Day 9 "B-Fly"

You know....- Be cool, be great, be ALL THAT YOU CAN BE! (Do I have to give a link to the US Army here?). I have painted a dragon fly before, it was purchased as a gift for my "look-a-like". I called that one "So Fly"
I like to try to come up with clever names for my art work. How much fun would  it be to work for a major paint company and help name paint colors? (Or OPI and name nail polish OR.....flavors of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.. ) I like a pun, I am prone to nonsense and I tend to have bouts of "clever". Given the appropriate comrades and adequate caffeine I would enjoy that.
Since we are not planning my future career and if I don't finish this blog and get to the office-I may be jeopardizing my current career. I will get to the point. The painting today might be a good representation of not only what I hope for myself, but what I hope for others. We (I say we because I am often the worst about it) sell ourselves short. We play down or even shut out compliments from friends, we sometimes struggle to acknowledge personal accomplishments, we discount professional achievements, but why? So others won't feel badly about themselves? or even worse...so others won't be mad? Nonsense! I am not a "toot your own horn" kinda gal-in fact I frown upon it. But I also frown upon the habit of dumbing yourself down or taking back seat or not working as hard as you can to achieve a goal-for the sake of others. I give this advise. Do your best. Work hard then enjoy the benefit of the labor. Celebrate the successes of others AND your self. Distance yourself from people who choose not to do the same. Accept compliments. (A simple "thank you" will do). Be sweet. Be a great dresser (um..yea, I said it-what I mean is dress in a way that makes you feel great about yourself) Be smart. Be cool. Be as awesome as you are. BE FLY!

 This Poem is by Marianne Williamson, and I feel it best expresses my own thoughts on the subject.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Day 8 "Sweet Tweet"

Answer to a question no one asked: I love things in miniature. Hence the tiny bird amidst the giant lolly pops.  No one reserved March 8^th- Even tho....it IS my college roomie's birthday and perhaps she was on my mind when I painted this....  Have a great day-Be Sweet!  I love you G-6!

Day 7 "Happy Day Friend"

 


Wife-Nurse-Mother-Friend
Wild-child
Rock-star
Comedian
Happy Birthday Lisa!

Day 6 "Churchy Church" For Sandra

So I was a little late finishing today's work. Partly because I slept past 5 am. (It's Sunday---cut me some slack will ya?) And partly because I DID finish today’s work and just couldn't leave well enough alone so I added a little here- and some there then decided it needed a wrought iron hand rail leading to the steps etc. etc. and all at once- it was awful. so...I started over- this time with my original idea. Sandra "Sammie" I call her is our church secretary and she asked for the church I mentioned being on my mind. So I did it this morning for you Sammie! I hope you like it- and I hope the windows make you smile. They make me smile. *Side note-One week into this and I have gained a follower (woo hoo! for bloggers apparently that is a very big deal! I have 12 now! and I love you all) Secondly- as I was painting this church FOR THE SECOND TIME today- I realized I want to make a big big big painting of this church- and I will soon purchase a big big canvas to do that. so-the project is working..I AM creating something (fantastic or not) of my own imagination each day- and it IS inspiring me to do MORE of my OWN work! SWEET!

Day 5 "Bar-b-Cutie"

Bar-B-Cutie

Bar-B-cutie
Nick name Rudie
She's a beauty
Nevery snooty
Sometimes moody
Da owl says "hootie"
This pig got booty
Bar-B-cutie

Today TK will be presenting his new book "Meat, Fire, Wood" (a book about West Tennessee Bar-B-Q joints) to The West Tennessee Historical Society.  http://www.meatfirewood.com/   Happy Saturday friends!

Day 4 "Harmony House"

I could easily title this post and picture "where it all began".   I was 14 years old the first time I worked for Miss Judy and Beth.  I don't think there was even a resturatunt back then.  I was asked to serve  tea and basically buss tables at a holiday dinner.  Two years later I was 16-I had my own car and by that summer Harmony House had opend. I was hired to baby sit Beth's children. As fate would have it, I ended up working in the resturaunt. (And by "as fate would have it" I mean-I wasn't that great at baby sitting. Honestly?  I really never have been that GREAT at it. Sappose I am not particularly talented as it pertains to children-I mean-kids are always in need of something  "Im thirsty, I'm hungry, I need help going to the bathroom, can you help me with this?" And they are messy. I don't say this about Beth's children, I say this about ALL children- How do they get sticky all the time? Okay it's way too early in the blog to get all worked up- I was saying working with children is not my strong suit- Im okay with it) So...As fate would have it...I began working in the resturaunt. I came in early in the mornings to press linen napkins and ready their collection of miss matched antique table cloths. Durring the lunch service I played "hostess" or filled ice tea glasses and a few weeks into the summer I started waiting tables. When the lunch service was over I washed dishes or swept floors or ran errands for the kitchen. I continued working at Harmony House thru that summer and although I wasn't exceptional at any of the work-I was exceptionally eager to learn. I loved that place. It smelled like freshly baked bread and appricot tea. Everything there was calm and pretty and crisp-like the cover of a Martha Stewart Living magazine.  ("Freshly baked herb bread in the oven? It's a good thing") I mean it, it was all just right. From the sample cookie on the table to the lime slice on your glass-it is all perfect and it made me happy then-just as the memory makes me happy this morning.   Beth would ask me to load up the cd changer with cds from the drawer and she had all this great stuff- James Taylor, Kenny G,  Eric Clapton. Beth taught me about details like the acceptable volume for that music in an atmosphere such as this. She taught me to pan cookie dough into precise ball shapes in such a way that all cookies would be the same size.Consistentcy and presentation, fundamentals for success when serving food. I learned valueable lessons like  "pour the tea thru twice" means "pour two pots of WATER thru the machine" and I learned it causes quite a stir if you actually do pour already brewd tea back into the machine. (still sorry about that)Judy taught me some key information I still use and pass along today, like how to choose produce and what type of  meat from the butcher makes the best hamburgers on the grill. And that it's better to do without something than to serve a lesser version of that item. (I don't buy tomatoes out of season and I can still pick a perfect avacado pretty much every time)   I learned about breaking down chickens to roast for "Beth's Grilled Chicken" an essential skill in any kitchen. Even in Africa.  I learned to appreciate all the work and behind the scenes attention to detail it takes to present a wedding reception that litterally looks and feels like a scene from a clasic film. I learned that customers are not always kind but you should ALWAYS be. And on the subject of kindness-I learned that from them too. Miss Judy was my Sunday School teacher for more years than she wanted to be I'm sure.  (I know it's hard to believe but as a child-and clearly I grew out of it- I was precocious and a bit of a cut up-finding it difficult to be quiet or still and nearly impossible to do both at the same time). Harmony House is a chapter in my story I go back to time and time again.  I still meet childhood friends there when I go home-and the vibe is still the same.  Such  talent and so generous many years ago to share that talent with a wild child who just wanted to earn enough money to fuel her Geo Metro.

In Memoriam Mrs. Judy Cockrell 1940-2011

Day 3 "Penny's Hero" and "She Reaches For Greatness"

31 day project (still nameless..) a new painting, on the fly, every morning.. Some dates have been reserved for specific meanings known only to the "reserver", however I had some back ground information to go on for today. Penny,  I identify on many levels with your admiration for your grandfather.  Thank you for being a part of my project!  ...And here is some advice no one asked for: If you have a "hero "and you get the chance, let them know. I seriously doubt you will regret it, and even if that person doesn't like you (and come on! What are the odds of someone not liking YOU?) it will probably make their day!