Christmas Preparations...

In a departure from the usual 'picture' post I'm just gonna let off a little Christmas preparation steam.
We have been hosting the family Christmas (and Thanksgiving and Easter) gatherings for the past 7 years.  Everyone pitches in with bringing food dishes, while I do the turkey, stuffing, gravy and potatoes.  Usually the sisters-in-law and aunt cut up the turkey; people bring desserts and punch fixin's...Its a load of fun.

Unfortunately, over the last years, my own family of 6 has managed to accumulate a remarkable amount of detritus. Unwanted, unused, unnecessary stuff that really has no place here anymore. This crazy accumulation must stop! In fact, I've begun, over the last couple of years, to get rid of a lot of stuff. Somehow, everytime I turn around, there seems to be more of it. I"m baffled. Utterly flumoxed. Where does it all come from?  Why is it still here!?

Well, I've begun again to purge.  It doesn't seem to happen quickly enough, but I have, at least, managed to pass along a couple of real space-eaters: a ping pong table and an air hockey table.  I've discovered the most wonderful site:  http://www.freecycle.org/, where you can offer up your Stuff, free to good home! Love it! It makes me excited to unload our still good but unwanted stuff. Frees up all kinds of lovely space in my garage or basement, and gives the stuff a new life.   Whew!  Next will be to try Kijiji for the few items that are still worth a few bucks.

I dream, not of a white Christmas, but of a clean, uncluttered, airy home. A place where running the vacuum doesn't end up in a obstacle run, and dusting is simple because there is simply nothing to dust around! I can hardly wait!

Besides, how does one host a party for 22 people in a jungle like this?  I'm completely over having to shuffle stuff from one room to the next, hiding stuff behind closed doors, squirreling things away (in the likelihood they'll never be seen again!). Christmas is stressful because of all the clutter. Well, it may be a bit late for perfection for this Christmas, but I am declaring that by next Christmas, the clutter will not live here anymore!  (wish me luck!)  It will naturally entail giving away stuff that isn't mine, that in fact belongs to my kids or my husband. Too bad.  This is war. War on clutter. War on the junk that brings me down, that enslaves us all! (Maniacle laughter here). 

I'll try to update this...or maybe start a different blog to chronicle my adventure. Hmmm. that may be the answer in many ways.

Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone. I wish you blessing and peace from the Father of Lights.

Horse Romance

"Romance"

Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 24"
© Renee Fukumoto
NFS - prints pending

This painting was inspired by the horses of a couple of my friends. On the left is Jazz, who remembers his stallion days and courted Friday (on the right) so sweetly. He trotted big fancy circles around her, showing off, then came to her quietly and curled his neck over hers. She tolerated him quite well. I took the picture of them in the sand ring; quite a poor photo really, and an uninspiring background. So, I gave them a domain of their own with the Niagara escarpment in the background.

I'd like to make prints of it, once I locate a place to have professional digital image made - anyone interested?  Contact me at reneefukumoto@hotmail.com