not too much free time lately.

Recently, one of my favorite things to do with my free time,  while out of the house,  is to go study at the local library.
Study wise it changes every time I go,  but the library?  It stays the same.

The smell (have to start with that) of book pages,  new and old, wood and printer ink.  The sound of the book cart making it's runs to the many shelves and it's constant squeaky wheel. Books you can buy go a quarter, endless supplies of knowledge at your fingers, and even more if you're willing to search all the other branches of building stocked  with books your town.
 The older gentleman sighing after every second turning off his book, the line of computers with people sitting in front of (almost always playing some internet game -which did annoy me in the past,  but now,  I see it as "more-time- with- books- and- no- bumping- into- people- in- aisles-for- me!!!!  ;), clicking away...
The availability of taking a book down, scanning through it and jotting down little jewels of wisdom and wittiness that you want to remember forever -  and sighing (with an uncanny harmony to the man behind you) when your arms are trembling with the weight of all those words,  and you begin a list of all the books you'll be checking out next time.
Flyers for clubs and guilds you can join, large, stuffed animals in the children's section (admit it, you've cuddled up with them too when no one's around), big- open windows and covers of books that you stand in front of in awe.

The little jem I found today is related to all watercolorists around. I read it and immediately felt at ease.  Here it is for anyone else out there that has felt the same way as myself,  thinking that what I do and want to do in my watercolors,  isn't allowed and every time frowned upon. Here it is:

"For some reason,  watercolour has attracted a more comprehensive -and often inexplicable-  list of dos and don'ts then any other medium.  People feel that there is a "correct" way of working and that any departure from this constitutes a kind of unfaithfulness to the medium.  For example, we are told that we must never use opaque white because it will spoil the lovely translucence of the colours; while good painting aids such as masking fluid are described as "mechanical" and therefore in some way immoral.  Eyebrows are raised if you try anything new -it is simply not done. Interesting, all the theories of correct procedure have only sprung up in this century, while the more rigid rules surrounding oil painting were the product of 18th- and 19th-century academic tradition and have since been largely abandoned.  The best 19th-century watercolours, particularly those by (J.M. W.) Turner, reveal am enormous variety in the methods used, as well as many practices which might be frowned upon today.  Turner used opaque paint, he moved the paint around on the picture surface and allowed colours  to run;  he smudged paint with his fingers and even scratched into it in places. In short, he used the medium as the servant of his ideas rather than the other way around." 

-Hazel Harrison ("Watercolor, Oil & Acrylic")


That said, I am still very much afraid to pick up opaque paints, but I feel very energized by reading this for who- knows- how- many- times,  and this new chapter has begun. The chapter where I am no longer afraid of my own brush, the Purest of watercolorists and am now ready to go out once again and paint and paint and paint.

Lovely words from books make my day.

Au revoir!

Scars on the trees

Medium: HB and 2B pencils

 Just a quick sketch I did of a tree on my grandparents property that was first destroyed by the ice and wind storm a few months ago, and then was relieved of its branches. I am very happy of this sketch because it has that sort of  'harsh beauty' that I see everywhere.



And then this is me relieving myself of stress... =D Hi-yah! ;)

Medium: 2B pencil

Medium: HB Pencil

I'm actually a little disappointed of this sketch, I had pictured the couple being more mature looking - but it turned out like some teens smooching in the movie theater... oh well.
This is my first "romantic" type sketch, and lets just say I had fun with it - giggled the whole way through it actually. (You can partly see all the notes I put around it, criticizing myself and taking down notes).

Anyhow, I'm posting this because I need to post something, and also this picture reminds me somewhat of the holidays - the way that those in relationships feel, those special moments under mistletoe...? Do people even notice or put up mistletoe?? I wouldn't know... random!

Merry Christmas, one and all!

Christmas is almost here...

And music is one the only things that really shout out "holidays!" to me, and also one of the few things that we have around the house (never had many decorations up and haven't done trees for a while. Sad I know, but it's our way of trying to focus on the things that need attention the most...) With that said, I've recently discovered this group, The Annie Moses Band, made of a family Juilliard trained (jealous yet?), and quoting nearly every summery on youtube out there: 

"Weave a spectacular blend of pop, classical, and jazz influences to create a new and exciting sound."  

