2.04.2011
found on friday
alright, first of all, i found my camera in the absolute sorry mess that is piled around my laptop. no, i won't go into that, i'm done whining...
now, the first thing i found is downright strange. but amazing. i was tickled. a tree growing in my sink!
okay, you're humoring me... but there's also something amazing happening to the trees in the yard... look!
ahhh... now that's beautiful! you can't believe the cherry blossoms here in the spring.
now, the first thing i found is downright strange. but amazing. i was tickled. a tree growing in my sink!
okay, you're humoring me... but there's also something amazing happening to the trees in the yard... look!
ahhh... now that's beautiful! you can't believe the cherry blossoms here in the spring.
2.02.2011
to what extent will my son ignore that smell?
i'm inspired by and linking up with this week's prompt from the sunday creative:
extent
definition…noun; 1. The range or space over which something extends 2. The point or degree to which something extends
yes, yes, this is a blog about my art... but i've been whining lately about how i have so little time for that part of me. so, in response to this week's prompt, and with a nod to the wit of one of my favorite bloggers who has recently shared one of her clever solutions to no clean underwear...
i bring you:
the miasma emanating from one of the bedrooms overpowers the enticing aroma of sauteed garlic...
and no one wants to eat :(
...to what extent will my son ignore that smell? and what is the furthest extent of that fetor?
your turn...
you know it's time to do laundry when ________________.
2.01.2011
virtual coffee
if we were actually sitting down for coffee together today, i'd want to be sitting outside in the sunshine. it's a bit chilly, by our standards here, but to me it's gorgeous and sunny and we both need a bit of vitamin d, eh?
i'd want to show you some of the pictures of the dog show we went to over the weekend. no, we aren't dog show people, but we are dog people. my family's most precious companion died a bit over a year ago and we have been so heartbroken. indie was a "rescue" dog (meaning rescued from an animal shelter), the sweetest australian shepherd ever... but now we are in DESPERATE need of a "magic puppy head" (too much explaining, coined by a friend of ours). we know we want another australian shepherd, and i promised my sons that we'd get a puppy this time. i mean, how often do you get the chance? do you have any idea how ADORABLE an aussie puppy is? so on saturday we meet lots of wonderful doggie people and dogs; i'll let you know how the hunt progresses. and we just got so many kisses from so many precious friends! (i love how dogs will be your instant friend).
i'd also tell you how i can't even keep track of all the things i'm "in the process" of doing. my husband's contracting business has books that must be straightened up for the end of the year, and that's my job, my oldest son is a junior, so there's lots of college, SAT, etc. pieces to investigate, sign up for, follow up on, as well as who's getting a summer job and who's going to camp and who's serving at vacation bible school and where are we going to go camping, and there's substitute teaching, which isn't bringing in enough money, so i need to find more work, and my car isn't running and i never have any time for art. and all that means i probably ought to get going already, even though you've barely peeped a word!
but remember last week... i did all the listening :)
hugs til our next virtual coffee!
i'd want to show you some of the pictures of the dog show we went to over the weekend. no, we aren't dog show people, but we are dog people. my family's most precious companion died a bit over a year ago and we have been so heartbroken. indie was a "rescue" dog (meaning rescued from an animal shelter), the sweetest australian shepherd ever... but now we are in DESPERATE need of a "magic puppy head" (too much explaining, coined by a friend of ours). we know we want another australian shepherd, and i promised my sons that we'd get a puppy this time. i mean, how often do you get the chance? do you have any idea how ADORABLE an aussie puppy is? so on saturday we meet lots of wonderful doggie people and dogs; i'll let you know how the hunt progresses. and we just got so many kisses from so many precious friends! (i love how dogs will be your instant friend).
i'd also tell you how i can't even keep track of all the things i'm "in the process" of doing. my husband's contracting business has books that must be straightened up for the end of the year, and that's my job, my oldest son is a junior, so there's lots of college, SAT, etc. pieces to investigate, sign up for, follow up on, as well as who's getting a summer job and who's going to camp and who's serving at vacation bible school and where are we going to go camping, and there's substitute teaching, which isn't bringing in enough money, so i need to find more work, and my car isn't running and i never have any time for art. and all that means i probably ought to get going already, even though you've barely peeped a word!
but remember last week... i did all the listening :)
hugs til our next virtual coffee!
