The FAT group

The Fiber Art Traders yahoo group I recently joined has a logo. Now if I can figure out how to put it into the sidebar on it's link, I will be so proud of myself!

Long awaited chicken post

OK, the long awaited post on chickens. Probably mostly pics, I will have the Young Miss do an entry on what kind they are, and care, etc. as she is the one who does all that, for they are HER chickens. Here is a view that shows where the chicken yard is in location to my root bed. You can see my clotheslines in the front, too. This pic was taken before we weeded the root bed today. It looks so good! The big tall tree behind the green coop is our apple tree and is as far as the run goes in the back. Now that they are fenced in, we aren't having to interrupt our day every ten minutes to herd chickens back to their area. It is so much nicer this way!
This is a little homemade coop Mr. B. made that started the whole chicken adventure. This is where the "Dots" (Gold and Silver-laced Wyandottes) live. Young Miss has 3 left from the ten she originally started with (the infamous wild dog incident took the other seven.), and this is where they bunk.

These are the new girls, and their hutch. It started as a rabbit hutch and had a few additions. THey have a ladder they climb up to get to the hutch. The day we rescued these girls, we were up till 10 at night, (one of us with a 102 degree fever), buiding this run. We needed to have this separate run so the two groups of chickens wouldn't peck each other to death. They are just now starting to be able to be out together the whole day without pecking each other. I think two weeks is a fairly short time for them to have come that far!
Here are the "Dots", from left to right: ChickieBoo, Goldie, and Lucy. Lucy is the siver-laced, the other two, golden-laced. ChickieBoo is my pal, and lets me hold her, but I don't do it as often as I used to, cuz once she pecked my tooth when I was holding her, and it scared the bejiggers out of me!
The new girls on the block from left to right, fromt row: Ida, AnnaBelle, Virginia, Mavis. Agnes is the one in the back. Ida is bossy, but funny. The others I am still getting to know. I can't remember what breeds they are, but they are close to five years old. They lay huge eggs, and this morning, we had 3 double yolkers in a row! How cool is that? I should get a better pic of them, now that they are all in the big fenced area together. See the squash there in the front of the fence? They hadn't gotten to it yet. What I think I love the most about these chickens today, is that they eat huge piles of weeds in a very short amount of time. Good birds!
We were at the feed store yesterday, and the man working there said they would have baby chicks probably next week. We have a big cardboard box ready to use as a brooder, and the big chickens don't need the lamp anymore, now that it is warmer at night, so we will probably set them up in the garage when we get them.

I am not sure what all else to tell you about the chickens. Do you have any specific questions, that I can have the chicken expert answer for you? She would love that. That's all for now, I gotta get myself off to bed, so I can be at the dentist by 7 am!
TTFN,
LB

The rest of the day

Well, this is a bit backwards, but we will start with the mural I am working on in the studio, cuz that is the way the pics got uploaded. Here is what I have done so far. The leaves on the right are still wet- they will darken up a bit and match the others a bit more when they dry. Mama and I drank some wine, listened to music, and chatted while I worked on this after supper tonight. And supper was great! Roasted beets and carrots (overwintered in the garden, and not tough at all!), bread, sheep cheese, salami, olives, and organic wine (I mixed mine with pomegranite juice.)

Here is a closeup of one of the leaves. I will be decorating all the leaves, this is the only one so far that has any special touches.

Here is another closeup, just for fun.

And now for the earlier part of the day. It was gorgeous, and we ended up outside, weeding. We got the whole root bed done. Here is the Fine Young Man, actually caught in the act of weeding. Most of the time he was chasing bugs or swinging sticks around.

While we were weeding, the Young Miss tended to her chickens. Here you see her putting fresh straw in one of the runs. I think there is a chicken or two on the far left of the pic if you enlarge it. I promise a chicken post next post!
Here is my fave pic of the day. My Mama does not like her pic taken, but actually allowed me to get this one, maybe cuz it just shows her back. Here she is in all her glory, showing that even though she is blind, she still can get all the roots of any ol' weed, any ol' day. Man do I love her. We have had such a good day. She is staying the night again tonight, which I am grateful for, ad Papa Dude is away, and I have a dentist appt. at 7 am tomorrow. She will get the kids breakfast and supervise morning chores, and then when I get back, we are attacking the big potato/tomato bed. This is the biggest bed I have, so it should be interesting to see if we actually can get the whole thing done tomorrow.

OK, that's all for gardening. Now to start working on the chicken post.
TTFN,
LB

Cleaning Day

Papa had a commitment last night, at the same time that I had my Classical Ed. meeting, so I dropped the kids off at Gramma's house, then picked the whole lot of them up at 9:30. Papa was already asleep, so I couldn't show him my new haircut (I took a pleasant hour before my meeting to get my hair cut short-short, and have fish and chips while reading the newest Quilting Arts Mag- a delightful and restorative break!). I tucked Gramma into the Young Miss's bed, which she freshly made yesterday, and tucked the YM up onto the couch. The Fine YOung Man was crabby, but I kissed him anyway, and crawled into bed.

