The festivities are just begining

After a super relaxing Christmas, we are gearing up for super big festivities and new starts this next week. My brother and his family are coming over for dinner and a belated Christmas celebration tonight. Tomorrow my mom and step-dad are driving in from Seattle to spend the next four of five days with us. I am outrageously excited about this. And.......next wednesday is the first day of my new job. Yes that's right, no more coffeehouse job for me. I am moving on, and darned happy about it, for so many reasons.

This whole job thing - making the decision to find a new one and then actually doing it, has mainly been to blame for the turmoil of my last few posts. And rather than go on and on about what and why, let me just say that I am so glad I made the decision to change jobs. What I am going into is definatly more along the "career" path than my coffee shop job, and right now, Brant and I really need that.

Enough with the boring stuff, lets talk about what is fabulous today:

• Eggnog in coffee. I have singlhandedly drunk at least a gallon of the stuff, and I still want more. Ooohhh, make a eggnog au lait (1/2 nog and 1/2 coffee) and tell me you aren't in love!
• People who put so many Christmas lights up, they have to get the power company to install an additional box.
• My dogs playing in the snow.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday!!

The snow is falling here. The ground is just warm enough that it wont stick so instead it is coating all non-ground things (tree branches, rocks, flower pot rims) with a thick dusting of white snowy frosting. Kinda makes a winter hatin gal like me soften up a little, it's so pretty.

Our Christmas tree is up too- a funky little red, white and black number. This is going to be the first Christmas since B and I were married that we haven't had family around for the holiday. Every other year we've had some rip roarin plans with either his family or mine, but this year....his parents are in Maui (snif snif), my parents are in Seattle, and our brothers and sisters and nephews are in Eastern Idaho and California. So here we are....in our snowy little Idaho town with our red, white and black Christmas tree, trying to figure out what to do for the holiday. I think I have successfully talked B into running the YMCA Christmas fun run with me. We can do either 2.5 miles or 6.1. I'm thinking the 2.5 since B is fairly new to the running thing and I am fairly out of shape since the marathon. But a run! For Christmas! Makes me pretty happy, especially that B would do it with me.

Anyway, more later. It's too pretty outside to type anymore.

It was a noble attempt, this whole nablopomo thing. Would have been nobler if I'd had a stable internet connection, but whatever. I'm kinda done making excuses for this blog. My life is in such transition right now that making it here at all feels like enough.

I am exhausted and fighting and feeling like I am growing up all of a sudden here at thirty years old. Things it seems like b and I should have learned years ago are all of a sudden becoming very, very clear. I am a big fan of choices, and lately I have been making some big ones. I want to talk about them on here, but it's probably not right yet, and honestly I just don't have the energy. When I say "fighting" I mean it in the sense that I feel I am on one side of a big, transparent glass wall and everything that I want is on the other side - protected and in this whole other world. So I am banging and kicking and shouting like mad to break that glass and get in. Feels like a slow fire coming up and out and an inner drive like I've never quite had. And I'm scared, really, because its scary to start thinking in a new way sometimes, to start wanting new things and to actually do something to get them. I am afraid that this new path is taking me away from things I hold dear. On the other, less dreadfully pessemistic hand, change is always rough in some way - beginings are hard - and this new way of life, new recognized wants, new attitude may be able to coincide nicely with the inner core of me. I just have to get used to it, reconcile the skirmishes. I know, I know you are probably like what the heck could be so big and occupying? But really I can't even voice it, it would sound so stupid and I'm not even to full terms with it yet. Lets just say its all about the limits I had placed on myself up until now, what I thought I could do and could not do in this life - and what I want to do. Or more simply, we could just call it an extended post graduation freak out.

Anyway, all is not so shadowy and obtuse in my life. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I am thankful for great wonderful family and a husband who rocks my world every single day. I had a root canal the other day and even though it sounds painful, it actually made me feel so so much better. It is amazing how much pain our bodies can eventually stop recognizing.

It has been snowing lightly here, for the past couple of days and I guess that makes it officially winter. I am thankful for the soft crunch under my feet as I go start my car so early every morning. If it has to be there, at least the snow is beautiful.

A whole bunch of random

It's hilarious how NaBloPoMo is happening at the time my life is lamest. I mean, my life is fine right now, really, just kind of boring. Nothing to write about every single day. But our Internet is back, and that means so am I, boring blog posts and all.

