Lately

I've been meaning to write a lengthy blog post for months now about why I don't blog as much these days.  But I'll whittle it down to a few sentences instead: I record things elsewhere.  I got a paper reading journal that I write in rather than on Goodreads.  I write in my actual journal.  I record things in the baby journals.  I have a paper planner.  I guess I'm regressing as far as the digital age goes, but I love it.  So, sorry.  My blog posts have been going elsewhere.  

But I do still enjoy keeping up on the blog, at least to a point, and of course it's fun to add in pictures and what not. 

So in that spirit, here are some little things that have been happening lately.  

I will start with a confession.  You know how on special occasions people make fancy/special foods for each other?  For example, for Valentines, Drew wanted to make (simplified) pho and sticky rice.  

Sometimes he asks for ribs or some other favorite food.  Do you know what I asked him to make me for my Valentines meal?*  The same thing I ask for every birthday or special occasion:

Yep.  Velveeta with hot dogs.  DON'T WORRY--it was the fancy Velveeta where you have to make the cheese sauce yourself.  It is delicious, okay guys?!?  

I finally started an etsy store!

Buy my stuff!

I love Kate Morton.

I have read 4 of her 5 books since November and I love them and she is just SO GOOD and I wish she were my spirit animal.  This one might be my favorite.  And I'm so sad that once I read the 5th book I will have to wait until a sixth comes out!  Pretty sure Drewbles is kind of tired of hearing about Kate Morton...

Kate Morton Kate Morton Kate Morton!  

*sigh*

But speaking of other excellent lady authors...

I hosted a book group and our book was Murder on the Orient Express.

I also tormented Mr C with watercolors.

When I say "tormented" I mean I tried to get him to paint and he recoiled and said he was scared, refusing to do it.  But he had no problem telling ME what colors to paint and where.  

(This was actually very similar to his first experience with finger paints about year ago, but with much less sobbing on his part, fortunately.)

I made the mystical three ingredient scones/biscuits.  

Pretty amazing that they turn out!

I've had these three prints for yearrrrrrrs and I rediscovered them when we cleaned out the office.  I put them in frames (for the first time ever!) and now my laundry room looks really cool.  

I finally finished this wreath I started last summer:

It's covered with moss!  I made the little eggs out of model magic and painted them.  

I'm not sure the moss will survive more than one season, but if it falls off or whatever I think I'll just remake it with artificial greenery.  Have I mentioned that I really like making wreaths?  Pretty sure I meant to blog about it...

Well, here are my wreaths:

I also remade a fall leaves one from Walmart, guess I don't have pictures of that one.  Anyway, I have a grand vision of 12 wreaths hanging on the wall in the garage, one for each month.  I think I need about four more!  Maybe by the end of the year...?

*Obviously we did not eat all these meals at once.  Next time...

A Dream is a Wish Your Brain Makes

Once upon a time, nearly three years ago, I had a dream about the Hunger Games.  It was an alternate ending, where Katniss and Gale fled District 12 and lived in the wild.  They escaped by going down some stairs next to the highway, into the woods.  But that detail is irrelevant to this story.

Now, this next part will also seem irrelevant but just go with me.  One of my favorite artists in the whole history of art is N.C. Wyeth, an American illustrator.  And one of my favorite paintings is an illustration he did for Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow, of trackers in the snow:

So beautiful, misty and silent.  Can't you just feel the cold?

(If you want to see some other glorious N.C. Wyeth illustrations, check out the Scribner's illustrated editions of Kidnapped, Treasure Island and Robin Hood.)

Now where was I? 

Well.  I had this idea, some three years ago, to illustrate my Katniss and Gale dream as my own version of the trackers in the snow.  I immediately sketched out a very tiny doodle, and...that was it.

It's been on my yearly goals list ever since but always went undone.  Why?  Well, procrastination covers many excuses.  In this case it was covering my fear.  Yes, I admit to being too afraid to even start this project.  I had many extremely valid concerns, such as: What if it turned out terrible?  What if it was hideous?  What if I had to give up?  What if it was hideous?!

So instead of trying, I put it off.  You know, until some future day when I woke up to find my skill set had miraculously expanded to include N.C. Wyeth impersonation.  

