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August 25 HelloHello my friends, I have been away so long. I don't know where to begin. Baseball is over but now it soccer season, which isn't too big and I can take my computer with me and blog from the field. Which is why I got G to begin with. Thanks to all who still stopped by and wished me well. I missed "talking" to all of you.
Peace Tammie June 07 In Memory of ........Hello
The days have been way too busy and the hassles of life way too numerous. I went to the grocery store as usual and the George the deli guy tells us Tom the meat cutter has passed away a few days ago. I was heartbroken.
Tom was the sweetest, kindest man, who always was willing to help anyone. I don't know how many customers even cared, but he touched my heart and made me want to be like him. The first time I met him He gave me advice on how much prime rib to buy for my Husband's birthday and I ended up inviting him to dinner- he never had the chance to come over- he was waiting for better health. Tom died waiting for a new heart- he was plagued by heart problems all his life. He went suddenly - he actually worked up until he died. Earth has lost a kind and giving soul, but Heaven has gained another angel. I have lost a friend, but I gained inspiration to do as much good and to be a positive influence on everyone I meet. For that I thank you Tom. You are at peace my friend. rest.
 Tammie May 19 The Chronicles of Baseball: I am GoodToo much going on this week . The kids have piano recitals, need to practice for the choral recital and I have a parade and baseball on Memorial day. How will I ever get my herbs planted this weekend? I plant a veggie garden every year. I don't know about this year. Heck I won't even have time to celebrate my birthday. Sometimes I think I am not doing the right thing. I often wonder - How come all the higher ups in LL have time after noon to do things on the weekend. While I am still at the field. I am not the only one - there are a couple of other people who are always there too. We just do our jobs - make sure everything is done and finally go home. But when there is something we are always the ones to get blamed. But there is always a silver lining- a smile always comes to my face when I am in the grocery store or somewhere outside the field and a child runs up to me yelling hi Coach Tammie and telling me about me there day and what they did. I know I made a difference.
Hugs, Tammie May 13 The Chronoicles of Little League: And the Beat Goes OnI hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I did not get my paint as requested. My poor they do try , but since Dad buys the gifts they are at his mercy. My husband family always buys things they like not what the actual receiver of the gift would like. Everyone always gets very bizarre gifts because they aren't too good in the picking of gifts dept. My first Mother's day he gave me and my daughter matching viking helmets -that wasn't a joke gift he thought I would like that. Every year since I have gotten towels and some of appliance. No different this year - OK the coffee maker I needed and at the last minute I said forget the paint -get a coffeemaker. (The coffeemaker was bought before I said that- we were waiting for the coffeemaker to completely die before we got rid of it . It still has some life; therefore, is still sitting on my counter . I still haven't figured out why I get towels every year ( for Xmas it is bed sheets).
I went out and got myself a collector's tin of watercolor pencils ( prismacolor has a collection of tins designed by an artist using the product ) It is a still life of flowers. The prismacolor pencils have better graphics . I think those are the real collector tins- the artwork is beautiful. But I only have one of those. I am dying to try out my new pencils. The kids have an art project due in two weeks. I think I will have them do it in watercolor pencil. I let them have my old stuff that isn't toxic, so they will do it with the old pencils and I will do it with the new ones. The kids get so mad when I give them my crap stuff.
We start inter league play in baseball this week. That means I have to travel. Plus there are recital memorial day parades and girl scout awards( if I don't get my oldest paperwork in she won't get the highest junior award and I will be toast).
 Peace and Big Hugs
Tammie
May 05 The Chronicles of Little League: Always Remember Your PrideMy eldest daughter's team had a much deserved victory over the dreaded "Team to beat" yesterday. It was so funny one of the coaches on the other team told her son to hit the ball to my kid cause she can't catch pop flies ( easy homerun she told the kid- this woman has been to all the games when she didn't have a game and checking out the other teams for weaknesses- little league is vicious) well my kid dove for the ball and caught it and got the " God's gift to little league" kid out. Which is good, but then she had the admiration of every female in the stand as a testament to girl. I was coaching the another team so I missed the spectacular feat of fielding. But she was proud and she smacked the ball to center ( she used to be afraid of the ball and would just strike out, but now she whacks it. ) I say good for her. Not to be out done by his sister, my son thinks his the ace pitcher of the minors division. He is not, but let him think that. I am just happy he doesn't cry anymore every time he strikes out. On the other hand , he does make some great plays on second and runs like lightening. My third child is coming into her own as well on the diamond- she makes some awesome catches and hits like a pro. Then there's my youngest- who is the funniest thing on the field. He can't hit, throw or catch. He talks to everyone and heckles the other the team and to add insult to injury he tells the other coach that "You don't really know what you are doing but it's ok cause I don't either" direct quote from a five year old. Now I know why my husband never coaches this kid's team. I have a conflict with the younger kids this week so I can't be at both games- my DH quickly volunteered to coach my daughter's and let me deal with my "little darling" who is very cute but a royal pain.
