Sketched Moments

Where I am

2010-02-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been over here
www.enchantednature.com
Surf on over and check it out.

Music

2009-11-25T16:11:00.001-08:00

Music
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Another Illustration Friday prompt. I really had no idea what I was going to do for this prompt but there I was, sitting in the lobby of N's music school surrounded by guitars. Almost as soon as I started drawing a guitar, she came out and was ready to go. When I was home later I had a great idea. I could Zentangle the guitar and it would be perfect for IF!

IF-Unbalanced

2009-11-16T20:50:00.001-08:00

sketch111709
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Does it ever feel like your life is unbalanced because you are focused on the wrong thing? It does to me I guess. Not really the constant connection with people but also the crazy number of things I will put in my calendar simply because they fit.
Then again, can this be a tool for balancing ones life?
It's a double edged sword.

Frozen

2009-11-02T12:46:00.001-08:00

Frozen
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Illustration Friday prompt for October 16th. I asked my daughter what "frozen" reminded her of and without hesitation she said rainbow sherbet as I was thinking of the outdoors and possibly skiing.
This is done on an ATC (2.5"x3.5" watercolor board in watersoluble colored pencil and ink)

Hiking with Girls

2009-11-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to Big Basin State Park with the girls. We had rented a cabin for the weekend and I wanted it to be a low key weekend. No pressure to get anything done or finish any particular hike. The park was very quiet first thing in the morning because the campgrounds had been closed the night before. There had been a storm earlier in the week and a lot of branches had fallen from the trees and needed to be cleared up. Nevertheless the weather was wonderful when we were there.

We woke to a sunny and slightly chilly morning and discovered that the campstove was not working. Or course the Redwood forest is so tall that it is not very bright on the forest floor. I needed the flash all day. After warming up in the headquarters and drinking coffee and cocoa, we set off for sempervirens falls with light feet and joyful intention. As it turns out, there are a lot of rootballs, fallen logs, fairy rings and rock formations that have to be climbed on and over and inpected closely.

I think it is easy to guess how far we got... Pretty soon we needed to stop for snacks, and then lunch. I estimate we were a mile and a half up the trail which is not bad for a 5 year old. And since I had no expectations and was willing to enjoy what came to us I was happy to turn back. The hike that had taken us so long really only took a half hour to reverse but then we rested up in the store with cocoa and snacks.

Without the campstove, I had to light a campfire so we could make grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. I had two fire starters and I figured we could get them going easily with that but as I was coaxing the fire along I realized that it has been ages since I have set a fire myself. Still I managed and we had inside out pizzas and apple pie toasties on cinnamon bread for dinner.

Before setting off the following morning we explored the Redwood Trail near the headquarters. We heard the Acorn woodpeckers hard at work and we could see their handiwork in the dead treetops through binoculars. Since we live among the Redwoods and these are the trees we see when we go to forests we forget that they are really incredible. Other park visitors exclaimed over the enormity of these trees. Taking a walk alongside tourists from other parts of the country and the world can remind you what a wonderful place you live in and how amazing the nature right around you really is.

Fast

2009-10-24T13:59:00.001-07:00

Fast
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Illustration Friday Prompt for October 23rd.
2.5 x 3.5 inches
ink and watersoluble colored pencil

The end of a book

2009-08-07T21:26:00.001-07:00

Around the house
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I am near the end of my sketchbook and this freezes me up. You would think that the first page of a new one would cause me anxiety but I love starting a new book. The trouble with the end of the book is that I want to end on a good note, or drawing rather. I have a standard already of the book as a whole and I want to end with something that sums it up. Books need good endings. How often in bookclub do we rake a book over the coals because it ended weakly. Well, we rake books over the coals for a variety of reasons and usually there is more to a bad book than a bad ending.
And it seems as if the passage of the moments summed up in the book should not simply be closed and put on the shelf after i have carried the book nearly everywhere for the last 3 months. It even feels like it is not the right time to start the new book. It is one I bound myself and I am excited to start it. It is so full of the promise of moments to come. The little things like frogs and beans I did not plant that fill my life with wonder. I can't wait to find the wonder that will cause me to pull it out of my bag so I can savor that moment again and again.
I think it is time to design a book turnover ceremony

Whooshers and Goshers on Windy Hill

2009-08-05T22:00:00.001-07:00

Windy Hill
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

As it turns out, J is a whoosher and N is a Gosher. So A walked ahead with J while N and I stared at flowers which were amazingly still blooming. We saw Lupin and Indian paintbrush in addition to these flowers. Funnily enough we heard A and J exclaiming over the pretty red flowers which were everywhere around the bend. N ran around the corner and said "Oh that! That is Indian paintbrush!" And she was right. And the Cicada? Actually it was powerlines overhead.

Weeding a National Park

2009-08-05T21:54:00.001-07:00

07242009
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

We had to do a stewardship project as part of the workshop in the Sierra. We were sent out to destroy a patch of Nasty Thistle with big shovels and gloves on. It was incredibly hot that day and it felt like we had to stop before we were ready because of it. Still, I highly reccomend a Stewardship project in a park if you can do one. I learned a lot from the rangers about how they are dealing with invasive species. And it was very satisfying to do something so good. I feel a real sense of ownership over this spot in the park now.

Camp Green Meadows

2009-08-05T21:47:00.001-07:00

07262009
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

In July I spent two weekends on a teacher training workshop organized by the California institute for biodiversity/ to learn how to incorporate scientific field journaling into a science curriculum. I got some great ideas for journaling exercises that I will try with the classrooms at N's school.
Two of the teachers at the training were John Muir Laws and David Lukas who are both incredibly knowledgeable about the Natural History of the Sierra.
I would highly recommend this workshop if you are interested.
During the second weekend the whole group went hiking in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite and I was introduced to the concept of Whooshers and Goshers. Whooshers see an interesting thing in Nature, check it out and are off to the next interesting thing. Goshers on the other hand, see an interesting thing and spend some time watching that thing. Then they find something else, but after two hours they can still see the parking lot. As you can imagine, having kids, I spend my life at their pace and not so much mine. I am often following their interesting things, except perhaps in the grocery store. And A, well, he is frequently well ahead of me no matter what we do. I took an opportunity to be a Gosher that weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.

A muffin kind of day

2009-07-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

If you give a mom a muffin,
She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she’ll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She’ll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She’ll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of
Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on
Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie
Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

And that is where my posts have gone. Into the muffin sphere. But when I look for the checkbook I will find the sketchbook since my kids can take care of their own smells, and I will draw in it. Just the scanning or picture taking part does not happen. But soon, because I have plenty of new sketches.

While the muffin story describes my day pretty well, so does this
the mom song
which is what I sound like after dinner trying to get the kids to bed.

An ordinary day

2009-04-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

IMG_4940
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Cats sleeping. making soup (and drawing the vegetables first) and home made bread. The bread was done late and we ate dinner late. Oh well. The irony in the fact that it was late because I was working in my sketchbook is not lost on me.
We are cat sitting but we all love having animals around so I see a pet in our future.

