I figured I should briefly check in since I’ve been incommunicado. I’m dealing with a health issue and have been at appointments everyday. Tests, tests and more tests. Today I feel a little better than I have so I’m cautiously optimistic that things are getting better.
Author : halleday
1729 posts
Three days…that’s the long and short of it.
Three days until I’m done with work until late August. But also three days until my oldest is done with high school. Technically he has already graduated since everything is checked off and he has his “card” but he must still attend school until the end. The actual “walk” is on Friday. Yep…getting my tissues ready now.
For me this last week off school is chaotic which can sway from “easy breezy” to “smack you in the face difficult” to “wait, what just happened?” all in one class period. So needless to say, in that respect, the days are long.
Outside of school days, I’ve been keeping busy with little mini projects and helping a friend with the monumental task of cleaning out her parents house now that is sold. I know how hard it is and I wish I could lend a greater hand but timing on these things isn’t always the best.
My first mini project was making a pair of glasses for a co-workers wedding cake topper. She had mentioned that she ordered some Barbie glasses off the internet. I told her I doubted they’d fit and mentioned that I’d made a pair of glasses for a Gnome a couple years back.
The glasses made the gnome a dead ringer for the neighbor kid…err…adult now. Too funny!
Long story short…the Barbie glasses were WAY to small for the would be groom so I was given the challenge of creating a suitable pair.
I think they turned out pretty good. I sent a photo to the bride and she approves.
Over the weekend, my rows of beans and snow peas popped out of the ground. It’s amazing how quickly that happens. I swear if you had all day you could watch them wiggle their way through the soil and unfurl their leaves in a splendid little dance.
I made another bunting this time for the deck garden. Since I still need to stain the deck rails I decided to try out something new with the bunting.
I used some bamboo to act as mini flag poles suspending the bunting at the front of the garden. The hope is that the flutter of the flags might deter the deer from munching on the plants. This wasn’t my original plan so I’ll need to make a little extension so it can reach all the way around.
Anyone notice my after dinner beer in accordance with the T Stands for Tuesday guidelines? I’m trying to be a good kid and follow the rules….sometimes it is difficult. :) I forget. It happens.
I’ve worked a bit on some journal spilling. Creating a background then quickly with a very free hand (aka messy) spilling my thoughts of the moment. I may leave things as is or I may use my writing as a part of the background. Not sure, so it sits.
I brought home a little basket of treasures from my friends house. Mostly spools of thread, a few vintage dress patterns and some double pointed knitting needles. You should have seen me walking home with my little basket under my arm. I felt like Little Red Riding Hood. I even saw a large critter on the way home. Only it wasn’t a wolf…it was its slightly small cousin a coyote. Its crazy! We’ve noticed a big jump in sightings lately. I have seen 4 in the past 2 weeks. But seeing one while out walking only 2.5 blocks from we was a little disconcerting.
Its the last Tuesday of the school year for me…. but what are you doing today?
This Memorial day marks one year since I lost my mom. She was on my mind all day. Half way through my first cup of coffee I made the decision not to be sad but to reflect and remember the good things, The funny memories. The things that make me smile.
As I walked around the yard watering before it got too hot, I thought about her green thumb. She had flowers galore and a big garden. Houseplants too. I guess I’ve taking after her in that way. I love spending time tending to the garden. Making it beautiful and productive,
My newly sewn and strung garden bunting made me smile. Mom was no seamstress. In fact she hated sewing. She was so happy when I learned how to sew in school and gladly passed all of her supplies on to 13 yr old me. I’ve never stopped sewing since!
After finishing the outdoor chores I headed inside to do a bit of art journaling. I was really feeling inspired by nature.
The background colors I laid down didn’t scream nature. They were the colors that spoke to me though. Sort of a hard edge along with nature.
Layers upon layers stacked. This fussy cut stamped birds nest was the perfect way to embrace nature. I used watercolor crayons to color the robin eggs then used diamond glaze over top to add dimension. The addition of the thread help sell the idea of the nest for me.
I added the skeleton leaf for balance. As soon as I added the leaf, the words “live gently upon the earth” jumped out at me. This page made me smile.
Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Flora and Fauna
as well as T stands for Tuesday today.
Eight days of school left. Whoop, whoop!
What are you doing today?
Last week is a whirlwind in my mind. I’m not even sure why I missed T stands for Tuesday but I did. So this week will be a bit of a catching up….again.
I think we shall start with Mother’s Day.
Take out sushi from our favorite local sushi resturant. We actually had this on Saturday since we spent Sunday at my in-laws house. Since their health isn’t the best right now, I brought the meal. The boys tackled the spring/summer to-do list for their folks. It was a good day. Staying busy was good so I didn’t dwell on my first Mother’s day without my mom.
