mom but is also this sassy wild woman, full of colour and energy.  Love her.  Another great inspiration.

Karrie Evanson's "Best Friends"

Where do you find inspiration? Anything interesting or compelling lately? Would love to hear about it.

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Have a great weekend!

Andy and The Stinky, Smelly, Poopy, Putrid, Reeking, Rotten Day

This is a short story for the kiddos.  It is silly and foul and dedicated to Emma and Carter who have been oh so patient while I do other things.  If you have little ones at home that might like this story, I would love it if they drew some pictures to go with it.  If anyone does, please send them to me and I'll be sure to post them here and on Facebook.

Andy and the Stinky, Smelly, Poopy, Putrid, Reeking, Rotten Day

As Andy turned the corner, he crashed right into the foulest smell. “Oh man, what stinks?!” he grimaced with nose all wrinkled up. Julia whipped around quickly with nasty eyes that made Andy feel frightened. Just behind her he could see her cat, poor old Elvis,  throwing up. Whew – did it ever stink.  Andy tried to move quickly to his desk area to get away from the smell but it wasn’t working. He could feel his stomach turning. Ewwwwwww.  Before he could stop it, Andy was throwing up too. Again and again and again. He could hardly stop. Every time he thought he was okay, he would breathe in the pungent smell of Elvis’ puke and vomit again. Poor Andy. He felt terrible.  He had to get out of there.

Holding his stomach with one hand and his nose with the other, he ran out into the parking lot to get some fresh air. Whew. That’s a little better he thought, maybe I’ll go get something to eat, that will probably make me feel better.

People were always amazed that Andy could eat at any time. He really liked to eat. He liked to eat a big breakfast to get his day started off right. Then he liked to eat a snack in the morning so his tummy wouldn’t be rumbly. Another little snack before lunch, lunch of course, afternoon snack,…it really went on and on. Andy was an eating machine and right now he was amazingly enough, hungry.

He stood up straight and took a very deep breath just to make sure he felt okay. Wowee! “What is that smell?!” he gagged.  Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. The sewage treatment center across the street was letting out the stinkiest stench that he had ever smelled. It was much worse than the cat puke. Andy tried not to think about it, but before he could stop it, he was throwing up again. Again and again and again. He could hardly stop it. Poor Andy. He had to get out of there.

Wearing a very pale face, Andy ran around behind his work building so he could enter through the back door. He was feeling weak and had to slow and then stop for just a second to rest. When Andy stopped, he could smell something poopy. Sniff, sniff, sniff,….ewwwwwwwwwww,…he could smell dog poo. Slowly, carefully, he lifted his right shoe so he could see the bottom. Nope, nothing there. Even more slowly, more carefully, he lifted his left shoe so he could see the bottom. Ewwwwwwwww,…that was dog poo all right. Quickly Andy tried to scrape off the poo from the bottom of his left shoe by dragging it along the cement curb. The more he scraped, the more the poop smell dashed up to his nose. Andy tried to just keep breathing out so he wouldn’t smell the poop, but before he could stop it, he was throwing up again. Again and again and again. Wow did he need to find some fresh air, somewhere. 

Quickly, ever so quickly, Andy sprinted to the supervisor’s office out back. Up the stairs, two by two until he burst from the hallway into the large, fresh smelling office. Well it wasn’t really all that fresh smelling, but it didn’t smell like cat puke or sewage or dog poo. Andy was so relieved.

He flopped into the Supervisor’s chair and closed his eyes, breathing in the not smelly air. In and out, in and out. Okay, he was starting to feel better. And still feeling hungry. “Hmmm,…I wonder if Bob has any leftovers in his desk here,” Andy mumbled as he searched through the drawers. “What is this?” he wondered as he reached in and touched something soft and fuzzy. Maybe it’s a peach he thought. Oooh, he hoped so. Andy loved peaches. He loved how they tasted and he loved how they smelled. Swiftly Andy pulled out the peach and took a big sniff. Oh no.  It wasn’t a peach and boy did it smell putrid. It smelled so bad that it brought tears to Andy’s eyes. Without even looking to see where it landed, Andy threw the fuzzy piece of mystery food and started to run. He tried not to keep smelling the fuzzy food but the smell was stuck in his nose and before he could stop it, he was throwing up again. Again and again and again. Poor Andy. This was getting to be too much. 

He staggered into the kitchen area where the rest of his friends were having a snack. He needed to get his mind off of all the stinkiness around him. So he sat down and tried to relax. Ah, this was better. He was sitting with all his friends, everyone was laughing and chatting. Andy caught a look at Walter. Walter didn’t look very good. “Hey Walter, you okay?” Andy asked, “You look a little weird.”  Before anyone could answer, Walter ripped out the loudest fart Andy had ever heard followed immediately by a huge reek. That was all Andy needed and before he could stop it, he was throwing up again. Again and again and again. Without even stopping to see how Walter was, Andy bolted from the kitchen, down the metal stairs and out into the yard. 