I was awakened at 6 this morning by the Dude kissing me goodbye and rubbing my shorn head with a giggle. He is headed to SPokane on a business trip, so I won't see him for a couple of days (but hopefully he is reading this blog, like he promised!). We got up for real at 8, had sausage, eggs (anyone want to buy some fresh eggs? We are inundated with tons of eggs!), and english muffins, and though it isn't noon yet, we have been folding laundry, doing dishes, making beds, etc. Gramma is as I type this, sitting on the Boy's bed foliding lundry and supervising his room cleanup. Amy- Some of the garbage consisted of : 4 dirty glasses, a bowl that was obviously holding sugar at one point, grape stems, desicated orange peels, and 6 shriveled apple cores.
The Fine Young Miss entertained Gramma with her piano practice, and we are getting ready to have homemade cherry pie for lunch (the kids and I made it on Sunday, and it calls to be finished off!).

Sigh. I will try to upload some pics later tonight. Right now, Mama is calling out for more hangers. Gotta clean while the motivator is here! Guess schoolwork can be home economics today, hmmm?
TTFN,
LB

Update: From the Studio Depths

Well, today was another day where I was in the studio as much as I could be, when not doing laundry or looking over schoolwork with the kids. I was organizing some more- kind of the second layer approach. When I first took over this space, I just shoved everything on a shelf or in a cupboard, but there was no rhyme or reason to it. I could never find what I was looking for, and I don't think I have been spending as much time down here due in some part to this lack of organization. I have been reading the book, Organizing Your Craft Space, by Jo Packham, which I happened upon when the kids and I were in the craft store the other day. I had seen the book before, but it didn't have much impact on me, other than to induce drooling over the amazing studio spaces in the photos! But now that I have my own studio space, I found it extremely inspiring.

In the book, they show studios where the artist primarily works on one art, whether it be mosaics, rubber stamping, collaging, or quilting. I got lots of ideas, but what was missing was a section on organizing a studio where you do many arts! I have a small space down here, but am doing my best to keep it organized. I think that may jumpstart some creativity in its own right.

The studio looks much better now, and I am ready for a day of labeling. When I get that part done, I will take pics. I also will have something fun to show you- I have been painting the cement wall today. Just kinda happened. My mom gave me her acrylic paints and brushes- a big box full. That's what started it. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always, always, always wanted to paint a mural. Guess I can finally have my way with a wall. :-)

While I was getting the link for the book above, I found this one too, by the same outhor. Looks like a good read as well.

I have begun to think about a name for the studio. Something with a turtle in the title, as they are significant to me. I'll let you know when I have a couple for you to help me audition.

Ok, just wanted to let you know I was alive and fairly well. Neck is still constantly achey, but I can now function all day and work through it. Maybe later this week, I can get back into the garden.
TTFN,
LB

A Question From the Studio Depths

What kind of adhesive can I use to secure eyelash and other fun yarn to edge of cardstock with a thin sheet of angelina on top? I have been using Aleene's fabric glue, but it isn't sticking to the angelina. Advice?
LB

I'm here!

I have had an epiphany: I can still blog even though it isn't on a promised topic. In other words, Kathy Jo and Dy, you will have to wait for the chicken post.
I am at the moment listening to Regina Specktor, boppin' around my studio, puttering and putting away (2nd round of organization planning-got to get this place ready to host an art workshop this summer!), and creating a bit as I go. The Amazing Papa Dude is up in the kitchen with the kiddos, putting dinner together. Gotta create while the opportunity is here!
Will touch base again tonight or tomorrow.
TTFN,
LB

Resting

Well, I am glad you liked the gardening post. I was hoping to add pics of my other garden beds- all weeded and ready to plant, of course, but the universe had other plans for me I guess. My neck went out yesterday, so I have been spending most of my time in bed, on the heating pad, with my body full of vicadin and motrin. It is still sore today, so more resting is on the docket. I will try to post photos soon- I have a whole boatload of chicken photos!

Talk to you soon,
LB

March gardening

I have also been gardening this month. Just started this week, in fact. Last year, after the car accident, I was unable to garden much at all, so it feels so very good to be doing it now, with little or no pain.

Feel free to click on the pics to enlarge them, but if you do, you will see how messy I really am in real life, so I don't want to hear about it, ok? Look at the good stuff in the pics!

Because we only have a half-acre, we have to fit in our garden plots where we can. All of the produce- veggies, herbs, fruit trees, etc. are in the back yard. Here is a view of the plots I have been working in this week. That is the shed, where we keep the straw, tools, pots, etc. Running across the very front of the picture you can see my asparagus beds, newly weeded.On the right, you can see my freshly weeded blueberry bed. On the left, is my yet-to-be-weeded root bed. You probably can't tell, but there are still beets left in the ground from last year, as well as parsnips. I am wondering if they will still be edible. Hopefully if the rain lets up, I will get out there tomorrow and find out. Good thing about how much it has been raining here- weeding is so very easy! I can get all ten inches of the nastiest-looking dandelion roots!!


Here is a pic of a baby asparagus. Isn't it so sweet and cute? I am hoping I get lots this year. I just hope they don't keep coming up one at a time- I need a whole bucketful to make a meal!!

