must there always be a title...

Illustration by Warwick Goble

One can only be pulled in so many directions. ~april

just checking in...

Illustration by Florence Harrison

I haven't written anything in a very long time and the house is quiet, which is very unusual, & so I thought I'd give it a go. Most of the fam is playing basketball, but I didn't go. I'm staying home with Snow, because she has a stomachache. So, tomorrow we finally find out Daniel's big news, Emmeli & I are trying to learn French, & my head never stops swimming with ideas for our business. When you're trying to run your own business, it's hard to shut it off. Some of you may already know, but I re-entered the land of Facebook. I really don't like it, but I'm hangin' in there okay. The bunnies are scampering around in here causing trouble & Owen actually has on his collar today. I'm so used to seeing him without it, that it really makes him look dressed up. Hmmm. What else? Hannah & Em & I are back into school full swing. Ben is working his tail off trying to make this property amazing and did you know train tickets to Montreal are only $90? Just thought I'd throw that out there. I think I'm running out of things to say already, so I'm gonna be moseying along now. Oh, today is the second day in a row that we've watched a John Wayne movie. Not sure if this is going to be a thing, but it's just kind of funny. That reminds me... Hannah had a cactus party & turned 16 all at the same time & it was lovely. She got a cactus named Lorenzo & a jaw harp & a ring & some cactus pencils. K. I'm outa' here. Gotta go clean the kitchen & love the bunnies. I know this post is a bit haphazard, but you know, such is life & I'm trying to learn to go with the flow. Au Revoir (literally means-until we see each other again, which is a beautiful way to say good bye). ~Me

a few things...

Illustration by Harry Rountree

First, I want to say that part of the reason why I never blog anymore is that my blogging app is no longer supported & the only option I've found as a replacement is absolutely miserable. Secondly, my life is so busy right now, it's crazy stupid. I'd love to share my day, even though it's rather boring to hear over the interwebs, because, one day I'll want to remember all the details of this busy life. I could tell you everything from my first sip of halfcaf coffee to eating cold mashed potatoes & zucchini out of a large measuring cup for dinner, but that sounds like a tedious, maniacal prospect. Instead, I'll share with you the items in my day that actually matter to me. Daniel is now driving. He's eighteen, has published two articles for a magazine in England, and has collaborated with some of the big names in his industry on games, music videos, & VR experiences. He has an amazing resume & online portfolio, and has set aside enough money (on his own) to pay for an associates degree, but until recently he just has had no desire to get his license- which is totally fine with me. It's one of the things I love about homeschooling; your kids can be themselves without all the pressure to do things just because that's what everyone else is doing. Anyway, he's a great driver & I don't feel totally panicked when I'm riding with him. So, we visited the college today. We've been there a lot lately: first to check out the fitness center, then to meet with an advisor, & then to talk with someone about scholarships [sometime over the next few days, I have to materialize a highschool transcript-one of the things I don't love about homeschooling.] We had a few other errands to run after that & then we headed home to unload groceries & eat lunch. In the morning, before we left, I posted for our business Instagram over breakfast & now over lunch, I updated the business Pinterest account. After that, I helped Hannah get her setup ready for art fair. Her 100% wool felt, hand-sewn creations are beautiful and amazing! She has the usual lineup of monkey, lion, elephant, aardvark, & blue-billed platypus, but also has some unique characters she invented, one with a mushroom hat, one with wings, & a bunny-looking creature with a star on its head. They're roughly 4-5 inches tall and $20-$30. [We still have to make a sign for pricing, print an artist statement, & pick up tissue paper & bags.] Emmeli also needs help with her art fair setup which we'll work on today, right after I package some herbs, strain some herbal infusions, take care of an important insurance matter, & go back to the college so Daniel can meet his instructor. Her little cards, notebooks, & tags are also beautiful. She uses black ink on kraft paper & does such designs as a foxglove, a clock, some gears, & a quail egg, just whatever is on her mind. Lately, she's also done a little character she created in all sorts of different complicated poses, like eating a cookie while lifting off the ground, holding on to a balloon. I'll try to post some pictures on my Instgram if you want to see. So next in my day, I headed out with Ben to put in some new herb rows. We borrowed a tractor & put in 11 new rows approximately 10 ft. X 50 ft. Despite the fact that there was no breeze & it was horribly hot & muggy, it was a beautiful evening, & I was extremely thankful that we even have the opportunity to do such things. I managed to snap a few pictures for Instagram & there was even a rainbow, because, you know, God is just awesome like that. So you know the rest of the story... in at 10pm to cold left-over supper & every bowl/plate we own in the dishwasher. Then, a quick shower, & into bed to start typing this blog. Life is so well documented these days. It may seem like it's just one more thing, but really, I think we need to drag this anchor to slow us down a bit. I didn't mention Snow, but she was there...kissing my cheek on the way out the door, lending her advice on art fair pricing & setups, picking up sticks to clear the way for new herbs, & even helping me edit this blog, but mostly typing away in her room & that's okay too. Writers are naturally reclusive like that & that's what makes them awesome; they have time to think.

out of the woods...

