making.

~making coffee ice cubes. repeat for the next 5 months.


~making my boy happy by acting out scenes from duma with him (he's duma, i'm xan). haven't seen this movie? i recommend it.

~making a batch of laundry detergent. and in turn, making clean laundry, which then makes a pile of clothes on the bed to put away at a later time.

recipe:
1 - 2 bars of castile soap
1 cup of washing soda
1 cup of borax
i don't measure any more though. just eyeball it.

~making lunch. making a mess.

~making myself crazy by sewing a doily on to my quilt top. never again will i sew a doily on anything. (but it is cute!).


~making some lists. i'm a list maker. though my handwriting is nearly illegible thanks to the computer.

~making my way out to the hammock while the littles finish napping.


what are you making these days?

o≈o

today we trekked to the museum again to take in this exhibit and make a sculpture of a car, today's planned activity for the kids. more and more i'm so glad we bought that family pass. henry does not have that much interest in browsing the museum but is very interested in the art projects. since they often relate the project to a specific piece of art or in this case an exhibit, it gives us a chance to check out the museum in small portions.



upon walking into the car exhibit henry said, "whoa!". he was impressed with the size (and probably the shininess), and i admit i was too. these cars were pretty stunning pieces of design. unfortunately, he wasn't interested enough to linger and really admire the details like i wanted too, but that just means i need to go back. i think there are 18 cars in the exhibit and i didn't get to read about any of them. i took as many pictures as i could, but was not confident enough in the boy's ability to refrain from touching anything, so i didn't want to take my eyes off him for more than a few seconds at a time. also, no flash or tripods are allowed, so i got a lot of blur and was often shooting blind.

after the exhibit we headed to the classrooms for some sculpting. they wanted them to sculpt cars. i had already told henry to make whatever he wanted. henry and bea were really into the clay.




eventually their sculptures became one and turned into a car of some sort. henry calls it a bunny car.


those blue crayons sticking out are the horns. there was a 1937 mercedes roadster (gorgeous!) that had two large silver horns on the front. i was happy to know that he was paying attention.

i hope to get back to this exhibit without the littles. i'd love to linger and appreciate all the details on these cars, and of course get some better photos. if i do, i'll be sure to share.

*highlight from today - henry seeing a banner for this upcoming exhibit and saying, "i want a mustache like that someday!' . awesome. and it wouldn't surprise if he followed through with it. i'll be sure to share that if it ever happens!

collected.

tried to take the littles out for a ride today. bea on her trike, henry on his new (thrifted) bat-scooter. we didn't make it past our neighbors house. he parked the scooter, traipsed into their yard and picked every weed he could hold. then he rode his scooter across the street and proceeded to do the same at our other neighbors house. at this point bea is saying "buckle" repeatedly, meaning for me to UN-buckle her and let her loose. she didn't pick any flowers, but she was another set of hands to hold the ones henry was picking.

it's all fine with me. i believe weeds hold up better than fresh cut flowers and they're just as pretty.

----------

i've been suffering from insomnia lately. not too bad, but definitely having later nights than i would like. i had it much worse in high school. i have a mind that won't shut off sometimes. last night i found myself wishing i could listen to music or podcasts AND read my book simultaneously just so i could keep busy enough. i suppose it could be done and who's to say i'd retain any less information? it's affecting my ability to deal with noise of which there is a lot of in my house. why are the smallest ones the loudest?

i tried taking so many pictures today and come away with only a few that were worthy of keeping/editing the hell out of. we were inside much of the day because my allergies are making me want to claw my eyeballs from their sockets and bea walks around rubbing her eyes saying "eye?". anyway, i took a few selfies and all that did is make me want to count all the grays in my hair. i was a little surprised at the amount (i didn't actually count though). i realized i look as tired as i feel and i feel like i am definitely closer to forty than i am to twenty. which is true, i am. but that doesn't mean i want feel it. or feel like i look it.

and to not sound entirely grumpy and whiny i'll let you know i've been feeling grateful at the same time. for so many things. one of them being this amazing community. i was going through one of my photo sets on flickr last night and getting really sappy and silly and i was just really touched by the comments. i'm just grateful for this opportunity to 'meet' so many people and share experiences with them (and you). some of you have been around since i started this blog (or close to it) and began posting on flickr (close to 2.5 yrs ago i think - i might be wrong). you are witnessing me and my family grow and sharing that experience and that is really pretty powerful. i get so much support and love from all of you and just want you to know it's appreciated beyond measure. and i can't even begin to describe what i have gained from all of you. so thank you. it means so much to me that you stop by here.


i found this cover over here today, and i am really enjoying it. if you aren't familiar with mr. ferry's site look around (especially at his photography site). i would pack up today and leave for london if i could because of his photos. of course if you've been visiting here long enough, you know i'd pack up today and go just about anywhere : )

let there be light.

today marks the last assignment from the c & c photography workshop. this assignment was about light and abstract. once again i felt like i was struggling. i was hitting some creative walls with this one and i also had little ones wanting to play and 'help' with the process. i was a little distracted, let's say. so, while i don't feel like i quite nailed this assignment, i'm pleased with a few of the shots and grateful for the push to look at a few plants in a new light.

