Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

An amazing WILD gift

My sister is ultimate-Auntie.  She pays attention to what is important to the children and then uses her skill at scouring Thrift stores to find treasures.

Our son aspires to be a veterinarian.  He'll be three Sunday.  My sister has been working on a zoo for him for nearly two months. 

My sister was so excited to send this to us.  I was as excited to see it.  She truly outdid herself.  Two boxes of "birthday" arrived sprinkled with Valentine's Days goodies too.

Rebel Heart: The Scandalous Life of Jane Digby

I read this book a few years ago, but it was just recently returned to me after making the rounds with my friends.  This book has traveled to more countries than I have. I enjoy Mary S. Lovell's writing immensely and truly enjoyed reading the life of Jane Digby. 

Klondike Women - True Tales of the 1897 - 1898 Gold Rush

One of my best friends really gets me and my taste in books.  She recently sent a care package of biographies. This package included was an unusual one for me: 

Klondike Women by Melanie J. Mayer. 

Lois Mailou Jones (1905 - 1998) - A classroom study and project

Once again I had the privilege of helping with the Art Lit program in our daughter's class.  The entire school studies the same artist for the month and creates a project inspired by that artist's story and style.
Lois Mailou Jones was our artist of the month.

Artist Statement: "Mine is a quiet explorations quest for new meanings in color, texture and design. Even though I sometimes portray scenes of poor and struggling people, it is a great joy to paint."

Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998) was a prominent African-American artist in the mid- to late-twentieth century. In addition to teaching at Howard University for several decades, Jones became the first African American to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. As her biographer Tritobia Haves Benjamin told Beth Baker of "Ebony", "She is a reflection of the varied facets that represent American art. Just as American art has unfolded, embracing different styles and different cultures, so too has Jones' career."  More here>>  

Getting out of my own way and out of my head

I find when I'm in the spiraling funk and can't seem to see daylight it's time to get out of myself and help someone else who can't help themselves.  I break out a bag of scraps and make a binky.

Presumed self-importance causes late night panic.

I know better than to work into the evenings. My children want attention, I want to visit with the family but that nasty HTML was beckoning.  I felt I could make one site better, more efficient, cleaner, W3c validated!  I should have waited until morning.

The class quilts

Amazing what a new sewing machine can do.  It can lessen the yelling, cursing, jumping up and down, throwing fabric across the room and general fit pitching.  The tops are done.  It was a long weekend, but sewing with a friend makes all the difference.

Saying goodbye to an old, heavy friend.

(sniff). I'm sad to report that my old sewing machine is going on to service the habit of some meth head as scrap. It was in the familiy for 35 years. I made many blankets and other projects with t hat machine.  It attended several Bink-A-Thons.

Please don't ask me - just pick something.

I work from home.  We have two small children - 6 and 3.  They are very articulate and ask about 500 questions a day.  They are also intelligent. Answering "because" and "I don't know" are not acceptable brush-offs.  They are not to be deterred by our lack of knowledge or lack of interest in answering their questions.

"Music and Lyrics" vs. "Once"

My best friend called the other night and suggested we watch, "Music and Lyrics" with Drew Barrymore.  I watch just about any movie with her in it.  My dad would have referred to her as, "A cute little fart."  We enjoy  her movies.  Hugh Grant - some yes, some no.