Friday Freebie

For your printing pleasure (prints best at 8X8)

3 Signs of Spring

Here in great state of OK... there are a couple of things that herald spring in a very spectacular way:

Trees are waking up (though this is NOT one of our trees. This would be a green-thumb neighbor's tree who didn't accidentally kill their tree the first week they had it).

Thunderstorms

Regal skies

And in other news... I made a pancake shaped like a bear.

Calendar Love

Did I ever tell you guys about the 2014 calendar that I illustrated for the smartest and I? In the midst of busy season last November, I got it in my head that we NEEDED (not wanted, NEEDED) to have a 16X20 calendar with illustrations for each month. "What fun", I thought to myself, "How neat! I could use a hand cramp right about now". So, right around Christmas time, I found myself with this little guy proudly in hand (and yes. The smartest does make me retire the glitter-deer for the other 11 months of the year)

In the interest of full disclosure... we don't use it much. It is actually currently situated behind our coatrack, rendering it at least mostly useless, but it was a fun project to explore. I based most of the hair/clothing choices on things we actually wear on a regular basis (though, of course, in the illustration it looks as though my hair isn't attempting to overthrow the rest of me on a regular basis. Which is inaccurate). And if I had drawn May the way it actually is... you would see the puppy and I cowering in a storm shelter, rather than frolicking under an umbrella. But you know... artistic license and all that.

The Mischievous Wind

The wind tastes like change, and freedom. The herald of the seasons, it carries messages from the mountains to the plains, and out to the ocean along a dizzying pathway. Persistent but not at all patient, the wind grapples for my attention, tugging on hems, knotting hair and stealing papers, often met by agitation from the subject of its mischief. The wind, however, is rarely dissuaded.

The wind crashes against my window, eager in its excitement to tell me what the mountains have sent me today. It lingers on my porch, determined to lick my cheeks and tell me stories from its travels. Some days, the wind is strong and wraps me in its arms in a breathtaking embrace. Other days, the wind is timid and gentle, caressing flowers and hiding from me in the garden. They are the same wind, and sent from the same places that I love.

Eventually, I give in and join the wind outside, because tangled in the wind is a holy place to be. Wrapped in an unseen and inexplicable force, the chaos is comforting. The wind originated with the one who made the mountains, the oceans and the plains. The wind can kiss my cheeks and stop me in my tracks, an invisible hand belonging to someone greater. He sends me the wind to feel large and small, steady and uncertain, and gloriously grounded.

Good morning, old friend. What have you brought me today?

Back Then: Chicken Photo Project

Amidst my file sorting, I came across a (rather poorly executed) photography project I didn't whilst in school. The BHO sent me a package of chicks for Easter, to celebrate our overly active imaginations when we were young(er)- and I apparently thought it would be the best thing since the Gilmore Girls to take like 400 photos of them in various positions. And yes... in case you were wondering... I had the Legos on hand. You would TOTALLY have liked me in college. Maybe.

Warning- some all of these are ridiculously random.

 

Here and There: An Artist Family Comparison

As you are probably aware, the artist family is sprinkled across the majority of the country. That means that at any given moment, our family can be experiencing the full spectrum of weather, from snow to a balmy 90 degrees. This week is an excellent example.

Today, the view from my front porch looks like this:

But mama and papa artist are seeing this:

My  yard is greening up after a TON of rain (and hail):

And their yard is probably green under their 2 feet of snow:

Our weekend activities involved tall buildings and big crowds:

Their weekend activities involved tall mountains and big spaces:

Our local wildlife looks something like this:

But their local wildlife is a bit less fluffy, and a bit more wild:

Widely spread are the roots of the artist family. Widely, widely spread. A special thank you to mama artist for letting be utilize her beautiful photos!

Hail Storms Make Me a Bad Blogger

On Friday evening, we had our first hail storm of the year. It came with absolutely no warning, scared the puppy half to death, and made its very best attempt to wipe out all of our greenery.

The aftermath was entirely unexpected- I got whammied with the worst attack of allergies I have ever experienced. Thus my lack of blogging. Apologies, dear readers- but I think I have beaten my sinuses back into submission. Which means I will be back to work on excellent projects to share very soon.

Searching for Spring

Every year, during the month of March, I clean out the smartest and I's closet. I move our sweaters and warm clothing to a different closet, and retrieve my sundresses from hiding. And every year, the weekend after I do my wardrobe rotation, spring smacks me upside the head and runs away. 

Every. Year. Is it any wonder that spring is my least favorite season?

Over the last couple of months, we have had maybe 3 days that have been in the 30s. Maybe. Guess how many we have had since last week's rearranging? 4. At least. Oh spring... just when I thought we might be able to be friends. 

So rather than actually celebrating spring... I will window shop online to my little heart's content, while blasting the heater and burrowing under multiple blankets. Take that, spring, winter and I are perfectly happy to wait for you to arrive. 

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