But last month, in a rare moment of uncharacteristically reckless courage I thought to myself WHY am I waiting and WHAT am I waiting for?  I said to myself, Kyle, no more waiting!  It's time for doing!

And so, I did it:  

(And yes, my ridiculous inner critic whines about how no one would mistake it for an N.C. Wyeth painting.  I shush it by examining the bow and arrow, whilst nodding contentedly.)

I persevered through the ugly phase(s), I pretended to know what I was doing, I agonized over basically everything.  But mostly I just worked.  And isn't it strange how if you just do a thing, it will get done and you can say hurray and eat a celebratory milkshake?  

There's probably a life lesson in here somewhere.

Five

I have thoroughly enjoyed Miss A's early babyhood.  She was a snuggly, sleepy little newborn with delicious hair and has been happy and pleasant in the months since.  But now that we are at the five month mark she is getting to the really fun baby stage.  She talks and squeals and chirps, and laughs more than ever.  She's so responsive to people and things and it's always fun to watch her interact with the world around her.

Her nighttime sleeping habits haven't really changed in the last month, she wakes up generally once.  I WOULD perhaps dare to say that nights were getting pretty regular in her wake up time, but of course she threw curve balls the last two nights.  She just KNEW I was thinking about maybe saying something about a schedule.

I love her little face.

I love her little Minnie Mouse-esque dress too.

Speaking of knowing stuff, how is it that babies can tell when you sit down?  ALWAYS!

Baby's first Harry Potter costume!

I will say that she has taken to protesting a bit at nap and bedtime, but as long as you 1) stand 2) bounce her and 3) don't stop either of those things she'll cooperate.  Hah!  Silly.  And only sometimes totally maddening...

Fifteen day apart cousin twins!

This month the dreaded cradle cap started to appear.  Fortunately it's not nearly as bad as Mr. C's was, and coconut oil seems to keep it in check.  Also I switched to Honest Company shampoo (from Aveeno) and that seems better for her as well.  (Is it weird to anyone else that Jessica Alba is a legit businesswoman??)

In other hair news, it's growing in blonde!  Her thatch on top is rather multicolored and she seems balder on the sides than she really is because the hair is so light.  I won't deny I'm a bit sad the dark hair seems to be fading out, but I will enjoy it while it lasts.  (And maybe my hair is falling out less now????  *crosses fingers*)

She is a pro at rolling around, squirming in circles and is getting closer to sitting up as well.  She's just so strong!  I'm amazed at how high she pushes up already.  

Random other things: she talks in her bed as she rolls around it like an egg.  She likes to be outside, especially on a windy day.  She likes to put everything in her mouth.  She likes funny noises and funny faces.  She is happy and good and loved and adored.  

And I finally use her name more than "Baby"!  Small victories, people.

But I still like to call her Baby.

Parks and Recreationommendations

Growing a new baby and the subsequent arrival of said new baby has translated to me watching a lot of shows at night.  It just happens.  So here are a couple of recommendations from me to you, a person who may or may not be looking for recommendations.  Not all of them are TV shows, just to illustrate that I do other things...(...but most of them are TV shows.)

LUTHER: This has been on my to-watch list for a couple years and I finally put it on one day.  I'm so glad I did!  I'm also glad that after the first episode I convinced Drew to watch it with me because not only is it good, it also freaked me right out.  If you are in the mood for a dark and dreary London cop drama, with lots of murder and suspense (as well as Idris Elba AKA Cancellor of the Apocalypse), this is for you.  

DAREDEVIL: More dark and dreary murder and mayhem (the fact that I enjoy dark things with murder and mayhem so much will come as no surprise to some people).  In news that will surprise no one, this is WAY better than the movie from some years ago.  This wasn't perfect, but since I prefer my superheroes darker, this appealed to me.  Charlie Cox as the lead was the best part (and his hair is so much better than in Stardust).  

PARKS AND RECREATION: Have I watched this entire series twice since baby was born?  MAYBE.  I love it, I just love it.  I love this show like Leslie loves waffles.  I feel like it changed my life, which is rather hyperbolic of me to say and really, I'm not even sure what I mean by that, but that's the sentiment that keeps coming to mind.  I wish Amy Poehler were actually Leslie Knope and I wish she were my friend.

