Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Friday, May 25, 2012
Who doesn't love three flavors of popcon?
I understand the idea- illustrate the tins so that consumers have a pretty tin once the popcorn is gone. But really? These tins are so ugly! I understand the appeal of John Deere, but there is no way I'm displaying these things ANYWHERE! So here's an idea to keep a very functional item, but rework it to make it more appealing.
First off, I washed down the tins inside and out. Then I spray painted them with Krylon's dual paint and primer in grey. I was really impressed with the coverage of this spray paint! It covered the pictures completely in two coats.
These are going in my pantry, but I think they would also look great coralling toys, craft supplies, sewing notions, or art supplies!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Today
I pulled Kitten out of the pasture today and rode her for the first time in months. Wyoming is bitterly cold during winter and previous years I hadn't had access to an indoor arena, so it's typical that I pull shoes and send her out to pasture with her buddies in about November. Then, as soon as it's warm enough to ride, her vacation is over.
My relationship with this horse is one of the greatest prides and joy of my life. She suits me down to the ground, and part of that is all the things we have gone through together. One of the biggest issues we had wasn't even about her, it was about me, but she showed me the way out.
Before I bought Kitten, I was helping at a rodeo camp. There was a little girl trying to figure out how to trot around the barrels, but her horse was just being a pig and would not for any reason trot. I took her and her horse over to a quiet corner of the arena and was making that horse trot in circles so that she could think about steering and posting and not having to spend all her energy on trying to get that horse to move. Well, he was getting pissed. I should have seen it coming, really I should have. He gave me warning, but I was focused on helping that little girl ride.
During one of the circles, as he was coming around in front of me, he swung his butt towards me and let loose both barrels. One of his hooves (thank God he wasn't shod!) got me right in the thigh. I honestly thought he had broken my femur. My leg swelled up so big I couldn't put my jeans on, and I have never seen flesh turn the colors that injury did! Right then a deep, gripping fear of any horses' back end started. I hid it pretty well, putting on a brave and careless face, but it was there, growing and taking hold.
Right about that time the bottom of the horse market fell through. I had been looking for a horse and my dear friend had found a good prospect. Kitten was a 2 year old at the time and she was awesome. Even as a two year old she looked great, tall and lean (for a quarter horse), and her breeding was fantastic. I bought her for $250 at a local auction and marveled at my good luck all the way home.
I began the training process with a friend of mine. This was the first colt I had ever trained and I needed all the help I could get! Things were going so well, she was very smart and kind, just so kind. Even when she tested me it was sort of half hearted, she couldn't bring herself to throw a real fit.
Unfortunately the fear was still there, freezing me up and making me mistrust this horse that had done absolutely nothing to deserve it. At that point I was riding her regularly and really enjoying her. But I had stopped picking out her back hooves. I avoided them. I reasoned and excused myself, thinking that she was just fine, her hooves were fine.
There came a point where I just couldn't excuse myself any more, so I decided I would force myself to use a hoof pick on her back feet. I crowded myself in as close as I could get to her flank, picked up a hoof she was more than willing to give, and started in on it. It felt like my insides were frozen. I was clamping down, forcing myself not to think about the power she had, about another horse that was willing to hurt me to get his own way. I was so tightly wound up inside that I was going to explode at any minute.
Then she did it. She shifted her weight over onto her other back foot and I blew up. I punched her belly with my fist- fear making me move quickly and strike as hard as I could. I will never forget it. Me panting, shaking,adrenalin pounding in my ears, standing a couple of feet away from her. Her breath had left her in a grunt and she had tucked up her belly from the force of the blow. She stood frozen on all four feet, not wanting to make another move in case I pounded her again. She had no idea what she had done, she was merely shifting her weight like a good girl to take the weight off my hands and make it a little easier for me and more comfortable for her.
Then she looked at me. That's another thing I won't forget. I don't anthropomorphize animals, but if she could talk, she would have asked:
"Why?"
Why indeed. This horse had so much try, typically she would give me all she had during every training time. Many times she wouldn't understand what I wanted but she always tried to understand, tried to get along, tried to please. I wasn't that good at communicating with her but she had bent herself in knots trying to get it right. She had never tried to hurt me. Never even thought about it, I'm sure. I had let out all my fear in the ugliest of ways towards her and she hadn't done a single thing to deserve it. It was me. It was all me
At that moment I thought: "I am going to grab this fear with both hands and KICK ITS ASS."
So began the retraining process of myself.