I just hope I get the paint I want for Mother's Day.
Peace and Love
Tammie
April 28 The Chronicles of Little League: I Made It Through The RainOpening Day went off without too much frustration. That was a big concern of mine. Usu sally, I break all of the coaches code of conduct ( except for the ones that deal with the kids) . But it went okay and my kids got to sing the National Anthem and everyone told them how good they sound. My youngest actually got caught yawning at 8 in the morning and that made front page in the newspaper. Oh well, at least I didn't get yelled at (not by any adults). My eldest son made a great triple play and yelled at me for coaching my youngest daughter's team instead of watching him play. My oldest daughter was upset because her team lost 19 to 0( in little league that is a no no- the winning team should have stopped at 10( for those who know about little league the ten run rule should have been in effect but the opposing team ignored it letting go all six innings instead of ending it at four ).
Meanwhile, some of my music students are mad because I suggested that they changed their group song to either The Doe Ray Me song or A Few of My Favorite Things instead of Hakuna Matata . So four of the five are upset( the fifth one had to do a solo because she is the only with a "mature" voice IE she sings like an angel - the younger ones not so much.) So I have to find the sheet music and have someone play it for me so we can practice( the kids won't even play the songs for me, so we can practice). That's okay the end is almost near, but for homeschoolers that is the most stressful time of year. My school district is somewhat okay with homeschoolers , but I had to switch to a school which doesn't like parents at all let alone someone who teaches their kids at home, so I am a little nervous about that evaluation. My other two evaluations are just a lot of work, I have been working with the same school for years and we have good relationship. ( When your child goes from the primary to middle to high school you have to change schools to match the child's level. My oldest started middle school this year so I had to go to a different school for her).
Now I have to convince the kids ( my husband) to get me paint for Mother's Day instead of something useless( last year they (he) got me a creme brulee set (still in the box). Or maybe some nice mi-teintes pastel paper and some soft pastels. Wish me luck.
Until next week my friends
Peace and much love
Tammie
April 21 Take Me Out of the Ball GameThe last two weeks have been challenging to say the least. I coach Little league which I knew can be vicious and petty. Not on the kids part but the adults who run it or I should say "volunteer". I have already made the" list" my second day on the "job". I coach the younger children , so basically I need to say on my side of the complex( the baseball fields are clearly separated- the older kids on one side and the younger kids on the other - separated by a road which cars drive on. The other fields around city aren't separated like that - the younger and older fields are in close proximity to each other. By the way the concession stand divides the minors from the majors. ) Well I never stay on my side of the field - I can't I have two kids on the other side of the field and I help with the concession stand and now I am an umpire( they got me on that one- I was told to go to the umpire clinic to learn the rules- once you attend the clinic - hey you are an umpire - oh well) which is all on the where the big fields are located. I dare ventured out of my territory and commented on how things are being run ( or not being run) so i made the list. Honestly some kids are not being treated well and someone had to say something( These children weren't even mine) . I believe someone has to stick up for the defenseless. The little league code accepts any kid who wants to play and that child moves along the levels- yes if you are good you move to the top quicker( if not you age into your level) Well some lesser players aged into the top level and are now trying to be convinced to move back down to the lower level. I think that is wrong, so I said something, hence "making the most popular person list" oh well so it goes. I tend to piss off people in position s of authority all the time. lol. I am looking forward to soccer . ( I was told by my assistant coaches that I should not coach soccer last year because I was just a bad person- I ended winning volunteer of the year . hehe)
If all the stress from baseball isn't enough to kill me. ( It won't those people are no match for me- unfortunately my son won't get a chance to enter the t-ball at the White House contest this year because of it - the higher ups in your branch have to recommend the player. ) I have homeschool evaluations coming up and I moved to a new school known for not liking alternative methods of education. My daughter of course doesn't even care about the quality of her work she just does it and if it is right that great if isn't right that's fine too. Oh Boy- I'm going to fun at that interview. At least I am a little smarter this year i am writing my evaluations and next year's curriculum at the same time. Once baseball is done I have about a month before soccer starts( unless they ask me to join the board- I have already been turned down for a board position once so I don't know there are a couple of position open that I can do and they were fishin' the other night at sign ups) have the rest of the summer free. I can get back to painting.
