One of my friends, the actress and singer Gay Soper, once answered this facebook question What does Maria Shipley do when she is bored? by writing she blogs.

This is funny as I have to work really hard to make time to write. As a working mother, I just try to sit down when the teenage kids are quiet. Sure enough, after two minutes, one of them shows up with a need. During the writing of a single blog post, I get up 12 times on average. Forget the gym and sit-ups, just work on your sit-downs to reach the computer.

Foliage art

This picture was taken from our 4th floor pointing at the collection of leaves in the cul-de-sac. The wind was the painter and he was not very happy with it as he erased it soon after.

At first glance,this scenery reminded me a bit of lit buildings, sitting at the end of the world, silhouetted against the deep black sky. This is my amateurish voice.

Forest An der Waldlust Oberursel

Fall is one the prettiest seasons around here. I was walking with my teenage daughter when I took this photo.

Thanks to her, I was being reminded again how boring these pictures are. I do remember thinking – not voicing it out loud – the same when I took a rare walk with my parents during my child hood. My mom would point out pink roses  red geraniums and I would also think How boring!

I have learned to collect a lot of unsolicited advice from my teenagers. I have learned to go ahead with what I think is right. I can take their snickers, off comments, criticism and now… I have to get up once more to sign my daughter’s planner, coinciding with the kitchen timer going off and my son asking when our late lunch is ready, I sign off.

Family – The Ties that Bind…And Gag! by Erma Bombeck on Amazon.com