"No! This can't be so!" I didn't know whether to breathe, or cry, or jump up & down! Wait ... surely just a dream. When I found my breath and my phone, I called Lydia ... ... and she answered, laughing out loud! She made me laugh, but my tears were literally leaping off my face ... I think Lydia could possibly hear them splashing on the phone. Silly little fact: I used to know exactly how many dirty girls I had met IRL, seriously! Summary? I am beyond honored to be here in the Dirt Pile. Oh .. my .. goodness! Thank you big bunches, Ms. Lydia!!
In real life, I'm Bev Gerard, a.k.a. TexasGrammy, wife, Mom, Mimi, friend, Tex. Every one of those `hats' defines a special part of me. I've been married over 36 years, and we're blessed with a son, a daughter, and 4 precious Grands. Hubby & I shared many dates with fishing poles and bait-in-hand before we married and began to raise our little family. I grew up in small-town Oklahoma, spending some of my favorite younger years on a farm. Even though I'm a "city girl" now, I try never to forget those sweet roots. In fact, many of my 28 hometown classmates & I still try to get together periodically for laughs and "catch-ups". They're like brothers & sisters to me in many ways. Sandwiched between early years and now, I've taught 1st Grade, Kindergarten, and Reading Recovery.
Creativity is something I've explored much of my life but I honestly consider myself to be a "dabbler". It started with mud pies baked carefully on a hot Oklahoma sidewalk, sewing, playing piano, cross-stitching, pouring & firing ceramics ... but I've never been able to draw. For those of us who cannot draw, it's rubber stamps to the rescue! My daughter, Jessica, is responsible for having introduced me to stamping. With curious eyes I watched as she trimmed her first SU stamp set, then began to play with her brand new olive & eggplant inks. Well, that's all it took. Consider me "sold"! Later, I named myself TexasGrammy when I joined SCS (again, found by my DD). At that time DH & I were still "in waiting" for our first little ones to arrive within a couple of months. Who knew the littles would choose to speak "Mimi" instead of "Grammy"!
Needless to say, this past month has been a true roller-coaster of emotion. I hope to feel a lot more comfy and settled soon, and I plan to totally savor every moment of this unexpected creative journey to the fullest. I owe many untold "thanks" to Lydia and my countless "mentors" a.k.a. teachers and sharing friends from right here at our treasured SCS!
~ Bev
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011 GMT Views: 1722
Favorited:3
Splitcoast Artist in Residence Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Mix-Ability Challenge Hostess
Registered: October 19, 2004 Location: Warsaw, MO Posts: 16989
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 3:39 PM
Soooooooooo happy for you, Bev - it's sweet to have a friend hop on the pile! Hope you are able to relax and breathe and just ENJOY this now! I will still be your calm coach if you need me! LOL... Bev's DIRTY!!!!!!
Registered: April 23, 2006 Location: Looking For Teapots! Posts: 59742
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 4:40 PM
Rut Roh! Grammy's dirty! Tee hee! Whoot! I am so excited for you Bev! Wowza....whata wonderful wonderful choice this month! You are gonna rock that world in the dirt pile over the next 6 months! You are so very deserving and I am excited for you!
Registered: September 3, 2007 Location: native Texan living in extreme N. GA Posts: 73386
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 4:59 PM
Oh, Bev! It's just so wonderful to see you here and it's definitely about time, my friend! You always have such amazing projects and I can't wait to see what you'll do here. Have a blast and enjoy the ride!
Registered: August 31, 2006 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 14029
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 5:10 PM
Oh.My.Gosh.
Congrats to you!!!! You are such a doll and so lucky to have met you IRL at CHA!
It's about time you landed in the dirt pile! I'm so excited for you!
Registered: July 27, 2005 Location: Texas USA Posts: 13067
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 5:32 PM
About time lady!! What a fantastic surprise this month!! Happy as a clam for you!! And just when I was wondering how the DD Pile could get any better!! Hugs to you my friend!
Registered: May 11, 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 8504
Sun, May 15, 2011 @ 6:25 PM
Hey Bev!! You've been "Dirty" so long...I'm certainly not surprised at all to see you here!! Congratulations, sweet friend!! You know I LOVE your work!!