 Yeah, sound awesome? They're even better, I'm loving listening to them while doing whatever - maybe it's my own way of fantasizing of one day (in another life obviously) going to a school of music and loosing myself (TMI???) in it (I've watched Fame -new and old one- one to many times ;)
Here is me sharing some of my fav's. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

end of a short summer

Summer is adventures at dawn and dusk,
Summer is flowing dresses, large belts and straw hats,
Summer is chilly snacks,
Summer is digging bare toes into cool grass,
Summer is loosing track of time and direction,
Summer is reading books in trees and flowers in hair,
Summer is sketching and painting the days away,
Summer is wishes made and wished found,
Summer is cooled iced tea and refreshments galore,
Summer is life, summer is beautiful, and summer is ... gone ...?


I wrote this at the beginning of summer this year (The last line read "Summer is life, Summer is beautiful, Summer is here" at the time), and I thought it was suited for the end of summer as well. It does feel though, summer ended in August. The Washington Seattle area just didn't get a summer this year. The hottest it ever got was 85°F and that was only three or four days of it (spread throughout about two and a half months... I know - pity me). And with my own self and schedule (I was the weird summer student this year =P), I started my Senior year of high school at the beginning of August... so to all of you who have only just recently started school... I ignore you. =P No, not really. It was my choice, and I am glad that I did. It was probably the best summer of my life to do so too (I do not even live in Winter - only in Summer do I really feel alive).

Enough of rambling? Okee dokes. I have to fully wake up anyhow now.

See the life

Ten years ago, I had just waken up from a long night. My baby brother was just hours old - Born Five minutes before midnight on September 10th... I woke up that morning on September 11th, 2001, to the phone ringing, it was answered from across the hall. Not more then a minute had pass before I hear my dad rushing towards our old television, and hook up the crooked antenna to it. I sleepily crawl out of the sleeping bag I had spent most of the night in (I got to see the birth), and shuffled out to our living room. My mom was sitting on the couch, with little Timothy not even a full twelve hours old. The TV stuttered to life, and I slumped to the floor, next to my mothers feet. The TV showed a women reporter (I remember that), in front of a smoking construction site... Or so I thought. It then showed clips of the buildings falling... and the people that had so much desperation to get out that they would jumped to their deaths. My mom's hand covered my eyes, I turned my head to look at her. She was staring at the television, holding her new born, precious baby in one protective arm, tears running down her face. I was only eight, so I don't remember much, not sounds - Just the pictures, they linger in my memory to this day. And the look on my parents faces. And the way they tenderly held that baby - that held so much joy, love - and life in him - Even as it seemed the whole world fell around us.

And today? My friend (and peer) has enlisted in the US Army because of that day, my once little brother is now ten years old and I thank God for the life around me. That even when disaster strikes it's cold, cruel hand - God gives grace and mercy to us. God gives life, and death. But haven't you noticed, that when we see death, life is ten-times magnified in our lives?

Remember, don't forget. See the life.

911

Medium: Polyvore Design

Confessions of a scattered brain

Something I love... Summer mornings, the golden yellows and sparkling, silver dew

     

Something I dislike... Splinters, tiny ones, in my little toe.


Something that makes me giddy... Blindly walking through the dark house (I'm weird that way).

Something that makes me sad... Tripping on my (very old) sweet doggie in that dark hallway.


Something that terrifies me...swimming in lakes and oceans. I scare my self silly just imagining things. (I've very odd at times)

Something worthy of note... (*crickets sound*)


Something not... I stayed up very late last night reading this book titled The Trouble with Tulips... =P

Something done... Taught five-year-old sister how to trace the linoleum with a crayon and paper (yep - it was on my bucket list, between Skydiving and being kissed in the pouring rain)


Something in need... Writing to pen pals.


Something I want... this skirt =D

Something I need... Watercolor paper

Something I'm thankful for...

What Ho!

It's time like these that I wish that I could pull off a moderately good Brits twang and shout “what ho?” all around the streets.

The Help

I read The Help last year as a recommendation from my Mumu (we both love to read and go back and forth with titles). When I found out there was a movie coming - a date out was set (well... not set-set...  more like "Lets try to do that!").
The book was very good - I personally learned a lot about that time in that culture. I can't wait to support this by paying the ridicules price of $11.

Your Opinion?

Your heart is a weapon the size of your fist. Keep fighting. Keep loving.

My fellow bloggers... your thoughts on this quote please.

New... ish-er!

