Fun Monday #2,153

MJD at Return of the White Robin is this week's hostess for Fun Monday. I honestly don't know how many Fun Mondays there have been - but I have enjoyed them ALL. Her challenge this week was as such: "I am asking that you show us something that hangs on your wall that is fun, interesting, endearing, sentimental, or otherwise enticing. Select the picture of Uncle Horace, Grandma Galt's needlepoint, or little Susie's first finger painting to show the blogging community." Her advice about how to take photos using the flash was good - and that's why some of these are taken from very low.

Of course, in true Tiggerlane-style, I couldn't pick just ONE favorite - but at least one item per member of our family. It's only fair.

This first item made me cry when I received it. When Amber was about 3 years old, we visited my parents in Laguna Beach, CA, and one of my uncles was selected as an exhibitor in the presitigous Festival of the Arts. A real estate broker by trade, he has always loved photography - and shot some very candid photos of Amber while we were in town. As a surprise, he sent us three portraits of her, complete with mats and frames. I was touched that he took the time and effort to send us this precious gift and that he down-played his talent by claiming it was just a "silly hobby." This is my absolute favorite, though all three hang on our dining room walls:This next photo was taken by a dear photographer friend (who is also now a dear friend of mine) and former roommate of my husband's, back in their wild and crazy days in New Smyrna Beach, FL. I'm not sure if he is dressing or undressing, but there was a nude beach involved. Before my parents met Roger, I wanted so desperately to send them this photo and say, "Hey - this is the dude I'm gonna marry!" It would have sent them into cardiac arrest. The little photo tucked in the corner was taken at a different time, but be assured, Roger IS naked in that one. Don't click it to big it, or report me to the authorities.Now, many people know I received my bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, but they are sometimes puzzled as to why I have a picture of the school mascot on my wall. Well, my mother used to be a fabulous pastel portrait artist, and during one of my summers home from college, she talked me into attending a class with her. I'd always dabbled in art during my younger years but had never tried using pastels as a medium. I couldn't think of anything to draw, so I settled on our school mascot, Reveille IV. If you want an idea of how close I got to the photograph I was working from, check out this link, and scroll down a bit. I'm always proud when people tell me that they think my pastel work is a photograph. If you look closely at the bottom right corner, you can see my signature: "TGrant '87":
Last night, I got the pleasure of having a long visit with Arkansas Songbird after we attended a wedding together. She and I always talk about her job as a choir director and music teacher, and I'm impressed with the amount of love and care she places in her Choir Incentive Awards program. She also makes a special effort to customize the certificates achieved by her students to the particular tastes of each student. We were talking about the various point levels and The Offspring's current standing - just b/c I'm that kind of obsessive compulsive Type-A parent. I remembered that Amber achieved Level I this past year, and here is her certificate, which hangs proudly on our wall, next to the portrait I shared with you earlier:I hesitated to show you all this, since the full name of our dear blogger friend is displayed so prominently - but then, she has it displayed, along with her photograph, on her own public choir web site, so I figured it would be okay with her.

The list for this Fun Monday seems to be the longest EVER! So, it may take me a while to visit all of you - but be assured that I will start first thing in the morning! I can't wait to see what you all have hanging around!