Here is another view of the blueberry bed. I now have 7 bushes. I want about 5 more, but don't know where they will go- 7 in this bed is pushing it. I have several varieties (some early, some large), including one called "Chandler", which I couldn't resist. Last year I had all my greens in this bed, too, but I am not sure where they will go this year. Also in this bed, are two grapes (that's what the white tri-pod is for, for the little grapes to climb up), and a renegade fennel bulb plant I need to find a real home for. Fennel is wonderful roasted.

You can see I placed straw around the bottom of the blueberry bushes. This mulching keeps the water in and the weeds down (if not completely out).

Also in this pic, you can see the platform the Papa Dude built at the base of the birch tree. It is a wonderful place to sit and listen to the chickadees that hang out in the birch, or watch the chickens (more on them later). Papa has made sure there are lots of fun little sitting places in our yard. I will try to post pics of them all.

Here is a pic of the bridge Papa made. It covers a low, perpetually wet spot in the yard. You can see the birch tree at the far left of the pic, and then if you look behind the bridge, you can see my baby pear tree. You can also see how the kids just throw the bikes behind the garage when they are done riding.
Here is a close-up of my pear tree. The first year we were here, the pears were wonderful- prolific ans sweet. 2nd year, I got one pear. Last summer we got some, but not tons like the first summer. I am hoping we get lots this year- because they can well. That is the next-door neighbor's garage behind the tree. The mess under and to the left of the pear tree is my herb garden. If you really look hard, you can see sage and rosemary, but mostly it is dandelions. I still have a ton of work to do!

Dy, here is a close-up of the buds on the pear tree. I wouldn't tell this to the whole world (oh, I guess I would), but sometimes I go out and talk to the blossoms, and encourage them to grow big and strong pears for me. I guess that isn't so wierd if you know me.

Well, that will be all for tonight- no posts for three weeks, then three in one day- go figure!

LB

WonderBoy

Another amazing thing that happened in the month of March was that our Fine Young Man went to the WA State Finals with his high school speech and debate team. He qualified in two events. Due Interpretive (DI), doing a skit with a fellow teammate based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and then in his best event, Humorous Interpretive (HI). He didn't place in DI, but (insert drum roll please)..........................................................................................................

He took fourth in HI!!!!!!!!!!!! This is phenomenal for a 9th grader. It was very cool. Just very cool.

Here he is with his medal. It is very important that we got a picture of him with it, because it now will reside in the trophy cabinet in the hallway outside of the speech and debate room.

I guess it must be okay for me to brag my kids up- it is my blog after all. :-)

LB

Piano Girl

March is Adjudication time in our neck of the wooods. The Piano Girl attended the Simon Fisse' (not sure of the spelling on that) Piano Competition as a guest, and participated in two adjudications this Spring, one put on by the Seattle Music Teachers Assoc. (SMTA), and the other, the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival (SYAMF) , which was held on the UW campus while the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Young Miss had two fine adjudicators. One of them used metoaphors, such as "picture your notes flowing like a caramel carpet", the other was jumping around the room, gestering and geting the whole audience involved in the joy of the music.

Her pieces this year were The Raindrop Prelude (Prelude 15 by Chopin), and and the first movement of a Hadyn Sonata (Hob. XVI: 35). I tell you, I am so in love with Chopin, and this prelude happens to be my ultimate fave. Can you imagine the utter peace and joy I have experienced the last few months, as the Young Miss was practicing this piece day in and day out?!

The other piece of fabulous news is that the Piano Girl has been accepted into the Piano summer Camp, girls division at Interlochen Center for the Arts! She also will receive a merit scholership of $800. which means we only have to come up with about $3000. before the end of June! She is so excited about this, and we are for her, though the thought of my baby girl being gone for two weeks is still a tad hard for me to swallow.

The pieces she submitted on the audition tape for Interlochen were Vals Sentimental from Valses Poeticos by Enrique Granados, and Invention #8 by J.S. Bach.

In other Piano Girl news, the Young Miss has a recital coming up in May. I will post exact date soon. She is not sure what she will be playing yet, maybe another Bach invention.

It was pouring down rain the day of the SYAMF, so I don't have any cute pics of the Young Miss under cherry blossoms, but here is one I took just after we got home- of course the first thing she did as we walked in the door was head for the piano. Oh, to be that driven and in love!

LB

Encouraging post

Read this over at Donna's this morning:


And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.


~Martin Luther King Jr.


The Drum Major Instinct


After you read that, read what MFS said in the comments.

Thanks for the encouragement, you two. This really struck a chord with me this day. Can't possibly say it any better.
LB

Happy Birthday to me

Wow! I share a date of arrival with a slew of interesting folks! Many people are aware that today is also the birthday of one of the most creative literary talents ever to grace this earth with his presence, Dr. Seuss (did you know we love him so much there is a national memorial?), but did you also know I share this day with Mikhail Gorbachev, Desi Arnaz, and Karen Carpenter? Oh, and I cannot forget to include Jon Bon Jovi, though I am snorting a bit about that one. Ya know, I was supposed to be born at the end of May, beginning of June. I wonder with whom I woulda shared a birthday then? Probably not near as interesting as Gorby and Theodore, hmmm?



