Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Chevron Stairwell Learning Experiment
I have really wanted to try some chevron stripes somewhere in our home.
At four am I gave up on trying to fall back asleep and chalked in some guidelines...
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I should have eyeballed/adjusted for the corners where back wall meets side-walls--I know better than this, rather than relying on the ruler and angles. Adjust for corners tutorial in the works for future. Fool the eye work necessary so it looks "right" from angle approaching mural. Straight on from sides are fine, but viewing whole piece=little wonky looking. Disturbing.
But it is energetic looking. Dynamic for Suzu's party today. Instead of event-shopping, I event-paint! Haha.
"The purpose of experiments is to gain data, not to prove theories," says John. "So even if your experiment doesn't give you what you want, you learn something."
I may be re-painting this sooner than I thought.
At four am I gave up on trying to fall back asleep and chalked in some guidelines...
I should have eyeballed/adjusted for the corners where back wall meets side-walls--I know better than this, rather than relying on the ruler and angles. Adjust for corners tutorial in the works for future. Fool the eye work necessary so it looks "right" from angle approaching mural. Straight on from sides are fine, but viewing whole piece=little wonky looking. Disturbing.
But it is energetic looking. Dynamic for Suzu's party today. Instead of event-shopping, I event-paint! Haha.
"The purpose of experiments is to gain data, not to prove theories," says John. "So even if your experiment doesn't give you what you want, you learn something."
I may be re-painting this sooner than I thought.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Nativity Play & Craft Idea
Long family tradition: dress up in costume & act out story from Luke. This year we did it on Sunday. We delegated out assignments to the children. They turned it back and asked John & I to be Mary & Joseph! 
This Nativity is for Luanna to see--we all thought of her and her craft exchange each December. Black & white photos against white background and floor, individuals decopauged on wooden blocks. Cow costume, sheep, etc. I want to do this! Make one with family members, maybe even extended family members...How fun would it be to have cousins acting out parts? Siblings, what do you think? We have a year! 
John is doing another NIH vaccine study, this time with malaria. Suzu made this sweet glow-in-dark mosquito "Malaria Man" t-shirt!
Suzanna played "O, Holy Night" for birthday celebration dinner.
John is doing another NIH vaccine study, this time with malaria. Suzu made this sweet glow-in-dark mosquito "Malaria Man" t-shirt!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
More Pictures from Adventure
There is a moment of sensory overload. Too much to look at. So much information. Library of Congress was beautful, ornate, amazing. Favorite thing was Thomas Jefferson's library collection. Or the vivid purple orchids in the Arboretum. 
The Native American museum "Spirit of the Horse" 3rd floor.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Quick Trip
Today we went here:
Fun to see cousins, some local DC color, and then the lights at the temple. Happy Birthday JOHN!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Day After Celebrating Continues: Candy Castle
When we were growing up, my creative, genius mother of 9 children dispensed with the wobbly gingerbread and we started using cardboard boxes as the base for royal frosting castles.
One individual box castle, strengthened with duct tape, 4 batches of royal icing: 2 lbs powdered sugar, 3 tbsp. meringue powder, 1/2 tsp peppermint for aroma, 3/4 cup warm water beat for 5 minutes in mixer and use immediately.
One individual box castle, strengthened with duct tape, 4 batches of royal icing: 2 lbs powdered sugar, 3 tbsp. meringue powder, 1/2 tsp peppermint for aroma, 3/4 cup warm water beat for 5 minutes in mixer and use immediately.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Still the Same
Merry Christmas to my long distance family!
Emma's room/sewing studio/crafting space is still crazy, piled high, unorganzied. I have failed in my effort to get rid of 2011 things this year. Made a dent. I gave away lots of things we weren't using, but I still have a long way to go in orangizing my life and home.
We parents are still madly in love, happily married, actively dating, best friends.
Roxie reading on the couch, immersed in a new pile of books from the library...
Extended family dinners. WE ALL LOVE YOU & MISS YOU!
Christmas tree decorated by children still at home. This year it is up on the blue suitcase footstool (so it is easier to walk around, so little friend Hazel wasn't pulling things off, for greater window viewing from outside looking-in...).
May this day find you in health & joy & the spirit of Christmas warm you all through the next year. XOX God be with you 'till we meet again.
