Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
childhood and not so gloomy August days
Today, as I look out on a very cloudy August 4th, I think on the past...
I'm probably 10, it's probably 8am, and I am at my Grandparents' house in Sutherlin. I finish up breakfast, with Grandpa, at the kitchen bar. Cereal for me, creal and grapefruit and a mountain of pills for Grandpa. Barefoot and in a t-shirt and shorts, I run outside. The grass is green and soft under my feet. The morning is already warm, but the breeze is cool. I spend my morning cutting flowers, helping with chores, picking up apples off the ground, being carefree. Before lunch, the sun is already hot, I retreat in the shade of the apple trees. We eat lunch in the shade of the front porch with it's atificial green turf. I like the way it prickles my feet. The breeze flows through and the chimes ring. Neighbors come by to say hi and chat. Grandpa and I have icecream bars together after lunch, the ones the Swan man brought. Grandma and I make fresh cookies which will be eaten by visitors who will come by all week long; the minister at their church, Oddie, friends, a home nurse, more neighbors, perhaps an older cousin or two (all of them are older than I), eventually my brothers. Grandma and Grandpa nap and I quietly work on whatever projects grandma and I are working on that week. We pick fresh peas and dig tiny baby potatoes from the garden for dinner. Grandma and I make an apple crisp from the fresh apples that fell from the tree, that I gathered that morning, for a quarter a bucket. After dinner, the evening is still warm. The grass is cool and soft on my feet. The sprinkler is fresh and inviting.
Now that is a summer day. What is today? Will summer not come this year? Sigh...
I'm probably 10, it's probably 8am, and I am at my Grandparents' house in Sutherlin. I finish up breakfast, with Grandpa, at the kitchen bar. Cereal for me, creal and grapefruit and a mountain of pills for Grandpa. Barefoot and in a t-shirt and shorts, I run outside. The grass is green and soft under my feet. The morning is already warm, but the breeze is cool. I spend my morning cutting flowers, helping with chores, picking up apples off the ground, being carefree. Before lunch, the sun is already hot, I retreat in the shade of the apple trees. We eat lunch in the shade of the front porch with it's atificial green turf. I like the way it prickles my feet. The breeze flows through and the chimes ring. Neighbors come by to say hi and chat. Grandpa and I have icecream bars together after lunch, the ones the Swan man brought. Grandma and I make fresh cookies which will be eaten by visitors who will come by all week long; the minister at their church, Oddie, friends, a home nurse, more neighbors, perhaps an older cousin or two (all of them are older than I), eventually my brothers. Grandma and Grandpa nap and I quietly work on whatever projects grandma and I are working on that week. We pick fresh peas and dig tiny baby potatoes from the garden for dinner. Grandma and I make an apple crisp from the fresh apples that fell from the tree, that I gathered that morning, for a quarter a bucket. After dinner, the evening is still warm. The grass is cool and soft on my feet. The sprinkler is fresh and inviting.
Now that is a summer day. What is today? Will summer not come this year? Sigh...
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Working in the garden...
Actually, there aren't a lot of "working" photos. Quite possibly because after Adaya was done exploring, I put down my camera and worked.
Edit: No peoples, it is certainly not our yard. I mentioned in the previous post that we did some yard work for a widow. I guess I should have restated. I got a few emails about inquaries into my yard. This one is actually out in Aloha?
This is a whale. See the tail in the background.
I'm not sure I know another kid who loves gardening as much as Josiah. Of course it also means he gets to use grown up tools.
Things hang from everywhere.
Josiah walks around with his yard debri bag, picking stuff up.
Can you find Josiah? Note the large chime made from oxygen tanks.
If these pictures only could tell half of the story...
Edit: No peoples, it is certainly not our yard. I mentioned in the previous post that we did some yard work for a widow. I guess I should have restated. I got a few emails about inquaries into my yard. This one is actually out in Aloha?
This is a whale. See the tail in the background.
I'm not sure I know another kid who loves gardening as much as Josiah. Of course it also means he gets to use grown up tools.
Things hang from everywhere.
Josiah walks around with his yard debri bag, picking stuff up.
Can you find Josiah? Note the large chime made from oxygen tanks.
If these pictures only could tell half of the story...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Our Summer, thus far
It has been a busy one, full of fun. We have had two art parties at our house, gone to see Wes's family in Eastern Oregon, gone to My Masterpiece Art Studio three times, spent a day downtown, the kids have each had sleepovers at my parents, and we've done lots of yard work. So where to start with the photos, how about today's pics.
Today Josiah attended a children art workshop at Carrie Moore Studios http://www.carriemoorestudios.com/. He had a good time. The kid loves arts and crafts. Here are a few pics from his time there. (In a very random order thanks to blogger.)
The table is almost too high for Josiah to work at.
The table is almost too high for Josiah to work at.
Josiah with his finished pieces. A cherry, a maple leaf, and a mother starfish with her little ones. The story behind the starfish picture, mother starfish is holding onto her babies as the wave comes up to take them back out into the ocean.
Student art display at the prestigious Deck Step Gallery.
Josiah draws from nature for perhaps the first time. We also fed the koi. (See pics at top)
After we got home, we went out to help a gal do some yard work. Her garden is beyond ecliptic. But I will have to post those pics tomorrow.
