45 Degrees and Sunny

Grumpy

I have been avoiding my blog for a while, mostly because everything I have to say is grumpy and surly. Now I think I should just get it out and have it done with. Spring is supposedly tomorrow, but we have yet to see any evidence. Not only is it still 17 degrees outside, but we got another 3 1/2 inches of snow dumped on us yesterday. I have been moody and sulky and refusing to go anywhere without a really good reason for the last few weeks. I need my warmth. I need my sunshine. I need my green grass and birds singing and plants growing. I need to be able to go outside without twelve layers on.

Today the girls are playing with beans on a sheet in the living room, because that is all I can muster. Maybe it will be warmer tomorrow...

Becky and Ben visit

My sister Becky and her husband Ben came out for a short visit before heading even further north to Canada. We had a good time showing them around our little town, including the cheese shop down the street. We hung out in the local coffee shop where the kids explored all of the goodies in the kids corner and I looked at the art work. Becky took new family pictures of us while we toured around Epic. And, of course, we ate a lot of yummy food. We tried a different local restaurant every night and ate some really good food (mmm, Cooper's Tavern with its pretzel buns was my favorite). Thanks for stopping by, Becky and Ben!

Dee Dee and Grandpa visit

My parents came out for a visit at the beginning of February. It just goes to show how far behind I am at life that I am just now posting it. We had a fun, cold, visit and the girls were spoiled with so much attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 1. How do you know who to marry?
Alice: Icky, icky, icky, icky.

Elsie: I need to grow up to marry someone first.
2. What is the right age to get married?
Alice: A B C D E

Elsie: 25
3. How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
Alice: Tickle tickle tickle.

Elsie: They get flowers.
4. What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
Alice: 1 2 3 4 5 Gromit! Gromit!

Elsie: They watch a movie.
5. What do most people do on a date?
Alice: Daddy, Daddy, zoom!

Elsie: Have to say bye and go out and see a movie.
6. When is it okay to kiss someone?
Alice: Look Mommy! Doggy!

Elsie: If them get married.
7. Is it better to be single or married?
Alice: Umm, that! Married.

Elsie: Married.
8. How would the world be different if people didn't get married?
Alice: Look Mommy, a kitty! And too, and that.

Elsie: If people wouldn't get married them wouldn't love each other.
9. How would you make a marriage work?
Alice: Ow, ow, ow, ow, kissin' my ow.

Elsie: Uhhh, tickle.
10. Where do people get married?
Alice: Married! Hahahahaha!

Elsie: At the temple.
11. Who are you going to marry?
Alice: Ewwww.

Elsie: Parley Brandon

Ready to share

A few weeks ago I wrote about a new hobby I was starting. I think I finally have enough of a handle on it that I feel confident enough to share it with the world.

I've started oil painting. It took me a few weeks to gather up supplies, read a few "oil painting for dummies" books, and watch a bunch of Bob Ross videos.

I was already dropping enough money on start up supplies, and didn't want to have the added cost of an easel. They can be quite expensive, especially for a good one. I figured for just starting out, I would make my own. It's worked fairly well so far. On the other side of the box is a little door that I open and put in hand weights to help stabilize it.

Now on to the actual paintings. This makes me feel a little vulnerable putting them out there like this, but I think I'm ready for it. These are uploaded in chronological order from my first painting to my most recent. I don't have names for them yet. That might be something I need to work on in the coming weeks...

This was my first time putting paint on a canvas. It didn't turn out at all like my reference photo, but for a first time playing with oil paints I was pretty proud of it.

1-16-2013

Alan affectionately calls this one "lavender field in the middle of a bonfire".  There are little moments that I really like in this one, but over all my color mixing skills need a lot of work.

1-18-2013

After the last fiasco, I got serious. I got a few more books and learned a few more brush strokes. I was really happy with how this one turned out.

1-23-2013

1-26-2013

2-5-2013

I got away from mountains for this next one. As most of the painting is some shade of lavender, I learned a lot about color mixing and making slightly different shades of basically the same color.

2-8-2013

Finally, this is what I painted today. Every painting I've done Elsie has asked me if I was going to paint a little house in my picture. Today I made a little cabin just for her.

2-11-2013

And that's what I've been doing lately. It can be difficult to pull everything out, spend the time on a painting, and then clean everything up with two very curious little girls at my heels, but I've some how managed to get some paint on a canvas.