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Caroline has been working on her doll "Petra" for her book project.

She finally got all the pieces cut out and sewn together. The poor thing needs her legs sewn on and the stuffing holes closed. And of course some hair! She is looking really good though! We'll post a photo of the finished doll. I'm proud of her for learning to use the sewing machine. (I'm also embarrassed to tell you that under my direction, the first set of socks weren't correctly attached,  nor the legs... but it's all a part of the learning process, right?!) We stuffed the whole thing while watching American Idol last night. I am a closet Neil Diamond fan, so it was fun to hear his music. And of course, Caroline's favorite song in the whole world is "Sweet Caroline" so when David A. sang it, she was in heaven! I'm not too thrilled with Jason's performances anymore... I think he knows he's done and is waiting for his turn to go. But I'd still buy his albums! Here's what Caroline and I have been listening to lately: Jack!  And if you're a fan of Colbert Report, Feist was interviewed on Monday night! Here's a clip.  I wish they had posted the interview with her. He said he found her "in a little nightclub I like to call 'an Ipod commercial'!"  She had sent him her outfit from the video "1 2 3 4" and had offered the song to him in his campaigning before he dropped out of the race (or never really started depending on how you look at it!).  He donned it for her performance on the show... too funny! 

Laughing and listening in Lancaster~ Bethany

 

***DVR alert: Feist is on Conan tonight! Set to record!

more yellow

I've been in a yellow mood lately, maybe because it's spring and yellow is so bright and happy!  I decided to do some baking and made Sarah Foster's Lemon Bars with Blueberries. These were pretty hard because the crust is made from scratch and baking the lemon is tricky.  My oven is obviously not as warm as it should be so I have to adjust, adjust, adjust! But they do taste good... and really, that's all that matters!

I forgot to show you what I found last weekend at the Art Walk! I used to walk past this little shop on my way to painting class and admire the things in their windows: City Folk. They have the most lovely things... unique and peaceful. They had many woven rugs that were all beautiful so I picked one out for my kitchen. It was only $28!  The yellows remind me of my lemon bars!

 

I will definitely have to go back again!

laughter is the best medicine!

I know some of you read Monkee Maker's blog, but if you haven't, you need to go visit! She has the best sense of humor and I am always laughing after reading her creative posts! I don't know how she has time to do these crazy stories but I know there is a whole list of readers who appreciate them!

I am feeling so much better today! My doctor changed my medicine and this one actually makes me feel good. The sun started to come out finally. My therapist was slightly disappointing last night as she forgot to write down my appointment!! I know people say it can be hard to find someone you feel comfortable talking with. I believe them now. I wanted to give up on it last night but today I'm thinking of calling someone else at a friend's suggestion.

I had a wonderful surprise this morning when I got an email from Nathalie and she had posted the drawing I did of her daughter, framed and hanging in her beautiful bedroom! It is really a great feeling to have your art appreciated like that! Nathalie is a wonderful blog friend and someone who I dearly love!

friend love

Never underestimate the importance of friendship! I received a package on Friday afternoon with something very special in it... a needle-felted tree ornament from Di and a very sweet postcard, just to cheer me up!  I just can't tell you how much it meant to me for her to care so much though she's never met me. And all of you who are sending emails and nice notes. My first thought is that there are people who need this attention more than me, but truly, I do need to know that I have friends because that's what makes the day worth looking forward to.  I have received lots of things that people have made for me in the past months and I have them all around me here at my desk, so I can see them every day! So I'm sending out hugs to all of you and thank you again Diane... you're a very special person!!

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I'm an aunt again!

Today was a touch and go day... Craig's brother and his wife were expecting their third child in May, 5 weeks from today.  The little one decided to come early and there was nothing the doctors could do as she was already receiving shots regularly to carry him to full term.  We got the call from Craig's mom, who is celebrating her birthday today, that they rushed into the hospital very early this morning.

We just got the call that Liam James was born at 5 lbs. 8 oz. and he came out crying like a healthy baby!  They are still doing tests to see how he is and he will be in the premie wing for now. Please add him to your prayers and the family. Craig's brother was supposed to start a new job on Monday and was scheduled to be gone for training this week. I'm sure it will all work out. My mom-in-law just got a very special present for her birthday... a  new grandson!

my personal chef

Craig outdid himself last evening with this awesome dish! I forget that he can cook well. He found this recipe in my April Cottage Living magazine... it's a Sarah Foster recipe. She rules! It smelled sooo good and tasted even better! I had to copy it for you because it's really easy and you will love it! I'm not even a fish person and I loved it.