1. get up close.


2. crop/abstract.


3. different angle.


4. reflection.


5. landscape.


6. your choice. a favorite taken during the workshop. and why.

this is one of my favorites because i like playing with negative space and using a blurred effect. i liked the contrast of the front part of the stone being in focus while the rest of the shot was out of focus. i really like all these colors together and the strong lines in the picture, too.

one last thing:
list 3 things learned/gained/observed during the workshop.


1. reflection shots are not my strong suit!

2. i am more comfortable shooting spontaneously. setting up shots and pre-thinking arrangements put me on edge. which is silly. once done i enjoyed the process. i tend to over think things and this was no exception. in the end, i liked being nudged out of that comfort zone.

3. while i am comfortable with my camera, i need to gain more technical knowledge. i'd like to shoot more purposefully.


thank you so much to carolyn and camilla for hosting this! this was my first workshop and i enjoyed it and the feedback so much.

the little things.

today was about the little things (and the little ones).

~ spotting the neighbors cat pichon birding under our trees.



~ dirt to fill the new raised beds.

~ picnicking in the backyard.

~ multiple loads of laundry making it out to the clothes line.



~ lying on clean sheets under the fan with a good book. or two.

~ hours of good music.

~ a girl who doesn't mind getting a little *ahem* dirty.



~ papa bringing home dinner so no one had to cook or clean up the kitchen.

~ a certain boy telling me he loves me out of the blue. (and it was after the haircut he didn't want).

~ cold beers.

~ a half clean house.

~ sleeping babes.


hoping you all have fun, sun-filled weekend!

while i sat.

i spent a good part of the day feeling out of it and entirely distracted. bea had her 18m check up today where i learned that i missed scheduling her 15m one, so maybe i've just been distracted for a few months now. i think having kids will do that to you. or at least amplify it.

here is the part where i leave out the details about how i just about drove through the garage door and instead tell you how i got my head out of the clouds.

i put those littles down for nap. i poured myself an iced coffee, grabbed some music, and headed out into the sun. i sat next to our new expanded garden (that is still waiting for dirt and chicken poop) and wished there were seeds growing in it, though i know they will be very soon. i'm just impatient.



i admired the pines that are far enough from our house that if they fell they wouldn't hit it. (it's happened before). and while admiring that view i grew a little envious of the neighbors behind us with the huge garden and lots of shade free ground to have it on. (we have a lot of shade - which kind of stinks for the food growing, but i'm grateful for it all the same. less sunburn worry for the little ones).



i rubbed my dog's head. and wished i was napping outside too. time to get working on that quilt that's planned just for that purpose.



i watched dancing shadows on the house.



i wondered why we have so many more beautiful weeds in the yard this year than any other year i can remember. i thought about henry telling matt he didn't want him to get rid of the weeds because he loved them. because they tickled him.

and now i don't feel quite so distracted. we'll see what tomorrow brings.

my new happy accidental find. spent too much time on youtube with these girls last night, but it was worth it.

slow day.

today was about snuggling with a sick boy and letting him escape into movies. a lot of them. it was about not caring if he took 3 naps because he was so feverish and tired. it was indulging him in super hero popsicles that i would not normally buy and letting him have 2 of them. today was relishing the calmness that his illness brought, as sorry as i am that he felt so horrible.



today was watching bea explore the house on her own and play her own games with out mimicking big brother. it was watching her stack towers of blocks, pick any cars she wanted, and see the busy work she so enjoys. today was watching her care for her brother and give him all the hugs he wanted with out telling him "NO!".

green.

so this week's assignment for the c & c photography workshop was all about telling a story with color. and if i thought i had a difficult time last week, i really struggled with this one. this week i had the ideas but i just couldn't execute them. i tried several things and just was not happy with anything. then i lost my battery charger for the camera and thought maybe i should bust out some (very valued) film. it was tempting, but i found the charger! and then i had an ordeal that i needed to tend that kept me on the phone and on the computer much of today. i didn't think i would be able to post anything, and i was really upset with myself for letting this assignment slip. and then it happened . . .

the garden expansion.


make a diptych.



use the colors complement (red). and add a person.


an unfocused one.




make one image a square.










it's been a busy day here, but i look forward to seeing everyone else's colors tomorrow!

favorite friday

i think it's been a while since i've done a favorite friday, so i think it's time again.



this boy. can melt my heart and push my buttons all in the same minute. he and i are a lot alike. and that makes me happy. i think he understands me pretty well and vice versa.