Every time I rode I made myself clean out her hooves first, slowly and thoroughly. I made myself stand behind her and brush out her tail. When I was done riding and just hanging out chatting with my friends I made myself stand by her butt and sling an arm over her. At first it was so hard, I would jump at every movement she made. I would only be able to handle a little bit at a time. Slowly, though, it got easier. Every time I saw her do absolutely nothing in response to me being behind her chipped away at my distrust. She hadn't done a thing to lose my trust, but she was building it back all the same.
It felt so great to control and abolish my fear rather than my fear controlling me. I attacked and attacked and attacked until that thing went away.
And that's just one thing she did for me. I don't know if I can even explain how I feel about her. I know she is an animal, a horse, but there is a connection between her and me that is precious to me. When she has those bad days, I'm willing to give her a little grace. Because over and over, in all my bad days, she's given me a lot of grace. She's gold to me.
My relationship with this horse is one of the greatest prides and joy of my life. She suits me down to the ground, and part of that is all the things we have gone through together. One of the biggest issues we had wasn't even about her, it was about me, but she showed me the way out.
Before I bought Kitten, I was helping at a rodeo camp. There was a little girl trying to figure out how to trot around the barrels, but her horse was just being a pig and would not for any reason trot. I took her and her horse over to a quiet corner of the arena and was making that horse trot in circles so that she could think about steering and posting and not having to spend all her energy on trying to get that horse to move. Well, he was getting pissed. I should have seen it coming, really I should have. He gave me warning, but I was focused on helping that little girl ride.
During one of the circles, as he was coming around in front of me, he swung his butt towards me and let loose both barrels. One of his hooves (thank God he wasn't shod!) got me right in the thigh. I honestly thought he had broken my femur. My leg swelled up so big I couldn't put my jeans on, and I have never seen flesh turn the colors that injury did! Right then a deep, gripping fear of any horses' back end started. I hid it pretty well, putting on a brave and careless face, but it was there, growing and taking hold.
Right about that time the bottom of the horse market fell through. I had been looking for a horse and my dear friend had found a good prospect. Kitten was a 2 year old at the time and she was awesome. Even as a two year old she looked great, tall and lean (for a quarter horse), and her breeding was fantastic. I bought her for $250 at a local auction and marveled at my good luck all the way home.
I began the training process with a friend of mine. This was the first colt I had ever trained and I needed all the help I could get! Things were going so well, she was very smart and kind, just so kind. Even when she tested me it was sort of half hearted, she couldn't bring herself to throw a real fit.
Unfortunately the fear was still there, freezing me up and making me mistrust this horse that had done absolutely nothing to deserve it. At that point I was riding her regularly and really enjoying her. But I had stopped picking out her back hooves. I avoided them. I reasoned and excused myself, thinking that she was just fine, her hooves were fine.
There came a point where I just couldn't excuse myself any more, so I decided I would force myself to use a hoof pick on her back feet. I crowded myself in as close as I could get to her flank, picked up a hoof she was more than willing to give, and started in on it. It felt like my insides were frozen. I was clamping down, forcing myself not to think about the power she had, about another horse that was willing to hurt me to get his own way. I was so tightly wound up inside that I was going to explode at any minute.
Then she did it. She shifted her weight over onto her other back foot and I blew up. I punched her belly with my fist- fear making me move quickly and strike as hard as I could. I will never forget it. Me panting, shaking,adrenalin pounding in my ears, standing a couple of feet away from her. Her breath had left her in a grunt and she had tucked up her belly from the force of the blow. She stood frozen on all four feet, not wanting to make another move in case I pounded her again. She had no idea what she had done, she was merely shifting her weight like a good girl to take the weight off my hands and make it a little easier for me and more comfortable for her.
Then she looked at me. That's another thing I won't forget. I don't anthropomorphize animals, but if she could talk, she would have asked:
"Why?"
Why indeed. This horse had so much try, typically she would give me all she had during every training time. Many times she wouldn't understand what I wanted but she always tried to understand, tried to get along, tried to please. I wasn't that good at communicating with her but she had bent herself in knots trying to get it right. She had never tried to hurt me. Never even thought about it, I'm sure. I had let out all my fear in the ugliest of ways towards her and she hadn't done a single thing to deserve it. It was me. It was all me
At that moment I thought: "I am going to grab this fear with both hands and KICK ITS ASS."
So began the retraining process of myself.
Every time I rode I made myself clean out her hooves first, slowly and thoroughly. I made myself stand behind her and brush out her tail. When I was done riding and just hanging out chatting with my friends I made myself stand by her butt and sling an arm over her. At first it was so hard, I would jump at every movement she made. I would only be able to handle a little bit at a time. Slowly, though, it got easier. Every time I saw her do absolutely nothing in response to me being behind her chipped away at my distrust. She hadn't done a thing to lose my trust, but she was building it back all the same.
