Elan Creations – Page 2

April 9, 2025April 9, 2025

AtoZ…Letter ‘E’

Hello fellow AtoZ Blogger’s…Been trying to get back in the game and really it’s just simple … Just do it already. Been preoccupied by the stock market, but I was pretty sure that President Trump knew what he was doing. Still it was/is a little bit Iggy …

Then I had a set back on my book, the one with Winston that I’ll go into at a later time. Right now I just want to do some writing about the letter ‘E’…

I’m going to write about our side business, Elan Creations…First off the meaning of “Elan/With Eagerness of Spirit.” This word has so much importance in my life. This concept literally saved my life and I would not be the woman I am today. It’s not just word, it’s a way of life for me !!! Another story for another day

We named our side hustle, i.e. small on-line business, that incorporated this word. Mean, nasty, jealous people have tried to ruin our business again and again, but we are thriving and they will not succeed.

During the pandemic, (the big lie)…I realized the husband was an amazing artist which was a bit strange as we had been together for 42 years at that time and all I ever knew was that he was a savvy business man who graduated from Northwestern University (the Harvard of the Midwest) and received his MBA from DePaul University. He worked during the day and went to school at night. A very ambitious man and a great husband and father of 5…I was the stay at home wife, raising those children.

When we were locked down, which drove both of us crazy he started painting. I don’t just mean beginner stuff. He was good, really good. He‘s so funny b/c he use to say death is a great move for an artist because all of the good ones didn’t get noticed until after their passing. I also was so thankful to his mom for making him go to college and get that degree from Northwestern b/c a starving artist is a real thing and we could’ve never been where we are today had he just painted…

We are still selling and it’s a pretty good side gig and besides that he loves to do it. His Art Studio is in the basement and it’s a good place for him to escape too. I’m going to share some of his paintings with you. He’s on Amazon Handmade if you’re interested in any of them for purchase. I hope you enjoy what I have posted but he can also be commissioned for special works of art if you’re interested. Blessing, and I hope you like them. They are very professional.

Painter’s Store

I’m working on our store link so stay tuned…Will have that up an running soon. In the meantime, if you’re interested just msg me…Thanks, Blogger’s. Blessings on your week…

April 3, 2025

AtoZ Challenge “B”

Hello Wednesday AtoZ Blogger’s… Stormy day in the Midwest, looking out for Tornados and crazy weather so I’m a bit tardy w/my post today.

My post for today is about a (B)book that I started to write and my Artist Husband illustrating. He’s the artist and gave me the inspiration to write this story. This too is a work in progress. Below is just an excerpt from what I have so far.

“I need to get out of this place. Winter is coming and this truck will not keep me warm and fed when it does. There will be snow and no food at all. I will freeze and starve to death. I have to get to the city. Tall buildings with garbage cans full of leftover food. People everywhere and other mice. But you need to think of the rats too. You’ll stay away them.

I need to focus on finding a home. Somewhere that will keep me warm and fed thru the winter. I need to get to the city with buildings and basements.

There was a problem, the rats. I’ve had problems with them before. I was a small mouse. Whenever I had to deal with them they would steal my food. Rifle through my belongings. I didn’t have much. Most of what I did have fit into my bandana what I carried on my back.

I can’t think about them now, I’ll think about that later. First I need to get to the city, but how ?? Winston grew tired and drifted off to sleep.“

That’s all for the story today. There’s more but I think I’ll post more on Winston and his adventures in the coming days. We’ll see what the next letter, “C” brings. Stay safe out there with the crazy spring storms. Blessings, AtoZ Blogger’s. Hope you enjoyed my post for the letter, “B” today…

September 17, 2024September 17, 2024

Happy #45th Wedding Anniversary…to us

OMG what a road it has been !!! We have actually been together for 48 years as we started dating in 1976…I laid eyes on him for the 1st time when I was just 16 years old. My older sister brought him over as he was someone who was in her peer group. I took one look at him and I said to myself (true story), “That is the guy that I’m going to marry !!!” So 48 years later, here we are celebrating us… I’m going to give you our song (just one of many) to listen to while while you look at the pic’s !!! The day we became each other’s person F O R E V E R !!!