My Papa Dude called me at 4 this am, to wish me a good day, he is so sweet. And by the way, why is it hard to sleep when I am not sharing my bed with a cover-hogging, snoring, hulk of a creature that regularly slashes my legs with his un-clipped toenails? Huh? Who woulda thunk it? I maybe got 4 hours today- that is about I have managed any night this week.


Okay, off to wake the kids. Oh, the places we will go. We get to go have lunch with the Godparents, and then we will spot by my mom's for a bit, then who knows what will happen? I am thinking maybe we will go see if Eregon is still playing at the local cheap(er) theatre.


LB, aka the birthday girl.

What? Were ya born in a barn?

The Fine Young Man had a concert tonight. Kids were hungry so we stopped at the Dread Meyer to pick up lunch meat. We came home. I unlocked the door, headed in, and asked the kids to bring the stuff in from the car. Kids brought in groceries, fixed and ate 2 sandwhiches each, watched 2 episodes of Third Rock From the Sun, got in their jammies, and brushed their teeth before I noticed that they had left the front door open. Sigh. It's 30 degrees outside, not to mention the "let's just invite the meany nutballs into the house while your father is away" angle. Sigh.

When do they get it? Will someone please tell me they are gonna get it? When will I be able to know I have raised two responsible kids? How long till I don't have to remind them to brush their teeth, let alone to clean out the lint screen when they load the dryer. How long till they load the dryer without being told in the first place? Sigh. I'm not complaining, much. I guess maybe it's just the stress of single parenting. Makes me glad and thankful that I have a partner.

We had a fab time at the aquarium today, celebrating my birthday (tomorrow) with the nature study group. Great fun. I will try to post pics soon. I am off to try to sleep now.
LB

Update

Hey all (four of you),
Sorry I haven't blogges since Saturday. I actually did, but it got eaten up in the blogosphere, and then I ran out of time to retype it. I am such a computer nerd.
Just an quick update- I promise a big post with pics tomorrow (later today, actually).

Papa spent Sunday night at the D.C. airport, because of the slush storm, but finally made it to Florida. He is lonely without us, but doing well.

Yesterday was a parenting day from hell, but today went much better. We had a piano lesson, did English, history, some parsing in the latin reader, read out loud, ate Chinese takeout, and watched a few episodes of That 70's show. I know, I know, it isn't super appropriate, but honestly, most of the inappropriate references go right over their heads.

More tomorrow, I finally feel tired. Hopefully I will rest tonight- you think I'd sleep better with a whole queen-size bed to myself, and no snoring, wouldn't you? Go figure.
Later,
LB

Photo of the Day #4

The Family Homestead. Here is our home, taken from the front yard. More later, I am off to drop Papa off at his seminar, fetch Gramma, take her shopping, then back here for a laudry-folding party. We have to get all of Papa's clothes washed, ironed, and packed so he has clothes on his trip to Florida. He leaves tomorrow.
LB

What do you think of my new paintsticks?

I have been down in the studio today, experimenting with my new Shiva Paintsticks. What do you think of this?














As opposed to the lighter touch of the colored pencils? I haven't colored the face in yet, but other than that.....

Better? Different? Makes you wanna puke? Smile? Or are you indifferent? Is one image more pleasing than the other? I value your thoughts. Be honest and specific, ok?
LB

Just when you thought you had everything

I was cruising some art/quilting blogs when I found this post.
I don't know where Karen found it, but it is hilarious. The rest of her blog is fun, too.
LB

Relaxed Friday

This is the first day all week I haven't had to be out of the house early squirrelly. I let the kids sleep in till 9:30, and they are slowly starting to function. Other than 2 scheduled coaching calls, I really have no plans, other than to keep the laundry going so the Papa Dude has clothes to pack. He is off to FLorida for training for his new job. He will be gone two weeks, and will be gone for my birthday. I am hoping I can convince him to take me out to lunch today, but we shall see.

Nothing else new here, gotta go put a load in the wash, cook up some bacon and eggs, and see if we can at least get a bit of school in today- for the first time this week- so much for getting tons done while public school was out, sigh.
LB

Picture of the day #3

Shells.
We love shells around here. We have a huge collection, and add to id often. Here are just a few that the Fine Young Man arranged and then shot.

I need to take my camera out with me today, and start shooting some more pics! I have shown you everything I was behind on showing you. Yay for me!
LB

UFO's

Monet's Bridge, circa 2004
Just the top, not quilted. This was one of a series of 3 exercises I did from a book a few years ago, the title of which I can no longer remember. THis one is my faves I would like to do more- a series of abstract bridges, or water elements. I can tell it is done by a beginner in the abstract world, but I still like it.





















This one is my least favorite of the three. It was a color exercise, focused on red, but some parts of it just don't work. But, I plan on showing stuff to you that I am not happy with, as well as stuff I love, or else how will I grow as an artist?!














This one is nice, but didn't really stretch me much. THe colors are pretty, the piecing was not tricky, and the colors are those I am already in love with.









These works are a couple of years old, the stuff I did just before my huge block set in. My thoughts have been to abandon this kind of quilt-making, in favor of more collage-y styles. But looking at them now, I almost want to go back and finish them. I didn't post their sizes, they are all on the small size from 12" square, to aprrox. 15" x 30".