Filling the sketchbook

2009-04-07T20:59:00.001-07:00

IMG_4944
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

The paper

2009-04-07T20:58:00.001-07:00

IMG_4943
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Folded and cut and ready to fold up and insert. A good tutorial of how I did this is at http://ninajohansson.blogspot.com/2008/01/fold-simple-sketchbook.html
Then I slipped the first and last page into the tyvek envelopes that are glued to a hard cover. Once I fill this set I can take it out, flip it over and use the other side. Then I can use a new sheet as needed.

A refillable sketchbook

2009-04-07T20:36:00.001-07:00

IMG_4945
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

With a whole sheet of Arches cold press inside of it.

The inside cover of the sketchbook

2009-04-07T20:33:00.003-07:00

IMG_4947
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

decorated with spray inks

Sketchbook in reserve

2009-04-07T20:33:00.001-07:00

IMG_4946
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I am almost done with my Brenda book so I had to have another exquisite sketchbook lined up. I am still hoping for a new Brenda book for Mother's day but in the meantime I need something so that I don't grind to a complete halt. So I made my own with watercolor paper in it and everything. I collaged a cover piece of paper and then reinforced by ironing it to a piece of fabric. Then I sewed folios of hot press and cold press watercolor paper inside of it. I created a velcro closure to make it fit. I feel very pleased by it and I can't wait to use it.

Ink that runs!

2009-01-12T21:51:00.001-08:00

01-07-2009
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

So the strange feature of my new favorite pen is that the ink is very watersoluble. Usually this could be considered a drawback but I have decided to just get into the Zen of that. If you think about it, watercolor does all sorts of things you don't expect and you have to be open to the medium doing it's thing. This is just another parameter for me to let go of.
This is a little birdhouse that I use as a Christmas decoration. I stick it in my house plants. This year it is still out so that it can go with the votive holders.

votive holder

2009-01-12T21:50:00.001-08:00

closeup votive holder
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

We got these charming votive holders from an old friend of Adam's mom. They look fabulous with the candle on in them and they are much too cute to put away as Christmas decoration. I think they should be my spring decor.

New tools and some old ones too

2009-01-09T22:18:00.001-08:00

New tools and some old ones too
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

One of my Pitt pens ran out of ink and after coaxing it along for a few days I decided that I should get a new pen. Of course I have a box of perfectly good pens in the cabinet in the garage where I hide the shameful bounty of crafty stuff I own. And it has black pens in it. And a backup water brush. The brush I have been using was being weird and was probably getting old after a couple of years of use. So clearly I needed to go to Jetpens and order a new waterbrush (one must have backups) and pens...
I got a Pentel Tradio pen, a Pentel brush pen and refills, a Signo white pen (this is really a good pen for white writing on a dark background). They were out of my favorite waterbrush (pentel!) and the Tradio pen was an impulse buy. But I love it. It is my new favorite pen. It is kind of like a fountain pen but the tip is synthetic and not mental. The line is very smooth and organic with variation in the line thickness. I am having fun using this pen though I have made some discoveries which I will go into in the future.
Meanwhile I also took a picture of the other pens that live in my pen case. The caligraphy writer by Zig and a Koh-I-Noor pen.

Micro Hike

2009-01-05T22:00:00.001-08:00

IMG_4696
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

This morning I had a plan. I was going to clean the house and then head out to Edgewood park and race around the 3 mile loop stopping exactly once to sketch before I would have to pick up Julia from preschool. As soon as Julia was picked up by my friend with whom I carpool to preschool this morning I implemented phase I of this plan. Then on to phase II but I swung by the coffee shop first. As I am intently driving to the park I realize that the windshield wipers are on and that in fact, if I were to actually go on this hike I would get really wet.
Instead I went to a different entry of the park, thinking I would sketch from the car, but the rain cleared for a bit so I ran up a very muddy trail, did a 1 minute sketch of the foggy view and dashed back to the car. This fog is the most beautiful thing in this area and I love it. One day I hope to capture it.

Squash

2009-01-03T09:06:00.003-08:00

IMG_0087
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

from the farm.

End of the Season

2009-01-03T09:06:00.001-08:00

IMG_0086
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Little Poinsettia which survived holiday neglect

Oma's chair

2009-01-03T09:05:00.001-08:00

IMG_0090
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Without her in it it feels like this chair is levitating.

Memories

2009-01-03T09:04:00.001-08:00

IMG_0089
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Plants on the vensterbank (window sill) at my Oma's house. She paid attention to those plants every day. This painting would not cooperate in terms of colors and feeling. It has come out very light and foggy as if it is a memory and not so much a concrete place but considering that this was drawn while we were at her house for her funeral it seems appropriate.

Beer is Yummy

2009-01-03T08:50:00.001-08:00

IMG_0088
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

On Christmas day we tasted several beers head to head with an American lager. The verdict:
Duvel: delicious with a hint of lemon or citrus. A perfect compliment to mussels or fish and chips (actually Pommes Frites!) Barend ranked this beer tops.
Leffe: A good everyday beer with carmel notes that would go well with everything but particularly hearty meat dishes and little smokies. Adams favorite beer was this one.
Chimay: A slightly sweeter beer (but not really sweet like a framboise which I had at a terrific Belgian restaurant) similar to a nut brown Ale. I thought it went really well with Peanuts but then I can't think of a single thing that does not go well with peanuts if it is worth drinking or eating. This is a family trait. Josh and I both preferred the Chimay as an easy drinking beer.
Yuengling: A locally brewed American beer. We all agreed that it is important to drink water and that this sparkling water was a nice change from tap water.

Tadpoles

2008-11-04T10:39:00.001-08:00

IMG_4534
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

turn into frogs. And that is what is happening to this sweater! Both the front and the back will be frogged during some opportune television viewing time. Not the election results, since I will have to be at a board meeting!!!
This is just not the right sweater for me or for this yarn. I got the pattern with the yarn and it was designed on this yarn but I think the fit of the sweater and the shape of it and the fact that it does have shaping, requires a halo around the yarn. So it needs to be made with something different. And I am making Versatility
I can't wait. But I am of course making changes. I have a different gauge of course, and I am not making bobbles. The bobbles are just begging to bother me by digging into my back and by catching on things. So a little 2x2 cable instead and some extra stitches here and there and hope it works.

Sketching shore birds

2008-11-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

111708-2
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

While both girls were at school at the same time, and I was in neither school working, I went for a cup of coffee, a bagel and decided to find some birds. I had found a list of good birding spots on the national association of ornithologists annual meeting website. They apparently went for a field trip to this location, and it is incredibly close to my house.
I found lots of birds and they weren't super close, but they weren't far either. I used a non-photo blue pencil to draw quickly and then used pen to finalize the drawings later. It really worked for me this time and I worked on several birds at the same time though I focused on one kind of bird at a time. In the actual pond they were mixed up.

