Peach Coglo

Weekending~January 29, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . .

Ah the weekend, it was here and now it's not.

We watched Superman.  Man, it was a lot more risque than I remembered.  I am glad it went over the kids' heads just like it must have gone over mine when I first saw this movie as a child.  The kiddos loved it.  And by the way, how terrific is it that Mario Puzo wrote The Godfather as well as the story for Superman.

On Saturday, I visited my dear friend who recently lost her husband.  During these past few days, I have realized just how important it is for people to have the space to just feel sad. 

I got a bit of time in my studio to do a bird study.  I am trying to paint at least a few minutes every day.   I have some big projects I am working on for clients so I'm am working when I can and trying to create more time for work.  It's a process, and I think I may need some fairy dust.

The kiddos drew, read, played and made snowmen out of toilet paper rolls.  It's all we can do now that the snow has melted yet again.

Saturday night we had our family meeting.  It has been  two years  since the last because the first one was completely chaotic.  I wasn't even trying to do anything spectactular or detailed at that time; still it seems my expectations were a bit too high.  I probably shouldn't have had any expectations.  After that experience, I didn't have the stomach to even try it again until now.   Almost everyone enjoyed it.  It was new enough to Doran that he bowed out after a few minutes.  As we have our meetings more frequently, I suspect he will participate.  Everyone contributed ideas for books we want to read, projects, plans for the upcoming week, home upkeep and birthday gifts for Eden.  Towards the end, Eden stated that she wanted to build shelves.   I was psyched the meeting worked out so well and that the kids enjoyed meeting and talking with each other.  No wonder families do this.  It's a great way to recap the past week, get a look at the next, and to connect.

On Sunday, Greg and Elijah went to a train hobby shop.  Apparently there are set-ups there  that are not to be believed.  Eden and Helena built a cardboard house while Doran read and I worked on Eden's birthday gift.  While the rest of the family went to Elijah's tennis lesson, Helena and I set off to visit a friend and former co-worker of mine.  My friend's daughter and Helena get along famously so it's always a joy to visit and chat.

Elijah, Doran and Greg started working on Eden's birthday pinata (Elijah's idea).

Eden's gift is coming right along.  I decided to make a penguin instead of a dolphin and I am pleased so far.  I haven't gotten to anything difficult yet, and the rest of the pattern doesn't look too far out of my skill set.

So now the weekend is over and we forge ahead to a very full week, on to surveying my calendar.

How was your weekend?  I hope it was a good one.

Photographic Friday ~ Thirty-eight

It's Photographic Friday, the day when I share practice photographs from the past few days or so.  They aren't perfect.  What is really?  I'm enjoying the process of concentrating, creating and working up my 10,000 hours of practice.  If the spirit moves you, feel free to share your own creations, photographic and otherwise with a link!

Have a marvelous weekend my friends.

No Cowl Blocking for Me

Joining Ginny at small things for yarn along. . . .

I finished the cowl and as it turns out there is no need to block it.  Sweet.  I will however have to gently block a scarf I recently unearthed.  I think I started this basket-weave scarf about four years ago.  I was a few rows from finishing and never did.  I'll be giving it to Helena if she's up for it.

In knitted animal news, I am charging on despite my uncertainty.  Yeah it's only knitting, but the idea of making these animals intrigues me and freaks me out a little.  I am making Eden a dolphin because that just looks easiest.  I am sure when I am done I will  shake my head at my pre-knitted dolphin self and wonder what all the fuss was about.  But I am not there yet.  Of course now that I am all ginned up and ready to cast on, it turns out I don't have the size needles I need, not even close.  Well off to the store it is then.  I promise I'll have some shots next week-no matter how scary the thing looks.

I am still enjoying Just One Thing.  For this week's practice, I am adding practicing compassion for myself.  "Taking in the good" has been wonderful and challenging.  It's amazing how my brain thinks I don't deserve to really sit with good feelings for more than a nanosecond-truly amazing.  I imagine self-compassion will provide some similar challenges for me.  My other book is World of Knitted Toys;.  This is my dolphin source.  I have that book in my sweaty hands as I try to understand this new pattern and attempt increases for the first time.

What are you making and reading this week?

Weekending-January 22, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

The weekend was a quick one.

We watched Lord of the Beans-very funny.

A certain little boy renewed his love of blueberries.  Even though they are way out of season, I got him some.  Autism can do a number on the old appetite, so whenever he is wanting some fruit and I can get it, I do.