This is for all the wonderful women I know and love ( even if you don't have kids we are all mothers)
 Hugs
Tammie
 April 06 HappinessI hope everyone is doing well. This week is a very scared weeks for Christians and Jews alike. I am very lucky that I get to celebrate both. Due to the hectic schedules and baseball we are having our Seder on Friday ( instead of Wednesday or Thursday), which is going to be real fun. The Seder is a very long ritual and we have to be up at six am to clean the baseball field the next morning. I am going to have some very unhappy kids that morning ( it is suppose to rain that morning so keep your fingers crossed ). Not to mention before the Seder I have my music class with the unruly three( the are five kids in my class that give me trouble- one will have baseball practice and the other one will be home helping her Grandma prepare the Seder meal and clean the house ( they don't exactly clean for chametz like they were suppose to))and a baseball meeting. I am exhausted just thinking about it. The good thing is I can incorporate the holiday things into lessons. School around holiday is really fun. This year the kids get to make honey cake , hot cross buns, Armenian Easter bread ( with Grandma and Dad) , and Easter cake ( I am always in charge of the desserts because I had a cake business) all from recipes they will have to execute themselves.
Myspace Comments, Passover Comments at WishAFriend.com And to my friends who don't celebrate either holiday check out the holiday block. Peace Tammie March 24 I Will SurviveHello My Dear Friends,
I made through the last week, not unscathed, but I did survive and I got a big kudos and flowers from my future co-leader (brownies) and she gave flowers for helping with the girl scout supper. After that it down hill, we lost the championship soccer game, ( eliminated in round one- last time we won) came in last ( both kids ) in piano competition ( the kids didn't have a chance- they were up against kids who wrote their own classical music pieces- of course only the organizer knew this beforehand ( it was only her students who came in first and second place - our music school doesn't really stress performance they want the kids to learn and appreciate music and have fun- those other kids were musical geniuses - oh well we live and learn) , lastly three of the four kids are sick and if one doesn't get better he is going to the ER.
On a more positive note, I found the most delightful book. I will blog about that later-I have such a twisted mind sometimes- I just couldn't resist. I will leave clue at the end( I hope - my graphics haven't been coming up lately). I did mange to do some painting today. Not really turning out as expected ( I am nursing sick kids and licking the wounds of depressed 12 year old pianist who wants to take composition now - I hope the library has a book on it) duh what was I thinking. Yet despite all the drama going on, I have to help my ill son(who only can keep down coke- hence the trip to the ER if it gets worse - he snuck out of bed to play video games with the youngest as I type, so I guess he isn't that bad off) finish his pine wood derby car before registration and weigh-in on Friday and competition on Saturday. I created something that I liked. I may not do fifteen paintings ,but I will have one that I love.
Much Love and Peace
Tammie
ps. look at my holiday module the clue is there.
hugs
Tam March 13 WHEW!!This week has been pretty hectic and it is only going to get worse. On the bright side, I taught my music class today and the kids were really into it- until I made them compose a song- other that we had fun. Today's topic was American roots music ( this leads to a broader topic on how music is relevant to your culture). We studied the song Barbara Allen in a few different versions ( at last count , I found about three hundred over a two day Internet search- there are more). The kids were really into it. When I first discussed this song with them the response was lukewarm at best. This time I found some different recordings of the songs and related to the kids and their lives with much success. I actually got some good compositions this time around( the last time only my five year old made his story into song). Today was a good day for music appreciation. Art, well that is another story. They do good in one class and not so good in the other. ( Five of the same students are in both classes - it is this core group that gives me the most trouble).
So far my quest for completing fifteen paintings isn't going too well. I am sitting here counting for my son who has a piano competition in 2 weeks and he is struggling ( usually an excellent pianist but his older and younger sisters finally found their mojo and are now playing beautifully) because he is no longer the golden boy of piano. So now I sit and count for him. I tend to tune everyone out when I paint, so I can't paint and count at the same time. Meanwhile they totally revamped the girl scout program, so now I have teach the girls how to be a Girl Scout( I have no problem doing that because the kids who not are very goal-orientated will get the guidance they need to be a Girl Scout according to Scout philosophy). More girl scout stuff. I am also working on Boy Scout badges with my son. I don't think fifteen will happen but I am going to try. I have one drawing so far. I teaching my little darlings the basics of shading so I have to model every thing for them. My painting style is very impressionistic so drawing will be good thing for me to do .