Halibut Pot Roast

This unlikely pot roast is great for feeding a crowd. We like to use leftovers in soup, such as our Salmon and Corn Chowder that you can find on myrecipes.com.

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes 

Bake: 22 minutes

Stand: 3 minutes

1 lb. small red or fingerling potatoes, washed

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

2 lbs. halibut fillets (3/4 to 1 inch thick)*

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 sprigs fresh tarragon

Sea salt, to taste

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, and cook 15 minutes. (Potatoes will not be fully cooked.) Drain and set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and saute 3 to 4 minutes or until soft and slightly brown. Add garlic and tomato, and saute 2 minutes more.

3. Place fish in pan, and add reserved parboiled potatoes, thyme, and next 4 ingredients. Bake, covered, at 325 degrees for 22 to 25 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Remove from oven, add butter, re-cover, and let stand 3 minutes or until butter melts. Serve warm.

*Substitute other thick white fish, such as haddock, if desired.

understanding

This has been a very interesting week. A lot of people have been asking how I am and I really appreciate it. I've found out that many other people have dealt with some of the same things or know someone who has. What I have learned from the doctor this week is that depression can be caused by chemical imbalances so even if rationally I could tell myself to be happy, my body could be saying something different. Everything is connected so health and emotions get all tied together.  I used to be someone who believed that it was all about attitude and if I just believed I was okay then that was enough. That just led to hiding or avoiding what was going on. So the doctor started me on medicine and it's not going so well as I'm very sensitive to drugs and it's making me nauseous every day. I will talk to her on Monday to see if this is normal! I don't want to feel worse. I know it's not going to be an easy or quick fix.

I spent some time today with Caroline, helping her with her doll project. They are off of school today. We got to eat breakfast out and tonight Craig is making a surprise dinner for me! He doesn't usually cook so that's a treat! I've been so tired lately, probably from the medicine, that I haven't drawn in days. I want to do something soon. (yawn). I hope you have a great weekend!

tulip love

These photos were taken from my flower beds about 4 years ago but I love to look at them every spring! I love tulips and when you photograph them in the sun, their colors are so vibrant and alive!  If you love tulips like I do, then take a look here at Alicia's gorgeous photos!

ida pearle

I found a wonderful artist through another blogger and was really enthralled with her collage images. She makes the alphabet cards that you see above, and other prints and stationary. Take a peek here.

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Some teaching going on over here this evening! Caroline is doing a project for her class and she decided she wanted to make a doll of the character in her book. She came up with the sketch of how she should look, we found fabric, and now she's putting it together! I'm going to start calling her "Hilary Lang"!  It is fun to watch her learn how to attach appliques and embroider. And figure out how pieces will go together for this soft sculpture!

Today Craig and I volunteered at the Junior Achievement Biztown for Caroline's Fifth Grade. It was a pretend town and all the students had careers which they had interviewed for previously. They had checkbooks and had to learn how to run a business. It was a lot of fun to see them learning about "real life"!  Caroline was CEO of Planet Earth, a retail shop. She said she wanted her own shop after that! Etsy, here she comes!! All the kids did a great job today and I will volunteer again next year when Nathaniel's turn comes!

It's official...

I'm a soccer mom.

But isn't he cute?!! Love the little man!

thanks

I just wanted to let you know that it means the world to me to have so much support from all of my friends. I'm hoping to post something creative soon. We went to the Art Walk on Saturday and I was inspired. I just need to get back to my sketchbook! Thank you!

hope

Yesterday I didn't think this word really existed. Today I know it again. If you caught my post yesterday that was up for only two minutes, then you know what is going on with me. I didn't want to share at first but I finally reached a point after two many numerous years to hold it in any longer.  It is shameful to admit that there is something wrong. I realized yesterday that I have been dealing with depression for a lot of years. It came to a point of getting help and I did that today. I am not the type of person to mope in public. I've been accused of being "too happy". I love to encourage people and do whatever it takes to make them happy. Unfortunately I never learned how to do that for myself. I can't deal with tough situations well or even disappointment. I don't want my children to suffer through it, so I am going to learn how to change things so that I won't be that way anymore. One thing that makes me the saddest is the lack of motivation to do my art. Art used to save me from it when I was a girl. I don't know why that changed but it is a struggle to do anything.  Blogging actually helps lift me up. I think it's been my saving grace for a year now. But it's time to get help and stop feeling bad. I hope that no one else feels like this, but if you do, please take the step with me to find someone to talk to. There is hope.