He ran and ran and ran, not even looking which way he was going. He was running so fast that he tripped, flying through the air right onto a pile of rotting garbage. Of all the smells that Andy had smelled today, this was the worst of them all. It smelled completely rotten. Andy panicked when he realized where he was but the more he flailed about, the deeper into the garbage pile he got. He wanted to yell for help, but he knew if he opened his mouth, garbage would fall into it. He was trapped. Trapped in the garbage pile; breathing in the most rotten of the rotten. Andy’s body couldn’t even throw up anymore. His tummy was empty and he thought he was a goner.

He could only open his eyes a little, little bit but he spotted it. Could he reach it? Sure he could. He had to. Andy stretched and stretched his weak arm until he could feel his fingers wrap around it and he pulled it close to him stuffing it right up to his nose. In he breathed, deeply. Oh it was wonderful. So very, very wonderful. Andy had found a bathroom air freshener and it smelled wonderful. He couldn’t stop breathing it in. In and out; in and out. Mmmmmmm. Slowly Andy crawled out of the garbage pile with the air freshener still jammed right up to his nose. He brushed off the stray pieces of garbage with one hand and just kept on sniffing that freshener. Whew! He was starting to feel quite good now. He checked his watch and realized that it was nearly lunch time. Perfect, he thought, I’m starved.  

Five Minute Friday - Brave

Fri-daaaaaaaaaaaaaay. (enough said)

It's time for five minute friday and Lisa-Jo Baker's theme for this week is 'Brave'.  It's all about writing for five minutes.  No planning, no backtracking, no over-thinking, no stopping, no editing,...just writing.  We all know I go back after and fix typos, but that's the only change.

If you want to join in, head on over to Lisa-Jo's place and play along.

 

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You know how people pick a word at the beginning of the year and then try to follow it as an inspiration throughout the rest of the year? Well, I didn't do that.  But if I had done that, my word would have been brave.

This is my year for upsetting everything and starting fresh.  I've been spending painstaking hours removing all the spent plant carcasses from my garden so that I could spend time preparing my soil (so to speak, lol).

My stagnant clay-filled garden dirt has slowing and effortfully been replaced with a rich nourishing loam.  I have read self-help books, done at least a hundred quizzes, started to see a counsellor, began journalling almost daily, and perhaps most importantly of all, focused on being more mindful.

All of these steps have been more than a little scary, but I knew that without this kind of preparation, anything else I tried to add or fix wasn't going to take.  Wasn't going to be strong enough to stick.

This next step is a little more fun but still has fear attached to it.  I'm working on slowly adding in the little bits of myself that I want to either keep or add.  I've started with some interesting pieces like painting and morning pages and these five minute fridays.  I'm liking the changes but can't say that it gets easier with practice.  Just worth it.

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Part of this trying new things has me going to a local church to listen to a Celtic Choir - by myself.  Do you ever do things like that alone?  I can't say that I do but I'm really excited about it.  What's up for your weekend?

Five Minute Friday - Friend

I did actually do this on Friday but had already posted the four-letter word so I thought I would give you all a break and save this little blurb for today.  Hope your weekend was fabulous.

The rules are still the same - five minutes, no overthinking, no backtracking, no editing, the theme is 'friend'.  If you want to join in, head on over to Lisa-Jo Baker's site and throw yourself into it.

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I have so many thoughts bursting about 'friend', I'm pretty sure this is going to be rambly.  :)

My first thought is how wonderful I have found bloggyland to be.  So many wonderful people around every corner wanting to help, and to share, and to inspire.  I have never been involved with such a positive, passionate, caring group before and I cherish each of the friendships that have developed from it.  There are some gals that I only know through the blog connection who I would scale a wall for (and trust me when I tell ya, I don't really do the scaling wall thing).

The next thought that popped into my head was how much my family members have become my friends. Not all of them, lol, but (tempted to backspace here,..struggling) a few who have jumped up in my times of need, stood beside me, and shared their hearts with me.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have them in my life and I know that I would chose them as friends even if we weren't related.

(I warned you, rambly).

The last thought that popped into my head was the friendship with myself that I have been nurturing lately.  I have felt an incredible peace settle over me in the last month as I have been making effort to quiet my inner critics, listen to my wise self (a SARKism), and generally be more of a friend to myself.  There are other benefits I've noticed:  I'm more creative (I can hardly stop the ideas from rushing into my head), I'm more patient, happier, spontaneous, less angry and irritated.

