Self-Portraits

Nature Notebook officially starts

I have been crazy busy, and really am not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with the blog throughout the year. It's usually my evening relaxing time, but that's been taken over with other obligations lately. I enjoy blogging, though, and will try to update regularly. I have so much stuff to share, and so little time to share it! ;)
Our homeschool group's first official Nature notebook session was last Friday. We had a great turn-out, with 60 kids + parents and babies. I'm so excited about the interest in it this year!!-- we had nearly 90 kids sign up for NN at the membership meeting!!! YAY!
Thank you, Dawn Denton for reading your books to us, Oliver and Toad and Ruby and Rocket. Both were a big hit. Check out her books, if you haven't seen them. :D

After reading the books, all of the kids made "toad houses" for their gardens. Lay the pot on its side to paint and, when it's dry, you bury half of it, so the toads will have a cool, dark place to rest.

Thank you, Dawn, for giving us a great start to the year!

Live with Joy

details...

I plan to do this one in watercolor.

It's my new favorite medium. :)

Top Parenting Goals

A friend on facebook asked "What are the top ten parenting jobs?" A vague question. ;) But it got me thinking.
My 10 parenting goals:
#1 Love with God's love, overflowing so that it covers your children completely. This means *unconditionally*.
#2 Encourage kids to grow steady in their faith & their relationship with God. Their life has real meaning, definable purposes. God is reliable in His guidance and support in times of trouble and peace.
#3 Provide basic physical needs: clothing, food and shelter. I'm lumping them all b/c even though they're time-consuming, where we live, what we eat, and what we wear are really very minor.

#4 Teach and train~ education and preparation. Instill love of learning.
#5 Encourage their passions, and provide opportunities to further those passions.


#6 Protect absolutely, from physical dangers and disease (seek medical help when needed) as well as protection from explicit and/or inappropriate material/words/people, etc.
#7 Guide them in healthy relationships, and appreciation for people and the world.
#8 Foster independence and confidence; the goal is to be more capable every year.
#9 Have fun. Be creative. The relationship is important. Memories are important.
#10 Teach empathy, hospitality, generosity-- help others when you can. Grieve with those who grieve. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Pass joy along whenever you can.

There, I think those are mine.

What are yours?

Homeschool Year 2011/2012

Another year here!

Color Whimsy

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other
way--things I had no words for.
Georgia O'Keeffe

Color has taken possession of me; no longer do I have to chase after it. I know
that it has hold of me forever... Color and I are one. I am a painter.
Paul Klee

(*ahem* Here are a few of my words, on Wordless Wednesday. Yes, I'm a notorious rule-breaker.

**Take note: when you run out of the good paper, keep painting anyway, even if it tears up your pages a bit!

My next painting journal hasn't made it here yet...I ordered this one again, as I was so happy with it last time! Naturally, though, it went down in price right after I placed my order! It holds up wonderfully with heavy ink & watercolors-- never bleeds through. It is also spiral-bound, which is nice. What do you use?)

Short Hair Art

My hair is getting long enough now for mini pigtails on the sides. Which is nice when it's blazing hot outside...but still gives me a definite "Not Me" Feel. I need some curls and/or spikiness at all times. Maybe a renegade braid, too.
I'm thinking it may be time for another cut. Or shorter bangy things. Or that purple streak that I mentioned, not too long ago.
Take note of the hair I drew not the way-too-skinny poor woman who obviously needs more cake and beer (because cake and beer are awesome together and, unfortunately, also rather plumping! Mental note: cut down on cake and beer.)


I like the hair. Long enough to curl, but short enough to be a little wild. Whatcha think?
As crazy as this sounds, I just realized that there is no Hair tag for this post. Craziness, considering how often I post about hair!

Dress Up your Spaghetti

This recipe is featured on They Draw and Cook! Check it out! :)

My kiddos love pasta, and my man love casseroles, so this recipe pleases them all. Plus it has lots of cheese, so I'm a happy camper, too.

(I used model car enamel paint for the silver pot!)

This moleskin journal is dedicated to recipes. When it's completely filled (probably years from now) I'll put it up with the other things I have for My Girl, to give when she moves into her own home. :)

For the Love of Coffee

I'm never out of inspiration, with a cup of great coffee around...

"This year Consumer Reports brewed over 1,000 cups of coffee to deem two new champs among Colombian varieties: Gloria Jean's Colombian Supremo Medium Roast and Newman's Own Organics Colombian Especial Medium Roast."

Have you tried these? What do you think? I'm a coffee lover, for sure, but I rely on my amazing friends to point me in the right direction. Money IS an issue here, and I can't always buy the amazing stuff. I need help, folks! If I'm grabbing something from Wal-Mart, what should I reach for? Or what about in a coffee shop? I tried a coconut latte the other day that was heavenly. Mmmmm....

Illustrated Recipe (first of many)

Okay, y'all, I'm officially addicted to Pinterest now; it's so full of inspiration and ideas! I've heard of "pinterest challenges" along the lines of "stop pinning for awhile, and start DOING what you've been pinning." Let me assure you, I do not need the challenge. I may pin 5 things or more a night, but I'm working on just as many. My grocery list consisted of ingredients from my Pinterest food board. ;)
This illustrated recipe is one of many that I've been working on, inspired by pictures I found, originally from They Cook and Draw. Love that site, btw.

What do you think? Like my "carrot top girl"? Red hair, leafy hat/hair, root earrings, parsley shirt. She's all about the carrot recipe, lemme tell you.

Pin It
I've been working on illustrating my Mimi's recipes, too. :) More soon. I'll show the progress pictures along with the completed pages, as soon as they're done.


Pin It



Oh, and this pic was done with Prismacolor pencils and Millennium ZIG pens.
What have you been pinning?
Are you inspired yet?
-- and, more importantly, what are you DOING about it?? :D

It's all in the details...

Sometimes I get on a medium kick and neglect my First Love: Ink. I love Sharpie Fine Points...but I really adore the super fine pens, like COPIC pens and the Micron set. These items stay on my Wish List all year. I'm an easy woman for Fred to please-- don't worry about flowers and clothes, just give me fine-tip pens!! ;)


The "Hi" part of the picture is actually very small (--maybe 2 inches tall) and was drawn with a Millennium .05 pen. Very much inspired by the amazing Katie Daisy.

I'll add watercolor if/when the mood hits.

Painting Sticks

This past week we gathered sticks from around the firepit.

It's not like we can, or would want to, use them for a fire anyway.

((burn ban & excessive heat warning))
//heat wave//
We went out eeeeeaaarly in the morning to get our supplies, and then started the

free-paint fun!

Painting in swimsuits, with cereal snacks nearby. :)

When we finished with all of the sticks in our yard, we moved on to clothespins...

This record heat wave has forced us back indoors, and we've been doing more art...so...I guess...I can't really complain about that. Even if it is staying in the mid-80s in my air conditioned house. At least we have a/c!