Whew. Deep breath. This was a hectic week around here--we've had performances of the school musical the last three nights ("Cinderella's Glass Slipper"), which meant that the three nights before that were dress rehearsal nights. Jenny played Cleopatra, Cinderella's silly stepsister, and did a wonderful job. That girl has a streak of ham running through her--must have come from her dad! She is so comfortable on stage, and loves getting the laughs.
I painted the sets this year--it's my third year doing it, and it's so nice to be able to help out. We have a wonderful music director at our little K-8 school, and this play (with over a hundred hours of rehearsal) is done completely outside of school time. Several of the other teachers volunteer their time to be at the rehearsals, and all that time and dedication result in a very polished performance. I've had at least one kid in the play every year for the last seven years, and it's been a great experience for all of them.
Katie's been gone to San Francisco for three days with the Madrigal group from the high school. They've sung in several competitions and done some sightseeing in the city. They're on their way home now, and it'll be good to see her. I'm glad she's getting the opportunity to participate in such a terrific musical group (she also has an amazing musical director at the high school), but if I include the trip to Fresno for the Central California Honor Choir, and the trip to Pasadena for the State Honor Choir, she's had four choir trips this year. I miss her when she's not around!
Richard had to high tail it out of the musical as soon as it was over, since Prom is tonight for his high school. As principal, he has to be there--It's being held outside, and it's about 42 degrees outside right now. The facility has big tented areas, and I'm sure they'll have heaters going, but I'd hate to be all dressed up at a prom tonight! We've had approximately three inches of rain here in the last four days, and in a place where we only get THIRTEEN inches of rain PER YEAR, that makes for a very soggy ground. Cold and wet! Brrrrr...
Jenny and her sixth grade class leave on Monday morning for a week at the SCICON camp in the mountains. The name stands for SCIence and CONservation, and they'll be sleeping in cabins and doing lots of hiking. So she'll be gone all week! First time she'll have ever spent a chunk of time away from home--she's the homebody of my kids, so it'll be interesting to see how she likes it.
I'm looking forward to spending lots of time in the studio next week, since I won't have to be painting sets and Jenny will be gone. Whatever will I do? Hopefully lots and lots and lots of painting and drawing and sewing!
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Monday, November 14, 2011
Love love love working like this--no time to think or agonize or get it perfect--my handy dandy hairdryer was awfully, well, handy, for drying the paint. I left time at the end for colored pencils, charcoal, and a white Sharpie Poster Paint marker.
The whole concept of perfection really bugs me. We emphasize it so much in the schools, especially in regard to art and writing. Don't get me wrong, public writing needs to be perfect, and you want to be happy with your art before you send it out into the world--but in emphasizing perfection throughout the entire writing and painting process, we create children who think they can't write and can't paint/draw/create art.
In the beginning stages, all creation is about experimentation and expression. Finetuning and chasing that elusive beast, perfection, comes much later.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Surprise
So, what surprise could there possibly be at Art in the Garage? What could possibly surprise Karen?
One word: Goats.
(Doesn't it seem like it's always goats? Or is that just me ;)
Two and a half weeks ago, at about 4:30 in the afternoon, when I was still sick, there was a knock at the front door. The dogs went nuts, the girls answered the door, and as I was coming down the stairs, still in pajamas, I heard that word: Goats.
It's Kim, the neighbor from behind us, and she says, "Karen! You're a gramma! There are two baby goats behind your barn!"
I say, "Oh no, Rosie is almost six, never had kids--she's barren." (I realize now that this was a stupid comment--what can I say? I was sick? Hmmm. Okay. Maybe I was in denial.)
Kim is wonderful. She ignores the fact that A) I just made a ridiculous statement, and B) I look like a poorly-groomed Yeti. Did I say she's wonderful? She says, "Well, there are two adorable baby goats behind your barn!"
I put on Richard's big rubber boots, and we slog out to the pasture. I think maybe I repeated the fact that Rosie was sterile--maybe a couple of times. Saying it makes it so, doesn't it? No, by golly, when we get out to the barn, there's Rosie with two sweet little tiny tiny curly babies standing beneath her.
Aaaaah.
