Treasure Hunting

Here's a group shot of all the great treasures I found at the Washington County Antique Show and Flea Market on Saturday. Each item has already found a home in my kitchen, on my dining room hutch, or my living room fireplace mantel.

But some of my most exciting finds lie within the pages of those beat up old books. Photos of early movie stars, a child's primer in Russian, sheet music with the lyrics in French, an early 1900s Speller, and an unused workbook. The ephermera motherload, I might call it. I can't wait to post the creations I come up inspired by those hundred year old sheets of history.

Wait! Are those really MY boys?!

More and more often lately I have been noticing Casper, my cat, following around Brinkley, my dog. Every time Brinkley is let outside, Casper faithfully waits for him on the inside of the door to come back in. And he seems ever more curious about Brinkley's toys, food, etc. They have lived together since we brought Brinkley home two summers ago, and while Gracie, my female cat, still seems to loathe the dog for his very existence, I dare say Casper is giving in to his big bro and now strives to be his little buddy. Imagine my surprise when I got out of bed this morning and found them laying together on Brinkley's new bed on my way to the bathroom. I was thrilled to have my camera close enough at hand to snap these photos before Brinkley got up and stretched. I'm not sure how Brinkley feels about having to share his bed, but its pretty darn cute anyhow. Gotta love my boys!

Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow

I never considered myself a gardener, until yesterday morning when I pulled out from my driveway and saw that the tulip bulbs I planted last Spring have finally started to bloom along my front sidewalk. Last year, after Easter, we had pots and pots of them that we were supposed to throw away at CVS after they died and couldn't be sold. It made me sad to see all those bulbs go in the dumpster. So even though I'd never planted anything before, and didn't much enjoy digging up worms, I made a home for all those cast away flower bulbs along my front sidewalk. I didn't know how deep to plant them, or if it was too late in the season, or how far apart they needed to go or anything. I just painstakingly spaded out one hole after another and placed those bulbs in the ground with the blind faith that this Spring, something might bloom and I'd be rewarded for my efforts with a burst of color. While I've looked around the neighborhood at all the lush tulips and daffodils that have long ago started to bloom, while all I had were leaves...I began to wonder...and then I saw buds of color, and then yesterday whole flowers! How exciting to have created life where there was none! To have added yellows and oranges and reds where there was only green before! Can I call myself a gardener now, perhaps not. But I am happy that I planted a seed and had the chance to watch it grow. Happy Spring!

Good Fortune Times 2

Jeff and I got chinese food the other night and there were four fortune cookies in our take out bag. I think they are always my favorite part, and imagine my delight and surprise to have both of my fortunes not only say the same thing, but also be such a nice message "You are original and creative." I'm hoping shoppers will think so too at my upcoming vendor/craft fair endeavors. I have a vendor fair in Burnt Hills on Tues. May 4th from 5:30-8 at Site Solutions across from Gil's Garage on Route 50. And on Sat. May 8th I'm doing my first craft show at the Galway Fire House on Route 147 from 10-4pm. I'm so excited. I have a ton of creating to do in between school assignments the next few weeks. Luckily my semester is almost over! :o)

"Fly" Card for Daddy

Okay, I admit, I knew this card would make my dad cry, but I had to send it. I miss my parents so much since they moved to Virginia in December, and I know they are having a hard time getting established there so these lyrics have a double meaning. Dad and mom prepared me to be on my own and survive in the world, but the lyrics are also about me being proud and appreciative of them too. I cry everytime I hear this song and think of my dad. And I love to look at this photo of us when I was little (I have had it posted on the bulletin board over my desk since I stole it from their house before they moved). I combined both the lyrics and the photo to make a meaningful message for my father; I want you to soar too! You guys will make it! And I'll be okay (even though I miss you so much it hurts sometimes!) I love this photo and the lyrics because they represent a simpler time in our lives, where a rope swing in the woods on a sunny afternoon was pure bliss.

Snow Day Snowman

Well, it worked out that everything I was supposed to do got cancelled today and I enjoyed myself outside in the snow with Aly and Brinkley and Jeff. What do you think of our Snow Friend?

A Winter Wonderland @ Midnight

Jeff and I were looking out the window of our bedroom last night admiring the way the snow was coating the world outside. I wanted to grab my camera and attempt to capture some of natures beauty...but I still haven't quite mastered those night settings and snow was still falling heavily causing me some anxiety about getting my camera wet. Nevertheless, I snapped these shots and then we walked Brinkley around the block and threw snowballs for him to catch in his mouth. It was a sweet spontaneous little moment that ended with cold noses, wet socks, and happy hearts.

