I smile whenever I think about...

my tin foil man purchased at the 5th Grade "Economics Fair" - origami party hat sold separately

creating part of our thank you gifts for some amazing 4th grade teachers

great visits with my neurosurgeon and neurotologist - and a date scheduled for my baha implant surgery-I am so excited at the thought of hearing from both ears and I get to go the day after my birthday! What a great gift-happy birthday to me!

all of the fun times I'm going to have this summer with my two favorite guys! School let out a week ago and we've already eased into a great summer pace! What is making you smile now?

xo-Melfie

Hello, friends! I'm so excited to share this with you-it's the fun kitchen project I mentioned in my last post. When I saw Stephanie do this, I stored the idea thinking that this could be a great way to update my white counter tops. Then I saw this and my heart began beating even faster. My cabinets are white and I decided I really wanted something that would pop. When I told Kurt his help was all I wanted for Mother's Day he quickly agreed - but of course, didn't listen. The boys gave me sweet gifts also... I'm so lucky! The process actually moved very quickly-it took Saturday and Sunday and only because we had to wait for coats of primer, paint and poly to dry-well, that and having a little kitchen helped, too!

before

during-we used Kilz primer, acrylic paints and sea sponges and sealed with several coats of Minwax Polycrylic - I wish I had taken photos of the first coat - it looked like bad pants from the 80s-oh, was I questioning myself!

comparing to a few granite samples that caught my eye

the finished product!

Of course, between coats, I had to paint our kitchen table...

Next on the agenda is cabinets... A sort of "If You Give A Pig A Pancake" scenario... If a girl paints her counter tops, she's going to want to paint her table. If she paints her table, she's going to want to paint her cabinets. If you sit still too long in her house, she may paint you also. I had initially decided on cream cabinets on top and black on the bottom but saw this picture on a blog, somewhere. I'm so sorry for forgetting where because I really want to give credit but wouldn't this look very sweet with my aqua wainscoting and polka dots?

Decisions, decisions... What do you think? xo-Melfie

Thank you.
xo-Melfie

Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends! I know the holiday means so much more than a long weekend but working in a class of restless 4th graders already on summer break even though the school calendar has 4 more weeks-I am ready for this long weekend! Not quite ready for the school year to be over-these are really great kids-but so happy for an extra day!

We've been so busy these past few weeks - who isn't, right? - but it's been such an exciting busy time. We spent Mother's Day weekend with the house torn apart embarking on a kitchen project that I am so excited about! I'll share it in my next blog post! We also made a trip on Mother's Day to the Baltimore Museum of Art. It was fabulous! I love that my boys not only have favorite artists but also recognize artist's works.

my favorite piece at the museum-so friendly!

a fabulous sculpture - I love Nate's very dramatic "art critic" pose

a peek inside the sculpture

one of Sam's favorite artists - Andy Warhol

some gorgeous geraniums my boys picked out for me that inspired me to "spruce up" our front porch. Maybe I'll post about that, too!

My thoughts were with all of you on Mother's Day - it's truly the most amazing journey, isn't it?

xo-Melfie

This is a painting by Jean Dubuffet entitled Apartment Houses. It is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (also where the photo is borrowed from). There is a similar piece at the National Gallery that spoke so loudly to me (that I could NOT find a photo of) - above every other piece I viewed. Oh, I wish you could see the faces of those little characters close up! Honestly, if you had shown me the photo first, I'm not sure I would have felt the same way. I'm considering a little family project creating a piece using this as the inspiration. As I get older, I find it's the East Building of the Gallery which houses more modern pieces that I want to spend every moment in. It's so vibrant and full of life! It definitely resonated with the kids also! xo-Melfie

Sometimes, I make art that looks like this (made for a sweet gal who asked me to create something inspired by this issue of Somerset Life)

Sometimes, I get to create items like this for the school I work in -the least I can do for our tireless staff!

My favorite, by far, are these creations that were made by my best creations - with ideas and lessons taught by our talented art teachers (plural - art teachers - how lucky are we?) - who not only teach the kids about so many different kinds of artists and art but also take them to places like this (especially when I get to tag along!). We went today - my feet are tired tonight-in the best of ways!

xo-Melfie

If my favorite American Idol judge were to take a peek at my blog of late I think he'd review it as "indulgent" and "boring". No photos, nothing creative - maybe even a little whining? Stick with me just a little while longer! I am coming up on the anniversary of my surgery and have been quite reflective. I think it's just now catching up to me what this past year has been and what is still to come. It's that - it's the time of year. The anniversaries of both of my Nana's deaths have passed and I miss them just as much today as I did when we lost them. The pain is not as sharp by any means but it's still there.

After a fabulous weekend visiting my mom and her Lee, meeting their "little" pup, Oka, and my cousin's sweet baby, Ali, for the first time and spending time with my aunt, uncle and their family we came home sick with the flu. Hurl and whirl. YUCK! I was lucky that I didn't have it as bad as my boys - they definitely needed a lot of attention. I just want to hold them close when they are sick or sad and as of today, they still let me! That's sometimes all I know how to do.

It makes me think about my mom-the pain etched on her face when we said goodbye one last time before my surgery, the way she'd creep into my room when I got home, when she knew I was awake and her voice saying "hi, sweetie" in just the same tone she used when I was a little girl. The batch of her amazing spaghetti sauce that she whipped up for me when I was ready to eat again. I'm sure the need within her to hold me close because that is all she knows to do was overwhelming. How her being near made, and makes, everything better.

My mom is going through a tough time right now - her Lee is having some medical issues that we are all hoping are not as serious as they seem (if you could spare a thought or prayer for him it would mean so much!) and how much she must miss her own mom. She is lucky to have a sister, just 14 months younger than her and as close as a twin. She has me but nothing is the same as having your mom. To hold you close because that is all she knows to do.

I love you, Mamala. xo-Melfie