Knitting dillemma

2008-11-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting a "lace panel pullover" for a couple of months now and the truth is I just don't love it. I love the yarn- Shokay Shambala in Orchid. So that is fiery pink and as soft as the underbelly of a Yak in the Himalaya's. Well that is where the yarn comes from.
But this yarn shows every stitch and I am not in love with this pattern. The increases and decreases show up and I don't think they look nice. Of course I made the required number of right leaning increases and left leaning increases but not necessarily in the right places.
Today I found another pattern which looks like a lot of fun. And this will be so soft and warm and very very pink. I will have yarn leftover but whatever! I can make super warm, very soft (is there any better kind) and very pink hats for years to come.
I think this yarn will substitute well, it will be easier to knit, even if I have to take out the bobbles which I am not particularly fond of, and as such will have to make a mental pattern adjustment as I knit this. I am too lazy to rewrite the pattern to adjust for this and it is mostly in chart form so I am doomed to rip this out a couple of times at least.
This shawl/cardigan/wrap will work well with my plans to keep the house cold this winter to save energy/the planet/money. It will be easier and yet still fun to knit.
But seriously, do I rip out the whole back and the three quarters of the front I have finished (for the third time) to start on something new? It will still not be mindless parent education class knitting, but I may be able to knit it during DWTS.
I need to find a good mindless knitting project for class, board meetings and fall television.
I really have serious dillema's which prevent me from getting much work done.

Respecting the hat!

2008-10-19T19:49:00.001-07:00

Respecting the hat!
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Naomi has claimed this hat for herself. I did not really make it for her, though I can't say I made it for myslef really either. I just made it out of Koigu as an exersize in fair isle. I will admit that I am not a fair isle knitter. I had to adapt this pattern from one published in Knitty to account for the finer yarn and so I had to carry the yarn for many stitches in the back. It was hard to keep the tension constant and it was hard to keep track of the pattern for me (who likes to knit while watching TV or sitting for some other reason). In retrospect I would have doubled up the yarn and used it that way.
So Naomi claimed the hat for herself. And I must say that I like seeing the hat and she does look very good in it. Well, this is what she does with my hard work! Actually she has been wearing it a lot and people were amazed to hear I had made it myself.

Gymnastics and Fencing

2008-10-14T12:43:00.003-07:00

Gymnastics and Fencing
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Some things that were drawable while waiting. See previous post about what I do when I tire of that.

Waiting

2008-10-14T12:43:00.001-07:00

purse contents
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

While waiting for fencing, guitar or gymnastics to happen there is only so much to draw. So having drawn various aspects of each location (really, fencing is done in a nearly empty gym) and not being particularly keep on drawing children who are constantly moving during above mentioned activities, I pulled some stuff out of my purse and drew that. Now hopefully I will have something different in there next time. Or I could always draw my shoes I guess.

Sierra sketches

2008-09-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

Sierra sketches 5
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

It has been a long and busy summer. The girls had several camps and I had a dance recital in August for which I had to rehearse many times. We had swimming every day and outings besides. And running two kids around is not conducive to sketching anyway. So I have been quiet in the blogosphere. Not that I am generally prolific, and being quiet is not in character for me in real life. Well, I am back!
For our family vacation we went to camp Montecito in the Sierra's. I would like to keep this place a secret because it was so great but I don't think that many people are reading this anyway. And those that do deserve to find out about it. It was family camp. My goal for vacation this year was to go someplace where I would not have to decide what was for dinner, I would not have to shop for it and fix it and I would not have to clean up after it. I also wanted a place where everyone could have some fun which did not require my organizational skills. OK, so I wanted a vacation for ME and I didn't really care about anyone else.
Well, we all had a great time. The girls did lots of activities with their camp groups. Naomi loves to play with kids her own age and lots of the activities were right up her alley. Julia was adored by the young women in charge of her age group and she did not want to leave their sides. The area was gorgeous and fishing in the lake proved to be the favorite activity of the kids. Adam even wrote a song about fishing in the lake which he performed at the variety show.
Adam and I went on several hikes which would have been too long and steep for the girls and I got to draw and sketch to my hearts content. Well, nearly... I am not sure I ever get enough drawing and sketching and I would have preferred to sit in the lodge in the evenings coloring in my sketches, but every evening there were social activities and other organized fun things to do. The upside is that I had great coloring pages to finish after we left and so I was able to enjoy camp for a few more days.
I also really got into Archery which is more relaxing than you would think. And having to call a ceasefire outside the archery range so you can hike out of camp is very exciting. The sketches above are from a hike we took right outside of camp. If you click on the picture you can see more sketches with commentary at Flikr.

Channel Islands Adventure

2008-05-26T09:35:00.001-07:00

channelislands2008-3.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I joined the Illustrated watercolor journaling Channel Islands Adventure this year for the first time. I drove down with another participant/assistant instructor, Kirsten. It was great to have a person in the car and we really bonded on the drive down. I am pretty outgoing but it felt great to have a friend before boarding the boat.
The boat was an 88 foot dive boat, the Vision, and there were 35 passengers, 6 crew and 1 naturalist. The itinerary gets set by the weather to some extent so we went onto two islands and spent a relatively short time on Anacapa. We spent an afternoon on Santa Cruz island. So all the paintings from Anacapa were drawn on the islands in a very short amount of time and painted on board. On Santa Cruz we hiked out to Potato Harbor overlook and painted pleine air, as well as doing several quick sketches. I just post a picture here of some of the things we saw on Anacapa and several other paintings are posted on Flikr.
Life was really getting to me before leaving and it was great to get away. The food was great and the crew was wonderful. Accommodating and cheerful and the energy on board was very positive. There was a mix of experienced watercolorist, people who dabble, like myself, and complete novices. Everyone just got along and was friendly and supportive of everyones efforts in painting. It was wonderful to be able to focus so completely on painting for a few days. We did not have to put the stuff away except to eat and then it all came right back out. We slept in bunks so there was not even a reason to go down there except to sleep. The rest of the time I was either painting inside or out, or on the islands.
I think the fact that we were on the boat really helped make this such a painterly experience, since there was nothing else to do, everyone else was doing it and there was no place else to go. It helps to practice intensely for a few days and I felt my skills improve. As one of my fellow students pointed out late one night "It is not easy to do something that is not easy to do". Really, this quote made sense that the time as well as getting us laughing.
The crew dove down and got us some interesting sea creatures to paint one afternoon and the captain made several detours to show us different views of the islands, like the Anacapa arch.
On the channel crossing on the way home we had 10 ft waves and quite a few people were not feeling well. I had decided to take dramamine since I had no idea if I would get sick or not. I did not.

Fitzgerald marine preserve

2008-03-16T14:09:00.001-07:00

Fitzgerald marine preserve
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

This is a painting I did using a sketch in a sketchbook as a reference. It is usiing watercolor pencils on Arches cold press paper. While I am happy with how the cliffs and the trees turned out on this drawing/painting, I am not so sure that I like the water. The purple seemed like an unusual color which might have been wrong in the cliffs but I think it ultimately works. As usual I am not getting a good scan which represents the drawing accurately but using the color enhancement feature makes it look more untrue. I will have to learn to adjust in photoshop at some point.
Now that we have spring break I hope we can go to the beach one day and I can look at the waves. But there are a ton of other things to accomplish during spring break besides that.
When life feels so full and frankly stressful, I really feel the need to head out into nature and draw. Being around the house and doing the chores really feels like a drag in that case. Waiting for phone calls, checking email, which overwhelms me these days, and stressing about the tasks I need to accomplish and if I will remember them. Yuk, yuk and triple yuk!