It felt so great to control and abolish my fear rather than my fear controlling me. I attacked and attacked and attacked until that thing went away.
And that's just one thing she did for me. I don't know if I can even explain how I feel about her. I know she is an animal, a horse, but there is a connection between her and me that is precious to me. When she has those bad days, I'm willing to give her a little grace. Because over and over, in all my bad days, she's given me a lot of grace. She's gold to me.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Noodles and Tomatoes...
My Dad makes an especially fine haute cuisine dish of noodles and tomatoes. I used to think it was gross. Now I love it! There are just certain days when it is perfect- when the house has a slight chill because the wind is high and the wood burns up instead of out, when it is damp and rainy and the air has a spring time feel, I just know by feeling whether it is noodles and tomatoes weather. After I made it for Chubzie he shouted: "My tummy is so HAPPY!!"
Today is that day, and in the spirit of sharing, here is the highly sought after, often decorated by international diners of distinction, secret Balon noodles and tomatoes recipe.
Get a medium size pot of water boiling. Break up dry spaghetti into 2 inch lengths and throw into pot. Amount to be determined by you. When al dente, strain over the sink and return to pot. Open a can of plain diced tomatoes. Dump half (or all depending on your tastes) into pot and warm up. Sprinkle LOTS of salt and pepper into the pot.
Serve and eat.
Gustatorians everywhere: You are welcome.
Today is that day, and in the spirit of sharing, here is the highly sought after, often decorated by international diners of distinction, secret Balon noodles and tomatoes recipe.
Get a medium size pot of water boiling. Break up dry spaghetti into 2 inch lengths and throw into pot. Amount to be determined by you. When al dente, strain over the sink and return to pot. Open a can of plain diced tomatoes. Dump half (or all depending on your tastes) into pot and warm up. Sprinkle LOTS of salt and pepper into the pot.
Serve and eat.
Gustatorians everywhere: You are welcome.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
So I was thinking about...
Publishing an online magazine. I know, I know, the chances of me ever doing something like that is slim, but I like thinking about it.
I think I would do lots of photos and vintage line drawings along the lines of "My Small Country Living."
Poetry by James Whitcomb Riley, interesting articles on things like:
How to build your own farm table from reclaimed wood
Various comparing and contrasting of chicken breeds
Heirloom vegetables
Heirloom livestock
planting and caring for fruit trees
how to plan a garden
livestock butchering
cooking with game
quilting, stories behind the blankets
canning
riding
dogs
interviews with local artisans
fun DIY- whatever hairbrained thing I am interested in*
I don't know, just stuff that interests me.
It seems so doable, publishing 4 times a year on seasonal type things. A real curiousity shop layout, every issue something different, no continuing bylines. I think it could be great, and interesting and hit a niche market of young back to the landers, whether they are urban or not.
WHO'S WITH ME?????
I know. I can barely keep up with posting regularly nevermind finding the d*** camera and making sure it has batteries and taking pictures and uploading them and resizing them for the internet and ..........on and on.
I just like thinking about it.
*Reusing those old nasty 3 flavored popcorn tins: spray painting them several layers of colors, distressing and making my own decals for: flour, rice, dog treats, etc. Yes I will post pictures as soon as I find the d*** camera, make sure it has batteries.... you get the idea!
I think I would do lots of photos and vintage line drawings along the lines of "My Small Country Living."
Poetry by James Whitcomb Riley, interesting articles on things like:
How to build your own farm table from reclaimed wood
Various comparing and contrasting of chicken breeds
Heirloom vegetables
Heirloom livestock
planting and caring for fruit trees
how to plan a garden
livestock butchering
cooking with game
quilting, stories behind the blankets
canning
riding
dogs
interviews with local artisans
fun DIY- whatever hairbrained thing I am interested in*
I don't know, just stuff that interests me.
It seems so doable, publishing 4 times a year on seasonal type things. A real curiousity shop layout, every issue something different, no continuing bylines. I think it could be great, and interesting and hit a niche market of young back to the landers, whether they are urban or not.
WHO'S WITH ME?????
I know. I can barely keep up with posting regularly nevermind finding the d*** camera and making sure it has batteries and taking pictures and uploading them and resizing them for the internet and ..........on and on.
I just like thinking about it.
