Peach Coglo

Weekending~April 29, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

What is with the funky movies?  I seem to be picking some interesting ones lately.  We saw Frogs and Toads.  It is a movie from the Netherlands.  It is very interesting seeing other countries' kid movies.  The kids look like actual kids.

Saturday was a marathon day at church.  The kids were at First Communion prep (a retreat) from 9am to 5pm.  We left early.  I must admit I had to do some attitude adjusting because the schedule just felt overwhelming even though it was planned with love and good intentions and everything worked out.  The kiddos are pretty excited and I think they understand a lot about the sacrament.  They participated whole-heartedly in the mass.  Something I never would have done, and probably wouldn't do now being the introvert that I am.

The kids made bread during the retreat, practiced looking reverential while processing, and talked about the banners they made for First Communion.  We go to a very welcoming and open church so it's nice to see the kiddos actually enjoy and understand the process.

Sunday was all ours. We cleaned, had some donuts.  The adults drank coffee because we were pretty tired.

Doran helped mow the lawn while I tended seedlings that are reticent to sprout.  Luckily our garlic is coming up and it was fascinating.  I've never seen garlic sprout before now.

Part of the day Greg spent baking-making pizza for our pizza-crazy Doran, pull-apart cinnamon bread, and a couple of loaves of regular bread, one of which we bestowed on our neighbor.

Then Greg and Eden folded basket after basket of clothes.

I went to the hobby store in search of some fun figurines for my terrariums.

Elijah's First Communion outfit is mostly complete.  He decided he wanted to wear a tie; orange was one of the colors he thought he would like, so orange it is.

Our lovely neighbor borrowed our rototiller and came back with 4 half-gallons of ice cream.  Then later he came with homemade fried rice, Chinese sausage and fried wonton.  Hmm we need to have him borrow more garden implements.  Thanks to our neighbor we had a very tasty dinner.

And that was our weekend.  How was yours?

Photographic Friday ~ Fifty-one

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 fabulous weekend!

Give a Child a Marker and

see what he does.

 

It's all worn and washed off now, but boy does he know how to wield a fast marker.

Finalement, a Decision

It's Wednesday, yet again, which is completely unbelievable.  Time really does fly.  I'm joining Ginny for yarn along. 

I finally decided to make Toasty mitts.  I chose the raspberry merino yarn my buddy Julie gave me.  They are a nice bright color and I think they will work well.  This seems to be a rather simple pattern except for the thumb and some craziness about a backwark loop cast on.  Yikes.  Now on to find size 7 dpns somewhere.

We are reading Then There Were Five and enjoying Enright's lovely words: "The willow lay along the bank like a scaly old dragon and arched its silver branches above the pool."  I am reading/perusing Monet at Giverny, Art & Fear and The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: Landscapes.

Well it's time to find those needles and cast on.  What are you reading and making this week?

Studio Process

It was Amanda over at Soulemama who said she tries to remember that one person's mess is another person's progress.  I would add that one person's mess is another person's process .  The other day I was able to work in my studio and noticed I had a lot of process going on; it's a good thing though.  Hopefully with more time doing the work, I'll have some things to show you soon.

Have a great Tuesday my friends!

Weekending~April 22, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

This weekend was an awesome ending to a wonderful week of Spring Break.

Boy did we ever need Spring Break-all the toing and froing simply wears me out; I embrace my introversion, but it is a hard row to hoe when you hafta be places.

Friday we watched some crazy German pirate movie; I must say though that the dubbing was excellent.

There was laundry and yard work on Saturday, lots of manure, compost and fish fertilizer.  You can guess what I smelled like by the end of the day.  The fish fertilizer was actually the worst.

So now we have grapes, new raspberries, baby bear pumpkins, garlic, spinach, kale, radishes, lettuce, carrots, and tomatillos and three kinds of tomatoes started. We finally learned our lesson and decided to succession sow our lettuce and green leafies.  The blueberries and strawberries have been fertilized so here's hoping we get a crop.

Finally, we received a good soaking rain.  There were dust and pollen clouds here for weeks.  The dirt was like fine sand.  Now the birds and worms and plants are happy.  The mallard couple came back to our temporary backyard pond.  I only hope my little seeds didn't get washed away in the deluge.

The best part of the weekend though was the brick and rock painting by the kiddos.  They really brighten things up and I just enjoy watching them execute their plans even if it does involve squabbling.

I spent a lot of time reading Adventures of Little Bear.  This set was organized a bit like a chapter book.  Everytime I tried to stop reading, Eden would tell me we had more to read.  Still, despite almost falling asleep on her, I enjoyed watching her enjoy a book I loved as a kid even if Maurice Sendak's drawings of Cat fascinated and kind of freaked me out.

We capped off our weekend with a trip to the bowling alley.  I think this activity will be a family favorite.

There was lots of slowing down time which I treasure.  Greg was home so that was even better.  I had time to just look at the kids-really look at them without having to go do this or that or drag someone here or there.  Toing and froing is vastly overrated, but now we are back to it (sigh).  Luckily I have been filled up and I think we can make it to summertime.

How was your weekend?

Photographic Friday ~ Fifty

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!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

Still Fretting

Joining Ginny for yarn along . . . .

I am seriously having a spoiled, first-world problem which in themselves are the best kind to have.  I am still fretting over what to make next.  I received some beautiful yarn and a book from my dear friends.  One of these dear friends is Julie over at Ninja Woman-artist, author/illustrator extraordinaire.  She gave me some yummy yarn (super soft mission falls in a beautiful raspberry colorway) and this book.  My other friend Heather also gave me some awesome yarn (maddy tosh that I will be using only pour moi; the kids can just forget it this go 'round).   Soooo I am thinking some mitts for me in the m.tosh, and perhaps something else for me in the raspberry yarn, and maybe the denim pinafore from the book for my Eden who is always asking for her own yarn.  She has been asking me to make something for her for a while.  Not being the fastest knitter, I need to get started.

You can guess my reading material-my new book and this one.  I am also "reading" Ravelry.  When I am not reading my knitting books, I am reading Monet in the '90's,  Then There Were Five, and finishing up Art & Fear.  Last but not least, I am almost finished reading Naturally Fun Parties for Kids.  I am over the moon over this book.  It guides you (with a prep time-line no less) in making cool fairy, spa and beach parties for kids.  It is a treasure to say the least.  I'll have a full review up soon!

What are you making and reading this week?

Birthday Mud

Joining Amanda for Weekending

It's gonna be short and sweet today as I am writing this on the computer in my jacked up basement.

Our weekend is continuing because it's spring break for us.

Friday I broke down and let the kiddos watch Ghostbusters despite the scary parts.  It was funny for me and Greg, and okay for the kids.  Elijah proclaimed that the movie was a bit confusing.  Hmmm.

That means Greg is home more-yay!

Saturday I spent time in my studio-double yay!  Afterwards I went out with some dear friends to celebrate our birthdays-two Aprils and a belated October-triple yay!  They gave me some wonderful knitting gifts.  It's great having friends that have the same yarn addiction.

Sunday was spent outside-doing some garden planning and rototilling.  There was also lots of mud.  I won't go into the part where a certain someone forgot that he was supposed to rinse off all of the mud before boot-scooting through my house.

The day ended with my birthday cake made by Greg, a sweet homemade gift from Elijah, hugs from the kids and dinner prepared by our local Chinese restaurant.  The evening ended with me practicing painting trees in the old sketchbook and figuring out some issues with the painting I am making, and some gratitude that I am starting to get it.

How was your weekend?

 

Photographic Friday ~ Forty-nine

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 beautiful weekend my friends!