Peace
Tammie
March 03 FebruaryHello all. Being a girl/boy scout is kicking my butt. Lori, my brownies actually scare me. One of the moms gave everyone little Valentine's day gifts and one of the little bugger's jacked me for my gum. Yep, scouting sure has changed- the boys are just as bad btw. Anyway, it has kept me from painting and I ended up taking on a music appreciation class- which none of the students appreciate. lol. Well, I did not make my goal of 28 paintings but I did manage to do ten. This month I will set my goals a little lower. I know I can do ten, so this month I will go for 15. I didn't enter the theme week contest - too many cookie booths. The theme is butterflies. I am still going to do a couple of theme paintings because I love butterflies as well as some more stained glass studies. I had so much fun doing those and I know the more I do them the better I will get. I am also doing some paintings for an online site MyYearbook.com. You upload graphics for sticker that others on the site upload for their space and you earn something called lunch money. I think it is a queer little site because I keep getting propositions from strange men who post pictures of their families ( wives included) while looking for women ( all the friends are very busty ladies). That is really beyond my comprehension. I closed my profile to friends only and changed my picture. The invitations have slowed down- this happened to me on tagged.com eventually it did stop. Hopefully, it will stop on this site because I want my art to be seen.
The new album consists of mainly studies. I am doing the demonstrations from Dreamscapes: Creating Magical Angel, Faery, Mermaid Worlds with Watercolor by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. My goal is to be able to execute my visions a little bit better. I added some Mardi Gras inspired masks as well as the one I submitted for theme week, studies of stained glass and finally some faery castles in the sky. I painted the same castle four times using different types of varnish. Each type of varnish gave the painting a different look. I used varnish on these paintings because I used hard pastel instead of watercolor. Hard pastel needs to be fixed so it doesn't rub away.
Tammie February 20 To All My FriendsI have been so busy with the kids I haven't had to much else. In addition to my art class, I now teach a music class. I am working on a new group of paintings. I hope to have them up at some point this weekend . Lori, thank you for that beautiful comment written oh so long ago. I admire your work and what you said really meant alot to me. I love you and one day I hope to be in your neck of the ( in the summer lol) woods. Happy , you bring such joy to my heart. That nun is actually very nice. While the other kids are in their lesson, she takes my youngest and is trying to help him learn to write. ( we are at that school for about four hours on Thursdays and he gets very cranky- he is too young for piano - at least at that school). Anyway, I did finish some paintings and hope to have them up this weekend, but girl scout duty calls and I have to sort and deliver cookies( I should say leave messages- It is school vacation week and everyone leaves for Florida today). Meanwhile.......
Peace and Joy to all my Friends  Weekend Comments & Graphics Tammie February 09 Theme Week is OverAnother theme is under my belt. I didn't this month either. And since there were a gazillion mask entries - I don't think I will be getting any unique interpretation of the theme awards either. Well I am almost finished two more paintings for my do one painting a day for the month. For those new to the blog, I am trying to complete a painting a day for this month. That may seem ambitious but the painting are all 2"x3'' very small format . Unfortunately, February is a busy month . I am a scout leader and cookies need to be sold. So instead of painting I am out selling cookies. Oh well there is always next month.
Peace
Tammie February 02 Oh BoyWell, I didn't quite work the kinks out of that new painting technique, but I tried and I like the way this painting turned out. More importantly, I made the deadline. I find it really funny that the painting I put up for auction was actually a test painting. I am totally in love with it. Oh well. We will see what happens.  January 29 Theme Week pt. 4Inspiration comes from the strangest of places. I found this site for painters and I saw the most beautiful painting technique. I had to try it. I haven't gotten all the kinks out yet, but it is coming along. Unfortunately, I have to go to a Brownie sleepover tomorrow. Let's hope I can get at least 3 paintings done before I leave and do the rest Saturday night. My goal is to do one painting a day for the month of February. I am trying to build up my portfolio of ACEOs . I am very excited about this contest. Well I must go to bed, for I am very tired and can no longer spell simple words, or write simple sentences.
