Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you...

 

 

A few more images from Friday...

Near Lion's Park

 

 

It felt like summer.

 

 

We're all a little Irish, aren't we?

My corned beef is in the crock-pot. 

We'll be eating it within the hour.

I'll let you know if I'll ever do it again.*

 

I am looking more forward to making corned beef hash for

 breakfast/brunch tomorrow!

 All that delicious fried stuff, rather than boiled!

 

Today we went for a walk.

Down to the beach.

 

It was very windy and somewhat rainy.

 

still, it was invigorating to get out.

 

I spotted this patch of skunk cabbage and had to have it!

(in my camera).

It is so bright and cheery!

 

I hope you have some green mashed potatoes.

Think of your Irish heritage.

We're all a little Irish aren't we?

 

* OK, it was good!

very easy too.

New tradition!

 

 

Sending you my love on Valentines Day!

This evening I got in a mood to make my granddaughter, Tori, and her friend little paper bag journals for their weekend they are leaving for tomorrow.

They are going to the mountains somewhere, sledding, snowballs, hot chocolate.
They are both about 10 and I think they might have fun with these. 

I made each one out of 5 lunch bags.

I watched a You-tube on how to do them on Pinterest this afternoon.

 

There are white inserts, to draw pictures on or to write more or attach photos to.

 

Used up a few rub-ons.

 

Very fun to make.

You can see I used my new zutter bind it all.

makes it very fast.

Tomorrow I'll post the applesauce-carrot cupcakes I made today as well.

Enjoying the journey.

OK, I know these aren't GREAT, but you are all my friends and I feel like I can show you without too much fear of harsh judgment.  I have great fun doing these, and I KNOW every new thing I paint I learn a lot and I can see getting to "where I want to be" eventually.

 

This is the Old Olympia Brewery.  I drove down there one day when the sun had been shining (but it wasn't any more) and took a few photos.  I sketched/painted the above from my photo.

 

and a while back I took a picture of the Crosby House in Tumwater.  I wanted to see if I could do justice to the gingerbread trim on it.  This was harder - too much white! but it was still fun and maybe if I do it again in a year I will see progress! Both of these I painted on old book pages, first prepared with a layer of gesso, so some of the book page shows through.

 

I started a new book/log of books I read in 2013.  I have three books inside - a drawing of the covers on one page, and on the opposite page is my little book review.  Its just for myself. This was a sketchbook with an advertisement on it, so I gessoed over it and sketched in my stack of books.

 

 

These are not my creation, but something I've been thinking about making just for fun. And, hey, its almost February 14th!   Victoria and I made her school valentines together.  A biggish butterfly cut out of scrapbook paper: a tootsie roll pop inserted where the body is supposed to be. A valentine greeting written on the back.

They're so cute, but I didn't get a picture.

 

I need to fill bobbins and get sewing tonight on doll clothes!

 

 

 

Independence Day - Celebrate!

Happy Fourth!

St. Patrick's Day

In honor of my Irish heritage, and my granddaughter's keen interest in all things Irish, I sketched and painted the SWEET CELEBRATION below...

I think sketching and painting cupcakes could be addictive...

Luckily they are calorie free!

and almost as satisfying the high calorie kind...

I am taking photos at all angles like the professional bloggers I visit...

This project is from my on-line art class: "The Art of Wild Abandonment". I used watercolor paper, pencil, watercolor crayons, ultra fine felt tip pen, white jelly roll pen (which didn't show up that well on the watercolor, but you can see it on the chocolate cupcake. I'm going to be brave and post it on the art class facebook account.

Sixteenth of December

I have been trying to post something every day this month, mostly for my own benefit. I am making a December journal and this is a good way to remember the things we have done. Today is my 665th post on this blog. Who would have ever imagined I could have so much to write about?

I love this photo of my four Minnesota girls! They're all dressed up to go to the Nutcracker performance! I think Miss T in the front with her two front teeth missing looks a lot like me when I was little, photos I've seen anyway.

Tonight Retired Husband got out the train set and it is running around and around the tree! (see it coming around the bend?)

It's going so fast it's just a blur...

chug chug choo choo...We can't wait to see what Wyatt thinks of it when he comes over on Monday. It might even make him want to crawl.

I'm getting lots done. I did more shopping today and baked two batches of cookies. We are looking forward to picking Walker up at the airport tomorrow night. He is so relieved and happy that finals are over.

8 days to Christmas Eve!

December ninth

I'm glad its the weekend! I started so many projects this morning I need lots of time to finish them up! I'm turning Walker's room back into his own. Now what to do with all my sewing stuff! Into my bedroom I guess. . . Then, when I got to work I was assigned the task of decorating the office!

I have never done it before. Usually my task is to undecorate, rebox, store it all away. Its pretty easy though - lots of wreaths (maybe 12?) The Santa above is driving a Model T type vehicle...lights around an interior window with greenery and places to hang our greeting cards. It was better than working anyway!

This is part of the wreath that is on the door to my office. There is definitely a theme of snowmen in the building.

And this evening I started making wreaths of my own. I've been collecting the greens and finally have started making a few. This is my dining room table tonight. Tomorrow I'll add some decorations and bows to them. They smell so good! My dad made me the wreath form several years ago. We have all the greens we could ever use in our back yard. The ones I make are little, maybe 15" across or less. Perfect for setting on a coffee table or hanging from a ribbon on a door.

***

Tomorrow we will get our tree - now that is a job!