Birds

2008-02-20T14:57:00.001-08:00

ATC208-2.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

This is one of the ATC's for February. Inspired by the contant watching of the birdfeeder. This is a chickadee I think. Done in watercolor pencil. The online workshop is keeping me really busy doing art in every spare moment. It is at once exhilarating and frustrating. It would be nice if I could put some other aspect of my busy life on hold while I focus on this, but I think the resource whose scarcity allows me to create is actually time. Creativity seems to always need something to push against so that you can feel its power. Otherwise the muses don't feel appreciated and won't work their magic for you.

If you can't open it...

2008-02-19T22:29:00.001-08:00

If you can't open it...
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

You don't own it!
J had a friend to play today and they were using a leapfrog toy, the word whammer, that you can put the letters in and it will tell you what letter it is and what sound it makes or even what word three of them spell together. It became clear that this toy was confused since it thought most vowels were a and most other letters were u. I changed the batteries and that did not cure the confused toy so...
What is a person to do? Throw it out? I hate to do that. Not because I don't want to get rid of stuff, but I don't want it to go to a landfill.
Well, after inspection it seems one of the tabs the letters push down was stuck and I could not get it unstuck so... I opened the toy. I had to get through several layers of screwed down board and such but I found a little rubber bit that had gotten stuck down. I pulled it up, closed up the toy and it was good as new.
Investment: 10 minutes
I shudder to think of how many of these toys have been tossed out because of this problem which was so easily fixed. So, a PhD in biophysical chemistry -emphasis on spectroscopy- coming through for me.
and I still own this leapfrog toy.
But my utility sink in my laundry room still won't drain. I will open that up tomorrow I guess since I own that too.

Church landscape

2008-02-17T21:10:00.001-08:00

landscape.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

For the online class I am takin gI need to work on aerial perspective and I love the layers of the hills around here. the problem is that the foreground for these hills is usually the highway I drive up. Not so interesting in fact. So I decided to draw the church that is home to J's preschool. J thinks every church is her school, so when she saw this painting she correctly identified it as her school (we are actually located in the parish hall building, but whatever).
This is what she has to say about the school though:
Nursery school is a really fun place. There are lots of toys there. you sit on your butt and then there are chairs at circle time. You can paint and draw and do things. Then you play outside and the bell rings. Then you go inside to circle time and you share. You can bring your lunchbox if you're sharing. You can eat your lunch outside. Also you have a cubby with your pictures and blue berries with green leaves on the tree.
What amazes me is that she noticed the berries and the leaves on the tree in the play yard.

Backyard notes

2008-01-14T21:01:00.001-08:00

roses
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Inspired by the Creative Mom Podcast I have been working on a series of some kind. This series is my backyard I guess. It is still an unformed idea, this series thing, but it is there. More and more I think of sketches in a series. In fact I am thinking of dong a whole garden notebook or garden sketchbook, all on little watercolor paper accordions. Or sketchbooks made like
I cut these things off my rosebush and I was struck by the diversity of stages on the winter rosebush. Buds as well as rosehips and new growth nubs. I am probably pruning it too late, but in the lovely NorCal climate I am probably forgiven.
Now I will think about teaching first graders to draw trees...

Cute kid stories

2008-01-11T14:15:00.001-08:00

sunglasses
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

We went to the dentist last week and the girls watch video on the overhead screen. Of course this means that all feedback on their brushing is totally lost to them, but whatever. Toddlers with open mouths, whatever. J thought the light was too bright so the hygienist gave her sunglasses.
N, savvy 6 year old that she is, pointed out that she did not like Jimmi Hendrix' national anthem. She said "it sound like two garbage cans fighting over their own garbage" Lately her taste in music has been mostly hight school musical of course, but also a bit of classic show tunes. Singing in the rain is popular since it is raining here these days.
And finally, at the cartoon art museum this weekend, I told J to get up off the floor. Shhe did while singing "get up, stand up, stand up for your rights..." So they still have good taste in music.

Art goals for 2008

2008-01-08T10:53:00.001-08:00

shoe
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

The shoe is just a little eye candy. It is also the first everyday matters drawing challenge, and there is a story behind this particular shoe. This story can be found here
Prompted by the everyday matters group, I put together a set of goals. I have a goal buddy so that I can evaluate what my goals are regularly and stay on top of them, or evaluate the importance of these goals in the first place.
My goals are
1. Sketch regularly - by which I mean at least 3 times a week. I want to improve my pen and ink skills - I will use my sketchbook to practice pen and ink and get critique on my sketches and pen and ink drawings from my "artist community".
2. Create 6 paintings or finished works this year.
3. Increase the visibility of my art by updating my blog with paintings and sketches twice a month, displaying my artwork around the house, and entering at least one work, past or present, in an exhibit.
4. Develop my artist community, online and locally
5. Work through the book "illustrating nature" -complete 1 chapter a month.
6. Develop a long term vision for my art - do I want to focus on illustration and do this professionally? Or do I want to consider myself a serious recreational artist? Do I want to sell my art, and how do I want to do this?

oliebollen of course

2008-01-07T20:58:00.001-08:00

oliebollenbox
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

So I bought my little box of mix at the Asian market (don't ask why they have it- I don't know, they have drop too and even borrelnootjes sometimes) And I thought about buying a fryer, but I didn't. So as I am waiting for the large pot of oil to heat up, I drew the box. Then I fried them up and we jumped in the car and drove to the party. They were still warm so we sugared them and had some. They were really good and gone in no time.