This was one of our song’s (we’ve added so many since then 😉 … Enjoy. The video is kind of dated but so are we 😉 …

Looking back at all the pictures reminds me just how long we’ve been together so I think I’ll probably do this looking back thing in a couple of post’s …This was just the beginning of our beautiful life together … True Love, A wonderful life together !!!!

June 16, 2024June 16, 2024

Happy Father’s Day

I want to give a shout out to 3 amazing father’s I have had in my life. The first father was my husand. He has been such an awesome father, a great leader of our family. He is the captain of our ship and always put the family first.

I know it’s SLS but I’m going to put up this song for all of the amazing father’s and father’s to be in my life…

The lone daughter our own personal nurse !!!

The next amazing father I have had in my life is our youngest who just had his 2nd. He is now the father to our 2 youngest (#7 & 8) grand babies, Mz. Ruby and Mr. Samuel…He learned from the best !!!!

The 3rd amazing Father to Be is our Matthew who is expecting his 1st baby…So excited this will be our 9th grand baby !!!! Both expecting mom, Hannah & expecting dad, Matthew are retired professional Ballet Dancer’s, so one never knows…Could be in the DNA 😉 !!!

There are just know words as to how wonderful a man that he is…You are the best and you are so loved … Thank you so much for all you have given to our family. Oh and we are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this year in August !!!

I’ll close with this little bit of personal information on my husband and I don’t think he’ll mind. His father use to drop him at school in in the morning. It was a warm June morning, nothing unusual about the day. His dad was dropping him off at school and he was looking forward to the summer. When school was out, his older brother came to pick him up. When he got home, his dad wasn’t there. He died suddenly from an aneurysm/stroke. My husband was only 9 years old that day when he lost his dad. My husband is an amazing man … We all love you dad, “Happy Father’s Day” to the best…

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024

SoCS…

“This post is part of SoCS:” That is how I’m going to start this post…It’s stream of consciousness. I think I’ve already done too much editing to call this a stream of consciousness, oh well I push through this.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 18, 2024

Now I’m sure this is more than a stream of consciousness … I don’t care though, I’m just going to continue. I’m not going to look back at the prompt but I’m thinking it was something about a smell and I did go back and look so call me pisher…Or something like that.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “What’s that smell?” Write the first thing that comes to mind. Enjoy!

I’m so excited about the summer and our new home and my life. It has been the best week ever and I’m sure that the future will be bright…

So that smell will be the ocean and that is a great thing to smell in the morning b/c if that’s the first thing you smell then that means your close to the ocean which is a great thing.

I’m going to ask b/c there’s only 4 ocean’s I believe…Which one are you ??? I’m definitely the Atlantic. That’s the one I love the most … I’ve seen the Atlantic and the Pacific. You can keep anything West of the Mississippi as I have no use for the West. Nothing or no one has ever put a smile on my face out west. That’s okay b/c no longer have to waste any of my time wondering where I want to be !!!

Okay I’m just going to post this b/c I’m sure I didn’t follow the rules but hey, I put up a post for today…Y A Y Me 😉 . !!!

April 5, 2024April 8, 2025

Elizabeth & Elan Creations…

My mom was a nurse, my sister was a nurse. I told the daughter I didn’t think she should be a nurse, b/c I grew up with nursing and it’s not an easy job. So then she became a nurse…

Like most children they have a mind of their own and they do what they want. I have to say the Medical World is better b/c she’s in it. She’s a great nurse, her grandmother would be proud …

Like all my kids, she’s not just a nurse. She’s a mom just like her me with 3 beautiful daughter’s of her own !!!

