THE COUNTRY

Blow up your TV,

Throw away your paper, 

Move to the Country,

Build you a Home,

Plant a little garden,

Eat a lot of peaches,

Try and find Jesus.

John Prine

These days

Our days lately have been great. The weather has been beautiful, so we've been spending lots of time outside enjoying the grill.  And we've both been working on keeping the house clean our projects. 

BABIES LOVE NORMAN :)

I'm sure it had everything to do with the fact that it was snack time, but Charlotte was certainly smitten with my puppy, and he with her!

I hope normy hangs on long enough to meet our babies one day :)

Change

Something happened.

A page was turned. The wind changed.

Maybe it's all the strawberry vodka spritzer's mexican food I've been consuming, but change happened. I could smell it coming when we sold my house. Something is afoot.  Have you ever felt like you were on a path, and then without even noticing, the itinerary you were just holding suddenly has something new written on it? We have been in constant prayer about the direction of our family, where we should move, what we want out life to look like in the future, but I still wasn't prepared to receive this next part.

Stop your business. Work in the studio. Do what you think you can't.

God...is that you? Cause that seems nuts. Sell a business I built myself from nothing and make art? That seems....not right. Working hard for a business is something modern, educated women do.  There are tons of people out there that make alot of "art" and I really don't want to be bunched in with those weirdos because, let's be honest, most of them are not that good. 

Making art is something I have always kept up as a hobby, and based on my education, something I am willing to invest in.  I remember the day I was accepted into the printmaking program in K-State. I had already been told that there were just 2 spots available...and one spot was already filled.  There would be no art review of my work, no panel of professors to see if I had what it takes to be in such a selective group, just a very nerve-wracking conversation with my 60 year old (highly successful, cranky, but artistically genius) professor in his cramped office.  We sat there, with his "university rules sucks" attitude and campus-banned cigarette hanging out the open window, in silence. He took a long drag on the cigarette, then he said, "You don't want to be an artist".  I didn't know what to say so I just sat there. He continued "you make no money, often get no respect, and you really have no career to speak of."  Oh boy.  I knew he was a straight shooter because of how he ran his classes, but this was unexpected. He was my idol - and taught me everything I knew up to that point.  I deeply respected his art and opinion. Sensing it was my turn to speak, I said the only thing that I knew was true. "Yes, I do. I do want to be an artist".

Well, the answer is still the same today, so I'm going for it!  My studio is full again, my first series is already in progress, and it feels great. Better than great actually...it feels right. I will commit to my artwork and see where it takes me!

Footnote: I still love paper products, and have a relationship with Pear Tree Greetings that I will be keeping! They have amazing invitations and stationery, and I will be putting coupons on this blog every month or so so we can all save on great products. Also, I will still be making some of the stationery from the Blue Door, and it's already available on Etsy. :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/MailHappy

Here's the first Pear Tree Greetings coupon:

Insta-update

We've had a BUSY week.  

I sold a house (finally, praise the LORD) and bloomed an orchid. Ok, I can't really take credit for the orchid blooming, but I did give it alot of encouragement.

The Norman Man

Norman is about a month away from celebrating his first anniversary of having a dog daddy.  To say it gently - It has not been his favorite year. Not by a long shot. It took them both a while to come to grips with the fact that there are stuck with eachother.  But, they are working it out, and I have accepted that this is as good as it's going to get. ;)

Here is a taste of the past year...

On the weekends Whatahusband works in the garage, and makes many trips through the house to wash hands, say hi, and consult the auto manuals. I often hang out in the living room, and I normally call normy out of his room to join me. He might start out in the middle of the room...but ALWAYS eventually moves inbetween the couch and ottoman.  This way he does not have to see Whatahusband when he comes in and out of the house. If you can't see him, he's not really there, right?

When I was in NM for a week, Whatahusband was also gone for a few days on a canoe trip. Normy would be camping outside for the first few days while we were both gone, then Whatahusband  would be home, and they would be together for the last 3 days of my trip. This was their first time alone together for that length of time. When I came home from my trip, Norman excitedly greeted me, then RAN to his food bowl in the kitchen to gobble up inhale his crunchers. Whatahusband told me that Norman ate fine while we were both gone, but hadn't eaten a thing since he came home. That's 3 days of a hunger strike. Apparently my dog decided that starvation was a far better option than living with Whatahusband without me.

Normy is so sweet to lay in the entrance of our bedroom when I'm getting ready in the morning. This only happens on days that Whatahusband has already left for work, and after he has carefully walked around the room to confirm that it is in fact just the two of us.

I have to give norman alot of credit. He has always obeyed Whatahusband (even though he runs with his tail between his legs as he is obeying) and he is a very happy puppy. On the more difficult days, when they are on eachother's last nerve, he gives me these sad puppy dog eyes that say "I liked it better when it was just the two of us" and I feel guilty. 

For a second... 

Because even though he puffs his breathe as he's on his way back to his room... he lays down, and whatahusband gives him a cookie, and norman drifts off into a deep doggy sleep on the bed he loves and I know that he'll be ok.  :)

the fruits of my labor

Since I am not counting basil or mint as "fruits", my harvest has been incredibly small. One tomato. uno. But -  it was very pretty and tasty! I'm trying to stay positive and be thankful that the grasshoppers didn't kill every single solitary thing in my garden.  After all, I should be proud of what I grow whether it be large or small...or as whatahusband puts it "atleast you didn't plant anything upside-down this time!"

Plant something upside down one time and you never hear the end of it. ;)