Tumble Weed Storm

Just what is a Tumble Weed? Salsola? Caught up on a barbed wire fence? A transportation method for small animals and bugs - that is what Primo and Segundo believe! The wonderfuk imaginations they have never ceases to amaze me! Fascinating, Inspiring? Yes, I find them utterly amusing and always get a spark of creativity from them. Sometimes even get lost in daydreams after seeing one roll along. After searching through garden books, libraries, and online I found out it is a noxious weed. Never the less I still find beauty in their dried dance across a field, down a street or like today in a mass migration along the highway - Why do I never have my camera when I really need it?

In actuality they are just another invasive plant species or maybe we are the invasive ones! For now I continue to let them induce daydreams, and other flights of fancy!

Baseball

Been Reading a lot of old baseball with Primo the kid can't get enough of the old stories and statistics! this was created at Acme Labs.
We are working our way through the baseball encyclopedia, it is a slow go.

Pie, Pie, We Love Pie!

Pie Pie Me oH My - lets make a pie.
Segundo helps me make the pies for thanksgiving -
a lovely variation on the lattice top cherry pie.
Cut outs adorn our traditional apple (above)
For me there is nothing like the preparation of a tradition family dinner with the help of my little ones.

My life is mundane

I know it is a sad statement, "My Life is Mundane"
I try to approach it in a zen way, embracing the simplicity of each task,
each day, each week.......

often I fail....

Is there is beauty in the excruciatingly boring details?

Dia De Los Meurtos

Day of the Dead in Memory of Carrie

More Skulls

Skulls by Primo and Segundo
as you can see there is sugar every where!

Cupcakes

The day is finally here - Segundo's 4th Birthday!
He has requested monster cupcakes - fondant creations adorn each cupcake!

Nobody did it Mommy

so we have a few weeks to go before halloween
I pull the sewing machine out
lo or woe and behold
parts, parts every where
2 are missing (double @#*^+@#*^)
after an exhaustive search of local craft stores and a run in with an Oprah - esque salesperson giving me more attitude than an white gal from utah should - I still don't have the parts or the culprit that disassembled my machine!

Holy Holidays Batman - We Need Costumes

We are not just going to stand around as mild mannered Primo and Segundo as others rush off to Kmart, Walmart, Target and etc., to envelope themselves in a variety of prepackaged super hero get ups - no!

Primo and Segundo both have selected what they want to be now it is up to me to create their visions. Knight in Shining Armor and Attila the Hun Should be fun!

it seems like it was just a few days ago that we were starting to make out sugar skulls, and now it is time to make halloween costumes. where does the time go?

The Sweet Art of Sugar

the air is dry and crisp
the light has changed
fall is here
sugar and meringue powder fill the air
anticipation &
sweet memories of one past

Primo and Segundo decorate skulls for our Halloween and Day of the Dead Celebrations

Welcome Back

It has been an amazing summer! I apologize for not being a better summer time blogger! Olympus has had its share of amazing sunsets (and sunrises)! Zeus, Primo, Segundo and my self have been busy - more photos and blogging to follow! It is great to be back!

A Rock Garden

In the high mountain desert
the kids love decorating our garden
painted rocks and stepping stones
as long as we have cement, ceramic tiles and
glass pieces we cool off in the back yard
decorating more stepping stones

Stepping stone madness!

Every Child is and Artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

~Pablo Picasso

(I can't imagine these guys giving up the creativity bug, our days just ooze with creative joy!) We have made several sets of stepping stones and the joy of mixing cement in a bucket pouring it into molds and pushing as many tiles, marbles and bits of glass into them is endless! The styles reflect the personalities ~ Primo is really into symmetry while Segundo embraces random/chaos!

Quote of the Day

"The future belongs to those

who believe in the beauty of

their Dreams."

– Eleanor Roosevelt

I don't plan on posting a long list of quotes but found this one to be particularly appropriate.

Go Fly a Kite

Spent some time at Primo's school today making kites - as usual the kids all applied their sense of dsign and art to the project - I just hope they fly.

