Cherubs!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I really couldn't let the week pass without one final post about valentines, and nothing says Valentines Day like cherubs! Although, I'm not really sure just why naked, winged babies constitute the epitome of love. Hmmmm. Ok, having wings would be cool. Babies can be really cute and loveable. Going naked...well, that could be a good thing or a bad thing! But put it all togther and this is what you get:



Ok, so they aren't all naked...these little sweeties have on robes....and check out the musical ability!

















Butterfly wings - now that's stylish!
















And why settle for one cupid when you can have four to multiply the love?

Hey Valentine! Be Mine!

Today children all across the country will take valentines to school for their classmates. Many will include candy - especially the quintessential conversation hearts. No matter how valentines change over the years those pastel conversation hearts have remained a popular treat. Below you'll find some sweet treats for you, my readers:

Sweet Sentiments

I just love an old fashioned Valentine, don't you? The artwork, the sentiment, the beautiful lettering. Flowers and birds got a lot of use in these tried but true designs.













What's sweeter than a pair of doves, dropping their love notes into a heart shaped mailbox?













What about a flower be-decked car to take your loved one for a ride?











"Peony symbol of Happiness Sublime, Wilt thou be my Valentine?

Behold, the Courtly Troubadour

Valentine's Day is coming up so I thought I'd kick off the week by paying tribute to the Troubadour, for what's Valentine's Day without a love song?

If you're like me, you probably think of a troubadour as some love-struck, renaissance warbler. There's actually a bit more to it than that, as I've discovered and will now share with you. Troubadours actually had 'rules' that governed their writings and there were many genres of songs/poems that they wrote. For example there was the:

Alba: the song of a lover as dawn approaches, often with a watchman warning of the approach of a lady's jealous husband

Canso: a love song, usually consisting of five or six stanzas with an envoi - a short stanza expressing the poet's hope that the poem may bring them some benefit (the beloved's favors, increased patronage, and so on)

Comiat: a song renouncing a lover

Enuig: a poem expressing indignation or feelings of insult

Maldit: a song complaining about a lady's behavior and character

Pastorela: the tale of the love request of a knight to a shepherdess

Salut d'amor: a love letter addressed to another, not always one's lover

Serena: the song of a lover waiting impatiently for the evening (to consummate his love)

Torneyamen: a poetical debate between three or more persons, often with a judge (like a tournament)

The song/poem could be written with religious significance, or as a political attack. The maldit and the comiat were often connected as a maldit-comiat and they could be used to attack and renounce a figure other than a lady or a lover.

Troubadours often performed at court where songs could be used not only as entertainment but also as propaganda, praising a patron, mocking enemies, encouraging wars, teaching ethics and etiquette, and maintaining religious unity.

Of course the more romantic image of a troubadour is of a young man, such as the one above, singing below the balcony of his beloved. Now here's a fellow befitting a valentine!

Hey! I'm Stylish!

I was cruising along the internet (that font of all knowledge worth knowing) when I made a discovery: I'm fashionable! That's right, I'm where it's at, hip, trendy, with it. That's me. I'm no Fashionista - I'm a Recessionista! The day of the bargain hunter is here, ladies and gentlemen.

I've always loved a bargain but now getting a deal is considered chic. In fact, 'recessionista', along with 'chiconomics', ranks right up there as a new buzzword for 2009. The art of living well and looking good on the cheap is in vogue and I couldn't be happier. It's not that I don't like nice things and fashionable clothes - indeed I do. But there's something wonderful about getting what you want at a great price. If I won the lottery for example, I would still revel in getting a deal. Not that I wouldn't make some over the top purchases, but I could never give up on finding the best price.

Now, my 16 year old would never in a million years say that I'm stylish. Admittedly I could use some updating from time to time. I do try to stay 'with it' without looking like a 48 year old pretending she's 16, cause that's just plain scary. So it sure was nice to be able to inform her that her mother is trendy. Actually, I see a lot of styles today that are quite like the things I wore at her age...too bad I didn't save it all - she'd have vintage chic clothes.

Woo-hoo! Go me!! For once I'm stylish, and as my younger daughter pointed out, "There's a first time for everything!"

My Art Gallery

My girls are creative in many ways. They write fabulous stories, make up songs and create some pretty imaginative works of art. Today I'm going to share with you some of their creations. Let's start with The Crab. My youngest made this when she was in 2nd grade, using styro-foam and toothpicks. She did this while patiently waiting for our food to arrive at a restaurant.





This next piece was made by my youngest about 2 years ago with found items from the junk drawer. He is a robot, and was made to assist Gerbil Thingy - her favorite beanie baby/superhero/plaything. Robot has a head/snout made from a binder clip, one foot is a key and the other is the metal spring from a clothespin. The racket-like object is one of those Easter-egg dippers that finally found a use. Put a pipe cleaner and a bit of junk in a child's hands and this is what you get.


Before you is Fred da Cactus, the newest creation of my youngest. Fred was designed to enhance her notebook, which has a clear pocket on the front where Fred resides, much to the amusement of her middle-school friends. I suspect he came to exist during a period of boredom in class. That's how it is in middle-school.






















I present to you, Beavis Maximus. My eldest created this regal sculpture in honor of beloved Beavis during her first year in high school. No, I don't know why. He wasn't an assignment, just something she came up with while hanging out with a friend in the art room after hours. Love his laurel wreath...he even has tiny, little nipples... oh my! She and her friend had many a laugh over this fellow. This photo doesn't really do him justice.


This artwork I shall simply title, Flowers. Eldest created this to hang on her bedroom wall. The colors match her bedding and it's a combination of paint, glued on construction paper, markers and ink. The reverse side is a painting she made that she didn't like. Nothing like a bit of recycling, eh? Again, my photo does not really do it justice.



Last, but not least, is my eldest daughter's 3D Art. Ok, that's not really it's name so much as it's description. This piece was an actual assignment. I like the fact that I can turn this sculpture in any direction and it works! I also like the vibrant colors - most of her work is done in vivid colors.


My collection of the girl's artwork dates back to their earliest creations. I'm sure the collection will continue for as many years as I am around to display/collect/store it! I hope you have enjoyed it too.

Happy Monday

Oh how I just LOVE this song, and the video makes it even better!


It's tough to be a serious hippo...

Have a good week!