To Tommy and Natalie with Love...

To Tommy and Natalie with Love...

She has a voice, but doesn't talk
She has two legs, but can not walk.
Her eyes however, she can see,
the love that's filled inside of me.

God chose you to lead the way,
and help her through the toughest days.
The strength and courage still remain.
Our lives will never be the same.
Just be patient and be true,
this precious child depends on you.

Love Always,
Mom/Grammie copyright by Janet Harrold

"Hailey"

oil on canvas board
11x14
one of my favorites

The South End

8"x8"
original oil on panel
$75.00 sold Thank you!

Two Oranges

Original 8" x 8" oil on canvas panel, $50 (+ $12 shipping)

Five Pears

Original 8" x 8" oil on canvas panel, Five Pears $75 (+ $12 shipping)

This will be the first of many paintings posted that will benefit Hailey's therapies. Subscribe via email or check back often to see different works. Commissions also welcome!!!

I wondered when the next time that I would write in my blog would be, after having Hailey here for a sleepover last night it would have to be now. A typical day for me usually starts at about 5:30a.m. This time of year it is pitch black and freezing outside. Most of my friends say that I am a creature of habit, that I work too much, and I barely know how to relax. This morning was totally different. As I lie beside Hailey patiently waiting for her to wake up. I can't help but pause... savor the moment, I really miss her since the kids moved out a few months ago. She looks so peaceful (they say that kids with Cerebral Palsy are only still while they are completely at rest) as the morning sun shines on her beautiful face, I can't believe that I am still. Hailey certainly has a way of making me slow down. I wonder if she will wake up in a good mood or if she will be crabby when she finds she is not at her new home. A little bit of time goes by and she begins rubbing her eyes. As they slowly begin to open, I look at her and say "good morning sunshine" and though Hailey is considered non verbal at this point, she looks at me, and in a very soft tired voice she says the one word she can say clearly... "Hi". I say "Can Grammy please have some Monday morning kisses?" I lean over to give her a little kiss and instead, she puts her hands together and signs exactly what she always signs when she sees me. Hailey wants me to read her a book. I tell her " No honey, we can't read a book right now, we have to go eat, Hailey has an 11:00 appointment with one of her therapist. I'll never have enough time to read, cook, feed her and get us both dressed and be on time for her appointment if I start reading. I need to be firm. I shouldn't give in. Again... Hailey gives me the sign to read a book. How can I say no when it is so difficult for her to communicate. I can't.

That was this mornings news, did you hear Thursday nights news? If most of you are on facebook you've heard, but for those who are not let me set the scene. It was Thursday night, the kids just got home put Hailey down on the floor and went to get their pajamas on, when they came out of their room a minute later, Hailey was up on her knees!!! That's right, she rolled over curled her body and lifted herself up on her knees for the first time. This was such exciting news! Though I said I will not cry for Hailey anymore, I couldn't help but shed a silent tear when they told me. It's little things like this that we take for granted everyday. But for Hailey this is huge, My family is filled with hope.

For those of you who know Hailey personally, you know that she is a fighter. She fought to come in this world, she then fought to stay in this world. It's because of her will and determination that I will never, ever underestimate what Hailey can accomplish. I am so proud of you Hailey! xoxo

Painting for Hailey

For those of you who know me well, know that I am not so computer literate. This is my first attempt at a blog (thought that I would practice for my soon to be website).

There is an online art magazine that I follow that is always looking for stories about artists and how and what inspires them to be creative. I recently contacted them about what inspires me. As you all know I have been dabbling in art for many years now, but lately I have been driven by my beautiful granddaughter Hailey. Hailey has always loved to be read to. Her love for reading has inspired me to write a children's book for her "ABC's Flowers and Trees A Walk in The Public Garden's" What a lot of you who have read my book don't know is that there are a lot of hidden things in the book that are specific to my family, for example: The A is for Artist page is supposed to be me painting en plein air. On the page M is for Magnolia page, there is a man sitting on the park bench reading "The Boston Globe" where my husband is a pressman and has been for many years, and on the V is for Violin page, the wandering minstrels are in reference to my son (Hailey's dad) being a music industry major at Northeastern University. Not only was this a book written for Hailey to grow with but a book that has specific meaning to our family as a whole.
Anyway, after telling red easel about what inspired me to write my book and how from this day on any money raised from selling the book to doing author events, any paintings that I sell, anything at all to do with selling my artwork, all of the money raised will go directly to Hailey's many therapies that are not covered by insurance. Red easel asked me to write a story for them, and they will publish some of my work in their gallery and also set up a donation button for Hailey's cause. How exciting! Another thing that I have begun doing in 2010 is putting a discretely placed green Cerebral Palsy Awareness ribbon in all of my newly completed works. So if any of you have received or purchased a painting from me recently or in the future, look for that ribbon and feel great about contributing to a good cause.
Bottom line here is that I am doing something I love to do while trying to help someone that I love very much, and for that I am totally inspired, driven and committed.