Bill Whickers, the erstwhile father, is standing fifteen feet away, looking (maybe) as baffled as I do (well, maybe not). Rosie, meanwhile, is ecstatic to have company and runs away from the babies. We need to get her and the babies isolated, as sometimes bucks will injure the kids.
First we have to dismantle the barricade on the gate, there because the goats have persistently and repeatedly pushed the gate open. I slither in, and fall right on my a##--in the mud, in the goaty mud, in my pajamas.
Aaaaah.
I grab the babies, hand them over the fence, and then wrangle Rosie out through the little opening in the gate. We get the three of them into a stall in the barn, and then the normal chaos ensues. (Is there such a thing as normal chaos? There is around here.)
Aaaaah.
"Where is a flashlight? Bring the phone back out here, we need to phone the 4H Goat Lady (it is true, I swear--I am not known as the Goat Lady. Except maybe in cyberspace. Naw, not even here, right?)
Well, to make a long story short, turns out that Rosie is in fact the most baffled of us all, all appearances to the contrary. She's not a good mom, and the next morning we saved the one little doeling. Her brother didn't make it, and now we are bottle feeding little Lizzie.
Aaaaah.
One word: Goats.
(Doesn't it seem like it's always goats? Or is that just me ;)
Two and a half weeks ago, at about 4:30 in the afternoon, when I was still sick, there was a knock at the front door. The dogs went nuts, the girls answered the door, and as I was coming down the stairs, still in pajamas, I heard that word: Goats.
It's Kim, the neighbor from behind us, and she says, "Karen! You're a gramma! There are two baby goats behind your barn!"
I say, "Oh no, Rosie is almost six, never had kids--she's barren." (I realize now that this was a stupid comment--what can I say? I was sick? Hmmm. Okay. Maybe I was in denial.)
Kim is wonderful. She ignores the fact that A) I just made a ridiculous statement, and B) I look like a poorly-groomed Yeti. Did I say she's wonderful? She says, "Well, there are two adorable baby goats behind your barn!"
I put on Richard's big rubber boots, and we slog out to the pasture. I think maybe I repeated the fact that Rosie was sterile--maybe a couple of times. Saying it makes it so, doesn't it? No, by golly, when we get out to the barn, there's Rosie with two sweet little tiny tiny curly babies standing beneath her.
Aaaaah.
Bill Whickers, the erstwhile father, is standing fifteen feet away, looking (maybe) as baffled as I do (well, maybe not). Rosie, meanwhile, is ecstatic to have company and runs away from the babies. We need to get her and the babies isolated, as sometimes bucks will injure the kids.
First we have to dismantle the barricade on the gate, there because the goats have persistently and repeatedly pushed the gate open. I slither in, and fall right on my a##--in the mud, in the goaty mud, in my pajamas.
Aaaaah.
I grab the babies, hand them over the fence, and then wrangle Rosie out through the little opening in the gate. We get the three of them into a stall in the barn, and then the normal chaos ensues. (Is there such a thing as normal chaos? There is around here.)
Aaaaah.
"Where is a flashlight? Bring the phone back out here, we need to phone the 4H Goat Lady (it is true, I swear--I am not known as the Goat Lady. Except maybe in cyberspace. Naw, not even here, right?)
Well, to make a long story short, turns out that Rosie is in fact the most baffled of us all, all appearances to the contrary. She's not a good mom, and the next morning we saved the one little doeling. Her brother didn't make it, and now we are bottle feeding little Lizzie.
Aaaaah.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Little Vacation
I'm a bad blogger, dropping out of sight without any plan in mind--but summer can be busy around here. We went to the beach for a few days while Joel had a baseball tournament, so I'll share some pictures...
The tournament was in Paso Robles. Here's a picture of the field before the first game. I'm not allowed to take pictures of Joel, as he says it 'makes him nervous,' but I managed to get a shot of the field, mainly to send to my sister and dad back in Michigan. Funny thing about this tournament? The first team we played was the high school where Richard is principal, so two teams from Porterville drove all the way to Paso Robles to play each other!
Two days before we left for the beach, Katie got her braces put on. I never had braces, so have no idea how they feel, but I do know that when your teeth hurt you just don't feel good. This picture is of Katie on the way home from the orthodontist:
This second one is two days (and very little sleep) later:
The worst part for me (besides having to listen to her cry herself to sleep the night in the hotel room) was watching her not be able to eat when we went out. We had two fantastic meals (review to come, I promise!) and she couldn't chew. Poor thing.
