Giveaway Time!

Today is the first day to enter for the MyQuesMark Designer Clock giveaway. It is being held at The Mahogany Way, my daughter's blog.


All the details are there, so hop on over to enter!


Good luck!!

The Day Before

Tomorrow is the first day to get in on a 5x7  shadowbox MyQuesMark Designer Clock giveaway. You can't enter here.

The giveaway is being held at  The Mahogany Way, my daughter's blog. She has been my biggest supporter and I couldn't see having this giveaway anywhere else. Of course I'll be looking elsewhere for future giveaways.

This giveaway is limited to those living in the Continental United States and family members are not eligible to enter.

I hand make each clock along with the clock face design.

The clock for this giveaway is a 5x7 shadowbox, a $34.95 value. The winner of the giveaway gets to choose which clock face design they want.

So head on over to The Mahogany Way to get your shot at this clock tomorrow.

Outside Of Mama's Eyes

Hey @MahoganyWayMama, I know you see the kids in pictures all the time, but here's a look outside of your eyes.

I Found Myself In Thought

I finally got around to making it comfortable to work outside. The shade and the breeze are soothing. TheWife was off Wednesday and 'reminded me' that it would be a good idea to put the umbrella up. We have a dining room table that's been around since we've been married....well after we got our first apartment.....anyway, I digress ; the only thing I had to do was to drill the hole and set the umbrella. We had chairs but the table is the only thing that  survived, but these will do for now. 


Now I'm outside and I realized my thoughts spanned several years of my life. A couple of days ago I was thinking of "the thought that kept driving me to do better than where I am" at any given moment in my life, that is what I want to do. Strive to do better, even when others see it as just someone else with a dream. The driving force in this particular thought stems from my tenure as an Autoglass Technician. When I first got into installing, it was a new adventure...learning, hands on, making decisions, getting things done under, at times almost impossible circumstances. Sure there were lots of times when a call was necessary but for the most part it was if I was my own company.


So over the years I made manager and this was a whole new ballgame. I felt as if I was fed to the wolves. I was a 'working manager' and many aspects of the job were never taught...yeah you know, on the managing end. Of course I was to 'pick up on this part' in between installs. It was almost a torturous number of years. So when that didn't work, I was offered a tech job....that's pretty much what they all do when you don't work out as a manager....unless you really screwed up bad. 


Besides my drive to want a better life for myself and my family, I scoped the ranks of the technician pool and I didn't want to be one of those who has toiled and labored for years on end and then retire as a tech. I saw the battered bodies and frustrated minds....but I kept listening to the promise of opportunity...even with another company....and there too, the years of labor taking its toll on the seniors of the tech pool....realizing, if I stayed the course, I would be one of them. 


I'm no better than any of them, but I finally chose to pull myself away from that table, and let the plate fall to its breaking....while I still have the drive and desire to fulfill accomplishments. 


Now I turn my attention to other tables to see what feasts or spoils await.     
    

New Neighbors

We spotted this cocoon in our Canna Lily yesterday.

This is on a branch hanging over into our back area.

On This Father's Day

I almost decided not to do this post but changed my mind again. I am reminded by events that brings perspective to what I'm doing with my life right now. The death of my brother sucked the air right out of me and it took awhile the start breathing again.


My nephew, my only sister's oldest son had a stroke last year. He was fortunate to have someone with him at the time. His stroke was bad, but he is currently recovering. He is walking on his own and takes morning walks by himself. He stutters when he speaks and keeps apologizing whenever we talk...I keep telling him that he doesn't have to do that. I really find joy when we do talk because he continues to make progress.


I talked to my sister today and find out that he has an aneurysm and will be having surgery. 


For whatever reason I didn't find out until three days after the fact, that my third oldest brother suffered a stroke this past Wednesday and he too happened to not be alone. Although his was not as severe as our nephew's, it is a stroke nonetheless. He was at home yesterday but will be off of work for at least 4 weeks. 


I can't help but to think about myself and my family....what can I do for them. What can I do now that will be of benefit to them in the future. Life insurance?...sure. What more can I do? Some may say that insurance is enough. Not me. 


These aforementioned events have touched that nerve...you know the one. That is why what I do is so important for me. I value my life and all that God has given me. My abilities, my desires, my love for those that have come into this life behind me. For me, it's not just a matter of raising your children, but helping them to reach and to achieve, to realize they too have goals that can be reached. 


So I continue to show my love by doing what I do in hopes that will be of substance to them in their future. Utilizing my time to build on the foundation that was started in my mind, many years ago...never giving up on that dream. 