So, I was brave enough to post these, now I am curious to hear what you think!
LB

Photo of the day #2, and a computer nerd question

First the nerdy part- I spent hours yesterday adding links to my sidebar, and now only a few of them are showing up. WWHHYYY??? I guess I will have to figure it out in my spare time, which means it won't happen today, that's for sure.

On to the picture of the day. Here is a bachelor button, taken last Easter. Soon, I keep telling myself, soon, it will warm enough that these will bloom again!



That's all for now- I am back from the dentist, have to pick kids up, and head to Nature Study- we are drawing mammal skulls today.
Later,
LB

New work

Hey! Wanna see what I am up to? Here is my latest piece. It is for someone, who like me, is in love with turtles. I had the patches, and then a bunch of pre-cut brights, so it went together in a flash. It is approx. 10" X 30".


Here is a close-up so you can see the beading I am doing on it. I am such a newbie when it comes to beading on a quilt, but it is easier with each bead, if just a tad time comsuming.



When I showed my design walls in yesterday's post, you may have been wondering what those blobby brown things on it were. Well, this is something new for me too- colored pencils on hand-dyed cotton fabric. One night when I was auditioning fabrics for a quilt, I saw images in this one fabric. Thought maybe it was due to smoking too many pencil shavings, as Ree would say. But, no, when I looked again, there they were- fairies, just waiting in the shadows. So I got out my new woodless pencils, and started playing. These are some of the results.

THis one is a wing-ed lady flying. Can you see her wing stretched out behind her, and the sillouette of her curvy body?



This one may be harder to make out. It is a lady with deer-like ears and wings. She also is shapely, with a nice hip to her.



THere are a couple more, one that looks like an elephant with two sets of ears, and one that looks like your typical Peter Pan-type fairy with a funky butterfly on his outstretched arm.
I am wondering if I need to buy some SHiva paintsticks to play with these more, and have no idea what they will be incorporated into, but they have been fun to play around with, and I can see my shading skills inproving.
I'd love to know what you think.
TTFN,
LB

photo of the day #1

Hmmm, now that I can post photos, which one will I choose? And can I come up with something snappier that "Photo of the day"? I think I will show you the bench that Papa Dude and the children made for me last year for my birthday. I love it. It is around a crabapple tree between our driveway and our next door neighbor's house. She built a bench last summer, so we have a great meeting spot that is nice and shady in the summer. Easy to earn bonus points if you can tell on which holiday this photo was taken.

More later,
LB

Christmas in February

OK, OK, I know this will be 2 months late, but remember in December, when you were visiting all your fave blogs, and they all showed pics of their special holiday decorations? The ones that made you think of your great aunt or your best Gramma-type lady? Well, here we go, better late than never, because I know a couple of you who will really enjoy seeing them. Then I promise to post some pics of artwork, okay?

These are our stockings. They are huge, and hold a ton. I made one for each of us, and my mom. THey hang on our tv cupboard. As you can see, my antique vase collection and my Christmas music boxes are dispayed nicely in the glass shelves.

Next is one of my faves- this is the top of our current studies bookshelf. On the shelf, you will see my snowman collection. On top, is the Santa and reindeer that belonged to my grandmother Gladys. It is always a heart-wrenching yet happy time when I unpack these each year.

Here is a close-up:

Here is a pic of the piano wall. As you can see, I have family photos on the whole thing. At Christmas, I put banners up on all the walls- some are Santas, and some are robins with holly. This is the piano that I have come to adore, because my Young Lady plays hours and hours on it every day, bringing me much joy.

Here is our entryway, with all our bell swags, and the stars I bought this year.

Here is our tree, with the two wierdos, umm, I mean dealightful kids working on the decorations- or are they hugging the tree??

Okay, now I am even closer to being in integrity with Dy, Amy, and the whole picture thing!
LB

Studio Pics! Finally!

I finally got my Fine Young Man to learn how to upload pics from my digital camera! Yay for us! So, I will now try to put a few pics of my studio up. First off, is my pride and joy, the 2 4 X 8 design wall panels. As you can see, there is room enough for a few projects at a time, with room for whatever inspires you, to boot!













The panels are on a sliding rail, like closet doors. Behind them, I have tons of shelf storage. I have cleaned and organized them since this pic, so they look even better now.














I have two tables set up in an L shape. There is room for 2 machines, one for me, one for my Young Lady. On one table, I have a cutting mat, on the other, is my ironing cloth. I didn't adhere it to the table, because I like being able to take it off in case I need lots of room for a project, like Valentine making, or beading a quilt.
As you can see, this is also a good space for setting up my laptop, or encouraging cats to lie on fabric and piles of beads.















Here is a good view of the fabric wall. All my fabric is in the white plastic drawers. THe tall drawers hold all my collage materials, and the big brown cupboard holds all of our art supplies. Again- this area has been reorganized since these photos were taken, but I wanted to go ahead and post them so you can see the space.

Let's see if Blogger will let me post one or twomore. I just want to tell you, I know this isn't a real fancy space, and having to share it with 3 cats, and the spiders that they don't eat, with no ceiling yet does make keeping it tidy a challenge, but I am so pleased with the feel of the space. It is cozy and open.