THE BIG YEAR: I caught the last half hour of this movie on TV a while ago, and it intrigued me so I watched the whole thing.  It was so delightful!  I didn't expect much based on the cast, to be honest, but I enjoyed it start to finish.  On a related note, I just finished the book it's based on (it's a true story) and recommend that as well.

SONG OF THE SEA: Beautiful little movie.  It reminded me of The Scorpio Races--not because of the story or characters (AT ALL), but because of the atmosphere, which was my favorite part of that book anyway.  Anyway, beautiful charming movie.

JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL: I love this book so much.  I'm reading it for the fourth time and I am loving every single page.  At nearly 800 pages it is certainly a time investment, but it is worth it.  And why am I rereading it?  Welllllll.....

JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL: ...it's a miniseries on BBC America!  There are a few episodes left, and while I question some of the makers' decisions, overall I am loving it.  I've been wanting to reread the book and after the first episode I couldn't help myself any longer.

And there you have it, lots of things to watch and to read and to love.  

(But seriously, don't watch Luther alone at night.)

(But it's good!)

Orange with Orange

Last year for the 30 day art challenge, I did this design of oranges for the pattern day challenge. 

I brought it back again for the nature inspired challenge.  Wouldn't this just be the best dress?  I want someone to make it.  Unfortunately there is no fabric with my oranges. 

A few weeks ago a friend on Facebook linked to the Spoonflower website, who was doing free custom fabric samples.  So I ordered my oranges, and soon enough they arrived.  I think they look pretty neat!

Now will someone make me that dress?  I will pay in oranges.

Bump It Up

One afternoon, back in my working days, I was driving home and I saw a person on a bike near me.  For some reason, when I saw this on this particular day, my brain went back to the scene in Return of the King when Sam says "Share the load" to Frodo.  And for some even more inexplicable reason, I looked at that biker and said to myself, "Share the road."  Then I started laughing my guts out at the thought of a bumper sticker with that slogan.  I crack myself up.

Well, that was like two and a half years ago, and about a year later I actually sat down and make just such a bumper sticker.  Then my brother suggested one with Frodo and "Get off the road!"  Which is also hilarious!  So I made that one too.  

So, just this past fall (if you're keeping track, this was like two years after my initial idea...I may not be fast but I do things eventually!), I finally ordered them as actual bumper stickers.  I don't know what I'll do with them, but I HAVE them and I feel pretty awesome about that.

Put the Sun in the Glasses

Once upon a time, I broke my sunglasses.  I replaced them with an identical pair, and, surprisingly, they broke!  So I went through the ensuing months without, and they were very squinty months indeed.  Then we got married that August and went to southern California the next day.  Southern California is pretty bright.  Really bright.  I couldn't squint the bright out!  

See?  So I did what anyone would do, and bought some sunglasses from the aquarium, which saved me on the rest of our honeymoon in the bright, bright land of California:

Those sunglasses have traveled the world with me since, until one sad day, a few weeks ago, when they decided to travel no more:

I guess it's time to go back to the aquarium.

Grates

Happy Thanksgiving, world!  Rather than complain about Black Friday sales starting on Thanksgiving, or list all the obvious things I'm thankful for, here are some other, less notable things that I'm grateful for:

--Light-up keyboards

--Flat whisks

--Good books (and hey, sometimes a bad book)

--A1 sauce

--Video baby monitors

--Exercise, of all kinds

--Silence

--Chopped

--Internet tutorials

Last Thanksgiving I thought I was going to DIE from lack of food during the half hour wait before dinner.  So I'm also grateful that I feel better this year, and of course I'm grateful for my little discomfort causer and that he's not, you know, causing discomfort still.  And speaking of him, I'm also grateful for nice friends who knit him awesome sweaters:

Happy Thanksgiving!  Go forth, my friends, and eat pie.  And be grateful for at least 24 hours before shopping your hearts out.

Achoo!

