So awesome

Adrian and I have been working toward making our backyard a place that is pleasant to hang out for the last several years (tho I've only lived here for almost 2 of them). Check out here, here,
and here, for the history highlights. Today we finally invested in a quality set of patio furniture to replace the nasty, broken rickety old plastic stuff we have been using. We weighed the advantages of buying a new umbrella for our new set (the one I bought just last summer is cracked almost all the way down the middle!! Cheap!!) when we saw these great gazebos on sale at Fred Meyer. The gazebo ended up being more bang for only a tiny more buck so we went with that. The result is a totally AWESOME backyard paradise. Check it!

Lesley Weekend

This last weekend was the second installment of our Art and Visual Inquiry class. I had so much fun in this class it is hard to believe I'm getting my Master's for this. The whole class was about making art. Here are a few of the highlights from this weekend.

Still life

This is the cover of my book. Relief printmaking. Way fun.
And here's my book laid out.

Spring

The first bulbs I've ever planted (with Mom's help) have sprung! It makes for a cheerful homecoming everyday.

I am the Dog Whisperer... and other news

So, no. I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. I've just been busy. Very busy. It's getting to be that time of year where school things are running a mile a minute, students are squirelly and don't want to work-- though neither do I, the grading is piling, the master's homework has been mounting, the house has needed--and still needs-- cleaning (though you can guess how high that one is on my priority list...) and the yard needs weeding, mowing (already!) and de-pooping (from a long winter of dog dookie. No, I don't poop safari in the winter. I actually just found the Christmas poo of Nacho's after he got into our bowl of nuts on Christmas Eve. It's the gift that just keeps on giving!) On top of it all I simply can't give up the jam sessions on Guitar Hero. A girl's gotta rock, you know?
I kept meaning to blog about our Oregon Coast trip over Spring Break but that never happened. Partially due to a very emotional experience that happened that I still actually have a hard time talking about. I started to load my pictures from the trip onto my Flickr account but even that got interrupted. I'll get it done one of these days.
I have pots that people want made but have had zero time for making and honestly my motivation seems to have flown off. If you see it, would you send it back my way?

But on to my really exciting news. I am the Dog Whisperer! Yes! It's true! Adrian and I love that show and Cesar has taught me much in how to deal with our occassionally ill-behaved Nacho. Tonight I had a real break through which you will undoubtedly fail to see the significance of. Every time I go to let Nacho out the back door he is jumping and scratching and making the most awful noises one can imagine. It makes us insane. You know that sound Cesar makes? That *tsh* very quick, very assertive. Well hot diggity, tonight I'd just watched an episode (don't worry I was multi-tasking with homework) and went to let Nacho out. He started his usual and I just showed him who was boss dang it! I made him back several feet up, sit, wait IN SILENCE (!!) while I opened the door, opened the screen door (he is STILL sitting, staring at me wondering how I became a Jedi) and I finally released him and he quietly walked out the door. I tell you I was higher than a kite. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! This is a dog who is more obstinate than even I am and will bark rebelliously even as I am threatening him to within an inch of his life. Of course I did my Michael Jackson victory moonwalk back into the living room where Adrian quickly bowed at my feet in awe of my Jedi mind trick. Did I mention I'm the Dog Whisperer, cuz I am.