Still to come this summer: two more art parties, two family camping trips, women's backpacking, a visit from Wes's brother and family, another trip to Eastern Oregon to see Wes's family, and more.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My Masterpiece Art Studio
Today I took the kids to a fun place called My Masterpiece Art Studio. It's an art studio geared towards kids, but for the whole family. For just $10 we got a clay open studio kit with 3lbs of clay, enough for all three of us. In a couple weeks, after our projects are dry and fired, we will go back and buy a $9 glaze pass to paint them. Really, it seems like a reasonable price that kind of thing.
The only other place I know of that we could take the kids to work clay is the Children's Museum and that would cost us $20 just to get through the door, then we would have to pay to fire our projects on top of that.
My MAS also offers painting, drawing, collage, wood sculpture, print making, and classes. But when you can do most of that in your own home, it doesn't have the same money value.
The only other place I know of that we could take the kids to work clay is the Children's Museum and that would cost us $20 just to get through the door, then we would have to pay to fire our projects on top of that.
My MAS also offers painting, drawing, collage, wood sculpture, print making, and classes. But when you can do most of that in your own home, it doesn't have the same money value.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
book club and other things
First, I just started reading (listening to actually) the latest book for my book club group. It's called The Middle Place, and so far I adore it. I am almost 30 minutes in, I believe still the first chapter. It's fun. I adore her children and everyone loves her dad, which you can't help but do. Right now, they are searching for a tooth that her dad sneezed out while planting in the garden.
Second, do any of my readers know when the next book club date is. Lindsay posts everything on facebook these days. Load of good that does me.
Third, my son is at my parents house. So I just have one child for a few days. I'm sure he's out digging in the dirt as I type. I am so hoping he does his journal writing about the things he does while at Grandma's house. Because I am so looking forward to reading it. He writes some really goofy stories sometimes. I am hoping to help him create a mini scrapbook of his summer vacation with his journal writings and summer photos.
Fourth, we spent yesterday at my Grandparents' house. The kids had so much fun helping with the yard work. Josiah loves doing yard work. He trimmed all the dead rose buds off the 40 or so rose bushes that his Great Grandma grows. Adaya ran everywhere. And yes, she smelt just about every rose and a gazzillion other flowers. I wish you could all see my Grandmother's flowers. Even with all the rainy weather, Grandma's yard and flowers are still beautiful. Josiah went home from there with my parents and Adaya was sound asleep just after we hit 26, on the way home. I am working on a post with pictures, I hope to have them up by bed time tonight.
Fifth, I put banana Boat on my daughter yesterday. She is broken out. I don't know where her sunblock is and I need to find somewhere to buy her more. Sigh.
Second, do any of my readers know when the next book club date is. Lindsay posts everything on facebook these days. Load of good that does me.
Third, my son is at my parents house. So I just have one child for a few days. I'm sure he's out digging in the dirt as I type. I am so hoping he does his journal writing about the things he does while at Grandma's house. Because I am so looking forward to reading it. He writes some really goofy stories sometimes. I am hoping to help him create a mini scrapbook of his summer vacation with his journal writings and summer photos.
Fourth, we spent yesterday at my Grandparents' house. The kids had so much fun helping with the yard work. Josiah loves doing yard work. He trimmed all the dead rose buds off the 40 or so rose bushes that his Great Grandma grows. Adaya ran everywhere. And yes, she smelt just about every rose and a gazzillion other flowers. I wish you could all see my Grandmother's flowers. Even with all the rainy weather, Grandma's yard and flowers are still beautiful. Josiah went home from there with my parents and Adaya was sound asleep just after we hit 26, on the way home. I am working on a post with pictures, I hope to have them up by bed time tonight.
Fifth, I put banana Boat on my daughter yesterday. She is broken out. I don't know where her sunblock is and I need to find somewhere to buy her more. Sigh.
A day at my Grandparents' house
Looking at a scrapbook with my Grandma. Adaya tells her Great Grandma Bethune about all the pictures, naming the people that Grandma doesn't know as well as herself, 'Siah, Daddy, Mommy, etc.
Adaya smelt all the roses, roses on every bush.
Josiah makes a rose petal pattern.
This is when Adaya exclaimed about how beautiful Great Grandma's rose garden is. "Oh, it so beautiful. Roses so pretty. So amazing."
Adaya asks Great Grandma to pick her up. It's about all Great Grandma can do to keep her up. But she wanted to because Adaya wanted her too. 
Josiah gets to work on clipping the dead rose buds off Great Grandma's roses while Adaya picks a clover boquet.
So beautiful...
Where does she get all that cuteness?
Great Grandma points out a missed dead rosebud.
Young and old...
Grandma brings water out for everyone.
My Dad does a third run over the garden.
Adaya with her Great Grandparents.
The roses Josiah accidently picked for Adaya.
The kids enjoy rides from Great Grandma in her wheelborrow.
Helping Great Grandma water the tomatoes before they go in the newly tilled garden.
Helping Grandpa push the tomatoes to the garden.
Playing peek-a-boo.
Adaya says good-bye to everyone. It's time to head home before everyone shows up for community group and the hostess isn't home.
Adaya fell asleep just after we hit 26, on the way home. I didn't really want her sleeping at 5:45 in the evening. So I got her out of the car but she didn't want to wake up.
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