The other night, we were lying in bed talking about the Veronica Mars movie, which led us to talking about Jessica Chastain (who was in a season 1 episode), which led us to wonder what her next movie would be, which led us to talking about The Help and how she'll be in the (non-existent) sequel.  Apparently we were a bit loopy because we spent ten minutes thinking of sequel titles and laughing until we cried.  In the interest of, well, nothing, here is what we came up with:

Even Helpier
Abilene's Revenge
The Footes at Home
Whatever Happened to Stewart?
Little Skeeter in the Big City
The Wrath of Minny Jackson
It's Not About Jackson
The Revenge of Mae Mobley
No More Outdoor Toilets
We Clappin' for Somebody Else
Celia and the Mile-High Meringue
Not So Smart, Not So Kind, Not So Important, or, You is Dumb, You is Mean, You is Worthless 
Hilly and the Small Town Band 

And let's not forget Minny's cooking show, Minny Don't Burn Chicken.  

Things I've Learned from Pushing Daisies

We just started watching Pushing Daisies, and it's fun and stuff.  Here are some conclusions I've come to, here at the end of season 1:

• I get the Lee Pace thing.  Now I can shake my head at his unfortunate involvement in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two: Breaking Dawnier with everyone else.
• Ned and Chuck are just delightful.  There should be more TV relationships like this.
• My cheesebox needs so much more cheese in it!
• I want everything Chuck wears.
• I'm pretty sure Zooey Deschanel thinks she is Chuck.

So...that's all.

(Okay, okay, bonus CAG:

)

Things I Know

I have often heard ladies talk about how they sense their baby's personality whilst said baby is in the womb.  In a similar vein, they readily identify which body part is where and, if pressed, could probably tell you if their baby will be a CEO one day.  That is to say, some ladies are very insightful about their offspring.  I am not one of those people.  The Speck could be poking me with a fishing pole for all I know.  But recently I have picked up on a few things about this presumably human creature dwelling amidst my innards:

--The Speck sticks any and all of his appendages up in my ribs frequently.  Therefore, I know that Drew passed on his love of ribs and even though mine are not cooked and covered in BBQ sauce, they are alluring still.

--The Speck also likes to stay on the right side.  Therefore, I know that he is very good and already choosing the right.  

--(Also I know he will be right-handed and right-brained.)

--While I can't be sure (again, it could be a fishing pole), I sometimes feel that I am being head-butted.  Therefore, the Speck has inherited a certain, ahem, hardheadedness.  Not from ME of course.  Right, Mama...?

--I get heartburn so I know the Speck will arrive with a full head of hair.  

--I know the Speck loves cheese because, well, at this point how could he not?

--I am still escaping some of the more common uncomfortable symptoms so I know that the Speck, though hardheaded, is also rather obliging. 

--Even time I see a diagram of how big the Speck is at this point, I know that he is probably not any more comfortable than I am.  But luckily for him, at least he doesn't know any different.  

Some less Speck-specific things I have learned recently are:

--If you ever hope/plan/want to be with child (or are), do not, for the sake of your mental health, read ANY birth stories involving placental abruptions.  Learn from my inadvertent mistake.  

--Some people spend, shall we say, a LOT of money on nurseries.  In what will be news to no one, we are not doing this.  (More on that when we actually have something to show, instead of a variety of boxes on the floor.)

So you see, I am learning new things all the time.  And not just from obsessively reading baby how-to books.  Luckily I still have about 8 more weeks to figure out how to work my new neck pillow:

It seems KIND of big for my neck...

Maybe it's more of a lumbar thing?

Or maybe it's a belly shelf!

(The dead eyes in these pictures are courtesy of a nasty cold.  Of COURSE I finally take pictures on a day I feel like death.)

Warm Fuzzies

When I was a wee third grader in California, we each got a poster of "warm fuzzies" made for us by our classmates.  Everyone got a little square of paper and you would write a compliment on it about whoever the lucky soul was that week.  I still have my poster, with all kinds of nice things on it about "J.A.C." (my initials--there was another Julie in the class).  As a sidenote, JAC never really caught on.  JAG probably won't either.

Anyhoo, I am not going to either collect or give out compliments here, but I AM going to post a bunch of things that I like.  Sometimes one wants to look at their blog and see a bunch of nice things.  So here are some nice things:

Is there anything more satisfying?

Ah, England.  We will meet again!

 

HELLO, YOU LITTLE MUFFIN.

 

Springtime!

 I misssssssss youuuuuuuuu.

 

 Hee hee.

 Hee hee hee.

This should do, until I can get a bunch of third graders to make me another poster.