***thank you all for your words of kindness yesterday. they were very much appreciated. that funk is slipping away.***

and the pendulum swings.

the sunshine left today. it's dark outside. raining.
rather fitting for my mood.

lack of patience, inspiration, motivation, and creativity. mix that with some emotional upheaval and you've got my mood.

it's one of those days where i wish i could pack a bag and take off. not forever or anything, just enough time to regroup. a break from reality i suppose. the reality of bills, parenting, endless housework, and general adultness. (i'm pretty sure i just made that word up).




i have a few things pushing me out of my comfort zone right now. i know that being pushed can be a good thing, but it's rarely easy. lack of confidence is a big factor in this.
i signed on to be part of an art fair (that is raising money for a good cause) where i could potentially sell some photos. am i ready for this? i understand i'm not going to make any money doing this, but do i really want to put myself out there? can i ask people to look at my work seriously when i don't even know how to operate my camera on a technical level? it feels a bit absurd to be honest.
and the other stuff? pretty personal. pretty heavy (for me). there are people in my life who have had a negative effect on me for most of my life. i am sure they don't see it that way. and every so often i have to consider if it is worth it to me to have them in my life for just a brief moment. the older i get the answer becomes more certain, but i really do try not to be indifferent towards people. it's a situation where when it's not right in my face i am fine and feel as if i have dealt with it in a good mental health kind of way. then when it does pop up i get headaches just thinking about it, second guess my reasons behind my decisions, and revert to an emotional state i would rather not be in.

so today i am letting it out a bit (obviously). i am trying not to dwell on these things, and remember that by this time next week many of these feelings will have passed. but today they are weighing me down. i guess i need to pack these feelings in a bag and send them packing. then i can keep on with the good thing.



***no sooner than i hit publish, i kid you not, the sun peeked out and the rain stopped. really!***

i thought it was april.

this week has been a taste of summer, but with a little less humidity and much more pollen.

we've been spending a lot of time outdoors but with frequent breaks inside (i've already had a sunburn).



lots of exploring going on in the backyard. eating mint and wild onions. climbing of fences. mud pies.



bubble blowing. chalk drawing. seed planting. laundry hanging. bucket rides.



and even some slow moments for mama. though they don't last long.



i have been reading so much lately. a sure sign that the babes are getting bigger and more self sufficient. i think i've read 2 entire books in a week! that is some pre-baby reading there. it's been such a treat, though i'm not getting much else done. but i don't mind.

what's on your reading lists right now?

knitting in limbo.

i can't make it through this simple pattern. my stitch count is off. i keep making silly errors and tinking back. it's getting ridiculous. i'm to the point where i may just go get another skein and make the next size up, because bea is going to be too big by the time i finish this 'quick' knit.

then again, i am only off 2 stitches and will it really be that noticeable? for all i know i've been off the whole time!

what are you working on? if you are a knitter, does your knitting slow down in the summer? i know mine does. and since i'm already a slow knitter that basically means i stop. i hope to keep a few small project going this summer though. maybe a pair of socks . . .

compose.

i knew this assignment would be tricky for me. i'm not one to photograph still life's. well, not planned ones anyway. i had a few ideas for this assignment, but wasn't coming up with a good layout. then by chance, i took this photo on tuesday (when i was clipping lavender and then walked by my husbands sculpture stand on the deck) and recalled the part in the assignment about textures and shapes and decided to recreate the scene so to speak.

1) straight ahead.


2) bird's eye view.


3) up close.


4) off center.


5) out of focus.


6) out of focus. completely.


i really wanted to practice my shutter control on this assignment but i found so many different ways too shoot this set up and at different times of the day. not all turned out the way i wanted, but it was an interesting exercise. my original plan was photographing the lavender in a completely different setting and none of those turned out to my liking.

i had the hardest time doing the bird's eye view because i needed to use a ladder and i'm afraid of heights. most of those were blurry. the shot i ended up using i actually shot blind with both feet on the ground. i really enjoyed this assignment though i felt a little out of my comfort zone. it was nice to take my time and think about the angles and really see what i was photographing.


***i will have sporadic access to the internet this weekend, so if i don't get to visit your blogs this weekend, i'll be looking forward to seeing your work early in the week!***