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bedtime

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Spring is fully here now! The tulips have bloomed over the weekend! That's how I always know that the warm weather is here to stay. The wild violets are blooming all over the grass. Their colors are so pretty. The kids decided to take left over cardboard refrigerator boxes into the yard and build a fort with them!  I always loved doing this as a kid. If you check with any appliance store, usually you can get them for free and it gives the kids at least an afternoon of entertainment! I think after they got bored of the fort, they broke it down and made "grass sleds" out of the cardboard! (We never did get enough snow this year to really sled!)

The concert last night was FANTASTIC!  Michael Buble is so entertaining and charming. He truly puts on a great show and if he comes back, we'll go again! I am really tired today but it was worth it. Michael... come back!!!!

87 ~ tonight!

I am the luckiest person ever today! Craig and I have tickets to see Michael Buble in concert!!! I will be DYING in the seats on the left hand side, listening to my favorite songs like "Everything" and wishing life could always be this romantic! After such a rough weekend, we deserve a little bubble-time!

*** He also won the 2008 Juno Fan Choice Award!! click here to see it and his live performance of "Everything"!

*** I just found this version of "What a Wonderful World"! I have no idea where it came from but I love it!

Done!

First of all, this was our impression of Altoona, PA!!!  It was in the middle of no-where!!

This is the assembly at the end of the day. Our team tied for 6th place out of 15 teams in our division. We should have had fourth place in our Long Term Problem as video proved we completed two of the tasks correctly that they gave us zero points for, but they wouldn't change our score. The judges helped the other teams during their peformances also, but our team got no help. Basically it was a very frustrating experience. We just wanted to be treated fairly in the judging process and for some reason, we weren't. Another school from our district decided to pull out because of scoring problems and they were more frustrated than us. It is too bad as the kids shouldn't be discouraged from participating in events like this. I don't think I'll do it again. I loved working with the kids all year and they did an excellent job at their performance, no matter what the judges thought. (Though the judges couldn't even remember why we got "0"'s!!!! ?!).  I am very proud of everyone! And we had a lot of fun with the parents this weekend too. I think we made some pretty good friends so in that sense, it was worth it!

This is a funny sign we saw at the restaurant we ate at for lunch!! I wanted to submit it to the Tonight Show!
Here's a photo of the judges questioning the team on the construction of their vehicle. The kids came up with the engineering from scratch!!! The other teams used premade parts which I was surprised by. We should have had higher points for our vehicle.

This photo actually shows that Foster stopped the vehicle within the starting area box. They said we didn't and we lost all 5 points for this!!! I don't know how much more proof you need than this picture??

 
They are judging the props. The kids made this treasure box out of cardboard. It caught the catapulted tennis ball which was really cool!!! They gave us zero points for that whole great thing too, saying it wasn't behind a certain line. It was... we had a whole video of it and if it hadn't been, it wouldn't have worked as the catapult requires precise placement. These judges really were biased or something!!!!

 
Here's a couple of nervous coaches!!! Breathe girls, breathe!!!!

Here's the kids waiting to be called to go into another room alone, to do their Spontaneous question. It ended up being a hands-on problem to solve. They got a top score in their verbal problem at Regionals. This one ended up being very difficult and they didn't do as well as they would have liked. But then, all the teams thought it was difficult, so they should be proud of themselves for the points they did win!

Here's my team!! What a great bunch of kids!!! Altoona is close to Penn State University in State College, PA. We got to see the campus and eat at the Creamery. We did have fun Friday night going out to dinner together and hanging out! We just have to keep Stephanie off of the sidewalks with her car!!!! If you go to Penn State and see tire tracks on the sidewalk, you know we were there!!! (It was dark and we couldn't see where we were going! ;)

Now to finally rest! Hope it was a good weekend for you!

Altoona or bust!

"On the road again... just can't wait to get on the road again..."  

We're headed to our Odyssey of the Mind State Competition!  Saturday is the big day and I think we're as ready as we'll ever be. That's not really saying anything good or bad. We're just ready!  So blogging is going to be on hold AGAIN!  I am really doing poorly this month at my "365 days of being creative".  I can't decide if I should just pick up at the current date or make myself go until I've done an actual 365 days. Regardless, I've never filled a sketchbook so fast in my life! It's been really great to feel obligated to be creative. Otherwise I could always find an excuse why I didn't. And for the last decade, I've used up bunches of excuses. So a little pat on the back to myself for trying hard and actually improving. 