On Saturday, we finally had a nice substantial snow.  It was a slow day of going nowhere-no ballet, no errands, just being.

I got to spend some time with Helena working on a jigsaw puzzle.  She rarely sits still so this was a treat.  The puzzle was harder than I thought it would be so we have it neatly rolled so we can return to it another day.  I hope we have more of these times together.

Sunday was sledding in some really cold weather.  Eden decided she didn't much appreciate the outing, but the other kiddos had a blast.  They've been begging for snow.  I have missed it too.  It's soothing to look out the window and see fluffy white instead of brown.  Snow definitely brightens the atmosphere and light.

I tried to remember "to take in the good" several times during the day.  The human brain really does seem to automatically focus on what's not working and dismiss what is.

Elijah got to start tennis again.  He worked on his Legos while Helena "helped".    I was able to get in a row or two of knitting, and for the first time in weeks, I sat at my sewing machine.  I don't know why I have been some remiss.  It was actually fun to sew while the kids filtered in and out to watch.  I worked on a few imperfect cloth napkins.  I have this thing about using fall and St. Patty's Day napkins out of season.  I know, but I had to start rectifying that.

On to start the week.  I am trying to be very positive as we start planning for Doran's middle school transition-uphill battle that one.

I discovered a new addiction-English Breakfast tea.  Oh yes.

And oh man is January rushing by-soon it will be February, Little Eden's birthday and Valentine's Day.  I am almost convinced that there are really 16 hours in a day instead of 24.

How was your weekend?

Photographic Friday ~ Thirty-seven

It's Photographic Friday, the day when I share practice photographs from the past few days or so.  They aren't perfect.  What is really?  I'm enjoying the process of concentrating, creating and working up my 10,000 hours of practice.  If the spirit moves you, feel free to share your own creations, photographic and otherwise with a link!

 

As I post this photo, it's snowing outside.  Yay!  As several of you have noted, posting the snowmen picture worked, at least I have fun thinking it did.  Have a wonderful weekend my friends.

Almost Done

It's Wednesday and time for some yarn and knitting talk.

There's not much new in my knitting world this week.  I am almost done with the cowl-just binding off now.  The yarn is a little droopy-perhaps because I reused it.  Anyway, it's looking like I am going to have to block something for the first time in my life.  Hopefully it will tighten things up a mite.  After this comes off the needles, I'll be starting my Valentine's hearts and Eden's toy.  I[ve been feeling pretty busy this past week so with the cowl off the needles, it almost feels like I have the mental and physical space to start something new.  Yay!

As for reading this week, I am still reading just one thing.  I am practicing one habit per week.  Last week was being on my own side or being a friend to myself.  This week's habit is "taking in the good".  The author explains that scientists believe our brains have a built-in negativity bias.  The book encourages us to deeply experience the good things, no matter how minor, and to reject the idea that we don't deserve to feel good or if we don't pay attention to the bad something worse will sneak up on us.  It's all very interesting.

What have you been reading and making this week?

Finally

We had a fun long weekend.  I hope yours was just as fun and relaxing.

The weekend started off nicely as I delivered a special order to some of the nicest people I have ever met.  It feels great to share my art and to be around such kind folks.

Our Friday night movie was Here Come the Littles.  That had to be one of the most 80's movies I've ever seen.  It was okay though and definitely entertained the kids.  However, I am looking forward to the new Miyazaki movie.  Somehow I think it will be much better.  You probably already know what a Miyazaki nerd I am.  

Saturday was studio time-time for painting and thinking and planning.  There was much lego-building, train-running and game playing all weekend.  We started an ice ring.  It's finally cold enough to do this outside.  The kiddos made gingerbread cookies after Helena's dance class.  It's a new tradition for the kids to find something to bake with their Dad every Saturday.

Sunday we took a trip to a jazz concert at the library.  Anytime I can get myself and the kiddos to some live music, I do.   We also took some time to clean some more.  I finally got rid of those cruddy knob protectors that were broken.  Maybe now I will attack that monster of a craft area.

I found some super cheesy pink twinkling Valentine's lights.  Yes, I went there.  For someone who didn't get why people decorated for almost every holiday, I have gone in the opposite direction.  I love twinkly lights; winter is dark and I miss Christmas lights.  Plus I think we all need more twinkly lights in our lives.

