Confession Time....

I am in a creative slump.

I don't want to paint.

There.....I said it. This is where I am supposed to feel better, having admitted what I didn't want to admit, right??

Not quite sure what is going on, but I just don't really want to work.

That's one of the reasons I haven't really posted much this month. I have very little to share, creativity-wise. Any painting that I am doing is for Create and Decorate, contracted months ago. Thank goodness for that, because if I didn't have the obligation, I wouldn't be painting at all. Sigh...

I know the "mojo" will come back to me. Just hurry up and wait as Mr. Sunshine's Army buddies would say...

I have also committed to getting healthier during this deployment. Started Dr. Oz's "You on a Diet" program almost two weeks ago and I feel GREAT! Anyone else out there doing it? Very common sense, no calories or points to count. Just good for your body eating. I haven't had near as much trouble as I thought I would, and so far, I am down 6.8 pounds and 3.5 inches off my waist. Have a good ways to go, but not a bad start...

And since this post is such a hodge podge of unrelated bits of information and it's just not in my nature to leave you without a picture or two, I think I will share more "critter" pics with you. I am so enjoying my little feeding station right outside this window.

The pics can be a little hit and miss because I am taking them through the window, but I still enjoy them....hopefully you will too...

Isn't he pretty? Since you all were so helpful with my little sunny finches (thanks!) can anyone tell me what this guy is called? I love his scarlett "bandana"...

And of course the squirrels...I tell you, they may eat allot, but at least they are neater than the Blue Jays. They drive me nuts, flinging birdseed all over the place!

I also have pics of bunnies and wee little chipmunks (at least I think they are chipmunks) but they must be loaded on the desk top....I'll save them for another post....

Happy Weekend, everyone!

And my Not so Little Friend...

OK.....maybe I should say my un-invited not so little friend.

I had just finished the last post, gone about my business, getting ready for kids to get home from school and the shuttling off to track meets and soccer practice right after....walked into the work area and lo and behold, I have even more company...

I think I am in the minority here, but I like squirrels! I think they are cute and this guy was small for a squirrel....think he may have been a young one....

AND he was driving my very cranky old cat bananas...for that kind of entertainment, he can eat all of the birdseed he wants.....

I wish I had video of this because Casey (the crotchety old cat) will sit and watch the birds very quietly from his little perch, daydreaming about catching them, I'm sure, but in true Garfield fashion, keeping all of the action in his head.

This squirrel, however, really got under his skin. Every move the little guy made was accompanied by a growl or a squawk (yes, a squawk!) from the cat....I had to laugh because there is not much that can get Casey so worked up...he sleeps and eats, not necessarily in that order, and that's usually about it...

Happy Friday, everyone!

Catching up and My Little Friend....

Now I can exhale....

The anticipation of Mr. Sunshine leaving is over...

Things went smoothly Monday evening, travel was fairly uneventful (he landed safely in Kuwait and is waiting to travel on to the ultimate destination) and now we are starting a new chapter. "Single Parent 301" (because I have done this twice already) is a class I don't really want to take, but we do what we have to, right? This time around I have a child entering high school...not looking forward to that just because I CANNOT be old enough to have a high school aged child....can I? (Just humor me and say "NO WAY!")

I am desperately trying to catch up with work, but sleep is a rare commodity this week (it always is the first few days of a separation). The going is s-l-o-w....

On a much more cheerful note....I have been whining all winter about my workspace now being part of the kitchen...what can I say, I was spoiled to have my own workroom in Virginia...

BUT.....

I put some bird feeders right outside the window next to my painting desk....and my fine feathered friends are finally starting to notice the free meal I am offering....

I don't know exactly what kind of bird this little guy is (if you know, please post a comment. I love to watch birds but besides the very basic identification,I am clueless) but he visits me daily at about the same time, late morning in to lunch time....

He's a tiny slice of sunshine that makes me smile, my wee little yellow bird...

I think he needs a name.....Mr. Sunshine is already taken....and "Tweety" just isn't going to cut it....

Any suggestions?

Update....

Well, I am AWOL in here, I know. That will continue for just a little bit longer...

So sorry...

Mr. Sunshine has gone back to work, but is working very few hours before his departure (something I didn't anticipate- that's why I said I'd be back sooner)...more time for family- his unit is great that way....and we are taking advantage of it...

So please be patient...I am missing my regular blogging, but priorities...gotta hang on to them....

I will return for regular posting next week after departure...Monkey in the Middle Monday will return May 12...with all sorts of new energy and a nice explanation of what exactly the Monkey is (I know I've got quite a few scratching their heads...sorry 'bout that)...sharing his vision...he thinks he's an arteest....uppity Monkey!

MMMmmmm....Pie....

My wonderful, beautiful, BRILLIANT daughter came home from school bearing PIE.....

And not just any pie...a cheery, smiley faced Cherry Pie.....with the flakiest crust EVER (must be why he's smiling)...

Little Miss Sunshine made this happy pie in Home Ec class (although "Home Ec" is no longer PC- they call it "Home Careers" or some other nonsense). That (Little Miss Sunshine) would be my 14 year old daughter...and if you've ever been a fourteen year old daughter or even worse, had one, you know how NOT appropriate that name is. Somewhere in there amongst the swirling hormones, my sweet, silly little girl still lurks. Sometimes she even bubbles to the surface and draws a smiley face in a pie crust, strengthening my faith that she will return when all of this teenage stuff settles down....

Unfortunately Mr. Cheery Cherry Pie is now the pie with half a face...poor guy....he was just too yummy to resist....

But he made my day....

Hope you've had a "smiley pie" moment today....

Until Next time......

Thank You....

A little first of the Spring floral love for all of my bloggy friends who commented and sent e-mails concerning my pre-vacation post....your kind thoughts are so appreciated, you will never even know how much....

I bought this Mary Engelbreit flag during a session of retail therapy this weekend...The weather has been GORGEOUS here in Upstate NY for the past week or so...makes a soul want to dig in the dirt. But that's probably not practical just yet....can't help but think this weather is a fluke....so I did the next best thing and bought a a few baskets of my favorite flowers ever- ivy geraniums (which can be pulled inside if the weather turns sour)...and this very cute flag.....

Wherever you go.....there you are.

Only folks who move as often as we do can really appreciate this phrase...and realize that it's allot deeper than it sounds. You have to make the best you can with what you are given because (watch out... here comes another cliche that I happen to like) it is what it is. Sometimes the only thing you can really change is your attitude....

And this concludes our deep thoughts for the day....

Hope your Monday is sunny and beautiful....

A Little Down Time....

What a week! And the one to follow will not get any better....

I have never been one to share all of my personal life on here, but I have shared enough that many of you know that I am married to an Army Man. Well, in this day and age, that means time spent over-seas, apart from family. Almost every military family has their turn (many more than once), and we are not unique. So my dear Soldier is getting ready to leave for a second time (this time for 15 months), In fact, he has been getting ready since we moved here to Upstate New York over the Holidays. The departure day is getting close and he will have the next few weeks off to spend with us...

And I am taking the next few weeks off to spend with him....

You'll probably see a post or two, and I will still be visiting all of my favorite blogs (if we were attached at the hip 24/7, we would probably kill each other-lol!) but I will not be painting and I think the Etsy shop will close down and re-open at the end of April....

I'm sure you all understand....