I'm so tickled - I finally did something with the blog! And I change things - deleted and added! (this coming from someone who usually runs away from change) And it was so easy. Here is a picture that I took so that we may always remember the old. (*moment of silence*)

Alrighty! Now onto the new! As you might have noticed, I've changed the title as well (my eyes were tightly closed while I did, for you information), It's shorter, simpler and to the point. I love wood trails - my mind is forever branching off into trails (not trains =) and I just like it a lot more.

I also made the whole blog brighter, and clearer (I hope!). Still, if anything starts whacking out, or you are having problems viewing - please don't hesitate to tell (either via comments or email).

Thank you so much to those who still read this blog! I really want to get back on to posting more - just hang tight!

Eye color, what they could be and what they are

What color SHOULD YOUR eyes be?! Your Result: Pale blue Your eyes should be adorable, clean, alert, magnificent, brave, and cooperative pale blue! If this IS your eye color ten you were born with the perfect eyes!!!
Brown eyes
Rich blue
Green
What color SHOULD YOUR eyes be?! Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

(My actual eyes - don't ya' just love my "natural" looking going here?)

Totally awesome - because it was right! (I don't know about the whole adorable, magnificent and brave parts - they most likely just put that in so you would look at more quizzes... but ah-ha! -flattery does not pierce my armor! ... well - most of the time at least)
I really need to up load some more sketches to this blog - I need more critics!
Hopefully more soon. =)

It is a full moon tonight...

I love these nights, when I can see the moon out of my window, with wispy clouds adoring it. It's at these times that I wish that I could write poetry. But I leave that to the ones that honestly can.

So, to all of you poets out there, pen me one about the moon please?

Just give me my due

One of my five brothers (yes, I just love saying that=) came to me this morning, a large pellet gun in hand - and asked me if he was allowed to shoot at crows.

"Ummm... why do you ask?" I parried.

"Well, you got upset with Ben when he killed that Blue Jay - I just thought I ask if I could try my gun at crows, seeing as they are pest for our garden."

"I don't like it when you guys kill things," I tell him "but I know I can't tell you not to. So all I ask is that you give me the feathers if you do kill something - but I'm not asking you to try it - just if you do."

"If that's so, then why did you get so upset with Ben and the Blue Jay?"

"The reason was, he just buried the bird, didn't even think of giving me the feathers! I was shocked and upset for that sole reason."

       I love feathers, natural looking feathers. I make earrings out of them. But all I have right now are duck feathers (from my ducks) and some chicken feathers. A Jays blue feathers would have been amazing - and if the boys ever get a crow - well, I'll secretly morn the loss of a free and beautiful bird (aye - I think crows and ravens are beautiful) but will be glad that I will have more to sell.

LIFE

Life

It tends to leave you standing in the middle of life's roadway, amongst all of the settling dust swirling around you.

Most things happen fast, and you're left just standing (or most of the time slumped) there, or, it-just-won't-ennnnddddd!

But what to do. When things go wrong? What do you do when your mom's baby dies? What do you do when your dad is ill? What do you do when the whole house is a emotional tangled mess? What do you do when you don't know were your feet are leading you?

So many times I catch myself falling into despair- don't want to leave the house, don't want to talk to any body, or respond to emails. Put on a fake face and go about my day. But afterwards. I myself feel fake.

"Put it away! Throw the mask of pettiness away forever!" I tell myself. "Let people see you as you are - not who you aren't!" Watch the sunrise, and see the beauty in it, see it set and have it all renewed. Hear the birds sing everyday, day in and day out. They don't stop - why should we?

"I think the only way to get through this life is laughing hard and constantly, mostly at myself."

I now understand this quote by author Shannon Hale and have begun to love it.

Wanna know how to get through life? Here are two of many ingredients:

Laugh. Breathe. Repeat.

traveling inside...

(it's 1.11.11! Or 11.1.11 if you want to be fun and eastern)

I'm going to cut to the chase.

Welcome to my room. I share it with two little boys (ages seven and nine...) that is why I am not showing you all of my room. Little boys are slightly disgusting - but I love them.

Any how!

First off, as you walk in, you'll notice a very large tree branch hang over the entire north wall. It has leaves, moss and ivy hanging on it. It has a lot of character. I don't know how to describe the color of the room. I think the chip said (if I can remember from that long ago) Spruce Grove, or something like that. It's a very instresing color. In natural light it turns almost blue. Then its a greenish gray the rest of the time. I kind of like it - it reminds me of what the sea looks like here in the northwest. Always stormy.