On Monday we took some more time to paint, draw and make wax paper crayon hearts.  I let Elijah go on this one so we may need to do some more ironing to spread out the wax some.  This craft was a little more difficult than I expected.  Oops.

The kids and I talked a lot about Martin Luther King and listened to his speech and biography.  We talked about how our family couldn't "legally" exist.  The kids are a little young so I try to dose out these lessons as we go along but in a sensitive way.  I watched the Meet the Press interview with Dr. King.  You can feel how much they didn't like him.  It's long but interesting.  You can find it here.  It is almost surreal watching Dr. King from 1965.  The questions he was asked are very interesting to say the least.

Then late Monday night we started getting this:

        Finally. 

How was your weekend?

Photographic Friday ~ Thirty-six

It's Photographic Friday, the day when I share practice photographs from the past few days or so.  They aren't perfect.  What is really?  I'm enjoying the process of concentrating, creating and working up my 10,000 hours of practice.  If the spirit moves you, feel free to share your own creations, photographic and otherwise with a link!

My theory is that if I take pictures of little paper snowmen it might snow. 

I wish you all a happy weekend.  I'll be back at this spot on Tuesday as we are celebrating King day on Monday.  Hope to see you then.

Curious George Exhibit

The huge Curious George banner outside the exhibit.

Over the holiday break, we took a trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum to check out the Curious George exhibit.  We wanted a pretty laid back holiday and tried to not travel around too much, but this exhibit was too much to resist.  It was close and I wasn't sure the kids would ever get to see original art and manuscripts by the Reys.  I love looking at original artwork and seeing the original work, and sketches from the Curious George books was intriguing.

We learned so very much.  The kids were enthralled and really hung in there, actually studying the exhibit and looking closely at the details.  I tend to linger over museum pieces studying details too so I was happy to see this.  It's a bit easier to explore museums and their treasures when people aren't clamoring to go and are happy to observe the rich details.

I didn't know the Reys had to flee the Nazis, and I was unaware that they traveled so much.  It was intriguing but so interesting to see their passports, telegrams, art journal/diaries and New Year's cards.  There was also a pop-up book exhibit.  My favorite was The Pop-Up Book of Phobias.  Really people.  It is a bit subversive.  I mean all anyone needs is a clown or spiders popping up and out at them.  There was also a cool version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  The museum also hosted a few pieces by David Macaulay.  Book and art awesomeness . . . .

I can't show you any photos from inside the exhibit due to copyright laws, but I got a couple of shots outside the exhibit.  If you live nearby and get a chance, you should go.  The exhibit ends February 5th.

  Doran was the only one to brave meeting George.  I was happy to see this was the old-fashioned George  from the 70's.  You know the one.  I still have my stuffed George-tucked safely away from my children.  Sorry guys.  He was one of my absolute most favorite toys.

Blurry photo of the fam going in.  I am pretty sure this is legal.  To the Powers That Be: Please don't arrest me.  This was a fabulous exhibit and I wish I could show you more.  Seriously if you can, check it out!  There is a lot of inspiration and dreaminess to be found.

Happy Thursday friends!

Again with This

Joining Ginny over at small things for Yarn Along . . . .

So yes I started my cowl over - again.  I made a slight mistake on one of my rows.  Does anyone have any hints on easily ripping out rows that were knitted on circular needles?  I'd be much obliged.  Anyhoo, it was no big loss as I wasn't but so far into it.  I have now returned the original yarn that I was supposed to use in the first place and things are humming along.  I am finding it helps to be a little less tired when I knit.  Now even if I want to keep knitting despite being too tired to concentrate, I just put the needles down.

I found a couple of cool knitted doll patterns for Miss Eden's birthday.  I will make whichever one looks easiest.  I am also thinking trying the knitted animal (a dolphin) and the doll simultaneously.  That way if one explodes in my face, I'll hopefully have the other in good progress.

I have started reading just one thing.  I received this for Christmas and I am excited to get into it.  Basically it's about developing a "buddha brain".  The book starts off with a chapter entitled "be good to yourself".  Sounds perfect.  I am sure we can all use a little of that right?

The other book is The Complete Photo Guide to Doll Making that I borrowed from our library.  I haven't had much time to look at it because Elijah borrowed it from me.  From what I did see it had all kinds of dolls in it from cloth dolls to journal dolls.  While I was at the library I picked up Comet's Nine Lives by Jan Brett.  This book is a hoot and Brett's art, of course, are always magical.

So what are you up to this week?