February 2015
It won’t be long now before these days are over for good.
Makin’ valentines with my boys!
Category: Uncategorized
They are their father’s sons!
I bought blueberries, I hid blueberries. They found blueberries, they ate blueberries.
I walked in on one of the sons eating the last of the blueberries, the ones I thought I had carefully saved to make the most amazing baked oatmeal recipe ever.
Fortunately, I recalled the recipe stated you could use raspberries instead. So I went out to the side yard and picked almost a cup full.
I’m not sure which way I like it better.
Mmmm, mmmm, good! You should try this recipe!
Letter to our Private
We were asked to write a letter to our soldier stationed at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island. Instructions stated to write it in the tone of the times, 1864. It took me over half an hour to carefully hand write the following, making sure that every cursive letter was drawn correctly. If you’ve ever seen my writing, you’d know that this was an artistic feat, not just a letter. My sissies would be so proud of me!
My private said to me, “But I can’t read cursive!” So I had to read it to him, by oil lamp. HA! What is this world coming to?
1863
Dearest Johnny Lee,
It has been a great while since you endeavored to enlist to defend our Country’s cause in this great and terrible war. Yet word has reached us that the rigors of your training and your duty at Camp Reynolds do scarcely compare to the comforts you left behind. Your patriotism and commitment to service for our great Country are a source of pride yet the accounts of the difficulties of a soldier’s life are no comfort to us.
Little Joe is sprouting up taller than the weeds and I fear you will not recognize him upon your return. He is most anxious to be regaled by a detailed account of each and every one of your adventures. He misses you terribly and often asks for us to provide him with another sibling to keep him company while you are away.
Please do write at your earliest convenience, we are eager to hear that you remain in vigorous spirits and long see you safely returned.
As always we remain yours lovingly,
Mother, Father and Little Joe
His next writing assessment test will be to write a letter using colonial period language. I am quite sure he won’t do it in cursive!
We’re in the Army now!
Craig and I got to chaperon a 5th grade overnight field trip to Angel Island for a living history reenactment with John. Boy did we have fun!
We spent a day in the life of a civil war soldier stationed at Camp Reynolds in 1864. Kids made their own vittles (and cleaned all the dishes), learned how to navigate by compass and how to send and read Morse code signals. Did I mention we slept in bed rolls on a wooden pallet and had to wake up during the night for 90 minute watch duty? That too.
It was my first time to Angel Island. I found a lotta love there.
Looking forward to going next year with Joe!
Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping…
Busy week. Double boy baseball started and it rained so we’re still trying to figure out practice schedules and fields, lot’s of big homework assignments due, I’ve only got until the 16th to finish with the next book’s beta reading which can only read that on my laptop and that’s not very portable, and I’d like to paint a small painting by Saturday.
Should we go to the roller rink for a skate and donate for school?
I need more time!
Yesterday’s Class – Wet Felting Wrist Warmers
Boy oh boy did I have fun yesterday wet felting wrist warmers with Jonatha Foli at Cast Away & Folk in Santa Rosa yesterday. Learned how to wet felt with a resist.
Super happy with my new ombre wet felted wrist warmers!
I made some shrink plastic buttons to go on them, the syllabus stated you can add three buttons, so I made three buttons then realized halfway through class it was three buttons PER wrist warmer DOH! These are interestingly organic and if I add the buttons I’ll be restricted as to how I can wear them, so I may not do it after all.
Love these, can’t wait to make a bag with resist.
Fused Glass Christmas Ornaments
I have been making Christmas ornaments every year as gifts for decades.
This year it was fused glass snowflakes. Since I didn’t start fusing in June–my kiln can only fit one at a time and my work is subject to thermal shock if I fuse when it’s really cold in the garage–I had to go to the glass shop to cook these.
I cut all the glass at home, transported it to Stained Glass of Marin for a drop in class and assembled on a tray there. I made 36 but I’m so in love with fused glass snowflakes that I could have kept going. I think I’ll drop in for another day to make some that are a little more complicated.
I finished them with a wire wrap and coordinating ribbon. Did I mention I’m in LOVE with these?
There was some extra room on a tack fuse tray so I made a few trees too.
Already thinking about next year’s ornaments…
Workshop fun
I took a glass blowing terrarium class last month.
It didn’t turn out as I’d hoped it would…all six of my terrariums cracked from thermal shock, but it was fun never-the-less.
I did end up with a cool clear marble that I love.
Here’s hoping I have better luck in my wet felted wrist warmer class next week!
Home is where the heart is
I left mine in San Francisco today. We live in a truly amazing place!
Oh crabs!
It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, crab fest at Capurro’s Restaurant & Bar was amazing.
Personalized parking assistance from Paul the owner, who kept the boys occupied while daddy secured the reservation and I did the parking. He showed them two giant barrels full of live fresh crabs.
Poor Joe asked if he could please save some, after all, how would you feel if someone caught you, cooked you, then ate you? Sure kid, right after I get mine!
We were only there for an hour, and when we left both barrels were empty.
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