Tuesday, May 27, 2008

May 27: Pentola


I generally keep my house pretty clean and tidy, but it's not a big priority in my life. When my mother used to visit, I would go into overdrive to make everything immaculate, because one's desire for maternal approval never seems to end. Inevitably, shortly after she arrived, she'd notice my toaster and pans were less than shiny. She'd get out the copper polish and clean the bottoms of my pans, and then clean my toaster until it glowed. I know she thought she was being helpful, but it annoyed the hell out of me at the time.

Now she's 85, lives in an assisted living community and is too frail to visit very often. When she does, she just seems happy to be around the family and no longer mentions my housekeeping failures.

(The plural of pot may be pentole, but I'm not sure and couldn't confirm it on the internet.)

14 comments:

MaryO said...

I'm glad you've stuck with it! I've enjoyed all your drawings for this challenge. The borders serve to give each drawing even further significance. Nice work!

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

Oh i like this one alot...love the quick direct feeling of the painting...and the copper color and shadows ....funny what our moms can do to us unbeknownst to them!!

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful! Such a cool series you're doing.

For me, it's my MIL which is hilarious because her house is always a bit of a mess.

Bonny said...

I've loved following your vocabulario every day!!! Italian is such a lovely language and I wish I could speak it better than I do. I've been thinking I could do a series like this but I didn't want to steal your thunder. Maybe now that your series is ending, I might start mine.
Oh, and my dictionary says the plural is le pentole.

Sharon said...

Bonny, Thanks for stopping by. I definitely think you should continue the "Italian word a day" series. When you get tired of it, maybe Marta can take over.

Anonymous said...

Oooh! I love the glow of the shadow and the shine of the metal and copper in this painting. My mom would always scrub things in my house that I never noticed were dirty (like the inside of the toaster oven and the bit of counter behind it).

Luba said...

These pots will shine forever! Very well done!

art addict said...

I'm glad that you haven't given up on your EDIM challenge. They may seem boring to you, but they are delightful to look at. You will be very pleased when you look back at what you have accomplished in a month's time. Sometimes, simple things are the best.

Anonymous said...

Your Italina them worked so well for this project and it looks so cool with all your beautiful sketches, which in fact, just feel a little Italian too!
ronell

Sandy said...

Oh I love this one too- this entire Italian 'word a day' series has been AWESOME - I hate that it will end - so I hope Bonny does continue it - The sentiment is universal I think, just hope I do not aggrevate my daughters this way too- Great journal entry in every way!! Mom would be pround of these gleaming pots.

lyn said...

Wow what a great idea for a May daily painting. Wish I would have the time, glass work, horses, watering during an unusual hot spell and gardening took up my month! Your eggplant is great and reminded me I have 12 baby eggplants to plant! Daughter in law painting really nice as well!
Continued success! So glad I stopped to visit.

A Brush with Color said...

Wonderful job on these pots--excellent! I used to feel that way about my mom when I lived home with her, but after I was out on my own, she left us to our own devices, thankfully--and she was very complimentary then. Lovely post! Love the copper bottoms.

Tess Kincaid said...

I especially like this one, Sharon. Wow, that metal feel really comes through. Nice.

Anonymous said...

Everybody must have a story like that, about your mom! (Well, except me, because I lost my mom early and my first mother in law shortly after) My present MIL told me she stayed at my husband's house when he was married before and while they were at work, organized all their messy cupboards! And she wondered why she and her first DIL didnt' get along too well...;-PPP

I think you did a FANTASTIC job on the every day in May project, and I love your pots. Much cooler not shiny, as I tell the guy who makes my copper pots!