And of course there's Miss Jenny, who boogie boarded and played in the sand and just adores being at the beach and eating seafood. She not only had me cover her up in sand, but then gave herself a belly button!
Joel stayed with one of the other boy's family, who were camping in Morro Bay, so he had an awesome time, besides playing four games in three days ("You just have to love the game, Mom.") Richard and the girls and I stayed in Cayucos, a small beach town up the coast where Richard used to go when he was a kid.
And I had all sorts of good intentions of sketching and taking lots of pictures with the good camera, and of course I didn't do nearly as much as I'd planned...I'll leave you of these three shots of my Jenny at the beach.
The tournament was in Paso Robles. Here's a picture of the field before the first game. I'm not allowed to take pictures of Joel, as he says it 'makes him nervous,' but I managed to get a shot of the field, mainly to send to my sister and dad back in Michigan. Funny thing about this tournament? The first team we played was the high school where Richard is principal, so two teams from Porterville drove all the way to Paso Robles to play each other!
Two days before we left for the beach, Katie got her braces put on. I never had braces, so have no idea how they feel, but I do know that when your teeth hurt you just don't feel good. This picture is of Katie on the way home from the orthodontist:
This second one is two days (and very little sleep) later:
The worst part for me (besides having to listen to her cry herself to sleep the night in the hotel room) was watching her not be able to eat when we went out. We had two fantastic meals (review to come, I promise!) and she couldn't chew. Poor thing.
And of course there's Miss Jenny, who boogie boarded and played in the sand and just adores being at the beach and eating seafood. She not only had me cover her up in sand, but then gave herself a belly button!
Joel stayed with one of the other boy's family, who were camping in Morro Bay, so he had an awesome time, besides playing four games in three days ("You just have to love the game, Mom.") Richard and the girls and I stayed in Cayucos, a small beach town up the coast where Richard used to go when he was a kid.
And I had all sorts of good intentions of sketching and taking lots of pictures with the good camera, and of course I didn't do nearly as much as I'd planned...I'll leave you of these three shots of my Jenny at the beach.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Mixed Up Media All Over the Place...
I've actually been painting quite a lot, in little short bursts while I can sneak outside to the studio--well, okay, I'll be honest with you. When I get grumpy (which I'd like to say NEVER happens, but...it does) my kids actually ASK me to go out to the studio...So I'm actually not sneaking, I'm being sent, kinda like when you were little and your mom sent you to your room...
"Mom, that is ENOUGH, now! That's it--You go right to the studio, right now, young lady!"
Or something like that...
The whatever it was that I was struggling with seems to have abated, and I can see some new direction in the pieces I've been working on. This first one was painted entirely with my fingers, and I loved loved loved doing it!
I will post more as I scan them.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
In the Spirit of Blog 365...
I'm posting before I drive Katie and her friend to the nearest mall (45 minutes away). I'll drop them off, with strict instructions to stay together and in the building--they'll have a cell phone, I'll have a cell phone--I'll go to Borders and sit and read while they window shop.
It's sad, because my friends and I would go to the mall on weekends when I was in 7th grade, just to wander around and talk and window shop--we always shared a plate of crispy French fries at the drugstore restaurant/counter--and no one worried about us. Some of my fondest memories are hanging out with my friend Sue, trying on the same gorgeous pair of shoes every week until I finally had enough money saved up to get them (or not). Even so, I feel a tad guilty doing this. Maybe some of you are horrified that we would do this--and I don't know what to say except that we know Katie and her friend will follow our rules, call me to check in every hour, and have a great time.
This is one of those situations where being a parent is hard. You wonder 'what's the right thing to do? how do I answer these questions? how do I balance their desire for independence and fun with my safety concerns?' And the truth is, it's always a juggling act. Knowing that there are no right or wrong answers doesn't make it easier--in fact, it just may make it harder.
Hmmm.