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Right now SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) has a free (free!) video series on Awakening and Activating Your Personal Power.  I have watched the first two videos and love them both.  She has a charisma about her that stems from a very genuine place inside of her.  I couldn't take my eyes off of her.  Definitely recommend.

The Bird is the Word

Gloria over at New End Studio suggested that every 4th Friday of the month we do a post based on a four-letter word. Gloria mentions that your creation can be anything,...art, a short story, a poem, a painting.  Whatever.  So, my four-letter word for this month is BIRD.

That's right,...the bird is the word (do you know that song? or the Family Guy episode?)  Check out this video if you don't.  You'll be sooooooo happy that this song is embedded into your brain.  :)

Okay, that really isn't my four-letter word contribution though.  I took a shot at a painting tutorial by Marc Charles.  Never mind that I love his accent and would listen to him read the dictionary, lol.  He does a great job taking you through the beginner silhouette painting instructions, makes it so easy.  Here is my first attempt:

I really had a lot of fun doing this.  Can anyone guess what I used to paint this on?  If you want to participate, head on over to Gloria's site.

New End Studio

Five Minute Friday - Jump

I can't tell you how glad I am that today is Friday.  I know, I know, that's not a terribly original thought.  I'm just really feeling it this week.  This week's Five Minute Friday theme is 'jump'.  If you want to join in, head on over to Lisa-Jo Baker's site and get in on the fun.

For now, no over-thinking, no backtracking, no editing.  Here goes:

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Funny but the first thing that came to my mind when I read this week's theme was that old Pointer sisters song, "Jump".  Jump, jump, for my love.  Are you all singing it now?  I should be sorry, but that kind of cracks me up.

Anyway, (I want to hit backspace, fought the urge),.....the temperature here has been jumping around.  The last two days have been super warm (70s) though today is full of wind and rain and muddy paws.  I'm trying to enjoy it because tomorrow we might have snow.  Yikes.  I don't know if this is global warming or what, but I don't remember having seasons like this when I was a kid.

We had winters that were vicious and piled high with snow but they started in December and ended in March.  Now, who knows.  It's April and I don't know what to plan to wear to my niece's first communion tomorrow.  Are snow pants appropriate? Okay, it's not that bad.

It just feels that bad sometimes.  I planted some cool weather seeds (kale, lettuce, spinach, chard) the other day and my mother-in-law laughed at me.  She is skeptical but the little seed packets said, "as soon as the ground can be worked".  Do you think the seed packet isn't aware that we are getting snow weeks after the soil has become workable?  I'm not sure.  I'll keep you posted on whether anything comes up or not.  I checked yesterday and did notice that there are some tiny little weedlings coming up.  Buggers.  

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Hmmm,...not happy with this week's attempt but I'm going to abide by the rules and leave it up there.  Has anyone else been experiencing crazy weather and a spring that just won't come?  

Tomorrow, as I mentioned, we are going to my niece's first communion celebration and dropping Libby off at daycare for the first time.  I wonder if I'll be one of those doggie mommas in tears at the doorway?  Wish me luck.  What are you up to this weekend?

Five Minute Friday - Here

Friday already.  Time for our frantic five minutes of writing.  No over-thinking, no editing, no backtracking (though you know I'm going to go back and fix typos - it's just who I am).  This week's theme is "Here".

If you want to join in, head on over to Lisa-Jo Baker's site:

 

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The rain is cold and almost more of a mist.  I can feel Libby’s hot breath on my leg, hear her snort as she shifts position, burrowing her nose deeper into my thigh.  I have had to pee for some time but I can’t bear to move her or to lose this closeness.  She doesn’t cuddle as much now that she’s older, always on the go, and I miss her warmth.

Right now, I just want to be here, listening to the soft patter of the rain against the windows, watching her legs twitch, wondering if she’s chasing a cat or falling upon a littermate, wrestling the afternoon away.

I’ve forgotten how wild she was just an hour ago, racing through the house, a tornado of messes in her wake.  Crying cats and grumbling adults, tired of her grabbing their cuffs and forcing some play.  Forgotten how she grabbed up the bathroom rug, eyeing me the while, and then ripped out a big bite, laughing with her eyes as I scolded her.

Forgetting everything but how wonderful it feels to snuggle up, right here with my Little Miss Libby.

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This weekend promises to remain coldish and rainy for us here so I'm thinking of heading over to doggie gym on Saturday morning.  Letting Little Miss burn off some energy.  On Sunday, I'll be enjoying the fabulous cooking of mom and Gary for my brother's birthday. Super win!!

What are you plans for this weekend? And if you're going to have some warmth or sunshine, please do share.  :)