Illustration by Emily Winfield Martin

  Literally counting down the days! I'm so excited. Some of you know, but those of you who don't, I'll tell you in a bit. I own this picture, but I've been waiting for the appropriate timing to take it out of its sleeve and hang it on my wall. I really am truly greatful, and, I can't say too much right now, but you probably know what it's about. ❥

sweet child of mine...

Illustration by Mary Blair

Emmeli is such a sweet, nature-lovin' soul, so happy, so silly, & she loves holidays! No mater what holiday- Preesident's Day, Columbus Day... whatever, she's ready to celebrate. I really don't think she knows about obscure holidays like Sibling's Day and Talk Like Shakespeare Day; it's probably a good thing. Anyway, today is the pinnacle of holidays, the loveliest, happiest day of the year, because it's Emmeli's birthday! Lately, in home church, we've been praying for everyone's special requests. We pray for world events & family & troubles, etc..., but we also pray for dreams and goals, because (1) we want the Lord to be included and (2) He wants to be included. The kids thought it was really awkward at first, to pray for seemingly frivolous requests, but they came around. It's been neat for us, as parents, to pray with them for what's on their hearts. So, everybody here already knows that Emmeli likes baking. When I used to work at Whole Foods Bakery, she used to say that she wanted to work there, too, someday. But I had no idea until we started hearing these prayer requests that Em really does want to open her bakery someday. So we're having a baking party. Hannah & Snow helped me decorate & set up the kitchen like a little bake shop. It looks really sweet. One of the tables was left empty with just a sign that says, "Baking Station". That was what Em commented on first when she came in this morning. It wasn't the flowers, the decorations, or the treats; she just saw that empty table & said, "Baking station...awesome." K. Gotta go. We have lots of baking to do, right after I go get eggs, (kind of important). *Click on the image to visit the Magic of Mary Blair, a site created by the nieces of Mary Blair.

goody two shoes...

Illustration by Kate Pugsley

 Hi. Me again. You know, the new me who is very modern, so modern and technological that you can click on this photo to see more art by this artist if you feel so inclined. It's cool! I'm not getting paid for this, at least not yet, I'm just that awesome. But I didn't come here just to say that. I wanted to tell you about my new boots. ❥ I feel a bit silly for bringing it up, but I've wanted these boots for every birthday for the past four birthdays! (I have a pin on Pinterest to prove it.) So, trust me, It's allowed. So these are tall, black, waterproof boots that make it so I can pretty much do anything I want while looking adorable and keeping my little toes dry. Yesterday, I went for a walk in our swampy woods and tromped right out into the middle of our woodland lake with the water almost up to my knees. I went out with my camera and took pictures of the tiny plants holding their breath under the water. How do they live like that? All the old logs in there are covered with bright green moss & today, me & my boots are going back with Ben to have our picture taken. Basically we're just going to get lots of pictures of my feet traipsing about the countryside. It's gonna be great!

critters have feelings...

 

           

Illustration by Cicely Mary Barker

"This morning I will examine a hibernating albino bat who sleeps in a box in my refrigerator," not me- Paul Brand. He's the author of "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," an amazing book, by the way. It's about the life & science of a man who devoted his life to helping leprosy patients. But we got about this far into the book before Emmeli said, "That does not sound like a very happy career for a bat," which is precisely what I was thinking. It's a good thing there are so many different types of people in the world. And it's also nice when people are the same.

i decided on gryphon...

 

Illustration by Erin Kelso

I'm finally blogging again. ❥ I haven't written anything yet, but I've been blogging in my head, so I know it's coming. Sometimes I just need a little push. I'm making a public announcement now. Ready? Moving forward, All of my illustrations may not be vintage. I've been thinking about this for a little bit, but this picture helped me decide. For sometime now, I've known Blog was a gryphon. He's a who, but he's really more of a what and he's make-believe and lovable and he's kind of a secret pet. So, all that being said, I'm sure you agree. Also, since you're in on the secret, you can share him with me, because as you can see, he's pretty awesome. So, this post will be brief, because I really just wanted to make that announcement, but thanks for listening. Let's meet again tomorrow.