May this day find you in health & joy & the spirit of Christmas warm you all through the next year. XOX God be with you 'till we meet again.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Since You've Been Gone
Small changes:
Uncle David painting hallway. Orange hamper in bathroom.
Max learning how to cut hair. He also cut Sam's!
Zombie Fish was free, from an auction I was at with the Love Family. It was in a lot of linens & old trunk, and they didn't want it. I love this guy, makes me think of the awe we should feel when looking at this beautiful earth and the great creations (see this Nesting Place post on the subject! She inspired me!) I want to paint him. I researched, $800 for a mounted sailfish like this, but in blues, turquoises...it has potential! But we are used to the big clock being over the fireplace, so we ask each other what time it is, "Fish O'Clock."
Roxie & Suzanna think he is very creepy looking, mostly because of the eyes, and a certain Dr. Who episode. I love him. $8.00 at thrift store. Needs some restoration paint work. Sitting on the air conditioner near our kitchen door entrance.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Death Warmed Over
"'Warmed over' refers to the preparation of leftover food to serve again. Leftovers are less desirable than food just now cooked, and the warming process can damage them further. They get overcooked, dry, limp where you want crispy, stiff where you want soft, charred around the edges. Sauces separate. Flavor vanishes. So "warmed over" is an intensifier: Not only did he look awful, he didn't even look fresh. It's 'death warmed up' in the UK' From _The Dictionary of Cliches_ by James Rogers.
It's been a hard week.
Recovering from last week's professional painting (this mural is in a PA restaurant entry & I wished I had painted it!), trying to do too much, losing my voice, my patience, my sleep-from coughing & feeling like I am drowning-not-able-to-breathe-death. What starts as allergies and cold-induced asthma moves to post-nasal drip/sore throat, advances to sinus infection and officially broncitis. Gross. 
Ready for a vacation with this sister! (36 days from today!)
I am thankful for modern medicine (prednisone works, when you need it, but wild, vivid dreams!?), good doctors, super student Suzanna teaching seminary this morning solo, cheerful hugging hard-working husband.
Maxwell comes home from BYU tonight. I was hoping to have more done before he arrived. I guess to impress him? Is that just pride talking? He is family, not company, but we've missed him. I wonder what changes he will notice? I want him to feel at home, welcomed, celebrated, included.
He wants to learn how to make rolls, bread, while he is home. Good goal. I will turn him into a baker within 2 weeks! You other pre-missionary mommas, start earlier! We are cramming life-skills into the time we have left before he turns 19 and follows his brother!
BYU photo ID picture found by John.
It's been a hard week.
Maxwell comes home from BYU tonight. I was hoping to have more done before he arrived. I guess to impress him? Is that just pride talking? He is family, not company, but we've missed him. I wonder what changes he will notice? I want him to feel at home, welcomed, celebrated, included.
He wants to learn how to make rolls, bread, while he is home. Good goal. I will turn him into a baker within 2 weeks! You other pre-missionary mommas, start earlier! We are cramming life-skills into the time we have left before he turns 19 and follows his brother!
Monday, December 12, 2011
12 Ways of Christmas: Receive Day 12
"Receive
Symbol: Christ
Scripture: And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life (D&C 20:14)
Ideas: 3 ways to increase our ability to receive- 1. Seek, 2. Feel (+teach others how to and what they’re feeling), and 3. Act on the things/inspirations/impressions you receive. 2nd half of presentation: “The Other Half of Giving” People say “it’s better to give than receive” but when you deny another from giving or serving you, you deny their ability to glorify God. By humbly receiving, you allow the server to receive blessings. Christ, who needed nothing, allowed others—imperfect others—to serve him. Peter said to Christ, (paraphrasing) “you will never wash my feet, Lord” meaning that he was unworthy of having the Lord stoop so low as to wash his feet. The Lord told him (paraphrasing) “then you will have no part with me.” It is laced with meaning: we must come to Christ, and allow Him to bless us. Also, letting another serve you strengthens the bonds of the relationship—a mutual need for one another. (One-sided relationships almost never work and are not much fun!)"
I hope you have gotten something good out of these 12 Ways of Christmas. There is always more to talk about!
To follow through, I hope to show you a finished quilting project soon with these 12 ideas.