Good for her !!! Motherhood & Nursing

Throw in a little musical theatre just for fun 😉 …

Elan Creations is my husband’s the name my husband gave his artwork…

We are a family full of amazing artist’s!!! A very unique and talented group of people that really make this world a better place…

April 4, 2024April 21, 2026

Dad, Dog’s & DaVinci

So much to write about here…Dad, The Artist…The Dad, The Suit, The Husband. Where do I start. It will be our 45th wedding anniversary this year. He’s still my best friend.

The Artist is a good place to start. It was when Covid started and they locked us all up, (rat bstrds) if you know what I mean 😉 . He had very little to keep himself busy so he started to draw/sketch/paint everything. Now mind you I had been with this guy since 1976 and never once did I see him do anything associated with the art or painting. The only thing I knew about him and art was that whenever the kid’s had a project at school that required art, he was the guy. Here’s a few of his paintings …

He really is very good. He told me back then he had always wanted to be an artist and I really think he could have. He said that the best career move for an artist is death. I think he’s right. I asked him why he decided on college instead and he told me his mother said no way, you go to college and get a job. Thank you, mother. Starving Artist is a real thing and I know I did not want that. Nor do I like the career move of death. So he just keeps painting and sketching…He really is very talented !!!

He also loves his dog’s and they sure do love him !!!

A quick story on one of his pictures. It was a picture of, “The Last Supper.” This was his own creation from different renditions that he studied. That’s how he picks out what he’s going to paint. It sort of just speaks to him. Here’s the painting of, “The Last Supper.”

He had to do it with a couple different canvases and put them side by side. There were a total of three separate canvases. When he put them all together he asked me what I thought. Being who I am and my attention to detail, I counted the Apostle’s and there were 13…I said to him, “Why are there 13 Apostle’s ?” He said,” b/c I made myself the thirteenth Apostle. I’m the guy with the Apostle resting his head on his shoulder 😉 … ” Clever I thought. I wonder if the nun’s would approve…Probably not 😉 .

I should at least put up a picture of him as a suit. That’s what he does to pay the bills or as he says it, he likes to eat and live indoors 😉 . So do I and he’s made a great life for us both…I love you husband <3 !!!

He’s a great guy…My friend for life !!!!!

April 1, 2024April 2, 2024

AtoZ Challenge, Scarlet’s Stories…

Happy Monday and here we go on AtoZ…Boy did this really sneak up on me. Been so busy getting my arm rehabilitated (broke it this past December) and getting ready for Grandbaby #8, but I’m going to give it the old college try. I hope you’ll stick with me.

Before I began blogging, I was a homemaker and a wife and the best of all I am a Mom of 5. Probably the greatest privilege of all !!! I have always wanted to write and I have soooo many stories. People who know me have often said, “You’ve got to write a book.” I’m still working on that so for now I have my Blog and you.

Today we start the letter “A” and this one is an easy one for me. If only the rest of the alphabet could be this easy. I have many (Artist’s) in my family, starting with my mom (RIP) who we lost last year. She could play any instrument, had a beautiful voice and could sing, she was also a retired nurse. It was from her that I fell in love with the Arts !!!

This will be our 45th wedding anniversary and I’ve been with the husband since I was Junior in HS and he was a Junior at Northwestern University….I was impressed 😉 . We married after 3 years of dating and started our family.

He was a suit in Chicago and I was a union girl for the Railroad … We were really young married’s. We knew what we wanted. A home, a family, career’s (He continued his education at Depaul and got his MBA) and a whole lot of love.

We had 5 children, 2 boys, a girl, and 2 more boys…I was trying to get our girl a sister, but God had other plans. Two of our boys were professional Ballet Dancer’s, both married Ballerina’s. I found out during Covid that I too was married to an artist, and I became the, “Painter’s Wife !!!”

I’m going to give you just a tad bit of info on each of our Artist’s with more stories to come…

Our 2 youngest boys were the dancer’s. They attended a performing Arts High School in the city and that’s where their story began…Both walked off the Graduation Stage onto Joffrey’s stage in Chicago. From there they went to Milwaukee Ballet and then they finished their career’s on Richmond Ballet in Virginia.