*Reusing those old nasty 3 flavored popcorn tins: spray painting them several layers of colors, distressing and making my own decals for: flour, rice, dog treats, etc. Yes I will post pictures as soon as I find the d*** camera, make sure it has batteries.... you get the idea!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Olive Fell
Olive Fell was a local artist in the 40's and 50's. She is mostly known for her trademark bear cubs in Yellowstone, artwork that she did for postcards and greeting cards for the park, but she has many prints and etchings as well. I really love her style, it is kitschy in the best sort of way, in that it is truly original and very evocative of the 40's and 50's.
I also love her iconic handwriting, and would love to somehow get Amanda, of Kevin and Amanda, to make it into a font that I could use on, oh, everything! One of the things I like about Fell's work is her use of color- rich and vivid, it creates dynamic feeling without becoming overpowering.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Steak and Arugula
So, to say a lot has been going on in our lives would be an understatement. It's hard to know how much to share in such a public way. I know all five of my readers probably know what has been going on, but to put it succintly: We are in a different home and church, and are currently pursuing God about what is next for us as a family. We are living in a blessing of a house on a beautiful property in M-town. As soon as I find our camera I will definitely do a home tour, but for now I want to focus a bit on cooking.
This new kitchen is awesome! I LOVE cooking in such a light and airy space, filled with windows, counter space, and a giant pantry. Pair that with the new cook set I got from Ron for Christmas and we're talking FOOD!!
I was given two Rachel Ray magazines, and have been on a Rachel Ray kick ever since. She has great recipes for healthy eating, which I am hoping will help me to lose some of this baby weight. I have been walking in the afternoons while the boys nap, and I think I have already lost a LITTLE weight!
Last night we had grilled sirloin steak with avocado corn salsa on grilled corn tortillas. I just use my grill pan and it works great.
I had defrosted four steaks and only used two, so tonight I wanted to use up the steak and the leftover arugula I had in the fridge.
So tonight: Grilled steak strips with sauteed mushrooms, pasta with sauteed arugula parmesan cream sauce, and steamed peas. No. not exactly on the healthy menu, but goooooood.
I started my water boiling, then put 2 T of Extra virgin olive oil and butter into a pan and got it warmed on medium heat. While it was heating, I sliced the steak that had been marinating for two days in soy sauce into thick, one inch slices. Then I sliced a carton of baby portabello mushrooms and threw them into the pan. The baby portabellos are so good! So meaty and earthy and YUM! I let my mushrooms get soft and then spread them in a thick layer on the bottom of my pan. Then I layered the steak slices on top of the mushrooms and let it sit for a while. After the mushrooms had started to get browned, I stirred it all up together and turned the heat down just a bit.
Throw your futtucine into the boiling water.
Onto the cream sauce. First I put about 2 T of EVOO into a pan and let it warm up on med heat. I pressed two cloves of garlic into the pan. If you are even THINKING about using the precut stuff, FORGET ABOUT IT! Don't be lazy, use the real stuff and you will thank yourself. Let the garlic warm, but don't fry the little suckers. Dump in your arugula and stir softly til it has wilted down. Add cream, as much or as sinfully as you want. I just used a little bit. Add salt and pepper.
Salt and pepper your steak slices since you and I both forgot to do it earlier. I took the steak off the heat when it was nicely browned but still a tad pink inside. Do not cook the living daylights out of your meat. You will not die from strange germs and the flavor is the whole reason we eat animals!
When your pasta is al dente drain and mix into your cream sauce.
Howl because you forgot to steam the peas and then let it go. Look, a lot of this recipe isn't exact because cooking doesn't always have to be exact. I used about 3/4 a box of fettucine noodles and it was a bit too much. Whatever!
Serve the pasta alongside the steak and mushrooms for a really yum meal. Eat hunched over your laptop watching the latest episode of Downton Abbey.
This new kitchen is awesome! I LOVE cooking in such a light and airy space, filled with windows, counter space, and a giant pantry. Pair that with the new cook set I got from Ron for Christmas and we're talking FOOD!!
I was given two Rachel Ray magazines, and have been on a Rachel Ray kick ever since. She has great recipes for healthy eating, which I am hoping will help me to lose some of this baby weight. I have been walking in the afternoons while the boys nap, and I think I have already lost a LITTLE weight!
Last night we had grilled sirloin steak with avocado corn salsa on grilled corn tortillas. I just use my grill pan and it works great.
I had defrosted four steaks and only used two, so tonight I wanted to use up the steak and the leftover arugula I had in the fridge.
So tonight: Grilled steak strips with sauteed mushrooms, pasta with sauteed arugula parmesan cream sauce, and steamed peas. No. not exactly on the healthy menu, but goooooood.