And now, off to spend 45 minutes in the car with two teenage girls (who probably won't pay a bit of attention to me ;)
It's sad, because my friends and I would go to the mall on weekends when I was in 7th grade, just to wander around and talk and window shop--we always shared a plate of crispy French fries at the drugstore restaurant/counter--and no one worried about us. Some of my fondest memories are hanging out with my friend Sue, trying on the same gorgeous pair of shoes every week until I finally had enough money saved up to get them (or not). Even so, I feel a tad guilty doing this. Maybe some of you are horrified that we would do this--and I don't know what to say except that we know Katie and her friend will follow our rules, call me to check in every hour, and have a great time.
This is one of those situations where being a parent is hard. You wonder 'what's the right thing to do? how do I answer these questions? how do I balance their desire for independence and fun with my safety concerns?' And the truth is, it's always a juggling act. Knowing that there are no right or wrong answers doesn't make it easier--in fact, it just may make it harder.
Hmmm.
And now, off to spend 45 minutes in the car with two teenage girls (who probably won't pay a bit of attention to me ;)
Monday, April 30, 2007
A Piece of Artwork for my own Prickly Shell...
Well, Boy is gone for the week. He left at 6:45 with Dad, who was going to drop him off at the school. He talked on the phone last night for at least an hour and a half with The Girl Who Is Not a Girlfriend, Mom, We're Just Really Good Friends and That's All (hereafter referred to as TGWINAGMWJRGFATA--well, maybe not). She was number thirteen on the grades list, apparently, and isn't getting to go on the trip.
When I taught art in his class last week, the kids were going to do a first text/texture layer on their canvasses, so we took five of my pieces to show them the concept of creating texture with background text and with tissue paper. Boy went to his room and brought out this piece I did for him when he moved into the guest room. The big text at the top means approximately "Forever 13" and hidden at the bottom are the words "future" and "one hundred years to live" (as in the song).
I don't need to explain the prickly shell, right?
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Amazingly Enough...
I actually did get some heavy duty housework done today! I cleaned out and defrosted the freezer after grocery shopping. Katie and I spent about an hour cleaning out the garage (which has turned into a disaster zone since I built my studio) and I thoroughly cleaned the big throw rug from Joel's room. Cleaned up kitchen and did four loads of laundry, too. Woo Hoo!
Took Joel shopping to get the stuff on his list for the desert field trip--that was pricey, but Katie and Jenny will be using the same stuff when their turns come. It was nice to go down to town with just the two of us. On the way down we argued for about fifteen of the twenty minutes it takes to make the drive--mostly him asking 'why won't you buy me (fill in the blank)' and me responding 'I wouldn't buy you (fill in the blank) even if I had the extra money, which I don't'. I'm a very unfair mom, not very generous or understanding, I guess. I'm really trying to teach them that life is not about STUFF, but I guess that's not what he wants to hear at fourteen years old. Five years ago this was not an issue for him--who'd have guessed he'd change so much? Once I told him I wasn't going to discuss it any more, things got lots better. We had a nice time, and even went and had a soda and a burger at McDonald's after we were done(don't scold too hard, Housewife, I know it's bad for us, but it was nice to just hang out with him.)
Turned hot here today (95 degrees!) so I jumped in the pool--it's still take-my-breath-away cold since the nights have been so cold here this spring.
Hubby took kids to the rodeo that's here in our little town. It's a big event, and somehow it's turned into a tradition for him to take the kids and for me to stay home alone. I'm not complaining, as it's hot and sweaty and dusty at the rodeo. The kids like it that it's something special they do with him.
I'm going to go and make myself a hot cuppa tea and then sit and read until everyone gets home. I already fed the Phoenix the goat his bottle, so I can just relax.
Took Joel shopping to get the stuff on his list for the desert field trip--that was pricey, but Katie and Jenny will be using the same stuff when their turns come. It was nice to go down to town with just the two of us. On the way down we argued for about fifteen of the twenty minutes it takes to make the drive--mostly him asking 'why won't you buy me (fill in the blank)' and me responding 'I wouldn't buy you (fill in the blank) even if I had the extra money, which I don't'. I'm a very unfair mom, not very generous or understanding, I guess. I'm really trying to teach them that life is not about STUFF, but I guess that's not what he wants to hear at fourteen years old. Five years ago this was not an issue for him--who'd have guessed he'd change so much? Once I told him I wasn't going to discuss it any more, things got lots better. We had a nice time, and even went and had a soda and a burger at McDonald's after we were done(don't scold too hard, Housewife, I know it's bad for us, but it was nice to just hang out with him.)