Symbol: Christ
Scripture: And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life (D&C 20:14)
Ideas: 3 ways to increase our ability to receive- 1. Seek, 2. Feel (+teach others how to and what they’re feeling), and 3. Act on the things/inspirations/impressions you receive. 2nd half of presentation: “The Other Half of Giving” People say “it’s better to give than receive” but when you deny another from giving or serving you, you deny their ability to glorify God. By humbly receiving, you allow the server to receive blessings. Christ, who needed nothing, allowed others—imperfect others—to serve him. Peter said to Christ, (paraphrasing) “you will never wash my feet, Lord” meaning that he was unworthy of having the Lord stoop so low as to wash his feet. The Lord told him (paraphrasing) “then you will have no part with me.” It is laced with meaning: we must come to Christ, and allow Him to bless us. Also, letting another serve you strengthens the bonds of the relationship—a mutual need for one another. (One-sided relationships almost never work and are not much fun!)"
I hope you have gotten something good out of these 12 Ways of Christmas. There is always more to talk about!
To follow through, I hope to show you a finished quilting project soon with these 12 ideas.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
12 Ways of Christmas: Influence Day 11
"Influence
Symbol: Mary
Scripture/Quote: “I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world—grandmothers, mothers, aunts and friends—never underestimate the power of their influence for good” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days . . . will happen . . . to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” President Spencer W. Kimball, 1979
Ideas: Women have the great blessing of being nurturers whether to their own children or the children of others. Women can be role models for good, and can have a powerful influence on those they interact with."
Two UFO blocks (UnFinished Object, in quilting terms)I made years and years ago, one very abstract, one with printed Nativity fabric center.
Symbol: Mary
Scripture/Quote: “I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world—grandmothers, mothers, aunts and friends—never underestimate the power of their influence for good” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days . . . will happen . . . to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.” President Spencer W. Kimball, 1979
Ideas: Women have the great blessing of being nurturers whether to their own children or the children of others. Women can be role models for good, and can have a powerful influence on those they interact with."
Saturday, December 10, 2011
12 Ways of Christmas: Serve Day 10
"Serve
Symbol: Joseph
Scripture: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:26)
Ideas: When I think of service at Christmastime, I cannot help but think of Joseph. (Especially the sweet Primary song about Joseph closing his shop and travelling with Mary, pg 38 of the Children’s Songbook.) Have you ever been in the position of giving service where you felt like you were somehow gaining more blessings than even the person you were serving? How can we find meaningful ways to serve? (Big ways: ie, service projects, help in the community, etc. Small ways: being a friend, listening, remembering; most of the time, the most important thing you can do as a visiting teacher is to just listen and be a friend, etc.)"
My parents, great examples of service!
And our eldest son!
Symbol: Joseph
Scripture: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:26)
Ideas: When I think of service at Christmastime, I cannot help but think of Joseph. (Especially the sweet Primary song about Joseph closing his shop and travelling with Mary, pg 38 of the Children’s Songbook.) Have you ever been in the position of giving service where you felt like you were somehow gaining more blessings than even the person you were serving? How can we find meaningful ways to serve? (Big ways: ie, service projects, help in the community, etc. Small ways: being a friend, listening, remembering; most of the time, the most important thing you can do as a visiting teacher is to just listen and be a friend, etc.)"
Friday, December 9, 2011
12 Ways of Christmas: Increase Day 9
"Increase
Symbol: Wisemen
Scripture: A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels (Proverbs 1:5)
Ideas: Increase your knowledge of the scriptures. How do you build this into your daily routine? Also, the Lord is just waiting to bless you. He is generous. If you give but just a little, he will bless you more than you can imagine. How have you found this to be true in your life?"
This is where I learn and the scriptures make perfect sense...
I will somehow include this symbol of the temple in my 12 Ways of Christmas. I still need to make at least two more DC temple quilts, for two more daughters. Do my sons want one, too?
Symbol: Wisemen
Scripture: A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels (Proverbs 1:5)
Ideas: Increase your knowledge of the scriptures. How do you build this into your daily routine? Also, the Lord is just waiting to bless you. He is generous. If you give but just a little, he will bless you more than you can imagine. How have you found this to be true in your life?"
I will somehow include this symbol of the temple in my 12 Ways of Christmas. I still need to make at least two more DC temple quilts, for two more daughters. Do my sons want one, too?
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