I started my water boiling, then put 2 T of Extra virgin olive oil and butter into a pan and got it warmed on medium heat. While it was heating, I sliced the steak that had been marinating for two days in soy sauce into thick, one inch slices. Then I sliced a carton of baby portabello mushrooms and threw them into the pan. The baby portabellos are so good! So meaty and earthy and YUM! I let my mushrooms get soft and then spread them in a thick layer on the bottom of my pan. Then I layered the steak slices on top of the mushrooms and let it sit for a while. After the mushrooms had started to get browned, I stirred it all up together and turned the heat down just a bit.
Throw your futtucine into the boiling water.
Onto the cream sauce. First I put about 2 T of EVOO into a pan and let it warm up on med heat. I pressed two cloves of garlic into the pan. If you are even THINKING about using the precut stuff, FORGET ABOUT IT! Don't be lazy, use the real stuff and you will thank yourself. Let the garlic warm, but don't fry the little suckers. Dump in your arugula and stir softly til it has wilted down. Add cream, as much or as sinfully as you want. I just used a little bit. Add salt and pepper.
Salt and pepper your steak slices since you and I both forgot to do it earlier. I took the steak off the heat when it was nicely browned but still a tad pink inside. Do not cook the living daylights out of your meat. You will not die from strange germs and the flavor is the whole reason we eat animals!
When your pasta is al dente drain and mix into your cream sauce.
Howl because you forgot to steam the peas and then let it go. Look, a lot of this recipe isn't exact because cooking doesn't always have to be exact. I used about 3/4 a box of fettucine noodles and it was a bit too much. Whatever!
Serve the pasta alongside the steak and mushrooms for a really yum meal. Eat hunched over your laptop watching the latest episode of Downton Abbey.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Somebody somewhere in the cosmos knew I needed this site this week. Thank you cosmos, just thank you.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Christmas time's a comin'......
Whew! The first two weeks of this month was totally dedicated to completing one of the biggest projects of my life, to date! Unfortunately it is a Christmas gift, so I can't share about it until after Christmas. It will be a great post, though!
Here are a few christmassy shots- the tree now has a sparkly gold star for the top!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Our Thanksgiving meal....
Roast Turkey crisped with butter
Mashed potatoes and turkey dripping gravy
Roast onions and sweet potatoes
Green bean casserole
Wheat pumpernickel stuffing with apples, celery, and onions
Cranberry salad
Crescent rolls
Homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream
I am so thankful for my family, both near and far/friends that gather and share a meal/ my dogs and horse who live every day simply as themselves/the never changing mountains that ring this place I call home/the everlasting, infinite goodness of my God who loves, protects, provides and disciplines. May His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mashed potatoes and turkey dripping gravy
Roast onions and sweet potatoes
Green bean casserole
Wheat pumpernickel stuffing with apples, celery, and onions
Cranberry salad
Crescent rolls
Homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream
I am so thankful for my family, both near and far/friends that gather and share a meal/ my dogs and horse who live every day simply as themselves/the never changing mountains that ring this place I call home/the everlasting, infinite goodness of my God who loves, protects, provides and disciplines. May His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
From 'blech' to 'not so bad'....
Here's a quick project I did while Ron was gone and the boys were at daycare/preschool. See that media stand? It was free which is great, but our TV didn't fit in it and all the wires were exposed to view. Seeing wires=irritated Faith. Nothing a saw couldn't fix!
I don't know what the name of the saw I used is, but it is handheld and has a round blade and gives me a small case of the heebie jeebies. My imagination supplies pictures of chopped off fingers all too vividly! But usually I need it for projects so I force myself to use it and act like it's no big deal. I've almost got myself convinced! Anyways- I sawed off the top of the media stand, leaving just the bottom cabinet. Then I sanded the top down.
I spray painted the knobs and hinges a copper color.
And painted the base in some paint I had left over from the trim.
Looks better, doesn't it? It also makes the TV a better height for viewing. I rearranged the furniture and am enjoying the fact that all wires/remotes/DVD player are hidden. No more mess!See the metal bucket? That is the boys' toy bucket. I have decided if the bucket over flows, we get rid of some toys. We do have a few things that aren't in the bucket- a giant floor puzzle, a wooden train set, and a plastic light up tool stand thing, but so far we're doing pretty good with not having toys all over all the time.
(what you don't see is the 8 inches of Hot Wheels cars in the bottom of the bucket. We will NEVER get rid of these because the boys know exactly how many we have and what color and how fast each one goes. When they go to college I'm going to make a decorative wall hanging from them.)