1.28.2011
restocking the shelves
in between the other bits of my life, i have been painting and playing...
and there are a few new items in my etsy shop!
and there are a few new items in my etsy shop!
1.27.2011
indoor garden and stylin' thoughts
a mere $5 can provide such pleasure...
i may have to paint them!
and i am SO incredibly flattered and encouraged!
paula of mindful drawing, who lives in belgium (i just think it is so absolutely COOL that our world is so connected), has given me a stylish blogger award. woo-woo-la-la! thank you, paula!
in the interest of promoting world peace and stylish blogs, i get to share the honors with other bloggers...
my intention is to pass this award on to bloggers that don't yet have GOBS of readers... but ought to! (although i have no idea about bodhi chicklet, cuz there's no "followers" thingy on her site) and these are the women whose styles are unique and particularly special to me.
i'm also supposed to tell you seven things about myself, but i have waaaaay too many other things to do with my day, so you'll just have to come back another time!
ttfn
i bought two tulip pots, pulled out some spanish moss, and made terrariums in some big glass vases that i have.
the house is smiling :)
i may have to paint them!
and i am SO incredibly flattered and encouraged!
paula of mindful drawing, who lives in belgium (i just think it is so absolutely COOL that our world is so connected), has given me a stylish blogger award. woo-woo-la-la! thank you, paula!
in the interest of promoting world peace and stylish blogs, i get to share the honors with other bloggers...
- for having such a personal and almost "retro" quality to her photographs, the first award goes to Amy at LuckyNumber13. I also love, love, love her style of sharing her world and her very worthwhile thoughts.
- jacilyn at blue china studio captures my heart, particularly with her absolutely charming art, and her sense of natural, simple beauty.
- lindsay at banter has a guileless and basic style of her own. she shares real life.
- now, when someone say "stylish", i generally think of visual qualities... but i'm thinking a bit outside the box with kim of the bodhi chicklet. this woman's brain and sense of humor are absolutely stylin'! i love every word i read; sometimes she waxes poetic, sometimes she is artistic, or contemplative, and sometimes she just makes me blurt out laughing! bahahahaha!
- and simone of serendipity has a simple, elegant style that lets her gorgeous photography take the spotlight on her blog.
my intention is to pass this award on to bloggers that don't yet have GOBS of readers... but ought to! (although i have no idea about bodhi chicklet, cuz there's no "followers" thingy on her site) and these are the women whose styles are unique and particularly special to me.
i'm also supposed to tell you seven things about myself, but i have waaaaay too many other things to do with my day, so you'll just have to come back another time!
ttfn
1.26.2011
busy, busy, busy...
dearest visitor,
don't give up on me...
life has been wonderfully busy and full.
met an old friend and made a new one up in san francisco; they're visiting from down undah,
substitute teaching,
clothing and feeding and caring for my family,
and i'm trying desperately to avoid the bookkeeping that needs to be done this time of year
because my etsy shop is nearly empty and i want to put wonderful new things there!!!
don't give up on me...
life has been wonderfully busy and full.
met an old friend and made a new one up in san francisco; they're visiting from down undah,
substitute teaching,
clothing and feeding and caring for my family,
and i'm trying desperately to avoid the bookkeeping that needs to be done this time of year
because my etsy shop is nearly empty and i want to put wonderful new things there!!!
1.18.2011
no time to say hello, goodbye...
i have spent too much time listening to joelle and katy and kim...
i just soak up such warmth...
if you don't already, i suggest you make a regular date with all the amazing people who sit down to share virtual coffee on tuesdays.
today i'll just take my thoughts on the brilliant conversation with me and ponder as i head off to my day...
i just soak up such warmth...
if you don't already, i suggest you make a regular date with all the amazing people who sit down to share virtual coffee on tuesdays.
today i'll just take my thoughts on the brilliant conversation with me and ponder as i head off to my day...
see you all next week.
1.14.2011
found on friday
today i found inspiration...
inspiration from carla sonheim's alligator coloring tutorial!
squirrels were on my mind, though, not alligators...
inspiration from carla sonheim's alligator coloring tutorial!
squirrels were on my mind, though, not alligators...