The wood stove makes it nice and warm down here at 4 in the am, when I am not sleeping. The cats like it too.


That's all for now. Now that I have this process down, I am hot to show you new works, old works, my Christmas decorations (that have been sitting patiently in my camera since December!), and the kids and cats.
Thanks for being patient, Dy.
LB

This Artist's Way

Last week, Amy and I started reading The Artist's Way. I am hoping that it will help me recover from this almost 2 yr old block I have been in. The studio has helped immensely, but something is still missing. For the class to work, I am supposed to do a weekly check-in each Sunday, so here we go.

I really struggled with the morning pages, but was successful with taking myself on an artist's date. I thought it would be the other way around.

The idea behind the morning pages is to do 3 pages of free-write first thing when you wake up. I have heard it called "brain drain" before. I have been trying to get up at 6 am, and I really struggled with getting 3 pages written at that time of the morning. Sometimes I wish we were supposed to be doing night pages- I lay awake in bed, with at least three pages of nonsense and unbidden thoughts floating around in my brain. I did 5 out or 6 days this week, with some days not being a full 3 pages. Sigh. I vow to be better at them this week.

I called Amy early on in the week, trying to come up with ideas for an artist date- this seems like a strange concept for me so far- doing something to support and excite the artist within. I ended up finding some time after a tortuous Massage Therapy appointment last Thursday, to expore a Big Lots store near the massage office. I found tons of fun little doo-dads for collaging- sticky string, 3-D stickers, art papers, cheap fancy envelopes, paper leaves, etc. I came out of there with a huge bag of goodies, and only spent $20. Now that I have played with some of it, I want to go back and get lots more!

For our exercises this week, we were supposed to explore who were our early champions and villians when it came to being artists. I really had to search to come up with any villians in my life when it came to my making art. I found lots of champions, though, and it was interesting to search back through my memories and think about people who were supportive of me when I was young- hadn't thought about some of them in many years.

My studio is coming along so very well. It is still rough in spots, but I have almost everything put away and organized, and the cool part is that I have actually been creating this week! I quilted a small wall hanging, which is now in a hoop, waiting to be beaded. My Little Lady (the daughter formerly known as the Girl) and I have been making Valentine's Day cards for our close friends this week. Funny- I have made one in the time it has taken her to make five!! I am committed to being in my studio every day, and am getting closer to this being a reality. With all the other responsibilities and commitments I have, this is turning out to be a major deal!

Today, I will read ch. 2's lesson, and get started on it. I am so glad to have a partner in this exercise. It has made it so much easier to actually do the work, and show up at the pages, knowing someone else is putting in the effort and doing the time too.

How did you do on your goals for this week, Amy?

So, when it comes to my art, who I am is the possibility of being a prolific creator of art.
LB

update on the education of The Fine Young Man

So. It has been an interesting week with my son. I am still battling, or should I say, working with, the school system to see if my Fine Young Man can attend the high school full time next school year. It is taking a great deal of my time and energy, but it will be okay in the end. I just know it. Because I have an amazing son. He sees that fighting me over schoolwork for the last couple of years has caused him (and me) a great deal of trouble and inconvenience, and he sees that it is going to take effort to dig himself out of this situation. We are working on baby steps. This week, he is in integrity with all of his work. This is a huge triumph. Yay!

In other news, the Fine Young Man is going to state with his speech and debate team! He is also going to the national trials! He had a tournament just last night, and took first place in Humourous Interpretation. He is just getting better and better, and his routines are so much fun to watch!

Aaacckkk. Dumb Blogger

I know, I know. I haven't been blogging again. Sigh. I have been fighting Blogger. Then when I finally think I have it down, it blows up in my face again. And then I just have no energy to post anything. But I think I finally have it under control now, and think they will accept both my name and password. Can't believe it took me all week to get it in gear on that. I am such a computer nerd.
LB

Quick update

The money negotions have started for the Wonderful Job. First offer was less than what he is making now, but they have tons of perks, incentives, commissions, etc. that bring it up to what he is making now.Papa Dude countered, fairly on the high end, so we shall see what happens. I know he will take this job no matter what they offer, as it is so much more of what he wants to do. He talked to several other field engineers in the company, and they are all telling him it is worth it, and that money doesn't always have to come directly from the salary to be good and steady.

Midnight the Van died last night, or at the very least is in critical condition. The Dude thinks it is the power steering. Sigh, could it not have waited just two weeks, till we had the money in hand that Papa will get from not using up all his vacation time at the U? He is out getting parts for the little toyota, so we can at least have it to use.

I spent several hours yesterday dealing with the public high school my Fine Young Man wants to attend, as well as the dept. of education. I am not yet ready to talk about my experiences and feelings on this matter- still in the middle of it and sorting it all out, but, I will tell you this:
I never, ever thought that *I*, the person who has always told anyone that would even sorta listen to me, that homeschooling was so much better than a public school education would now be working as hard as I am to get my son into the public school system. Sigh. I will fill you in on this one when I have more solid info. Let's just say, being an advocate for my son to get into public high school is hard, and I am fighting my personal stories about the system every step of the way.