Will You Be Mine? Check Yes or No

It's hard to explain my relationship with my boyfriend Jeff. We have been dating for almost 3 and a half years and we have a house, a dog, and two cats. Essentially, we have our little fur family, our jobs and school, our house...and tending to those things, and taking care of our responsibilities is our life. It unfortunately has left little time and energy left for each other. It's hard to know whether it is by our own neglect and fault of ours, or by the pace of our lives and circumstances whether we have let the flame of our love fizzle to a dull ember. Is this what it is to be in an adult relationship, to get comfortable and to grow apathetic? Or are we taking forgranted what we have and letting it die? These were the questions I posed to him the week before Valentine's day, as I felt my unrest intensify when I tried to find the words to describe how I felt in his Valentine card and nothing seemed right. My heart felt like it was breaking, and I questioned how much he really cared for me and me for him. How could this be when on the surface we co-exist so peacefully and take care of our home and our pets and our responsibilities so balanced and seamlessly? What more could I want? Emotion. Passion. And a true reminder that I was loved.

On Valentine's Day morning, Jeff was sleeping for his night shift, and I was getting ready to work the day. We literally got to see each other for 15 waking minutes, but somehow he managed to make the day seem special. With a singing greeting card, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a stamp set with the words love, always, grin, and imagine, and a silver jewelry box containing a white gold heart pendent. I felt so pleasantly surprised and relieved that he had thought of me and put such effort into the day that we wouldn't even get to spend together. The best part came when I got home though; I found a letter on my pillow explaining why I received each gift and what it represented for him. He even revealed that I was supposed to have received roses too, but the florist closed before he could pick them up. The letter was in an envelope that read "Will you be my Valentine? Check Yes or No." It made me smile, and my heart soared with the emotions that I've missed for a long time. I checked yes, and put the envelope on his side of the bed for when he came home in the morning.

I'm not a jewelry person and I don't expect lavish gifts or large expensive tokens of affection, but this occassion called for a special reminder, and he made me feel special. Now when I wear his necklace I play with the pendant throughout the day and think of him with a smile, just as he said in his letter that he hoped I would.

My Little Bag of Grace

Gracie likes to keep me company in my craft room. If she's not meowing for me to make room for her to snuggle in my lap, she's getting into something she's not supposed to and meowing at me when I tell her to stop. I don't know how I raised such a stubborn little back-talker, but I love her to death. The other night she decided to knock over and curl up into a shopping bag and her face peeking out at me captured my heart and attention. I snapped a few photos of her, changed them to black and white and put a color spotlight on just her face to her eyes and little pink nose draw all the focus that they should. She's my baby girl, and she's my little "bag of Grace."

Go B-P Boys Soccer!

I have the privilege of student teaching in the Broadablin-Perth school district this semester and I am currently placed in the high school. My cooperating teacher is the JV soccer coach, and the Varsity team has made it to States. I was able to attend last week's Veteran's day sectional game against Potsdam at Colonie High School. They won 2-0 and it was a ton of fun to see the students I have in class grinning from ear to ear after every goal and capturing some moments for them on camera.

I had Jeff drive me out there and help me cheer them on in the cold. At least it was a sunny day, and it was a perfect excuse for me to play with my camera's zoom lens. I think its the first time I have really gotten to use it, and it amazed me how clear and close up the pictures looked even though I was sitting at almost the top of the bleachers and they were yards and yards away! These were two of my favorite shots. I wish the boys the best of luck this weekend.

Family Halloween Dinner 2009

my favorite thing about Halloween: caramel apples

the geek and little red riding hood make a cute couple

the R/C plane pilot

Spooky dead bride

a snack spread to die for

some ghoulish girls

the night of the living dead

no bones about it, this was a cool table setting

I couldn't tell you why exactly but Halloween is my family's favorite holiday. For as long as I can remember costumes and decorations have been a big deal for my mom. In grade school my sisters and I won one firehouse costume contest after another, and we decked out our basement as a haunted house every year of high school, and each year the guest list got longer and longer.

As we have gotten older, we have reserved our celebrations to more intimate family affairs. Our haunted dinners are an excuse to still dress up and eat weirdly delicious foods and decorate from floor to ceiling with cobwebs, streamers, bones and spiders galore. This year was no exception. Although Jeff and I wished to wear out pjs to the dinner party and just collapse on the couch after the meal, we should've known we wouldn't get off that easily. Upon arrival to my parents' house in "street clothes" we were soon cooerced upstairs to the costume closet to change. I'm secretly glad they got me motivated despite how tired I was at week's end because Halloween wouldn't be the same without a costume: no matter how pathetic and impromptu it may have been.

Mom made "bat wings and mummy toes" for dinner (chicken wings and pigs in a blanket) along with coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread. For dessert we had chocolate covered pretzel rods and my favorite caramel apples. I love the ambiance and the comraderie of the occassion and I will miss it next year after they move to NC next month. Halloween will never quite be the same, so I had to be sure to document the tradition this year.