Liberty Redux

Finally, placed the last bauble on the liberty thing, funny I feel no sense of liberty - what is the current state of our liberty? Still in that post-art-um malaise, wondering what idea will spring into action next? It has taken a week for me to get this onto the blog - malaise I say!!

Painting with TWO hands

A mantra for Painting with 2 hands
song and mantra from Segundo

" hu humm hu hmmPainting with 2 hands, hmm, humm, hmm, painting with 2 hands hmm, humm, hmm, paint, Painting with 2 hands, paint, hmm, humm, hmm, painting with 2 hands hmm, humm, hmm, paint Painting with 2 hands, hmm, humm, hmm, painting with 2 hands hmm, humm, hmm, paint Painting with 2 hands, Painting with 2 hands"

A mantra and a beautiful melody coming from my littlest muse with the angelic voice. At first I do not even realize that he is singing but I feel relaxed and possibly on the rebound from the malaise of the recent post-art-um.

Segundo and I had a great studio day - mostly he was the one that got stuff on paper - I sat and listened to him singing, "painting with 2 hand, painting with 2 hands," over and over as he quite ambidextrously mixed paint with multiple bushes in each hand and made some lovely paintings. "Rainbow" and "Brown and Pink" are just 2 of the many from today.

It continually amazes me the joy that is on his face while mixing paint. 2 little hands 3 or 4 brushes in each swirling on the palettes making the most wonderful brown! He loves it, my friends are envious of the time spent together in the studio.

Post "ART" um

The state one finds one self in when having completed a project and not knowing what to do next. The ideas are there just not present themselves for the making.

Jump In

I wish I could tell you that everyday is filled with non-stop, post minimal, glitz!
There are days when it seems just too difficult, it is important to move beyond the inertia and put...

Brush to Canvas
Pencil to Paper
Glue to Collage
Ingredients to Mixer

Just getting your hands dirty is the jumping off point for unlimited Joy!

End of the Year Art Program

The Big night is here!

After weeks of Memorization and Practice the Elementary students are ready to do their presentations and display art work created after viewing the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Jackson Pollock.

The Art work is amazing, self portraits, mixed media and paintings. The enthusiasm of each child for their projects and presentations, make every parent proud!

Spring

across the street
the breeze goes by
blossoms drop like snow
the lights turn green
children dash to and fro

across the street
I sit on a bench
a voyeur waiting
for a moment
seduced by beauty
Spring

Learning to Knit

I came downstairs this morning to be greeted by Primo, sitting at the table reading, Kids Learn to Knit, a book that was given to him at his party yesterday. After we got slips knots tied it was no time before we had figured out casting on and the basic knit stitch. I can't believe the book was easy to follow. Primo showed me know it was done how is that for a beautiful mother's day present!

Happy Mothers Day

Well, another year has come and gone. It is time to celebrate all of the wonderful mothers out there. You are doing a great job! No one ever told you how difficult it would be or you wouldn't have done it. Congratulations, and enjoy your day! Now I am off to the tub for a long soak, with a latte and, "The Chocolate Cake Sutra" (and hopefully get the thought Chaos rules my World out of my Head)

You Look Like A Monkey!

Happy Birthday Primo! This was the easiest birthday party ever. I finally broke down and didn't go all out for a home party. I did a party at our athletic club. The kids loved it and All I had to do was provide the Cake. This year the request was simple - chocolate cake with blue frosting and blue sprinkles. I still find myself amazed at the childhood love of blue food!

I don't have any friends, to compete with for a "Martha Stewart" award, so after last years less than enthusiastic complements from the other parents - I decided to give up the stress, it was so nice. I actually enjoyed the party, talked and played, too.

This boy will Street Luge

On the way home from school Primo's first request was not the usual, what's for snack but, "Can I ride my Bike?"It is abundantly clear that he is an adrenaline rusher. It is pretty wild to watch the grace with which he flies around the cul-de-sac and over the curbs. I feel myself wincing anticipating the pain of a fall that never comes. Apparently the birthday gift is a hit and We are pleased with our choice.