Mainly I am working right now. B and I decided to suck it up and work as much as we can in the next few months in order pay off some debt and save up for some...um.....something really exciting that will happen in the next 2 years that I can't really talk anymore about yet. There I go again, with the Lame. Yesterday I spent all my free time writing my profile on etsy, and then it all got erased instead of saved. I will make another valiant attempt today.

Oh! The other night I ran for the first time since my marathon! Let it be known from here on out, that I am a person who hates winter. And the really cold part of fall. I just hate the cold. And in my part of the world, it is getting dark now at about 5pm. So no more lovely warm evening runs with JenniferMarathon for me. Because of this, I have been forced back into the dreaded gym. Now, B and I have had a gym membership for the past 5 years. I hadn't been there since way before my marathon training began this last May. Why would I run in a stinky, stuffy gym on a treadmill, when I could run outside in the sunshine? We have really great trails here in my town - even the neighborhoods are great to run in. If I could circle how much I love to run outside, to show you, I would circle it three times, and then underline it a whole bunch, and then put six or seven stars next to it too. I love it that much.

But, like I said, the weather is crappy now and I had to go to the gym. So I went, and I ran on the treadmill. It was really hard not to fall off. But I ran a 10 minute mile, which is pretty fast for me. And then I ran a little slower. All in all, I only did 2.5 miles, but I guess my body was still a little sore over the marathon beating it took, because 2.5 left my legs all quivery. And now I am sore! I am just so glad to be out there again, though. It felt great and I want to keep it up so I can maintain my marathon shape. So I guess that means I'll be spending at least some of my nights at the gym, wiping my sweat off the equipment for the next person to use it. Dreaming of spring.

So....Thanksgiving is next week. That fact hit me yesterday as I was starring listlessly at the calender at work. Thanksgiving is next week and we are hosting it at our house - for the first time ever. All of B's family will be there, I think - which I am so excited for! However, now I have to get my crap together!!! Get organized!! Where are they going to sleep, what are we going to eat? Am I actually going to make a thanksgiving feast? Sigh.

However, I can't wait for the mashed potatoes.

In a rush

Our internet connection was out last night so I missed yesterdays post. Lack of internet is so frustrating!!!!!! It means I am behind on all sorts of things. Those things will have to wait - I must run off to work.

Rite of Passage?

So I guess I am now officially a blogger. With blogging responsibilities. I've been tagged by mr president!! For this meme, I must share seven random and/or weird facts about myself and then tag seven other bloggers to do the same. I don't think I know seven other bloggers, who haven't already been tagged - but I guess that's what this is all about right? Getting to know new people? So here goes....

1. Although I spend my days in comfy jeans, sweatshirts and my beat-up red keens, I have a secret longing to buy and wear a beautiful, elegant dress from either Banana Republic or Anthropologie. And maybe even some of their dress pants with a pair of sexy boots and a classy wool coat. It's my secret fashion life.
2. My absolute favorite thing to do at the end of the day is to take a super hot shower, curl up in bed with my husband and a big plate of fabulous food, and watch episode after episode of House. That's right, we eat in bed. It's probably one of the most unhealthy habits, but husband+food+House= pure love for me.
3. On the food note, I love cake. Some people -people who know me well, would probably go so far as to say I am obsessed with cake. And they would be right.
4. Apparently, I grind my teeth in my sleep.
5. I used to be an avid reader. In 2nd grade I won a contest at the Chicago Public library for reading the most books in a given period. I won 2 tickets to a Cubs game.
6. I love the smell of my dogs paws. Sometimes, when Maddie is lying down all unassuming like, I will grab her paw and spread the toes apart and smell all up in there. It smells so good, like Frito's.
7. I gag every single time I brush my teeth. But don't worry, I still brush.

So there you have it. Seven reasons to think I am a freak. And now I must go meet some people to tag.

As promised

So busy uploading, scrutinizing and labeling photos. Here is a sneek peek at one of my pendants. The etsy store is in progress!