bananas

2008-01-06T19:32:00.001-08:00

bananas
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Right now in my quest for the perfect sketchbook I am using multiple sketchbooks side by side. It bothers me that nothing is chronological right now, but I am willing to live with it to find out what I really want to
use for ever and ever. At which point I will stock up when they are
on sale and go for it. Or maybe I will decide it is OK to constantly
go between various sketchbooks and keep the good sketches
chronologically on my blog to be published as a book. Who knows, so
without further ado, here is my opinion...
I have a small handbook which is square and I find it too small for
me to use. I don't like the way it works for watercolor, and I am
not fond of the way it takes pen and ink. The paper quality is
similar to regular drawing paper but lighter in weight I think. I just tried my hand book again for watercolor. I like a lot of water in my watercolor. There is no such thing as a light wash when I am working so that must be my main problem. I also like to use watercolor pencils at times and after getting wet, the handbook paper can't take more pencil. The Dvorak books (see below) can do this.
I like the feel of the Moleskine but hate the way it takes water
media. I love how it takes ink though. I don't like the watercolor
moleskine for their orientation. Picky of me, I know. But I also
don't like how hard it is to use the backside of the paper in that
orientation.
I am using the 6x9 artist drawing pad from Dvorak (http://
www.youcreate.com/books.htm) and I do like the paper in it for both
ink and washes but it does not have a hard cover and it does not have
a pocket. And it has the funny orientation but it has more pages and
is cheaper so I don't mind not suing the back side. Right now I have
it in a prismacolor portfolio set (a small) so it is stiff enough to
take out anywhere and use and my pencils are handy to boot. I have a
little blank book by him too but again, it is very small, like the
hand book. Still, it is handy to keep in my purse for sketching
emergencies and I did all my travel sketching in it in Europe this
summer. Which is not as much as you might think or expect of me but
it was some.
I used to always use the hardbound Canson sketch books and I think
those are still the best, but they are big and hard to lug around.
And watercolor is not super but OK. Sometimes I use a small watercolor pad to do watercolor on but then I
have to carry the extra thing and anticipate that I am using
something I want to watercolor.
I also have an accordion of watercolor paper that sits inside my
moleskine sketchbook that I can use for watercolor. I haven't used
it because I used paper I don't really like. I don't know why!!!
Why would I spend an afternoon trimming and cutting and pasting and
folding a paper I don't like? Because I did not want to waste the
"good stuff". Maybe now that I know how I want to do the accordion I
can make another one with good paper.
I also saw the Komtrak inspiral sketchbook online but I am not sure
how hard the cover is, and I sort of want to touch the book and get a
feel for how it is and all. It has looseleaf pages that you can cut
yourself or order from them. It is expensive though. I like the idea of being able to use just the right paper for just the right thing, and then putting them together in a final permanent ringbinding later in chronological order.
I think I am a paper snob, but I need to think more about what I want
to use my book for. Perhaps the perfect paper, handbound in my spare time...
And speaking of handbinding, sticks and string podcast recently had
an episode about hand binding books. he did it for the same
reasons. To get the paper he loved in a size and hard bound book he
loved.

Amaryllis 1

2007-12-27T19:45:00.001-08:00

sketch121407.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I got an Amarylis to brighten the house. I got a style and color that was not my first choice because it had a sprout and I could have a flower sooner. Non photo blue pencil, Koh-I-Noor rapidosketch pen and watercolor pencils.

Amaryllis 2

2007-12-27T19:43:00.001-08:00

sketch122207.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Two days of the amarylis. The 22nd and the 26th. Non photo blue pencil, Koh-I-Noor rapidosketch pen and woodless colored pencils.

Amaryllis 3

2007-12-27T19:42:00.001-08:00

sketch122707.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Amaryllis now open. I like the coloration of it better than I had thought I would. It is almost striped though that is not well reflected in my slightly overworked sketch. There is no shading to speak of since the flower was entirely backlit by our (lovely) enormous windows. The girls had taken over the other side of the table with a fimo project.
Non photo blue pencil, Koh-I-Noor rapidosketch pen and watercolor pencils.

Amaryllis the rest of the story...

2007-12-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

Now that the flower has started coming out I think it looks better than I had anticipated. It is more "candy stripe" than the deep red I thought it would be. The drawings are done in non photo blue pencil (which you can't see anymore which is of course the point), Koh-I-Noor rapidosketch pen and watercolor pencils or Koh-I-noor colored pencils that I commandeered from the kids. I think they are too fragile for them anyway but I am not convinced that I like them that much.
I do like the way the watercolor pencils are working for me and I like the paper texture in the sketchbook I have right now. It is an Artist's drawing pad What I don't like about it is the orientation of the spine, the fact that it does not lay flat, and that the cover is not stiff.
I like the fact that I can fit it into a folder that holds 13 pencils though that is hardly enough pencils for me.
I am looking for the ultimate sketchbook... but more on that later.

Snowman candle

2007-12-15T15:49:00.001-08:00

Snowman candle
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

The girls got these candles last year and since I am too lazy to get the broom, and if I did, I would feel inclined to use it, I just drew what was already on the table.
Why get the broom you ask? Well, it is the every day matters prompt. Check out http://www.dannygregory.com and all will be clear.

Birdfeeder gets some action

2007-12-13T22:01:00.001-08:00

Birdfeeder get some action
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

The bird feeder outside finally got some action today- more than a week after I filled it! Yesterday I saw one or two birds check it out and I decided to draw the feeder when there weren't any birds to be seen but all of a sudden they all showed up and blocked my view of the bird feeder. I was really excited to see the woodpecker up in the tree too though it didn't stay long. Obviously not a seed eater but maybe I can get a suet feeder.I also want to fill the hummingbird feeder.
If I am doing a lot of nature sketching or even sketching and drawing in general, I notice more things in general. I don't know if it is because I am looking for things to draw or for some other reason, but I notice the world around me better if I am drawing a lot.
I have been working in a sketch book that I got as part of a class. I actually like the 6x9 size and I also quite like the toothieness of the paper. It works well with the watercolor pencils and does not fall apart if you wet it slightly.

Tree trimming

2007-11-16T15:54:00.001-08:00

sketch111607.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

They have been trimming trees on our street. Giving them haircuts as they say. t is about to split so they had to take a lot off. One guy climbed way up in the tree, can you find his boots?
The girls sat on the kitchen counter and watched them working in our tree through the front window. We watched them for nearly an hour and I sketched this tree while trying to keep everyone from fall off the counter. N suggested that perhaps the tree had gum in its hair.

pinecone

2007-11-12T20:29:00.001-08:00

pinecone1.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Since my wrists are hurting from knitting Banff out of thick and catchy yarn and I am lamenting the fact that I can't knit the knitty surprise because I don't have enough of the yarn I was planning to use. So I decided that I really should focus on sketching. So here is a tiny pinecone.

Julia's pony ride

2007-11-09T18:44:00.001-08:00

Julia's pony ride
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

A while ago we went to a benefit for Wildlife Associates. It was really fun and one of the many attractions they had was pony rides. I was most impressed with the wildlife show. We made scarecrows, carved pumpkins and did other crafts. Naomi's favorite part was carving the pumpkins, and Juli a's was predictably the pony ride.
More Pictures coming

Don't buy this!

2007-11-09T12:25:00.001-08:00

Don't buy this!
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Julia found this in the cabinet and then told me in no uncertain terms: "Don't buy this! Mommy! There could be a mermaid in here" I explained that actually Tuna is just a fish that mermaids like to eat. Thin ice my friends... But Mommy, she replies "Fish are their friends" Thanks Disney!

Vampire and Wonderwoman

2007-11-04T16:04:00.001-08:00

Vampire and Wonderwoman
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Here we are about to head out for the trick or treating. Yes, it is still light, but we are hitting a party with dinner first. Naomi is a vampire and Julia is Wonder girl. It is actually wonderwoman, but she feels she is more of a girl. Luckily Naomi did not wear her vampire teeth too ling since they were recalled for high lead content.

