Birthday

Technically my birthday isn't until Sunday but I've been celebrating it since last Friday. I came home from work to find a brand new shiny bike waiting for me. Adrian decided it was finally time to replace the really awesome mountain bike (really it has been!) that my dad bought me somewhere around 17 years ago. Though honestly I hadn't busted it out in nearly 2 years. So Friday night we went on a bike ride and stopped at his dad's place where I was given more gifts (apparently no one told them that if you give up your surprises before the actual birthday you are still expected to give gifts on THE day... not my fault.) So I got the entire set of Harry Potter books, in hard-back and a genuine (non-cultured) pearl necklace. Hey what can I say? I'm the best daughter-in-law he could ever ask for, right? We spent the rest of the weekend doing all kinds of fun things, Saturday Market, Parma Motor-Vu drive-in, lots of bike riding, including the Greenbelt on Monday. I got a couple of great gifts from students this week (though not specifically for my birthday, they just wanted to show their appreciation... always a blessing) and today when I came home I had still more birthday surprises. Adrian teamed up with his sister, Monica, to pick out a great weeping birch tree for a corner of the yard I had yet to do anything with. She, along with my mother-in-law, bought me a couple of beautiful rose bushes to add to my collection. Adrian spent the day digging and planting so that it would all be ready when I came home. Now, I love plants as gifts, but I love them EVEN MORE when I don't have to do any of the work! And we still have 3 days before my actual birthday. I've got to say, it sure takes the sting off of turning... 24....... again. Shut up. :)

latest

This pot and another just like it were commissioned by a gentleman that I work with. He was looking for a personalized pot for his wife for Mother's Day. She really likes angels and he was hoping I could come up with something and add her name. Then when he told his friend in Nevada about it I had a second order for his wife (her's is the one below). I've never really drawn an angel before but I had an idea for something like this and messed around with it until I came up with something decent.



This flower pot was for my own mother for Mother's Day. I was really pretty pleased with how it came out.

new

I've said this before and it remains true. The night before opening the kiln is just like Christmas Eve. I have a few things I'm excited to see come out of this latest firing (pictures forthcoming) so although I can hardly stand to be at work these days I'm anxious to go in tomorrow morning and crack that baby open.

Also, things to come... I'll be living the wild life of an almost serious artist with my own website hopefully soon. Apparently it pays to have connections and I have a graduating senior who has his own web development business. I know, ambitious huh? Turns out he's really talented and approached me about designing my website. (Don't feel slighted Jas, I should have hit you up when you had all that free time at your old job! I don't want to bog you down with extra projects.) Anyway, I'm not sure when it will be done and online but I'll let you know when I know. And make your travel plans now! We're on again for the Raspberry Festival the first Sunday in August in glorious Cottonwood, Idaho. I'm hoping to expand my offerings this year and look forward to my second annual attempt at acting like a real artist.

More to come.

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.