Library to Office
Remember my 'library'? In my goal to maximize the usability of my house, I compressed the 3 bookshelves of books into 2 and moved them into my guest bedroom. The guest bedroom now functions as a reading and nap room as well as housing guests. With that project over, it was time to move to phase 2 of Operation Use Space Wisely. One of the things I dislike about our home is that the main entrance is a small laundry/office space. It is ALWAYS a mess and is the first thing to greet our guests. We are revamping the whole thing. Phase 2 involves moving the office to the old library. I wanted to get rid of the giant ancient desk in our office- it's uncool 60's flavor and inappropriately huge size needed to give way to some nice streamlined built ins. Here's how it went:
I first self tinted some paint and tried it on the walls. It looked like skin. Moving on. The desk was going to be one long plank of wood running down one wall. For the support structure, I started with a long 1"x2" and cut it the right length and then screwed it into the wall.
Then I cut another 1"x2" into 12" lengths and screwed those into the wall underneath the long strip. At this point I was going to cut more 12" lengths of the 1"x2" on 45 degree angles, screw them into the vertical supports and then lay the plank on top, but I found these metal "L" brackets in the shed. They don't look as nice as the wood, but if we want to move along our desk our knees will have room and won't bang against the supports. So I screwed those in and went to the hardware store. Lo and behold, they had this shelving that was 16" wide-perfect! It was pretreated in a smooth white finish and they cut it right there to the right length. Even better? It was only 25 bucks!
We had our desktop. Now, our house is OLD. Like built in 1900 to be the first school house in our town. That means nothing is straight or square. I decided I would cut some quarter round to trim out the desk and cover the gaps between wall and desktop. Also, I needed to settle on a paint color. I was thinking tan to tone down the room. This room will be primarily used by Ron and he liked the tan color in the bathroom so away we went. I got a satin finish which I am REALLY liking in here. To my surprise, in this light the color turned out a steely grey. There is just a hint of cool undertones that look fantastic with the cream trim. I couldn't bear to paint all that trim again, so I am so glad the wall color looked so great with it.
This is a new favorite color combo! So serene! In the below pic the quarter round hasn't been nailed down yet, but you get the idea of how it will finish off the desktop. I also like how the hickory cabinet that we hung plays off the floor and quarter round.
Up next is to hang two long shelves above the desk and move the filing cabinet in, then transfer all the desk stuff, but I feel great about how this room is coming along! I'll be taking more pics as we go so you can see the complete transformation.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Why are these questions so hard?....
Today I was faced with a parenting dilemma:
LB was playing on the couch with a partially eaten granola bar (which I have conned them into thinking are cookies) (which they sort of are-have you seen the sugar content?) when he dropped it and the dog ate it. He turned to me in horror and said
"I wanted that! Mama, I wanted that!"
His face proceeded to crumple and tears brimmed.
What do I do? Do I take this moment to teach him about loss and responsibility and why were you jumping on the couch with your food anyway? Or do I just get that little darling another 'cookie' cause it really was important to him and life is hard enough why am I forcing him to come to grips over a lost 'cookie'?
I just got him another one. Was I right? Did I miss a learning opportunity? I don't know. Big Picture people have a hard time with things like granola bars and dogs.
LB was playing on the couch with a partially eaten granola bar (which I have conned them into thinking are cookies) (which they sort of are-have you seen the sugar content?) when he dropped it and the dog ate it. He turned to me in horror and said
"I wanted that! Mama, I wanted that!"
His face proceeded to crumple and tears brimmed.
What do I do? Do I take this moment to teach him about loss and responsibility and why were you jumping on the couch with your food anyway? Or do I just get that little darling another 'cookie' cause it really was important to him and life is hard enough why am I forcing him to come to grips over a lost 'cookie'?
I just got him another one. Was I right? Did I miss a learning opportunity? I don't know. Big Picture people have a hard time with things like granola bars and dogs.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Yesterday....
was so beautiful- just the perfect day (almost) in Wyoming. We packed a picnic lunch, picked up the boys from preschool/daycare and headed for the mountains. Over night the trees have been washed in their golden fall color and the river is a dashing, glorious thing. Eventually, after watching a hawk swoop down on its prey, we found our spot- a little creek winding its way through tiny bluffs covered in grass, soft dirt and a skiff of snow. We sat in the sun and ate while the boys hung over the edge of a culvert and yelled down the long metal tube. I remember playing in the culvert at my Uncle Dave's when I was a kid- there is something so attractive in that giant tunnel under a road that seems to draw kids like a magnet and makes mothers shudder in horror.