In other news, we had a little visit from animal control tonight. It seems that one of our neighbors called to complain about our dogs barking during the day. When we are not home. Hmmm.....while I absolutely agree that incessant dog barking is madingly annoying, AND, while I also admit to having witnessed our dogs barking away more than once, I have to say I am a little put off by the complaint. Simply for the fact that we are surrounded by dogs. Neighbors on the left have 2 dogs. Neighbors on the right have 1. Neighbors in back have 1, possibly 2. Neighbors kitty corner have......you get picture. Our three mutts love to run up and down the fence and play bark with the 2 dogs living on our left. They ALL bark. So I am wondering if we (our dogs) were singled out. And if so, why? We obviously have to remedy the situation. Fortunately we have a decent sized dog run in the middle of our back yard, and we will have to leave them all in there while we are at work. While logically I know that it is big enough for all three dogs, I am a big sissie when it comes to my baby dogs and I get all sad, knowing that they won't be having the run of the backyard all day, being able to bark away with wild abandon. Sniff. But we don't want to be annoying to our neighbors, and mostly we don't want another complaint.

I do solomly swear...

I joined NaBloPoMo. In an effort to regulate myself. In essence I have committed to posting here once a day for the entire month of November. Obviously I am a little late, but what the heck.

Today I took pictures of my pendants - modeled by my lovely friend and co-worker Jordan. Also, I ate a cinnamon roll for breakfast.

If you want to know the real deal of what is going on over here today, here it is: I am sitting here not even really knowing what to type because how to differentiate all these different thoughts into ones I want to keep vs. ones I want to throw away? And it's hard anyway, to write those keepable thoughts. Hard not to overthink. I have been very negative lately. Negative about my job, my pursuits, everything really. And while I hold onto this thin thread - this idea I have of selling my pendants and turning Trained Monkey into something doable - I am bombarded by doubts and haunts and a lack of creativity, as of late. That is my state, today.

But the good news, is that I happen to know that how I feel, does not determine reality. Just because I feel uncreative, does not mean that I am uncreative. This is a temporary state that I am in. And really, who wouldn't expect a barrage of self doubt when embarking upon such an adventure? I could have gone to law school, or nursing school, or done something else that would have prepared me to have a more traditional career. And on days like today, I really kind of wish I had. But the reality is that I didn't. I have chosen to work a flexible job, for less money, so that I can spend my afternoons covered in resin dust, working out in my studio. I am choosing to pave this path because it is where my heart is, where my guts are. And if I fail........well, then, I guess I can always go to grad school later. For now, I have to try.

I am......

• super busy - working on the pendants like mad. Taking pics of them tomorrow and opening my etsy store by the end of this week (hopefully!)!!!!!!!!

• relishing this opportunity that I have - to sling coffee all morning and still have time to sink into my art at night.

• missing the walks/runs jennifermarathon and I used to take. When we were training. For a marathon.

• trying not to eat Beer and Cheddar Kettle chips for every meal.

• buzzing from the TWO soy lattes I drank this morning. Darn that free coffee.

• thankful for the sunny, sunny fall days we are having. The less winter gloom and doom, the better.

• obsessed with Bruce Springsteen.

The freakshow has left the building........momentarily.

Ahhh, feeling better now. Pretty much over my post-marathon freakout. Now it just pretty much feels surreal. Did it really happen? Apparently so, because here is a picture of it!

This is at about mile 16 or 17. B and his mom and dad were in the primo spectator spot and B stepped in to run with me for a mile or so. It was awesome to see them - mom and dad were snapping pics and running alongside to say hi. They were so excited and so supportive, it was a great pick-me-up and motivator. I was still feeling pretty great at this point, but within the next two miles, things got really hairy for Jennifer and I, and I'm glad I got to see B and his mom and dad when I did. The course was set up so that we ran miles 11-18ish down one side of the Great Highway, right along the Pacific ocean (if you look at the pic, the ocean is right over that little hill on the right side. Very beautiful), and then around Lake Merced for miles 19-21ish, and then back along the other side of the Great Highway (more beautiful ocean) for miles 22 - 26. It was great because B and his parents could basically stay in one general area and see me at mile 16 and also at the finish. Before the marathon I told B and his parents that I didn't need them to come, that I would be fine alone (I thought it would be really, really boring for them!). But in the actual experience, I was so, so glad that they were there. It was such an intense experience physically and mentally, and seeing them was a huge boost. Plus, there is no way I can accurately describe the energy of the situation, the beauty, the excitement -I am so glad they were there to experience it. Even if waiting around for me was pretty boring. They are great sports!

Anyway, that is some of my story. I had an amazing time. And now I am adjusting to life after training. I want to keep running, for sure. But now I have time to focus on other things in my life that I have been limping along for the last few months - mainly my art, and fixing up our old beautiful house. So next to come, are pictures of my pendants. And to make it fair, our house. For now, it is Saturday morning, and I am drinking a fantastic cup of Bolivian coffee and getting ready to do laundry. The sun is shining outside and melting the crackly frost from last night, and I am feeling peaceful. Hope you all have a fabulous Saturday.