Before you ask me if this is my van, no... but I think it's my dream car!!! This is why Craig and I are opposites. His is an Aston Martin.  Oh, yeah, they're beautiful... but come on... what's the chances of getting one?!! Now my dream car is much more attainable. So if anyone knows of a red and white 1960's vw van for sale, let me know!  My family had a white camper van (though no pop-top... our friends had that one!) and it had the little kitchen and fold down table. In the days before mandatory seatbelts, we'd surf in the back.  I don't think I'm a hippy, but maybe I'm a 21st century hippy because I've suddenly developed a fondness for singers with dreadlocks and ukuleles (Jason Castro... scroll to the last YouTube...ahhh!) and am thinking it would be fun to roam the country in my cool red and white van, painting and drawing and listening to iTunes. I just demand daily showers, that's all.

I did draw a vw van but my usb port is not recognizing my printer/scanner (oh, so technical... I know... but I have no idea what I'm talking about really.) So maybe I'll upload it later when the technical advisor has a chance to look at it.

So... have a wonderful weekend! Catch you on the flip side. ;)

cincinnati

I'd like to call this one "Headed for trouble!"... (and you know why!)... keep your eyes on the road Beth!!!

A bunch of blondes! Here's me (in my new Nicole Miller dress which I love but frankly isn't doing anything for me in this photo!!), my sister Jane, cousin Terrill, sister Anne and Terrill's daughter Natalie (who I totally adore!). They are all gorgeous women!

The groomsmen all wore kilts in honor of Chuck's Irish background. Natalie kept hitting the little silver bags in front, thinking they were "wind chimes... I want to hear them chime!!" Ha!!

The beautiful bride, my cousin Becky, now married. When Natalie was asked what her favorite part of the wedding was, she said the dancing! (She danced the whole reception!). When her Daddy asked her if it wasn't the kiss, she said, "No, that part kind of scared me." :)  Out of the mouth of babes!  Beautiful wedding and I hope they have many, many years of happiness together!

yellow

Spring has finally come to Pennsylvania! The forsythia which line our whole property are in bloom. I only got some quick shots yesterday as I was still feeling badly. The warm weather is rolling in though and hopefully everyone will stop passing around the colds and flu!

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Two drawings for my cousin: the first is more realistic and the second I tried to do in a more illustrative style like the previous two drawings that I did of me and my kids and the one of Stephanie's children. It is pretty hard when you've only seen one photo of a child you've never met. Hopefully one of these will work for her... she's giving it to this little one's parents as a baptism gift. I feel very privileged to be asked!

My Crazy Weekend and Wonderful Presents!

(I have no idea why my Mac underlines all of this!!!)

Thank you all for your great send-off on Friday!!  I was laughing to myself about the great story I would have to tell you when I got back. It was a "Murphy's Law" weekend (to quote a friend)... if something could go wrong, it did!!!

First on Friday, I left my cell phone in my car but I didn't think it was a big deal as my sister Anne had her phone. But my sister who was flying in from Orlando, Florida had left a message on my phone that she had missed her flight. It was crazy busy down there with spring breakers. Meanwhile on our flight into Dayton, Ohio airport, a little girl sitting behind us threw up and we had to smell that for half the flight! When we got into the airport, we waited an hour for Jane's plane. It came but Jane was no where to be found. After another half an hour we asked the ticket counter guy but he wouldn't give us any information except that there was a "problem in Orlando". So we desperately tried to call her husband with no luck. We found out later that Jane had flew stand-by on the next flight out and arrived in Cincinnati airport. She called us and said she was trying to get on the flight up to Dayton... her bags were definately going there. We went ahead and rented our car and said we'd come down to pick her up. (It's about 1 1/2 hours south of Dayton). On our way down to get her, Jane called and said she was going to take a cab and for us to go to the hotel to check-in and then we could still make our dinner reservation.  We took the exit to the hotel and as we came to the end of the exit ramp, someone rear-ended our car!!! So we spent the next hour waiting for the police and making the report. Anne hurt her neck. Jane called back and said she was on the flight to Dayton, so we turned around to drive back an hour north because we had to return the rental car for a new one and could pick her up. By 7:30pm we had Jane, her luggage and a new car and we finally ate dinner at 8:00 pm after not having anything all day long! We drove back down to Cincinnati to check in to our hotel and just crashed into bed! We missed our good dinner and dancing, and our friend Bryan never showed up because he got stuck in Oklahoma with his work and missed his flight!

