Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thoughts Are Not Feelings


Someone asked me about my feelings and she said,"Thoughts are not feelings."
I said I would have to think about that.
So, I'm thinking about it, but I am not sure what I feel about it.

The little dream garden, the rest stop for fairies and imagination, is doing well. It is tended by a gnome and is lit by a candle lantern. The chickens like to peck the violas, but they have not done permanent damage. Chango drinks from the fountain.

Speaking of chickens, Betty is crouching. Hens do that when they expect a rooster to come courting, and so now instead of bolting when we approach her, she hunkers down and endures our fawning. It's what a hen does! She's a she. I thought we had roosters so lazy they wouldn't crow, but we actually have hens. Eggless hens.


Our ailments are finally abating. It's so hard when in the thick of congestion and weary eyed woe we forget what it feels like to be well. Maria is still coughing, and zounds is she ever t e n d e r. Fragile, delicate, moody... all of the above. I hope that with better sleep and more time in the sun, visiting gardens and playing, she will feel better. Physically and emotionally more like the Maria we know.

William and Alex are on break. They have 9 days to savor their scholastic freedom, to sleep a bit later and luxuriate in unscheduled hours. Max's break will begin promptly when the bell rings Tuesday afternoon. I am looking forward to our days together. I foresee little adventures and holiday fun.

To add to our anticipation of fun, my Mom is visiting. And Ruth is almost completely settled in to her So Cal home, so this week we'll have 2 grandmas in town + we'll be visiting Great Grandma Eunice, and then Abuela Antonia will be attending the princess derpday! Busy, full days are ahead.


And now... and now I should clean, but instead I may tiptoe upstairs and finish a few gifts I am working on, and then I may tiptoe downstairs and add the final stitches to a quilt... the Aloha Quilt. Why tiptoe? I am the only one around here who might admonish myself for not cleaning. I think I must really like sewing. It feels compulsory. It feels good, like a wonderful escape. It feels like what I want to spend my time doing. It feels like not thinking.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Color Wrap


Thank you for all the sweet comments about Alex and his Fez Frog. He has been enjoying those as much as I have... maybe more. I think Santa and I have worked something out, so if Alex continues to be a good boy, this should have a happy ending. Maybe he can illustrate one of his grinning frogs. He draws these frogs, and lots of other amazing things, freehand, from his own vast and wondrous imagination.

We keep a lot of art supplies around here, and in the car and under the beds... coming and going... pencils, markers, charcoal, erasers, and paper of course! No wonder I've always admired those clever pencil roll carrying cases I've seen around. When "Lemon Tree Tales'" Tami made a color coordinated carrying case, I finally could not resist making one too. Mine is just a first try and made for washable markers.


I love the color match one that Tami made and I may still try that, but I knew I had to practice first. She kindly offered to share the details of the pattern, but I am too impatient and intimidated by patterns. I think her post and encouragement were all I needed to give it a try. When I finally stole time to put this together I just sort of worked around the size and number markers I had on hand. I also tried something kid-friendly for the closure. I covered a button in coordinating fabric and attached it to the edge and then I sewed on a pony-tail holder a few inches from the button. I think a young child should be able to pull the band over the button and keep the markers secure in their new home. The pens slide in and out easily, but they do not fall out... so cool!


If I can hide this from Maria, I may actually have a Christmas gift for her cousin...shhh! I've been one busy Christmas elf, but Maria claims a lot of the things I make! And I wonder how economical and clever it is to neglect all chores, errands, and responsibilities for the sake of homemade gifts. Let's not get mired in these technical burdens. Last night I made mice! Those mice have been an idea scurrying around in my head for several weeks... turning the wheels of my mind! I made one. Loved it. Fed it to Chango. He loved it and that was all the encouragement I needed! I hope to be shipping Christmas mice to all the cool cats on my list! I also have face cloths, scarves, hats, drawstring bags and coasters in my warehouse of homemade goodness, and if I keep reading "Sew, Mama Sew!" I will never run out of ideas I want to try.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Good News

As devoted fans since 1996, we are thrilled to hear, from thoughtful sources, that our favorite dynamic duo are in a new flick:
Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
This news is too wondrous. We are so delighted, we can hardly comprehend the magnitude of our elation. I take this as a sign that
good shall prevail.

Gee, just when I had begun to believe this blog had run its course, I find new purpose and inspiration... if only to spread the good news!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Scenes From Our Sunday

These particular scenes are provided by our 3 year old resident, Maria. She is an artist. She is a tornado of creative industry. She is a visionary.






A girl and a boy and an angel overhead, all beneath a smiling sun, with a raining cloud and grass and a tree. But those are just details. I see so much more. I love this picture. The sun is so satisfied, basking in its own rays.


Angels are everywhere.


Maria was dismayed to see this picture on the screen. "I didn't put the thing on the chicken!" Do you notice the missing thing?


She sighed audibly when she fixed this and handed it back to me, "Here, copy this."


What for some may be clutter or pure randomness, in Maria's world is order and art, expression and play. She gathers her elements and puts them together. She fills the vacuums, the empty spaces, nooks, boxes, bags... her canvas, her space.