Wordless Wednesday 20/04/2016... Creative Breakfast

Kimmie x

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Deck the Halls... better late than never.

I'm late posting my Christmas paraphernalia this year. I usually have the halls decked by the 1st of December but (despite making a start early November) I was well into December before finishing. 

Fibromyalgia had me decking the halls with boughs-of-ouchie, and as this is my first Christmas without Dad there wasn't a lot of fa-la-la'ing going on. I'm glad I pushed on with it though, Littlie's eyes are shinning as a child's eyes should be, and me? Well, I love Christmas, and the Merry-and-Bright is doing me the world of good... Fa-la-la-la-la...la-la-la-la :o) 

Christmas is my absolute favorite... I like it a lottle (that's like a little, but a lot). 

I love the lead up to Christmas, I delight in the fairy lights and decorations which fill almost every corner of my home. I love the chaos of Christmas morning... the mess that out does all messes - the pringle-crumb-carpet - the tripping over of the long and short legs sprawled out into the middle of my very small dinning room as I attempt to get to the back door for a quick cigarette break - the 5am stumble along the landing to be greeted by a wide awake Littlie with stocking in hand, shouting "he's been Mummy, he's been!" 

I love it all, and despite the underlying sadness this year I'm really looking forward to Christmas morning with my gorgeous ones. 

Right, that's enough of my rambling... better-late-than-never; our home has been well and truly decked and I'd really love to share it with you all.

My house is a squash-and-a-squeeze and the dinning table's been packed away to make room for the tree so (unless you're a fairy) there's nowhere to sit, but you're all so welcome!  Heating's on, kettle's on, and there's mince pies in the tin... help yourselves.

And now to the Merry-and-Bright... 

My tree... An evening job (more accurately several evenings), on my own with Rod Stewart ringing in my ears... No touching (or tail-wagging) allowed! 

The lounge trees... a joint effort... some touching allowed :o) 

Littlie's tree (in her bedroom), she gets to do what she likes with this one... I like it but wouldn't wanna sleep with it... she loves it :)

The back door... this picture doesn't show the full glory of this area of the house at Christmas time... it's my favorite part of the house when decked... the windows mirror all of the downstairs fairy lights giving the impression that the whole garden is lit up...it's magical!

The old fish tank... which stands in the dinning room for most of the year looking like a heap of, well, old fish tank, and is magically (with the help of 4 rolls of cotton wool and a ton of fake snowflakes) transformed into Littlie's winter-wonderland each Christmas. 

The banisters

Most of my decs are years old... that's what makes them so special... my halls are decked with memories... Christmassy pages of my life...my kid's lives. I do add something to the collection each year though and this gorgeous Nativity is the latest addition. I love it! 

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Thank you all, Dear friends, readers-of-my-rambles for your support this past year...it's been a tough one and I couldn't have got through it without YOU! 

I wish you all a very merry Christmas 

Thank you for allowing me to share 

God bless you and all those you love 

Kimmie x

P.S... 

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Flower Pot Doodle... Wordless Wednesday 14/10/2015

Kimmie x

Copyright©2015kimmie All Rights Reserved

Wordless Wednesday 30/09/2015... Doodle

Kimmie x

Art for Anxiety, Finding the Self, and Finding each Other. A guest post, by Amy Oestreicher.

I love creating inchie art, and in dire medical circumstances, this was the best way to express my uneasiness in the midst of uncertainty. Each individual inchie expressed a fear, worry or concern I had about my future. I called this "Can't Distract" because I was unable to take my thoughts away from this anxiety. Rather than deny these thoughts, I made art from them. Suddenly they became less scary. 

Art Therapy for Finding the Self - I am Myself - Art and Mental Health. 

Originally Published in Dropping Keys

The pieces I have the most fun creating are the ones that I have no expectations for. This started by some random shredding and gluing of newspapers, magazines, coupons, plastic, wrap, gum papers, and whatever else I was about to throw out. Then, I spent hours just painting layers and layers of paint, trying to obscure some of the printed text. Eventually, this face emerged. For me, this symbolized the process of finding myself - hard to find at first, but with each layer, applied tediously and determinedly with meticulousness and great care, my face eventually surfaced. 

Art Therapy for Finding Each Other 

I created this for my mother at a time when it was hard for us to have hope. For me, yoga is centering for my body, and the poses are very grounding. I painted us both in the tree asana with the quote, "If we stand like trees, we can weather the storm". 