Turned hot here today (95 degrees!) so I jumped in the pool--it's still take-my-breath-away cold since the nights have been so cold here this spring.
Hubby took kids to the rodeo that's here in our little town. It's a big event, and somehow it's turned into a tradition for him to take the kids and for me to stay home alone. I'm not complaining, as it's hot and sweaty and dusty at the rodeo. The kids like it that it's something special they do with him.
I'm going to go and make myself a hot cuppa tea and then sit and read until everyone gets home. I already fed the Phoenix the goat his bottle, so I can just relax.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Boo Hoo
To add to the already difficult week, hubby's truck croaked, at least temporarily, on Wednesday, so my trip next week is off.
What trip next week, you say? Well, let me tell you.
At our school we have many wonderful teachers, including an amazing 6th/7th/8th grade science teacher. Every spring, a two-year-long competition culminates in a trip to a research station in the desert. The students who have the top twelve science grades for 7th and 8th grade, cumulative, get to go on this week-long trip, full of hiking and learning and fun. And, of course, some lucky parents get to drive and chaperone on this trip. I've wanted to go for years; Joel is my first eighth grader, and he is getting to go! And, hooray, teacher needed someone to drive a car full of kids and stay for the first two days, as the mom who had promised to go can't be there till Tuesday night.
But, alas, we are (temporarily) a one-car family, and as hubby has a job interview with one school district on Monday afternoon and meets with the school board of another district Monday night, I am grounded. I'm okay with it, though a little bit disappointed. Nothing like sweating in the desert with a bunch of hormonal teenagers to make my week (I'm serious there. I love kids and learning and outdoors, and this would have combined it all). The upside to this is that it solves the problem of how to juggle the girls, and hopefully I'll get to go with one of them when it's their turn.
Joel, of course, is thrilled. He didn't want me to go in the first place. I'm embarassing. (That is my job at this point in his life. I know that. But it's hard not to be his very favorite person anymore. Of course, he's still one of MY favorite people, and I guess that's all that matters.)
So next week I will be a VERY VERY VERY stay-at-home mother of two instead of three. Hopefully I can do some heavy duty housework (ha! not likely) and make some cool art. I sold a painting today, so that's always exciting. I also made some very cool pillow shams for Katie's Euro pillows in her bedroom. I'm on a roll.
I've been checking out all the link lists on my favorite blogs and have realized I need to update my own linklists. So much good writing out there, so many nice and interesting people!
What trip next week, you say? Well, let me tell you.
At our school we have many wonderful teachers, including an amazing 6th/7th/8th grade science teacher. Every spring, a two-year-long competition culminates in a trip to a research station in the desert. The students who have the top twelve science grades for 7th and 8th grade, cumulative, get to go on this week-long trip, full of hiking and learning and fun. And, of course, some lucky parents get to drive and chaperone on this trip. I've wanted to go for years; Joel is my first eighth grader, and he is getting to go! And, hooray, teacher needed someone to drive a car full of kids and stay for the first two days, as the mom who had promised to go can't be there till Tuesday night.
But, alas, we are (temporarily) a one-car family, and as hubby has a job interview with one school district on Monday afternoon and meets with the school board of another district Monday night, I am grounded. I'm okay with it, though a little bit disappointed. Nothing like sweating in the desert with a bunch of hormonal teenagers to make my week (I'm serious there. I love kids and learning and outdoors, and this would have combined it all). The upside to this is that it solves the problem of how to juggle the girls, and hopefully I'll get to go with one of them when it's their turn.
Joel, of course, is thrilled. He didn't want me to go in the first place. I'm embarassing. (That is my job at this point in his life. I know that. But it's hard not to be his very favorite person anymore. Of course, he's still one of MY favorite people, and I guess that's all that matters.)
So next week I will be a VERY VERY VERY stay-at-home mother of two instead of three. Hopefully I can do some heavy duty housework (ha! not likely) and make some cool art. I sold a painting today, so that's always exciting. I also made some very cool pillow shams for Katie's Euro pillows in her bedroom. I'm on a roll.
I've been checking out all the link lists on my favorite blogs and have realized I need to update my own linklists. So much good writing out there, so many nice and interesting people!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
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