1.10.2011
a grisly start
a new week... and the prompt for this week's sunday creative is
grizzled adj: streaked or mixed with grey
not grizzly, not grisly (which would easily prompt images of my son's room), and certainly not gristly.
yup, just what i was thinking. there's only one way to go with this...
last winter my husband of soooo many years finally consented to grow a goatee. i don't know why, but i always wanted him to.
and it was grizzled... and my husband looked grizzled... and i thought it was soooo sexy! i understand why he shaved it off last summer (crumbs and scratchy and all), but i miss his grizzled goatee!
"Of all the barbarous middle ages, that
grizzled adj: streaked or mixed with grey
not grizzly, not grisly (which would easily prompt images of my son's room), and certainly not gristly.
yup, just what i was thinking. there's only one way to go with this...
last winter my husband of soooo many years finally consented to grow a goatee. i don't know why, but i always wanted him to.
and it was grizzled... and my husband looked grizzled... and i thought it was soooo sexy! i understand why he shaved it off last summer (crumbs and scratchy and all), but i miss his grizzled goatee!
"Of all the barbarous middle ages, that
Which is most barbarous is the middle age
Of man! it is—I really scarce know what;
But when we hover between fool and sage,
And don't know justly what we would be at—
A period something like a printed page,
Black letter upon foolscap, while our hair
Grows grizzled, and we are not what we were."
Of man! it is—I really scarce know what;
But when we hover between fool and sage,
And don't know justly what we would be at—
A period something like a printed page,
Black letter upon foolscap, while our hair
Grows grizzled, and we are not what we were."
George Gordon Noel Byron
1.06.2011
found on friday
winter passed by...
winter passed by last night
she must have only tiptoed
her finespun skirts left threads of lace on the lawn
her necklace scattered tiny diamonds on the road
and ghosts of her breath clung to the garden gate
1.05.2011
virtual coffee a la road
if i had had virtual coffee with you yesterday morning, i would have tossed you and my travel mug into the car and sped off on my errands...
you would have told me all about the past few weeks that we've missed each other, who you saw for Christmas, where you went, what you did for NYE... and i would have listened happily as i sipped my warm brew. so glad to be back to my regularly scheduled life and chat with you again.
as i dragged you through targets and old navy and the grocery store, i would have filled you in on much of the same: friends, friends' houses for games, had friends over for games... and how my sons spent so much of their time with their friends. i was glad that they had a chance to really re-connect with their buddies. they are so dadgum busy with school all the time... and i would have babbled about some of my thoughts on getting a REAL job to help pay for this stuff i'm buying, and how i've had some ideas on art teaching and some other inspirations and how i'm trying to let God open and close doors his way and to follow his lead... i would tell you how surprised i am at how He's changed me over the years so that i'm more flexible and open to all kinds of things. it's a genuine relief not to get tweaked over all the "i wants." and how puzzled i am that i'm not annoyed that i have to bring in money because my husband's construction business is so slow.
as we left the stores i would have shared some of the fun thoughts from the little book i picked up again (great one for this "fresh start" time of year) and then i would have hugged you and dropped you off on your doorstep as i took my bags home to unload and started filling out job applications...
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1.04.2011
sunday creative flourishes in the new year!
the prompt for the sunday creative this week is...
flourish verb 1. thrive, prosper 2. to be in a state of activity or production 3. to reach a height of development or influence 4. to make bold and sweeping gestures noun 1. a florid bit of speech or writing 2. an ornamental touch or decorative detail 3. fanfare 4. showiness in doing something
since flowers flourish here in california this time of year, i thought i'd add a few flourishes to some of those that are blooming right now...
12.31.2010
found on friday
i was asked by a friend if i could help her daughter with clouds.
micaela likes painting in acrylics and loves clouds.
can't say as i blame her. clouds are magic!
so i pulled out my easel, found my old paints, and we sat together a couple of times this week to get fluffy.
what a great job she did. i hope she keeps practicing, and maybe she'll let me post some of her work so i can show her off :)
and this morning i found a little time to make some of my own clouds...
micaela likes painting in acrylics and loves clouds.
can't say as i blame her. clouds are magic!
so i pulled out my easel, found my old paints, and we sat together a couple of times this week to get fluffy.
what a great job she did. i hope she keeps practicing, and maybe she'll let me post some of her work so i can show her off :)
and this morning i found a little time to make some of my own clouds...