Last week also brought the last choir concert for J. Its an emotional concert for me…even before having a graduating senior. The last two songs are always the same and they are sung by all members of all choirs. Real tear-jerkers. As they sing the seniors come off stage and bring their parents a rose. Pass the tissues please…..
They also have a fun slide show of highlights and the guess the baby photo of the senior. So awesome! When we got home it was late and I couldn’t bring myself to dig in the storage room for a bud vase especially when the recycling was so close. A wine bottle works well. And bonus it hits the T stands for Tuesday beverage as well. :)
Workspace current view…
I haven’t really had any creative mojo for the past week or so. I’ve put paint to paper but completed nothing.
Most of this past weekend was spent outdoors. We scrubbed the deck which was long overdue. We decided that once it was scrubbed the weathered barnwood look was quite appealing so we’ve decided to just re-stain the railings.
Marvin approves. We used some plywood to provide a temporary gate so he could enjoy the a little sun on the deck with us. Of course he has his own personal greenhouse. Cats and boxes…
Anyway…we were enjoying the sunshine on the deck after long weekend of toil which also included planting in the garden.
The shed garden doesn’t look like much yet. Once the seeds sprout the space will quickly fill.
These onions are a funny story. Last fall I dumped this planter box into the shed garden figuring we’d just use the rototiller to mix in potting soil from containers into the garden. As I was pulling weeds, I noticed that this brick of soil was sprouting onion up from underneath. I tipped it back over and had all these green onions that were curling around the edges seeking sun. I tossed it back in the planter box and watered to see what would happen. Now a week or so later they are wonderful.
After we took the patio set and chiminea out of the shed and set it up we noticed that the chiminea is on its last summer.
The crack in the terracotta has grown exponentially. We need to be very careful with how we treat it over summer.
This week is slightly quieter than last…I think.
What are you doing today?
After a bit of thought I decided to give Postcrossing another try. In 2011, after completing the second of two postcard books with traded postcards from both Postcrossing and Swapbot, I took a break. A long break as it turns out.
This is the postcard I’m sending today. It is heading to Russia. After looking up the postage cost I am beginning to remember why I quit. Oh well. We’ll see how long I continue with this 
I have a stash of vintage postcards from our trips and travels as a kid with my parents. This is the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge in Colorado. I can remember the feel of the bridge under my feet. I think perhaps this was one of the experiences that gave me my extreme fear of bridges.
Last week I left off with the conservatory portion of our day trip to recreate the missed field trip. Next to the conservatory is a zoo. Como Zoo.
As children, both Mr. G and I visited this zoo with our parents….rode the giant tortoise, looked at the gorillas behind the bars and saw Sparky the Seal perform. Things have changed for the better over the years. The habitats are continually being improved. Mini-me has even witnessed change in her years. 
When we got there we saw that both the seal and polar bear habitats were changed or changing. Good news for those critters.
The big cats are a favorite of mine…
Watching this big guy walk was like seeing a giant version of Marvin. He saunters when he walks.
The lions were thoroughly enjoying the sunshine.
And who could blame them when just off to the side was the remains of our snow.
It is Minnesota after all.
I have one more part of our adventure to share with you next week.
Since this is T stands for Tuesday I had to share my birthday present to myself. I picked it up at Caribou (the best coffee place in my opinion…no affiliation, just a very smitten customer) while getting my free birthday drink.
This weekend also brought prom for J. He went with a bunch of friends and had a wonderful time. I once again wish I could show you my favorite candid shot from pre-prom pictures. It captured his personality perfectly….but I respect their right to privacy even now that he is an adult.
School is winding down…yet so many things that need to be done.
What are you doing today?
Today, for my birthday, I took some time out to create. With the school year winding down and everything that entails this year, I’ve been finding it harder and harder to carve out creative time.
I glued some random papers to parts of my book then used thick white craft paint to give a bit of texture with a palette knife. I was planning molding paste but my jar was dried up…hard as a rock.
Next I used my fingers to spread two shades of teal then a light touch of plum purple on the very edge. I blended everything with a slightly damp babywipe. I continued to wipe away at the areas with the white paint to bring the lightness back for interest on the pages.
I used Staz-on to stamp gears and clock numbers on the background.
Washi tape was used to adhere a glassine envelope holding a tag to the page. I added some stacked paper and button embellishments I created from my stash. The colors meshed well with the overall look.
More washi was added for balance on this side along with a snippet of music. I added a bottle cap I picked up on a walk since it reminded me of the treasures I bring home. 
As I looked through one of my favorite books to cut words and phrases from I saw this in a line. Perfect.
Secret notes and treasures.