This is my curtain rod. It is three or four branches that are held together by ivy (okay, okay - I had to use wire as well...). And you can see my lovely job at painting the ceiling (I wasn't trying to by the way)

My window... with a creature rear end... ? (what was he doing there?) There are vintage coke bottles with sticks and that sort, large pine cones, rocks, sea shells and two (mostly live) ferns. (you can also see my lovely back woods view)

i: That is a stuffed duck... I didn't know it was there when I took the picture...

ii: my odd assortment of hats

iii: that is a cat

iv: my collection of book bags and other bags (No.Purses...)

You may be starting to get the idea that I like details... lots of 'em. One of my ferns has an old pair of aviators in them (found them in the boonies of Spokane, along side were a collection of empty bottles and shot gun shells). On the right is my pride and glory. Its a root. and its the main part of the room (this quality is horrible - I'm very upset with my self)

(if you can even tell which ones which)

i: butterfly hair clip on leaf

ii: sting of pearls hanging on my board that has assorted dried plants.

iii: This is the hole in the wall because of the door nob... I also forgot about it while taking the picture

iv: my handy-dandy stapler (also don't know why it's in here...)

v: a dirty mirror...

and in the corner, my friend (no name yet). He is a Fender Jazz and sounds amazing. I love him!

Here's Drinian. He is eating my foot (ouch!). Also, this gives you a wonderful view of my blue carpet...

More details. bottles, frames, little wooden chest, shells, rocks, leaves, little notebooks - a hair band...

Oh yes. That box like thing that everything is on is a record player and radio.

i: These are my vinyl records. A few months back, I had gone with a record/punk/60's theme for the room. It got old really fast. love my records though (they are my dads from when he was in school that I found in my mumu's basement)

ii: my lightning blue converse high tops. Very awesome (also because they cost around 50 bucks and I got them for $11.50. Score!)

iii: hairy ball (boys)

iv: K'nex! Proof of little boys

v: yes, it is a Christmas tree lollipop. I think it's still there... ew

my letter basket

Drinian eating my fern... I'm seeing an annoying habit coming around here.

Just a little detail up on the wall. Rooster feather, maple leaves, fern, Douglas fir and I think some barn straw tied together

I don't know if there is any sort of "category" to put my room into - it's all just stuff thrown and cut together. It works and I feel comfy in it, and the little boys are fine with anything as long as no more records on the wall (I didn't think it was that bad.)

Well... I think that's about all folks.

What does your room like? Do you like details, or more of the simple side?  Blog about it and link up here so I can see it - I'd really love to.

 As a last note - what is it with teenage guys and their bedroom doors? I already know not to go in there (I made that mistake a few years back and will never repeat it), but why with all the signs?
 My favorite one is of that of one of our friends, it goes something like this one a sign. Warning: Sleeping Tests Commencing. Do Not Enter. (That's not exactly it but it's something like that. Maybe I'll get a picture sometime).

(wow - this is really long...)

My backyard

A look into what I see everyday. I'll be starting outside and later on, in a different post I'll head inside. I am not a photographer. I am using my photographer sisters camera (that if it is hurt in any way I will be killed - I'm not joking - it's her life works and she only has one). So thus I can't get all the shots I wanted (in the trees or in the rain... =)

Any how, here's some pictures of my backyard and the ones who live out there too.

 Plus some unnecessary musings and rambles. You have been warned.



Meet Drinian, our newest member of the land. He is the loudest kitten ever. Really. He cries, whines and cries some more. Even in this picture above you can see his mouth whining! So funny. Gus (the baby of the family) loves this guy, and whenever he hears him outside meowing, Gus perks up  " m'ow?"



This is Molly. She is the sweetest goat you will ever find, and a great milker (but not mother - her body can't handle it - very sad story).

 

I am seriously surrounded by woods. And nearly ever tree in my forest is the majestic Douglas Fir (the smell is amazing)



Molly, and my two guard ducks. They are what you might call special needs ducks (these two actually drowned and then I revived them. - who would have thought that ducks could drown? It's very real though). They are seriously mean, nasty, ill-tempered and any other word you can think up of that could go along with ducks that attack people they are not happy with (like little Gus, he's terrified of them). And when I say attack, I mean they both (they are drakes by the way, which might explain why they do this) will come at you at different sides, one will distract you while the other one goes for whatever skin it can see or a pant leg. Then, he grasp hold of it, and twist and pulls. It hurts so bad when they get bare skin (just think about it, your skin is not meant to be twisted and pulled like that!). But I love them tons all the same (plus it's priceless when someone doesn't believe me and I send them in =)



Sally, Sally, Sally... She is a brat. And that is all.