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Amy Oestreicher is a 28 year old actress, musician, teacher, composer, dancer, writer, artist, yogi, foodie, and general lover of life. Surviving and thriving through a coma, 27 surgeries and other trauma has inspired Amy to share her story with the world through her passionate desire to create and help others. Piecing her life together after her initial dreams of performing musical theatre took on a beautiful detour into broader horizons. Amy has written, directed and starred ia a one woman musical about her life, Gutless and Grateful, has flourished as a mixed media and acrylic artist, with her art in multiple galleries and mounting dozens of solo art shows, and continues to share her story through her art, music, theatre and writings. 

More information on her unique story, as well as her creative ventures can be found at amyoes.com, visit her blog for her newest art, music and INSPIRATIONAL musings. 

You can also visit Amy's Etsy shop HERE, and learn more about her show HERE 

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My thanks to Amy, for being my guest today, and as always, Thank YOU dear reader, for allowing me to share. 

God bless you and all those you love. 

Kimmie x 

Oooh, wait, I almost forgot... The poem! - Amy's beautiful, breathtaking, MUST READ, poem :) 

If (like me) you're a lover of poetry, you're gonna love this!... It's a long one, so I'll just give you a teaser here. Click on the 'read more' text under the excerpt if you want to read the poem in full. (I hope you do, it's one of the most beautiful poems I've ever read!) 

INTRUSION ~ By Amy Oestreicher. 

Whether I am the trespasser, alien 

The outcast, the tortoise turned on it's side 

I can see the stream from here 

and I long to dance with the source 

Can I fish for you, blue glimpse? 

A glimpse of the word as it was intended to be 

The realism thrills me 

In a world of perfect 

geometric-shapes, painted signs, bright-red-automobiles 

my hollow shell over flows with relief  

READ MORE 

Copyright©2015AmyOestreicher

Wordless Wednesday (Adult Colouring) 16/09/2015

Kimmie x

Reblogged from 'The Grumbling Gargoyle'.. Behind Closed Doors...

The Grumbling Gargoyle: Behind Closed Doors...: Some of the brave performers

Over the last few weeks, I have been humongously privileged enough to be part of a project, Stand Up To Stigma, funded by Time To Change and delivered by The Comedy Trust, whose aims endeavour to tackle the problem of mental health discrimination....

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'Boop & Cookie's' #WOWpetition journey. (2013)

JANUARY 2013 - 'Betty' and 'Cookie' look on the internet for help and find support and friends at *WOW petition*

FEBRUARY 2013 - 'Betty' and 'Cookie' along with thousands of other sick and disabled people worry that the WCA will discriminate against them - It should be abolished!

MARCH 2013 - The horrible 'scrounger' rhetoric, government/media propaganda keep 'Betty and 'Cookie' (& thousands of others) awake at night, they use Twitter to build resistance.

APRIL 2013 - Forced to chose between heating and eating WOWzers everywhere stay strong and continue to support each other. Because they have love in their hearts.

MAY 2013 - But the Government is relentless in it's cruelty and 'Betty and 'Cookie' along with many others are forced to use a foodbank to survive.

JUNE 2013 - But even food aid is limited by the evil department of work and pensions and soon the cupboard is bare. 

JULY 2013 - Hit by cumulative cuts, sanctions, bedroom tax and council tax they lose their home and are forced to live in a tent. 

AUGUST 2013 - But the tent is destroyed by tabloid reading vandals so 'Betty' and 'Cookie' sleep under the stars. 

SEPTEMBER 2013 - 'Betty & 'Cookie' agree - It's time to resist the 'War On Welfare' - Time to make a stand! 

OCTOBER 2013 - Not even ghosts and ghouls can scare 'Betty' & 'Cookie' - after all they are fighting a whole Government! 

NOVEMBER 2013 - 'Betty' & 'Cookie' want *Change* - Together with thousands of other allies they are determined to defeat the evil DWP!

DECEMBER 2013 - 'Betty & 'Cookie' along with fellow WOWzers celebrate the success (100,000+ signatures) of the #WOWpetition! 

On the 27th February 100,000 strong take on Westminster - A main chamber debate (the first of it's kind) - BY disabled people FOR disabled people!  

'Boop & 'Cookie's story was a bit of fun which helped to raise awareness of and gather support for #WOWpetition during 2013 - The demonizing of UK disabled people however is a very serious matter. 

Thousands of sick and disabled people have been and are being hurt by the Governments welfare reforms!.... So my friends on behalf of all concerned - If you signed/supported the #WOWpetition during 2013 and continue to support the WOWcampaign now ....*THANK YOU* ! 

Thank you as always for allowing me to share 

God bless you and all those you love 

Kimmie x 

UPDATE: We won the debate :O)