Share Your World – 2015 – Week 1

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..wow a new year of Share Your World with Cee

How do you get rid of pesky phone calls from telemarketers?

If I hear dead air for a second or two after I say Hello I know it’s a telemarketer and I hang up. Simple!

What are you a “natural” at doing?

I don’t know if anyone is a natural at anything. I know that people might think I’m a natural when it comes to art or public speaking but it wasn’t always that way. I had to work at it to gain confidence and even now I still have doubts about my abilities but I am always willing to try new things and take some risks.

How often do you get a haircut?

When my hair is short I try to get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks. When it’s longer it might be every two to three months.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”?

Fun for me is creating art and being around friends.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I was grateful for having my entire family home for Christmas and having everyone together to celebrate B and G’s birthday. I also loved visiting and spending time with friends.

This week I’m looking forward to some quiet time with my husband before he has to go back for more surgery on his thyroid next Monday. I’m also looking forward to starting a new on-line year long art class with Carla Sonheim and Lynn Whipple called Year of the Spark.

I can’t upload my Year of the Spark poster that I made. How frustrating!

Share Your World (2014) – Week 51

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….thank you Cee for another week of great questions….will there be a week 52 or do we start with week 1?

Would you prefer snowy winters, or not, and why?

I’d like something in the middle. A little snow (maybe one good blizzard) and when there’s no snow I’d like mild temperatures. We had a lot of snow back in November but for the most part by the time December rolled around most of it had disappeared and we ended up with a green Christmas. Today is Dec. 31st and we still don’t have any snow but it’s become bitterly cold. I like to walk but when the wind blows and the temperature drops it makes for a bone chilling experience. What a difference from last year!

So, you’re on your way out and it’s raining. Do you know where your umbrella is or do you frantically search for it all over your apartment/house?

Rain? The umbrella is always in the car. A lot of good it does me when I have to run through the parking lot at school in the pouring rain to get to my car.

Do you prefer your food separated or mixed together?

I like both but when it’s separated I’m not one of those people who can’t stand to have the different foods touching. That’s just weird. Sorry to those people who feel that way. I also love casseroles, soups and stews. When I need comfort food the latter mentioned meals hit the spot.

…..filled with lamb and a side of fesenjoon (ground walnuts with chicken)

What is set as the background on your computer?

On my computer my background is a photo of the city of Toronto that I took from the park west of the city. This is what I see every day when I walk to the park with Frances.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for having my entire family home for Christmas and being able to spend another Christmas with my Dad.

This week we celebrated the birthday of my twins and I am looking forward to going to my friends 60th birthday levi on Thursday and bringing the family together one last time on Saturday before my son and his fiancé fly back to London, England.

Happy New Year, everyone. All the best in 2015!

Share Your World 2014 – Week 50

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Dawn over at Lingering Visions for coming up with this week’s questions and to Cee for hosting Share Your World

Do you have a signature dish? If not is their one in your family?

My signature dish changes every couple of years. Right now I’d have to say that my go to dish is a Kale, Pomegranate, Walnut and Feta Cheese salad. The recipe calls for wild rice as well but I change it up with Israeli couscous or faro and if I don’t have walnuts I might add another variety of nut.

Do you have a favorite board game?

I think my favourite classic board game is Scrabble and my favourite new game is Ticket to Ride.

Is there a household chore that you enjoy?

I’d have to say No! But wait I don’t hate all chores. I enjoy baking and some cooking and I don’t mind doing laundry.

What is one thing you will never care about?

One thing I will never care about is hockey or American football. These two sports just leave me cold. Too much fighting and physical contact for my liking.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I’m grateful for two very different Christmas parties that I attended. The first one was the staff party and it was good to see so many from the staff turn out. It was fun and festive and it looked like everyone was having a lot of fun. The second party took place on Saturday and it was a very quiet affair with just a few good friends. Every year now my good friend L has the same group over for dinner. it was so relaxing and the food was outstanding. With her mom and daughter joining us there were seven of us around the table….the perfect size for good conversation.

This week I’m looking forward to Christmas and time spent with family and close friends. My son and his fiancé are arriving from London, England on Christmas Eve. Our big celebration is on the 24th and then we also do a Christmas dinner on the 25th. Boxing Day will be a day of rest and then the day after we will pack up two cars and all of my family will drive to Oshawa to visit with my Dad and G.

Wishing all my blogging followers a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukka. Be safe and enjoy your family and friends during this festive season.

Share Your World 2014 – Week 49

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Mama Cormier

…..toys, candy, drinks and cash….I’m detecting a Christmas theme here

What is your preferred hot drink: coffee, tea, water, hot chocolate, or other?

I’d have to say that coffee is my preferred hot drink. I like it strong and with real cream. As a child I would have said hot chocolate and then I drank tea for years before moving on to coffee in my 30s.

What was your favorite toy as a child . . . and now?

As a child I remember playing with dolls and I loved ‘paint with numbers’. I also liked board games. Today my favourite ‘toy’ is my camera but I still love to paint and play board games.

Candy factories of the entire world have become one and will now be making only one kind of candy. Which kind, if you were calling the shots?