Food fights

2007-10-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

Naomi has a playmate over today and after baking with them so they can go to the school potluck tonight I made them popcorn. What seems strange to me is that even though these are all well fed healthy kids, making them share a bowl of popcorn (the microwave chemically infused kind) turns them into little monsters. They fight over the food. I explained that there was plenty and that I could make more, but they continued to cram it in their mouths as fast as they could. I made more, but the same thing happened. I don't understand why??? I could understand if they were all starved and they were fighting for survival, but they are not...

What color crayon am I???

2007-09-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors.

While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around.

Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease.

You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows!

Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

knitted flowers

2007-09-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

IMG_3012.JPG
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I knitted these flowers for a person in Naomi's school. She is using them to create an art piece. I like how some of them turned out. Some I actually got from a pattern in the new Vogue knitting by Nicky Epstein.
Speaking of VK, there is a sweater in there that I covet. OF course, since it is in a knitting magazine it is not simply a matter of yearning for it and then BUYING it somehow. I have to buy the yarn and knit it. Unfortunately this is not discouraging me. The endless variation in yarn and the dream of this sweater is making me insane even though it is a heavily cabled "cone of silence" type of project.
And it would go perfectly with my million dollar dress (more on that another time) and it is a very classic sweater.

School Madness

2007-09-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

Next week is crazy around here. Preschool is starting and I have agreed to help out with the other class which has a lot of experienced moms in it. There is a meeting conflicting with this one at Naomi's school and then I agreed to be the classroom coordinator for her teacher. I don't know what I was thinking.
Julia is going to be exhausted and then we are going to Asilomar. Well, that I am looking forward to. It's to be a wedding party for our friends Chris and Birgitte. We went to their wedding in Copenhagen where I was reinspired to ride my bike. Well, you all know how that ended up.

Journey ATC

2007-09-03T11:08:00.001-07:00

Journey ATC
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

My other thing is that I have been wanting to learn crochet. But I had to finish an ATC fo August and yet could not tear myself away from the fiber. I received an ATC (luckily before the end of august) and it had a tiny origami crane on it. This made me realize that I could knit something -or crochet it- and use that. So I set about learning to meka granny square is fingering weight yarn. That is sock yarn and very tiny in case you are wondering.
Now I want to try it with slf striping yarn but first I must obses over mobius scarves.

Baby J cardigan

2007-09-03T11:03:00.001-07:00

Baby J cardigan
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

I have been knitting obsessed. It started witht eh daily swimming lessons, and maybe summer is a good time for me to knit. But while this was started in February, right after stitches west, where I procured the yarn and the pattern, I only recently finished it. The thing I did right is that I wove in the ends as I was knitting.

Mule rides in Golden Gate Park and School starts

2007-08-31T16:49:00.001-07:00

0819071252.jpg
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

A few weeks ago Naomi went with our sitter Penny to Golden Gate Park to the Childrens horse event. She got to ride a mule which was almost the hightlight. Winning the raffle several times was better than anything.
So why am I writing now and not several weeks ago? Well, back to school is a frenzy!
We have the first week behind us and Naomi is in teacher Ellen's class. She seems really nice and I think it will be an exciting year. She seems the kind of teacher who is aligned with my way of thinking and this goes a long way towards placating me in the process of having a curriculum forced down my (or is it Naomi's) throat that I am not excited about. But don't get me started about that.
The most exciting thing of course has been that I have been riding the bike to pick Naomi up at school and she has been wanting me to meet her at the flagpole all week. Today I did it. I waited outside at the flagpole for her and she put her stuff in the bags, put on the helmet and hopped on. I must say that we have been quite the news at school and we even inspired someone else to ride their bike! Who knows... This could be the start of something new - to quote a song from Naomi's favorite movie...

IMG_2911.JPG

2007-08-11T15:58:00.001-07:00

IMG_2911.JPG
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Adam was clearing out the woodpile on the side of the house and a lizard skittered out. They caught in and had it in the cooler for a little while. They built it a new woodpile on the other side of the house but he has not been seen since. Still, he may be underr the compost pile or some other such place.

IMG_2912.JPG

2007-08-11T15:56:00.001-07:00

IMG_2912.JPG
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

The lizard found and caught in the backyard.

IMG_2930.JPG

2007-08-11T15:51:00.001-07:00

IMG_2930.JPG
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Another angle. I need to customize the flag I think, for visibility and fun. And then a custom paint job, fenders, cool lights, a stereo and ...
For now I have a fun tinkle bell.

IMG_2931.JPG

2007-08-11T15:49:00.001-07:00

IMG_2931.JPG
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

Here we are on the Brand new Townie with Freeradical (see xtracycle.com if you dont know what I mean) and there is still room for groceries. The kids think this bike is for their joyriding enjoyment. Yesterday we went to the park and had a picnic and today they saw me get the bike out and were ready to go! Let's packa lunch says Naomi and within moments they had bike helmets on and were rarin to go. Instead we rode around the neighborhood and took pictures.

Knitting ADD

2007-07-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

We are back from vacation and it has been hard to get back into the groove. DH left almost immediately for New York and the kids started daycamp. They are super tired at the end of the day. Especially because we still have swimming in the afternoon. Which brings me to the knitting ADD. I decided that I could knit during swim class but I am having a hard time settling on a project. Sometimes I work on a little baby sweater for my friend. Then I make washcloths for friends who got marrried. I am trying to find a project for the bambu yarn from bluemoon fiber arts that I have. I am considering This: http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-035 pattern but it would have to be twotone since I have only 1 skein of bambu. But that could look good depending on what the other colors are. Knitty has a similar pattern which is free of course but I think I like the stichdiva one better. But first, I suppose I should finish Julia's poncho, Naomi's hat, the washcloths and/or handtowels, the baby sweater and reknit the vest I decided to rip out several months ago. Oh, and I want to knot a chevron scarf since everyone is. Oh, and I promised I would knit some flowers for an art installation. So every day I have different project with me and the moms around me noticed.
pssst there is also a super secret bootie project that I can't seem to finish for Sara since I just don't want to do the second one...
Yup! Knitting ADD

Twisted

2007-07-02T17:20:00.001-07:00

Moleskine 7-2-07
Originally uploaded by jjs_37

This is for Illustration Friday. this flower, a columbine of some kind I do believe, seems twisted up into itself. Especially the buds are all twisted together.

Another ATC At water's edge

2007-06-28T16:07:00.001-07:00

At water's edge, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

An ATC

2007-06-28T16:06:00.001-07:00

At water's edge too, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Here is another mini painting I did for an ATC (Artist Trading Card) exchange. I think I will send this one out. It is pretty challenging to do something this small format but I am getting used to it. I of course try to find a flower that can illustrate the theme for the exchange. The theme was "At water's edge" and this is a lotus flower.
What is an ATC? It is a small format bit of art that you exchange. 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

May ATC

2007-05-27T21:07:00.001-07:00

May ATC, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Well, I was stumped on this theme "reach for the stars" for a while but then the star jasmine bloomed and the strong scent made me think of it. Anytime I can fit a flower to a theme is fine with me. Now I just have to mail this.

