Catching up (capitol, Albany, and a couple little projects, table update)

Lots been happening- and I'm afraid to admit, but the next two weeks will be the busiest yet this summer (minus the next 3 days when we are going on a mini beach vacation!!!)- ahhhhh!  SO- try to stick with me on the whirlwind wrap-up session!!

Here.... we.... gooooooo....

Tomorrow morning, Today- before my husband left for work I brought some of my paintings over to the state capitol building in Hartford for a display that will be up for the next month or so in Secretary of State- Denise Merrill's office.  How did I stumble upon this amazing opportunity you might be wondering???? Well- my friend Alexa (Denise's daughter in law) hooked me up last minute- so I had to seriously jump on the chance!  I am so very excited and grateful!

Alexa, myself and the kiddos went over to check out the space at NAP TIME last Friday- not the best idea going- but we made it out unscathed:)  Here is the documentation...

The moving walkway was quite the rage!

as were all of the beautiful sculptures and statues everywhere.

Mr.Moses was in rare form- here's a glimpse:

Here he is with one of the various strangers that he initiated wrestling games with:)

I was super-inspired by the gorgeous architecture and beautiful decorative murals- the building is so pretty! My paintings are now up- go take a peak if you happen to be in the city any time soon!  You can walk right in- the Secretary's office is on the main level on the left!

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This past weekend was spent visiting some very dear friends of ours.  Ray and Craig lived on the first floor of our old house (we lived on the top) we were both newlyweds, without children.  To this day, I miss having someone that I could run downstairs and borrow an egg from in a pinch.  Anyhow- we ended up "living together" so to speak for 4 years.  They have a son who is the same age as Mosie- who I did home daycare for when they were both infants.  We moved into a single family home and they moved away.  This was our first visit to see them up in Albany- and we had so much fun! It's so nice visiting with friends that are so familiar that they really are family- it was such a relaxing day.

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Zella made this fabulous skirt the other day-

and I fashioned a belt for it out of this equally fabulous Hello Kitty duct tape.  The idea came to me after talking with an adolescent recently who said their "secret talent" was making things out of duct tape:)  It really is quite a versatile material!!

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I created a little business card holder yesterday during rest time for my upcoming show.    The design was inspired by something I saw while browsing Etsy a couple nights ago.  I used an old stationary box as the base and cut the heavy cardboard into sections which I wrapped in origami paper, and then glued into this little contraption- it does the trick!

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as for my table project- (bad photo, it's a dark stained, pine trestle table with 2 folding side leaves, my parents got it from an unfinished furniture store as newlyweds:))

it's slow going, mostly because of my lack of time.  I have sanded it down, and I attempted the bleaching process which I read about on line (using Clorox laundry bleach, then stabilizing it with borax/water solution)- and it didn't work:( It bleached it a little- but not as much as I'd like.  So I'm moving on to the big guns...Oxcalic acid- I'll let you know how it goes (don't worry I will be well protected with gloves, mask, goggles, and long sleeves:)  I have made a deal with myself to not start on my couch...

 until the table is complete- and I'm sticking to it!!!

Hope you're still awake;)  thanks for reading.

2011?!

It's hard to believe that 2010 has already come and gone!  Thinking back on the year- I feel like I accomplished a lot.  There was change, there was some beautiful moments, and there was some tough times- but we made it through:)

Reflecting on the past year over the last week or so made me think of all of the accomplishments, milestones, developments, challenges, and moments of the year that has passed. I think it is important to focus on the positive parts of life- but I think it is also important to recognize struggles and difficult times, and try to find the good in each situation so that I can learn from my experiences.

Here is my list of influential choices/moments/experiences of 2010:

Mosie's Baby Blessing.
This is something we've done for both of our children.  It was a wonderful day when family and close friends gathered to celebrate our little guy.  We planted his placenta under a tree in our back yard to represent his life on this earth, and we shared our thoughts and hopes for his future- it was a special day!

Miscarriage on Easter.
This is something I have not talked about before on my blog- but it was an experience that I (and we as a family) went through this past year that was both difficult, influential, sad, and strengthening.  It was probably the toughest thing I've experienced so far in my life, but through such a difficult experience I was able to take away of deeper sense of self, a sense of compassion and understanding for other women and familes that have experienced this unique sense of loss, and a deeper level of greatfulness for both life and birth.

Prudence Island family vacation.
We took a nice little break from reality in the early spring.  It was just me, D,  the angelbabies, and Beau- and it was so relaxing and beautiful.  The remoteness of the island promotes an inner peace, as did the beautiful ocean view:) Dirt roads, no stores or commercial anything, empty beaches, quiet nights, and sunny days- it was lovely. 

Blogging. 
Over the previous year I had become more interested in the whole concept- and more addicted to reading certain blogs.  After returning home from our vacation- I realized that I have things that I want to share!  So I decided to start my own blog with this first little entry....


My tattoo.
This is something that I had been wanting to get for 3 years and counting.  A tattoo of an excerpt from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching that reads:

"Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting without expectation, leading without trying to control, this is the supreme virtue". 