Well, better get off this thing, and get dressed, it is going to be an interesting day. Kids are cranky, the Dude is cranky, and I get to hold it all together, with cranky-less mama glue.

Later,
LB

Hey Amy!

Amy over at The Foil Hat, tagged me for a great curriculum meme. Well Amy, it just so happens that I did this one already, back in August, and I had tagged YOU to do it too! So, you go read my old one, and I will go read your new one.

And as always, I will tell you that Amy's writing is very good, very funny, but don't foget to check out her soaps, too. I am in love with them.
LOL,
LB

Birthday report and other stuff, too.

The Girl had a great birthday. We started by sleeping in till 10 am, glorious! Then we drove to the Seattle Center, had a snack in the center house, and then it was off to the Science Center. We got to see a live boa constrictor, play with the water features, and most heavenly, spend an hour in the butterfly house, which was lovely. We always learn something new about the butterflies. This time we learned the to tell the difference between the Blue Morpho and the Giant Owl butterflies by their eyespots.

After a fun trip through the store, where the Girl picked out a couple of little things (and the Boy didn't ask for a single thing!), we headed back to our neck of the woods. We stopped at the fabric store where the Girl picked out a miniature quilt kit called Little Women, with repro fabrics, and a simple nine-patch block.

While we girls were in the fabric store, the boys ran over to the grocery, and picked up a healthy cake mix, that we will make some time this week.

Then to her fave Mexican restaurant, where after dinner, they brought her fried ice cream (which she couldn't eat, but graciously accepted, then gave to her brother and Papa as soon as the waitress left.), and a cute sombrero with a poleroid picture of her and her brother. She really loved this!

We made a stop at Fred Meyer's so we could get Papa some new slacks and a shirt for his interview, and then finally home. By the time we got home, I was pooped out and crawled into bed, while the three of them watched a DVD we picked up at the SC, about deep space.

In other news, I am trying to be an advocate for my son who wants to go to the local public high school at the beginning of the semester (Early Feb), but he hasn't been integrity with his school for a while and is now behind. So I am researching GLE's (newfangled term for standards), trying to check out textbooks from the school for him to use, and trying to enroll the school counselors and officials in supporting him so he will be able to start in tenth grade in the fall. I still need to do some scheduling and planning for him, but that will wait for any new books he gets. In the meantime, he is using what we have.

He and I have a long road ahead of us this spring and summer in order to get him where he wants/needs to be. He is finally seeing that I haven't been out to get him, and I am not mean by having him do school. He sees that if he had just done what I expected of him, he would have been able to jump in mid-year and done just fine- that it was his choices that have him in this situation now. That in itself will make this torturous process I am involved in right now worth it.

My back went out after I spent all that time in the dentist's chair, so I am back to Massage Therapy 2X a week for another month at least. Sigh. I was doing so well, and was going to be done in January, but not now. I am doing my best to roll with it.

We are having a sisters meeting tonight at my mom's. Trying to enroll my mom and sisters in the idea of me being the primary caregiver for mom in the future, and that taking some equity out of her house now, and building a mother-in-law in our back yard, while clearing out her house and getting it ready to sell is a good idea to consider soon. Wish me luck on this one, sigh.

Papa Dude has his interview tonight- he is being sought out by the company that makes the machines he works on to become a field engineer. He would travel a great deal, but not long distances, repairing and maintaining the cytometers that he works on now. It would mean a great deal more money a year than the University is willing or able to pay him now. Think good thoughts for him- he really wants this, and I want it for him. It means more single parenting for me than I am used to, but better now than when they were little babies.

My studio is in a holding pattern- what with my sore mouth, and backaches, and birthdays, I haven't even been down there lately. I am so itching to be creating, as I have several ideas floating in my head right now, but it is just going to wait.

Well, we just finished our Classical Writing for today, and there is a mountain of laundry to fold, the dishes need to be done, and I am supposed to be napping right now, so this will be all for now. We still have food bank deliveries this afternoon before we go to Grandma's.
LB

Both Blogger and I are back.

Okay, I am back, and Blogger seems to be too. I tried to post several times this weekend, but Blogger wasn't having any of it!

My tooth still hurts, but I am doing better. Though wouldn't you know it, after laying in a dentist's chair for 5 hours, my back has been extremely painful and threatening to go out on my all weekend. I rested as much as I could, took vicadin as much as I could ;-), and am doing much better.

I will post again later- tomorrow is my Baby Girl's birthday. She will be 12, and I need to go get a few things ready for her. 12- how did that happen so very fast!
LB

Ouchie-Boo-Boo

Man, yesterday was a painful day! It is days like that that make me grateful for high pain tolerance.

First off, I went to the Papa Dude's dentist. I was in the chair from 7 am to noon. Realized I should have eaten before I left, because I was too numb to do so at noon.

Raced home, picked up the kids, dropped the Fine Young Man off at the High school, and the GIrl and I drove up to nature study. One of the other moms led for me, as all of a sudden, I felt like crashing. Whew! 4 hours of nitris oxide did me in, I think.