Target practice

2007-05-06T20:27:00.001-07:00

Target practice, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Naomi drew a monster to put on the window and shoot marhmallows at. That will kill the monster... At least there is no way you can break the window.

The plans...

2007-05-06T20:25:00.001-07:00

The plans..., originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Adam and Naomi have wanted Marshmallow guns since Christmas, so Adam got the plans from Make magazine and decided this would be a good project for the girls. After reading the plans and all the measuring and assembling, I think it was actually kind of educational. The marshmallows go pretty far. I get bombarded with marshmallows every time I go into the backyard. Naomi does not understand why she is not allowed to play with it in the front yard.

Artist trading cards

2007-05-02T10:19:00.001-07:00

ATC407-1.jpg, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

I am participating in an artist trading card exchange (see I told you I am procrastinating). You make 2.5 by 3.5 little original art works and then send one out to your exchange partner. Here is the one I made for April with the theme "a world in bloom". Managed to mail it out on the deadline so I am feeling pretty pleased. Of course it shouldn't be that hard to make a teeny tiny piece of art in a month. Still, I think the small canvas has it's own challenges.

2007-05-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I updated but right now I am procrastinating something else so... We have succeeded in getting through turn off TV week and it was remarkably easy. In fact, for the last two days Naomi said she was not even interested in watching TV even thought the week is over. This was a school sponsored event and if they participated they would get to go to a book swap and were able to win a prize if they kept the TV off all week. Naomi was into it and we hung a sign in front of the TV. Naomi was happy that there was extra time to play and she was just good about not even asking about TV.
She did win the prize - an ice cream after school on Thursday - and I am really proud of her. She decided to participate, and took ownership of this project and really did it. To replace TV they listened to books on tape while I was fixing dinner. That is almost like being read to...

Live model drawing

2007-04-15T12:03:00.001-07:00

SuperGigi.jpg, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

My friend Julie had hired a model to sit for a painting for her while I took care of hte kids. When julie was done, I went down to her studio (she has a real studio!) and I drew the model for a while. Time goes really fast when you are just in your other brain.
This photo is a mirror image of the actual drawing and I can see lots of different things in it now that did not work out so well, but I am generally pleased with the resuult.
The name of the model (who usually does childrens parties and corporate events etc) was Super Gigi. Super Gigi! I just love that.

The cutest shoes

2007-04-11T19:48:00.001-07:00

the cutest shoes.jpg, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

I broke down and bought the girls shoes at Nordstrom. I was sick of argueing over what shoes to wear on PE day, Julia had grown out of her shoes and I wanted pretty and sensible good shoes that last for both of them. This was an expensive proposition, but we did it. We got cute, sparkly practical shoes for the summer.
Then Julia lost one shoe. When we crossed the street she tripped near the storm drain and caught her foot in the drain opening and her shoe slipped off. I couldn't see the shoe down in the drain, let alone get it back. Nobody was hurt, but Naomi was terribly upset. She felt that Julia must feel really sad about her lost shoe. Julia just kept walking along with only one shoe and didn't seem bothered one bit. Well, now I will order another pair of shoes like this.
Some raccoon is hoping for the other shoe to come down though...

Naomi in Dress

2007-04-08T08:51:00.001-07:00

Naomi in Dress, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Naomi on the other hand will pose! There are more photo's at Flickr.

Julia in Dress

2007-04-08T08:50:00.001-07:00

Julia in Dress, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

I can't get Juliia and Naomi to get in the same spot at the same time. Mosty it is the Easter morning sugar doing its job. The girls were up beefore the crack of dawn and we found the easter baskets and then went on the egg hunt around the house and garden. (Shhh there are still eggs out there) Of course they ate some candy right away and now they are hopped up on sugar.

the Fairy

2007-04-03T20:57:00.001-07:00

the Fairy, originally uploaded by jjs_37.

Julia is wearing her favorite costume (tinkerbell) because we went to a fairy birthday party.

2006-06-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes parenting really requires you to be very present in the place that your children are at. And sometimes solving one dilemma simply brings up more. Naomi has not ever been a very adventurous eater. I guess she was more so as a baby but not terribly. There were always things I could not get ther to eat under any circumstances. Then of course she became a toddler and super picky. She would literally not eat any dinner if it was not plain enough for her and then she would fill up on breakfast. Recently, since she now understands the if...then... concept we introduced the fact that she had to taste a bite of everything in order to get dessert.
Well, that is still not a lot of vegetables in total. Plus I was having to listen to a lot of whining about how she wanted canded or cookies and so on. We had been reading a lot about nutrition and such and recently she seemed more interested in eating well, to the point of asking me if something was whole grain so she could eat it. So I decided to make her accountable for how she eats. If I can trust her to eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, then she can be in charge of how much candy she eats. Last week she really was very conscientious about eating vegetables at dinner time and fruit throughout the day. So she got her very own "sweetie collection" of which she is incredibly proud.
I think this is really a great solution for now because I want her to feel like she gets enough candy so she won't be trading her organic homemade peanut butter and (fruit juice sweetened) jam sandwiches for candy at school next year. I want her to learn to self regulate candy and sweet foods so she won't feel the need to pig out on them and such. I also want her to eat healthy foods and I think this reinforces the concept that we do get a treat as long as we eat healthily in general.
Hurray, victory right? Well, no... Naomi shares her sweetie collection generously and I am sure she will run out in a couple of days. So do I replenish it so she is not penalized for sharing, or do I let her run out since I want her to realize that candy and so on is still limited...

2005-01-26T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today we were supposed to see Sophia but Naomi woke up with a fever this morning so that is not going to happen. Naomi was very sad but I promised we would bake granola bar cookies. We have been doing a lot of baking since we got the egg free baking cookbook. I made a lovely peach and blueberry upside down cake that would have been for book club had the power not been out. Last night we threw together a zucchini chocolate chip bread and I have even made my own teething biscuits. They are not bad, and Julia LOVES them. Then Granola bars (still without oats) today. I hope they are decent anyway.

2005-01-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

Adam got clementines at Trader Joes so we have been singing the song "Oh my darlin, oh my darlin Oh my darlin Clementine! You're a sweet and juicy orange, let me eat you clementine" What is incredible is that I found myself belting this out loud with Naomi in Safeway the other day. We make up new versus for the song too all with orange themes.

2005-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

I took Naomi to the Allergist Friday. What amazed me most about the entire visit was that they told Naomi she cold watch a video. Without hesitation she said "I want to watch Rudolph (the red nosed reindeer)" I started to say that well., they might not have that particular video... But she had seen a little picture of Rudolph on the spine of a VCR tape on a shelf full of tapes. I was impressed with her ability to spot that.
Both the doctor and the nurse said that she was very articulate for her age. She also braved the scratch test which was a big deal I think. She is allergic to dust and egg whites. Her allergy to milk and oats seems to have cleared up though, and she is likely to outgrow the egg white allergy if we are careful by not giving her too many egg whites. I guess her wheezing was not fro the inadvertent dairy consumption, but from exceptionally dusty houses J. The dust allergy is going to require that we encase the mattresses and pillow cases and worst of all, vacuum under the beds regularly. All stuffed animals have been banished from the bedroom too so they are in a big plastic bad in the closet. Naomi has quite a collection of stuffed animals I might add. So in case anyone is thinking of giving her any stuffed animals, please reconsider since they will just be added to the rest of the collection that is in the closet.

