happiness is..

happiness is trying to teach Caden how to blow a bubble with bubble gum. I have no idea how I learned this particularly "cool" (to a five year old) ability, but Caden sure helps me relish in the little things in life. He has not yet mastered this talent, but he has been trying and trying all afternoon.

In other news, the vin number on the wheels to our stolen car has been "pinged" in the database. Apparently they are somewhere in Detroit. I wonder if we at least get the wheels back? The car has to be gone for 30 days until the insurance pays us for it. Thank goodness for insurance. Caden's theory of the whole car thing is that they simply needed a ride because they lost their car, and they needed to "use" daddy's car. Hmm, to think so much of this world. Caden was quite heatbroken because he had his two "favorite" (everything is his favorite) trucks were in the car. Daddy is upset because his peacoat was in the car (winter is coming tomorrow, literally) and all of his computer programming programs...oh bugger. This is our third stolen car, and it just sucks. It is hard to keep starting over again, but, once again, that is why we carry good insurance. Sometimes it seems that if we didn't have bad luck, we would have no luck at all. But really, we just need to stop buying cars that everyone else likes to steal.

The first batch of owls are cooling down from the glaze firing. {I peeked, they look cute!} Looks like they will be packaged and ready to fly away on December first, right on the deadline!

press on...

Well, here I am, all in a sour mood, for a couple of reasons, but mainly because Paul's car was stolen today. In broad daylight. This is the third car that we have lost to theft. This was won the record, we had it for less than it takes to make a payment. Ugh, but then in all my self pity I read this....

Life is so important, things are things, they can be replaced.

wild bird

Last week we had a bird smack into out bay window. It was so stunned, it walked right onto my Dad's hand...


the bird didn't want to leave my Dad's finger, he sat on his finger for at least ten minutes...



Paul was able to coerce it onto a stick and tranfer the bird to safety to our pine tree. It sat on the tree for another thirty minutes or so until it must have regained it wits and went on with its life.

Oh, just another exciting chapter in our life......more to come, I am sure.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Wishing everyone a happy and safe thanksgiving!



And a very happy anniversary to Mom and Dad in Oregon...

200th post....

Finally....I have some pictures of some ceramic art in process. I am making owl ornaments for an international ornament swap. I need to have them all fired twice and sent out by December 1st!


this is an owl in process...

I am making ten of them right now, maybe I will make more for our tree if I have time!

I decided to add a beak, which was kinda tricky...

ten little owls, drying out, waiting for sanding, then the first bisque fire, glazing and then glaze fire, packaging and out in the mail by December 1st.

Caden was inspired by Mommy's studio-palooza, and decided to make bird ornaments for his friends and teacher. He use polymer clay, which cures in the oven.



such concentration...and, may I say (as a proud and slightly biased mother, such an artist, already!)

Caden had been quite ill with an ear infection, actually missing pj day at church and laying down for the entire day. He has never, ever, done that, although he has been more ill than this, he was in a lot of pain from the pressure of fluid in the ear. It took two screaming doctor's appointments, but it finally got diagnosed and is on the mend, thankfully.

(still sucking his two fingers, in fact he has started to chew on then collars of his shirts..? I think that maybe he is getting ready to lose his first tooth? who knows, he sure is oral, in every way...his bus driver has notified us that caden's voice works better than a megaphone)

and finally...a little levity..

On a little hike in the golf course woods that are behind our house, we found a tumbleweed, and Paul, always the entertainer, well...I guess the picture speaks for itself!

Quote of the day...

"The shadows prove the sunshine" Switchfoot

Quote of the day...

"You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." Maya Angelou

November 10th....

image from theTiny Showcase

November tenth means one thing....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!

In other news, I decided to get my rear in gear and participate in an ornament swap. I am designing ceramic ornaments that will be sent all over the world. There are 400 participants. You can view pictures of ornaments in the making here.
I am excited to push myself to finish and share a final product. I am so bad about sharing my art, I feel that I am inadequate. Maybe this will help me towards my goal of starting an etsy shop one of these days.



ps..I have added to Caden's Christmas Wishlist....

no time to blog

Just a little note to let you know that we are ok, but busy. My dad is visiting from california for two weeks, so I may not have time to post. I still need to share pics of Caden's Halloween.....talk to you all soon!