I finished. I like it. Josh hung it in the front window, but i don't think i have a picture of it up yet :) I ment to post this for the open chalange. still getting the hang of the blogging experience, and working about a week behind. just started the paint chanlange, but i am enjoying it... we'll see if i finish it in time to submit it at all... i doubt it, but oh well.

getting ready in the morning. what do you think of the poncho?

first day of kindergarten must have been exausting, but i heard good reports :)

Last night was Miss M's first judo tournament. It was rather a surprise. It was a club tournament ( which I found out they do about once a month) and I was just showing up expecting the regular Tuesday night class. At first I was concerned that she isn't ready for a tournament yet, so I went and talked to Mac. He told me that she was welcome to do news (mat work) matches only, or just watch if she would rather. I gave her the choice. She was extremely nervous about the whole thing and said she would rather watch. I agreed we could do that.
After a class warm up, we went to sit at the side and watch the other kids compete. She liked it, but didn't like the idea of falling hard. Then a little boy (also 5) showed up. His mom had the same concerns, but M was now ready to try if she could play with him. I talked to Mac and he agreed it was a good match.
Her first time up, she was rather uncertain. He pinned her 3 times and she escaped all three times, but he won by decision. She was ready to cry, but she got lots of praise from me and the other sensis made her feel better. Matches 2 and 3 she did a good job of trying hard, but A was just a bit stronger and faster at the starts. She left with a good feeling about the whole thing though, so I am very proud of her. ( when am I not) I'll add a picture of her in her gi when I get home.

Dragonmuffins defined

"look at those raggamuffins in the back seat"
R "what is a dragonmuffin?"
M " i think it is a pet dragon"
R "are you scared of dragons?"
M "no. they breath fire"
R shivers" maybe they burn muffins"
M "a dragonmuffin is a muffin a dragon burned"
R " no. we are dragonmuffins. we are in the back seat"
M "are there any muffins back here"
R "no"
M"Roar!"
R "ROAR!!"
"quiet back there"

Frustration on Saturday

I wanted to rant about my frustrations yesterday with editing postings, getting new glasses because mine broke and whatever else, but as I wrote, it all seemed pretty petty and insignificant. Maybe this is why people journal.

Inspire me Thursday

So I have decided, at least for the moment that this is really quite addicting. Here is the Black and White that I wanted to submit for inspire me Thursday. I have been looking at the site for a while now, and finally got the urge to start my own blog so I could submit stuff. That is the real impetus behind this new hobby. If you scroll down farther, you will see the photo I drew this from.

just one more

Aslan by Kendall Payne

Don’t stop your crying on my account
A frightening lion,
no doubtHe’s not safe no, he’s not safe
Are you tempted now to run away?
The King above all kings is coming down

But he won’t say the words you wish that he would
Oh he don’t do the deeds you know that he could
He won’t think the thoughts you think that he should
But He is good, He is good.

I know you’re thirsty the water is free
But I should warn you- it’ costs everything
Well, he’s not fair no, he’s not fair
When he fixes what’s beyond repair
And graces everyone that don’t deserve
No-one knows him whom eyes never seen
No, I don’t know him but he knows me
He knows me.
He knows me.

Lay down your layers, shed off your skin
But without his incision you can’t enter in
He cuts deep, yeah he cuts deep
When the risk is great and the talk is cheap
But never leaves a wounded one behind

One more addition today. Loverboy sent me this image when I asked him to send me the pictures of my art, but I was having trouble cropping it ( new skill for me) so I didn't post it with the others. It still has a reflection... Not sure how to fix that, probably have to take a new picture. This is an older painting from a picture near dillan's beach. I like it, but haven't decided what to do with it.

so, i am going to make another attempt at getting artwork up. i found it very chalenging to photograph some peices... reflections, glare, shadows and whatnot. the charcoal of my daughter's face wasn't one that loverboy sent me, so that will have to wait for later. Gentel but constructive comments are appreciated. I also included a work in progress that i am doing on a window my friend rachel gave me. my current crafty fun thing

Formatting is driving me crazy

loverboy :)

Miss M and her dog Banner.

I used this as inspiration for a picture that I meant to post this morning, but my art pictures weren't there when I went to edit that blog

I have now looked at this on a couple of different computers and realized that the captions don't stay put. they are in appropriate places on my comp, but all bunched up on loverboy's. this is rather frustrating. i guess i can only publish one photo per caption if i want them to line up right. if anyone has better suggestions, i am listening. Just to add to the confusion, when i just tried to edit it, 3 of the pictures disappeared. i will leave this like this as evidence of my huge trouble with editing today.

The purpose of this blog is at least two fold. I want to share pictures and news and thoughts with people I care about, and I want to challenge my self and grow as an artist. In the interest of the second purpose, here are photos of a vase I recently painted for my cousin's wedding. I like the way it turned out mostly, and it is the only piece I currently have photos of on my computer. I look forward to putting other stuff up soon.

This is me playing with how to post photos. it is also me playing with my reflection and shadow on a lake while camping with the family.

Welcome to me

This is my first post. I will have to wait till I get home to my own computer to put something more interesting, like photos on I think. I am just doing this right now to try it out. Hopefully this will be a quick easy way to share thoughts and ideas with others. If it takes too much time or effort, it probably won't be kept up. If any one wants to give me suggestions to make this easier or more fun, feel free. Just try not to overwhelm me all at once. Great entrance huh?