It's A Jungle In Here Now

"Aunt Hol, I was wondering if you could paint a palm tree and some grass on Livy's nursery walls. I'd like to add some color in there and since we have the whole jungle theme, I thought it would be cute."

"Sure, I think I could do that for you! Let's do it the day after Thanksgiving while I'm down there. It shouldn't take me that long."

So, that's what I did for my Baby Girl and her Littlest Girl. When I looked the space over, I asked, "Do you really only want one palm tree? I'm thinking it would be more fun if there were more, but it's your call." Laura answered, "Well sure, I'd like them but I was afraid I'd be asking you to spend too much of your time if it was more."

One or several, it's about the same time I explained. So, she sat on the floor and chatted with me while Michael and Eric kept Livy occupied downstairs. Of course refusing to be left out, you can see Georgie, my assistant, in this picture. She was quite the good Boxer girl through the whole process.

This is the artist's publicity shot. I will autograph it for you if you wish! You can see my absolute delight in being a daily part of Livy's world. Even when I am not there, now I will be.

Monkeys and critters now have a place to rest instead of being mid-air without anything to catch them while they swing about.

And, now when Princess Olivia gets her bottom changed, she'll have more than just a blue monkey to capture her attention. Laura says that every morning after she's changed Livy, she stands up on the changing table and with deliberation, waves at the animals marching along the wall. How fun is that?

When it was complete, the client was invited in to examine the work and determine what she thinks of it. No sense buying it if you don't like it. She was quite a critical eye and looked very closely at it all.

She stopped to carefully ponder it before giving her vote of approval, "Hmm...let me consider it all first."

And, then, very suddenly, I got the biggest reward ever for some paint and a wee bit of time. I'll remember that smile forever, I think!

So, the day after Thanksgiving, three girls got together and made another great memory. My Baby Girl and my Littlest Girl were as pleased as they could be.

Here's the best surprise of all, and Michael was there to witness it so you can ask him if you don't believe me. I know that everyone thinks their baby is the most miraculous thing, the most talented, the most adorable, the brightest, the fill-in-the-blank. And, I often remark how fast babies seem to develop in our fast paced world.

But, Livy is only 10 months old. And, this is what she did when she came in the room to see the mural for the very first time. She sat in Eric's arms starring at the walls. She stopped for a bit and then, she clapped her tiny hands! Olivia clapped!

Can you imagine being so small yet so aware of your surroundings and so tickled with the changes?

Amazing I tell you! Simply Amazing.

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka Great Aunt Holly the Painter

Silent Sermon Sunday

Love is all you need.
~The Beatles

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka The Painter aka Great Aunt Holly

Thanks & Blessings

Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls bloom.
~ Marcel Proust

Normally as this is Wednesday, I would be casting my wishes with all of the Wishcasting Wednesday group. But, as this is the day before Thanksgiving, I hope you don't mind if I go a road less traveled. I want to take a minute to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, and to tell you how grateful I've been for so many things in this past year of living and blogging.

Mostly, I want to say thank you for being there. For the spirit of generosity you have extended to me. For the surprises and gifts and tokens of affection that have found their way to my front door. Pieces of you that you share now with me. For the moments when your writing has made me think...deeply consider...expand my notions of life and living. For being part of my journey here at Your Mother Knows to being a Real Human Being.

Thanks to those of you who have become friends and loved ones. Thanks for the energy you invest in running your own blog and/or being a visitor regularly to mine. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Your creative spark. Your Muse's whisperings.

But, mostly and simply...thanks for being You.

Michael and I are off in a short while to go over the river and through the woods to Aunt Kat's home. We'll spend Thanksgiving with her and dine with my brother and family. We'll make time to visit and catch up with dearly loved friends. I'll spend some time with Laura painting a mural on Livy's bedroom wall. I'll take pictures to share with you if it turns out as I hope!

Rory & Fiona go with us because that's what Aunt Kat wants. And, as I have a feeling that I am running out of time with this last of my Aunts & Uncles, well, I want to make certain she has a good Thanksgiving and remembers that she is loved.

We received some outstanding news for which to be genuinely and deeply grateful; Dad Frock went to see the oncologist this week, who strongly believes the cancer is dead and in control. He's released Dad for the time being saying he'll see him in six months to make certain we are headed in the right direction.

And, here's where this comes back once again to all of you, for I am grateful to my core for all the prayers, good wishes, positive energy and feelings you have invested in him because I asked. Because I know the power of the collective move mountains and make love thrive when it seems all is lost. Dearly, I thank you. Michael and the Frocks do as well.

So, whatever you are doing tomorrow in your corner of the world, I hope you'll be able to feel me hugging you and smiling as you share your moments that make a holiday memory. I will be saying thanks and blessings tomorrow as I share my day with those I love.

When I come home, I think it time to share some things about me, my life, and this blog. It's really about wondering what I want to step into next...but we'll save that for another day.

For now, I wish you Bright Blessings for a day of thanks and love. You've certainly made that possible for me. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends and readers!

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka She Who Is Thankful