Anxiety

Somedays it just seems that the whole day is going to be one long anxiety attack and let me tell you today was one of those days! Usually I would chalk it up to being tired however this feels less concrete than lack of sleep and more rooted in the fact that my baby, Primo, is turning 7. Every year about a week before the big day I get hit with immobilizing anxiety. Not to mention no one seems to know what the letters RSVP means anymore. Dear readers when you get an invitation, please respond either way unless it clearly state regrets only!

When Primo was younger it would start months before his birthday, however with the birth of Segundo I have much less time for anxiety and lying in bed unable to function. Thankfully, currently, I don't exprience the non-functioning days often.

Prolific Art Day

Segundo mixing colors

Primo and one of the many sculptures

One of my many works in progress, working title "liberty redux

Zeus is heading off to the gym, Segundo asks if he can stay with me and paint, I don't feel like going so I agree. Primo jumps up and heads off with Zeus. Once up in the studio we break out paints and glue and beads. I work on my liberty piece and Segundo paints and adds beads with glue. It is wonderful, peaceful, joyful and mostly prolific!!!!!! Once Primo and Zeus return Primo is up for making a little some-something and joins us. Zeus also tries but is banned after attempting to become Art Director.

Boys will be Boys!

Now not every day is filled with creativity and beautiful art projects, some are filled with just plain Boy energy. At the park today, Primo accepted a challenge from another boy to jump over the edge of a basket ball court to see how far he could make it down the hill. After watching a few of the others attempt this, some on bikes some on skateboards, Primo decides that he is all about catching Air. Later on the way home he is quite proud of not having bift (I was told that biffed is not the correct pronunciation )

No School today!

Well, Segundo Could not have been happier about not going to the academy today if he tried. His face was filled with sheer joy at the prospect of going to music class, a couple of errands, hangin' out in a cafe, and going home to the studio to paint.

Segundo, "Let's have cocoa!"
Mnemosyne, "That sounds like a good idea."
I order our drinks and he chooses a table - there are only two the choice happens quicker than usual
The Mocha and Cocoa arrive topped with towers of whipped cream we are both smiling with anticipation.
Segundo, "We should have a cookie, too."
I order one.
Mnemosyne, "Here you go, will you share a bite with me?"
Segundo, "This is good"
Mnemosyne, "Yes, do you want eat here or go outside?"
Segundo, "Let's sit on the wall."
Mnemosyne, "Another splendid idea, do you think we should go home and do some painting today?"
Segundo, "Mommy that sounds like a great idea, when we are done with our Cocoa."

We sit on the brick wall enjoy the warm sunshine and then head home. The afternoon is spent painting and sculpting, just wonderful. And I am amazed, once again, at the JOY of mixing colors.

Decisions, decisions & revisons

Well, it seemed like an easy decision. Only now there is a sexual predator lurking at the bus stop just outside the door to the Olympia. None of the parents were notified, until I asked one of the more alert mortals if she knew anything about the "incident." She hadn't heard a thing. I guess it is revision time, again. I will be, quite possibly, working full time in order afford the tuition bills. The plus side is that I love the academy. I know that you can't protect the little muses from the world but a safe bus stop, in a residential neighborhood, is not much to ask for. I wish Zeus were capable of easing my anxiety but even his brute force is no comfort. This post references April 25, 2007 post. I was trying to find something funny to say about this post but no matter what I come up with it is not funny. Dear readers please look out for the safety of your little muses.

Nurture Creativity

I try to live my mission every day NURTURE CREATIVITY - I find myself repeating it now and again because it is easy to loose sight of it. Getting bogged down in the daily routine, laundry, dishes, driving to and from school, dinner, baths bed - seems to be the biggest drain on creativity, both for me and the muses!

Try to do as many chores as possible like this put a load of laundry in the wash before going to bed, put in the dryer before leaving for work or to do errands the next morning - for me it is like getting 2 things done at once. The bonus is that then it does not cut into the time you spend with your cherubs encouraging curiosity!

First Day of School

Today is Segundo's first day at the academy. Zeus and I took him in because he refused to get out of the car with Primo. Once in the classroom he was happy to show us different activities, I kissed him goodbye and told him I would be back to get him in the afternoon. I have no clue what I will do with all my "time off" My to do list is so long I am not sure if I can fine the beginning of it anymore. My mind is racing and I have the sinking feeling it is going to take awhile to get used to this new found freedom.