I can’t leave out my only girl. She’s a beauty and a nurse and the proud mother of our 3 beautiful Granddaugher’s…

That is just a snippet of the charactor’s in my journey. Hope you’ll come back to see some more of my story…Blessing’s for all !!!! Here is a quick view of the Painter’s Band that he created…I told you he could paint, enjoy…The Artist had a show with the Piano Guy 😉 …

Just a few of my people who make me proud…

March 11, 2024March 24, 2024

AtoZChallenge2024/Theme Reveal

I’ve been sitting around pretty much all of this month trying to figure out my Theme for 2024 AtoZ and I have finally come up with what I think will work for me. I am going to be out probably most of April in VA as we are having a new grand baby and I get to spend time w/my adorb Ms. Ruby. Hopefully Missy will hold out for a few weeks so we can get some much needed shopping in for her and little Ms. Ruby. I do love to shop, especially for babies and new mommies ….

The weather I’m sure will be perfect, not too hot or cold….Just right and what else is good I’ll be leaving Chicago b/c I’m pretty sure if you know anything about March in Chicago it is the worst of times. Cold, rainy, windy, cloudy pretty much sums it up.

Back to the theme reveal…This year theme reveal is going to be Stories from Scarlet…They are usually very unique, sometimes long and a lot of time very funny. I’m going to have to go back and look at my writing’s and past blog’s to jog the old memory. I guarantee you will definitely be entertained. I hope you’ll join me down Scarlett’s Memory Lane…Blessings dear blogger’s …

February 20, 2024March 31, 2024

Two for Tuesday

Good Morning everyone out in there in the blogosphere. Today is the day I start blogging again. I’ve given this hand enough time to heal and it is much better. I’m not going to do that again, OMG. It really was no fun sitting around learning to do everything with my left hand. Once again I’m so grateful for so much in my life.

I’m going to slide some music in here while I’m at it. Wasn’t sure what song’s to use for today and these two just popped up when I was looking for some music. The first one is from a really great movie, “Frequency” w/Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. It’s a great song and a great movie. You’ll have to finish the blog to see what my second song is, but I’ll tell you it’s another great one 😉 …

I’m going to do a before and after pics on what I’ve been up to this year. So much just stopped after I broke the arm. I love the new year, my fav holiday. It’s a blank slate and so many possibilities. This year I missed it b/c of the arm. Today I’m back !!!!

Went to the ortho a week ago and he said the hand was healing good and he didn’t need to see me for 4 weeks and he was done with taking X-Rays. He told me to start physical therapy which I’m starting at the end of February. Y A Y !!!! for all the good news.

I’m so happy it’s getting better. I’m driving again and just being normal. Last week we took delivery on our new furniture for our new home and it is just beautius. Here’s a few pics of the new place with the furniture.

Went out for Valentine’s Day w/the husband to Chicago. Just so much goodness in my life that I really just have to say thank you… Geja’s Cafe in Lincoln Park, so much fun !!!!

Next on my list is to get the husband painting again and to set up my planner…Always the planner girl 😉 … Stay tuned for so much. Have a great week Blogger’s and remember, “NEVER, NEVER QUIT !!!”

I’m ending the post with another song from Garth Brooks. It’s so true !!!

” And now I’m glad I didn’t know, The way it all would end, The way it all would go, Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, But I’d have had to miss the Dance “

One side note which I find odd. I love the movie, “Frequency” and this weekend the husband I were looking for something to watch on Saturday night. We found a movie on Netflix. We tried it b/c Dennis Quaid was in it and those are usually a good choice. It was the, “The Hill” just say’n, check out I think you’ll like it. It’s a baseball movie too 🙂 …

Have a great rest of you week and by the by, I’m typing w/ two hands !!! Y A Y me 😉