T Tuesday: returning edition

Hello!! I am still here. It’s been a while.

Gosh, that sounds like the beginning to a song… I’m awful with names of songs/singers/authors/actors/movies/etc…so if it is one…sorry, I’m just not going to be able to commit any brain cells to that information. I have WAY too much other pointless trivia floating around in there.

So I took a bit of a blog hiatus after mom’s passing and funeral. I just wasn’t able to “find my voice” for the blog. I think my bout of laryngitis is over now.

During my break we traveled to north to do another college visit. This one was University of Minnesota Duluth. I completely forgot to take any photos on campus likely because our tour remained inside all but one brief walk outside as a shortcut. The awesome thing about UMD is that all the buildings are connected by tunnels and concourses. You literally don’t have to step outside if you don’t want to all winter long. I’d be blissfully happy if that’s where either kid decided to go to school.

Mini-me and I did our traditional sea glass hunting. The view is lovely…

and we always manage to find treasures.

The kids and I walked down to Grandma’s (host of Grandma’s marathon that had been run just the day or two before we got there)

Both times we’ve eaten there, we’ve been seated right by this sign. Too funny! I didn’t take the obligatory beverage photo but rest assured it was there and it was of the adult variety. Why not…we were walking!

Back at home I’ve been keeping busy with gardening, driving back and forth to the high school for volleyball and some volunteer work I picked up. The choir director put out a call for anyone with sewing skills to mend the robes before they are dry cleaned to save the program some money. So far I’ve mended 20 robes. 

It’s mostly split sleeves but there have been some zippers and collars as well.

It’s all hand stitching and the stitches need to be hidden. Thank you Mrs. Wilwerding for teaching me how to sew in the 8th grade. My kid’s high school also thanks you for indirectly saving them lots of money. I’m hoping when I drop off this latest batch of 6 robes that at least some will have been taken by the others to mend.

I have been a little creative as well. Here’s a little sneak…

What are you doing today?

T stands for Tuesday

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Back at it…finally

It has been a while girls and boys. Every time I sat down to write a post, I just couldn’t. I was stuck…blocked by emotion. Not sure how to move on with my blog while still dealing with the grief of losing my mom. Somehow it felt wrong. I know that is crazy talk but it took a while to move beyond that thought. So here I am…back at it.

I’ve been busy with a number of things…

such as this wreath. It came together quite nicely from some clearance items. I’m thinking about hanging it under the eaves on our deck. I haven’t actually taken it out there to see if there is enough wall space but I think it would be a lovely addition to the space.

I’ve experimented with some acrylic pours that I’ll share in another post.

The sun is finally out today…we’ve had rain, rain, rain today. I found this cute little nest laying in the yard after a recent storm.

Today was also the first CSA drop off date. They were supposed to start last week but there had been a terrible hail storm that had taken out a lot of the crops. I have to say that I am very pleasantly surprised at the high quality and quantity of produce I got today.

Those carrots are so good!!!!! They taste just like I remember as a kid…only not so gritty. I used to pull them out of the ground, swish them in the rain barrel and eat them.

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T Tuesday: twice published edition

Way back around the New Year I mentioned that I was sending something in for possible publication.  I was super excited about the piece and shared a couple little snippets.

On a whim I sent a collection of collage gift bags that I’d been working on as well to Sew Somerset. Much to my surprise, I was asked to write an article about my gift bags…then shortly after I heard that my other submission would also be included in the gallery section of the magazine,

I can’t even tell you what a lift it was getting this in the mail. Of course I knew it was coming but getting to hold it in my hands really brightened my day.

It’s a real honor to be included with so many wonderful artists.

This week marks the end of school…no more middle school for Mini-me. I will have two high school kids next fall! Freshman and senior. Many changes on the horizon. New adventures and challenges alike. It all builds character…and we could all use a bit of character right?! The world would be a pretty boring place if we all were exactly the same.

What are you doing today?