Aftermath

I pretty much suck at being "in the moment." Even if I am sure of whatever current project/life situation I have going on at the moment, as soon as it is over (or sometimes even before, really) I am immediately consumed with the search of what to do next. Always, at these times, I throw around big stuff - not just 'oh, maybe I'll buy a new sweatshirt', but rather 'maybe I'll go to law school' (what!?) or 'maybe we should move across the country.' See, the thing is, I apparently love a challenge. And the adrenaline that comes when that challenge is met. I love excitement. And I guess I get bored when the exciting thing is over and I have to go back to making lattes and mocha's everyday. Which is so, abundantly stupid and silly, for reasons I will explain later. Maybe I am an adrenaline junkie?

So most recently, my excitement was, as I alluded to in my last post, that I trained for and ran the Nike Women's Marathon in San Fransisco. Yes, it was a full marathon, and yes, I finished. No, I did not win.

This was my first marathon. And let me say that although I had always carried with me the fantasy of being a "runner" (read: look like a runner)I just never had the motivation to run more than a mile or so. A marathon was so far out of the question, it was laughable. Those things are 26.2 freakin miles long! I didn't have the desire. Then, this past May, my friend Jennifer (well now she is my friend - back then we barely knew each other) invited me to a Team in Training meeting. She was all 'hey, remember how we both want to start running? Well, I think that they, like, give you pointers, and stuff.' We walked into that meeting thinking that we were going to get tips on how to run better, and we walked out having signed up to run a marathon and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (click here for more info).

So we started training the first week of June - barely able to run 3 miles.

Last weekend we completed the marathon - 26.2 miles in 6:38.

We trained 6 days a week - running, walking, cross-training, hill repeats. I grew to love running and the way it blows everything else out of your mind. It has this way of breaking you physically, and building you mentally. For me, running is about connecting. It's mind over matter, and its about good conversation with your running partner and sometimes it feels like praying out in the desert. But that's not accurate enough, because I'm not even telling you the real reason I signed up to run the marathon with Team in training. The real reason is that when I was sitting there with my friend Jennifer, at the meeting, she turned and looked at me and told me that her sister had recently been diagnosed with leukemia.There I was, normally the most skeptical person on the planet, sitting in a room full of people who were telling me that if I wanted, I could raise money for leukemia research and run a freakin marathon. I just remember sitting there and instead of feeling what I expected (skepticism, cynicism, and the itch to get the heck out of there) I felt an overwhelming sense that I was supposed to do this. The only reasons I knew of at the time, were for Jennifer, and her sister. I can't explain it, I just knew.
Maybe I'll write about the actual marathon experience in another post, because this one is already getting so long. What I'll say right now, is that it blew my mind. It is on my top 5 list for the best things I have ever done.

So back to the original intent of this post. Now I am sitting here, not even fully healed from my big run, and I'm freaking out inside about what to do next. Having the hardest time relaxing and just being in this time, this space in my life. I know, that what I am going to do next will come, no matter what. I do not need to be uptight about it, in order for it to get here. To be blunt, I believe that God orders my steps, and I guess I'm always just a little impatient. Right now, everything in my life seems to be separated into Before Marathon and After Marathon categories. Soon He will settle me, I know. Take a deep breath, right?

This is our Chevy coupe. We took an impromptu road trip in it this weekend. Saturday, around 1pm, B and I were talking about how much we missed my mom and step dad Gary, and how we wished we could see them and hug them. They have been back from South Africa for about a week now, and staying in Idaho Falls with my brother and his family. And although we wanted to be there and see them a week ago, B and I have both been working so much, it's been hard to get away. Around 1pm on Saturday, we decided to stop listening to the excuses and just GO. We were on the road by 3:30 and giving them hugs by 8pm. It was awesome to see them again! They both look so great and have so many stories to tell about this last year of their lives. We got to see so many of the pictures and videos they took, and they are incredible. The mountains, jungles, plains - the zebra's, elephants, lions, - its all everything we imagined Africa to be like and then even more. My mom brought back a pouch of rooiboos tea and when I opened it I smelled Africa and fell in love. They took pictures of huge rain spiders and the townships and children wrapped in blankets. Hearing the story in each picture they took is probably the closest I am going to get to Africa for a while, and that is really okay. I am so glad they had this experience, got to live in such a different part of the world than we are all used to. And as much as I was willing to share them with Africa, I am so glad they are home now.