I’m not a huge candy fan but I do like chocolate covered peanut M & Ms. If that doesn’t count as candy my next cholce is Licorice Allsorts. Funny because I don’t like plain licorice.

Image courtesy of: http://www.brendanjack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/licorice-allsorts.jpeg

Would you want $100,000 right now or $120,000 in a year (tax Free)?

I think I’d like the $120 000 over a year. An extra $10 000 a month over 12 months would be something to look forward to and I couldn’t spend it all in one go if I took a lump sum.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I attended a couple of Christmas parties with friends and neighbours. I’m also grateful for a very successful United Way Silent Auction. The staff really pulled together and we raised the most money ever in all the years that I’ve organized this event. It was a lot of fun and people really got into the spirit of it this year. Today I took the girls’ basketball team to the west conference finals. We won the first game and moved onto the next level. Unfortunately we were beaten in the next game but I was really proud of how well the girls played.

This week I’m looking forward to two more Christmas parties and the beginning of a two week Christmas break.

Share Your World with us and join the fun.

My Year of Art in Photos – Part 2

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….continuing with the writing challenge

April & May – students creating masterpieces for the Fun Fair Silent Auction

June – Painting My Garden – an on-line course, my birch tree painting on wood and warm-up contour drawings for the first Summer Art Camp assignment

August – Summer Art Camp kept me very busy

Thanks to Word Press for this challenge. Stay tuned for part 3.

Share Your World 2014 – Week 48

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Mama Cormier

…..4 more shares and we’re done for 2014

What is your favorite toppings on pizza?

Everything on my husband’s homemade pizza is good but if I have to choose it would be mushrooms, caramelized onion, feta cheese and prosciutto.

I want to learn more about …

That’s tough because there are so many things that I want to know more about. One of them would be learning new art techniques and learning to use different tools and materials. As I get older I’ve also become more interested in history and would like to learn more about ancient civilizations.

What are three places you’ve enjoyed visiting?

I’ve enjoyed visiting the Netherlands and Ireland and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. When I was a child and later as a teenager I visited Germany three times. I would love to go back and see it from an adult’s point of view.

Do you prefer eating the frosting of the cake or the cupcake first?

I’m a frosting person but I like to make sure that I have a bit of cake with my frosting. It’s all about balance.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for time spent with my friend L. Her life is rather chaotic at the moment and any time that we spend together outside of school is a bonus. We went to the One of a Kind Show on Friday and the week before we were at the ballet and went out for dinner.

This week I’m looking forward to going to the annual Christmas concert on Tuesday and hosting our United Way Silent Auction on Friday. I’m also looking forward to dinner Friday evening with friends.

Thank you Cee for the questions for this week’s challenge. I hope you get over your cold really quickly so that you can enjoy the upcoming holidays.

One at a Time – WP Daily Writing Challenge

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….today Word Press is challenging us to write on any topic using only one syllable words

Sing, A Time of Love

Sing a song that brings joy

Make it full of whole long notes

High and low, soft and loud

Add a quick bar or two for fun

Sweet babes sing with glee

Dear Saint Nick is on his way

Hum, dance and dream

Of toys and sweet treats

Bless this day so near

Bring one and all home

to share and sing

Sing, sing, sing!

My Year of Art in Photos – Part 1

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….this week’s Word Press writing challenge is to create a photo essay on any subject that I feel passionate about

I love art. I create art, I teach art to children and I go to art galleries. Here’s my year in art.

January – Children’s art and assignments from Faces 101 (on-line class with Carla Sonheim)

February – my pottery, collaged faces, children’s collage fantasy art, trip to the AGO

March – Student abstracts. weaving, portraits and my abstracts, owls and indigo tie dye creations

Stay tuned for parts 2, 3, and 4

Cheers

Share Your World – 2014 – Week 46

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….6 more weeks before the end of the year

Thanks Cee for four more great questions.

On a vacation what you would require in any place that you sleep?

I require at least two pillows, a clean bathroom with a hot shower, and a desk to write from.

Music or silence while working?

More and more I find I like to work in complete silence, especially late at night. During the day I don’t mind a bit of music when I’m doing chores. It helps elevate my mood when I’m working on something I’d rather not do.

If you were to move and your home came fully furnished with everything you ever wanted, list at least three things from your old house you wish to retain?

I would want to retain all our musical instruments, all my art work and my antique blanket box. These are the things that add character to our home.

What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?

My least favourite mode of transportation is a speed boat. I’m fine with larger boats, ferries and sailboats but I’ve never understood the thrill of bouncing over waves in a speed boat.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for time spent with my oldest daughter, her partner J and her nephew A. We spent an afternoon at the museum and then we all went to one of my oldest teaching colleagues and best friends for supper.

I know I’ve had a good weekend when I can finish a piece of art. Last week I did the last of the assignments for my on-line class, Table Top Drawing and Painting. I’ll post those pieces later in the week.

This week I’m looking forward to some normalcy. I can continue to organize the library. Everything is finally coming into place. The last of the additions arrived today and will be installed this week. I’ve finally deleted boxes of damaged and old books from the computer and processed half of the new books that I purchased during the book fair.

On Thursday my husband and I are going to the theatre to see The Book of Mormons. I’m really looking forward to that. It’s not often that we get out to see a live show.

Cheers!