After walking into the barn (no pic of the barn from the outside, didn't have a view at the time - and it was raining... and I had my sisters camera that I cannot hurt). This is the milk room door that we had people sign after helping out with the barn raising.

 

As you can see here, I had woken up Jax the cat who was sleeping in the loft. This is him looking down through the hole (the white thing is the front door of the barn).



Journeying up to the loft by way of a very rickety ladder...



Once again looking up at Jax, who had decided to ignore me and look out the window



The Loft! This place has been my dream for so many years. To actually have a loft to play in and sleep in. Fairytale come true



Looking out the loft window (I bring the hay, straw and feed through here)



My mom got this for me. She said it described me well.

 To sum everything up, I have odd critters, an awesome loft that anyone is welcomed to visit, and beautiful trees around me. And my fingers are cold right now.
Here's a peek into what we will be seeing next week...


The view of my window from the outside... almost looks like I'm looking outside doesn't it?

2011 ... Isn't there supposed to be flying cars by now?

Well any how, I'm up WAAAAAAYYYY to late (it's nearly 3am ... stupid o'clock in other of my words). I spent part of the night watching the Patriot with two chums (just got past the part where they are killing everyone. No wait - that is the whole movie!), that had to come home 37 minutes (exactly) into this new year (baby sister has a very, and when I say very - I mean very... wait, what was I saying? -Bad toothache) before which we jumped around outside in the FREEZZZZZZZING (*teeth chatter*) air cold air cold (guess who was wearing pjs and blue hightop chucks not laced and a tanktop and ratty sweatshirt{jumper} that has so many holes it not even considered holy) and saw some shootings stars (I didn't, I guess I'm going to die this year={ ) and tried to pick a theme song for this year (i cant remember if it was eye of the tiger... we just started randomly singing it or something else... something about caves was it???) and lay on the freaking cold ground (did I say it was cold already? Well, it was) and looked at the stars. OH! and we lit off sparklers. Yes. I think we did twelve boxes - and ended up coughing our lungs out too.... Then, I put two little boys to sleep, ran around outside, tripped over frozen mole hills (the most dangerous thing in the northwest by the way) and watch YouTube videos until 2:50... What a life eh?!

Er... yep. And by the way - you know how when you write you say what your writing in your head? Well, I've written this whole thing with a British accent... Its has been jolly fun.

Off to bed now - happy new year folks. I hope done of you read this before you wake up... wait... nevermind (*that was said in my American teenage mumble*).

(oh yes, and I dare all of you who do read this - after you wake up of course - to read it in a British voice, the best one you can do. Tootles!)

Edit:
I just read what I wrote - and I'm not going to correct my typos (ant the fact that it didn't make any sense) - that is just me at wee hours of the morning... gosh. I hope I get to sleep in tomorrow... /slash/ this morning

And I've change my mind again! You don't have to read this in a Brit voice, better yet, save your brain cells for something more productive - like watching television and chewing gum!

(I have this funny, tingling feeling that I'm going to regret posting this at 3 in the morning. I guess there is a reason that any time between 1am and 7am are considered stupid o'clock.)

Confessions of a wanna-be blogger

I'm on, I'm off... I'm off again - then back! And all that jiggiejig stuff.

I honestly don't know why I keep on going back and forth (and back and forth)... it gets annoying sometimes (so sorry)
When on blogger: *whine* "I don't want to post! Why do I even post anything at all? *whine, whine, whine*
Then...
When Not on blogger: "Oh, I should post about that! ... wait... never mind."

You get the picture.

So, I'm just going to be randomly posting... I think it's what works (with life in full scale right now it's the only thing to do)

So, what's been happenin' my peeps?
Me? Oh, not much really. Just a few favorites...
Despicable Me. Love this movie!

Margo, Edith and Anges ... pretty sums up the only three girls in my family (I'm Edith btw...*grins*)

"...Um, it was your cousins idea!" "Whaaaaaaaattttt?" (I died watching that the first time with a friend=)

I've fallen in love with these little guys - gross hair and all!



Random picture of me... sorry. but I have to show off my new bangs.



Christmas Eve morning in 2009 and this year. Same place but almost totally different people. But, that's what my mom says.

 

THIS. IS. THE. COOLEST. KNIFE. EVER. Thank you so much Ari!!


What you ought to know... Yeah, this guy is great.


Anyhow, I'll end this now with this.
Merry Christmas!

-Part Time Lib