family of five: June 2008

My big $1.00 auction purchase from this past weekend...
I spied the typewriter amidst copper kettles, quilts, china, cookware,
jewelry... the oldest spotted it too and asked me if I would bid on it. Of course, I had already decided I would!
Funny enough, no one else bid. The auctioneer even poked fun at it saying, "Ah, here is something that is coming back in style!" Then after I bid he laughs and says, "I told you!"

But I knew... I knew the kids would love it. I knew I would find notes around the house... I didn't expect letters to be written to a certain doll company ~ but that's cool too, you know?

So did you hear? I knew. I knew what my kids would think. I knew they would enjoy pounding away on the keys - throwing the arm back, at the sound of the ding for a new line.
Every summer there are things I know about my kids. I know they enjoy walks, read alouds, nature, exercise, art, quiet time, movies.. every summer I know they are learning and growing and experiencing..
and every August I feel the pressure to create a schedule, to buy a new book or five, to check over scope and sequence lists... every August for the last five years I felt that pressure, and I've succumb to it. Then, ten weeks into that new schedule and those new books.. we're off track.. doing our own thing.
But this year, I know I'm not doing any of that. Yep, it's true, no new schedules, no new books, no checking someone else's lists... just trust.
I know my kids, and they are amazing!

thoughtful friday

thoughtful friday
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I believe in God like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but because of it all things are seen.
--- C.S. Lewis

playing

playing
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

Fiddlin'

cowgirl fiddlin'
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

The power of a thrifted cowgirl hat is amazing!
She went from a tad sick of scales to trying to find every fiddle song in the book. How fun is that?
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration.. here is a list of places that might kick-start you ~
andrea joseph
art girl ATL
beads in the belfry
Geninne's art blog
the illustrated garden

Vacation Bible School 2008
~ all pictures taken by the oldest who was the photographer for the week!
You can see a video at Emily's blog of one of our closing songs! We had our highest attendance this year & it was a blast!

Guacamole Ukulele Song

I so want my own ukulele now!!!

story tree turing into a fairy tale

story tree turing into a fairy tale
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I've climbed up on the horse & started my writing journey! After reading about the ash tree in our front yard, I knew what I had read would be perfect for the story!
I won't go into too many details yet, but there will be a child, mother & at least one fairy.....and a pet snail.

I also started another canvas this week:

for my dad, a belated father's day gift.
... and there is lots of activity here this week as it is VBS week:

lots of singing & guitar playing filling our house..
it's grand!

six one way week twenty-two

six one way week twenty-two
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

--strawberries and sunshine
-walking with dad
--nappin' in the sun

WIP
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I began this tree over the weekend, before the oldest left for camp. She was very excited about the little door. Her sister immediately said it was Peter Rabbit's house, but then no.. it couldn't be. He didn't have a door. We joked that it must be his great, great grandson's house.
I think it will end up being a story. I have started on page two, which has four sections to the page. I don't think that this page is done yet.. too much white, but I really love the tree.
Once inspired by Tasha Tudor writing stories for her young children, I wrote a book for my oldest when she turned 9. A story about one of our cats, one who had mysteriously appeared and adopted us. My daughter often wondered aloud where the cat had come from? she was so young why had she been abandoned?
I gave Cookie some history, a few little sketches, and bound it at Kinko's for my daughter's birthday.
I showed a friend the other day and she said,
"You know you have at least two more books in you.
You have two more who will be turning 9." I am ashamed to say, it hadn't even occurred to me.
So later that day I dug around and found the other copies I'd made of the book and my middle child saw as I found them.
"Oh Mom! I love the Cookie Story! I'm so glad you found that!
Can you read it to me right now?"
Of course, of course I did. How could I have forgotten about this book and about my desire to write several books for my kids? Then I realized, I had written that story almost a year before our first move, then we had another move, and then a year of being settled... I even found the copies of the book in the garage.. in a box.
I read a blog this week where the author had a summer list of things to do and asked us to share what our list looks like.
My summer-to-do-list absolutely includes working on a new story, I've got a year and a half before the first "nine deadline"!
We had a pastor once who had to have kidney dialysis. He would talk with other patients while he was there and once came upon a gentleman who was just frustrated with his health and life. Depressed.
Pastor Brown kept talking with the man and once said, "What is it that you enjoy?"
"Enjoy?"
"Yes, some hobby, something that you enjoy?"
"Well, I like to go horseback riding."
"When's the last time you went?"
"About 20 years ago."
"Man, go get on a horse!!"
Then it struck Pastor, that he loved to build banjos (an incredible musician, this man). But he hadn't built a banjo in years.. many years.
He started from scratch right away. Always finding that he had at least three banjos going at once.
My parents have one of his hanging in their home.
So reader, what about you? Is there something that you enjoy that has been put on the back burner for so long that you've nearly forgotten?
"Man.. go get on a horse!"

Six One Way week twenty-one

locks of love

a peek at our week

project of the week
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

This week was full!
Swimming with friends,library trips, playing at the park, a couple of art projects

I found this one here
I already had canvases primed for acrylic paints, so instead of using watercolor like mom in madison did, I used washes of acrylics.
This is the oldest's book stack from the library

the bottom book has always been a favorite, so she decide to go ahead and read through some more "school house" books.
Here sister thinks the books are perfect for her stuffed toy!

(yes, we're still making our way through Swiss Family Robinson.. I expect it will take us most of the summer!)
Other goodies from this week

yard sale finds! I've seen those Ugly Dolls around the net ~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uglydolls ~ what a disappointment though, to find them made in China! (Is nothing sacred?)
Then today, after doing some running to find this