12.29.2010
a few of my favorite things...
ahhh, my blog...
we're all probably feeling a bit like, "how much can you fit into one week?!" one week ago i was wrapping and shopping and cooking and checking my lists... and now it's fait accomplit. our family's christmas is quiet and relaxed and very yummy... and there are certain customs that we have developed that are important to us. i neglected the advent calendar this year, and decided that was a mistake i will not make again! we play games together on christmas eve, the boys (now adult-sized) always open their stocking gifts on our bed in the morning (my favorite), breakfast is always eggs benedict (kyle's favorite) and "sunshine drinks", and english trifle with too much sherry (ian's favorite) for dessert after dinner. (all the food is kurt's favorite, especially the chicken a l'orange)
we usually go to christmas eve service as well, but my husband has had a rotten cold, so we stayed home and all my men listened while i read the littlest angel (i was a good girl and didn't cry).
we all love the opening and sharing and fun of the presents. it's been a tight year for us, and i was so pleased at my sons' acceptance of the smaller and more practical pile. of course, my favorites are anything pretty or crafty! i thought today i'd share some of my favorite new things...
we're all probably feeling a bit like, "how much can you fit into one week?!" one week ago i was wrapping and shopping and cooking and checking my lists... and now it's fait accomplit. our family's christmas is quiet and relaxed and very yummy... and there are certain customs that we have developed that are important to us. i neglected the advent calendar this year, and decided that was a mistake i will not make again! we play games together on christmas eve, the boys (now adult-sized) always open their stocking gifts on our bed in the morning (my favorite), breakfast is always eggs benedict (kyle's favorite) and "sunshine drinks", and english trifle with too much sherry (ian's favorite) for dessert after dinner. (all the food is kurt's favorite, especially the chicken a l'orange)
we usually go to christmas eve service as well, but my husband has had a rotten cold, so we stayed home and all my men listened while i read the littlest angel (i was a good girl and didn't cry).
we all love the opening and sharing and fun of the presents. it's been a tight year for us, and i was so pleased at my sons' acceptance of the smaller and more practical pile. of course, my favorites are anything pretty or crafty! i thought today i'd share some of my favorite new things...
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the darling robin plate is from pier one, the weekly organizer from art in motion, orchids courtesy of the greatest artist of all, the gorgeous water bottle from wild and wolf. what were the most delightful gifts (yes, the ones you actually opened) you received? |
12.14.2010
(virtual) french roast
if we were really having coffee this morning...
i'd sip my french roast sans croissant and tell you that i really enjoyed my monday. i substitute teach occassionally, and yesterday i got to play le professeur de francais. speaking franglais makes me smile!
i'd also tell you that we went caroling sunday evening with some of our friends. boy, did my teenage sons moan and groan about that one! but once we got there and the little kids were jumping up and down and people were so sweet, they smiled and sang and would never confess that it wasn't that bad after all. maybe the pretty teenage girls sweetened the deal... i dunno... ;)
you'd hear about how i'm falling behind in my christmas gift crafting and that i'd better get a handle on what needs to get done and when, pdq! or suddenly it'll be christmas eve and it'll be too late! then you'd tell me how your list is behind, too (don't even tell me if you've got it all under control, cuz i don't want to hear that). and we'd tell each other to down that last gulp and get to it, girl! i'd wrap my scarf over my shoulder and wish you a super day!
i'd sip my french roast sans croissant and tell you that i really enjoyed my monday. i substitute teach occassionally, and yesterday i got to play le professeur de francais. speaking franglais makes me smile!
i'd also tell you that we went caroling sunday evening with some of our friends. boy, did my teenage sons moan and groan about that one! but once we got there and the little kids were jumping up and down and people were so sweet, they smiled and sang and would never confess that it wasn't that bad after all. maybe the pretty teenage girls sweetened the deal... i dunno... ;)
you'd hear about how i'm falling behind in my christmas gift crafting and that i'd better get a handle on what needs to get done and when, pdq! or suddenly it'll be christmas eve and it'll be too late! then you'd tell me how your list is behind, too (don't even tell me if you've got it all under control, cuz i don't want to hear that). and we'd tell each other to down that last gulp and get to it, girl! i'd wrap my scarf over my shoulder and wish you a super day!
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