Order of the Fenex ( & Tattoo Goo)

The Psych who tested Daniel for ADHD last summer said that one of his deficits was in hand-eye coordination & fine motor skills, and, no surprise, he doesn't like practising either, so he's quite delayed in those areas. So this year, Chris and I got him doing fine motor skills activities that give him results he can be proud of. Freehand drawings of a phoenix, or free-style painting? Difficult, frustrating, and the end result is notsogood. Cross-stitching a phoenix, or painting D & D figurines? Also difficult and frustrating, but the results are something he can show off.

See?

( It's Fawkes the Phoenix! )

He completed this in the spring, and decided to give it to Chris for his birthday. Chris was pleased. And instead of making it into a cushion, he wanted it framed. So a little while ago, I took it to a framing store.

Clerk: *gives extensive, informative and very helpful suggestions re. frames*
Me: *nods and says uh-huh a lot*
Clerk: All right, then, I'll type up the estimate... *types in size, frame, etc.* Hm... what would you call the picture... *types in Flaming chicken under "description"*
Me: LOL! Yeah, I guess it does look a bit like that.
Clerk: *blinks, a bit startled*
Me: Like a chicken. It's actually a phoenix.
Clerk: *keeps blinking*
Me: You know, a phoenix? Rises from its ashes? *pause* It's a mythical bird. It dies in flames, then it's born again out of its ashes.
Clerk: OK... *smiles vaguely* So... do you want me to type that in, then?
Me: *struggles not to snicker* Yeah, sure.
Clerk: *types in Fenex*
Me: *struggles some more*
Clerk: I'll put "flaming chicken" in brackets, though, for the other staff, in case I'm not here when you come to get it done. Just so they know what it means.
Me: Um, yeah. Thanks. That'll... that'll probably help. *keeps straight face on till safely out of store* *snorfles on the street*

***
Wanna see ( more art? )

That's me! Or rather, my shoulderblade. Got it done yesterday. It's a Celtic Motherhood Knot. Each pip represents one of my children.

Chris did point out that it would look more balanced if it had three pips, and also helpfully pointed out that I've noted many times that I often feel like I'm really looking after three little boys, not two.

"Chris, you'll want to put on pants before going to work."

"Chris, how about we not have Guns'N'Roses 'Back Off Bitch' playing while the kids' D & D group is here?"

"Chris! Time to turn off your Star Wars game and put the kids to bed!"


Hmm... perhaps he has a point...