Meowing.

My thoughts on New Years Resolutions here.

I think back on my past and cringe.

Not that there is anything horrifying in my past. (Well, there are some photos of me in a "Blossom" style hat).

Right now I'm cringing thinking of how I behaved in college.

My poor roommates.

In church I would "meow" the hymns. Never sang a word. Just meowed like a cat.

I would get oil paint on their coats when I painted in the kitchen, and oil paint doesn't really come out.

I also frequently up and decided I needed some new pants or a shirt, and would sew all night on an old, loud machine.

And I'm pretty sure when on a whim I decided to cut my hair in front of the hall mirror with some dull, goopy craft scissors, I made a huge mess.

I'm sure my roommates remember all the immaturity better than I do.

But, I roomed with some pretty amazing people. Who have all gone on to become even more amazing than they were back then.

Kate - business owner , river rafter, and amazing mom.
Audrey - my former dating coach ("men like long hair Pam"), and pretty much Martha Stewart, she is the ultimate homemaker. (her advice did work, by the way.)
Suzanne - fastidiously tidy, thoughtful, emergency room nurse with the BEST stories, mother of twins
Vanessa - the only person to make me laugh my "ugly" laugh. She is that funny.
Anne - supremely kind, witty, mother of three with a gift with words you will envy.

Girls, I probably owe you some kind of spa package, only you could have used it 12 years ago when we lived in that pink cinderblock thing we called an apartment.

Wow, it has taken me a long time to get to what this post is actually about! Today I am writing over on Anne's blog about my wacky New Years Resolution process. It makes me sound weirder than I actually am though. 

**I am still passing on some awesome advice Anne gave to me in college when I wanted mint truffle hot cocoa, but only had plain. "Just go brush your teeth, then it will taste minty."

Pay It Forward Win

Yesterday I got a package in the mail, with this amazing green sweater bolero in it. One of my amazing college roommates and dear friends Kate Stirling made it. (Some of you may remember her as Kate Nelson). In college we spent our time playing guitars together and singing Joni Mitchell songs. Anyhow, she is currently being a super cool mom to 3 boys who regularly bring her snakes and spiders to look at, and in my book, that makes her brave.

So on her blog awhile back she posted a Pay It Forward contest, which I won, and which was simple to win. I just had to be one of the first 3 to leave a comment, and she promised to send me something handmade. I think she totally outdid herself. I mean, an awesomely knitted sweater, one that no matter how big my belly gets, it will always fit?? Kate, I love you! (But I loved you even before you became a super awesome knitter.)

So I am doing my own Pay It Forward. The rules are simple:

1. Be #1,2 or 3 to comment. You win! I will send you something handmade.
2. I have 3 months to do it.
3. YOU must then do a Pay It Forward on your blog -sending your first three commenters something handmade.

**most likely I will send you a bag of sorts as I love making bags.

A long, long time ago... I got a short haircut and went to Europe for 2 months. I went with around 30 other people, none of whom I knew.

Me in Florence, Italy

Of course I did make friends. Many wonderful friends. Many of whom have gone on to become really fantastic artists. One friend in that I made is Cass Barney. On this Europe trip, she was in the stage of life that I am in now. She and her husband were hauling their two little girls around Europe. I was fascinated by her because she was a mom AND an artist AND she was making it work. I remember visiting her studio, her two little girls painting at a small table. I paid attention. I knew one day I would need to try to make it work (being a mom and an artist).

In Spain, at a Flamenco dance.

Anyhow, years and years have separated us as we've each gone down paths that never crossed...until I discovered her blog 2 years ago! Ahh. Reunited friends at last. I am still fascinated by her for many reasons. I've always loved her work. And she's still making it work. And she is still bubblingly happy.

On her blog several months back, she announced a new project she was doing the required participation....and I participated. You can read about it on her site. Below is "my" painting. On her site, if you click on this painting, a pop up comes up that describes it. (No, I didn't paint it...I just shared with her an idea, and she came up with the painting).

Last Friday we went to the show to see the painting in person. The paintings are exquisite. All have great stories. The show is up at Kayo Gallery, until July 15th, I think. The painting means so much to me. Thanks for telling my story Cass.

Annual Halloween Party

This past weekend it was time for our annual Halloween party with the Boston's and the Pond's.
(see Jessie's kind review of the party here)

The kids make it more and more fun every year, this year being the first year the donut eating truly happened with hands behind backs. Henry determined to finish without hands even when everyone else was long gone.

Of course we had a craft - the kids made halloween cat shirts.

I attempted some coffin-shaped brownies, thanks to inspiration from Martha Stewart, however, mine look kind... not professional. Oh well. I guess I am not a pastry chef so that is ok.







Todd did pretty well in the donut eating contest, but then again, he was the oldest contestant.












And not related at all, today I left Bryan and L alone together for 5 hours and I came home to find they'd pretty much been scanning their faces the whole time.

New York City Chapter 4: This is the end, I promise

You've all been so patient. All four of you. I noticed that as I keep adding New York posts, comments keep dropping. This is my last NYC post.

Chip and Bryan at the Natural History Museum. It was very much worth our time.

Chip really wanted us to mediate the discussion between the settlers and the Native Americans, but we weren't very successful.

Yes, we were that scared. We're not even acting.

Washington Square Park? I think? That arch is cool.

View of...Uptown Manhattan. You can see Central Park right smack in the middle.

View from empire state building.

View of Downtown Manhattan. And Brooklyn on the upper left.

It was way cold, but clear and beautiful on top of the Empire State Building.

Downtown Manhattan again. If I were nice I'd circle the statue of liberty for you, but I'm not. It's to the right of lower manhattan.

This is where John Lennon was shot. We like his music.

The "Imagine" circle. All decked out for Halloween?

This display was cool. big chunks of grass made out of different green fabrics. I'm going to one day make some for Milli's room.

Manhattan Temple.

Our hosts! We miss them so much! They were so fantastic to let us stay with them and take up their time for four days. Poor Katie, I think we kept her up WAY too late every night, but we couldn't help it, they kept telling funny stories.

I loved this trip. Yes I would live there. Yes I want to visit again.

Painting

Last year Bryan and I had an art show at a gallery downtown. My paintings were all around an alternate halo theme, as you can see if you follow the link. Anyhow, I had kind of a straggler painting that I did for some neighbors that goes with the halo series. I have to say I had the hardest time with this one. But, they can't all be really great, right?

Heaven and Eve

A few days ago we were driving home from work when we got a call from our friends who live in New York. They were in town and wanted to get together - that night. They usually don't know when they'll be in town or for how long or when they'll have free time. We take any opportuity we can get to spend time with them since it's only been about once a year or even less. They have two little girls called Ruth and Eve. We tried to tell Pumpkin their names in preparation, but she kept calling them "Heaven" and Eve.