With that, I'd like to say that my second clock sold this past Friday. Some of you may have seen the prototype. 


Here is the final design of the 8 x 8 clock...Rise Above...

MyQuesMark Rise Above Clock Design

Here it is in the shadow box I made for either wall mount or desktop
complete with painted frame

Here is Darcy holding his brand new clock...I wonder if he realizes he's holding the only clock of its kind (as per design)
I would venture to say in all the world.
Thanks Darcy!


If it all stops here and now, in my heart I have succeeded....I don't know how much time I have left and if I ask God, he wouldn't tell....besides, I don't want to know. I want to continue to work this time that I have because things are put into perspective,
On This Father's Day

What's Going On

I have been steadfastly busy trying to find my niche and still may be empty, but I feel as if I am in a groove if you will. It is difficult to find something that the consumer will take a look at, let alone buy. 


I do believe I am on my way though. 


So have I found what may be something that could find itself into the homes?


Only time will tell.


To see what I talking about, please visit my website at WhatrUWorkinOn.com


If you like what you see, please leave a comment.

They're All Miracles

Welcome to the Second Edition of the  Black Birth Carnival. Hosted by Darcel of The Mahogany Way Birth Cafe and Nicole of Musings From The Mind of Sista Midwife.

The Topic: Not Without Our Fathers. So often we talk birth in women circles. We celebrate birth within the feminine community and forget that without the fathers our birth experiences would be non existent. June 17th marks the day many will celebrate fathers in this country. With that in mind we came up with our topic for this installment of the Black Birth Blog Carnival.

This post you will be updated with live links by Noon, linking back to the other participants posts.

I don't know what the stats are for men of color to be present when their children are born, but I for one wouldn't trade that for anything. It is definitely life changing. 

I remember when TheWife was in labor at the hospital with Darcel. We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. I didn't know if I was going into the delivery room or not. We didn't attend any of those Lamaze classes (heck, I don't know if they had them back then). So it's time for her to go in and it wasn't until then I was told to get myself ready. I'm in there nervous and ready. TheWife was in labor for hours so it wasn't very long after, Darcel was born into this world. I was soooo happy and all smiles....I was so up there I knew then that as a man, that was the ultimate human experience. You see firsthand and robe yourself in as close a birth experience without giving birth, that you will have for the rest of your life. You see what the woman in your life goes through ....I can only imagine how home birth fathers can put into words their experiences.


Now Reg was a totally different experience. Apparently TheWife and her grandmother had made plans for the labor time at the hospital to be minimal...without telling me. I knew it was time for us to leave and couldn't figure out what in the world they were waiting for. Her grandmother finally says it's time to go. I'm driving like all get out but don't take the freeway because it's late with hardly any traffic. I keep checking on her to make sure everything is ok. We're just about there and I could almost tell by the way she was positioning herself in the seat that things were getting or had already gotten to the point of, we really need to be at the hospital. I miss the turn into the parking lot, get it turned around and she says she's not going to be able to go in so I run in and tell them my wife is having a baby and I remember a nurse getting a wheelchair and I told her it was beyond that. Before you know it my car is almost surrounded....next thing I know, Reg is born. I didn't get to see his birth, (I was crowded out) but it was an experience I will never forget.

Experiencing child birth up close doesn't stop with mine...I have had the pleasure to be there with two of My3Grands. Kiah was the first and Samuel was the third. Although I wasn't there for Ava's birth I still feel as if I was a part of it because TheWife and I were watching Kiah during Ava's home birth. We got updates by phone from DaddyCharles. When we got the ok to come to there place, it still felt magical....like we were there the whole time.


I'm not sure if I captured the moments in words, what I had experienced with these five loving souls that are in my life. I don't know if I am a different person versus not having the experience of child birth, but there is one thing I know for certain....the sounds of a woman struggling through the stages of labor, into giving birth....the sounds of a baby's first cry, the sounds of joy expressed by all....can never be taken away....they are all miracles.

Please take the time to read and comment on the other participants posts. Shahmet at Adia Publishing: A Father Before Birth Reggie at WhatrUWorkinon?: They're All Miracles Nicole at Musings From The Mind of Sista Midwife: #BlackBirth Not Without Our Fathers Darcel at The Mahogany Way Birth Cafe: Are Men at Birth Important? Alexis at The Ivy Expansion: A Fathers Love Mavhu at F.W. Hargrove: I Birth At Home Twitter Hashtag #BlackBirth