Monday, February 28, 2011

Mary's bedtime


Mary and Daisy


When my daughter Mary was an infant, every day at around 6 p.m. she would start to cry for no reason at all. She didn’t need to be changed, she wasn’t hungry and she didn’t care if you held her, rocked her or lay her in her crib.  She just cried inconsolably.  Perhaps her tirade is better described as screaming like a banshee. Her face turned beet red, with her eyes tightly closed and her cherubic cheeks scrunched up.  We started calling it the 6 O’clock crazies.  The doctor seemed to think that it was just a normal build up of the days events that just had to be released somewhere. 

After the outburst was over, she slept.  Her face again took on that sweet, angelic appearance.  I grabbed a camera to capture this oh so serene moment.  When the photos were developed (those were the days of film and developing) I so loved the way she looked asleep that, much to her chagrin, I continued taking...and taking sleeping photos of her.

Throughout her life no matter how naughty she was during the day, when her eyes closed the halo was there.  So being the annoying mother (so I’m told) I am I grabbed my camera and snapped away.  When I wanted a smile, I pulled one of those photos out and I couldn’t control the involuntary “Awwwwwwww.”

Years passed and I snapped photo after photo.  I have dozens of sleeping Marys. I love and cherish them all, even the ones that show a gaping, drooling mouth. Of course she didn't appreciate them as much as I did, especially when I pulled the scrapbooks out for friends and relatives.  


From the archives of my old sketchbooks, is one of my very favorite sleepers…Mary and Daisy.  Yes she loved to sleep with kittens, hamsters, puppies, ducks, bunnies and whatever other cuddly critter she could sneak in.  "Awwwwwww!"

P.S.  This will be my last post for a few days because Wednesday I am on my way to Texas to witness the graduation of my son from basic training.  See you all on Sunday….with tales of my western adventures Yee ha!

I believe that this also qualifies for Mr. Toasts "Creative Tuesdays." Many thanks for getting me thinking about my old "Bedtime" memories.


28 comments:

EVA said...

What a wonderful story and a fabulous sketch!!

Makes me smile too!! :):):)

Wanda said...

Oh waht a lovey sketch.. It just says so much. And as always, I love your narrative.

Good job, and welcome to Mr. Toast's Theme Tuesday.

Birdie said...

This is such a beautiful sketch! Great job! Makes me want to borrow my housemate's cat and cuddle up. Only Nico is not easy to deal with. *sigh* there's always something ;)

Congrats on your son's graduation.

Anonymous said...

Crystal this is such a beautiful and peaceful sketch of your daughter. Your words are always wonderful to read too.

Have a safe trip and enjoy your visit with your son~~~

Morph Waffle said...

What a beautifully sweet drawing! Yay and congrats, for your son, he made it through basic, now he can accomplish anything!

Lee Pierce said...

Wonderful moments captured on paper...sleeping children have a soothing effect (especially on their parents)
Great sketch! Lovely story.
Have a safe trip and Celebrate and Enjoy your son!

Betsy Brock said...

This is so sweet! I know exactly what you're talking about here. I could have a 'day from hell' with my triplets but peaking in at them sleeping later that evening always amazed me how they looked so angelic. lol.

Your drawing is just beautiful!

Best of luck to your son!

Heather said...

Crystal,
this is a beautiful story. I love how you have told this....so many a times i look at my girls, Summer and Saylor, and think they are little angels when they are sleeping...oh, i need to start taking pictures, i think.
what a wonderful memory to share with us....
This is the SWEETEST sketch....
ps - I thought i was the most annoying mom???? LOL, glad there are more than one of us out there...he he he

enjoy Texas, have a great time!!!!

lissa said...

very angelic, and what a sweet drawing

Dara Marlynne said...

My first thoughts when I saw this were "Aaawwww!" Then I read your story and couldn't help saying it again. So sweet!

Marlene said...

Awwwwww is right, such a special drawing. Reminded me of my favorite picture of my grandson asleep in the middle of his mom's bed with the sunlight dappling over him.

Franz said...

Very nice design! You have captured the tenderness of your daughter!

Ciao!!

Leovi said...

Really nice and tender this illustration. Children when they sleep are angels, and let us rest a while ...

Christine said...

oh Mary does look so peaceful and angelic. Love your song playing in the background.

Janice said...

Oh, yes, this is perfect for the bedtime theme and what a lovely sketch it is. There is something so endearing about a sleeping child.

Have a great time in Texas. You must be very proud of your son.

Jenny said...

oh yes, sleeping children are blissful :) What a lovely post and beautiful sketch to match...I bet your daughter would be pleased with this one :)

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story and the sketch is beautiful. Enjoy your time away and be safe.
QMM

BeautifulDees said...

How precious...you captured her perfect,someday she will appreciate it. You are so darn talented.God bless your son. You sound like an all American family.
Love,Debbie

Jehanne's doodles said...

Oh what a fantastic drawing. you really captured her. That sleeping pose is one that my daughter most desires, the only problem she has is that the dog would not co-operate :)

Michael said...

Angelic indeed and so love the kitty bundled up with her. Your drawing style is amazing. A natural illustrator. It wi be fun to see in the montage, Crystal. Thanks for joining in. I look forward to waht you do for the next theme, if you decide to play along. :)

Unknown said...

Definately gets the awwww factor... love it... have a good time away...

Anonymous said...

Such a precious sketch of Mary and Daisy!

Enjoy your trip to Texas...be safe.

jamberry_song said...

What a beautiful post. :) I adore the sketch! Poor little kitten, though. XD Congrats to your son on his basic training graduation!!

pve design said...

Always at supper time seems to be the most challenging time with children....what a wonderful story and memory for you to share. What does sleeping beauty think?
Safe travel to you and best to your son.
pve

Deborah said...

That prompted an involuntary awww from me too, what a wonderful post, a pleasure to read.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Congrats to your son & have a good trip. Regarding Mary & Daisy? Awwwwwww!

Christine said...

You have a real talent for drawing children and pets Crystal. I think children are especially hard to draw, but you just have the right touch.

Margaret said...

Yes, when they fall asleep they are angels. So sweet. You should frame this!

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