We had the dogs with us and they were running around like crazy, sniffing and rolling in all sorts of gross things. Ron took the boys for a walk and I sat in the sun, taking it all in. i heard the dogs barking at one end of an old log out in the bushes and smiled, thinking they had found a rabbit or ground squirrel. My dogs aren't particularly adept at hunting- while they are barking at one end, usually the quarry vacates the area through the other end and they never notice.
Well, they quit their barking and dashed back to me, shaking their heads and pawing at their noses. When I saw Royal's face my heart sunk. They had found a porcupine in that old log and had been given a taste of why even a gnarly old griz leaves a porcupine alone. I called Royal to me and started pulling quills. Thankfully, there weren't that many, although they were embedded pretty deep all around his sensitive nose and lips. The quills look smooth, but must have microscopic barbs, because they don't want to pull out, and sort of come out with a rrrrrrrrip! Oh poor dogs! Royal, although sensitive and needy to the bone, is a tough little guy because he stood absolutely still while I turned his nose to a fountain of blood.
Tack fared a little worse because the barbs were through his lips and into his gums. We ended up having to go to a friend's house to get a pair of pliers to get them all out. Tack was not as stoic about it all as Royal, which made it difficult to make sure we didn't leave any tips below the surface. I think we got them all, and we ended up staying to visit with the friend which was fun.
So that was yesterday!
We had the dogs with us and they were running around like crazy, sniffing and rolling in all sorts of gross things. Ron took the boys for a walk and I sat in the sun, taking it all in. i heard the dogs barking at one end of an old log out in the bushes and smiled, thinking they had found a rabbit or ground squirrel. My dogs aren't particularly adept at hunting- while they are barking at one end, usually the quarry vacates the area through the other end and they never notice.
Well, they quit their barking and dashed back to me, shaking their heads and pawing at their noses. When I saw Royal's face my heart sunk. They had found a porcupine in that old log and had been given a taste of why even a gnarly old griz leaves a porcupine alone. I called Royal to me and started pulling quills. Thankfully, there weren't that many, although they were embedded pretty deep all around his sensitive nose and lips. The quills look smooth, but must have microscopic barbs, because they don't want to pull out, and sort of come out with a rrrrrrrrip! Oh poor dogs! Royal, although sensitive and needy to the bone, is a tough little guy because he stood absolutely still while I turned his nose to a fountain of blood.
Tack fared a little worse because the barbs were through his lips and into his gums. We ended up having to go to a friend's house to get a pair of pliers to get them all out. Tack was not as stoic about it all as Royal, which made it difficult to make sure we didn't leave any tips below the surface. I think we got them all, and we ended up staying to visit with the friend which was fun.
So that was yesterday!
Monday, October 24, 2011
I'd miss him dearly....
SO here's a crazy story:
The night before I left to visit Indiana for awhile, I thought Tack had been killed.
By owls.
They're really big around here, ok?
I had let both dogs out to go to the bathroom before bed. It was a pitch black night where even the stars seemed tucked away in their beds. After a little while I whistled and Royal appeared out of the darkness, running like his tail was on fire. Tack did not appear, and right about when I started to get irritated I heard them.
The owls.
It sounded like their was 2 or 3 of them up in the tree tops behind our house and they were excited about something. The "whoo whoos" were coming fast and furious. Now, the great horned owls that we have are big, from 2 to 3 foot tall and a wing span that makes you think a jet is coming in for a landing. They also have claws that would scare a grizzly- sharp and long. If you really think about it, its a wonder there isn't a horror movie out about owls cause they really are freaky silent death machines.
So instantly fearing the worst, I ran out back. It was BLACK! I hit the edge of our yard and heard a suffocated scream from what I was thinking was our fat little darling of a dog. I hollered for Ron to get a flashlight and ran (winceing and hopping from our poky 'grass') into our neighbors yard. I half expected to come apon a huddle of happy owls, hunched over a dying grey body, which kind of freaked me out anyways, but all I heard was the soft rustle of air over wings.
Ron came running with the flashlight but the owls had silently flew to some other, less busied spot. No Tack. No fur, no limbs, no feathers. We scanned the trees, hoping we wouldn't spot his little body cached in the giant pines out back, but found nothing.
I was sure they had killed Tack and then carried him to some quiet spot to devour. It was a horribly sad night. All I could think about was Tack's sweet brown eyes and how sudden and painful his death must have been. I tell you I was a weeping sodden mess. I slept.
The next morning, who appears on the porch, fresh and bouncing from a fun night out on the town? Yep. The dog I had cried over.
Little bugger.