Until We Meet Again
Tammie January 28 Theme Week pt. 3I don't think I will be getting any most creative interpretation of the theme awards or nominations, for that matter, this month. I tried to find hidden meaning in all the fun and merriment of Mardi Gras and all I found was fun and merriment. I do have some good ideas for masks, so I guess I will just go with that for now. Oh joy, I get to spend five hours in a catholic school hiding my sketches from a nun tomorrow. I have to spend five hours at the school while the kids have their piano and singing lessons, so I will work on my sketches then. ( I am bribing my kids with a video game just to get them to kiss me- my seven -year -old is standing in front of me pretending she is hurt so she won't have to kiss me- she just kissed me - this is what I have to stoop to get affection from my children- how sad.)
Here is hoping I don't get scolded by the nun for drawing rude pictures
Tammie
January 27 Theme Week pt.2Originally, I had planned on writing about the history of Mardi Gras and it all the traditions and fanfare that go along with it. As I was doing research , it occurred to me what an absurd "celebration" it is . Okay maybe not absurd, but there has got to be more to it than throwing beads and flashing boobs.
I had every intention of linking my theme week entries with the explanation or in this case history of the theme just to make things interesting. In other words, making nice sensible little pictures that people would want to buy for seven bucks that depict the theme. I mean what could be more fun than the world's biggest party. Yet, I know there has to be a twist on this tale that hasn't been explored.
Some background information- when I did October's theme I went completely opposite of most of the entries. Instead of depicting things that are normally considered "in the shadows" i.e. Hallo -weeny stuff and Gothic images. I went the opposite way and depicted the "horrors" of what happens when nice people sucumb to the "pleasures" of the dark side . Now I am on a mission to see what my warped little mind can come up with. For example , what is really behind the mask? Is it really all glitz and glam? Are these people really preparing for Lent? My inquiring mind wants to know. Will I find out for sure ? Or just make it as I go along? Stay tuned.
Until we meet again
Tammie January 26 February's Theme Week part oneACEO Theme Week
The eBay group ACEO~Art Cards Edition and Originals puts on a fun competition for its members every month call theme week. The participants in the contest can win a jpg award. The topic vary from month to month and is selected by the moderators after polling the members. The members of the group who participate may submit as many ACEO cards (2.5"x3.5") in any medium as long as it depicts the topic for that month. Each submission has to be a separate listing on eBay. The contest runs from the ST of the month to the Th of the month( eBay time of course).
The winners are chosen in two ways:
The theme for February is Mardi Gras. Tomorrow installment two. Tammie
January 24 Feelin' Not So Good On A Saturday NightOkay it has been seven days since the incident involving the old lady and her table. I went to the Doctor's yesterday for a foot check( I am diabetic- well controlled and not on medicine or insulin - Yeah for me because that is rare). Well the doctor couldn't even check my right foot because it was injured so badly. We just knew I broke every bone in foot. Lucky me, I did not but I did injure the quads in each leg and all of my foot muscles. Forgive any errors as I am typing in the dark because I can't get up to turn the light on and I am making everyone sick with the smell of icy hot , so no one will help me. But I am okay as long as it doesn't snow - then I am screwed for I am in a foot brace that isn't made for snow and of course I am the only one in my house who can shovel snow while the hubby is at work. I have a smile on my face 'cause I found a two new fairy books and I can sit in bed and draw- well sort of. Bad part is my hubby has to cook and he doesn't know that he can't cook well.  Fantasy Comments & Graphics Until We Meet Again
Peace
Tammie January 18 Feelin' Good On A Sunday NightWell it is another snowy day in New England and I am shoveling snow again. This time with broken toes. I guess I did a good turn this weekend. I was helping an older lady who was carrying a table through a door at the Center of New Hampshire when some jerk decided to rob a younger lady and go through the same door I was helping the older lady with. The lady and her table fell on my foot ( which I injured the night before falling down stairs)- I helped the lady up and then as I got her and table off me. The younger lady's father comes running after the robber and the older lady and her table fall on me again. By this time I have learned to move fast and get the older lady and her table to safety before someone else comes running through the door. She was actually hurt ( not as bad as I was, but she did hurt her hand. ) She thanked me for helping her and I hobbled out of the building and got my kid to her Girl Scout sleepover on time. The young lady's father did catch the the punk who stole his daughter's coat. But the best thing yet is I have music on my space- that's why I'm feelin' good on a Sunday night.
Peace
Tammie |
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