Butterfly Tattoo Adventure

So, my younger sisters have been bugging me forever about us going and getting a tattoo together...and since they will be moving to North Carolina in a month or so, I gave in and we made an evening of it at Saratoga Ink. Our tattoo artist, England, specializes in small detailed tattoos...so that was perfect for what we were going for. Something small, meaningful, and in my case for teaching, hideable. Elise and I went with the traditional colors of the monarch butterfly and Aly went blue to match the tattoo on her chest. They all came out gorgeous and I was impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of the place (they changed my point of view and expectation of tattoo parlors!). We were there from 4:30-9:30 and were starving by the time we were done. We settled down to watch Twilight on DVD with some pjs and a large cheese pizza and I passed out half way through the movie. It was a long day, and painful, but I'm sure once it heals and I can admire my minature work of art, it will all be worth it.

Wells Old Home Day Parade

Grandma & Me

Jeff & Brinkley

The man in the car that tossed Brink a dog bone :o)

Brink being a good boy watching the parade with Mom & Dad

Cute little "float"

Smokey the Bear

It's been a few weeks since I've had any inspiration to update my blog. The only art I've been working on is a baby album for my friend Kristine (which I'm thankfully almost done with!). Last week I had four days off in a row for the first time this summer and I spent two of them taping, priming, and painting my dining room and living room with Jeff. The other two days we spent in Wells at my grandma's camp with my grandma and my sisters for Wells Old Home Days.

Above are some photos from the parade on Saturday afternoon. Firetrucks, old cars, bag pipes, horses, Smokey the Bear, and even an all women kazoo band! Jeff, my sisters and I are getting too old to draw much attention to get candy thrown at us anymore, but we did take in some "loot" and were sure to share the tootsie rolls with Grandma. The cutest part of the whole parade for me was when a man in the old red car (seen above) tossed Brinkley a dog bone. He had impeccable aim and it landed right between Brinkley's paws. Brinkley gobbled it up before I could even situate my camera to get a good shot of his delighted expression and wagging tail.

Wells Old Home Days encompasses a fair, fireworks, the parade, and ultimately a weekend of fun, food, and incredible memories. Year after year the vendors, rides, and attractions dwindle to less and less. I think it disappoints my grandmother to see what was once such a booming town fade into a run down little speck on a map. Elise and Aly and I will always remember this special weekend in August a certain way, and having Jeff with me there this year...he just had to take my word for the great thing it once was. The parade was cute, and the fried dough was worth it's 24 weight watcher's points, and I got a book I needed for school at a used book sale for 25 cents--so the weekend wasn't a total loss. And no matter how "bad" Wells Old Home Days becomes, its more about being with grandma and my sisters and friends on the lake on a gorgeous summer day...and less about carnival rides and overpriced games and food. This year, what I will take with me is the priceless excitement of my puppy dog as a bone flies through the air and lands at his feet like it's raining treats!

Congrats Marilyn!

Marilyn, you are the winner of my Blog Reader Contest! With a stroke of luck, I believe I will see you at Lori's art party today so I will bring your prize to you this afternoon. Thank you for your ongoing interest and supportive comments on my Blog. It's nice to know someone is out there enjoying what I do! Thanks again and Congrats!

The View Outside My Living Room Window

Believe it or not, I lifted the blinds in my living room and stood on my couch to press my camera lens against the window to get this shot of the momma bird in her nest in the tree outside. Jeff told me he noticed her there yesterday, and the cats have been sitting on the back of the couch looking outside more often. I can't wait to see if I can catch a glimpse of some baby birds soon too! Gotta love nature right in your own backyard!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Me & the Birthday Boy

Jeff's Birthday Card

My boyfriend Jeff's birthday was Friday, July 17th, and we had a BBQ with some friends and my sisters and played Cranium. That game is so much fun, I can't remember laughing that hard in awhile. Overall the night was a hit, he really got along with my friend's boyfriend, and all the food turned out great so I think he had a good time. I made his birthday card using a photo we took of Brinkley at my grandma's camp a few weeks ago. It definitely made him smile that I added paw prints to the back and the envelope like the dog helped make the card.

I've made it past 50 blog Entries!

This is my 52nd Blog Entry! I have to thank Ginger for inspiring me to take the time to start one. It has become a wonderful way to document my artwork, as well as make connections with a multitude of fabulous artists. I am enjoying the opportunity to learn new things from others, and to share my art for feedback and growth.

To commemorate my 50th entry, I want to offer a drawing for anyone who posts a comment to this blog link by Saturday July 25th. You will be eligible to win a surprise product from Close To My Heart valued at over $20. I look forward to seeing who checks out my blog!

What Summer is all about...

After so much stress at work and so many rainy days this summer, I consider myself blessed to have been able to go and spend some time at my grandma's camp with Jeff and the puppy. We went up Thursday at lunch time and came back this afternoon. We took a walk around the lake, played some card games, did some reading, some swimming, some grilling, and my personal favorite: some smore making. Although I kind splurged on my Weight Watcher's points with having 3 of them...I couldn't quite resist the taste of camp. Swimming with the puppy in the lake for the first time was a blast too--he loves the water. Thank goodness for some time to step back and relax, and laugh a little.