The night before I left to visit Indiana for awhile, I thought Tack had been killed.
By owls.
They're really big around here, ok?
I had let both dogs out to go to the bathroom before bed. It was a pitch black night where even the stars seemed tucked away in their beds. After a little while I whistled and Royal appeared out of the darkness, running like his tail was on fire. Tack did not appear, and right about when I started to get irritated I heard them.
The owls.
It sounded like their was 2 or 3 of them up in the tree tops behind our house and they were excited about something. The "whoo whoos" were coming fast and furious. Now, the great horned owls that we have are big, from 2 to 3 foot tall and a wing span that makes you think a jet is coming in for a landing. They also have claws that would scare a grizzly- sharp and long. If you really think about it, its a wonder there isn't a horror movie out about owls cause they really are freaky silent death machines.
So instantly fearing the worst, I ran out back. It was BLACK! I hit the edge of our yard and heard a suffocated scream from what I was thinking was our fat little darling of a dog. I hollered for Ron to get a flashlight and ran (winceing and hopping from our poky 'grass') into our neighbors yard. I half expected to come apon a huddle of happy owls, hunched over a dying grey body, which kind of freaked me out anyways, but all I heard was the soft rustle of air over wings.
Ron came running with the flashlight but the owls had silently flew to some other, less busied spot. No Tack. No fur, no limbs, no feathers. We scanned the trees, hoping we wouldn't spot his little body cached in the giant pines out back, but found nothing.
I was sure they had killed Tack and then carried him to some quiet spot to devour. It was a horribly sad night. All I could think about was Tack's sweet brown eyes and how sudden and painful his death must have been. I tell you I was a weeping sodden mess. I slept.
The next morning, who appears on the porch, fresh and bouncing from a fun night out on the town? Yep. The dog I had cried over.
Little bugger.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
My Christmas Books...
I know its a little early, but I've added to my Christmas Book list and I thought you guys would like to see what the Kingstons are reading this December:
Jolly Old Santa Claus is one of my all time faves. The beautiful paintings depict Santa getting ready for the big night and all the shenanigans of his elves. Some elves are hardworking, some are tricksters, some are lazy, and some, like old Grandpa elf, are starting to slow down. I love all the characters, the incredibly detailed pictures, and the glowing illustrations. This book introduced the idea of a picture telling an intricate, interesting story to me and was a part of my "art history".
Next up is The Night Before Christmas by Tasha Tudor. This poem just never gets old. There are a ton of versions, and a lot of them with fantastic pictures (even a pirate version that I think I am going to buy next year!) but this is the tried and true version I read my boys because it was read to me. Tasha introduced the vignette to me, and the borders of her pictures are just as good as the pictures themselves!
The Legend of the Poinsetta is a new one we are trying this year, illustrated by one of my all time faves, Tomie dePaola. Tomie's use of simple shapes and rich saturated color really awakened a love of color that helps my own artwork come alive.
The Cobweb Christmas is another new one and one I can't wait to get in the mail- I remember checking this out of the library over and over again. I just love the story and the illustrations are so great. This book made me want to have a built in bed more than anything. And when she walks in and sees what the spiders have done to her tree- magical.
I am going to try and get one or two new books a year and have them set out during the season. It's really a fun way to make the holiday special.
Jolly Old Santa Claus is one of my all time faves. The beautiful paintings depict Santa getting ready for the big night and all the shenanigans of his elves. Some elves are hardworking, some are tricksters, some are lazy, and some, like old Grandpa elf, are starting to slow down. I love all the characters, the incredibly detailed pictures, and the glowing illustrations. This book introduced the idea of a picture telling an intricate, interesting story to me and was a part of my "art history".
Next up is The Night Before Christmas by Tasha Tudor. This poem just never gets old. There are a ton of versions, and a lot of them with fantastic pictures (even a pirate version that I think I am going to buy next year!) but this is the tried and true version I read my boys because it was read to me. Tasha introduced the vignette to me, and the borders of her pictures are just as good as the pictures themselves!
The Legend of the Poinsetta is a new one we are trying this year, illustrated by one of my all time faves, Tomie dePaola. Tomie's use of simple shapes and rich saturated color really awakened a love of color that helps my own artwork come alive.
The Cobweb Christmas is another new one and one I can't wait to get in the mail- I remember checking this out of the library over and over again. I just love the story and the illustrations are so great. This book made me want to have a built in bed more than anything. And when she walks in and sees what the spiders have done to her tree- magical.
I am going to try and get one or two new books a year and have them set out during the season. It's really a fun way to make the holiday special.
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