2005-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Julia is doing all sorts of things for herself now. She crawls, and pulls up and goes to a sitting position. Right now she is playing with the trash can in my office which I have filled with toys. She also picks up cereal bits for herself and eats them. She makes all kinds of noises and chats. As for babyproofing the house, there is the regular stuff to do, like hide the electrical cords (which she loves) but I don't see the point in softening the edges of the fireplace and the coffee table since she hasn't bumped her head on them, but she has bumped her head twice on the baseboards now.
I think she likes foods more easily than Naomi does since she eats up whatever I give her and with Naomi I had to trick her into eating and tasting new things. There may be something to the theory that Naomi is a supertaster. Naomi tried the snowpeas growing in the backyard, but decided she didn't like them. Maybe I can get her to try it again sometime.

2005-01-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

Today, as I am driving Naomi to school I asked her for her confirmation on something by asking her "what do you say?" and she replied to that (I can't even remember what this whole conversation was about). Then Julia babbled in her seat since she does not want to be left out of the conversation. Naomi then said "well, that is what Julia says".
Naomi and Julia are really sweet together. Julia thinks Naomi is the cats Miauw of course. Whatever she does is paid attention to and now that she is crawling she tries to get in on the play that Naomi is doing.

2004-12-04T20:05:00.001-08:00

sisters

2004-12-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

Naomi in her nest

2004-12-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Julia has a tooth. I can feel it where it has come through the gums. And yes, I can feel it while nursing too. Actually mostly towards the end when Julia starts to get distracted by what is going on around her and wants to look at it while eating.
She is absolutely too cute, playing with the music cube right now. She is really good at entertaining herself for sometime on the floor. I need to watch it when she starts to crawl because I have been letting myself feel secure in her immobility. She is not that immobile, but she is not very fast now. When she crawls that will all change.

Naomi has her first job taking care of the neighbors cats. Actually I put the food out, and she runs after the cats trying to pick them up and pet them. Mostly the cats are terrorized but Naomi is very gentle with animals. She is just a little overzealous. She plays hide and seek with the cats and I am not sure who is supposed to be hiding and seeking but the cats definitely hide. I count, and Naomi hides and then goes to look for the cats. Julia hangs out in the sling and cracks up every time she sees Naomi whizzing by.

2004-10-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

When I sneeze, Naomi sings me a little song which ends with Atchoo Atchoo Mammi. It is really sweet and funny that wherever she is in the house she will start to sing it. So much more charming than saying bless you anyway.
She played out in the rain for an hour today and it was really funny. She kept wanting me to come out too but it was cold and rainy. then she told me she was watering my plants with the water that had collected in the pool. Like they needed it! We also made cookies today. YUM!

2004-10-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Julia found "Magenta" in her crib and she loves it. She reaches for her as soon as she wakes up.

2004-10-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Dr. Naomi is helping Daddy get better after his knee surgery

2004-10-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

Naomi used her paints to make herself into a cat.

2004-10-21T15:39:00.001-07:00

Princess Naomi

2004-10-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know how Julia sleeps like this, but she does

2004-10-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Orange Bear in the sling

2004-10-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

2:44 PM This just in: Julia can roll from her stomach to her back now. She just did it a couple of times. SHe has done it before but now she is clearly practicing it...
I've been reading operating instructions by Ann Lamott and it is really a very good book and very funny and validating at the same time. It makes me realize that it is really still OK to be tired and overwhelmed sometimes. The other day I said to Adam that I couldn't imagine why I was so tired since Naomi had been at school all day and I hadn't really done anything all day besides the general home upkeep. Then I realized that I was still doing all that with an infant in tow and plenty of people find that tiring enough.
Naomi's favorite thing lately is to tell our days. After lights out at bedtime we talk about our favorite part and our saddest part of our day. Sometimes she tells things from other days and sometimes she just tells me her favorite part is what just happened. "My favorite part is that you got Julia from her crib" or "My favorite part was turning out the light."
She was full of vim and vigor this morning and came to wake me up to tell me something which I have forgotten already and which may not have made sense to me at the time, but then she hopped out of our room and down the hall. It was so funny and happy at the same time that I actually felt like getting up at that point.

Here is another sentiment that helped me from the parents Tao Te Ching:

There are many ways to get children
to behave as you wish.
You can force, plead and bribe.
You can manipulate, trick and persuade.
You can use shame, guilt and reason.
These will all rebound upon you.
You will be in constant conflict.

Attend instead to your own actions.
Develop contentment within yourself.
Find peace and love in all you do.
This will keep you busy enough.
There is no need to control others.

2004-10-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? Adam had surgery on his knee and is pretty well recovered right now. In the meantime my mom and Carol have been here to help me while I was driving Adam everywhere and while he was unable to help out with Naomi and Julia. That is where I have been.
Naomi is practicing conjunctions. She likes to use sentences with "and" and "but". It is actually pretty funny although it sometimes rubs me the wrong way. I have to keep reminding myself that she doesn't mean to contradict me and that she is just practicing language.
Julia still only rolls one way but she is getting used to having to be on her stomach.
I have been doing a lot of gardening. Here it is the season for planting and so plant I did. Naomi likes to help me though she can be quite rough on plants and it is not the quiet and serene activity that it would be if I were doing it alone. Tonight she was dragging the shovel around as well as the hoe and turning up soil. Luckily in a place where there are no plants. We also planted snow peas which I hope will encourage Naomi to eat some vegetables.

2004-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Julia has had a fussy and not very sleepy day today. The past couple of nights she hasn't slept well either. I think it is her developmental overdrive to turn over. As soon as you put her down she arches her back and tries to get on her stomach. As soon as she is on her stomach she is unhappy about that too. But she can't help herself, she needs to perfect this turning over thing. What is interesting is that she turns differently than Naomi did. Naomi would get her legs in the air and let her momentum of them falling to the side turn her over. Julia arches her back till she is on her side and then reaches a leg over till she winds up on her stomach. But her arm gets in her way and frustrates her. Still, all this practice is bound to lead to perfection. Naomi tries to show her how it is done. A fine example of practice making perfect as far as turning over is concerned.
Another cute thing Julia does is she puts her feet together in a gesture that is kind of like putting your hands together in prayer pose. I guess using your feet for this thoughtful gesture leaves your hands free for grabbing things.
Naomi's latest thing is saying she can't do anything. Whatever she had mastered before, like putting on her shoes, climbing out of the bath, or drawing the letter H, she says she can't do anymore.

2004-09-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Naomi is having a "work slowdown". I guess the United Union of Preschoolers would like more breakfast choices and better fringe benefits (bathtime bubbles?). So to get me to the negotiating table Naomi has not been listening to me and refusing to put her clothes on or go potty when it is time to go somewhere.

2004-09-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

dangling