Watercolor Art Class

Timothy learned that it takes a long time to paint…longer than he was interested, in fact. I love his drawing.

The teacher said you can tell a lot about the personality of the artists in these paintings. Daniel paints in a very precise way.

Paige could be the next Georgia O’Keeffe if she wanted to.

A Day Begun with Peanut M&Ms is a Good Day

It felt like my blood was full of sludge. I was lethargic and a little testy. I wanted to go on a long walk and let myself get back to some kind of equilibrium of mental and physical health. But I decided to ignore that need and just press forward with THE DAY.

I ran two errands this morning and then I got stranded at the post office with a dead battery in the van; a battery that has been dying a slow death since December. I decided not to beg for a charge. I decided to walk home.

I only felt desperate for a second when I realized that no one was answering phones.

And so I trudged through the construction and dust, avoiding the bulldozers and cranes, all the time counting the ways this dead battery was a blessing and only once or twice wishing for a construction helmet. It was really fortuitous the way it all happened. I didn’t have the kids with me, who would have really struggled with the walk on a road with no shoulder; I had put on some shoes before leaving the house (for a change), and I was only a mile and a half from home. I got my exercise and I made my funny list of blessings on the way:

1. I woke up to find a forgotten bag of peanut M&Ms in my purse.

2. I was able to comfort a friend, mail a birthday package and the taxes all before the battery died.

3. I got the walk I knew I needed.

4. I wasn’t wearing my pajamas when I got stranded.

5. I have a capable teenager who stepped in to watch the kids when my 15 minute errand turned epic.

6. The walk canceled the M&M breakfast.

Plein Air Painting

She said, “I need to paint the irises before they are gone,” and she did.

Mark joined her and did another “Study in Red” (his favorite color).

Plein air painting is all about the moment.

Memories

I don’t think I will ever get over leaving Texas.

Mark asked if this was Paige in this picture. Nope. It is me, 8 years ago in Salado. Richard and I were surrounded by  fireflies as we sat near this stream as it grew dark.

Sigh.

That’s all, folks.

Scout-o-Rama

Before you read on, here are some helpful definitions:

o-rama: a greater-than-usual number, volume, or variety of a specified thing: used to form commercial names and other words for events and displays. (Dictionary.com)

Dutch Oven Dump Cake: 3 ingredients. 45 minutes. Bliss. (7-up, cherry pie filling, chocolate cake mix)

Council: Boy Scouts are organized in geographic areas called Councils. There are 2 Councils in Arizona: Grand Canyon and Catalina; we are a part of Catalina Council.

Today we went to the Catalina Council Scout-o-Rama. Our Pack did a booth on cooking. We had 4 Dutch ovens going at one time and we cooked biscuits on sticks. The hit was the dump cake.

Daniel raced his District-winning car and won 3rd place in the Council. The trophy is 2 1/2 feet tall. New centerpiece? Coat stand?

The little boys had some good times, too.

There were rockets to launch…

Trees to climb…

and cars to race.

Paige was there and made it to the top of the rock climbing wall (seen behind the red car above).

I smell like a campfire, but it was worth it.

Transpiration

There is a little water droplet on the tip of each blade of grass.

These make me happy.

Transpiration is the process where plants lose water through pores called stomata. This allows for exchange of gasses needed for photosynthesis and allows water to flow through the plant to distribute nutrients.

New World to Me

Can it be that Paige has been dancing for 7 1/2 years and dance competition is something new to us?

Yes, it can.

Paige was in a dance competition on Saturday. Everything had to be altered: Costume, eye lashes, and hair. I altered some costumes and helped put on fake eyelashes behind stage.

She danced in a tall hotel in Phoenix where no food was allowed and $4 candy bars were sold for those desperate and rich enough. I watched 3 1/2 of hours of dance as I waited for Paige’s numbers. The music beat directly through important neural pathways, leaving me exhausted and weak. I suffered a great deal. I can’t imagine what Paige must have been going through.

Well, the dance team lifted Paige high above their heads and flipped her as planned and she was graceful and she was beautiful. They won second and third place in their division.

I expected to be exposed to Stage Mothers. This put me in great fear. I was so nervous I bought a new purse for courage (and I’m not a purse kind of girl). I walked in confidently with my new bag and a spring blouse, only to be met with

Bedazzled t-shirts.

Mothers weren’t sporting purses! They were sporting  “Elite Ballerina Mom” or “Dance Mom” in bling all over their chests. This is not me!  I said in my loudest, completely silent voice. Please don’t let this be my fate! I don’t want to be a Stage Mom. No! No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

And then I calmed down. I may not have bling, but I’m the kind of Stage Mom who tells her daughter, “Dance for yourself and your Heavenly Father and find joy. I’ll pray for you!” And, when it’s all over, I’m the Stage Mom who tries to tell everyone they were beautiful.  I’m also the kind of Stage Mother who WILL henceforth sneak in snacks (in my spacious new purse). Let’s hope it’s a long time until another competition comes our way.