We came back last night, so it was a short trip - about 24 hours. But all completely worth it. So today B and I are off to work again. This coming Friday I am flying to San Fransisco to run in the Nike Women's Marathon. It is my first marathon and I am beyond excited! I will post all the details about that story later. For now I am going to enjoy a little steamy Bolivian coffee brew before work.
Later.

One by one.......

Today has ended up being a day where I feel like I would have been better off staying in bed. It's nothing really worth talking about in detail - just a long day at work, having to train a new girl, crabby unprofessional people jerking me around, and the feeling that there is never enough money to go around. However, I just visited Lindsey's blog and she had a great idea of making a list of all the things she is rich in (besides financial). Sounds like a great idea to help me get off of my selfish pity-pot of doom. So here I go, counting my blessings/riches, quite literally:

• Well, first off, there's God. And my relationship with Him. It pretty much changes everything.

• And then there is B, of course. He is my best friend and my favorite.

• I have a great job - it's basically part time hours for full time money and doesn't make me want to shoot myself in the foot every time I have to be there. And for me, that is pretty big. I get bored so easily and can't see myself working long term at some company -tethered to a desk, making phone calls or presentations or whatever it is people do at their Very Important, Very Professional jobs. I was basically born to be self employed.

• Um.....I live in a really great house, in a cool part of town and I have enough to eat. Gas in my car. Movies to watch tonight. Dogs to feed.

• I have great, funny, supportive, rock star friends. They know who they are.

• Anthropologie is opening a store here soon! Shallow, but now I can drool on their items in person!

• My mom and step dad made it safely back from South Africa this last week and I get to see them soon! It's been over a year and I can't wait to hear about their adventure and give them both a hug! My mom and I will go to the mall and eat See's chocolates and get tacos. It's our thing and I've missed her so bad.

• I not only have a beautiful house, but an actual studio in my backyard - a place to go and crank up the Pete Yorn, the Patty Griffin, and crank out the art. It's a far cry from the 500 sq foot apartment we rented until late this summer.

• Really, no matter what my issues, I've got it SO MUCH easier than SO many people out there. Kinda sad that I would even bellyache, but I am so human, you know......

Dudes, I feel so much better already. I am going to shake off today, make some mad good Indian food (chana masala anyone?) for dinner and curl up with B on our bed to watch more House. Thanks for listening, yo.

Word to the wise

Green and Black's White Chocolate with Strawberries ice cream?
Not so good.
Really. I know it sounds tempting - with it's beautiful packaging and promise of creamy organinc white chocolately goodness. However, the reality is that it tastes more like plain old vanilla with a few crystallized strawberry crumbs smudged in. Unremarkable.

Lazy Sunday

Today is the only day of the week that I don't have an obligation to be somewhere, doing something. And because of that, today is wonderful. Of course, there are other reasons too..... like knowing that Brant (henceforth to be known as B) and I will spend the evening watching episodes of House and CSI Miami while eating something delicious (I'm thinking pasta with myzithra cheese and fresh bread with olive oil and balsalmic?). I am going to clean our house today, while he is playing football, which might sound like not so much fun, but really, I love the way it feels after the house is clean - then I can curl up with a cup of rooiboos tea and relax even more. (Is that how you spell rooiboos? Not sure). So today is a lovely day.

I have been undecided with the direction of this blog - do I make it mostly business, concentrating on my art and sharing design sources I love? Or do I make it a little more personal, and share other aspects of my life mingled in with the art? It is kind of scary to be more personal. But this is what I have decided: when I look at the blogs I love to read, I find they are the ones in which I feel like I end up knowing the person writing, in some sense. I love the personal details and am bored when the blog is kept at more of an arms length. I am in this for the relationships, and because of that, I have decided to make this my personal blog - with my art thrown in. When or if it becomes beneficial, I will make a

separate website devoted entirely to my art. I feel like this frees me up so much - now the internal editor can relax with the "is this appropriate? Too much sharing? crud. So there. Get ready for my life. Ha ha.

Here are some gratuitous dog and house pictures to get things started. I've been promising my family these for ages. So may I present to you our three dogs Maddie, Lucy, and Emma - and the house we were blessed with this summer.

Today

It is raining outside, and it is simply beautiful.