Saturday the wedding was beautiful. Everything went well with that. The groom was Irish so the men all wore kilts. It was sunny and gorgeous. I loved seeing all my relatives and meeting new family members and friends. We all looked wonderful, dressed up... so much fun!! (I'm hoping that Anne sends me the photos she took! I didn't bring my camera.) That evening we went out for pizza with my mom and stepdad down near my old college campus (Univ. of Cincinnati). My sisters and I drove around there afterwards, then went out to Mt. Adams and walked around, went to the Blind Lemon and heard live music, and were back by midnight. Then the flu hit! I was up all night, so sick and poor Anne kept waking to my getting up and going in the bathroom! I was miserable. On Sunday they ran to get me Pepto Bismal and I was able to shower and pack up my things, but just stayed in the car while they shopped for a couple hours because our flight wasn't until 6:30pm.  We drove around the neighborhood where I grew up and ended up seeing Becky's mom! Then we ran into the new owner of the house I grew up in and she gave us a tour of it!! That was probably one of the highlights of our trip. Lots and lots of memories there!  We finally got up to Dayton Airport again and we said good-bye to Jane, and headed home. It was a LONG couple flights with a layover in Detroit.  I was never so glad to get back to my own car and get home. It was a little after midnight. But Caroline, my daughter was also suffering from the flu and had been throwing up all evening. She was up all night but I couldn't even stay up with her, poor thing. I was too exhausted. We both slept most of yesterday and are finally feeling better today. Luckily Craig got Nathaniel to school yesterday. He cleaned the house, did the laundry, fed the kids, taught the Church class, and got the kids where they needed to be! He even took care of Caroline. I am so grateful.

So, here's the great news! I have HUGE THANK YOU's to give, because when I got home there were some packages waiting for me (you guys just made my day with this!!!!!)

First, Nathalie sent me the most wonderful assortment of little gifts: the pouch that she sewed and was posted on her blog... I loved it and I can't believe she gave it to me!!!! And some little wooden buttons that she found (I have to figure out how to use them now!), her favorite tea (yum!) and a strainer (I am a huge tea fan), yummy lip gloss, and candies from Brazil. I was just telling my son how lucky I felt that I have such great friends through my blog... women I totally admire and who are beyond sweet and generous!

The pretty package (I love this blue and red together!!!) and the goodies inside:

Then Lesley sent me the PIF (Pay it forward) gift that I was lucky enough to be the recipient of! She had a beautiful card in there (with the bird and house... I will hang it up!)...
And her wonderful fabric bags for storage that I have loved on her blog!!!!! Thank you!!!! Caroline loved it too (she might take it, so I have to watch her!) She also sent a beautiful notebook-- the cover has stitched fibers on the front... just gorgeous. And those ladies from the UK always send chocolate... Cadbury's... we are fighting over this one!!!! Can you believe it's still in the photo?? That's because we've all been sick, otherwise it'd be gone in 2 seconds!
Lastly, I got my Country Dolls Kit in the mail from Alicia and it is so adorable!! We loved making her first kit of the St. Lucia girls. This one has the prettiest fabrics and will be even more fun to make!
So that's my whole big tale!  Some more good news:  My cousin Terrill has asked me to do a drawing of a friend's child to give as a gift. I'm really loving doing this! Stephanie liked hers which makes me SO happy! And Terrill and I might start a book project together. She's thinking of self-publishing, so this may turn out to be a really great project! I appreciate all of your support for my work. And all of your photos inspire me more than you know!! I'm so glad to be home :)

vacation

Just a little weekend wedding to attend! I'm leaving in the morning and will be back late on Sunday evening... so have a wonderful weekend!!! I'll be catching up with my sisters :)

New books released!

I had several books on preorder and they all were released within a week of each other!  Lotta Prints  is going to be my favorite! She has all kinds of print projects and I am ready to stencil walls, print on clothing and pillows, and anything else!  I am thinking that it would be fun to do an art camp this summer with my kids and others, focusing on different kinds of printmaking. Children love to make prints!

The other two books just fascinate me: The Creative Family and Making Stuff For Kids.  The first one is simple projects and activities to "encourage imagination and nurture family connections". I think that is a totally wonderful idea! The second one features Laura Fairbrother's patterns among many others (also Heidi Kenney) and is divided into crafts for different ages. I wish I could BE Laura... alas, I can't but I can make her cool stuff!

I also received Jenn Docherty's Sweet Needle Felts last week. My daughter is a huge fan of her and of needle felting! We had been waiting since she wrote about it on her blog last year!

So now I have a mountain of books to read, crafts to make, paintings to paint, quilts to sew, and drawings to draw.  Who says staying home to raise your children is not full of adventure?!!