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T Tuesday: mom edition

With a heavy heart I write this post. My mom passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning. I am relieved for her as her last days were difficult but heartbroken for those of us left behind. Many of us visited and talked to her; reminiscing, telling stories and just sharing the minutia of our daily lives. Even though words were not readily able to come from her lips anymore, her face was expressive and we knew she understood every word.

I do have other things to share on much happier and artistic notes but those will be for another post. This one is about mom.

My cousin took this picture of her last September when they took her out to celebrate her 87th birthday. Mom got this gigantic ice cream sundae. As you can see by her smile, she was pleased.

On her 80th birthday I posted this photo of her circa 1930 something.

It’s funny because as mini-me ages she is starting to look more like my mom. In fact, we found a photo of my mom and uncle taken about the same age mini-me is now and she looks so much like her that its almost scary.

We are having her memorial next week after school lets out. Until that time there is plenty to do which actually helps me. When I have a to-do list, I am able to cope with pain and uncertainty much better. My good friend Sandy calls it my “robot mode”. So now I’m off to start on my list.

What a re you doing today?

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Painting from texture experiment

I didn’t set off to finish a painting today. I was more just wanting to play with different techniques in a canvas board. Using different paints and application methods. Even paint removal methods.

texture study

I found this very interesting and learning a lot about different body paints and how they react differently with a palette knife for instance. Also the transparency of certain paints…why you want this at times and other times not so much.

I walked away pleased with my new found knowledge. Later the canvas board pulled me back.

abstract painting

I used my fingers to create over top of my experiment. There are only small areas that remain from the learning process.  I really am pleased with the end result. I’m still not quite ready to call it done…I’m still thinking maybe some minor accents of black might complete this one for me. Only time will tell.

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T Tuesday: rainy days edition

After nearly a week of perfect weather we are now stuck in system after system of rain. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal but I’m trying desperately to get a garage sale together. Last Tuesday afternoon we made that decision after the two charity organizations I had lined up fell through. No one could get the stuff out of mom’s apartment by the deadline. So guess what…everything is in our garage.

I’ve been pricing what I can, shifting things from here to there. What a nightmare. To top things off I’ve got two home sick today. Mini-me and Mr. G…some sort of horrible virus. Sore throat, fever, cough. I’m trying my best not to catch it from them…I don’t have time for that!!!

On the bright side I got a sweet gift from our hostess Elizabeth for my birthday. 

Such cute vintage kiddos in the corner. Thank you!

On a day like today I’d like to be living the life of leisure like a cat. Marvin has the right idea. A little nap, then a snack, some bird tv out the window then back to nap time. I could definitely give that a whirl.

Thanks for sticking with me through the chaos of my life right now.

What are you doing today?

T stands for Tuesday

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T Tuesday: ?? edition

Welcome to my weekly blog post. This frustrates me beyond belief but right now that’s just the way it will be,

Last week I didn’t remember to post the journal page that I had created mostly because it was a twofer post with Second on the 2nd.

I did a little play on words since it was the 1st of May. Not my favorite page but at least I got my hands messy with paint, ink and glue.

I have another page sitting at this point…

Just a background or at least the start of one in a whole new journal. I’m trying to be mindful of embellishments in this one. Not too thick or at least not towards the spine.

Last Friday was my birthday so I got my free drink from Caribou coffee…they are a chain like Starbucks only 1000 times better! You can only find them in the midwest USA though…sorry.

The coffee cooler was so big and decadent that I could only drink 1/2 of it. I put the rest in the freezer for Mini-me.

The chore of cleaning out mom’s apartment is still going. We’ve decided the best thing to do is to have a garage sale. Hmmm…feels like I just did one of those a couple weeks ago. UGH!

I did get the majority of my garden planted over the last couple days.

The tomato plants were getting gigantic.

The onions were planted last fall and look great already.

The shed garden doesn’t look too exciting right now…just some row markers.

I had to leave some room for the plants J started at school in Biology class. He’ll be bringing home 7 tomato plants , a sunflower and a pumpkin plant if all survive the study and trip home.

Sorting, book keeping and cleaning are on this list…exciting stuff.

What are you doing today?

T stands for Tuesday

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