"I believe I ordered a large latte"

These days I find myself working part-time at a local owned coffee shop. Fairly pleased about this, as it is an answer to the ever needed paycheck dilemma. Also, and perhaps most importantly, it doesn't seem to interfere with the art I am working on. I can work early mornings, get off at noon and be pumped full of caffeine - ready to work Trained Monkey till dark. Like a slave driver. With a whip!
In other news, we had family in town all last week and I got very little done. However I did find a high gloss finishing spray to use on my pendants and I am looking forward to trying it out. Also - while my sister was in town, she came up with two fabulous ideas - 1 - to make a chandelier/light fixture out of the resin disks. 2 - to make a catalogue of all of my products. I am fascinated by both of these ideas and think that my homie should be paid to come up with fantastic ideas - because she is coming up with them ALL THE TIME. She is really just that good.
So. With all that said, that is what I am doing. Catalogues, chandeliers, high gloss finishes, and coffee.

Loving lately: Amy's Organic Indian Food (especially the Mattar Paneer. YUM)
Peppermint Water (thanks, jennifermarathon)
Kombucha

The lowdown

So here's the thing. We've been moving. Into a new house. More on that later.

Why, oh why, when I come here, do all of my funny thoughts, ideas, sentences, fall out of my head and stare at me blankly? Like they were never in my head to begin with? I want to say things here, and I will. Even if I have to grab their grubby little hands and force them to admit they are mine.

I want to tell you(who?) that I have quit my job, quit school, and started a business. Well...the business is at least in the beginning of being started, but still. Amidst all the quiting and starting I am mostly excited. And a little scared. Mostly I think I am scared that I will wake up tomorrow and be like Elsa? What. have.you.done?
But, in the last 2 1/2 weeks of being unemployed I have been in such turmoil about what to be doing with my life at this point, that really, that panic is nothing new to me. I know what to do with that panic.

So. The business details. I want to make stuff and sell it. More specifically, I want to make beautiful things and have people buy those beautiful things. I want to cultivate relationships around those beautiful things. I love art, design,....and long walks by the beach. Seriously though, I have so many ideas floating around of things that I want to design and make, and this business is going to be me doing just that. My first project is jewelery oriented. I am making pendants out of resin. Right now it is a lot of trial and error - but I am mostly overwhelmed by how well it is going, and the peace I feel about going down this road. I'll post pictures as soon as we get settled into the new house and get our Internet going.
So that's it for now.

I've been.....

• Recovering from a wasp sting that caused my arm to swell from my fingers to my elbow. Apparently my body does not like wasps. Many prescription antihistamines and antibiotics later...I am feeling better.

• Moving stuff, ever so slowly into our new house. There are weeds to whack, bobcats to rent, a huge amount of dirt to scrape out of the yard and replace with clean, non-weedy topsoil, and a fence to put up for the dogs. It will all get done, and even though I wish it was getting done today, I have to be patient. Ugh.

• Dreaming of the juicy blackberries that are growing ripe in our new backyard.

• Thinking about the 7 miles I am supposed to run in the morning (I'm training for a marathon).

• Feeling like I might want to start working on my writing again, maybe make another chapbook.

• Feeling like there is so much stuff I need to surrender, but holding myself back. Things like this school situation, my job, - it all comes down to me consumed with what I want, and not willing to ask or look at what He (as in God) wants/has for me. Feels like I've drifted with the current up to the dam and now I am pulling back, bracing myself, not allowing myself to go over, go through. The other side is calm, I know. And I know He has good things for me. But this surrender is hard.

• Feeling overall: exhausted, overwhelmed, and happy.

A jumble, really.

We just got back from signing the closing papers on our new house. We get the keys tomorrow! This has all been so overwhelming and such a miracle. There were so many reasons for us not to get this house, every time the deal looked hopeless and gone, it all of a sudden sprung back to life. So now we have a lot of work to do! I am going to start packing tonight and hopefully we will get a lot of moving done this weekend.
On another note, I called about a job teaching art at a private school today. Waiting for them to call back. I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to go with this whole "art" thing, so I guess I am knocking on a lot of doors. I do know that this blog is part of my direction with art - a place to chart my progress, develop connections and relationships with other artists out there in the big ol internet world.





For now, a picture of the card I just made for my sister's birthday. It's not the greatest quality picture, but soon, soon, I will get this photo/blog thing figured out and have fabulous pics to show.

A New Season

So here's my blog. Been wanting to do this for awhile now.