Decisions, Decisions

Well it is that time of year again, school registration. In a world where everything is constantly under the micro scope of scrutiny I find school the most important item in the petri dish. Do I keep Primo enrolled where he is or switch. I cast the net wide every year. Transfer applications at charter schools, unlikely since most use the lottery system. I have kept the director of our current school on hold while I make arrangements to look at our area public school. What are the valid reasons for taking a child on the roller coaster called new school? Money? Curriculum? Location? Obviously, I do not have a clue. It is how ever my opinion that no school is good enough, they all demand a high level of parent and to that point is it wise to pay money and still have to do the amount of work I am currently required to do? Well dear readers perhaps it is. It is good that Primo is modestly above the average and motivated to succeed. Maybe all those early childhood games of Scrabble will prove to be valuable, so start playing with your kids when they are very young, say 3yrs. We try rhyming words, 3 letter words, and make silly words, too.

Earth Day

It is snowing here, so there will be no planting trees or herbs in our garden. The next best thing to do is a recycling project. A garden of pinwheels! constructed from Magazine covers, wine bottle corks, chops sticks and a push pin. It was fun to sit in the warmth of the studio and create a this virtual garden.

At the Drive Thru Window

Saturday is always one of the hardest days to get going. After breakfast it is Run nonstop; begining with baseball practice, print flyers, deliver flyers for new listing, post signs, shopping (the usual suspects: bread, milk, eggs). Finally home for lunch. I am exhausted, the little muses are bursting with energy. The weather is finally nice again they eat quickly and are out onto the deck riding around at break neck speeds. It isn't long before I am pulled into a game of Drive up window.
Segundo approaches first with a sheepish, "Mommy I want chocolate milk, is this a drive thru store?"
Mnemosyne "Of course it is just like the one I like to go to!
Then Segundo changes his request, "A tall Skinny Mocha Please."
Primo, pulls around next, using his best grown up voice, "Uh Hello, do you have Chocolate Milk Uh, no make that a Tall Skinny Mocha.Uh how much is that?"
Mnemosyne "Here you go, that will be $3.75
Primo, " Ok, well what else do you have, are you open late?"
Mnemosyne "Yes, until 8 and we have great desserts!"
Segundo, "I sneaked into your store, hey can I get another tall Skinny Mocha Please."
After a few more circles around the deck they are back again for some of the special desserts ~
Primo,Segundo, "to go, please so we can eat them at the park!"
I find myself smiling at the concept of a neighborhood drive through, kids pulling up on their trikes, bikes or scooters and getting treat from a caring mom.

A Prayer for Our Earth

Praise be, my Lord, for our Sister,
Mother Earth,
Who sustains and governs us
And Brings forth diverse fruits with
Many ~ hued flowers and grass.

~St. Francis of Assisi

Can we do an Art Project?

It has been another one of "those" days, rushing everywhere, Segundo in protest mode, and snowing to boot! Rush in to be the mystery reader, which I love (bad choice - another parent read the same story while we were on vacation). Back out to do errands, we ended up at an art supply store killing time. Back to school to get Primo. Snack. Home. Home work. So Far so good, now for turbo spell and everything spirals out of control, Primo is in a full temper tantrum. Screaming and crying and as usual I am MEAN! Primo sent to room and not watching his favorite show cyberchase. I retreat to my studio and before you can say glue stick, both Primo and Segundo are in the doorway asking, " Can we do an art Project?" I am so tired I cry. Then out come the supplies and Peace is restored at the Olympia. Too bad I hadn't remembered the magic found in 1 2 3 Magic.
Afterwards, some photos of the project - we like feathers, styrofoam, googlie eyes and chenille ties or pipe cleaners for the less than pc crowd. An imaginary friend by Primo (flowers and nest also by Primo made previously).

Sour Milk

What a way to start the day - sour milk on my granola. I guess I am just glad that I noticed before I had a spoonful in my mouth. Sadly I used the same milk in the scramble eggs I made for Primo and Segundo. No wonder they weren't hungry, but wanted more toast. It is going to be one of those days!