After N.S., we headed to the Girl's piano lesson. I played with Baby A while Girl worked on Chopin and Hayden.

By this point, the numbness was wearing off enough for the pain to set in. I drove into town, picked Papa up, and slid over into the passenger seat.

We picked the Boy up at school at 5 pm, took me home, and I was able to crawl into bed.Took two hydrocodones, and crashed.

While I rested, the Girl made me supper, and the guys ran back into town to pick up a couple of free bookcases I had spotted the day before. These are fancy IKEA bookcases. Yay. I am not sure, but this may take our total number of bookcases up to 20.

So, I am feeling better, but amazed at how much pain I am in with this temporary crown.
I plan on resting this morning, till we need to leave for volunteer working the afternoon.
Not an exciting entry, but that's about all the blogging I have in me this morning.
LB

Chipped tooth!

Darn it! I was just at the store, buying some healthier food choices. I picked up a box of Tic Tacs because I thought it would help me with the transition to eating healthier and not eating too much candy. So I no more than get home, and pop one in my mouth when I hear a horrible crunching sound. Darn it and darn it again- I just chipped a tooth! And my dentist is out of the office till Monday. Now I am going to have to find a dentist quick, and fit this visit into the rest of my hugely busy week. You know I am saying a lot worse words than darn it. :-(
LB

Tidbit #8 Freeway debris

As we were driving south on I-5 today, we noticed that someone must have lost a load of paper- there were sheets of paper just flying and fluttering everywhere- like large confetti.

As we got closer to home, there was a teddy bear in my lane. Funny- as I glanced in my rearview mirror, I noticed everyone behind me was swerving to miss the old brown bear. I realize they were most likely just trying not to hit something in the road, but the mama side of me was imagining they were trying not to hit someone's special bear.

My next door neighbor just called and is working late and wants us to walk her dogs- good- my exercise is planned out for the day.
LB

Tidbit #7: Fitness

Yesterday I walked a mile, ate very healthily (although I felt very hungry when I went to bed) ,drank water, and even went sledding with the kids (memory making indeed).

We shall see how today goes, fitness wise. I was wide awake from 1 to 5 this morning. THe not sleeping is starting to show underneath my eyes. Sigh.

Happy Wednesday,
LB

Tidbit #6 in the form of a question:

Do any of you have any ideas about simple make-up for a person who hasn't worn make-up for 20 years, due to extremely sensitive skin?

Mom-Bob has pointed me in the direction of a beeswax-based mascara. I am also interested in eyeshadow, blush, and maybe a foundation that will look good on a very deep olive skin tone.

With all the teaching, consulting, and coaching I am going to be doing this year, I am in a place in my life where I would like to occasionally look a bit more professional, but I am going to have to work up to it, as I have experienced such painful skin reactions in the past.

As for skin care products, I am sold on the salt scrubs, soaps, and shea butter from The Foil Hat. I most likely will just contentedly order from Amy for the rest of my life. Check her stuff out if you haven't already. Tell her LB sent ya'. Just reading the descriptions of the products is fun. And then check out her blog, because Amy is one funny lady.

Off to take the tree down and put ornaments in boxes.
LB

Tidbit #5

I had a wierd night's sleep- Santa brought us new flannel sheets, but they have only been washed once, and they felt so yucky! Like sleeping between suede, or in a pile of peaches. Yucky!

I also had one of the worst dreams I have ever had which involved kissing someone, and having them get sick at the same time. Gross.

What happened to restful sleep?
LB

Tidbit #4

Tidbit #4.
Studio Update:
I truly love my partner/husband/ Papa Dude. This studio as a Christmas gift idea really rocks, you know?
I am not ready to take pics yet (maybe tomorow), still putting stuff away.
My Young Man (MYM, was the boy FKA Boy. He is just growing up so nicely.) and I covered (with cotton batting) and hung the 4' X 8' panels that are my design wall (YEEHAW!!). It was a huge challenge in communication, but the two of us came through it fairly unscathed, I think.
OK, I need to bop to John Hyatt and get more stuff put away.
LB

Tidbit #3

What I am reading these days:
a website on couching

Over the Line: Couching Rediscovered, by Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn

Between the Sheets with Angelina: a workbook for fusible fibres, by Alysn Midgelow-Marsden

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron

Where I've been spending my money:
Dollmaker's Ink

Carma

Off to visit my mama now,
LB

Tidbit #2

Tidbit #2:
The entire family delivered the Girl to the airport this morning. We met up with our friend Andrew, who flew up to get her, and fly down with her to Huntington Beach. She is having her second annual Birthday Weekend with Andrew's family, specifically his youngest daughter, the Girl's favorite friend in the whole world. Adrew and his youngest will fly our Girl back on Sunday.
He is now a flight attendant, so the girls are getting to see each other more often lately. How cool is that?!
LB

Catch-up in tidbits.

Tidbit #1.
I miss blogging. I have stories that I just can't do it all, and don't have time. So wouldn't it be cool if I made time for things, and if I can do and be it all. Sounds like a great deal more fun, entertainment, and inspired learning in the second view.

LB, off to eat citrus pork, roasted asparagus, and whatever else the Man-Child and Papa Dude have fixed for me.