This quote- to me, embodies everything I strive to be as  a parent- guiding my children through this world.  I had originally wanted the tattoo after giving birth to Zella- and was about to get it and found out I was pregnant with Moses (no tattoos while pregnant).  Then- the same thing happened on Mosie's 1st birthday (found out I was pregnant again).  After we lost the baby- I felt like it was time- it definitely helped in the healing process. Alexa captured it for me with this beautiful photograph:)

Muraling-
This past year I had the opportunity to paint 2 murals in the hospital where I work as an expressive therapist.  This opportunity fell into my lap- my friend Alexa has presented me with many inspiring mantras, among my favorites is- "open yourself and let the universe fill you".  Well, this opportunity was the push I needed to realize that painting for a living is something that makes my heart sing- and something that is worth pursuing!

Zip lining trip with D. 
Marriage is not easy- but taking the time to take a break from the everyday stresses of life and spend some quality time together makes you realize how nice it is to have someone there to love you unconditionally!  It was great to take a break from our (sometimes stressful) reality of being parents of 2 small children, and have an adventure together!

My 30th Birthday Getaway.
It was the perfect trip- read the entry-- look at the pics, enough said!

Christmas 2010. 
Surrounded by family, love, amazing food, and generosity- it was the perfect way to end the year!

I am truly and completely blessed!

Here is my focus list for 2011- a list things that I will keep posted around my creative spaces to remind me of what I want to accomplish this year.

1. breathe more and breathe deeper
2. watch less TV
3. be more patient and tolerant
4. sew more
5. read more books
6. keep organized areas organized
7. work-in a work-out every day
8. restart my yoga/mediation practice
9. look into expanding our family
10. let go of control
11. have more date nights with my hubby
12. slow down my "roll"
13. drink more water

Hope you all are off to a wonderful start this year!

Christmas Recap

Ohhhh it was a good Christmas this year!

It was relaxing, fun, tasty, not-too-fast, not-too-slow, magical, wintry- and.... just nice.

Here is my photo recap- I will be back later in the week with some AMAZING recipes for y'all!  The food this year was some of the best!!!

We started celebrating last weekend with D's family.  We decided a few years back to simplify things and we go to his family on Thanksgiving- and mine on Christmas (and we do Christmas with his family the week before).

At Grammy's we visited with family and friends, and attended the children's Christmas service at her church after feasting on some delicious food!  We i.e- Moses almost lasted the whole service;)

For this week's Christmas celebration- we started the weekend off having a leisurely Christmas Eve day at my parents house out in the country.  It was the most relaxed Christmas we've had since becoming parents...hands down.

I know I've talked about my mothers decorating in previous posts- but I thought I'd share a few of my childhood favs-  country Christmas decorations...perfect for their old farm house.

While we cooked and baked and nibbled on sweet goodies- Z chilled in front of Rudolf with Daddy (first time watching it- she was scared of the snow monster:(

and the little man wandered the house- getting into just about everything he possibly could.  Here he is looking at the birds out in the back yard (while smashing his half eaten apple into the window....sorry Mom)

After Mosie's nap and opening some gifts we headed over to my Aunt and Uncles for our anual Christmas Eve celebration (with Mom's side of the family).

Here's my Grandma Phyllis, holding cousin Melinda's sweet, sweet angelbaby Benjamin (only 5 days old!)

Here, there was more delicious food- lots of silly business...

           

and, of course- SANTA!!! 

Now- if you know me- you know that I have been battling with the whole Santa-thing as my children get older and aware- but the look in little Z's eyes in the picture says it all- pure magic:)

Then- we went home and put the babes to bed- and prepared for Christmas morning....

My little gadget guy had a hay day with the kids digital camera

(I will post some of his pictures another day...I promise:)

Zella made us this lovely ornament at school...so sweet!

She also made these amazing snowmen for various family members-

I have a thing for children's art- being a former art teacher- but these are just too cute right?!  Here's my favorite, check out the ridiculous little nose...

Sorry for the tangent- back to Christmas...

and if you are still reading- BLESS YOUR HEART

This is why I was so frazzled the other day- Christmas around here is a 2 week marathon ...

After Christmas morning at our house we went back to Mom and Dad's neck of the woods to spend Christmas day with Dad's side of the family- where we had- hands down- the best meal of the YEAR- that's right- all of 2010.

Oh- was it good!!!! (like I said- I will do a followup post with recipes- but I must say- the yellowish portion at the top right of my plate was this INSANE corn casserole that Mom tried this year for the first time and it was unreal- like, I've been dreaming about it;)

Here's my other Grandma- Grandma Jennie. 

I feel so grateful and blessed to have been able to celebrate Christmas this year with both of my grandmothers. They are such strong, special woman- and they have both had some health issues this year- so it made it an extra sweet Christmas all around!

Here's the hostess with the mostess:)  Mom- YOU ROCK!

Zella was in RARE-FORM.  Here she is about halfway through her 35 min. set- performing her rendition of The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

After much merriment (and entertainment) along with a fabulous dinner- we moved onto dessert.  And in my family- when it comes to dessert- we DO NOT PLAY!

Celebration of  family, new life, health, togetherness, magic, spirituality, giving and living.

It was indeed a very merry Christmas this year!